3-Cushion
KAATSHEUVEL - What a nice 'Brabants' dialogue it was after the starting match at the Masters. ,,Did you see that ball, Jan, that Jaspers played so deeply, with a lot of English through the corner?'' They were going for a beer or a cup of coffee at the bar, two older fans of billiards, shortly after the finish of the first matches, talking about his master's game.
That's how it turned out at the start of the Biljartpoint Masters in Kaatsheuvel, where the tournament for the Dutch Championship is on his first dag.
What was so special, talking about Dick Jaspers' first performance? Not too much, actually, just very solid, with a small run of nine, nearly two average and a victory against Dave Christiani (40-19 in 21). It was the start, maybe, the multiple champion might have wished.
Jaspers himself was mainly talking about the wonderful atmosphere. In a crowded house, with a great opening, short but clear, with Santos Chocron who already expressed his great admiration for the organization and the location, Sharon van Dijk who announced all the players and a real 'Brabants' atmosphere in the stands.
,,We are in the center of Dutch billiards,'' said Jaspers with a bit of chauvinism. From Tilburg, Den Bosch, Breda, Rotterdam, but also from Limburg and Zeeland it's not so far. I really expect a lot of spectators in the upcoming days. ''
,,We are very pleased with this start,'' said Harry Mathijssen, together with Ad Smout organizer of this Masters. ,,I even had the feeling this morning: it's enough now, there should not be more people, because then we can't offer them a place.''
The Biljartpoint Masters are launched, that's the most important for those who are involved. The start off with Dick Jaspers' strong match in the first session, Raimond Burgman's first high run over ten (13), good for a wine package, Barry van Beers' stunning finish against Adrie Demming with nine in the 28th and Demming with five from the equalizer 40-23.
There was a draw between Glenn Hoffman and Huub Wilkowski and a poor start of Therese Klompenhouwer. The only lady in the field had a bad feeling about her match against Raimond Burgman (40-20 in 32), in which she could not reach her normal level.
Dick Jaspers made the gap with Dave Christiani in the seventh with nine (20-5) and was never in trouble in the second part, when his opponent could make high runs. Jaspers finished with twelve in the last seven innings.
Glenn Hoffman and Huub Wilkowski took some calm before the storm in their match (12-9 in 14 innings), the young 'Hagenaar' was the first to get control over the balls, but not for a long time. Hofman stopped scoring after fifteen innings and eventually Wilkowski could attack with nine in the 28th and a finish after 34 innings. Hofman, who needed one point from the equalizer, tied with a little touch.
Barry van Beers thanked his good start to a final run, because his match against Adrie Demming was not that good until 25 innings (25-17). The end rush came at the right moment.