ZUNDERT/UDEN - The Dutch title race for teams goes to the showdown today (Friday 16 June) and tomorrow (Saturday 17 June). SIS Schoonmaak, the reigning champion which has led the league table throughout the competition, meets up in a double encounter with STZ Zundert, that has emerged from the play-offs as SIS' opponent. Tonight, Friday, STZ Zundert hosts from 19.00 at Den Hoek in Zundert, one day later the return is at SIS Experience Centre in Uden, Saturday afternoon from 13.00 and possibly even another decisive match in the evening. Thanks to Kozoom, Carl Verhoeven, the KNBB and Gerard ten Lohuis, the matches will be broadcast live on Kozoomtv.
For the two teams, SIS Schoonmaak as the number 1 of the regular league (DKM Tools league) and STZ Zundert (the number 4), these two days are the hour of truth. SIS Schoonmaak is the undisputed contender, Zundert the team in form, which after the decisive matches against Cues&Darts and Dekker Keukens has become the last challenger to the champion.
Zundert earned that status mainly because of Roland Forthomme, who achieved his top form in the last matches, but also thanks to Thorsten Frings, Francis Forton, Sam van Etten and Rik van Beers. The Brabant team surprised with those performances in the playoffs and has gained confidence for the duel with SIS Schoonmaak. Belgian Francis Forton, by the way, will not be able to be there in both matches due to commitments in France.
Among other things, the final will be dominated by the Belgian clash between Eddy Merckx (SIS) and Roland Forthomme (Zundert), both played on centercourt. The two players know each other very well and are absolute killers when it comes to team competition.
Eddy Merckx looked ahead in the hours before the first match and noted: ,,For sure we would very much like to win the title. For me, it would be the second time with SIS Schoonmaak in Uden after the two cups we also won. I know how Carl Verhoeven is very focused on this double. He deserves it, but so do we as players. We will give it all to put the crown on the season.''
Roland Forthomme, the killer in the finals
The national final is different from previous years. The team that first reaches four match points is the champion. That means a win and a draw will not suffice. So suppose Zundert wins the first game on Friday evening and draws the second in Uden, Zundert will have three match points and a third game will follow. The same goes for a win by SIS and a draw. The third, decisive match will then be played Saturday evening from 18.00 at SIS Schoonmaak.
Tonight's matches in Zundert are:
Rik van Beers-Raymund Swertz
Sam van Etten-Raimond Burgman
Thorsten Frings-Jean van Erp
Roland Forthomme-Eddy Merckx
Saturday afternoon in Uden:
Eddy Merckx-Roland Forthomme
Jean van Erp-Thorsten Frings
Raimond Burgman-Sam van Etten
Martien van der Spoel-Rik van Beers.
In the event of a decision on Saturday evening, the line-ups are not yet known.
All live on Kozoomtv.