3-Cushion
VLAARDINGEN - The after party for Glenn Hofman, the young boy from The Hague without starlike airs, had no flowers, a real stage or a fanfare, in a small, but cheerful company. The Grand Prix in the Oogh van Vlaerding was closed in a sober finish. The winner was no less happy. And instead of a ceremony or a speech, he took a selfie with his great Hague fans. Glenn Hoffman (28) was the best in the first Grand Prix in the Netherlands this year. He left behind two rivals who leave for the Netherlands for the World championship in Viersen this week: Dick Jaspers and Jean Paul de Bruijn.
The Hague party, with three players from SIS Schoonmaak, was completed by two other players in the final rounds. Raimond Burgman came in second after defeating Dick Jaspers in the semi-final. Jean van Erp was defeated by Glenn Hoffman in the semi-finals. The famous song 'O, o, The Hague' at its very best in the arena in Vlaardingen. With two well-known foreign players in the background: Nikos Polychronopoulos and Richard Bitalis, who travel to Sluiskil for a league match with DPC one day later.
,, I am very tired'', Glenn Hofman said at the end of a long day with four matches. And after a short night, on the early Sunday morning, because he's playing a home match with SIS Schoonmaak De Veemarkt, Hofman said, just woken up gently by his wife Andrea: ,,It was not all high level, but I struggled very hard. And after good pre rounds with 1.760 and two times over two average, I am very happy with my victories in the knock-outs and in the final. This is a wonderful start of the year with a first place on the Dutch ranking.''
Glenn Hoffman is building up a nice track record in the Dutch tournaments. Two years ago he also faced Raimond Burgman in the final of the Masters (Burgman then won). Two years ago he also won the Grand Prix in Oosterhout in the final against Dick Jaspers 40-25 in 20 innings. This Saturday in Vlaardingen he took his second: Hofman defeated Burgman 40-38 in 31 innings.
The final came to its climax after a moderate start with Hofman leading 24-17 in 20 innings. On that score, Burgman brutally attacked with runs of 10 and 6 in the 21st and 22nd inning for a 33-24 score. Hofman got back soon, to 34-34 in 27, Burgman ran out with 3 (37-34), but at 38-36, Glenn Hoffman was glorious with four.
The Hague boy showed his power in this Grand Prix. He was on his best when he needed it, as in the semi-final against Jean van Erp. The Brabander, second man behind Hofman in the team of the league-leader in Holland, led 34-30 when Hofman scored a 9 first and finished in the next: 40-36 in 28.
Raimond Burgman sealed victory in the other semi-final vs Dick Jaspers after a superior start (10 in second inning, 10 in fourth inning), bringing him up to 20-5 in 4 innings. But Jaspers wouldn't have been Jaspers if he couldn't pick up the fight. The reigning Dutch champion came back to 24-30, 26-34, but at 37-27, Burgman could not be stopped: 40-34 in 20.
The highlights of the tournament?
Jean Paul de Bruijn, who was eliminated by Kay de Zwart in the first round of the knockouts 40-39 in 34.
Therese Klompenhouwer having a great start against Jack van Peer 40-19 in 27
Dick Jaspers (who played 40 in 10 in the preliminaries), starting 40-15 in 17 against Tom Beemsterboer
Jean van Erp with a 40-7 against Wilco van Wijk in 17 innings
Dick Jaspers with a 40-26 in 19 against Jeffrey Jorissen
Jean va Erp who beat Barry van Beers 40-36 in 26
But at the end, there was only one real winner, that Hague boy without starlike airs.