SINT TRUIDEN - The Belgian top in three cushion, led by Eddy Merckx, who won the World Cup in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam last Sunday, is showing up for the Belgian championship on Saturday and Sunday (4 and 5 June). The tournament is organized by the Sint Truidense BA with sixteen players having qualified in the preliminary round with 32 players. The favorites for the title are on the basis of the averages played in the qualification: Peter Ceulemans with 2.285, Steven van Acker with 1.739, Eddy Merckx with 1.558, Roland Forthomme with 1.552, Kurt Ceulemans with 1.690 and Jef Philipoom with 1.608.
For years, the championship was part of the Belgian Multi Championship, which was cancelled and rescheduled this year. The Sint Truidense Biljaracademie was founded in 1977. Its president is 89-year-old Guy Kuppens, who unfortunately has not been at the club since the Covid crisis. The club is now led by a daily board with Johnny Sacré, vice-president, Benny Beelen, secretary and Patrick Engelbos, finance.
On Saturday, the Belgian Championship starts at 13.00 with the eighth finals. The quarter finals are at 17.00 and 19.00, the semi-finals Sunday at 13.00 and the final at 17.00.
The match schedule in the first round:
Steven van Acker-Ronny Brants
Francis Forton-Marco Janssen
Roland Forthomme-Dirk Weeremans
Peter Ceulemans-Wesley de Jaeger
Jef Philipoom-Martin Spoormans
Eddy Merckx-Davy van Havere
Kurt Ceulemans-Mathy Monnissen
Peter De Backer-Andy de Bondt.
The matches will be broadcast live by kozoom.com
The sixteen players who qualified in the groups of four and the moyennes:
Group in Eeklo:
1 Steven van Acker 1.739
2 Andy de Bondt 1.224
Group at Op de Meir:
1 Peter De Backer 1.350
2 Ronny Brants 1.326
Group T's Place
1 Francis Forton 1.126
2 Mathy Monnissen 0.795
Group Mister 100:
1 Kurt Ceulemans 1.690
3 Marco Janssen 1.402
Group Fecher:
1 Roland Forthomme 1.552
2 Davy van Havere 1.432
Group De Witte Molen:
1 Eddy Merckx 1.558
2 Dirk Weeremans 1.057
Group Op de Meir:
1 Peter Ceulemans 2,285
2 Martin Spoormans 1.345
Group Brugse:
1 Jef Philipoom 1.608
2 Wesley de Jaeger 1.231.