3-Cushion
AMSTERDAM/OSDORP - The big favorite for the title, Dutch champion Dick Jaspers, was already outplayed by Glenn Hofmann. And Raimond Burgman, another big name, defeated by Barry van Beers himself, so that the Grand Prix Amsterdam/Osdorp got a surprising final: Glenn Hofmann-Barry van Beers.
Two times before Barry van Beers missed the main prize in a Grand Prix. In the Amsterdam/Osdorp Grand Prix he could finaly round off with his first victory. The 'Brabander' took his very first major tournament.
And not only because of that win it was the finest moment in his career so far: except that he won his first Grand Prix in Amsterdam, in a final against Glenn Hofmann, the Dutchman made a high run of 22 in the quarterfinal against Raimond Burgman, his highest ever. ,,I could realize it with some position playing, a lucky shot for my fifth point and a miss by a kiss when I tried to make a round the table shot for my 23th point.''
Barry van Beers made a breakthrough againt, like last year in the Oosterhout Grand Prix, in some of his performances in Word Cups and in the leagues in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
The man from Rijsbergenaar, a beloved guy in the billiard world, may enjoy his success in the upcoming week when many of his colleagues travel to the World Cup in Antalya. ,,I will not play there myself, because the federation does not longer pay the costs'', he says.
However, he plays at the World championsip for teams in Viersen in a few weeks, where he and Jean Paul de Bruijn represen the Netherlands in a second team.
The road to the final in the Amsterdam Grand Prix was marked by that wonderful 22 run in his duel with Raimond Burgman, in the ninth inning at a 11-7 score. De Snellen Recycling player needed six more innings to finish after the super run: 40-11 in 15 innings.
Glenn Hofmann came to the final in a spectacular game against Dick Jaspers. Both Hofman and Jaspers made the 50 caroms in 24 innings, Hoffman did that with five in the equalizer.
In the first penalty race both players made one carom. Then, in the second, Jaspers missed and Hofman scored the winner.
The 'Hagenaar' had a blistering start in the final game with fourteen from the break and took 21-2 lead in seven innings. ,,I could come back at 32-32 in 18 innings, because Glenn stopped scoring'', Van Beers analyzed.
He then ran to the finish with some three's and fours and won 40-35.
,,My first Grand Prix win and I'm very happy,'' said Barry after the final. He lost the final battle in Oosterhout against Dick Jaspers last year and two years ago in Amsterdam against Jean van Erp.
The ranking (average, high run):
1 Barry van Beers 1.647, 22
2 Glenn Hofman 1.180-14
3 Dick Jaspes 1.920-9
4 Raimond Burgman 1.475-10
5 Jean van Erp 1.215-9
6 Harrie van de Ven 1.215-9
7 Bert van Manen 1.073-9
8 Adrie Demming 1.000-9
9 Jean Paul de Bruijn 1.702-12
10 Jeffrey Jorissen 1.161-8
11 Frans van Schaik 1.028-9
12 Herman Slikker 1.013-7.