MERKSEM - The title race has almost been decided in the Belgian three cushion league after Monday night: BC Deurne, with Torbjörn Blomdahl as its lead player, showed itself superior in the home match against De Goeie Queue (8-0) in a crowded house. BC Deurne is about to take the title of the team with Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Merckx. The league has two more rounds to go, BC Deurne is two points ahead of its main rival. The battle for the two relegation places is still going on.
There was also some very interesting transfer news after the top match was played: Torbjörn Blomdahl is leaving BC Deurne and is looking for a big Korean media, tv- and pr adventure. ,,The main idea is that I plan to be there for several months in a year. That's why I can't play in the competitions in Europe, except in the countries with playoffs.''
For now it is not for sure that Eddy Merckx leaves De Goeie Queue, though he is interested in a transfer. Frédéric Caudron: ,,We have told Eddy at the World championship in Viersen that he may look for another team if there is an attractive offer, but he can also stay with us if he wants.''
The clash between BC Deurne and De Goeie Queue was already in favour of the home team before the break. Davy van Havere defeated Jerry Hermans (42-35 in 37) and Jean van Erp outplayed Jean Paul de Bruijn (42-40 in 27 ). The climax followed in the second part with Blomdahl's sparkling start against Caudron (44 in 12) and a strong final shot of Philipoom against Merckx.
The championship is not yet officially decided for BC Deurne. The team, with Ludo Dielis as the non-playing captain, has still two matches to go: at home against De Ploeg and at home against Zanzibar. ,,We take the title when we win 6-2 against De Ploeg next week'', Dielis calculated quickly after the last caroms.
The billiard atmosphere was perfect in De Deken, on Monday night for the match that should be decisive for the title. The two leaders had equal after 19 rounds. Many spectators, even from the Netherlands, came over to see the match.
The clash turned into an unexpected show down with the maximum win for the home team. Torbjörn Blomdahl and Frédéric Caudron both had a lightning start (16-15 in 3), then Blomdahl attacked from 28-19 with a run of 11 to 39-19 in eleven innings and 44-28 in the next innings. Caudron showed his best at the end, but eventually had to bow: 50-39 in 20.
Jef Philipoom approached the final part against Eddy Merckx when the score was already 6-0. But still he fought as if his life depended on it: in the last innings both players were close to the win: Philipoom missed his first matchball after a brilliant carom at 49-48, but took it in the next inning by 50-48 in 31.
Before the break, the match between Jean van Erp and Jean Paul de Bruijn took the spotlights. The home player finished at 42-35 in the 27th inning. De Bruijn went for the equalizer, seemed to be on his way to a draw after five, but missed by a mis cue for his 41st point. ,,There was some tension, of course, and I forced to make the point'', he explained himself.
BC Deurne will take over the title almost certainly from De Goeie Queue, that took it in 2015 in its strongest line-up with Caudron, Jaspers, Merckx and De Bruijn. Davy van Havere: ,,I think this is BC Deurne's third title in six years. We took it in the recent years with Jaspers and Merckx.''
Torbjörn Blomdahl came to Deurne two years ago and feels very much at home. ,,I didn't play a fantastic year, losing against Caudron, Forthomme and Leppens, and draws against Horn and Leppens, but I played my normal average and could contribute to the title. I may be satisfied for this year.''
The Swede has already announced that he will leave the team, because he has great plans to continue his career next year. ,,I will try to be in Korea for a long time, looking for a contract, as HaengJik Kim did for three years with a big sponsor. Then I'll have to be there for many months in a year. And that's why I can not play competitions, such as in Belgium and Germany, because I have my obligations. I don't like to live as a gipsy anymore, travelling around to all the competitions.''
There is not yet an agreements with a Korean sponsor so far. Torbjörn: ,, But I see opportunities there to do wonderful things. Talk-shows, pr, video's, tv-work and of course, also play the big tournaments. Before we play the World Cup in Vietnam, I will be in Korea for a couple of weeks to see what is possible. I take a bet, I know, like leaving BC Deurne and being a substitute in Germany for next year. But I have a great confidence that I can succeed and make a nice future in Korea.''
Torbjörn Blomdahl before his match against Frédéric Caudron in Deurne
Davy van Havere and Jean van Erps, winners for Deurne in the top match