BRUGGE - The champion Eddy Merckx, after winning the BTS tournament in Bruges, quickly got into the car with his wife Brenda for a slippery ride home. Today, Saturday, Merckx already leaves for Germany for a double weekend in the bundesliga. These are still busy weeks for the Belgian world class player, because after the double weekend, an Eddy Merckx-Frans van Kuyk match is also scheduled on Monday in the Belgian league. But first, he could briefly enjoy the success in the third BTS tournament at the Brugse Biljartclub this Friday evening, where he beat Jef Philipoom in the semi-final and Steven van Acker in the final.
In these last weeks of the year, Eddy Merckx looked back at his excellent year, in which he won the World Cup in Ho Chi Minh and became champion with his team in the Netherlands and Denmark. ''I'm eighth on the world rankings with very good averages, so I can be satisfied about my year,'' said Bruges winner, who hopes he will play for the same teams next year. ''I guess it will be another busy year with the full calendars, but I am looking forward to that.''
The Bruges tournament, named after its sponsor Masters Zeevisgroothandel André, will go into the books because of Roland Forthomme's magnificent game on Thursday: 40 points in 6 innings, second best game ever after Dick Jaspers' 40 in 4 in Germany, 2018.
Kurt Ceulemans, the BTS president, Arthur Standaert and Koen Saver of the Bruges club honored winner Eddy Merckx on Friday night. The world-ranked Belgian number 8 later looked ahead to the Multi Championships in Belgium, where he will take a shot at the title at the Casino of Blankenberge in the weekend of 14 and 15 January. Peter De Backer will defend his title there.
In the Bruges BTS tournament, Merckx had a strong final day. In the semi-final against Jef Philipoom, among others, Merckx won 50-29 in 27 after a run of 13. In the final, Merckx shone with runs of 10 and 9, Steven van Acker was not so far down for a while with two times an 8 (12-12 in 5), but in the end Merckx was the strongest with a lead of 50-27 in 18. The other semi-final was between Steven van Acker and Ronny Brants (50-44 in 38).
Most notable matches:
Roland Forthomme-Andy de Bondt 40-10 in 6/5 (6,667/2,000)
Steven van Acker-Peter Ceulemans 40-38 in 17 (2,353/2,235)
The results in the quarter-finals:
Ronny Brants-Henk Blauwblomme 40-26 in 32
Steven van Acker-Martin Spoormans 40-18 in 26
Eddy Merckx-Philippe Vandendriessche 40-17 in 19
Jef Philipoom-Roland Forthomme 40-39 in 32.
High averages in earlier rounds were of course for the unsurpassed Roland Forthomme (40 in 6, 6,667), Steven van Acker (2,353), Eddy Merckx (2,222), Francis Forton (1,778), Andy de Bondt (1,739), Jef Philipoom (1,663), Peter Ceulemans (1,509).
The final ranking:
1 Eddy Merckx
2 Steven van Acker
3 Ronny Brants, Jef Philipoom
5/8 Roland Forthomme, Philippe Vandendriessche, Martin Spoormans, Henk Blauwblomme
9 to 15 Peter Ceulemans, Andy de Bondt, Francis Forton, Davy van Havere, Bart Leys, Koen Saver, Mik Durwael.
Just before the final match, Eddy Merckx and Steven van Acker
The ceremony with the champion: left to right Arthur Standaert, Eddy Merckx, Koen Saver and Kurt Ceulemans