3-Cushion
ANTALYA - The new year for Frédéric Caudron has started with the Belgian championship, the Agipi Masters, in his own words not in his best form, but undoubtedly he is one of the undisputed favorites in the first major international tournament: the World Cup in Antalya, where he will meet the Colombian Robinson Morales tomorrow in the first round.
The new year is not just an ordinary year for the Belgian, who excelled with an unlikely world record tournament average in last year's World Cup in Vienna. Two days before his departure to the Turkish resort, Caudron and his partners gave the kick off for a new project: a super modern company (tavern/billiard room/restaurant), the Salpho in Malle. It will be a new dimension in his life.
Frédéric Caudron is one of the most famous professional billiard players with a business instinct, a man who lives three lives, tirelessly and almost underway. Whether he has a busy life? Mwaah, you can say, but he never will complain.
The 43-year old Belgian plays three-cushion, but also other disciplines and in his best days it seems that he's from another planet. He makes his business with a smile, is outside the billiard very amiable, approachable for everyone, frank and honest in interviews, even if he has played rather bad for his class.
Frédéric Caudron is a Sunday's child. Billiards is his hobby and his life. ,,I put everything aside for it, because I'm a professional. My neighborhood, my friends, my partners, my family, everybody knows that billiards is my daily life, my profession.''
People who know Caudron a bit, say that he is a perfectionist. Billiards, business, his private life, he does it all playfully and with a relentless energy. A picture or an autograph from the maestro? He always will make some time and often in a crazy, silly pose.
Concerning his life as a professional player: Caudron plays three cushion in the leagues in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, now and then in Germany and Spain, sometimes in Portugal and for a top team classical games in the Netherlands. He plays all the World Cups, the championships, tournaments in which he can earn titles, he uses his free hours to practice, provides demonstrations, sometimes travels to Korea or other countries for promotional activities or, as in December last year, he's teaching billiards in a country like Israel.
Frédéric Caudron is a business man in all areas. He has given his name to the Gabriels tables, the Frédéric Caudron billiards, is selling cues, chalk, gloves and other billiard materials of his trade mark. Moreover he is also vice-chairman of the Ves-organization for players (now BTS) and organizes among others with Eddy Leppens the Superprestige in Lommel.
His new project is launched this week: with Michel van Camp (specialist in organizing major events), Jan Peeters (accountant/fiscalist) and Kurt Verbunt, expert in computers.
,,Two years ago we got the idea to start something like that'', says Caudron. ,,We were with three to start, later on with four. And first of all we have been looking for a suitable location. The first requirement was to interest money makers and investors, thereafter we were ready to start the project.''
The plan was to be ready for March 1, 2012, that date has been moved to June 1. The project is multifaceted: the Salpho will be built with a billiard room with VIP tables, where people can have diners, with eighty seats, two match tables and two small tables.
There will be a large banquet hall, restaurant, bistro and tavern. ,,We are, regarding that, in an ideal area, because we're the only restaurant serving business lunches and dinners.'' And for billiards: ,,It's not that easy this time to attract big sponsors for billiard. You better invite people for an evening with good food, drinks, ambiance and watching billiards.''
Frederic Caudron is mainly the public relations man, who will practice in the billiard room, talking with the clients and sometimes will exstend a helping hand behind the bar. ,,I've had a billiard cafe myself for fourteen years in Frameries near Bergen, so I know what to do. But otherwise, I leave the responsibility to others, for instance a manager where we're looking for.''
,,I have invested in the project, I want to do everything to build it up with my friends and partners, but as I said, billiards is the main goal in my life. And that takes a lot of my time. I need to practice to keep my focus and I must play many matches. I remember very well the end of last year, when I had been in Israel, had played the World Cup in Hurghada, the European championship one cushion, the European championship for teams, the Christmas tournament in Zundert, a sponsor trip to Korea. I felt a little tired and missed my concentration. You know that if you're a top player, you have to be sharp all the time, that you must have match rhythm. I am on top, that means that I always have to win. I fully take that responsibility as a professional.''