LIER - The two title contenders in the Belgian team league are still in the battle for the championship until the last few weeks. The margin is minimal, when Mr. 100 Lier, the front runner, still has three matches to play and Op de Meir five matches to go. Mr. 100 showed up in two matches this week, winning 6-2 against Zanzibar and drawing 4-4 against BC De Leug. Op de Meir won the catch-up match against Den Eik 5-3. Mister 100 has a five point lead (31 out of 19), with two more matches played than Op de Meir (26 out of of 17).
The final calendar shows the following matches for the two top teams:
Mr. 100 at home against De Witte Molen, out to Op de Meir and Biljart Express.
Op de Meir at home against De Ploeg, De Leug, Mr. 100 and out to De Witte Molen and Zanzibar.
That match, Op de Meir-Mr. 100 could well be decisive for the championship, barring any unexpected slip-ups.
Mister 100 won this week's match against Zanzibar 6-2 by victories of Peter Ceulemans against Roland Forthomme (40-33 in 22), Kurt Ceulemans against Pierre Soumagne (40-33 in 30) and Jerry Hermans against Andy de Bondt (40-33 in 24). The only win for Zanzibar came from Kenny Miatton against Bart Ceulemans, 40-24 in 24.
Then, Mr. 100 shared the match points with De Leug, in a match in which Peter Ceulemans excelled against Johan Loncelle with a riant score: 40-13 in 19. Jerry Hermans, in a great form, grabbed the other win for the leader against Frank de Groof (40-19 in 24). The lost games of Mr. 100 came from Kurt Ceulemans (against Wesley de Jaeger 40-32 in 34) and Bart Ceulemans (against Jens van Dam 40-24 in 23, an excellent match of the Dutchman).
Op de Meir caught up against Den Eik and just kept the maximum win for themselves. That was due to Roland Uijtdewillegen and Ivan Stitschinsky, who were first to finish against Ludo Dielis (40-22 in 22) and Jef Gijzels (40-35 in 41). Davy van Havere took a two-point lead in a close finish against Barry van Beers (40-38 in 31) and the decisive factor for the two match points was Peter De Backer's draw against Jean van Erp: 40-40 in 24.
Marc Verhaegen from Op de Meir: in a close race with Mr. 100