OOSTERHOUT - "Let's play a nice 3-cushion match." That is what Kurt Ceulemans must have thought, at the start of his home game against Jean van Erp. The Belgian had recently experienced a few epic losses, and was ready for a revival. jean must have thought: "Kurt is not at his very best, these weeks."
Would that have been wishful thinking? Or is at like in any billiard match, even on the highest level, where expectations can sometimes be crushed by reality, within one or two innings?
Jean van Erp-Kurt Ceulemans
First inning, both players miss: 0-0
second inning, Jean van Erp runs 21!!!
Would you like to use the 5-minute break, Mr Ceulemans?
,,But let me tell you'', said Jean van Erp later. ,,I had to work hard to even win that match. Kurt played some great 3-cushion, and he got back to 29-24. The very short match was decided in 16 innings: 40-32. ,,I'm back in business'', said Jean smiling ear to ear, even though he is not known for using English idioms.
His team, Buffalo.nl, won the away game against Team Eekhoorn 6-2, and can start to look up. Top of the table? The tension has grown, now that leader Eureka lost in their away game against TOVV/Royal Pro. STZ Zundert, HCR Prinsen and Dallinga.com took full advantage.
What were the most noteable results on the first day of this double weekend?
Martin Spoormans, who almost beat Dick Jaspers last week, was again one of the best players, getting past the Dutch number two and reigning Master, Raimond Burgman 40-23 in 18.
Frans van Kuyk plays brilliantly against Glenn Hofman: 40-30 in 16 innings.
Jean Paul de Bruijn beats Eddy Merckx 40-34 in 28.
Tayfun Tasdemir and Murat Naci Coklu play a draw, 40-40 in 27 innings.
Roland Forthomme is too strong for Birol Uymaz, 40-28 in 26.
Peter Ceulemans still displays fine form, beating Kostas Kokkoris 40-32 in 23.
Kay de Zwart books a very surprising win over Barry van Beers: 40-20 in 33.
Above them all, is Jean van Erp with him dream start against Kurt Ceulemans. His miss after 21 valid points? ,,It was a pretty difficult shot, and I also started to feel the pressure'', was van Erp's comment.
Eureka lost their home game against TOVV/Royal Pro after the break, with John Tijssens being the only player to win for the leader, beating Frans van Schaik. Richard Bitalis had won his match against Henk Habraken, 40-22 in 27.
Champion Buffalo.nl did the business in the first half, when Jeffrey Jorissen got past Kenny Miatton (40-30 in 36) and Herman van Daalen beat the in-form player Jerry Hermans on his own table: 40-35 in 33. The second in contention, STZ Zundert, has a new team name: Medisch Centrum Breda. A sponsor contract was just signed this week.
The good win by Wesley de Jaeger over Frank Martens (40-35 in 24) did Bousema not much good against 't Hartje, partly because Therese Klompenhouwer came up short by a single point against Ad Broeders (40-39 in 49).
Dick Jaspers beat Marco Janssen in 23 innings (40-22), Johan Roijers stayed below 30 innings against Raymund Swertz (40-30 in 29). The top match between A1 Biljarts and Dallinga.com (2-6) was decided by Jean Paul de Bruijn and Steven van Acker, when they beat Eddy Merckx and Gerwin Valentijn. Belgian Van Acker was struggling in the past weeks, and could finally rejoice in a strong performance: 40-25 in 24 innings.