Carom
The masters of free game, balklines, one cushion and three cushion gathering from Sunday, 9th January until Sunday, 14th January at the Casino in Blankenberge. There, in a beautiful billiard room, will be played the battle for the Belgian titles in all disciplines. The Belgian federation president Reginald Depoorter is the excellent host, Georges Rotti the coordinator of the referees and a team with friendly people are ready to welcome the visitors and guarantee them an enjoyable day.
Philippe Deraes defends his title in the free game (last year's average 368.00), Patrick Niessens in 47/2 (150.50), Frédéric Caudron in 47/1 (133.33), Patrick Niessens in 71/2 (66.33), Frédéeric Caudron in one cushion (19.35) and Eddy Merckx, who won the tournament last year in a final with Eddy Leppens, the three-cushion.
For three-cushion 32 players are seeded for a knock out system with matches over three winning sets. Also, four women have signed up for the national title: Jaimie Buelens, Daniele Le Bruyn, Mireille Vandaele and Milenca Stuyk.
The matches are played on four billiards, with different disciplines simultaneously. The opening ceremony is on Sunday, January 9 at 11:00. On Friday, January 14, the three cushion quarter-finals start, on Sunday, January 16th, are the semi finals and final.
The three-cushion players who have been seeded are: Henk Blauwblomme, Ronny Brants, Frédéric Caudron, Marco Ceelen, Kurt and Peter Ceulemans, Alain Clabots, Johan Claessen, Ronny Daniels, Peter de Backer, Wesley de Jaeger, Marc Dellaert, Roland Forthomme, Francis Forton, Marc Janssen, Marco Janssen, Patrick Kersten, Eddy Leppens, Johan Loncelle, Eddy Merckx, Frédéric Mottet, Jimmy Mues, Tom Persijn, Jef Philipoom, Marc Roothooft, Martin Spoormans, Ronny Tollenaars, Steven Acker, Koen van Camp, Michael van Camp, Davy van Havere and Dirk Weeremans.