VLAARDINGEN - The initiative looks innovative and refreshing. A new big tournament is coming up in the Netherlands next year, named Royal Pro International Cup 2017, for which the preliminaries will be held in eight different locations throughout the country. Frans van Schaik, born in Amsterdam, is the originator who launched the mega event. The final is on March 4, 2017 in 't Oogh van Vlaerdingh in Vlaardingen.
Frans van Schaik had it in his mind for some years already, to organize a big individual cup tournament, in addition to the team cup tournament the KNBB is organizing. Frans: ,,It was not easy to find the best weekend on the full billiard calendar, but finally we managed to do it. The other organizers are Jerry Hermans (general organization) and Danny Molier (general, final tournament and PR).
With the field of players, the Royal Pro Cup also wants to cross the borders and inspire foreign players to join the tournament, which starts on Saturday, January 28th with preliminaries in three locations with four match tables: Camping De Eekhoorn in Ooterhout, 't Oogh van Vlaerdingh in Vlaardingen and De Distel. Furthermore on Saturday 28 and Sunday, January 29th will be played in five locations with two match tables: Bousema in Lochem, Siemens in Midwolda, Millers in Heerhugowaard, 't Schuurtje in Maarssen and het Lederhuus in Afferden.
A maximum of 32 players per location can participate in the preliminaries. Two players at each location will qualify for the final with sixteen players. The matches in the preliminary rounds are to sets of 7 points, the best of 5, also the finals are played to sets of 7, first to best of seven, later on in the final match to the best of 13.
In the preliminaries casual clothing is permitted, the final will be played in billiard attire.
You can register in the room where you want to play, the cost is 25 euros per person. Registration is open from 1 November and closes on 15 January 2017. There is a minimum of 7.000 euros in prize money, divided over a 2.000 euro first prize, second prize 1000, third and fourth prize 500, 5 to 8, 350 and 5 9 to 16 200 euros.
The organization tries to motivate Kozoom to broadcast the finals.
