1-Cushion
HATTEM - Raymund Swertz was already the best season player in the classic games with two Dutch titles in the balk-line disciplines. This weekend the Limburg player took another title: in one cushion. Therefor he had to beat Jean Paul de Bruijn, one of the world class players in this discipline. Swertz stopped the hegemony of the multiple champion and could climb the highest stage.
In the final rounds, Swertz deliverd a master piece: with his victory in the final match against Jos Bongers (125-120 in 8 innings) he could resist the attack of De Bruijn and finished one match point ahead of the former Dutch champion.
Jean Paul de Bruijn was punished for his minor start with a loss against Roij van Raaij and a draw against Sam van Etten. The titleholder continued with only wins, but it was not enough for the championship. Michel van Silfhout finished third on stage, Jos Bongers, after his glorious start, missed the top three.
Raymond Swertz, already the Dutch champion in 47/2 and 71/2, after the final: ,,This was a kind of mental victory over myself. My opponent (Jos Bongers) could freely play, I played for the title. And because the match on the other table,with Jean Paul de Bruijn as the winner, had already finished, the pressure was even bigger. I believed in myself and I managed to win, despite of a good final sprint of my opponent.''
,,The season is very special'', concluded Swertz in his review. The trilogy of titles means for him that he will be among the big favourites in the classic games at the European championship in Brandenburg.
The final ranking:
1 Raymund Swertz 12-10.67-104
2 Jean Paul de Bruijn 11-10.9-71
3 Michel van Silfhout 10-7.20-48
4 Jos Bongers 8-9.30-46
5 Roij van Raaij 6-5.31-32
6 René Tull 4-6.71-43
7 Sam van Etten 3-6.53-61
8 Demi Pattiruhu 2-5.94-41