3-Cushion
SLUISKIL - Hollands best billiard player does not need to be inspired by his opponent, to perform on the highest level. Dick Jaspers turned his adversary Randy Loenen into the invisible man, this Sunday afternoon in the room of Hotel Dallinga. A bizarre score sheet told the story: 25-0 in four (after a run of 19) and 40-1 in eight. Jaspers ‘won' his solo performance 50-9 in 12 innings. That match was part of the encounter between AEJ/Dallinga, table leaders in the eredivisie, played against the a watered-down line-up of MCR De Uitdaging, and fulfilled expectations with an easy 8-0 win. Jaspers exhibition was the high point of the afternoon.
Sander Jonen, after a quick recovery from a period of hospitalization, lost with the most grace: Frédéric Caudron beat him 50-22 in 23 innings. ,,I could have made a few more points, but obviously you are impressed when you are up against the best player in the world'', said the man from Amsterdam frankly.
The Dallinga team, with only Jean Paul de Bruijn slightly lagging (50 in 37) played a majestic team average over 2, thanks to Caudron (23 innings), Jaspers (12) and Merckx (26). Now and then a derogatory comment about the opponent was heard, but mostly the atmosphere was fine, with only Jaspers sportingly hitting Randy Loenen over the head.
The match was completed in record time: at 15.50 all matches had been completed.
The second round had more good stuff in store. The German confrontation between Martin Horn and Christian Rudolph was extremely interesting, ending in a 50-45 victory for Rudolph, in 21 innings. The two, every year a feared team at the WC in Viersen, treated the spectators in De Hazelaar to a delightful match. Horn had the best start, leading 12-1 after three innings. Ruloph leveled at 13-12, but Horn again took off to get a 23-14 lead, after eight innings. The second half of the match belonged to Rudolph, who took a decisive lead at 41-27 in fourteen, and Horn only just failed to close that gap.
It gave HCR Prinsen a nice 5-3 win over hosts Post Luchtkanalen. For Prinsen, Raymund Swertz won a mediocre match against Van Wijk (50-46 in 60). Henk Habraken beat Markus Galla (50-43 in 55) and Anno de Kleine drew with Davy van Havere. The decision was made in the German encounter, with Rudolph giving Prinsen the win.
The most exciting match of the round was between A1 Biljarts and Biljartcafé Jorissen. The 2-2 at halftime was reached thanks to the heroics of Jean van Erp, who was trailing far against Martien van der Spoel (30-17) but still was the first to cross the finish line. Martien van der Spoel made the break, but missed his second point to draw.
Jeffrey Jorissen was never in real danger against Henk Blauwblomme (50-31 in 38). It would be a draw or a win, depending on the match between Raimond Burgman and Glenn Hofman. The two went neck and neck for a long time. Hofman was the first to attack in the closing stages. He took a 45-40 lead, but then scored no more as Burgman ran 1,8 and 1 to win.
Holland Mineraal won its home match against Capelle de Terp with a lofty 7-1 score, thanks to the matches by Stefan Galla against Martin Spoormans (50-46 in 36), Jelle Pijl v. Emilio Sciacca (50-35 in 32), Stefan Spilleman v. Marcel van Lieshout (50-45 in 43) and a draw (in 54) between Frans van Schaik en Ad Koorevaar.
De Distel Biljarts did well against Van Wanrooy, and with Frans van Kuyk (50-23 in 23 v. Frank Martens), Gerwin Valentijn (50-34 in 30 v. Harrie van de Ven) and John Tyssens (50-22 in 29 v. Ad Broeders) it bagged full points. Jef Philipoom, the nr. 1 player, was the only one to fail. He lost to Kurt Ceulemans: 50-35 in 40 innings.