3-Cushion
ZUNDERT - The derby between the Netherlands and Belgium, where the Christmas tournament in Zundert is actually meant for, has already been beheaded after two days of playing. Glenn Hoffman is currently the only player who can deal with the Belgians. The only one who still has a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals is Raimond Burgman.
Five Belgians and one Turk have qualified for the final rounds at the start of the third day. Glenn Hoffman is one hundred percent sure to be one of the four qualifiers in the last two groups. Raimond Burgman will do a last attempt, but must pass Davy van Havere or Tayfun Tasdemir in the group ranking.
Murat Naci Coklu realized a small miracle last night with a great victory against Roland Forthomme in a wonderful match 50-35 in 17 (2.941/2.058). Therefor Coklu passed his main rivals Barry van Beers (who beat Frans van Kuyk) and Van Kuyk, who ended last in his group despite his win against Coklu.
Eddy Merckx, Jef Philipoom, Roland Forthomme, Murat Naci Coklu and Glenn Hoffman have certainly qualified so far. Two players advance from Group C: Frederic Caudron, Eddy Leppens or Peter Ceulemans. And in the last round Tasdemir, Van Havere and Burgman fight for the last spot.
The first decisions fell on Sunday night. Eddy Merckx and Jef Philipoom qualified as the numbers one and two from Group A. Eddy Merckx remained unbeaten in his matches against Philipoom, Jean Paul de Bruijn and Gerwin Valentijn, ended 2.000 average with the highest tournament run of fourteen.
Jef Philipoom escaped with a little luck to the shutdown: the man from Pulderbos only triumphed in one of three matches (Jean Paul de Bruijn, with an excellent average: 50-20 in 23). Then he lost two matches, but on average he was the best of the two other competitors Jean Paul de Bruijn and Gerwin Valentijn.
In the last session of this group of four Jean Paul de Bruijn needed a win against Merckx, but the two AEJ teammates played a fair game: Merckx won 50-43 in 26 innings. On the other table Gerwin Valentijn defeated Philipoom (also teammates in the Netherlands). Philipoom was second with the best average of three: 1.457, De Bruijn had 1.329, Valentijn 1.223.
The decisions in two other groups must fall today, although Glenn Hoffman (Group D) can feel safe in this group. The player from the Hague defeated in his group both Raimond Burgman and Davy van Havere and is the leader with four match points.
Hofman faces in his last match Tayfun Tasdemir, who lost against Davy van Havere and played a draw against Raimond Burgman.
The rankings before the start on Monday:
Group A (after three rounds):
1 Eddy Merckx 6-2.000-14
2 Jef Philipoom 2-1.457-7
3 Jean Paul de Bruijn 2-1.329-8
4 Gerwin Valentijn 2-1.223-7
Group B (after three rounds):
1 Roland Forthomme 4-1.985-11
2 Murat Naci Coklu 3-1.633-4
3 Barry van Beers 3-1.443-10
4 Frans van Kuyk 2-1.52-8
Group C (after two rounds):
1 Frederic Caudron 4-1.785-9
2 Eddy Leppens 2-1.551-13
3 Peter Ceulemans 2-1.367-5
4 Jeffrey Jorissen 0-1.212-6
The last matches: Caudron-Ceulemans and Leppens-Jorissen.
Group D (after two rounds):
1 Glenn Hoffman 4-1.250-11
2 Davy van Havere 2-1.179-7
3 Tayfun Tasdemir 1-1.366-11
4 Raimond Burgman 1-1.219-6
Matches to play: Tasdemir-Hofman and Van Havere-Burgman.
