3-Cushion
OOSTERHOUT - The top match at the end of the day brought two of the world's best players into the arena of the Dutch cup final. Eddy Merckx was the best starter against Dick Jaspers, when the Dutchman passed the time in the opening set and Merckx won the mostly defensive set 15-9 in 13. Jaspers was far from his best form in the second and was beaten by a final 5-run of Merckx. And because Gerwin Valentine led 2-0 against Anno de Kleine at that time (15-9 in 7, 15-8 in 9), L & B Ledermode already secured the group win and HCR Prinsen virtually should finish on second place, but still the Haarlo team has to beat La Plaza.
Dick Jaspers was facing a poor average for for a long time (0.6/0.7. He raised it in the third to 0.933, which he won 15-4 in 8 and later said he still has not found his rhythm. ,,I work hard, hoping for better times.'' Eddy Merckx: ,,I already had played a match before, Dick not yet, so I felt better on the billiard when we started.'' About the good news of the World Cups in the Netherlands, the Belgian responded: ,,The future is looking better and better. More prize money, more and bigger tournaments and now these World Cups in Belgium in the Netherlands. I am ready for the new challenges.''
In the other group of the Jumbo cup, STZ Zundert secured its place in the semi-finals and SIS Schoonmaak and Dallinga.com are fighting for the second final place. The loser is out. The Dallinga team can afford a draw, SIS Schoonmaak has to win. Tomorrow, Friday, the preliminaries are finished, four teams remain for the final day on Saturday.
Peter Ceulemans (Zundert) made a strong impression on the first two days. The Belgian, playing for Zundert, won his matches against Jean Paul de Bruijn (2-1) and Jean van Erp (3-0) and is looking forward to take the main prize with his team. ,,We unfortunately have missed the play-offs, but are keen to make up for this in the cup race.'' Ceulemans himself has shown a great form, especially in his match against Jean Paul de Bruijn on Wednesday. Jean van Erp didn't look as a tough opponent for Ceulemans (3-0, 1.500/0.892).
The Brabant team took the total game against SIS Cleaning: Roland Forthomme defeated Glenn Hoffman (2-1) after a strong start of the Dutchman 15-2 in 4 innings. Roland Uijtdewillegen was the better of Jeffrey Jorissen (3-0, 1.071/0.875 and only Raimond Burgmans won for SIS 2-1 against Barry van Beers, 1.429 average. La Plaza took the match against MCR 6-2. The Limburg winners were Roy Zielemans (2-1) against Thorsten Frings, 1.222/1.269), Matthy Monnissen and Alain Clabots. Randy Loenen won his match for MCR.
Dallinga won in Group A its second match against W.v.d.Sanden 8-0. Frédéric Caudron was the best at the finish and beat Jack van Peer 15-4 (3 innings), 15-5 (9) and 15-8 (8), good for 2.250 of average. Volkan Cetin missed five set balls against Jean Paul de Bruijn and was penalized with a 3-0 loss. Berry Dallinga was the last winner for his team, also with the maximum 3-0 against Charles Mekes.
The last preliminary rounds on Friday from 13.00:
SIS Cleaning-Dallinga.com
HCR Prinsen-MCR
STZ-W.v.d.Sanden
L & B Ledermode-La Plaza.
Dick Jaspers, far from his best form, lost to Eddy Merckx