TURNHOUT - The title of Biljart Express, in the Belgian three cushion league, was already celebrated when it was not yet official. The club owner Guy van Litsemborg ordered 140 sandwiches and champagne for 110 spectators and sponsors last Monday evening, when his team, led by Eddy Merckx, recorded a 7-1 victory over KBC Kortrijk. Only in the worst scenario, it could go wrong, but after BC Deurne had won 6-2 one day later against De Leug, the championship was definitely for Biljart Express. The team notched the title for the third time in its history after 2007 and 2010.
Eddy Merckx defeated Dave Christiani, Frans van Kuyk beat Ronny Brants, Gerwin Valentijn won his match against Martin Ravestyn and Martin Spoormans played a draw against Frédéric Beghin on the evening that was decisive. With two matches to go, the Turnhout team can no longer be overtaken by BC Deurne, the outgoing champion. The advantage, with 35 points out of 20, is four points on BC Deurne and eight on De Goeie Queue. Four teams are still fighting against relegation: De Leug, Zanzibar, De Ploeg and Biljartpalace. The good news: despite the legally lost matches, Mr. 100 Lier is virtually safe with 14 points out of 15 matches.
On the evening of the final matches, the predictions were mainly about next year's competition. Is the highest class considerably weakened by the transfer of a number of players to the Korean league? Who leaves and who ultimately does not, who are completely excluded from in all competitions by UMB suspensions? Will De Goeie Queue continue to exist? What's coming up for Mr. 100? Even good old Martin Spoormans, who is aware of many things in the field of billiards, does not even dare to speak about the near future. ''We will see if the Koreans will organize a tournament in June and who will participate. Only then we know which players will be suspended by the UMB.''