3-Cushion
DEN HAAG/HAARLO - Wasn't 3 average the threshold once, for Bert van Manen to list a match in his record books? Four average was an even greater rarity, even though it was far removed from Merckx's historic 50 in 6 in the Bundesliga in 2011. But billiards is in a feverish development right now, and over-4.000 matches are everywhere you look. Dick Jaspers set a new world record three weeks ago, with 40 in 4. He had another 40 in 10 this week in a Dutch Grand Prix, and this Sunday in the league, there was a double whammy: 40 in 8 for Jaspers, 40 in 9 for Jean van Erp.
Dick Jaspers scored his 40-9 in 8 against Eddy Merckx, Jean van Erp had his 40-25 in 9 against Huub Wilkowski. For Jaspers, the win was not mirrored by his team: HCR Prinsen had to concede a draw to L&B Ledermode. Jean van Erp did see his team win against De Veemarkt (6-2), thanks to Glenn Hofman's formidable closing innings (from 34-21 in 15) against Dustin Jäschke, to win 38-40 in 19.
That turned the Sunday into another fun day for SIS from The Hague, and they extend their lead. DPC won a single point against Dallinga (4-4), A1 Biljarts drew against Bousema, HCR Prinsen drew against L&B Ledermode. The most spectacular match happened at Prinsen, where two giant record makers faced off: Jaspers and Merckx. The Dutchman was firmly in control, running 10 from the break and adding 5, 3, 4, 3, 12, 2 en 1, with Merckx unable to contribute more than a little run of 3 in the 6th inning.
Jean van Erp and his opponent Huub Wilkowski created a gem of a match together. Van Erp ran 7 and 12 in the 2nd and 3d inning, and added another 12 in the 7th inning. Huub Wilkowski rose to the occasion, making runs of 4, 6 and 9 to lose with a formidable 2,777 average, against van Erp's 4.444.
The Buffalo league had a premium day, thanks to these top matches. Frédéric Caudron contributed to the high level with a 14-inning match in Sluiskil, defeating Nikos Polychronopoulos: 40-15. Raimond Burgman beat Dieter Grossjung 40-30 in 17, Roland Forthomme got past Thorsten Frings 40-19 in 17, Frans van Kuyk used 18 innings to beat Peter De Backer 40-33 in 18, Jerry Hermans versus Ad Broeders was 40-23 in 18, Glenn Hofman against Dustin Jäschke (40-38) took 19 innings, and Martin Horn defeated Christian Rudolph 40-32 in 20.
The only big team winner was STZ Zundert (8-0), but they played the red lantern MCR. Other than that, it was excitement everywhere in this 14th round, with SIS Schoonmaak and Eekhoorn as the only other winners. Eekhoorn won the Brabant derby against 't Hartje 6-2, with Kurt Ceulemans as match winner against Savas Bulut (40-39 in 46).
DPC took a 0-4 lead in Sluiskil, but it could also have been 4-0. at that point. Birol Uymaz finished with a strong run of 8 against Jean Paul de Bruijn, from 33-32 (40-33 in 24). Raymond Ceulemans was in control of his match against Richard Bitalis when he had created a 35-19 lead. The maestro then suffered a long dry spell (ten consecutive misses), to allow his old rival back into the match. Bitalis won in the 40th inning: 40-39. Caudron had a quick start against Polychronopoulos, who never got back into the match (40-15 in 14). Steven van Acker saved a match point for Dallinga, defeating Martin Spoormans 40-22 in 24.
A1 Biljarts managed to draw against Bousema, thanks to Martin Horn's win and Ronny Lindemann also defeating a fellow German, Stefan Galla: 40-11 in 21. Dave Christiani (Prinsen) booked a classy win over Eddy Leppens (40-25 in 26), Gerwin Valentijn beat Anno de Kleine 40-38 in 40 and Raymund Swertz got the better of John Tijssens, 40-38 in 32. Jerry Hermans had one of his best days of the season against Ad Broeders: 40-23 in 18. Therese Klompenhouwer took her excellent form of the Vlaardingen Grand Prix into the league, and ran all over Addy Wienk, 40-17 in 24.
SIS Schoonmaak tops the table with 25 points, HCR Prinsen in pursuit with 21, DPC and A! side by side with 16 points. Team Eekhoorn and L & B are not out of the running with 15.