EMBLEM - The billiards café of Marc Verhagen was not spoiled by many great results of the top team Op de Meir this season. Eddy Leppens and co haven't yet played a leading role in the highest Belgian league, but this week the team was in the spotlights. The blue brigade was on his best in a home match. The highlight of this evening: The Stits (Ivan Stitschinsky) was outstanding. The most striking achievement of this evening: BC Deurne suffered one of his rare losses. Biljart Express outplayed the leader 5-3.
'De Stits' is the nickname of Ivan Stitschinsky, the fourth man of the Op de Meir team, where he plays 2010 and with which he has been promoted twice to the highest league in three years. In the current line-up, Op de Meir is playing in the premier league now for the fourth year. ,,We have an incredible team spirit in our foursome, with a world class player on top (Leppens)'', says Stitschinksy, who formerly played for Mr. 100 and Biljart Express and who's dream it is to play in the Dutch premier league one day. ,,This match, with 40 in 18, was my best in the highest class'', says Ivan. ,,But my best match ever was the victory against Tayfun Tasdemir, in Lisbon in a match for the European Cup.''
Ivan Stitschinsky is 51, lives in Kessel, three kilometres from the club. He's married to Linda for almost twenty years, they have four children together, Ivan himself has a 26 year old daughter and a son of 17. He now also has two grandsons. Stitschinsky's grandfather was a Russian, his grandmother was French.
Regarding Op de Meir's position, he says: ,,We are so low on the ranking, because we were not all top so far. But still, we have started well in the second half. I hope we can finish in the top five.''
,,I am sure, says Stitschinsky, that with Marc Verhaegen we have with Op de Meir the best billiard café owner in Belgium. ,, No one is so concerned for the billiard tables. They are always in perfect condition.''
Yesterday's game, signed by Stitschinsky: ,,Eddy (Leppens) had a difficult start, but then started the turbo. Barry (van Beers) played a strong match with some fantastic balls, al only he can play them. Roland (Uijtdewillegen) also finished strong after a difficult start.''
'De Stits' himself played brilliant against Willem Janssen of the Koninklijke Eeklose billiards club. With a ten in the third inning, then a somewhat lesser phase, but with 5 in the 15th and 8 to finish in the 18th, the match end came at 40-8.
The team average was also impressive: Op de Meir won 8-0 against the Eeklose opponent. Eddy Leppens defeated Steven van Acker 50-21 in 29, Barry van Beers beat Leslie Menheer 50-22 in 24, Roland Uijtdewillegen beat Christiaan de Mil 42-26 in 29 and Ivan Stitschinsky was the man of the match in Op de Meir. 1.840 was generally noted for the home team, the best average of this match day.
What does it deliver for the rankings? For the time being not too much, because Op de Meir is actually playing a moderate season, but slowly climbs up to the sub top.
The competition regained some of its tension due to the loss of BC Deurne against Biljart Express. Jean van Erp started with 8 and Spoormans with 9 in the first inning. The break came at 24-15, Spoormans won 42-40 in 21. Guy van Litsenborg started badly and trailed 16-2 against Davy van Havere in 10. The finish came at 42-17 in 51. Gerwin Valentijn started well against Jef Philipoom with 9-0 in 3 and 15-13 in 10. Then, Valentijn made 13 and 6 for 34-13 in 12, 45-24 in 23 and won 50-33 in 30 innings. Glenn Hoffman missed the start, Frans van Kuyk launched himself with 4-1-1-11-1-4 for 22-10 in 6 innings. At 39-22 in 16, Hofman scored 11. And at 44-35, Glenn made 6-4-4-1. Van Kuyk equalized with 1: 50-50 in 23.
De Goeie Queue and BC Herentals played a draw. The top match of the evening, between Frédéric Caudron and Martin Horn, was won by Caudron 50-46 win in 34. Christian Rudolph beat Jean Paul de Bruijn 50-40 in 30.
Kurt Ceulemas was match winner for Mr. 100 Lier in the home match against Zanzibar. The room owner equaled with 4 against Kenny Miatton (50-50 in 34) and thereby captured the match point for his team (5-3 win).
Raymond Ceulemans defeated Andy de Bondt before the break (42-21 in 25) and Koen Ceulemans beat Jimmy Mues 42-35 in 42. Peter Ceulemans was outplayed by Roland Forthomme, who finished with 8. Peter made six in the equalizer, but was two points down (50-48).
KBC Kortrijk spoiled one point at the home match against Mr. 100 Lier 2. Ad Koorevaar and Tom Persyn won for Mr. 100, Dave Christiani beat Marco Janssen 50-32 in 27 and Martin Ravestyn beat Rudy Persyn 42-33 in 37.
Tonight still to play:
De Witte Molen-Quality Zele
The ranking on top:
1 BC Deurne 13-22
2 De Goeie Queue 13-18
3 Billiards Express 13-17
4 Mr. 100 Winch 13-16
5 Quality Zele 12-13
De Witte Molen 12-13
On the Meir 13-13
Kortrijk 13-13
Herentals 13-13.
,,Guy van Litsenborg start slecht en staat 16-2 achter tegen Davy van Havere in 10. Daarna wordt het 33-30 in 42, maar toch 42-17 in 51 voor Davy.''
,,Gerwin Valentijn start goed tegen Jef Philipoom met 9-0 in 3 en 15-13 in 10. Dan maakt Gerwin 13 en 6, komt 34-13 in 12, 45-24 in 23 en wint met 50-33 in 30 beurten.''
,,Glenn Hofman mist de aanvang en Frans van Kuyk komt uit de start met 4-1-1-11-1-4 voor 22-10 in 6 beurten. Het wordt ook nog 34-15 in 12 en 39-22 in 16. Dan scoort Glenn een 11. Het staat 44-35 in 19 en dan maakt Glenn 6-4-4-1. Frans maakt gelijk met 1: 50-50 in 23, wel goed voor een 5-3 winst voor ons.''
De Goeie Queue en BC Herentals speelden gelijk en konden niet optimaal profiteren van de misstap van BC Deurne. De topper van de avond, tussen Frédéric Caudron en Martin Horn, leverde winst voor Caudron op met 50-46 in 34. Christian Rudolph versloeg Jean Paul de Bruijn met 50-40 in 30. Voor de pauze gingen de twee teams ook gelijk op. Geert Meylemans won van Jerry Hermans (42-33 in 37), Wesley de Jaeger van Leon Smolders met 42-26 in 34.
Kurt Ceulemas was matchwinnaar voor Mr. 100 Lier in de thuiswedstrijd tegen Zanzibar. De uitbater maakte in de nabeurt gelijk tegen Kenny Miatton (50-50 in 34) en veroverde daardoor het matchpunt voor zijn team (5-3 winst). Raymond Ceulemans won voor de pauze van Andy de Bondt (42-21 in 25) en Koen Ceulemans van Jimmy Mues met 42-35 in 42. Peter Ceulemans werd gevloerd door Roland Forthomme, die finishte met 8. Peter kwam in de nabeurt met zes nog dichtbij, maar kwam twee punten te kort (50-48).
KBC Kortrijkse hield een puntje over aan de thuiswedstrijd tegen Mr 100 Lier 2. Ad Koorevaar en Tom Persyn wonnen voor Mr. 100, Dave Christiani van Marco Janssen met 50-32 in 27 en Martin Ravestyn van Rudy Persyn met 42-33 in 37.
Vanavond spelen nog:
De Witte Molen-Quality Zele
De stand aan kop:
1 BC Deurne 13-22
2 De Goeie Queue 13-18
3 Biljart Express 13-17
4 Mr. 100 Lier 13-16
5 Quality Zele 12-13
De Witte Molen 12-13
Op de Meir 13-13
Kortrijkse 13-13
Herentals 13-13.