ZUNDERT - Zundert's top position is the target for two chasers in the Dutch premier league three-cushion this Sunday. Team Eekhoorn and Team Babbelz are one point down, Zundert is leading after two rounds, followed by a long mid field. The third match day shows many great matches: Dick Jaspers will play Jean Paul de Bruijn, Saturday’s winner of the Grand Prix in Sittard. They are two players who have known each other since their youth. Nick Polychronopoulos plays an away match with Eekhoorn against Eddy Merckx and Dion Nelin is Babbelz' leader against Zundert, where Sam van Etten plays on centre court. The matches can be seen live on Kozoom this Sunday.
For one of the top foreign players, Nick Polychronopoulos, the recent World championship in Vietnam was not a big success. The Greek was eliminated in the preliminary rounds by Vietnamese Nguyen and Turk Berkay Karakurt. As a result, he must try to gain ranking points in the upcoming World Cups to resume his rise in the rankings.
Nick Polychronopoulos was eight hours on his way on Saturday for the trip from Athens to Oosterhout to play today’s game for the Dutch team league. The owner of ‘Europe’, a famous billiard centre in Athens, will play 12 matches this year with Team Eekhoorn, which is one of the favorites in the Kozoom league. This Sunday, Nick faces one of the best players at the last World championship and in the world, for the away match for his team: Eddy Merckx. Polychronopoulos in the preview: ’’I don't know if we are the title favorite because I don't like big words. That's my philosophy in billiards,‘’ he said on the day before his departure for the Netherlands.
Polychronopoulos is one of the big foreign names in the Dutch team competition, one of the players who regularly makes the trip up and down from home to some Dutch billiards arena. On Saturday he leaves from home, followed by two days of hotel, playing on Sunday, back to Athens on Monday.
Nick recounts: ’’I have my wife Vaso running the billiard center together with two permanent staff. We have a 13-year-old daughter, Maria Anna. In total, I am away from home for about four months in a year to play billiards. That is quite tough at times, but it is my life as a professional. I love playing in the Netherlands, because Eekhoorn is a fantastic team with a nice atmosphere between the players.‘’
Team Eekhoorn will play the team of Aartsbouw this Sunday, which will feature three Belgians and Dane Schröder. Eekhoorn plays in the regular line-up, so. with Polychronopoulos in the match against Eddy Merckx.
Nick Polychronopoulos with Team Eekhoorn playing Eddy Merckx in Kozoom league
The line-ups for Sunday in th third round of the Kozoom league:
Team Babbelz-STZ Zundert
Dion Nelin-Sam van Etten
Savas Bulut-Thorsten Frings
Ronny Lindemann-Rik van Beers
Jack Wijnen-Francis Forton
Aartsbouw/Domicili-Team Eekhoorn
Eddy Merckx-Nikos Polychronopoulos
Ronny Brants-Peter Ceulemans
Allan Schröder-Frans van Kuyk
Tom Persyn-Kurt Ceulemans
Paperclip-Dallinga.com
Dick Jaspers-Jean Paul de Bruijn
Anno de Kleine-Steven van Acker
Dan Breur-Peter De Backer
Peter van Lieshout-Berry Dallinga
RCN Nieuwegein-Bousema/JBSCues
Dave Christiani-Jeffrey Jorissen
Barry van Beers-Johan Loncelle
Gerwin Valentijn-Frans van Schaik
Henk Blauwblomme-Adrie Demming
Biljartacademie-Cues&Darts/Xtreme
Roland Forthomme-Glenn Hofman
Frédéric Mottet-Jef Philipoom
Thomas Broux-Huub Wilkowski
Roy Zielemans-Therese Klompenhouwer
J&F Auto’s/Jorissen-SIS/Vervoort Installatie
Murat Gökmen-Jean van Erp
Kay de Zwart-Raimond Burgman
Paul Bruijstens-Raymund Swertz
Herman van Daalen-Martien van der Spoel
Team Babbelz-STZ Zundert
Dion Nelin-Sam van Etten
Savas Bulut-Thorsten Frings
Ronny Lindemann-Rik van Beers
Jack Wijnen-Francis Forton