MAGDEBURG - It is Sunday, April 7, 2:30 pm when Dick Jaspers, the world star on the Magdeburg team, finishes his match with a victory. In the Magdeburg billiard room, history is written: the 1.BC Magdeburg 1950 is the new champion in Germany. Around 40 club fans start singing, 'We are the champions'. The players fall into each other's arms and show their joy. The first comment comes from Dick Jaspers ''It took eight years for this.'' He means to say that he is playing for Magdeburg for eight years now. For the club itself, it is the first national title in 69-year history and therefore the biggest success in club history.
The champion quartet with Dick Jaspers, Dion Nelin, Markus Schönhoff and Michael Puse had to give it their all on the last days of play to pass BC Stuttgart in the last weekend. The opponent, Velbert, already relegated on Saturday, was defeated with a big 8-0 score. Michael Puse won with a big difference against Klingberg (40-4 in 17), Markus Schönhoff against Torsten Anders (40-34 in 46). Dick Jaspers defeated Ismael Yasin in the second round 40-17 in 13 and Dion Nelin beat Simanowski 40-23 in 19. And because the only competitor, BC Stuttgart, finished with a draw in Bergisch Gladbacher, Magdeburg could raise the champion flag. For Stuttgart, Tasdemir won vs Soumagne 40-29 in 20 and Coklu lost to Peter Ceulemans 40-37 in 20. Frings defeated Jäschke (40-33 in 27) and Raspel won vs Durdu (40-23 in 23).
There was also some happiness in Berlin, where BC International, close to the last places on the ranking, even climbed to fourth place with two victories. Martin Horn showed his high class with a wonderful win over Eddy Merckx: 40-20 in 13.
The double weekend had a poor last day for Velbert, that goes down after two defeats and the victory of Bottrop against Witten. Bottrop, with the Belgians Ronny Brants and Francis Forton, managed to save the competition in the last matches. For BC Munich, the season ended with a nice third place. The team played a draw against Bergisch-Gladbach with Peter Ceulemans as the best player in 21 innings. He won against Schirmbrand 40-24.
The BC Magdeburg is the successor of BCC Witten as champion. The two teams promoted last year, Merklinde and Velbert, have been relegated.