As 4 Cubes 2023 title holder, the team of Brussels had the advantage of hosting the final of BGFed.be interclub competition, the much-coveted 4 Cubes. On Friday the 17th of January, Tennis Club ‘Le Roseau’ was the scene of an epic battle against Ghent, winner of the semi-final. 3 rounds of 4 players against 4 in 7-point matches (12 encounters, first to 7 to win) were completed in the evening.
The first round ended 2-2 with wins from Steven Hoeylaerts (Ghent) against Guy Van Middelem, from Bert Van Kerckhove (Ghent) against Paul van Dijke, Itzhak Solsky (Brussels) against Firat Tekil and Kristoffer De Weert (Brussels) against Geert Van der Stricht.
The second round was again 2-2 (making it 4-4) with Steven beating Itzhak, Guy wins vs Geert, Bert wins vs Kristoffer, Paul wins vs Firat. The third round started around 11.00 PM and quickly Ghent was leading 4-6 (Geert beating Paul, Firat winning vs Guy) looming at the trophy. But in a desperate effort to avoid bitterness, Brussels managed to come back at 6-6 (Kristoffer wins vs Steven and Itzhak wins narrowly vs Bert).
After midnight, it was all up for the last decisive encounter, a multiple consultation match to 5 points. It went double-pass (0-1 for Ghent), double-pass (0-2), double-pass (1-2), double-take – redouble-take and at the end, Kristoffer (Brussels) secured the 4 points, the match, and the encounter. Brussels’ dreams and joy, keeping the 4 Cubes, contrasted with Ghent’s nightmare and despair but a bottle of champagne brought both teams together around 01.30 in the middle of the night. See you this year for another final, who will take the gauntlet ?
– Guy Van Middelem
