BERLICUM - The organizers of the Jumbo Masters 2021, the KNBB and Ziggo Sport received the liberating message today. The Dutch three cushion championship, better known as 'The Masters', with the sixteen best ranked players, can definitely be played after permission of the safety region. The location is Den Durpsherd in Berlicum, Brabant, from 25 to 29 April. The strict COVID-19 rules will be enforced: the event will be played without spectators according to the current measures. All players, organizers and TV crew will be tested twice before the tournament.
The Masters will be broadcasted live by Ziggo Sport, like The Duke, which was organized as well by BEN, with images and interviews. ''We are happy that we can offer our event to all billiard fans in this period when no other billiards is possible," Harry Mathijssen and Ad Smout from BEN assure.
Willem la Rivière, the KNBB director, emphasizes: ''The fact that the municipality has given permission for the KNBB Jumbo Masters is a ray of hope in this time of restrictions. The live images on Ziggo Sport and internet are a welcome distraction for the many billiard lovers, who themselves are longing for billiards. We are very pleased that the lobbying and perseverance of the KNBB three cushion Section and BEN have led to this result and we look forward to wonderful matches''.
Dick Jaspers, multiple winner of the Masters, is the defending champion in the Brabant location of Den Durpsherd, which is known for its great billiard atmosphere and full stands. ''We prefere to organise a Masters with audience of course, but that is not allowed'', admits Ad Smout. ,,But it's great that all billiard fans can watch billiards on TV now. We must realise that we are witnessing a breakthrough in Dutch billiards thanks to Ziggo Sport. And actually, it is also unique that we have such a big sponsor in billiards with Jumbo, which not only gives us the opportunity to organize the World Cup, but also the Masters and the Duke.''
The sixteen players, who qualified for the KNBB Jumbo Masters, start on April 25 with the preliminary rounds in four groups of four players. Harry Mathijssen: ''We start on Sunday 25 April at 10.00 and play the preliminary rounds on those first three days from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00. Ziggo Sport's new timeline is still being determined, because the programming for that Sunday is not yet fully known. Ziggo Sport will broadcast live from one TV table, Kozoom will broadcast from two tables. On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are the preliminaries, on Wednesday the quarter-finals and on the final day the semi-finals at 12.00 and 13.30 and the final at 15.00.''
The organization will host the company of 37 people (players, referees, organization, TV crew and Durpsherd) for five days in the Mövenpick hotel in Den Bosch, three kilometers from the venue. Harry Mathijssen: ''We are aware that there will be a very strict control from the safety region, but we have proven in De Duke that we can handle the event. Four of the players who are qualified for the Masters, have already experienced the so-called bubble. We will certainly face a fantastic tournament''.
The sixteen players for the KNBB Jumbo Masters (with the ranking points):
1 Dick Jaspers (300 points)
2 Jeffrey Jorissen 256
3 Roland Uijtdewillegen 192
4 Dave Christiani 184
5 Kay de Zwart 160
6 Jean van Erp 156
7 Martien van der Spoel 140
8 Harrie van de Ven 136
9 Joey de Kok 136
10 Barry van Beers 124
11 Raimond Burgman 116
12 Raymund Swertz 116
13 Ludo Kools 92
14 Huub Wilkowski 84
15 Frans van Schaik 84
16 Jack van Peer 84
Reserves are:
1 Volkan Cetin
2 Therese Klompenhouwer
3 Sander Jonen.