The ranking after one week of play in the Belgian league for teams has turned upside down for the time being. The champion Op de Meir started with a loss against DC De Leug (5-3), the former champion Biljart Express was beaten by BC Den Eik 6-2 and the runner up from last season, Mr. 100 Lier, made a half miss against the promoted second team of Mr. 100 (4-4). The leaders after one round are BC Den Eik, DC De Leug, Billiard Promotion Team and De Witte Molen. The first blow in the highest class was dealt by Driebanden Club De Leug, which made its first out match to the champions of Op de Meir and immediately showed up for a stunt victory. Frenchman Pierre Soumagne eventually pulled off the maximum win, when in his match against Jef Philipoom, the new leader of Op de Meir, he made two points in the equalizer. That brought the final score to 5-3 after wins for De Leug by Huub Wilkowski against Roland Uijtdewillegen (40-23 in 19, 2.105 on average) and Kenny Miatton against Marc Roofthooft (40-34 in 38). Wesley de Jager, team captain at De Leug, was beaten by Barry van Beers, who shone with 40-23 in 25 and the highest run of the week with 14.
BC De Leug, which surprised with the tactics in which Jeffrey Jorissen and Johan Loncelle play in teams 2 and 3, launched the competition. BC Den Eik apparently also wants to be among the title contenders, Herstalien defeated KBC Kortrijk (5-3) and is off to a promising start, the same as De Witte Molen with a win over TBA Biljartpalace (6-2) and Billiard Promotion Team, with Jean Paul de Bruijn as its leader, kicked off with a win in the away match against Koninklijke Brugse (6-2).
BC Den Eik did not face Biljart Express in full strength, because Gerwin Valentijn was absent due to a Grand Prix in the Netherlands. TBA missed young Dutchman Kay de Zwart, who became the proud father of Jaydé de Zwart this week. That's why he missed the match against De Witte Molen.
Eddy Merckx fired up his team's with the best game of the round. He beat his former teammate Frans van Kuyk 40-30 in 19 innings. Huub Wilkowski equalled that best game in his match for De Leug by beating Roland Uijtdewillegen in 19 innings.
For Den Eik also Davy van Havere played an excellent match against Guy van Litsenborg, who he defeated 40-16 in 21 innings. Jean van Erp won against Martin Spoormans 40-32 in 34 innings and secured the win for his team.
Herstalien emerged victorious from the always difficult away match against KBC Kortrijk thanks to Roland Forthomme, Frédéric Mottet and Danny Boutet. After victories by Forthomme (40-35 in 34 against Ronny Brants) and Frédéric Mottet (40-20 in 29 against Martin Ravestyn), Danny Boutet's made a draw against Philippe Vandendriessche (40-40 in 37), that was decisive for the 5-3 victory. For the Kortrijk home team, only Frédéric Beghin won against Paul Wallerand 40-34 in 31.
Billiard Promotion Team made its debut in the highest division by a 6-2 win in Bruges. Koen Saver was the only winner for the home team against Peter Meersman (40-27 in 31). Jean Paul de Bruijn was the better of Steven van Acker, his teammate in the Netherlands, 40-27 in 25. Danny Geysen was a strong winner over Henk Blauwblomme 40-38 in 26.
De Witte Molen took the win against TBA thanks after wins by Tom Löwe (40-37 against Frank Martens in 37 innings), Dirk Weeremans (40-29 in 42 against Hendrickx) and Ad Broeders (40-25 in 36 against Spijkers).
And finally, on Wednesday evening there was the derby between Mr. 100 Lier 1 and Mr. 100 Lier 2. There, in the Ceulemans stronghold, it seemed to go to a quick win for the main force. Jerry Hermans launched the evening with a victory over Leslie van Neyen (40-29 in 39). Bart Ceulemans, today in negotiations for his company with the prime minister about bakeries, defeated Erwin Hens 40-35 in 43.
But what a surprising turn the match took in the second half, late on Wednesday night. In the sensation of the evening, the leaders Peter and Kurt Ceulemans were beaten by Paul Bruijstens and Marc Celen. Dutchman Bruijstens defeated Peter with 40-37 in 31, Marc Celen won the plea against Kurt 40-36 in 40.
Huub Wilkowski, together with Eddy Merckx best player in the first round of playing