BERLICUM - The opening day at the Masters, with the sixteen best Dutch billiard players, has immediately put considerable margins on the scoreboards. The four groups in the pre rounds were led after one round by four leaders, who were the best this day with a win. The other winners also showed big differences in Berlicum's Benelux Theatre. Only in the last two games there was tension until the end. Glenn Hofman shone with the best average (1.739), after scoring two consecutive runs of 9 and 8 to win in 23. Not only Glenn Hofman, also Dick Jaspers, Jean van Erp, Sam van Etten were solid and comfortable winners. Among the contenders before only Raimond Burgman, one of the former winners, was far from his reputation as a dangerous outsider.
Glenn Hofman's average made the slight difference to the first day's section of the Masters, in which the initial showdowns were remarkably far apart. After a short run-up against Erwin Kivits, the Hague player first broke free with a run of 9 (22-14) and immediately after 8 for a score 30-14. Hofman did not give away that margin: he finished 40-24 in the 21st inning.
Dick Jaspers put the biggest margin on the scoreboard in the early afternoon section against his long-time rival Raimond Burgman. Jean van Erp dealt amply with Raymund Swertz, Sam van Etten did the same against Huub Wilkowski and Jean Paul de Bruijn against Harrie van de Ven.
Two runs, of 11 (Jean van Erp) and 10 (Dick Jaspers) soon decided the win. Jean van Erp even let an early 7 precede it, so Raymund Swertz never had a chance to get into the match. The home player from Brabant took that 7 to 20-11 in 16 and right after with 11 to 31-12. That eventually led to a 40-21 win in 24 (1.667/0.875). It made the mission to reach the knock-outs very difficult for Swertz right away. Dick Jaspers started with the same figures against Raimond Burgman, who was no shadow of his former self with 16 in 24 innings. Dick Jaspers scored a 10 before the break (21-7), boosted that score to 36-16 in the next 10 innings and won 40-16 in 24 (1.667/0.666).
Jean Paul de Bruijn had a slow start, got loose by 7 and had a 25-13 margin against Harrie van de Ven after 20 innings. It did not come to an exciting fight, as the Zeeuws/Brabant encounter mainly went one way and De Bruijn ran from 36-22 to 40-25 in 34 (1.176/0.735). Sam van Etten, well on his way to grow among the national elite of three-cushion, put Huub Wilkowski up 21-6 at the break. The battle was actually already won, because the young North Hollander kept scoring regularly and Wilkowski just could not find his rhythm: 40-22 in 27 (1.481/0.814).
Jeffrey Jorissen, in the group with Hofman, had a late wake-up call in the final sessions, but made the difference against Kay de Zwart with a run of six in the final stage: 40-25 in 36.
The most tension was seen in the two games towards the end. Joey de Kok had the best chances to beat Barry van Beers, but lost two precious balls in the last evening session and was beaten at the last minute by the better finisher: Van Beers triumphed 40-35 in 33 innings. That suspense as well offered the match Adrie Demming against Dave Christiani. The match became a marathon with many misses, went to the end 37-34 for Demming. The lights went out slowly, it was sink or swim for both: Christiani kept his head above with an improbable score: 40-38 in 54 innings (0.740 and 0.703).
The KNBB Masters already attracted a lot of billiard fans on the first day. Harry Mathijssen, the organizer, spoke of an almost filled hall on the first afternoon. ’’We are already running almost full for the coming days,‘’ the chairman assured. ’’Sunday for the final, we are almost sold out.‘’
Dick Jaspers on his way to score a brilliant point
Jean Paul de Bruijn, the title holder, start with a win
Harry Mathijssen, the organizer, full stands on the first day
The standings after the first day of play:
Group A:
1 Jean van Erp 2-1,666-11
2 Jean Paul de Bruijn 2-1,142-7
3 Raymund Swertz 0-0.875-7
4 Harrie van de Ven 0-0.714-4
Group B:
1 Dick Jaspers 2-1,666-10
2 Sam van Etten 2-1.481-5
3 Huub Wilkowski 0-0.814-5
4 Raimond Burgman 0-0.666-5
Group C:
1 Glenn Hofman 2-1,739-9
2 Jeffrey Jorissen 2-1,111-7
3 Erwin Kivits 0-1.043-3
4 Kay de Zwart 0-0.694-4
Group D:
1 Barry van Beers 2-1,212-4
2 Dave Christiani 2-0.740-5
3 Joey de Kok 0-1.060-8
4 Adrie Demming 0-0.703-4
Matches on Thursday:
Group D:
Dave Christiani-Barry van Beers (13.00)
Joey de Kok-Adrie Demming (13.00).
Group A:
Jean Paul de Bruijn-Jean van Erp (15.00)
Harrie van de Ven-Raymund Swertz (15.00)
Group B:
Dick Jaspers-Sam van Etten (18.30)
Raimond Burgman-Huub Wilkowski (18.30)
Group C:
Glenn Hofman-Jeffrey Jorissen (20.30)
Kay de Zwart-Erwin Kivits (20.30)