ZUNDERT - On the last qualification day in the BHV Christmas tournament in Zundert, two places are left for a place in the top eight. Two groups will play today (Sunday, 14.00 and 16.00) the last session of the preliminaries. Frédéric Caudron, Raimond Burgman, Eddy Merckx and Peter Ceulemans need a win to qualify.
Jean Paul de Bruijn and Jef Philipoom had already advanced to the final round after two matches in their groups. They were joined Group A last night by Roland Forthomme in Group B by Tayfun Tasdemir as group winners and by Dave Christiani and Barry van Beers as seconds in these groups. Eddy Leppens' last attack to be saved, after his slow start (bad loss against Barry van Beers), was repulsed by Tayfun Tasdemir. The Turk and the Belgian fought until the last caroms: Tasdemir needed a draw, Leppens a win.
The amazing start of Leppens (with a nine run) was countered by Tasdemir in the middle of the match. In the dying seconds, Leppens finished as first, Tasdemir needed two in the equalizer and scored flawlessly: 50-50. As a result, Tasdemir was the group winner with five points and 1.470 average, ahead of Barry van Beers with four points and 1.693 and Eddy Leppens with three points and 1.661. Glenn Hoffman remained winless at the bottom.
Roland Forthomme overtook the two leaders in his group, Dave Christiani and Jean van Erp, in the final round by a victory over Jean van Erp (50-43 in 34). Dave Christiani lost to Frans van Kuijk (50-46 in 38), but qualified with a better average than Van Erp. Roland Forthomme was the winner with four points and 1.484, second was Christiani with three points and 1.417, Jean van Erp third with three points and 1.361. Frans van Kuijk finished last with two points and 1.333.
This afternoon (Sunday) matches:
Group C (14.00):
Burgman-Caudron (winner qualifies, Burgman is in the final round with a draw).
De Bruijn-Spoormans (De Bruijn has already qualified).
Group D (16.00) :
Merckx-Peter Ceulemans (winner qualifies, with a draw Merckx is in top eight).
Philipoom-Valentine (Philipoom already in final round).