3-Cushion
ZUNDERT - Dutch player Raimond Burgman flattened his way to a very successful 2012 in Zundert last year, where he won the Christmas tournament. The 48-year-old three cushion player, not blessed with too many titles, but always a role model of regularity, crowned his performance with a win against Frédéric Caudron in the semifinals and then bested Roland Forthomme in the final.
The new Dutch lion, in the country where Dick Jaspers is the king of three cushion already for so many years, stood up. The reborn Burgman continued with a victory in two Grand Prix tournaments in his own country, sparkled at the European championship, where he won silver after a loss in the final against Filippos Kasidokostas and closed the season as Dutch champion teams with A1 Biljarts.
Starting on Thursday, he returns to the place where his triumph march has started. Burgman is getting a shot at repeating in the Christmas tournament in Zundert, although he realizes that the competition will be very tough. With top players as Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Merckx, Tayfun Tasdemir, Roland Forthomme, Frans van Kuyk and Eddy Leppens the line-up is stronger than ever. ,,I'll do my very best to defend my title'', is one of Raimond Burgman's well known sayings.
He plays in his group with Frans van Kuyk, Dave Christiani and Martin Spoormans. That's already quite a hard job to join the top eight. But Burgman starts with a lot of confidence: ,,I know it will be very hard to continue after such a wonderful year, but I do feel in a good shape. I practice very well, give some lessons, I've played many matches in the Netherlands and Belgium and gained some experience in the Agipi Masters. I'm ready to perform at my highest level.''
In between there was the unfortunate performance in the Hurghada World Cup. ,,I missed the main tournament at one carom, because after my victory in the group against Jean Paul de Bruijn, I couldn't make the matchball in the duel with Francis Forton and lost 15-14 in the deciding set.''
But his confidence has not been disturbed. ,,I like the tournament Zundert, with its beautiful ambiance, great crowd and organization.'' And he feels stronger after his amazing year. ,,If you want to act on a high level every week, it's good to meet many top players. That makes you better. I played in Belgium in recent weeks against Frans van Kuyk, I won against Frédéric Caudron. That makes me think I'm in a very good shape.''
With the Christmas tournament, Burgman closes the year. For next season he has the World Cups, the European championship in Brandenburg and the World championships in Antwerp high on his list.
The tournament in Zundert will be played from 27 to 30 December.
The group format
Group A (starting Thursday at 12.00):
Tayfun Tasdemir, Roland Forthomme, Richard Bitalis, Barry van Beers.
Group B (starting Thursday at 14.00):
Raimond Burgman, Frans van Kuyk, Dave Christiani, Martin Spoormans.
Group C (starting Thursday at 16.00):
Eddy Merckx, Eddy Leppens, Jef Philipoom, Harrie van de Ven.
Group D (starting Thursday at 19.00):
Frédéric Caudron, Peter Ceulemans, Jean van Erp, Glenn Hofmann.
The place to be: Biljartcentrum Den Hoek in Zundert.