BERLICUM - The best Dutch billiard player ever, Dick Jaspers, starts the Kling Masters this Thursday with seventeen victories on his honour role. Two times the Dutchman missed the title in the last two years: Raimond Burgman was last year's winner, Jean van Erp two years ago. The 2017 Masters are not only important for Jaspers to take the title in his own country again. The extra dimension for Holland's best is that he will be the new world's number one after a Masters victory.
Frédéric Caudron, who took the Belgian title on Sunday, leads the ranking now 24 points ahead of Jasers. The Dutchman will be rewarded by 26 points when he wins, so he would be two points ahead on the new world ranking.
Will it be an extra motivation? Dick Jaspers, in a typical reaction: ,,I just want to perform well at the Masters, the number one position, when I win, is just a nice side issue.'' And continuing: ,,I didn't look for the ranking, no time, can I start my practice again?''
The organization of the Kling Masters is in full preparation. Ad Smout, on Monday afternoon: ,,Things go like we want. We are busy bilding the stand-construction, boarding, and fixing technic things. I foresee all that we can create more places, we go towards the 400.''
Sixteen players and five referees are ready for the yearly showdown. Apart from the playing program, the organization provides the entertainment. Ad Smout: ,,It is important that we give the people in the lobby all the information and images. We provide screens and a video wall. On Saturday night there is plenty of music and entertainment. That night there is also a show by Jop de Jong, the artistic player.''
On Saturday morning there is a kick-off for the campaign 'Clean strike'. Willem la Riviere, Bennie Deegens, Rolf Slotboom, Harrie van de Ven and a representative of the NOC/NSF launch the information about doping in (billiards) sport.
The Kling Masters will be played from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 of January in the Cultural Centre Den Durpsherd in Berlicum. The tournament is the official Dutch championship in three-cushion. The final draw of the four groups was made after the last Grand Prix in Capelle aan den IJssel.
The organization is in the hands of B.E.N., Billiards Events Netherlands.
The Masters is the final between the top 16 listed three-cushion players over five Grand Prix tournaments last year. The winners were Raimond Burgman (Vlaardingen and Rosmalen), Glenn Hoffman (Oosterhout), Barry Beers (The Hague) and Dave Christiani (Capelle a/d IJssel).
Ferry van der Veen, who made an excellent promotion for the Kling Masters, reported on his website:
,,The average age of sixteen finalists is 41.5 years. Most finalists come from Brabant (7), then followed by South Holland (3), North Holland (2), Gelderland (2), one Limburg player and one from Zeeland.
The youngest champion ever was Raimond Burgman, who was 24 years in 1989 with his victory. The oldest champion was Frans van Kuyk, 41 years in 2004.''
The prize money for the Masters:
1st: 3.000 euros
2nd: 2.000 euros
3rd and 4th: 1.250 euros
5th till 8: 850 euros
9 t till 12: 700 euros
13 till 16: 550 euros.
The referees are: Erik van Woerkom, Ton Mangelaars, Wim Berendsen, Martin van Leuteren, Paul Brekelmans.
The winners of the Masters:
1987: Weijenburg
1988: Weijenburg
1989: Burgman
1990: Jaspers
1991: Jaspers
1992: Arnouts
1993 till 1995: Jaspers
1996 Burgman
1997 till 2002: Jaspers
2003: Burgman
2004: Van Kuyk
2005 till 2006: Jaspers
2007: De Bruijn
2009 till 2012: Jaspers
2013: De Bruijn
2014: Jaspers
2015: Van Erp
2016: Burgman.
The group formats are:
Group A:
Raimond Burgman
Jean-Paul de Bruijn
Jeffrey Jorissen
Therese Klompenhouwer
Group B:
Barry van Beers
Glenn Hoffman
Martien van der Spoel
Jeffrey van Nijnatten
Group C:
Dave Christiani
Jean van Erp
Frans van Schaik
Huub Wilkowski
Group D:
Dick Jaspers
Jerry Hermans
Ad Koorevaar
Roland Uijtdewillegen.
The tournament starts on Thursday at 10.15 with the official opening. Then the games start at 11.00.
The first rounds:
11.00:
Burgman-Jorissen
De Bruijn-Klompenhouwer
13.00:
Van Beers-Van der Spoel
Hofman-Van Nijnatten
15.00:
Christiani-Van Schaik
Van Erp-Wilkowski
17.00:
Jaspers-Koorevaar
Hermans-Uijtdewillegen.
On Friday the matches start at 11.00.
The quarterfinals are Saturday at 13.00 and 15.00. The semi-finals at 19:00.
The final is on Sunday at 13.00.
The entrance is free, except for the final day: 10 euros.
All information can be found at www.biljartevenementen.nl
All matches are live on Kozoom.
The portraits of the sixteen players:
RAIMOND BURGMAN
The reigning champion was born on May 12, 1964 and lives in Heemstede. He is the first qualified for the Masters 2017. Raimond was 2x World and European champion national teams (with Dick Jaspers), 4x Dutch champion (Master), the first time in 1989, 11x winner of the GP, two in 2016 (Vlaardingen and Rosmalen), 1x winner GP CEB in Prague. He is coach of the Dutch federation. It's his 29th participation in the Masters.
He will be announced by Shirley Bassey's Goldfinger.
DICK JASPERS
Dingeman Jacobus Johannes 'Dick' Jaspers was born on July 23, 1965 and lives in Sint Willebrord. The Brabant world topper is the fourth on the list for the Master 2017. Jaspers is nationally and internationally by far the most successful Dutch billiard player in history. His palmares: 17x Dutch champion three-cushion (last in 2014), 4x European champion, 3x world champion. In 2016 Jaspers won the World Cup cycle for the fifth time in his career. It is the 30th time that Dick is participating in the Masters. In 2001, Dick was appointed honorary member of the KNBB and Jaspers received a royal decoration, Officier van Oranje Nassau, in April 26, 2002.
His song in attendance at the Masters: Emerson Lake and Palmer, Peter Gunn theme
JEAN PAUL DE BRUIJN
The 'Zeeuw' was born on March 14, 1965 and is living in Hulst. De Bruijn is the 6th on the list for the Masters 2017. His palmares in the three cushion discipline is impressive, but he celebrated more successes in one cushion. Jean Paul was 2x Dutch champion three-cushion (2008 and 2013), once second at the World championship three-cushion (Lugo, 2005) and 1x third in a World Cup (Seoul 2014). He won the Coupe d'Europe with his team AEJ in 2015. In one cushion, JP took one world title, he was 6x European champion, 12x Dutch champion. De Bruijn holds the world record average one cushion (25.86). In addition, he was 6x Dutch champion in other disciplines (free game, balk-line 47/2 and triathlon).
His coming-up song at the Masters: Phil Collins' Something In The Air.
THERESE KLOMPENHOUWER
The most successful female player in the world was born on January 3, 1983 and is living in Nijkerk. Therese was 15th player on the list for the Masters in 2017. She is the reigning Dutch, European and world champion in ladies three-cushion. In total 9x Dutch, 6x European and 2x World champion.
GLENN HOFMAN
The Hague player was born on 8 February 1990. He is the 7th seeded at the Masters in 2017. Glenn Hofmann is the youngest participant at the Masters. He was twice Dutch and twice European champion three-cushion in his junior career and 2x winner of a junior World Cup. Third at the European championship seniors). In 2016 he won the first GP (Oosterhout) in his career. At the World Games in Cali, Colombia in 2013 (where he took a bronze medal), he first met his wife, the Colombian Andrea.
It is the 9th time that Hofman participates at the Masters, he was second in the last year edition.
At the Masters, his musical choice is Bon Jovi: It's My Life.
BARRY VAN BEERS
Barry was born on the 15th of January 1976 and lives in Rijsbergen. He was the 2nd to seed for the Masters in 2017. After his first GP (Amsterdam, 2013) Barry won the first (and historic) GP in The Hague in Biljartcafé Jorissen. It is his 13th performance at the Masters. His song for this tournament: AC/DC with Thunderstruck
JEAN VAN ERP
The current world champion national teams (with Dick Jaspers) was born on December 20, 1973 and lives in Heeswijk Dinter. Jean van Erp was the 5th seeded player for the Masters 2017. He's nicknamed The Iceman is, is 1x Dutch champion at the Master 2015. In 2016 he took the team world title with Jaspers.
Jean is reigning Dutch champion with his team Buffalo.nl. Also, reigning Belgian champion with his team BC Deurne and reigning Cup winner in Germany with Bottroper BA. He was 5x team champion in the Netherlands and three Dutch Cup winner by teams.
During the Masters, Jean comes up with Foreigner, Cold As Ice.
DAVE CHRISTIANI
The Limburg player was born on July 18, 1979 and is living in Druten. He is the 3rd seeded at the Masters 2017. Dave was 15 times Dutch champion classic games, 4x European champion in 47/2 and free game as a junior, European champion in 47/2 (seniors). He was also third at the World championship penthatlon. It is the 9th time that he participates at the Masters and his best result was a silver medal.
Dave's song at the Masters: Cosmic Gate - Fire Wire.
JEFFREY JORISSEN
The Hague player was born on May 23, 1984, came up as the tenth for the Masters in 2017.
Jeffrey and his team Buffalo.nl are the reigning Dutch champion in the Buffalo-league. Jeffrey was 2x Dutch junior champion. In 2004 he was third at the European championships for juniors. It is the 6th time that he participates in the Masters, his best finish was a 3rd place in 2014.
Robbie Wiiliams-Let Me Entertain You is the inspiring song to come up.
JERRY HERMANS
The Brabant camping manager was born on March 5, 1989 and living in Oosterhout. Jerry Hermans was the 8th player to qualify. It is only the 7th year that he is active in three-cushion. This is the second time that Jerry playes the Masters. In 2016 Jerry was third at the last Grand Prix. Jerry will be welcomed by Zion y Lennox feat Don Omar, Embriâgame
Remix
ROLAND UIJTDEWILEGEN
The Brabant player was born on July 7, 1970 and living in Eindhoven. Roland was the 13th seeded for the Masters 2017. He was 2x Dutch champion (1x at the small table, free game, 1x free game match table) in his junior years, 1x 3rd at the junior European championships (free game). After spending three years in America, Ronald returned to play again in three cushion circuit since 2012. It is the 6th time that he participates. Roland is accompanied musically by The Script Hall of Fame.
JEFFREY VAN NIJNATTEN
Another Brabant player, born on February 12, 1973 and living in Zundert. Jeffrey van Nijnatten was the 14th to qualify. In 2016, Jeffrey won the B-class championship.
It is the first time that Jeffrey shows up at the Masters (new style with 16 participants). The musical come-up: Guns N 'Roses - Paradise City.
MARTIEN VAN DER SPOEL
The Dutchman was born on 28 December 1981. He is the 12th seeded for the Masters 2017. He was 2x European (youth) champion 47/2, 47/2 and 71/2, 2x Dutch champion. Martien won two ranking tournaments. It is the 4th time he shows up at the Masters, in which he managed to reach the quarterfinals in the last three editions.
His music: Major Lazer & Showtek - Believer
HUUB WILKOWSKI
Huub was born on November 18, 1976 and od living in Schijndel. He is the 16th qualified player for the Masters. The Brabant man was 6x Dutch champion junior cushion in three cushion, three times in a row. Five times he took part in a World Cup (Bussum, Torremolinos, Las Vegas and Porto), once he was 5th at a European championship three cushion, small table. His musical choice for the Masters is Don Omar Danza Kuduro.
FRANS VAN SCHAIK
The Amsterdam born is from November 5, 1964 and was the 11th qualified. He is not the oldest at the Masters, but the only (and proud) grandfather of three grandchildren. In 2015 he was the finalist at the GP Vlaardingen, in 2012 winner of the A ranking and in 1992 and 1996 in the last 16 in a World Cup. In 2006, Frans van Schaik was the organizer and tournament director at the World championships artistic in Amsterdam. The tournament was won by Sander Jonen.
Frans wants all spectators at the Masters to sing along loudly as he enters the arena with Niel Diamond's Sweet Caroline
AD KOOREVAAR
The singer/entertainer was born on August 2, 1961 and IS living in Dordrecht. Ad Koorevaar was the 9th qualified for the Masters. He is the oldest of the 16 finalists. Ad was 1x Dutch champion free game, 1x GP winner (Warmenhuizen) and 5 times Dutch team champion. He was four times in the best eight at a World Cup tournament. His musical come-up at the Masters is the opening tune at the Elvis Presley concerts.
