ZUNDERT - The opening day at the Christmas tournament new style was already marked by a huge surprise. Gerwin Valentijn, a child from the region, was the star player on the first day. The German Martin Horn reached the semi-finals as the number two and the two strong Belgians, Eddy Merckx (last year's winner) and Eddy Leppens were unexpectedly eliminated. The averages were excellent, despite the short matches to four winning sets of 9. Eddy Leppens, last in the first pre-round, even had the best average of the four players with 1.778.
The Christmas tournament in Zundert, the closing of the year in international three cushion since 1977, has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis this year. The organization has invited only eight players (four Belgians, two Dutch, one German and one Turk). They play the preliminaries over two days for four places in the semi-finals. The well-known Zundert arena in D'n Hoek is built with small, cozy stands around one match table on which all attention is focused.
The game system must guarantee short, flashy matches. The matches in the preliminaries with two groups of four are played to four won sets of 9 caroms, the time clock is 30 seconds. Louis Havermans, room owner and former top player himself, is convinced that this new playing style will increase the spectacle.
The mainly Brabant crowd mainly cheered for Gerwin Valentijn on the first day. The robust bricklayer, who turns 50 next year, had an excellent start against Eddy Leppens (4-0), then beat Martin Horn 4-2 (two sets of 9 in one inning) and was over these two wins already in the semi-finals. He lost his last match against Eddy Merckx on four points (4-3 in sets, 9-5 in the deciding set). Martin Horn defeated the two Belgians Eddy Merckx (4-3) and Eddy Leppens (4-2) and secured his place in the semis in his last match (semi-finals on Friday).
Gerwin Valentijn had considered himself an underdog. ,,I faced three players with big names and made myself no illusions'', he said in the corridors of the arena. ,,My first victory against Leppens was already a big surprise and to beat Horn is also great for me. I like to show my best games here in the region where I come from. The fans made a lot of noice, that's nice for the atmosphere. I was sharp from the beginning. That is the best tactic in those short matches.''
The 'Brabander' is not a professional player and hasn't played World Cups for many years. ,,Together with my brother, I have a company that lays tiles and stones on terraces. We work with ten people and it's running very well. But it's hard work to earn a good living.''
Valentijn, who now plays in the Dutch league for L&B and in Belgium for Biljart Express, is planning to focus more on billiards next year. ,,I am still looking for a new team in the Netherlands and have received many offers. I have time enough to make a choice.''
Martin Horn, the second day winner, felt at home again to be in Zundert, where he belonged to the players three times in a row now. He was second behind Eddy Merckx last year. ,,I like to play in the Netherlands and have something to do here, because I haven't performed well in the Dutch league until now. In the other team competitions, in Germany, Belgium and France, I played a much higher level.''
The course of the first round was entirely in Gerwin Valentijn's favour. The Dutch already advanced before his last game against Eddy Merckx. The world's number two was already eliminated after two losses, in the first of which he was unfortunate against Horn. In the battle between the Belgians, Eddy Leppens led 3-0 and lost an easy match ball for 4-0. Eddy Merckx came back to 3-2, but the final shot was for Leppens again.
Martin Horn and Eddy Leppens played in the last match for the second place in the semi-finals. The German was leading from the first set and won 4-2.
The final ranking of the first qualifying round (match points, average, set balance, runs):
1 Gerwin Valentijn 4-1.633-5-9
2 Martin Horn 4-1.640-1-9
3 Eddy Merckx 2-1.610-2-8
4 Eddy Leppens2-1.778-4-8.
Martin Horn defeated two Belgians Merckx and Leppens and was the second to show up in the semi-finals
Today, Thursday, the second group will show up from 11 am, all matches are directly broadcast by Kozoom.
The first matches today:
11.00: Murat Naci Coklu-Peter Ceulemans
13.00: Roland Forthomme-Barry van Beers.
The last match is at 21:00.
The semi-finals (best of 9) are Friday at 2 PM and 7 PM. The final (best of 11) is Saturday at 2 pm.