SINT NIKLAAS - The contrast could not been bigger. In a random Dutch billiards café, the famous figurehead of the Ceulemans family, 86-year-old Raymond, all-time champion, got stands full for an exhibition he was invited to. The audience was on the benches. Two days later, the champion’s followers had a total off-day. Mister 100, the reigning champion in Belgium, lost 6-2 to De Witte Molen in the fifth round of the team competition. Peter and Kurt Ceulemans, respectively grandson and son of the master, were defeated with far too low averages, Bart, the other grandson, still won, but the team was defeated in Sint Niklaas with a total average of 0.851. The off-day of the champions was a rare experience, soon to be forgotten and forgiven.
Ad Broeders (De Witte Molen) was even the best man this evening with a win over Jerry Hermans (40-22 in 24, running 12). Peter Ceulemans had to bow deeply to Frédéric Mottet (40-31 in 40), Kurt Ceulemans came one paltry point short against Francis Forton (40-39 in 38), but in the end that was enough for his team's loss.
Herstal, despite its two penalty points, got back to one point from the leader despite a more or less surprising draw against De Leug 2. Roland Forthomme dropped his first points in that match by losing against Johan Loncelle: 40-37 in 24, both with a run of 10. Pierre Soumagne and Thomas Broux were the winners for Herstal with both 40 in 29, Stefan Hostens signed for the draw on behalf of De Leug 2 by winning against Benoit Ramaekers in 40 innings.
Biljart Express, the former champion, has re-established itself at the top of the rankings after five rounds with Eddy Merckx as their leading captain. The Turnhout team leads the rankings with eight match points ahead of two chasers by one point. Frans van Kuyk was best winner for Biljart Express against Kay de Zwart 40-11 in 19 innings with a best run of 11. Eddy Merckx and Jean Paul de Bruijn can almost drive together to their matches in these weeks. The Belgian and the Dutchman met on Sunday in the Dutch competition with Merckx winning 40-17 in 12. On Tuesday evening, Merckx won again, this time 40-33 in 24, with Merckx starting with 10 and not relinquishing that margin. Moreover, Merckx and De Bruijn played together in Denmark last week and next Sunday they will play each other again in Germany. Merckx had his typical Merckxian reaction after Tuesday's win in Belgium: ,,That's the way it goes, it goes well, without any problems.''
Dave Christiani won for Biljart Express 40-39 against Marc Janssen in 34 innings, Guy van Litsenborg beat Peter Meersman 40-31 in 35. The team average of the new league leader was 1.428. Driebanden club De Leug could not live up to its position at number 2, together with Herstal, in the away match against Op de Meir. The final score was 5-3 for the home team, as for De Leug only Therese Klompenhouwer was able to win with a strong 40-29 in 32 against Roland Uijtdewillegen. Jef Philipoom played on number 1 for Op de Meir and beat Jeffrey Jorissen, a man in form, 40-33 in 29. Barry van Beers played a draw against Davy van Havere 40-40 in 29 and Eddy Leppens, tactically put on four at Op de Meir, beat Mik Durwael 40-14 in 21.
Koninklijke Brugse won the away match against Koninklijke Kortrijkse by 5-3 scores. Steven van Acker and Henk Blauwblomme were standouts for Brugse with wins in 21 and 28 innings and Koen Saver grabbed the winning point by a draw against Philippe Vandendriessche: 40-40 in 33.
The match between T'S Place and De Ploeg in Haaltert near Aalst was stopped at a 2-2 score because the electricity failed. For T'S Place, Peter De Backer and Huub Wilkowski were ahead in the score at the time, but the matches will be replayed from the start.
Jef Philipoom was the winner over Jeffrey Jorissen
Eddy Merckx, another win over Jean Paul de Bruijn