BLANKENBERGE - The Belgian billiards championships in Blankenberge got a surprise champion in the women's event. Karolien Matthijs from Aalst beat the two top favorites Danielle le Bruyn and Jaimie Buelens at the Multi's to claim the title with six match points and an average just under a half: 0.425.
That was the outcome of a tournament in which she started with a win over Danielle le Bruyn (25-19 in 50 innings), lost her second game to Marie-Rose Rouffa, won over Jaimie Buelens (19-16 in 50) and finally won again in a thriller against Danielle le Bruyn 23-22 in 50 in the battle of the numbers 1 and 2. The champion, who used the full 50 innings for all her games, showed herself overjoyed on the podium.
Davy van Havere clinched the last group win in three-cushion on Friday. He will be joined to the knock-outs by Thomas Broux. Van Havere put himself among the favorites for the title with an unbeaten record and 1.518 on average. Ronny Brants was surprisingly eliminated.
Brants lost his second and third to Davy van Havere and Thomas Broux 40-32 and 40-16 and is a podium contender who was eliminated in the early stages.
Saturday's schedule in the first knockouts:
Saturday, January 13:
15.30:
Peter De Backer-Martin Spoormans
Jef Philipoom-Davy van Havere
18.30:
Johan Loncelle-Dirk Weeremans
Eddy Merckx-Henk Blauwblomme
21.00:
Peter Ceulemans-Philippe
Roland Forthomme-Wesley de Jaeger
Steven van Acker-Bart Ceulemans-Vandendriessche
Thomas Broux-Danny Wuyts
Ladies final ranking:
- Karolien Matthys (KBC Ons Huis) 6-0.425-4
- Danielle Le Bruyn 4-0.542-6
- Jaimie Buelens 4-0.505-5
- Marie-Rose Rouffa 2-0.312-4
The standings in Group H:
- Davy van Havere 6-1,518-6
- Thomas Broux 4-1,159-6
- Ronny Brants 2-1,047-7
- Marc Celen 0-0.686-5
The schedule on Saturday at the Multi's in the Casino of Blankenberge starts at 10.00 am with one cushion and the juniors, continues with 47/1 (13.00), the first 1/8th finals in three-cushion at 15.30 and 18.30 and finally the four last games of the 1/8th finals at 21.00.
All matches can be seen live on Kozoom.
The ladies podium with Karolien Matthys who beat the top favorites Danielle le Bruyn and Jaimie Buelens