3-Cushion
OOSTERHOUT - The best three cushions teams in the Netherlands are preparing for the final event of the billiards season. The formerly famous billiards hall of De De Bussel in Oosterhout gets back on stage and opens its doors for the Dutch cup final for teams this week. The national champion Eureka Billard, Buffalo.nl, Dallinga.com and Medisch Centrum Breda are among the favorites in the eight-team field. In addition to the Jumbo Cup finale, the organization is presenting three billiard events: a billiard fair, an interland Netherlands-Belgium and a three-country tournament 5 pins.
The Jumbo Cup finale is coming up after a long run of competitions throughout the country, in which the eight finalists have qualified for the final round. Many national top players like Jean van Erp, Raimond Burgman, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Dave Christiani, Glenn Hofman and Therese Klompenhouwer show up with their teams. A number of foreign players, playing in the Dutch league, also come into action: Frédéric Caudron, Murat Naci Coklu, Roland Forthomme, Peter Ceulemans, Martin Spoormans and Richard Bitalis are the best known.
Theater De Bussel also hosts some other billiards events from 31 to 4 June. There is a billiard fair in the lobby with all kinds of billiards equipment available. On this trade fair floor, the federation of Carom presents a promotional four-country tournament 5-pins from 2 to 4 June with participation of two Belgians, Netherlands and German players. The intention is to make the Dutch billiards public aware of this discipline.
For the cup final, starting on Wednesday and ending on Saturday, four Eureka match tables are set up in the matchroom with 400 seats.
At the end of a long weekend, the interland Netherlands-Belgium will be played on the 4th of June in the big theater hall. Three cushion players from both countries, in specially formed teams of six, come into action, including Dick Jaspers, Dave Christiani, Raimond Burgman and Jean van Erp for the Netherlands. Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Merckx, Roland Forthomme and Eddy Leppens play for Belgium. In both teams a youth player and a lady are also in the line-up: for the Netherlands Joey de Kok and Therese Klompenhouwer, for Belgium Jaimie Buelens and Dylan Parent.
Bennie Deegens, chairman of the three-cushion, fully supports the initiative of the BEN (Billiard Events Netherlands): ,,Many billiard lovers still know De Bussel from the World Cups played there. After the beautiful event of the Masters in Berlicum, the cup final is a new challenge for the board and the organizers.
Ad Smout and Harry Mathijssen (BEN); ,,This tournament gives us a new inspiration after the Masters to present three cushion in the Netherlands in a professional setting. The billiard mecca in Oosthout will revive again. And the entrance is free, to attract many people.''
The teams for the Jumbo Cup Final:
Group A:
Eureka Billard (Dave Christiani, Raimond Burgman, John Tijssens, Henk Habraken)
Buffalo.nl (Glenn Hofman, Jean van Erp, Jeffrey Jorissen, Herman van Daalen)
TOVV/Royal Pro (Birol Uymas, Martin Spoormans, Frans van Schaik, Richard Bitalis, Danny Molier)
BC Arnhem (Murat Gökmen, Ramazan Durdu, Karel Brand, Rudy Gerritsen, Martijn Egberts).
Group B:
Medisch Centrum Breda (Roland Forthomme, Peter Ceulemans, Barry van Beers, Raymon Groot)
Dallinga.com (Frédéric Caudron, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Steven van Acker, Bart Ceulemans, Patrick Vasseur)
Bousema Lochem (Murat Naci Coklu, Stefan Galla, Markus Galla, Harrie van de Ven, Therese Klompenhouwer)
'T Hartje van Wanrooy (Davy van Havere, Ad Choir, Frank Martens, Ad Brothers, Wim van Cromvoirt).
The cup final:
Wednesday from 13.00-22.00
Thursday 13.00-22.00
Friday 13.00-22.00
Saturday 10.30-19.00.
The 5 pins tournament, including two Italian brothers, starts at 10 am and 10.30 on Friday and Saturday. The finals are at 13.00 and 14.00 on Sunday.
The referees are Paul Brekelmans, Erik van Woerkom, Ad van den Brand, Willem Hofman, Ton Mangelers, Samantha Stout, Wil Kanen, Wim Berendsen and Christel van Reekum.
The matches for the cup final are live on kozoom.