GRONINGEN - Jean Paul de Bruijn has achieved his status as a world top player in one cushion by winning the Dutch title in this discipline. The specialist defeated all his opponents in a final with eight players. In the last and deciding match, De Bruijn was the better of young Sam van Etten, the new top player in the classic games. The general average of 25.92 for De Bruijn was a Dutch record.
The champion won his matches over 100 caroms against Leo Koomen in 3 innings, Gert-Jan Veldhuizen in 3, Micha van Bochum in 5, Dennis Timmers in 4, Michel van Silfhout in 5 and Jos Bongers in 3 innings. Sam van Etten defeated Michel van Silfhout in his first match in two innings (best match, best run of 99), Dennis Timmers in 7, Leo Koomen in 9, Micha van Bochem in 12, Jos Bongers in 4 and Gert-Jan Veldhuizen in 9 innings.
The final match for the title, between the two unbeaten players, ended in a victory for Jean Paul de Bruijn 100-44 in 4 innings.
Jean-Paul de Bruijn dominated the one cushion discipline in the years that this game was played more internationally at the European championship from 2001 to 2007 with 6 titles out of 7 (Alain Remond in 2004), Frédéric Caudron took over the hegemony from 2008 to 2017 with 7 titles out of 8 (Wolfgang Zenkner winner in 2010).
The final ranking at the Dutch championship:
1 Jean-Paul de Bruijn 14-25.92-90
2 Sam van Etten 12-13.70-99
3 Jos Bongers 10-8.40-96
4 Michel van Silfhout 6-9.68-64
5 Gert-Jan Veldhuizen 6-6.75-62
6 Leo Koomen 4-4.51-40
7 Micha van Bochem 2-6.14-49
8 Dennis Timmers 2-5.21-41