HERSTALIEN – The Belgian team premier league was looking forward to the top-match between Herstalien and Biljart Express last Friday evening. The winner of that encounter would become the new leader in the battle between five top teams. Biljart Express won the away match 2-6 and now leads the table with 11 points out of 7. The match concluded with a duel between Roland Forthomme and Eddy Merckx. The home team's captain won the high-quality match 40-34 in 16 innings (2.500 and 2.125 averages). That didn't affect the overall victory, because Frans van Kuyk (40 in 29), Gerwin Valentijn (40 in 47) and Martin Spoormans (40 in 35) won the matches for Biljart Express against Thomas Broux, Dany Boutet, and Christophe Wyn. Wyn had the best run of the evening with 10.
The battle for the top continues unabated, with five teams within two points. With its victory, Biljart Express leapfrogged BC Op de Meir, Mister 100 and BC De Witte Molen, who each had 10 points after this week's play. Biljart Express narrowly surpassed them with 11, they are followed by Herstalien with 9 points. The middle group consists of T's Place with 8, Koninklijke Brugse with 7, and DBC De Leug and BC Zevenbergen with 6. Among the five top teams, Op de Meir lost a notable point against Kortrijkse, thanks in part to a strong Ronny Brants, who defeated Jef Philipoom 40-35 in 22 on center court. Barry van Beers, in second place, defeated Philip Vandendriessche 40-33 in 30.
Mister 100, without its captain Peter Ceulemans, returned empty-handed from the away match against De Leug, where Jeffrey Jorissen and Davy van Havere were the strong leaders against Kurt Ceulemans and Jerry Hermans, scoring 40 in 27 and 29. Therese Klompenhouwer defeated Bart Ceulemans 40-35 in 40.
BC De Witte Molen defeated Brugse 7-1, with Johan Loncelle by far the strongest. The best winner was against Henk Blauwblomme 40-29 in 21 innings. Ad Broeders and Bart Leys drew in 36 innings.
BC Zevenbergen surprisingly held T's Place from a full victory in a home match, with Marc Roofthooft winning against Peter De Backer 40-39 in 39 innings. Rudy de Laet was the other winner for Zevenbergen against Huub Wilkowski 40-15 in 26 innings. The Dutchman, who shone with a run of 15 at the Grand Prix in Capelle this week, had an off day for his Belgian team.
BC De Ploeg and Mister 100 2 shared the points in the lower regions with wins for De Ploeg by Dustin Jäschke and Stef van Hees in 33 and 37 innings, and for Mister 100 Marc Celen and Erwin Hens in 33 and 42 innings.
Standings after 7 rounds:
- Biljart Express 11, 1.362
- Op de Meir 10, 1.269
- Mister 100 10, 1.162
- De Witte Molen 10, 1.034
- Herstalien 9, 1.232
- T's Place 8, 1.197
- Brugse 7, 1.013
- De Leug 6, 1.080
- Zevenbergen 6, 1.039
- Kortrijkse 3-0.993
- De Ploeg 2, 1.005
- Mister 100 2-2, 0.934
Next week's schedule:
Monday, November 17:
Biljart Express-Zevenbergen
De Ploeg-Mister 100 1
Herstalien-De Leug
Tuesday:
T's Place-De Witte Molen
Op de Meir-Brugse
Wednesday:
Mister 100 2-Kortrijk