Dick Jaspers, three World Games, three finals

SINT WILLEBRORD – Times have changed, in every conceivable way. It’s a new Dick Jaspers facing the summer. He has a new outlook on the future, proud as he is of his son René, who played handball at the Youth Olympic Days. He has a new girlfriend, Yvonne (call it serious dating) and can’t wait to get the new season going.

,,I did not win a lot last year’’, he reflects. ,,Still, I did play very well from time to time, and scored really high averages. I was unlucky a few times, when I ran into good opponents, like in the World Cups of Antalya (Bury), Korea (Blomdahl) and Egypt (Caudron). But I also squandered a few opportunities myself, like at Agipi and in the European Championship against Zanetti.’’

Today (Tuesday) Jaspers celebrates his 48th birthday, tomorrow he will fly via Panama to Colombia for his 4th participation in the World Games. ,,I absolutely did not want to fly over on my birthday.’’

Dick Jaspers, title holder on the World Games in the 3-cushion discipline, in a Kozoom interview: ,,I am looking forward to it, it is a great event with so many different athletes.’’

Frits Bakker: It still is the middle of summer, and you have not played much since the EC. What are your ambitions in these World Games?
Dick Jaspers: ,,I have high expectations, as I have for every tournament I enter. Certainly in the World Games, where I am the title holder and have played in all of the three finals. I did play some billiards after the EC: we won the Portugese team title with Porto, I’ve played the French play-offs and qualification for the Europa Cup. But yes, virtually no matches for 6 weeks, just practice. That was not always easy, with the weather we’ve had.’’

FB: Why were you not in New York for the Verhoeven Open, where many world class players showed up?
DJ: ,,I felt the children and the school holidays should come first. Mostly because my son Rene, who is sixteen, was in the handball selection. His team played in the Youth Olympic Days in Utrecht, which was a great experience. That tournament coincided with New York, and I did not want to miss it. They ended last, The Netherlands is not a prominent handball nation, but they were in the field because The Netherlands were organizers.’’

FB: Have you followed New York?
DJ: ,,I’ve read the reports on Kozoom, have not seen any of the matches. And I noticed there was some very strong play there.’’

FB: Is it fair to say that your life has changed somewhat: not everything revolves around billiards now, your children are key as well. And your private life has changed.
DJ: ,,My children have always been important, but I try to make adjustments to my schedule for them. Those Olympic Days, you just have to be there as a father, I will give up New York for that. And you are right, my private life has changed. I have a new girlfriend, Yvonne. We are not living together yet, let’s call it serious dating for now. We will go on holiday in Spain next august, and my daughter will come with us. There may be other things important in my life, but billiards does not have to take second stage. I love the game as much as I always have, and I am motivated to play.’’

FB: Three participations in the World Games, three times in the final. Take us through those matches?
DJ: ,,The first one, in Akita, I lost to Dani Sánchez, who ran a 13 in that final, and I was unable to close the gap. Sánchez won the second one as well, but that was a very close call. I was leading, Dani came back with a run of 11, he finished first and I equalized with a 3. He started the penalty shootout with a 2, I made the break but had a horrible resulting position. And four years ago, I beat Blomdahl quite comfortably. I ran a 20 against Sánchez in the semi, on outrageously bad tables. I beat Torbjörn in the final, I think it was 40-18.’’

FB: What do these World Games mean to you? Some players (Caudron) have passed.
DJ: ,,For me, it’s a great event with all those different athletes, it is a special experience. There is an Olympic feeling in that village. I do think the UMB must make sure that we never have another Kaohlslung, with tables THAT bad.  We as athletes will do everything to promote our sport, when the entire wolrd is watching. How can it be, that they ask us to play on billiards that are of almost unplayably poor quality. I hope circumstances will be better this time.’’

FB: Het NOC/NSF in the Netherlands traditionally paid for the travel and hotel expenses of the players in the World Games?
DJ: ,,They no longer do, and now our federation, the KNBB, must pay for everything. That is a worrysome development. Also, we can’t make any money on the World Games, and still I want to play there. If this is what it will look like for future tournaments, we will not be able to live off our sport anymore.’’

FB: The one major success last season was the European title with Burgman. Many people critized you and Sanchez for playing on the small tables in that EC. Their point was: why do these pro’s get to steal the prizes meant for the amateurs.

DJ: ,,I think that is nonsense. I was asked to play by our federation chairman, Santos Chocron. I had nothing else to do for four or five days anyway. If they don’t want us to play, make a rule against it, or create an average limit. Speaking of amateurs, in the World Cups amateurs can play amidst the pro’s. I am glad I could make a little bit of money on that EC.''

FB: How is the upcoming season shaping up, with which teams will you play the different leagues?
DJ: ,,I will keep on playing for Deurne in Belgium, where we have a new sponsor (Marco Jansen). With that team I will also play the European team cup, so no longer with FC Porto. We have a strong line-up in Deurne: Eddy Merckx, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Ludo Dielis, Davy van Havere and myself. In the Netherlands I will play in Amsterdam, in a new team with Eddy Merckx and Frans van Kuyk. I will play at least half of the 22 matches. In Germany I play for  Magdenburg, also half the matches, sharing my spot with Dion Nelin. My team in France (Kozoom) has withdrawn. The other team (Andernos) with Roland Forthomme, Peter De Backer, Filippos Kasidokostas and Jérôme Barbeillon will play this season.’’

FB: Who do you think are the favorites for the gold at these World Games?
DJ: ,,That is impossible to say, with so many class players present. We will play to 40 points, with a 40 second shot clock, on unfamiliar tables, so it’s about who adepts and adjusts best. The strongest players will probably last the longest: Zanetti, Merckx, Coklu, Kim, Forthomme. Needless to say, I want to perform well myself.’’