ANTALYA - The top four European players in women's three-cushion come from the low lands (Netherlands and Belgium) with one outsider from Denmark, 500 kilometers to the north. Therese Klompenhouwer from the Netherlands is top favorite to win her tenth consecutive European title. Denmark's Charlotte Sörensen looks to be her main rival and two Belgian ladies, Jaimie Buelens and Danielle Le Bruyn, will need to rise above themselves to have a shot at European gold. The semi-finals are played this Wednesday morning at 11.15, Turkish time: Therese Klompenhouwer-Danielle Le Bruyn and Charlotte Sörensen-Jaimie Buelens. The winners play the final at 15.00 (14.00 in Western Europe).
The Dutch grosser in titles (world, European and Dutch) looks in her best form again and is almost unbeatable. Therese went on to win 30-14 in 16 in her quarter-final against the last Turkish, Güzin Mujde Karakasli, one inning too many for two on average. The three competitors stayed well below that, because only Charlotte Sörensen was solid and good against France's Magali Declunder (30-24 in 37, 0.810 on average). The two Belgian ladies were in great difficulties to finish their match.
Jaimie Buelens, who was promising in the preliminary stage, stayed far away from that level against Steffi Träm, did have a better start (14-6 in 15), but then sank and fought a heavy slump in the final stage (24-22 for Träm in 50 innings). The redeeming end for the Belgian was even far away, but in the 60th inning Buelens finally made the winning carom with a just-touch ball: 30-28, an average of 0.508 against Steffi Träm, who became a mother last year (0.474 on average). Jaimie Buelens did make a much better impression in her eighth final against Steinberger, whom she beat 30-15 in 33 innings.
Belgian billiard café owner, Danielle Le Bruyn, has not been in great form for a few days, but is fighting her way to difficult victories in the knock-outs: first against Turkey's Ayca Oren 19 in 50 innings, today in the quarter-finals against Katja Titze 30-16 in 67 innings (0.447).
Tomorrow, the Belgian faces Therese Klompenhouwer, normally a hopeless mission. Charlotte Sörensen and Jaimie Buelens are seemingly more evenly matched.
Charlotte Sörensen, the main rival for the reigning champion
Jaimie Buelens, showing ups and downs, but a strong Belgian at the European podium