AMSTERDAM - The hegemony of Dick Jaspers and Raimond Burgman is undisputed, but behind the two top players in the Netherlands is a new generation coming up. Martien van der Spoel is one of those new players and Dave Christiani, for years an all-round player, is increasingly developing as a three-cushion player with a bright future.
Dave Christiani meets in the semifinals of the elite ranking tournament in Osdorp Dick Jaspers this afternoon. Martien van der Spoel faces Raimond Burgman at the other table. The expectation is not that the two leaders of the Dutch three-cushion will be surprised, but Christiani and Van der Spoel played on a high level in the eighth finals. They can't be underestimated. Both players are in excellent form and are willing to develop further in the top of Dutch three-cushion.
Jan Arnouts from the previous generation did a step backwards a few years ago. The veteran lost to Barry van Beers, who lost in the nex round to Raimond Burgman. Harrie van de Ven won against Jeffrey Jorissen, but then lost to Dave Christiani. Jean van Erp could'nt answer to the high expectations. He was defeated in the quarterfinals by Martien van der Spoel, who wasn't by coïncidence the champion in three-cushion during the multi-championship.
Jean-Paul de Bruijn is no longer a player like in his early days as he stormed the top of three-cushion. He's not longer one of the best, even in the Netherlands. Yesterday he lost in the eighth finals against Dave Christiani 50-26 in 27 innings. Martien van der Spoel defeated Ruud Hölscher in that session 50-35 in 31 innings with a highest run of thirteen.
Dick Jaspers meanwhile seems easily on the way to a certain place in the final. He beat the coming talent Glenn Hofmann in the quarterfinals 50-38 in 25 (runs of eleven for Jaspers, ten for Hofman). Raimond Burgman continued his victory march to the finals against Barry Beers (50-26 in 28).