3-Cushion
BERCULO - Hello... any billiard fans in the room coming from Dick Jaspers town? The MC from The Hague wanted to know, right before the semi-finals of the Masters, whether Jaspers would be cheered by his fans in his match against Jean van Erp. Only one finger popped up inside the arena, from Paul Brekelmans, the referee. So, Dick Jaspers had to do it all on his own on this Saturday night of the Masters. ,,Any billiard fans from Heeswijk-Dinther, Jean van Erp's village?'' When the speaker asked, all hell broke loose up in the stands: twenty, thirty local supporters of Jean van Erp and thirty in the room itself loudly shouted for the home player. The show was on the road, the heat was on in the Brabant bump between the two 2016 world champions with the Orange team.
Dick Jaspers looked around, half amused, was preparing for a tough fight and was ready to take off. That's what he immediately showed to Jean van Erp and his fan club. Two innings into it, a 19-1 lead (13 and 6) was on the score board. Jaspers needed four innings for the quick break (22-4) and one guy in the crowd spoke softly: we will have to bribe Jaspers, for Jean will never be able to win this match. The score was 28-4 right after the break, then Jean van Erp could strike back for the first time, eventually to 34-14 in eleven innings, with an eight run and after a few lucky shots (34-22). The fan club woke up, but at the end, their favourite had to accept Dick Jaspers' mastery, 40-27 in 17 innings.
Glenn Hofman and Raimond Burgman took off for a much slower start (12-5 after 7) with the first attack coming from Hofman, 23-11 in 17 innings. The score was decisive, because Burgman had a rare off-day. The Hague player triumphed with room to spare: 40-17 in 33.
The first knock-outs on Saturday afternoon were the run-up to the semi-finals. Jean Paul de Bruijn and Glenn Hofman faced in a wonderful match. The 'Zeeuw' was much better at the start, leading 22-8 (15), but then had a little hick-up and was severely punished for that. With small runs, 5, 3, 4 and 7, Hofman came to the lead for the first time (28-27). De Bruijn again ran out to 37-32, but then, Hofman attacked with 8 to the end. The equalizer was an anti-climax for De Bruijn: he scored twice and missed his third.
Jean van Erp was the best man in that round against Martien van der Spoel, who seemed to have naughty plans in his opening: with an 8 run to 17-12. But from then, the Heeswijk express rolled over his opponent, 40-24 in 17.
Raymond Burgman expressed his routine against Jerry Herman (40-18 in 25). Dick Jaspers attacked with a blistering 12 against Dave Christiani and then was no longer threatened: 40-25 in 20.
The final match Sunday at 13.00, live on Kozoom:
Dick Jaspers-Glenn Hofman.
