How strong is A1 Biljarts without his giant Nilsson?

OOSTERHOUT - The sudden departure of Michael Nilsson as the 'big leader' of A1 Biljarts has caused a lot of commotion in the ranks of Dutch billiards and outside. How strong will last year's champion be without his captain? And of course: will A1 Biljarts be able to qualify for the play-offs this yar?

We will see in the upcoming weeks. The team is travelling to Oosterhout, this Sunday, with Raimond Burgman, Henk Blauwblome, Martien van der Spoel and Addie Wienk for the away match against Van Wanrooij Transport. That would be a two-matchpoint-match for sure in the strongest line-up with Nelin, Nilsson and Burgman.

But how will it turn out now in De Eekhoorn, where Kurt Ceulemans, Ivan Stitschinsky, Ad Broeders Wim van Cromvoirt will get a great support of their home crowd?

Two fighting, two culpable is a well known Dutch saying, talking about the dismissal. May be it's true, but fact is that the Dutch 'eredivisie' has lost another colorful player and certainly we all will miss him in the competition.
 
The tenth round will be played on Sunday with a few matches to look forward to. Frédéric Caudron against Jérémy Bury, for instance, the match between to teammates in the famous Agipi team. It is the cracker in the home match between Van de Broek/Biljarts/Hanbat against Dallinga-Frans Bevers.

The Zealand team further performs with Eddy Leppens, the man in form this year, Jean Paul de Bruijn and Glenn Hofman. And what a luxury really, that Jan Kikken, the teamleader, can play without one of his three Belgians, Peter De Backer, who defeated Martin Horn on Thursday in French in a match over two average.

TOVV.nl/MCR, the leader, faces Holland Mineraal, chasing for a top four position, without his frontrunner Murat Naci Coklu. Eddy Merckx meets Steffan Galla on center court.
 
The home team beat TOVV 6-2 last year. Team captain Ronny Hazewinkel: ,,But then we played with Coklu and TOVV without Merckx, so this time we have to play very strong at all positions to have a chance.''

Martens Cleaning must be capable to maintain its high position in the duel with Post Luchtkanalen, although the opponent shows up with three players in a good form: Wesley de Jaeger, Ronny Lindemann and Huub Wilkowski.

Snellen Recycling travels to FDV Jacoby going for the full matchpoints. Dekker Keukens plays the home game against Landswelvaren/Iets Anders.