CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL - The 54-year-old Raimond Burgman won the Grand Prix in Capelle aan den IJssel this Saturday and is the number 1 on the Dutch ranking. As a result, he will head the Dutch team at the World championship for national teams in Viersen early next year. Dick Jaspers, the current world champion, has to take the maximum points in the last Grand Prix to be in the Viersen team for Holland. The world's best in Cairo was surprisingly beaten by Jeffrey Jorissen in the quarter finals in Capelle.
Three Hague players, from the Dutch champion SIS Schoonmaak, were presented in the semi-finals on Saturday at the start of the evening. Glenn Hoffman, Raimond Burgman, Jeffrey Jorissen and the only non-Hague player, Dave Christiani, made a shot to victory in the third Grand Prix of this season. Raimond Burgman was a two times losing finalist against Glenn Hoffman in Vlaardingen and Jean Paul de Bruijn in Rosmalen. This Saturday, Burgman was the deserved winner in the final against Dave Christiani.
,,I played a good and solid tournament'', Burgman said afterwards in his commentary. ,,It was a tough day for the condition for concentration on the final day with four matches. I could take advantage against Dave Christiani halfway, without making big runs. But at the finish I had a comfortable lead, 40-29 in 27 innings, so almost 1.5 average.''
Dave Christiani played an excellent tournament, but was dominated in the final by the later winner. The Limburg player argued: ,,I had my best shape and feeling after the matches in the run-up to the final. But then, when it came to the end, I was a little tired, my concentration was not that good and the positions were unlucky. I am satisfied with my tournament, but I had the level to win. A pity that I could not manage, but finally, this was good for my confidence.''
Raimond Burgman played his best match in the quarter finals against Jean Paul de Bruijn, whom he beat 40-21 in 15 innings. Dick Jaspers was outplayed by Jeffrey Jorissen in that round, who made up an early gap with a run of 11 and won 40-32 in 21 innings. Glenn Hofman defeated in these quarterfinals Jean van Erp (40-34 in 23), Dave Christiani was the better of Wil Janssen 40-31 in 27.
The Hague podium in the semi-finals, in which Raimond Burgman and Jeffrey Jorissen played against each other and Glenn Hoffman faced Dave Christiani, was reduced to one. Raimond Burgman secured the final by a win over Jorissen (40-28 in 22), Dave Christiani played a great match gainst Glenn Hoffman (40-26 in 16). Raimond Burgman, who announced afterwards that he will play more World Cups next year, had the better finish and took the main prize.
The 54-year-old player: ,,I have a great year, both individual and with the SIS team. We took the national championship and were second in the European Cup, only beaten by a strong Turkish team. We can say that this is a very strong year.''
Talking about his international ambitions: ,,Last week I played the World Cup in La Baule and I was too late to play the next World Cups. I intend to do that next year, then I want to play them all. I want to try to reach the top twenty, that is a challenge.''
Three years after his last participation in the World Championships in Viersen, Burgman will be there again next year. He is the number 1 in the ranking by his three final places in the Grand Prix tournaments. ,,We still have one Grand Prix to play in The Hague. It looks like Dick Jaspers has to win there, to also play the World championships in Viersen.''
Dave Christiani, an excellent finalist in Capelle
Jeffrey Jorissen outplayed the world champion Dick Jaspers