3-Cushion
ZUNDERT - The kick off of the Christmas tournament in Zundert, today (Friday) at 12.00, is the continuation of a long tradition in billiards. At the end of this year, from 27 to 30 December, the 37th annual four-day tournament is played, in which almost all top players from the Netherlands and Belgium meet in a friendly atmosphere.
Which tournaments in the world can refer to such a long tradition? The tournament between Christmas and New Year started in 1977 as a mini-pentathlon with the best players from Belgium and the Netherlands. The field had the quality of a World championship in all disciplines, because the best all round players came from these two countries. The German Dieter Müller was the only one who could break through.
The pentathlon lasted until 1989, thirteen editions all together. Then the organization switched to the more popular three cushion discipline. The last pentathlon winner was Frédéric Caudron, who at 21 years of age claimed the victory claimed ahead of Ludo Dielis and Dick Jaspers. The current world champion was also the record holder in the tournament series from 1990 until 2012 in three cushion. Caudron won nine times.
It is not only the Belgians and Dutch who compete in Zundert. The host, in Biljartcentrum Den Hoek from former top player Louis Havermans, invites a foreign top player for several years. Last year it was Turk Tayfun Tasdemir, who was nearly to the final. He only lost to Eddy Merckx in the semis. Frédéric Caudron, the winner, crowned his victory with a record average: 2.172.
Tayfun Tasdemir has also been invited this year. He showed his excellent form a few weeks ago in the World Cup in Hurghada, where he lost to Eddy Merckx.
The match between the Belgians and Dutch players, of course, is the big focus in this tournament. The homeland sends eight starters to the race, the Belgians are with seven, but have the better-known stars in their ranks.
In the first place, of course, Frédéric Caudron, the world champion this year, the world's number one and the player of the year 2013. Furthermore, Eddy Merckx, World Cup winner of Hurghada, and three times winner in Zundert. Roland Forthomme, the current Belgian champion and Eddy Leppens already for weeks in fantastic form and recent winner of an invitational tournament in Barcelona. Jef Philipoom, Peter Ceulemans and Martin Spormans complete the Belgian team.
The Dutch are forwarded by their champion Jean Paul de Bruijn, followed by the European team champion Raimond Burgman. The younger generation is represented by Barry van Beers, Glenn Hoffman, Jean van Erp and Dave Christiani. Gerwin Valentijn and Frans van Kuyk, both from St. Willibrord are two veterans and Brabant public players.
The system is unchanged, according to the tradition: sixteen players are divided into groups of four, in which all players meet. The top two from each group advances to the knockout phases with eight players.
The matches are played to 50 points with a clock time of 40 seconds. In the final match there is an innovation added to the Christmas tournament: the two players, battling for the win, play to 75 points. It should be the climax of the year.
All matches will be broadcast live on Kozoom.com. On the opening day, today, Friday, the images are free for all members, even without premium pass. The pass is required from Saturday until the final.
The group formats:
Group A: Roland Forthomme, Frans van Kuyk, Jean van Erp, Dave Christiani.
Group B: Tayfun Tasdemir, Eddy Leppens, Barry van Beers, Glenn Hoffman.
Group C: Frédéric Caudron, Raimond Burgman, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Martin Spoormans.
Group D: Eddy Merckx, Jef Philipoom, Peter Ceulemans, Gerwin Valentine.