OOSTERHOUT - The Dutch billiards players in three-cushion have three titles to share in this first month of the year. The ladies are already in action this coming weekend, the juniors follow in the week after and finally, the Masters are on the agenda. The start of the year for the KNBB - and thus also the Three-cushion Section will not receive any more subsidies.
Tournament formats have been adjusted, live broadcasts will be limited, youth training will become less frequent and players playing World Cups will no longer receive allowances. Paul Brekelmans, the section president, is reluctant to announce those measures. ,,The elimination of subsidies cuts into a section like ours. That is why we have to be very frugal with the money we have to spend,‘’ Brekelmans acknowledges.
For the ladies, who will play the Dutch championship on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 January at De Eekhoorn in Oosterhout, the cuts mean, among other things, that the two Grand Prix tournaments will be cancelled. The highest-seeded ladies in the ranking will be chosen directly from now on. The remaining ladies have to qualify for the main tournament on the Friday before the 16. The costs of the Grand Prix tournaments do not outweigh the interest of the players. Paul Brekelmans: ,,A number of players cannot play those tournaments due to work and other issues. The interest in the Grand Prix tournaments was disappointing, which is why we are stopping these organisations. We really have to cut expenses.‘’ For the men, four GPs will be organized again this year.
The allowance for players travelling to a World Cup in expenses will be stopped. The organization of the NK for juniors will be somewhat more austere and the teaching days for young players by the association trainers will be staggered more in consultation with the trainers. For the World Cups, except for the players allowed to start in the final qualification, a fee of 250 euro per World Cup applied. That will be reversed, so the cost will be for the players.
‘’For now, that has no consequences,‘’ Paul Brekelmans assures. ,,The Dutch have signed up again as usual for the World Cup in Bogóta. Paul Brekelmans, who joined the section board in 2015 and became chairman four years ago, is starting his last full year as chairman. Hans de Bruin, the treasurer, is quitting one year later. ‘’It is time for others to come forward for the board to start pulling the cart in the coming years.‘’
The first Dutch championships, which will be played next weekend and next weekend and have no live broadcasts, will be played in the following line-ups:
Diamonds 2025 Women's NK, 4 and 5 January at De Eekhoorn.
Deelnemende poules:
Group A:
Therese Klompenhouwer, Blaricum
Joke Martijn, Leiden
Petra Lips, De Kwakel
Sylvia Eckel, Lewedorp
Group B:
Daisy Werdekker, Tilburg
Jetty Beersma, Almelo
Sabine Bakker, Grootebroek
Gerrie Wierstra, Voorthuizen
Group C:
Karina Jetten, Visé
Ineke Kooistra, Amsterdam
Pauine Beersma, Almelo
Sandra Sterk, Spijk
Group D:
Monique van Exter, Lelystad
Monique Wilkowski, Sint-Michielsgestel
Mirjam Pruim, Almelo
Natasja Damen, Haaksbergen
Reserves: Hanny Hultermans en Andrea Hofman.
NK junioren, 11 en 12 januari in De Biljartacademie in Sittard.
Deelnemers:
Group A:
Joeri Wilkowski, Sint-Michielsgestel
Jayden van Buren, Hilversum
Legvi van der Hout, Ridderkerk
Teun van Bokhoven, Helmond.
Group B:
Tom Slikker, Den Helder
Joris van ’t Zelfden, Driewegen
Luca Philipoom, Pulderbos
Xavier Siahaya, Geleen
Gilano Vloedmans, Hillegom.