OOSTERHOUT – Team Babbelz's adventure in the Dutch three-cushion league is over. The Brabant-based team from Oosterhout is withdrawing from the league with immediate effect. That decision was made due to financial constraints. The lack of sufficient sponsors has led to financial problems, making it impossible for the team management to continue with this top team. Among the top international players are world champion Frédéric Caudron, Berkay Karakurt, Dion Nelin, and Savas Bulut. Davy van Havere, Jack Wijnen, and Roland Uijtdewillegen also play for the team.
Team Babbelz lost last year's play-off final and currently leads the league with 13 match points from 7 matches. Aartsbouw, led by Eddy Merckx, is one match point behind and is the new leader, ahead of Cues&Darts and Team Eekhoorn with 10 points. The new standings, which will be drawn up without Team Babbelz's matches, will not change so much at the top, because Aartsbouw and Cues&Darts did not yet play against Babbelz. Team Eekhoorn and Bousema lost to Babbelz. Those matches will be removed.
Team manager Inge Verweimeren wrote in a statement: "Due to a lack of sponsors, Team Babbelz was almost entirely funded by us, thus Café Babbelz. The other teams in the Dutch top league will be aware of the costs at this level. These costs cannot be payed by a single company. With a heavy heart, we informed our players of this decision today. I sincerely hope they will have the opportunity to make a move during the transfer period. I hope the KNBB (Royal Dutch Billiards federation) will make a positive decision on this matter. It's best for us to face reality now instead of letting our passion get the better of us."
The matches played by Babbelz will be removed from the standings. Team Babbelz players can play for another team after the 11th round.
The seven matches Team Babbelz had already played were against Harwig, SIS, Paperclip, Van Baal, Burgmans, Team Eekhoorn, and Bousema. They only drew 4-4 against SIS. Matches against RCN Nieuwegein away, Aartsbouw at home, Dallinga away, and Cues&Darts at home were still scheduled for the first half of the season.