HEERHUGOWAARD - The highlight of two-days so far in the Night of the Magic Balls didn't come from Semih Sayginer, in his always flashy exhibition, not from Dick Jaspers, the world champion, but from Eddy Merckx. The Belgian star player shone in an exhibition match against Dick Jaspers with a prolonged run of 30! The spectators were wildly enthusiastic. ''It was a super ambiance,'' Merckx beamed after the evening, which is going for its third and final session today, Saturday, at Hotel Heer Hugo in front of a sold-out crowd.
Dirk Snip, the organizer, who is also the director behind this week's Women's World Championship (20-22 September) and Junior World Championship (23-25 September) could not have wished for a better show. He couldn't believe his luck after the top run. ''What a crazy night,'' he reported in his reaction. ''Sometimes things happen that you can do absolutely nothing about as an organization. But how nice it is, when it happens in your event. It was a fantastic climax with 300 people in the arena, a full house, who were all very enthusiastic.''
The three-day Night of the Magic Balls only got more luster from it, because not only was Semih Sayginer the spectacular star and master of trickshots, but most of all, Merckx's performance, who scored 30 times without missing, was an improbable feat.
The little Belgian crack closed one set of 10 with a run of 8, started the next with 10, the next again with 10 and missed in the next set after 2 points. ''I made a run of 26 three times in my career,'' Merckx said. The official world record is in the name of four players, realized in one match, is at 28 (Komori, Ceulemans, Forthomme and Caudron). Merckx's prolonged run of 30 is not recognised as a record. Thursday night's showdown between Jaspers and Merckx ended 2-2 in sets, Merckx winning the penalty series.
Dirk Snip concludes the three-day event tonight and then starts the run-up to the two World Cup organisers. ''The one Eureka billiard table, from Harry Mathijssen, will go out on Sunday, 4 Verhoeven match tables will take its place.'' Moreover, some stands will go out of the arena to make more space for the billiard tables. ''There will be three of us working to get everything ready. And we have set ourselves up to welcome a nice big crowd. Ticket sales are very satisfactory.''
The women's World Cup will open the diptych on Tuesday 20 September, with 24 ladies playing for the world title over three days. This will be followed by the junior World Cup on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The venue is Hotel Heer Hugo in Heerhugowaard, North Holland.