TRABZON - The match was a torture so far, it seemed like Eddy Merckx could step on an early plan back home. The Belgian world number four looked a little excited when his opponent, the Colombian Julian Moralis, had won two sets in a very short time. Two sets ahead and Merckx in great trouble.
The little Belgian, known for his unflappable nature and unprecedented fighting spirit, then overwon his setback and found his rhythm, he took the next three sets en won the final set even 15-1, just to show that his opponent was beaten softened.
,,I surely had my doubts when I was 2-0 behind'', Merckx said later. ,,In the short break, luckily I met Eddy Leppens in the billiard room. He inspired me to forget the two sets and had to catch up. I started believing in my chances and have fought to the last ball. It was ultimately rewarded by the victory.''
Eddy Merckx now will meet his compatriot Jef Philipoom tomorrow instead of loosing valuable points. ,, Jef is always dangerous'', he realized looking forward to that game. ,,I have won some major matches against him, but also lost some, because Jef can beat everyone, he's a very strong player.''
The former bartender Eddy Merckx, who last year left his billiard cafe and built a new house with a wonderful billiard room, even looks stronger over the past years. He is the former world champion, European champion, winner of two World Cups in Barendrecht and Matosinhos, is the Belgian champion for the moment, has a lot of other titles and is already for a long time in the top five of the world.
,,I have a few nice peaks on my list of honor'', he says modestly. And to the question if he finds himself primarily more a stable and very steady player at the top than big winners such as Dick Jaspers, Frédéeric Caudron and Torbjörn Blomdahl, he replies: ,,They are already a bit older than me, so of course they have bigger honor roll.''
In the billiard room at the Novotel he watched the last session tonight. It was no coincidence that he and Eddy Leppens, one of his friends in the circuit, were together in the stands, to cheer for Frédéric Caudron in his match with Ruben Legazpi.
What did they talk about? Merckx: ,,I think about that match in the afternoon, how I had to fight after that 2-0 behind and take the win. I must think about the final match in the Belgian championship against Caudron. We were 2-2 in sets, I was 12-1 behind in the fifth and I still won the championship.''
Typical Eddy Merckx, typically the fighter who never gives up.