3-Cushion
ZEVENBERGEN - The European championship for juniors, from Friday 18 until Sunday 20 April in Zevenbergen, Netherlands, starts off with sixteen players divided into four groups of four. The preliminary rounds are played to 25 caroms with a limit of 50 innings, the final rounds to 30 caroms.
The arena of Billiards center Amorti is ready for a wonderful reception of the sixteen players. Hans Snellen, one of the organizers on behalf of the 'Stichting Topbiljarten Zundert, has finalized the preparations together with his team and Frans Tielen and Walter van Dongen from Amorti.
,,We are now waiting for the arrival of the players today'', said Dutchman Hans Snellen, who tries to find some time for his regular visits to the billiard room although he's very busy with his company (Snellen Recycling).
The tournament starts tomorrow, Friday, with the official opening at 10.00, followed by the first matches at 11.30.
The organization is a collaboration between the Stichting Topbiljarten Zundert and Youth Biljartclub Amorti. Hans Snellen: ,,We have organized the Masters together last year and then started talking about this European championship. The combination is perfect: we have many routine with organizing tournaments, Amorti has a beautiful billiard room and people like Frans Tielen and Walter van Dongen who daily are available. Moreover, they also have a team of volunteers behind them.''
The European championship is considered as a promotion for youth billiards. Hans Snellen: ,,It's not so easy to inspire young people to play billiards. Look at Amorti: they once had around 45 youth members, now there are only ten left. Billiards is not really an expensive hobby, but parents have to drive them to find a billiard room.''
The European championships with the sixteen best European juniors (under 21) has a free entry for the audience. Moreover, Kozoom is broadcasting the matches live on kozoom.com.
The final day, Sunday, will be a special day to visit. Hans Snellen: ,,The young, very talented artistic player Jop de Jong will show up with an exhibition between the final matches and the ceremony. We invite everyone to come and watch it.''
The matches start on Friday (April 18) at 10.30, the last matches are at 21.00.
The matches on Saturday start at 10.00, the quarter-finals at 19.00 and 21.00.
On Sunday, the semifinals are at 11.30 am and the finals at 14.00.
The group format:
Group A:
Alexis Rouaud (France)
Andy de Bondt (Belgium)
José Soares (Portugal)
Tobias Bouerdick (Germany).
Group B:
Adrien Tachoire (France)
Patrick Butora (Austria)
Wesley van Apers (Belgium)
Saud Muhovic (Luxembourg)
Group C:
Joao Ferreira (Portugal)
Sergio Aparicio (Spain)
Tobias Schramm (Germany)
Jordy de Kruyf (Netherlands)
Group D:
Berkay Karakurt (Turkey)
Antonio Montes (Spain)
Michael Vink (Netherlands)
Adam Kozak (Czech).
The address of Amorti: Dr. Arienslaan 88, Zevenbergen. Telephone: 00.31.168-32965.
Email: info@amorti.nl