SITTARD - 21-year-old Joris van ‘t Zelfden and 13-year-old Joeri Wilkowski have been crowned Dutch junior champions in three cushion. The championship, played in two classes, went to the climax at De Biljartacademie in Sittard on Sunday. The two winners belong to the national junior selection who receive training from the KNBB. Joris van ‘t Zelden finished ahead of Luca Philipoom and Tom Slikker in the under 25. Joeri Wilkowski won against 12-year-old Jayden van Buren in a double competition with a one match point margin.
For Tom Slikker, the North-Holland navy man and reigning champion, it was an honorable farewell to his junior years. The successors are ready with Joris van ‘t Zelfden and Luca Philipoom, who finished at the top of the podium and both beat the outgoing champion. Joris van ‘t Zelfden did so in a thrilling match 30-29 in 39 innings, Luca Philipoom in the final session 30-21 in 34 innings.
The match of the two best Dutchmen, between Joris van ‘t Zelfden and Luca Philipoom, was won by the later champion 30-25 in 24 innings. The final day was followed in the stands today by Christ van der Smissen and Jean Paul de Bruijn, the two national coaches in charge of training and development.
The Dutch billiards federation has created a perfect culture for its talents to develop further. Joris van ‘t Zelfden hangs out a lot with Jean Paul de Bruijn, also a Zeeuw player, and has his own training facility. Luca Philipoom is under the expert wings of father Jef Philipoom, the ex-international champion who still scored high this Sunday on the final day at the Belgian championship and was unhappily eliminated by the later champion Eddy Merckx.
Joeri Wilkowski (13), the under-17 champion, also comes from a billiards nest with father and mother Huub and Monique inspiring and encouraging him. The young Wilkowski is joined the Cues&Darts stronghold and could not wish for a better education in his young years.
The Dutch circuit has a wealth of three or four more young players aged 12 and 13, who excelled in very sporting encounters in Sittard. Jayden van Buren from Hilversum is the benjamin, talented, ambitious and an excellent second in the standings after Joeri Wilkowski.
Joris van 't Zelfden, the winner, Luca Philipoom (left) and Tom Slikker (right)
Joeri Wilkowski with the trophy, left Jayden van Buren, right Levi van der Hout and Teun van Bokhoven
The standings at the NK under 17 after the double competition:
1 Joeri Wilkowski 8-0.552-5
2 Jayden van Buren 6-0.425-7
3 Levi van der Hout 5-0.347-4
4 Teun van Bokhoven 4-0.382-4
Joris van ‘t Zelfden opened in the under 25 with a win over Gilano Vloedmans (30-13 in 32), just slipped to a win against Tom Slikker (30-29 in 39) and on the second day first beat Luca Philipoom with 30-21 in 34 and finally Xavier Siahaya 30-20 in 32, thus maintaining his unbeaten status. Luca Philipoom lost only to the later winner and also remained close behind Joris van ‘t Zelfden in average.
The standings after a single round in the Dutch under 17:
1 Joris van ‘t Zelfden 8-0.944-5
2 Luca Philipoom 6-0.884-8
3 Tom Slikker 4-0.808-8
4 Xavier Siahaya 2-0.664-4
5 Gilano Vloedmans 0-0.506-5