TURNHOUT/DEURNE - The most striking score in the Belgian league three cushion this week is the maximum win by Biljart Express in the away match against De Goeie Queue 0-8. Eddy Merckx crowned a memorable evening with a victory over Frédéric Caudron 50-44 in 20 innings with a run of eleven in the final part of the game. Biljart Express stays on top of the reanking with its victory, one point ahead of BC Deurne that won 6-2 against Kortrijk. The two teams seem to be on the way to compete for the national championship. The match day this week showed the return of Johan Loncelle after his positive doping tests and two and eight years suspension.
BC Deurne impressed with its two leading players: Glenn Hoffman bested Dave Christiani 50-17 in 19 innings and Jef Philipoom did even better against Ronny Brants, 50-17 in 16 innings. Jean van Erp came back from a big deficit against Martin Ravestyn for the Deurne team and won 42-41 in 33 innings. Biljart Express led 4-0 against De Goeie Queue at the break as Gerwin Valentijn defeated Maarten Janssen (42-24 in 36) and Martin Spoormans beat Jerry Hermans (42-34 in 35). De Goeie Queue couldn't catch up after the break with its leading players. Frans van Kuyk was superior to Jean Paul de Bruijn (50-38 in 31) and Eddy Merckx attacked in the final part against Caudron.
Only On de Meir showed up as a serious contender for the two front runners by a victory over TBA Biljartpalace, 5-3. The best winner was Eddy Leppens against Kay de Zwart: 50-36 in 27. BC Herentals was surprisingly put on the rack by De Witte Molen (6-2), including a victory by Pierre Soumagne against Martin Horn 50-41 in 28.
The Belgian federation has confirmed the verdict on Mister 100, so the match between Mister 100 and Zanzibar was left blank on the official results list, despite the home team's 7-1 victory. Mister 100 is punished by another 0-8 score. For the real billiard fans: Peter Ceulemans played a draw against Roland Forthomme 50-50 in 30, Kurt Ceulemans beat Kenny Miatton 50-45 in 36, Raymond Ceulemans beat Andy de Bondt 42-41 in 35 and Bart Ceulemans defeated Paul Stoobants 42-25 in 39 innings.
Johan Loncelle made his return to billiard front in De Leug's team. The Belgian did so with a victory over Therese Klompenhouwer 42-41 in 40 innings. Loncelle, the player who once was trained by Tonny Schrauwen and was seen as one of the big talents to reach the top, is back after ten years without official matches. The team De Leug, of which Frank de Groof is the captain, expects a new boost for the team, which is on the last place with six match points. "This is the last fragile hope for the maintenance of the position in the first league.''
The team De Leug with Johan Loncelle (right)