The Dutch three cushion premier league, named after new sponsor Kozoom league, will kick off its first round on Saturday and Sunday. The matches are broadcast on every possible matchday and will be improved in quality over the course of this season. The person in charge for Kozoom, Gerard ten Lohuis, will go round the playing rooms for an inspection and inspire the venue owners to ensure an ideal setting with a stable internet connection and good lighting. The champion defending the title is SIS Schoonmaak, the main challengers are Cues&Darts, Bousema and Dekker Keukens.
The start is for SIS Schoonmaak with a home match against Team Nachtwacht, formerly known as 't Hartje van Oosterhout. SIS starts without Dick Jaspers and Eddy Merckx. The Belgian will be sidelined in the rotation system.
Two teams play in the same playing hall: in De Vier Zwaantjes in Sprundel and at Camping De Eekhoorn in Oosterhout. The core of teams is from Brabant: three from Oosterhout, two from Sprundel, one from Zundert, one from Uden, one from Bergeijk, one from Tilburg and from outside Brabant only one from Lochem, one from The Hague and one from Sluiskil.
Aartsbouw and DKM Tools both returned after their relegation. Post Luchtkanalen and A1 Biljarts have been relegated from the premier league.
SIS Schoonmaak starts with Jean van Erp as leading player against Team Nachtwacht. Roland Forthomme makes the start with Zundert on number one position, but will only be allowed to play five matches for Zundert due to his transfer to De Biljartacademie. This Sunday, Forthomme plays against Dion Nelin.
Glenn Hofman is the leading player at Cues&Darts, but will rotate with Robinson Morales on that position in the competition. Dekker is already playing against Dallinga on Saturday evening, as the playing venue is not available on Sunday. Dekker comes into action in the strongest and fixed line-up with Dave Christiani, Barry van Beers, Gerwin Valentijn and Henk Blauwblomme.
Martin Horn and Jeffrey Jorissen lead Bousema's team, a contender for a high position that also includes Gökhan Salman and Frans van Schaik in the away match against Burgmans.
The line-ups for the first round of play:
SIS Schoonmaak-Team Nachtwacht
Jean van Erp-Erwin Kivits
Raimond Burgman-Harrie van de Ven
Raymund Swertz-Ad Martens
Martien van der Spoel-Frits Broeders
STZ Zundert-DKM Tools
Roland Forthomme-Dion Nelin
Sergio Jimenez-Davy van Havere
Thorsten Frings-Roland Uijtdewillegen
Sam van Etten-Jack Wijnen
Dekker/APS Sprundel-Dallinga.com
(Match on Saturday, September 23, 13.00)
Dave Christiani-Jean Paul de Bruijn
Barry van Beers-Steven van Acker
Gerwin Valentijn-Peter De Backer
Henk Blauwblomme-Berry Dallinga.
Cues&DartsXtreme-Aartsbouw Sprundel
Glenn Hofman-Ronny Brants
Ruben Legazpi-Dirk Weeremans
Pierre Soumagne-Tom Persyn
Huub Wilkowski-Ad Broeder
Team Eekhoorn-J&F Auto's/New Jorissen
Peter Ceulemans-Kay de Zwart
Frans van Kuyk-Joey de Kok
Kurt Ceulemans-Therese Klompenhouwer
Jerry Hermans-Herman van Daalen
Burgmans Biljarts-Bousema/JBScues
Anno de Kleine-Martin Horn
Bart Ceulemans-Jeffrey Jorissen
Marco Janssen-Gökhan Salman
Johan Roijers-Frans van Schaik