3-Cushion
SCHILTIGHEIM – He pumped his fist into the air, with a bright smile, looked at the score one more time and left the room. Ready for a long summer break. Jean van Erp is not one of the world’s top players, who go to New York, or the World Cup in Athens.
The Dutchman was a real star player in two days European Cup, with victories over Frédéric Caudron and Nikos Polychronopoulos, but his team has not reached the semi-finals in Schiltigheim.
Jean van Erp pulled off his second win in a head to head race with Caudron. The Agipi leader lost the encounter with Jean van Erp on one carom. That was not really important for the Belgian, because the reigning champion team won the group thanks to Zanetti, Bury and Roux. Coral Colón was the second finisher.
The team, in which Jean van Erp was the unbeaten leader, was the third and sent home after two matches. ,,We have a few nice days here,'' said the Dutchman. ,,With this team, playing without Martin Horn and Jef Philipoom, our main players in the Belgian league, we knew that we were not the big contender.''
But anyway, they had a nice trip with six, four players and two fans. ,,We were in Strasbourg, a wonderful city. And we enjoy very much here. For me, the tournament is a sportive success as well with two wins. I feel good, I’m in a good form, but the season is over now. It takes until the Dutch competition start, before I play my first match again.''
The matchbal against Caudron, on 39-39, was not the easiest: the third ball was close to the short cushion, the cue ball came down from the long cushion with reverse english.
Whether the Belgian was on his best are not? ,,I don’t know. He’s playing for the first time with his new Longoni cue here and lost his two matches. But what the reason is, I don’t know. I think, these are just ordinary matches for him, although he wants to win, of course. I am more motivated than he, I think. Because I play for Kozoom, with so many people watching. That’s a great feeling.’’
Agipi, nevertheless, grab the full win with its three other players. Marco Zanetti keeps on performing on an unbelievable high level and defeated Wesley Jaeger 40-12 in 15 innings.
Before the break Jean Christophe Roux recorded a solid win against Dirk Weeremans (40-28 in 38) and Jérémy Bury beat Thorsten Frings with ease (40-23 in 22).