NIEUWEGEIN - The Dutch competition for top teams in the classic games starts with ten teams on Saturday, 13 September. The teams play nine rounds in a double competition, which ends on 31 January. The title holder, Etikon, shows up under another name and on another location.
Henri Tilleman has left the champion team and is replaced by Gert-Jan Veldhuizen. Patrick Niessen and Jean Paul de Bruijn are the leading players. The team name is Etikon/AEJ, the home games are played in Sportsfoyer De Hazelaar in Rosmalen.
Bennie Deegens returns as team leader.
The competition should mainly come from A1 Biljarts/De Veemarkt, which plays in Doetinchem. Frédéric Caudron leads the team with Raymund Swertz and Michel Silfhout in the strongest line-up.
Willem Siebelink is the team leader.
Dibo-The-City has changed a few positions. Jos Bongers, Martien van der Spoel and Micha van Bochem left the team. Dave Christiani is the main player with René Luijsterburg and Dennis Timmers as excellent teammates.
't Ottertje is new in the premier league with Jos Bongers, Martien van der Spoel and Micha van Bochem who came from Dibo. The team plays its home matches in Café 't Ottertje in Ottersum.
Biljartcentrum Arnhem is a known team with Harrie van den Boogaard, Martijn Egbers and strong Germans Markus Dömer and Thomas Nockemann.
Berkland topteam will perform in a well known location: HCR Prinsen, that thanks its fame to the Etikon team. Hans Klok, who is the leader, has brought a new line-up with Marek Faus and the French one cushion star Alain Remond.
BIOS/Blitz Optics from Barneveld start off with Dick Jaspers, Erik van der Linden, Peter Volleberg, René Tull and German Fabian Blondeel.
's Lands Welvaren/Reedijk is the old team of Wellse Vaert that moved to Zeeland, where Peter de Bree brought his team to Kwadendamme. The composition is the same: Peter de Bree, Ian Krieken, Roij van Raaij, Ad Koorevaar, Johan Claessen and Ludo Kools.
De Graafschap Biljarts enters the competition with Frank Vermeulen, Lyon Megens, Marco Kivits, Gerrie van Eck and Jurgen de Ridder.
Biljartservice Van Gemert starts with four players of De Graafschap: Demi Pattiruhu, Ricardo Goud, Guido Kauffeld and Sam van Etten. The fifth man is Wiel van Gemert. The team is still looking for a location.
The first round with a double program (September 13):
Biljartcentrum Arnhem-A1 Biljarts/De Veemarkt
Topteam Berkelland-Biljart Service Van Gemert
BIOS/Blitz Optiek-BV 't Ottertje
Dibo-The City-Etikon/A.E.J.
's Lands Welvaren/Reedijk-De Graafschap Biljarts
The next rounds are on 18 October, 1 November 22 November 29 November 20 December, January 3, 17 January and 31st January.