PARIS - The French team champion CetSi Morangis has treated its own audience in the league match against Villeneuve d'Ascq to a fantastic evening. The Belgian star player Eddy Merckx showed up in a world performance with a 50 carom-match in ten in which he made the last 49 points in six innings. The two times world champion had a poor start against his compatriot Martin Ravestyn with 0-0-1-0, but then started his briljant series of 7-21-10-4-0-7!!! That shows the form of the Belgian team leader for next week at the World championship for nation teams, where he makes a bed for the fifth consecutive title with Frédéric Caudron.
The 5.000 average match is a record in the French league. Eddy Merckx played the world record best match in the bundesliga: 50 in 6. This time, in Paris, he was very close tot hat, scoring 49 times in six, including a run of 21.
CetSi Morangis won the match against Villeneuve d'Ascq by the maximum score: 8-0. Eddy Leppens was a way too strong for Frédéric Beghin (50-32 in 27), Richard Bitalis defeated Georges Demos (50-23 in 36) and Jean Reverchon triumphed against Steve Dorard 50-17 in 35 innings.
The other match in the group between Saint Maur and Albert was important for a second ticket to get entrance to the playoffs. The Albert team was victorious (6-2) with an important win of Dion Nelin over Jean Christophe Roux: 50-36 in 26 innings. Cédric Melnytschenko defeated Louis Edelin 50-38 in 46, Kurt Ceulemans bested Thierry Roxo 50-43 in 47.
Jérémy Bury was after a strong second half the only winner for Saint Maur: the French number one had a better finish than Peter Ceulemans 50-43 in 29.
CetSi Morangis realized the great team average of 1.852 and is almost certainly qualified for the final phase.
The next round in Group A will be played on March 11 between Morangis and Albert. On March 26 Villeneuve d'Ascq and Saint-Maur meet each other.