BLANKENBURGE - The tension was in the air, far before the climax was even there. First, peace and quiet filled the arena, but later sparks would fly during a match between Eddy Leppens and Patrick Niessen. It got so out of hand, that Leppens was issued an official warning by the referee, for unsportsmanlike conduct.
It was a blemish on this tournament day at the Multi's. ,,What am I to do about this, this will be a matter for the sports committee'', said Reginald Depoorter, the president, shaken. ,,We can't let this pass, this must end'', said Bennie van Goethem, the referee's coordinator, about Leppens' behavior.
And Patrick Niessen, the player who felt he was the victim in this: ,,It is the same thing every year with Leppens, and it's always against me. I have had it, I am not going to play on.''
Long before all that: Pascal Claus looked from the stands to the table where his main rival Kenny Miatton played his last match. ,,It depends on that match, which one of us will advance, said Claus. ,,I have three points from three matches, he has one point from two. So he needs to win, and then it's all about the average.''
Michel van Camp sat next to him, unsure of a place in the next round as well. Two played, two won in the other flight with Peter and Kurt Ceulemans and Dirk Weeremans.
His final opponent: Peter Ceulemans. Kurt had beaten Peter but was also on two match points, having lost to van Camp. In short: an exciting, still open flight.
Chances changed especially after Peter recovered in his second match, a win over Dirk Weeremans in twenty innings. ,,I need to beat Michel van Camp'', said Peter beforehand. And then, all would depend on the final match: Kurt Ceulemans - Dirk Weeremans.
Michel van Camp was not all at ease: ,,I truly love this game, but three matches in a row, that is a bit too much of a good thing. I may not be enough of a billiard player for that.''
In the arena, during a match that started tense before a single point had even been made, there was an incident that would have consequences later on. Eddy Leppens played Patrick Niessen in the balk-line 71/2, but got into a kerfuffle with referee Luc Germonpré, who announced a touching ball.
,,Please check again'', said Leppens. The referee did that, and was confident: ,,Touching ball.''
The player (Leppens) did not like it, and asked the ref to check again. The referee refused, and said: ,,I don't need to, I am certain.''
It turned into a little brouhaha, because Leppens did make the point with a pique and a few more, but then missed and went to the chair, gesturing and audibly complaining. The referee told Leppens to calm down, and when Leppens kept provoking him, issued an official warning.
That was not the end of it, because after Leppens had finished the match, the tournament directors once again notified him of the fact that the warning had been put on the score sheet, and would be a point of discussion on the next meeting of the sports committee.
Patrick Niessen meanwhile, blew off steam while pacing the casino. ,,It is always against me, every year he misbehaves and they let him get away with it'', said the balkline-specialist to everyone who would listen.
,,I am not going to play on here, I am sick of it'', he ranted. ,,This will not change, that guy will not change. There is a reason he never wins anything, even when he is such a good player.''
Billiards was still being played, when all that went on. Kenny Miatton won his match against Johan Claessen within the allowed number of innings (48) to stay ahead of Pascal Claus. It was rewarded with a second place finish in his flight, behind Eddy Merckx. Peter Ceulemans finished as the winner in the other group ahead of Michel van Camp, whom he defeated in the last match.