VLAARDINGEN - The eleventh victory in a Grand Prix was for Raimond Burgman one to be very proud again. The Dutch player belongs for 25 years to the same generation as Dick Jaspers and is not spoiled by exceptional successes in the mutual tournaments and competitions. This weekend, Burgman defeated the undisputed Dutch number one in the finale of the Grand Prix in Vlaardingen 40-32 in twenty innings. It is his second major success this year. Raimond Burgman previously won the Masters in Berlicum in the finale against Glenn Hoffman. ,,I gained some confidence out there and never played a Grand Prix with such a high average'', said Burgman, who finished 1.917. The highlight of the tournament winner was the victory over Menno de Vries in sixteen innings.
Burgman then continued against Barry van Beers in the quarterfinals 40-18 in 25 and in the semi-finals vs Jean Paul de Bruijn, the other major player in this tournament with 40-36 in 24 after a final run of seven. Raimond: ,,In the finale with Dick I had the best start and ran to 35-23 after a run of nine. Dick did some good efforts and closed the gap to 35-32. Then, the balls rolled better for me than for Dick and finally I could finish with three.''
He didn't practice more after he won the Masters, said Burgman. ,,I'm teaching billiards, play regular matches, like always.'' Sometimes, now in this form, Burgman is thinking about an international comeback. ,,I must consider once again, now that it's going so well for me. But you have to be very motivated when you want to do it. I will not go anywhere to play a World Cup to take a holiday. I really want to make a comeback. I just have to say, there must be some change, because I don't like to make long-distance travels and have to go home after one or two matches.''
Jean Paul de Bruijn played an excellent tournament in Vlaardingen with one match in thirteen innings and a high run of fourteen.
The final ranking of the Grand Prix in Vlaardingen:
1 Raimond Burgman 1.917-11
2 Dick Jaspers 1.888-13
3 Jean Paul de Bruijn 1.673-14
4 Jeffrey van Nijnatten 1.164-8
5 Glenn Hoffman 1.515-10
6 Jean van Erp 1.412-10
7 Ad Koorevaar 1.379-10
8 Barry van Beers 1.186-7
9 Dave Christiani 1.375-9
10 Therese Klompenhouwer 1.243-10
11 Jeffrey Jorissen 1.228-7
12 Roland Uijtdewillegen 1.173-7.