ZUNDERT - They didn't play the best match ever against each other, even not by far, because if the two Belgians play offensive, they can rise to high levels. This afternoon, in the final group match, the main weapons were tactics and strategy. They only thing that was important, was seeding for the quarters. Roland Forthomme showed himself the strongest and defeated Peter de Backer 50-40 in 42 innings. ,,Actually we have defended from the beginning'', Forthomme looked back. ,,Even when we had an open position, it wasn't easy to make high runs.''
The match was in balance until the thirteenth inning, although Forthomme had a better start. He was leading 21-9 after ten innings, then De Backer came back, but between the sixteenth and twentieth inning Forthomme made the gap.
He enters the quarter finals with four match points, as second in his group behind Martin Spoormans. The 61-year veteran was the only one with the maximum match points so far. He defeated Jean van Erp this afternoon, after leading 30-12 midway, but at the arrival there was only one point left of his advantage.
The quarter-finals this afternoon more than likely are
Frédéric Caudron-Harrie van de Ven
Martin Spoormans-Peter Ceulemans or Raimond Burgman
Eddy Leppens-Barry van Beers
Eddy Merckx-Roland Forthomme