ROSMALEN - The Dick Jaspers tournament, renamed Emma Solutions Open this year, is won by the Belgian Peter Ceulemans. The grandson of the most famous billiards legend defeated Jerry Hermans in the final 25-23 in sixteen innings after a final run of nine. With the victory in De Hazelaar in Rosmalen, the winner earned 2.000 euros, Hermans, the losing finalist, was rewarded by 1.200 euros. The best match of the tournament came to the name of Jerry Hermans with 15 in two innings. Jean van Erp made the best run: 11.
The second edition of the tournament was played on the small table with a starting field of 128 participants. The knockout rounds were played to 15 caroms, the finale to 25 points. The total prize money of 10.000 euros was divided among the players who survived at least two rounds.
Peter Ceulemans and Jerry Hermans reached the final of the event after a long day of qualifications in which favorites such as Eddy Merckx, Jean Paul de Bruijn, who was the winner of last year, Eddy Leppens, Dave Christiani, Jean van Erp, Glenn Hoffman and Jef Philipoom were eliminated in earlier rounds and Dick Jaspers was defeated by Peter Ceulemans in the semi-finals.
The Dutchman Kay de Zwart, who made it to the final, was the black beast for Eddy Merckx and Jean van Erp, before he was beaten himself by Jerry Hermans. Jean Paul de Bruijn lost the one-way match against Dave Christiani 15-1 in three innings, Leppens lost against Jean van Erp.
Dick Jaspers reached the quarterfinals by wins over Martin Spoormans (15-8 in 9), Peter Ceulemans defeated Dave Christiani 15-5 in 9, Kay Black won against Lennart Schrauwen 15-10 in four and Jerry Hermans played a sublime match against Marco Janssen 15-8 in two innings.
Peter Ceulemans then paved his way to the final by a victory in the semi-finals against co-organizer Jaspers (15-12 in 5/4 innings), Jerry Hermans needed two match points to get rid of Kay de Zwart (15-12 in 12).
In the final match, Jerry Hermans had the best start: the player from Oosterhout faced a 15-8 backlog, but sprinted after the break to a 23-16 score in three innings (8, 5 and 2). Peter Ceulemans, however, had the best final shot and finished with a run of nine in the sixteenth inning.
Ceulemans defeated in his race to the overall victory in succession Wim Pelders (15-10 in 12), Paul Bruijstens (15-8 in 14), Erik van Woerkom (15-3 in 3/2), Dave Christiani (15-5 in 10), Dick Jaspers (15-12 in 5) and Jerry Hermans (25-23 in 16).
Hermans made his way to the finals by victories over Bob Visser (15-3 9) Alaa Ali (15-4 in 14), Jan Verdult (15-4 in 11), Marco Janssen (15-8 in 20, Kay de Zwart (15-12 in 12) and finally lost the final 25-23 in 16.
Peter Ceulemans said in a first reaction: ,,I wasn't prepared very well for the tournament. Last week, our second child was born, our daughter June. Therefore, I had a pretty tough week with little sleep and little practice. I was the last player to register for the tournament. My first matches were not so good. I needed a lot of innings, but then I came into my rhythm. In the final against Jerry, I first made some mistakes, Jerry then started to play super and I had to wait and see if I still got a chance. And luckily I could grab this chance with both hands. It was a really nice tournament with a good atmosphere among the players. I never earned so much money in one day with billiards. So, for me, they may organize such a tournament every week.''
The organizers of the Open Solutions Emma could look back on a very successful event with many great matches, a full house and an excellent entourage in De Hazelaar.