CAPELLE-SITTARD - At one location in the west of the country, the Dutch three-cushion league is all about a gala match between two world class players, Dick Jaspers and Eddy Merckx. Two hours' drive to the east, two teams from the deep cellar of the premier league face each other: De Biljartacademie from Sittard (headed by Forthomme) and J&F from The Hague (Javier Palazón). The last, 11th playing round before the short stop is played today, Sunday, from 1pm, with a lot of ambition and totally different interests. Dick Jaspers and Eddy Merckx meet each other in Capelle aan den IJssel with the two teams vying for a place in the long sub-top following the leader Babbelz.
Many other matches in the Kozoom league are sure to attract attention on this last matchday of the year as well, such as in Nieuwegein the cracker between numbers one and three in the rankings, Babbelz and RCN Nieuwegein. The number two, Cues&Darts, travels to always feared Zundert to defend the runner-up position.
The first half of the competition concludes with Babbelz (17 points) in the top position with 57 matches won out of 80 and 23 matches lost. The team average is the highest of all teams: 1.450, Cues&Darts (52 won, 28 lost) has 1.369, RCN Nieuwegein is just slightly higher with 1.387. The reigning champions SIS/Vervoort, dropped to eighth place after 10 matches, remain fairly balanced with 41 wins and 39 losses, but have the second-best team average with 1.431.
At the top, the battle continues unabated with Babbelz and Cues&Darts taking aim at Nieuwegein, Aartsbouw, Eekhoorn and Zundert (all four with 12 points) and Paperclip, SIS and Bousema at close distance with 10 points. Dallinga is just below them with 8 points after its fine win over Eekhoorn.
J&F Auto's and De Biljartacademie need a minor miracle to still escape the strangling relegation grip in the second half of the league. De Biljartacademie is on 1 paltry point, J&F Auto's has 2 points, making the gap with the rest almost impossible to bridge. The small miracle that is still being hoped for should already start today. De Biljartacademie and J&F Auto's will go full for victory with Roland Forthomme leading the home team and Javier Palazón having a free period with the PBA and wanting to help in the rescue operation.
Team Eekhoorn and SIS have put up great battles in recent years and are sure to provide a full camping hall today. The home team is at full strength with Polychronopoulos, Leppens and Peter Ceulemans on the first three positions and Jerry Hermans meeting Wilco van Wijk at four.
Cues&Darts will leave all except Jef Philipoom's foreigners at home for the match against Zundert. Glenn Hofman is the regular leader, Philipoom plays against Van Etten and a lot is expected from Therese Klompenhouwer and Joey de Kok in the matches against Thorsten Frings and Francis Forton. In short: a very interesting encounter at Den Hoek in Zundert.
Bousema deploys its top players Horn and Jorissen against Dallinga, who tanked a lot of self-confidence in the last match and gave De Bruijn, Van Acker, De Backer and Dallinga an important mission before the far trip east.
Babbelz will do it with Caudron, Nelin, Van Havere and Wijnen against the always-feared friend team of RCN Nieuwegein.
All matches can be seen live on Kozoom from 1pm.
The line-ups in the 11th round of play:
RCN Nieuwegein-Team Babbelz
Christiani-Caudron
B. van Beers-Nelin
Valentijn-Van Havere
Blauwblomme-Wijnen
Team Eekhoorn-SIS/Vervoort
Polychronopoulos-Burgman
Leppens-Van der Spoel
P. Ceulemans-Van de Ven
Hermans-Van Wijk
Paperclip-Aartsbouw/Domicili
Jaspers-Merckx
De Kleine-Orak
Melnytschenko-Brants
Breur-De Jaeger
De Biljartacademie-J&F Auto’s
Forthomme-Palazón
Zielemans-Gökmen
Monnissen-De Zwart
Meusen-Bruijstens
STZ Zundert-Cues&Darts
Jimenez-Hofman
Van Etten-Philipoom
Frings-Klompenhouwer
Forton-De Kok
Bousema Lochem-Dallinga.com
Horn-De Bruijn
Jorissen-Van Acker
Galla-De Backer
Van Schaik-Dallinga