The Dutch premier league, the Kozoom league, is facing a double weekend, the French league started a two-day round of play on Thursday and in Belgian three cushion, five matches are played spread over the week. The top players in these countries are going through busy schedules: for instance, Dick Jaspers, Eddy Merckx and Glenn Hofman will be in action in the Netherlands both this Saturday and Sunday after the matches in France. Roland Forthomme is even working a full four days schedule: this Thursday he played a draw in the French competition with BC Andernos against Tolgahan Kiraz (40-40 in 36), tonight (Friday) he is the top player in the home match against Bruges with Belgian frontrunner Herstal, on Saturday in the Netherlands he plays against Dave Christiani and Sunday also in the Netherlands against Eddy Merckx.
For the billiard fans, there is plenty to enjoy with top matches in this busy week. For example, Glenn Hofman played Marco Zanetti on Thursday in France for his new team from Blois and won against the Italian 40-38 in 22, showing once again the Dutchman's impressive growth in top billiards. This Saturday, Hofman will first meet Nick Polychronopoulos with Cues&Darts, on Sunday Hofman will play Jean van Erp. These matches in the Dutch premier league can all be seen live.
Dick Jaspers lost in France to Jérémy Bury 40-27 in 17, this Saturday Jaspers meets Frédéric Caudron in a top affiche for his team, Sunday Dave Christiani is his opponent. Eddy Merckx faced compatriot Johan Loncelle in France and won in a close finish 40-38 in 18 innings. This Saturday, Merckx will play Murat Gökmen in the Netherlands, Sunday against Roland Forthomme.
Apart from those Dutch and Belgian top players in the Dutch double, who can we meet in the billiard halls?
Frédéric Caudron will play this Saturday afternoon's match against Dick Jaspers at Babbelz's home venue in Oosterhout, undoubtedly this weekend's top affair. On Sunday, the Belgian will play against Murat Gökmen, the leader of J&F Auto's in The Hague.
Dion Nelin plays twice with Babbelz, Saturday against Anno de Kleine, Sunday against Kay de Zwart.
Ruben Legazpi faces Peter Ceulemans of Team Eekhoorn on Saturday with Cues&Darts. On Sunday, Legazpi will play against Raimon Burgman.
Nick Polychronopoulos meets Glenn Hofman in the arena of Cues&Darts on Saturday, Sunday the Greek has to face Jeffrey Jorissen at the Oosterhout site.
Babbelz (Caudron, Nelin) leads after six rounds with 10 match points ahead of Cues&Darts (Hofman, Legazpi) and Zundert (Jimenez, Van Etten). Team Eekhoorn follows on 7 points ahead of a middle order with 6 points.
The matches to look forward in the Dutch league (all live)
Saturday:
Caudron-Jaspers
De Bruijn-Van Erp
Hofman-Polychronopoulos
Legazpi-Ceulemans
Jorissen-Van Etten
Christiani-Forthomme
Sunday:
Forthomme-Merckx
Van Erp-Hofman
Burgman-Legazpi
Polychronopoulos-Jorissen
Ceulemans-Salman
Van Etten-De Bruijn
Jaspers-Christiani
Gökmen-Caudron
The full schedule in the Kozoom league in the Netherlands:
Saturday 16 November, 7th round:
Team Babbelz-Paperclip
Frédéric Caudron-Dick Jaspers
Dion Nelin-Anno de Kleine
Savas Bulut-Dan Breur
Roland Uijtdewillegen-Peter van Lieshout
Aartsbouw/Domicili-J&F Auto’s Jorissen
Eddy Merckx-Murat Gökmen
Turgay Orak-Kay de Zwart
Ronny Brants-Paul Bruijstens
Tom Persyn-Herman van Daalen
Eddy Merckx
Dallinga.com-SIS/Vervoort
Jean Paul de Bruijn-Jean van Erp
Steven van Acker-Raimond Burgman
Peter De Backer-Raymund Swertz
Berry Dallinga-Harrie van de Ven
Cues&Darts/Xtreme-Team Eekhoorn
Glenn Hofman-Nick Polychronopooulos
Ruben Legazpi-Peter Ceulemans
Jef Philipoom-Frans van Kuyk
Joey de Kok-Kurt Ceulemans
Jef Philipoom
Bousema/JBScues-STZ Zundert
Jeffrey Jorissen-Sam van Etten
Gökhan Salman-Thorsten Frings
Stefan Galla-Rik van Beers
Frans van Schaik-Francis Forton
RCN Nieuwegein-De Biljartacademie
Dave Christiani-Roland Forthomme
Barry van Beers-Roy Zielemans
Gerwin Valentijn-Paul Wallerand
Henk Blauwblomme-Mathy Monnissen
Sunday 17 November, 8th round:
SIS/Vervoort-Cues&Darts
Jean van Erp-Glenn Hofman
Raimond Burgman-Ruben Legazpi
Raymond Swertz-Huub Wilkowski
Martien van der Spoel-Therese Klompenhouwer
Team Eekhoorn-Bousema/JBS
Nick Polychronopoulos-Jeffrey Jorissen
Peter Ceulemans-Gökhan Salman
Frans van Kuyk-Johan Loncelle
Kurt Ceulemans-Stefan Galla
Peter Ceulemans
STZ Zundert-Dallinga
Sam van Etten-Jean Paul de Bruijn
Thorsten Frings-Steven van Acker
Rik van Beers-Peter De Backer
Francis Forton-Berry Dallinga
Paperclip-RCN Nieuwegein
Dick Jaspers-Dave Christiani
Anno de Kleine-Barry van Beers
Dan Breur-Gerwin Valentijn
Peter van Lieshout-Henk Blauwblomme
J&F Auto’s-Team Babbelz
Murat Gökman-Frédéric Caudron
Kay de Zwart-Dion Nelin
Paul Bruijstens-Savas Bulut
Herman van Daalen-Roland Uijtdewillegen
Frédéric Caudron
De Biljartacademie-Aartsbouw
Roland Forthomme-Eddy Merckx
Roy Zielemans-Torgay Orak
Paul Wallerand-Ronny Brants
Mathy Monnissen-Tom Persyn
The ranking after 6 rounds in Kozoom league:
1 Babbelz 10, 1.474
2 Cues&Darts 9, 1.363
3 Zundert 9, 1.282
4 Eekhoorn 7, 1.327
5 Bousema 6, 1.296
6 SIS 6, 1.419
7 Aartsbouw 6, 1.326
8 Nieuwegein 6, 1.317
9 Paperclip 5, 1.274
10 Dallinga 5, 1.153
11 J&F 2, 1.094
12 Biljartacademie 1, 1.098