3-Cushion
OOSTERHOUT - The second edition of the Royal Pro three cushion Cup will be even bigger and is played in foreign countries as well for the qualifications. Frans van Schaik and Sander Jonen, the two organizers together with Jerry Hermans, have given an international character to the tournament, which is open to about 384 players. ,,That makes us the biggest tournament in Europe'', says Sander Jonen, the former world champion artistic billiards. Frans van Schaik was the initiator of the tournament last year. ,,The success was so great, that we wanted to expand it further.''
The registration for the tournament has started this week (Friday 15 December). Participants can register on the website at one of the twelve locations for the preliminaries on 10 and 11 March 2018. The registration is 25 euros, at the 12 locations where a maximum of 32 participants can play the preliminaries. The final is on April 7 at Camping De Eekhoorn in Oosterhout, the Jerry Hermans' billiard location.
Actually, we wanted to play in sixteen locations'', says Sander Jonen. ,,But in Denmark, Germany and Turkey the weekends were not available due to competitions and rankings. Next year we certainly want to expand, because the formula proves to be very successful.''
The system is clear and simple: there is a direct knock-out to sets of seven and to best of five. The organization has a total of 10.000 euros prize money. The winner will receive 2000 euros, the number 2 will be rewarded by 1000, the numbers three and four receive 700 euros, five to eight 400 euros and nine to 24 will receive 250 euros.
The preliminaries are not only played in the Netherlands, but also in foreign locations. The Dutch preliminaries are in Oosterhout, Roosendaal, Capelle aan den IJssel, Arnhem, Midwolda and Heerhugowaard. For outside players, Mywebsport is a possibility and there is also played in Thessaloniki (Greece), Athens (Greece), Leqa de Palmeira (Portugal), Lier and Turnhout.
The organizations of the preliminaries are in the hands of Nikos Polychronopoulos (Athens), Kurt Ceulemans (Lier), Ronny Daniels (Turnhout) and in the Dutch locations:
Hotel Arnhem Centraal (Rudy Gerritsen)
Café Biljart Siemens in Midwolda (Willy en Cornelis Sluiter)
Biljart en Pool Center Capelle aan den IJssel (Kees van de Stel)
Café Millers, Heerhugowaard (Remco de Boer)
De Distel, Roosendaal (Carien Verdult)
De Eekhoorn, Oosterhout (Jerry Hermans).
So, in short: 32 players will play at these twelve locations, on 10 and 11 March according according to the knock-out system. The two finalists advance for the final with 24 players in Oosterhout on April 7. The final is played in 8 groups of three, all three play against each other and one player goes to the quarter finals. From then on, knockout will be played.
You can register at the website:
www.threecushioncup.com
The final day is broadcasted directly by Kozoom.
The organizers of the Royal Pro three cushion cup: Frans van Schaik, Sander Jonen and Jerry Hermans
