Crystal Kelly Cup
Dick Jaspers Netherlands
The Crystal Kelly tournament or Crystal Kelly Cup was a prestigious, highly doped carom Invitational Tournament in the discipline of three-band. It was from 1994 to 2011 a total of 18 times, at different venues, usually in Monte Carlo and Nice discharged. It was not part of the Main Tour.
History
Was launched the tournament in 1994 by businessman and software - founder Joop van Oosterom, a famous billiards and chess patron. The name derives from his daughter Crystal Kelly van Oosterom. His other daughter Melody Amber dedicated to the 2- fold correspondence chess champion of the same tournament is also held since 1992 in Monte Carlo / Nice in the disciplines of chess and blindfold chess. It was 2012 the last time instead.
In 2010, van Oosterom declared that he would give up the sponsorship the following year. Thus, the 2011 tournament was the last. Raymond Ceulemans was from the beginning with this, from 1994 to 2006 as a player and, after his retirement from active sports of billiards (2006), as a Tournament Director. In his playing active early years he always took top places, though he could never win the tournament. Torbjörn Blomdahl and Dick Jaspers participated in all 18 tournaments. Jaspers with eight wins record holder, Blomdahl with 5 wins second place in the "eternal" tournament list.
The Crystal Kelly Cup was held 13 times in Monte Carlo, 3 times in Nice and one time in Scheveningen and Antwerp, as of the end of the season in early June. The only exception was in 2005 when the tournament was held in late August.
With prize money to U.S. $ 70,000, the tournament was one of the best endowed in the world. Were paid extra bonuses for outstanding performance and the winner pocketed about $ 20,000. Similar to the AGIPI Billiards Masters in Schiltigheim it was considered as a small world championship. For the players who also "Monaco" named the tournament, it enjoyed a high reputation. Everyone followed like the invitation of van Oosterom. All players, including women and partners were flown in and spent a week guests of van Oosterom family. Every day was just a game for everyone on the plan, which allowed time for trips and excursions.
Participants from the D -A -CH countries did not exist. The only participants from America was Sang Chun Lee from the USA.
Tournament structure
The number of participants was between eight and ten players. A total of 17 different players participated in the tournament. Many players have been invited over the years, such as: Semih Saygıner (16 × ), Frédéric Caudron (15 × ), Frans van Kuijk (13 × ), Marco Zanetti ( 11 × ) and Daniel Sánchez ( 8 × ) When last tournament the ten participants were divided into two groups of five players. These were:
- Group A:
- Marco Zanetti Italy
- Frédéric Caudron Belgium
- Eddy Merckx of Belgium
- Frans van Kuijk Netherlands
- Filipos Kasidokostas Greece
- Group B:
- Dick Jaspers Netherlands
- Torbjörn Blomdahl Sweden
- Daniel Sánchez Spain
- Semih Saygıner Turkey
- Peter Ceulemans Belgium
It was played in the group stage in the round-robin mode (with Nachstoß ) and in the final round in a knockout mode respectively on 50 points without Nachstoß. The seats 3-10 was played.
Winner
- * 1 Blomdahl played an unofficial world record of 2,324 in GD and an ED of 3.571 (ditto 1996)
- * 2 In the 1997/98 season played in Holland for the first time the team was founded and sponsored by Oosterom Crystal Kelly. Players have included R. Ceulemans, Caudron and van Kuijk. The team also won the European Cup twice ( Coupe d'Europe ).
- * 3 Jaspers played an ED of 4,166
- * 4 R. Ceulemans plays the ED of 3.846
- * 5 Jaspers makes an ED of 5.000 (! ), 50 points in 10 shots
- * 6 Blomdahl plays an ED of 3.846
- * 7, 2009, the best tournament average was played with 1,865
- * 8 Jaspers makes an ED of 4.545
- * 9 Jaspers played a GD of 2.623, the best so far in a tournament.
Gallery from the tournament in 1999
Marco Zanetti
Raymond Ceulemans
Raymond Ceulemans
Semih Saygıner