3-Cushion
KAPELLE - The unpredictable, chillingly cool Viking Michael Nilsson, the former Danish wonderboy Dion Nelin, the back-on-top Dutchman Raimond Burgman and in international three cushion rather unknown Martien van der Spoel have grabbed with A1 Biljarts the Dutch teamtitle in three days of play-offs after the regular league competition.
They were crowned to the new champion in De Vroone in Kapelle after a victory against Holland Mineraal in the final.
Raimond Burgman, who was unbeaten over two days, showed himself a very important player for his team; he also scored the deciding carom in the final match against Anno de Kleine.
The scenario in the play-offs was unexpected and unpredictable in advance. A1 Biljarts was the number four after the regular competition behind Frans Bevers, TOVV.nl/MCR and Mineraal Holland, but the team was the strongest in a thrilling final.
For the Apeldoorn team it was the first major success in his history. A1 Biljarts is the successor of Van Donge en De Roo, the topteam with Jaspers, Horn, Blomdahl and Van Erp, that has redrawn from the Dutch league last year.
Raimond Burgman played a main role in the play-offs. He was so impressive over two days, that he could be named the undisputed starplayer, together with the very strong playing Murat Naci Coklu.
Over his four matches, Raimond Burgman won in the semifinals twice aganst Jean Paul de Bruijn and in the final twice against Anno de Kleine. And in all these matches, he took a big margin in caroms for his team.
Murat Naci Coklu was in great form on the final day: he won twice against Michael Nilsson, the Suede who beat Frédéric Caudron in the semifinals and played a draw in his second match against the world's number one.
Coklu couldn't lead his team to the title with his two wins in the final, because Anno de Kleine was beaten twice by Burgman. Nelin and Van der Spoel were in balance with their opponents, so that the score was 4-4 after the first session and 8-8 after the second, but due to Burgman's big margin in caroms, A1 Biljarts could, with 15 caroms advantage, celebrate the title.
The showdown of the play-offs, obviously surprised many spectators. Frans Bevers ended up as the first in the regular competition, the team failed in the final weekend. TOVV.nl/MCR was seen as a big contender as well with his strong foursome, but couldn't finish the job in the play-offs.
The battle for the main prize was exciting, with Holland Mineraal as a very feared opponent for A1. Murat Naci Coklu played a superb final and defeated Michael Nilsson twice in the duel of the team captains, with 50-24 and 50-39 in 21 in 23 innings.
That was not enough for the win, because Anno de Kleine suffered two defeats, Jelle Pijl won a match against Martien van der Spoel and lost his first, Stefan Galla, after three stunning victories, lost his last match against Dion Nelin 50-30.