TILBURG – The new Dutch three-cushion junior champion is thirteen years young, wanted to be a billiards player before he was ten, and was crowned the best this Sunday afternoon, being the little boy of the entire field. Jayden van Buren from Hilversum became the Dutch champion in a thrilling final against Joeri Wilkowski, one year older than him. The champion played the final round under the watchful eye of Therese Klompenhouwer, the world champion who is training the little champion. "Jayden is a fantastic talent, but he has to keep his feet on the ground."

The other Dutch champion, in the under-25 category, was Luca Philipoom, a Belgian who was neutralized as a Dutch citizen two years ago. He is the son of top Belgian Jef Philipoom and is continuing his career with the Dutch Billiards Federation. Luca Philipoom (17) defeated Joris van 't Zelfden from Zeeland in the final. Jayden van Buren, 1.55 meters tall, is a sensation at the billiards table. Two years ago, when he was 11, he competed once; now he's got his first title. "I'm absolutely crazy of this sport and want to keep growing to the top," Jayden said after treating his parents, brother, and coach to a drink. "I had a Coke myself, because I'm not allowed to take alcohol." He was only 9 when he and his father first went to a bar to play billiards. "You saw people looking strangely sometimes, such a little guy in the bar and at the billiards table. But the bar owner let me play until early in the evening. I play four to five times a week, sometimes up to 25 hours in one week." Jayden also gets lessons twice a month from Therese Klompenhouwer and one national training session from Christ van der Smissen.

Sunday's two finalists, Jayden van Buren and Joeri Wilkowski, are both enrolled in sports programs at a loot school. This combination is ideal for reaching the top later in life. Therese Klompenhouwer: "It's unique that a billiards player starts a career at this young age. That only happens to young Korean players, like Myung Woo Cho, the current number one, whom I played against in a World Cup in Egypt when he was 12." Regarding his tactics in the final, Jayden said: "Sometimes I can't reach a ball, but then I find a solution. I play left-handed or use an extension. I did miss a match point that way."

There were plenty of nerves in the final, as the two players with the title in sight were brimming with nerves. Jayden missed his final carom seven times, Joeri even thirteen times. The final score was 20-20 in 33 innings, but because Jayden van Buren had a slightly better average from the preliminary round, he was the champion: 9 match points, 0.649 average, compared to 9 match points, 0.591. The championship was played with six players.

The result at the National Championships means both Jayden van Buren and Joeri Wilkowski qualify for the European Championship in Athens in August.

Luca Philipoom and Joris van ’t Zelfden remained undefeated in the under-25 category in four matches before meeting in the deciding match. Joris van ’t Zelfden had the slightly better start (16-11), while Luca Philipoom had the better finish with four runs of 3 and one of 6 in the final stages: 30-23 in 21 innings. Luca Philipoom shone along the way, including a match with 2.000 on average. Luca Philipoom will also be competing at the European Championships in Athens.

The final standings at the Dutch Championship:

Under-25:

1 Luca Philipoom 10-1.153-9

2 Joris van 't Zelfden 8-1.222-8

3 Gilano Vloedmans 6-0.590-6

4 Xavier Siahaya 4-0.650-5

5 Sean van Buren 2-0.282-3

6 Miguel de Kleine 0-0.335-4

Under-17 Championship:

1 Jayden van Buren 9-0.649-4

2 Joeri Wilkowski 9-0.591-5

3 Teun van Bokhoven 6-0.415-5

4 Levi van der Hout 4-0.480-4

5 Daan Karssenberg 2-0.466-4

6 Dylan Sanders 0-0.254-3.

Luca Philipoom the champion with Jois van 't Zelden and Gilano Vloedmans

Jayden van Buren, the champion at 13 yaar of age