3-Cushion
BERLICUM - Why do they call Raimond Burgman Mr. 007 at the Masters in Berlicum? The reigning champion and title holder made it clear immediately on the first day of the Masters. The decisive match in Group A of the preliminaries against Jean Paul de Bruijn started dramatically (19-2 down), but in the crucial part, Burgman was cool and accurate (38-24 ahead in 13) and only in the final part, he needed too many innings to finish: 40-37 in 20.
With two victories out of two matches, last year's Dutch number one already has qualified for the next round. ,,It could have been worse and difficult for tomorrow'', he realized after the match against De Bruijn with two faces. ,,Pity that I couldn't finish it in thirteen innings, but well..., I won and I'm in the last eight, that's the main thing.'' Jean Paul de Bruijn and Jeffrey Jorissen battle for the second qualifying place tomorrow. Therese Klompenhouwer is out with two losses.
Glenn Hoffman and Martien van der Spoel both had a lightning start in the final evening session in Group B. When Barry van Beers was leading 12-8, Hofman attacked with a powerful 13-run, the best run so far at the Masters. Then he ran out to 21-12 and in the next inning even with another seven to 28-12 in 12 innings. The victory lasted a bit too long, but Hofman was the comfortable winner: 40-23 in 21 innings.
,,I feel very well and have a lot of confidence to start these Masters'', said Hoffman, who played the final last year, afterwards. And after 1.739 out of two matches: ,,My form is good, fortunately just in time. On Sunday I won against Tasdemir, on Tuesday I played over two against Caudron, so I am ready for a great tournament.''
Martien van der Spoel had to recover after his poor start (40-28 loss against Barry van Beers) and was quick out of the starting blocks in his second against Jeffrey van Nijnatten: 27-5 in 12 innings. The Dutchman finished the job in great style, Jeffrey van Nijnatten only scored six points from the equalizer: 40-24 in 24.
The Kling Masters in the Durpsherd in Berlicum started with an unexpectedly high number of spectators on the first day. Ad Smout, the organizer with Harry Mathijssen, was extremely satisfied. ,,I think there were around four hundred already on the first day. What more can we wish for?.''
Two groups of four played one round on the opening day, the other two groups have completed two rounds. Raimond Burgman won both against Jeffrey Jorissen (40-27 in 29) and Jean Paul de Bruijn (40-37 in 20) and tops Group A with four points and 1.632.
Jean van Erp and Dick Jaspers were the best starters in the Groups C and D. Van Erp, who was the champion two years ago, had a flawless opening against Huub Wilkowski (40-19 in 19). In that group, Dave Christiani got past Frans van Schaik in a very moderate match, 40-25 in 37.
Dick Jaspers dealt smoothly with Ad Koorevaar (40-25 in 25), Jerry Hermans certainly was not so happy about his match against Roland Uijtdewillegen (40-25 in 43), but the most important was that he won and he has the best chance to advance with Dick Jaspers in this group.
The groups after the first day:
Group A:
1 Raimond Burgman 2-4-1.632-8
2 Jean Paul de Bruijn 2-2-1.509-10
3 Jeffrey Jorissen 2-2-1.098-6
4 Therese Klompenhouwer 2-0-0.746-5
Group B:
1 Glenn Hoffman 4-1.739-13
2 Martien van der Spoel 2-1.214-6
3 Barry van Beers 2-1.188-9
4 Jeffrey van Nijnatten 0-1.183-6
Group C:
1 Jean van Erp 1-2-2.105-11
2 Dave Christiani 1-2-1.081-6
3 Huub Wilkowski 1-0-1.000-6
4 Frans van Schaik 1-0-0.675-3
Group D:
1 Dick Jaspers 1-2-1.600-9
2 Jerry Hermans 1-2-0.930-5
3 Ad Koorevaar 1-0-1.000-3
4 Roland Uijtdewillegen 1-0-0.581-4
The first matches for Friday:
11:00:
Christiani-Van Erp
Van Schaik-Wilkowski
13:00:
Jaspers-Hermans
Koorevaar-Uijtdewillegen.