3-Cushion
ZUNDERT - Before the last carom was made in the Dutch cup final, TOVV.nl/MCR could already be crowned as the Dutch cup winner. The team with Eddy Merckx as front player and Frans van Kuyk, Dave Christiani and Richard Bitalis at the positions two until four, defeated DBL Holland Mineral in the finals.
The match was stopped after two victories. Frans van Kuyk had beaten Anno de Kleine 3-0 and Dave Christiani won 3-1 against Jelle Pijl. The score was 4-0 at that moment, there still was a possibility that it would turn to 4-4, but TOVV led 10-4 in sets and couldn't be threatened anymore, because DBL Holland could only take two sets in the remaining matches.
The tournament thus ended with TOVV for the first time as cup winner, DBL Holland for the first time with the silver medal and Frans Bevers on third place. DBL also played an excellent final after a stunning season. Frans Bevers couldn't wish much more. Teamleader Jan Kikken said: ,,I can only be proud, we even remained unbeaten with three players.''
TOVV's teamleader Ben Ouwendijk said that he watched the last part of the final with tears in his eyes. He was very emotional because of all the commotion before the tournament. ,,I have suffered the problems so much in recent weeks, that I got a pain in my stomach'', he said before the camera.
Ben Ouwendijk now can look forward to the playoffs with is team. ,,That's gonna be another great fight and I am pleased that Frans Bevers then will play with his strongest team.''
The TOVV team responded undisturbed to the cup win. When Dave Christiani made his last carom against Jelle Arrow, the mathematicians had already seen that the cup was won for TOVV. Christiani went to his chair and showed no emotions. The other players then looked at the scoreboards and after some minutes their were congratulations for all of them.
TOVV.nl / MCR was not the surprising cup winner, especially because Frans Bevers could not participate with Frédéric Caudron. And DBL Holland Mineraal missed one of his better players: Stefan Galla couldn't play because of a sickness.
Still it was a great performance of the team, with Eddy Merckx, who starred with high averages, Frans van Kuyk (with a maximum run of fifteen and a prolonged run of 22), with Dave Christiani and Richard Bitalis on three and four the were collective the best of the eight teams in this cup final.
The afternoon ended with a final victory of Frans van Kuyk against Anno de Kleine (3-0, 15-5 15-12, 15-14), a win by Dave Christiani against Jelle Arrow (15-13, 15-6, 9-15, 15-3). The scores in the other matches at that moment: Eddy Merckx-Murat Naci Coklu 2-2, Richard Bitalis-Stefan Spilleman 2-1.