KORTRIJK - The champion had just returned from one of his successful missions and continued with what he's doing for months. This is the year of Eddy Merckx and he shows it again and again. He won the Lausanne Masters on Sunday, took the plane home a few hours later to play an ordinary match on Monday night for the Belgian league. An ordinary match? The match in Kortrijk, facing Ronny Brants, was half on its way when Merckx came into his flow. Tenth inning, 22-8 on the scoreboard and the spotlights were on... Running 10, 20, 22, one of his favourite shots, long-long-long ... and missss. The Kortrijk Mambo arena had just witnessed another highlight by the Player of the Year in 2018.
Could he have broken the world record run? No, only equal to 28, because after the miss, the score was 44-11 in 10. ,,Yes, of course I slightly thought about it'', Merckx confessed later. He was six points away from the finish after the miss and needed four innings more: 0-5-0-1. It was not his best run. "I made two times 26, once in Germany, once in Deurne."
He described the run on his Merckxian, "There were certainly a few really nice balls. The last one was a pity because I could make it... But it's not so easy when you come over 20. I did'nt hit my ball perfect, and... the table shuffled nicely, so I think, I played a little bit bad.''
Ronny Brants, his opponent, "the run was so fantastic, with some world class shots. It was a joy to see, the touch, the stroke, the speed... The billiard room regularly echoed a 'wow'. He enjoyed the audience tremendously. Eddy is a professional and a real cannibal.''
How did he wake up after another great performance? Merckx: "As always, life goes on, even after two fantastic weeks. And in a few days, on Friday, we go to Paris for the French competition. But indeed, I'm very satisfied, I feel great.''
His team Biljart Express remains on the top of the rankings after the 8-0 win in Kortrijk. Frans van Kuyk won the match against Martin Ravestijn 50-36 in 31 and a run of 10. The match with lot of tension was between Frédéric Beghin and Gerwin Valentijn: the Dutchman won 42-41 in 29. Martin Spoormans was the fourth player to win. The home team had to do without his leading player Dave Christiani, who had to cancel due to private circumstances on the day of the match.
BC Deurne and Op de Meir, the main pursuers, also won their matches on this match day. Deurne, without Glenn Hofman, won 6-2 against De Leug. Only Jean van Erp lost his match against Wesley de Jaeger 50-38 in 27. Op de Meir defeated Mr. 100 5-3. Peter Ceulemans kept the tension in the match by a win over Eddy Leppens 50-45 in 34, but Kurt Ceulemans (celebrating his birthday today) had to capitulate against Barry van Beers: 50-43 in 36, despite a run of 10.
BC Herentals won the match against De Ploeg 6-2 (Horn finish in 22 innings, Rudolph in 28 innings). Zanzibar won 5-3 against TBA, Forthomme defeated De Zwart 50-32 in 30.
In front of the scoreboard: a run of 22