Artistic
BERLICUM - The Hitchcock final in the Dutch artistic billiards championship ended in a victory for Erik Vijverberg today. The 51-year-old jailer from Almelo took his third national title in his career in Berlicum. The fight for the gold medal ended in a thriller. Erik Vijverberg and René Dericks went in a nek-to-nek race to the finish until 2-2 in sets. The decisive ball was a fantastic picque-shot, with four to five times the same long cushion to hit the third ball. Vijverberg did succeed, Dericks did not. The fifth and deciding set ended in 56-41.
,,It was a great show down, which finished victorious for me'', said Vijverberg in his commentary. ,,I actually played two finals, because also in the semi-final against Benny Smits the last carom was decisive. I had to fight for this title, but that makes it even more beautiful to win.'' The now triple national champion concluded that the level has increased in width. ,,Previously we were with four, at most five men, who could win this tournament. That has now become a few more. Benny Smits became much stronger in recent years and Patrick Haan surprised me with his performance. That makes it even more exciting for the coming years.''
The tournament, said the champion, was superbly organized. ,,We played for a big audience.'' In this championship, Vijverberg felt free from the injuries he suffered for a few years. ,,I got a new knee in 2013 and two years later, he had to be renewed, because it did not go so well. But now I am happy to be completely free of injury again. I was conditionally good enough and my head was empty.''
René Dericks was dethroned as champion, Erik Vijverberg received the gold medal in Den Durpsherd rena in Berlicum, four years after his last national title. The eight finalists fought on Friday and Saturday in two groups of four and finally in the cross finals. Erik Vijverberg also needed a great final shot in that first round of the final round to beat Benny Smits 3-2 in sets. René Dericks eliminated in the other half final match Patrick de Haan 3-1. De Haan and Smits were the winners of the two qualifying rounds.
Sander Jonen and Jop de Jong, two contenders for the podium, were eliminated in the preliminary stage.
