LIER - He remained humble as always, Steven van Acker, even though he had just won his greatest victory in his career in a final match against Eddy Merckx. The 38-year-old Belgian, a pur sang amateur, won the Super Cup in Belgium this Saturday night, a glorious day in his career. It was his first ever major success in a great event. ’’I happened to make the almost highest run of my career in this final. That made the difference.'' Steven van Acker triumphed and outplayed Eddy Merckx after a double: runs of 18 and 7 in the 13th and 14th innings. The final score: 50-30.
Never before did the East Fleming win a major tournament, only some places of honor. Steven van Acker may have played for teams in four countries, but he never could win a title. He only won the Dutch cup with Dallinga from Sluiskil.
Furthermore, Steven van Acker plays for the teams of Brugge in Belgium, Douarnenez in France and Bergisch Gladbach in Germany. ’’I have my work and my family,'' says the father of two daughters (Noor and Linde aged 11 and 13) and one son (Daan aged 8). Steven van Acker works as a team coach in MCC Verstrate's printing office, where he has a full-time job. ’’I would like to play more tournaments, but I don't have enough free days for that. This year, I’m only competing in the World Cup in Veghel, my last World Cup I played before was in Blankenberge. And apart from Veghel, I will only play the leagues, the BTS tournaments and the Belgian championship. I feel perfectly happy in this life, and of course it feels great to win such a big tournament.''
It is the best Steven van Acker has ever shown, he assures. ''Mainly because of those two highlights in the final, but otherwise I played very consistently.'' Because after an unbeaten preliminary round, Van Acker won in the quarter-finals against Andy de Bondt (50-16 in 25), in the semi-finals against Jef Philipoom (50-37 in 37) and finally so against Eddy Merckx with 50-30 in 16: 3.125 on average.
Also on the Supercup podium were Eddy Merckx, Jef Philipoom, who lost in the semis to Steven van Acker, and Davy van Havere, who lost in the semis to Eddy Merckx 50-33 in 34.
Steven van Acker told us about the final match: ’’Eddy started very strongly, but after the break I had the run of balls. I was lucky with the positions and was able to score a lot. So with that 18 and 7 in two innings as a big outlier and decision for the win.'' It was not the highest run in his career: once in Sluiskil, Van Acker scored a 19 against Eddy Leppens.
Two more notable results in the run-up to the finals: Davy van Havere beat Roland Forthomme 50-25 in 21, Jef Philipoom beat Peter Ceulemans 50-46 in 28.
The final ranking of the Supercup (average, high runs):
- Steven van Acker 1.607-18
- Eddy Merckx 1.506-14
- Jef Philipoom 1,417-12
- Davy van Havere 1.141-14
- Roland Forthomme 1,933-13
- Peter Ceulemans 1.387-9
- Kurt Ceulemans 1,000-5
- Andy de Bondt 1.312-8
The final players for the title: Steven van Acker (right) and Eddy Merckx.