3-Cushion
ZUNDERT - What a great man, to meet him there in the billiard center of Louis Havermans, where the Christmas tournament is played these days: Kees Rijvers (85), former football player in golden strikertrio with Faas Wilkes and Abe Lenstra, former coach of the Dutch team, PSV and FC Twente, predecessor of Rinus Michels, who made the Dutch team champion of Europe in 1988. Cup of soup, cheese sandwich, just an ordinary Dutch man, although he lives many years on the west coast of France now, in Ile d'Oleron.
,,I didn't came so often to the Netherlands this year, only for the funeral of Jan van Beveren, the goalkeeper, but usually also for this tournament in Zundert, because I love billiards very much,'' he said.
Who else was there, yesterday afternoon, during the session in wich Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Leppens, Roland Forthomme and Raimond Burgman played to qualify for the semifinals of today? Rini Wagtmans for instance, former professional cyclist, champion in descending from a mountain in the big tours, super servant of Eddy Merckx, one time third in the Tour of Spain, winner of three stages in the Tour de France, one day yellow jersey.
,,I live near by and love the atmosphere here,'' said the man about whom a beautiful book has been written and who never was afraid to tell a good and strong story. As he did once about one of his stunts on training: ,,I rode so fast from a mountain, that I could not stop when a truck came from a side road. The only thing I could do, was diving under the trailer at full speed.''
Well, was it funny there in Zundert or not. Especially during the demonstration of Sander Jonen, artistic billiards world champion, last night in the late hours. He showed himself a master entertainer for the audience, even with a little bit of the charisma of Semi Sayginer.
Bert van Manen, billiards player, writer and translator, wrote a lyirical little story in the group of Three cushion players on facebook. Just one phase from that story:
,,The billiard center of Den Hoek is unique (none other than Dick Jaspers grew up in this room). The food is good, the beers are cold and tasty, but what's really special is the combination of topbilliards with atmosphere and the clientele. The bar is separated from the billiardsroom by a soundproof wall. There's almost always laughter and noise in the café and rest and peace in the billiard room. The spectators are usually connoisseurs, who grew up with Ceulemans, Dielis, Jaspers and Van der Smissen. You will not get them to applaud a piqué that looks difficult but isn't. A well-avoided kiss however, or an ultra-thin hit from distance will not go unnoticed.''
He could not describe it better. ,,We have a full house again'', sighed Jan van Kerkoerle, the entertainer and announcer of the matches yesterday evening. As if he wanted to say: we did it again, what an amazing ambiance.
This afternoon the semi-finals are scheduled (13.00), followed by the finals at 16.00. Roland Forthomme against Eddy Leppens, Frédéric Caudron against Raimond Burgman. What a poster, what a great afternoon will it be in Den Hoek again.