3-Cushion
LOMMEL - The qualification at the end of the evening was crowned with a wonderful run. Eddy Merckx made the gap in his match against with Kurt Ceulemans on a score of 20-20 with a run of fifteen. It was the decision in the match and in the group. Merckx was seeded first, Steven Van Acker, who defeated his opponent Martin Spoormans, was the second in Group B.
In the ranking after two matches Merckx shone with an average over two. The number five of the world had a shaky start against Kurt Ceulemans and needed some more innings for the win. The marvellous run of fifteen was decisive: Merckx made the gap to 35-20 and finished five innings later (40-28).
Steven Van Acker had already secured second place in the group. The youngest player of the tournament gathered the caroms he needed for the win, but could'nt excel in his last fight. However, Spoormans was so bad this day that he didn't have a chance to win. The veteran lost all hismatches, the last 40-26 against Van Acker in 35 innings.
Eddy Merckx and Steven Acker will play the quarterfinals on Friday.
Tomorrow the matches in Group C will be played with Eddy Leppens, Francis Forton, Davy van Havere and Johan Claessen.