The Grand Prix in Sittard will quietly be followed by the start of the Dutch premier league three-cushion for teams this Sunday. The Kozoom league, with twelve of the best teams, is preparing for a few real top billings at the match tables on Sunday, September 14. What about Dick Jaspers against Jean Paul de Bruijn, two absolute Dutch top guns. For the Belgians, Eddy Merckx and Roland Forthomme are undoubtedly also top players, who will meet on the opening day. Jean van Erp, who put on a spectacular performance in the Grand Prix on Friday evening (40 in 9 innings, run 17), will face Glenn Hofman, who was painfully surprised in the opening of the Grand Prix.
Cues&Darts, the reigning champion, starts against SIS/Vervoort, the champion team from previous years. That match is an all-Dutch affair. Jef Philipoom, whose son plays billiards for the Netherlands, is the only Belgian in this match. Also in the field of eight are Huub Wilkowski, Joey de Kok, Jean van Erp, Raymond Burgman, and Harrie van de Ven, who are still in the race in the Grand Prix in Sittard on Saturday.
The best-known foreigners on the first day of play are Nick Polychronopoulos, who plays against Jeffrey Jorissen, Peter Ceulemans and Johan Loncelle, opponents of each other, Frédéric Caudron, with Babbelz on Sunday against debutant Harwig, Eddy Merckx and Roland Forthomme, who is back as the leading player at Zundert. Frenchman Cédric Melnytschenko, from the far north of his country, is making the short trip to Sluiskil and playing with Paperclip against a man from his region: Steven van Acker. Spaniard Sergio Jimenez has been displaced to third position because of the arrival of Roland Forthomme and the progress of Sam van Etten.
The Harwig team, which plays at Café Restaurant Zalencentrum Harwig in Den Ham, Overijssel, is making its debut with two Germans, Andreas Niehaus and Tobias Bouerdick. Theo Moes from Enschede is playing in the premier league for the first time and is now the only Dutchman to have performed at highest level in all disciplines.
The first round will be played with 26 Dutch players, 16 Belgians, 3 Germans, one Greek, one Spaniard, and one Frenchman.
All matches from Sunday 1:00 p.m. will be broadcast live by Kozoom.
The program and the players:
Cues&Darts-SIS Vervoort
Glenn Hofman-Jean van Erp
Jef Philipoom-Raimond Burgman
Huub Wilkowski-Raymund Swertz
Joey de Kok-Harrie van de Ven
Dallinga.com-Paperclip
Jean Paul de Bruijn-Dick Jaspers
Peter De Backer-Anno de Kleine
Steven van Acker-Cédric Melnytschenko
Berry Dallinga-Dan Breur
Aartsbouw/Domicili-STZ Zundert
Eddy Merckx-Roland Forthomme
Barry van Beers-Sam van Etten
Wesley de Jaeger-Sergio Jimenez
Ronny Brants-Francis Forton
RCN Nieuwegein-Burgmans Biljarts
Dave Christiani-Bart Ceulemans
Gerwin Valentijn-Erwin Kivits
Philip Vandendriessche-Marco Janssen
Henk Blauwblomme-Johan Roijers
Bousema/JBScues-Team Eekhoorn
Jeffrey Jorissen-Nick Polychronopoulos
Johan Loncelle-Peter Ceulemans
Stefan Galla-Frans van Kuyk
Frans van Schaik-Jerry Hermans
Team Babbelz-Harwig/Oerbesitas
Frédéric Caudron-Andreas Niehaus
Davy van Havere-Rob Lamboo
Jack Wijnen-Tobias Bouerdick
Roland Uijtdewillegen-Theo Moes
Jean van Erp