Jerry Hermans, wonderful experience in Greece

OOSTERHOUT - Would the Netherlands as a billiard nation finally have a successor for Dick Jaspers, Raimond Burgman or Jean Paul de Bruijn? 24-year-old Dutchman Jerry Hermans wants to step up to a higher level in the upcoming years. He exchanged his football career for the ambition as a billiard player and aims to reach the top.

This week he returned from an adventurous trip to Thessaloniki, where the Grand Tournament was organized by Pavlos Zachariadis. Jerry Hermans played there for the Netherlands together with Sharon van Dijk and his friend Aldo Mastromatteo.

An interview with Jerry Hermans, who owns camping De Eekhoorn, in Oosterhout together with his father.

Frits Bakker: How was it there in Thessaloniki, what kind of a tournament was it, how did you perform there?
Jerry Hermans: ,,It was a wonderful experience, with lots of friendly people and a nice atmosphere. The tournament is not as professional as a World Cup, but that is compensated by the mutual friendship. Pavlos was a great host. It was perfect: the hotel at eight minutes walk from the billiards room, summer temperatures, sometimes even up to 24 degrees.''

FB: How many players, who won?
JH: ,,There were 92 players in the tournament, divided into groups of four. The Spaniard Jose Maria Mas was the winner, he defeated Adnan Yüksel in the final. I made it up to the last 32, where I was outplayed by a Greek, Siviris. Actually, I did not play very well, slightly less than the average.''

FB: But Jerry Hermans is coming, as he has already shown in his own country. Within a year you have made a remarkable progress.
JH: ,,If you compare my averages, I did well last year: from 0.800 to over one average. I want to spend more time in the future to develop and play World Cups and other tournaments.''

FB: Where did you play football, at what level, before you started up playing billiards. And why have you made the move to billiards?
JH: ,,I played in the RKC youth, a pro team, then I moved to SCO in Oosterhout and now I still play at a lower level for TVC in Breda. Why choose billiards? Maybe it sounds strange: my body is not totally worn, but close to. I hardly recover after a match. It's not that I got lots of striker kicks. I played center back, so I was kicking my opponents in some way…’’

FB: Billiards is now your first ambition.
JH: ,,Yes, I will try to do everything to improve my game in three cushion. I take lessons from Frans van Kuyk and every free hour I use for practice, mostly forty hours per week.’’

FB: De Eekhoorn in Oosterhout is a billiard stronghold. How many clubs are playing for the league there. And how many teams?
JH: ,,How many clubs, I do not know exactly, but we have 35 teams in our room. The billiards are occupied seven days a week. We’re doing very well this year with one team in the first league. And with a team that can make the promotion.''

FB: You play with De Eekhoorn yourself, but did you get some offers already from top teams?
JH: ,,Yes, I got some, last year, but I play in De Eekhoorn, because my father and I are the owners. My grandfather, who has died, was the founder of the club. So my heart lies here.''

FB: How can you fix it, as a business man, playing more international, playing the World Cups?
JH: ,,I try to play as much as I can, but only when the work at the camping allows it. The Grand Tournament in Thessaloniki was a nice taste.''

FB: How far do you think you can come… and what kind of a player are you?
JH: ,,I'll see where my ceiling, but I will do anything to reach the top. What kind of a player? I like to attack, but you have to defend when it is necessary. I make quite a lot of points, so it’s up to my opponents so far to try to follow. I can’t say anything about my future, of course, just that I am seriously focused at billiards now. But I have a very long way to go.’’