BOTTROP - The heat in the arena felt like playing billiards in a scorching hot desert. Dutch player Therese Klompenhouwer later looked back on a wear and tear event, but remained ice-cold herself under those harsh conditions. The 40-year-old world champion faced another Dutch woman, Karina Jetten, in the final at the Predator Grand Prix with only European opponents. The battle for the main prize of 1,500 euros showed the almost eternal supremacy of Klompenhouwer: after a resounding start of 19-5 to a generous victory 30-19 in 18 innings (1,666/1,117).
The tradition of always keep on winning was not broken in the German oven. Therese was not quite at her best due to her disrupted preparation, but was stunningly strong in the final as there was a certain respect for Karina Jetten. The Dutch number 2 was back from being away in this Grand Prix and demonstrated that most of all with high run (8, 7, 6). Therese: ’’I still finished with over 1 on average myself despite the minor start.'' She was satisfied with that. Therese started off like a comet in the final, saw Karina come back with 8, but was again sublime in the closing stages.
The wedding party shortly before the Grand Prix and the Greek honeymoon with her wife Eveline had caused some sporting doubts. Therese looked a little uncertain and thought on beforehand: ’’Maybe we can meet another winner this time.'' However, two weeks celebrating the new life, without training on billiards, did not make Therese any less untouchable. Turkish ladies, a Danish crown princess and a Belgian rival made another unsuccessful attempt to dethrone the queen. Charlotte Sörensen, the coming-lady ran into Karina Jetten, who once again played a final but could not get the highest out of her performance.
Theresen analysed: "There was not so much new among the competition. Charlotte (Sörensen) had been in a flow in her career for a while. She could not show that here, she was not as good as we were used to. Karina Jetten was strong, better than lately. I always kept believing in her as one of the best European players.''
The Dutch ladies' dominance was as expected before. The wait for years has been for young blood to threaten Therese, or for Asian rivals, whose real top players have transferred to the PBA and unfortunately can no longer compete with the queen of women's billiards.
The final stage at the Grand Prix in Bottrop:
Quarter-finals:
Buelens-Cardoso 30-28 in 55
Jetten-Van Exter 30-21 in 41
Sörensen-Michalkova 30-15 in 51
Klompenhouwer-Degener 30-23 in 39
Semi-finals:
Klompenhouwer-Buelens 30-11 in 29
Jetten-Sörensen 30-18 in 29
Final:
Klompenhouwer-Jetten 30-19 in 18.
The final ranking of the best eight players:
- Therese Klompenhouwer 12-1,018-5
- Karina Jetten 8-0.816-8
- Charlotte Sörensen 8-0.691-4
- Jaimie Buelens 8-0.545-5
- Gülsen Degener 2-0.648-4
- Monique van Exter 4-0.554-7
- Estela Cardoso 4-0.563-3
- Irena Michaelkova 6-0.462-4.
Therese Klompenhouwer, another victory to her rich palmares
Therese Klompenhouwer and Karina Jetten, the two Dutch final players
Therese Klompenhouwer
Karina Jetten
Jaimie Buelens