ZUNDERT - In the run-up to a new year, Eddy Merckx topped off his season with a last big victory. The best of seven Belgians finished the Christmas tournament in Zundert with fireworks, he won the final against Martin Horn 40-32 in 21 innings. The Belgian and his wife Brenda invited twenty friends in their home for the New Year party to give the year a sparkling end. Time for a few days of rest.
The professional player then starts an intensive billiard race again in the New Year. Merckx: ,,I have to play a league match in Paris in Friday, one day later in the league in Germany and the same day in Holland. And the other day in Germany again. That's just a start up for the Belgian championship, a few days later.''
The few days in between are to enjoy his win in the Christmas tournament and make the round up of the year in which he won among others the World Cup in Luxor, performed very well in the Belgian and international leagues, won a BTS tournament in Brussels last week and now the Christmas tournament. ,,My year was pretty good in general. I played around the same averages as always and could win some important events. The best proof for a very good year is my third place in the World Cup ranking behind Dick Jaspers and Frédéric Caudron. That is a reward for regular playing.''
The crowning was on the final day of the Christmas tournament, where he won three matches in the preliminaries (1.846 average), partly thanks to a spectacular start against Pierre Soumagne with 9 and 13, good for 22 in two innings. He continued with a win over Glenn Hoffman in the quarters (40-22 in 22), against Raimond Burgman in the semi-final (40-33 in 34) and finally against Martin Horn 40-32 in 21.
The German was also sovereign in his matches to the finals and defeated Roland Forthomme in the semi-finals 40-36 in 21. The final part of that match was exciting, because Horn had a big lead all the match. The Belgian ran near to the end 8 and 5 to catch up at 34-35. Then Horn finished with six and Forthomme could only score once in the equalizer.
Eddy Merckx sparkled on the last days with amazing starts: 22-3 against Soumagne, 15-0 and 21-3 against Burgman and 21-4 against Horn. ,,It's not that I lose my concentration after that start, you know'', said Merckx, who needed a lot of innings against Burgman to finish and allowed Horn even to come quite close. ,,There are two explanations for the decline: that I make 22 in two innings, does not mean that I will finish in four innings. And moreover, my opponents, of course, try to return in the match.''
His victory was the fourth for Merckx in the Christmas tournament. The first was in 2003 in the final against Frans van Kuyk, the second in 2007 against Roland Forthomme, the third in 2009 against Filipos Kasidokostas. Six times he finished second behind Dick Jaspers, Dion Nelin and four times in a final with Frédéric Caudron.
The final ranking in the groups:
Group A:
1 Roland Forthomme 6-1.500-9
2 Glenn Hoffman 4-1.216-7
3 Martin Spoormans 2-1.166-7
4 Dustin Jäschke 0-0.813-6
Group B:
1 Eddy Merckx 6-1.846-13
2 Peter Ceulemans 4-1.918-11
3 Gerwin Valentijn 2-1.192-7
4 Pierre Soumagne 0-1.101-6
Group C:
1 Martin Horn 6-2.181-11
2 Raymon Groot 4-1.240-10
3 Peter De Backer 2-1.000-5
4 Barry van Beers 0-0.864-7
Group D:
1 Raimond Burgman 6-1.600-10
2 Eddy Leppens 3-1.440-8
3 Jean van Erp 3-1.350-10
4 Kenny Miatton 0-1.057-5.