MARXUQUERA – Billiards fans over the world watch out!! In the summer of this year there will be the launch of a big battle in three cushion. Dick Jaspers, the world champion in this discipline, will play a match against Frédéric Caudron, the current number one in the world. The clash of two these two world class players is in Valencia (Marxuquera, Spain).
The initiative comes from Kozoom director Xavier Carrer, the organizer is Juanjo Trilles, a tremendous lover of billiards.
The competition is unique and unprecedented: the two players will meet in a contest over six hundred caroms three-cushion in a special atmosphere.
The prize money in the battle: the winner takes ten thousand euros, the other player five thousand.
How, what, where and when? The interview with Juanjo Trilles:
What is it actually, the ‘Juanjo Trilles Challenge’?
Juanjo Trilles: ,,It is an original bet in carom billiard that intends to gather, within a given modality and in a long duration match – normally 4 days-, the world’s two best players in order to determine who is really the best player in the world for that modality. Due to the fact that it is a ‘long run’ match, we expect to minimize the ‘luck’ factor which normally has an excessive influence in regular competitions with shorter matches. In the ‘Challenge’ the one who wins can truly be considered the best.’’
What was the origin of the idea?
JT: ,,The initiative is a conception of Xavier Carrer, CEO of Kozoom. He is a very intelligent person with remarkable driving talents that enjoys all my trust. He proposed the name and the basic structure of the Challenge and asked me if the foundation that bears my name, (“Juan José Trilles Foundation for the Development of Knowledge and the Arts”) could provide the required funds as well as the organization and facilities that had already been used in the Juanjo Trilles Cup last year. I gladly accepted his proposal.’’
What kind of billiard disciplines will be considered? And can we expect others for the future?
JT: ,,Initially three cushion carom but the door is open for the future inclusion of other modalities if considered of interest to the public.’’
When and where will the tournament take place?
JT: ,,The tournament, consisting of a match to 600 points divided in 10 sessions will start on Wednesday, June 27th and will last until Saturday, June 30th 2012. The place will be the same billiard room that lodged the “Juanjo Trilles Cup of Creative Artistic Billiard” last September in Marxuquera, Valencia, Spain.’’
Is there any relationship between the ‘Juanjo Trilles Challenge’ and the ‘Juanjo Trilles Cup’?
JT: ,,The success of the ‘Juanjo Trilles Cup’ that took place last year, a competition that gathered 8 from among the best players in the world in the artistic billiard, has got the attention of many players, clubs and federations in the billiard world. Its structure was innovative and the atmosphere was very unique, with about 100 physically present people enjoying not only the players exhibitions but also the meals, parties, dancing, etc. that were offered to them free of charge. There are videos showing the different acts of the Cup.’’
,,As a consequence I have received requests to repeat the event and also suggestions to do other types of tournaments in the same place, with the same atmosphere, organization, etc. This has been the case of the initiative of the ‘Juanjo Trilles Challenge’ proposed by Xavier Carrer that I have pleasantly welcomed.’’
We have heard something about a ‘Juanjo Trilles School’ as well.
JT: ,,Yes, this is a project under progress intended to provide top-ranking teachers, normally world champions, to discover their secrets to attending pupils in order for them to rapidly achieve a very high playing quality. Nothing can be said yet about the date of the School’s launch or the places, names of teachers, programs, etc., although some works constituting the School material have been already prepared. As an example a video about a monograph titled ‘The Massé without Effort’ can be downloaded clicking here: The Massé without Effort by Juanjo T. . Unfortunately, at this moment I cannot give further information about the School. We must wait.’’
But let’s go back to the ‘Challenge’. Who will be the contenders in the first edition and what will be the prizes?
JT: ,,For this edition of the challenge the two contenders are Dick Jaspers, present World Champion and Frederic Caudron, who is ranked as the nº 1 in the world. Both have accepted the invitation with enthusiasm. Regarding the economic bonus, the winner will receive a trophy and €10.000 in cash. The other contender will receive a trophy and €5.000 in cash.’’
Will the match be broadcasted live?
JT: ,,The whole match will be broadcasted live by Kozoom. Anybody will be able to watch it provided he has the qualified access to www.kozoom.com. This very well known organization will destine its best filming equipment and team to making a top-professional coverage of this event that I think will be one of the most attractive to watch in the history of the carom billiard.’’
Is the match room open for people interested in watching directly the game? If so, how much does it cost to get an invitation?
JT: ,,Yes. You may have a four-day seat in the tournament room if you buy an invitation. A seat, which includes one lunch per day plus free beverages and snacks during the 4 tournament days plus a place in the farewell dinner-party, costs €500. If on top of that you want to be lodged in a hotel (room and breakfast) and get transportation from and to the hotel the cost is €1.000. The cost for two persons that come together and share the hotel room is €1.500. These are very reasonable costs considering the site and the time of the year. Any person interested in having a seat should hurry on because the available seats are limited to a small number and the order in which the requests are received will be respected. If you want to make a reservation request you must enter the web page of the Challenge: www.juanjotrilleschallenge.com and click on the button: “I want to attend”.
It seems that this event will be a complete success considering the players’ level and the persons and organizations behind it. I congratulate the idea.
JT: ,,That is our goal. If nothing strange occurs we envisage a great success. There are many thousands of billiard fans in the world that will enjoy this tournament.’’