3-Cushion
TURNHOUT/LIER/MALLE/LEUVEN - The top players who are active in the leagues of several countries and also participate in World Cups have their agenda's filled to capacity. As a result, choices must be made and often a league match must be missed. Peter Ceulemans, at the eve of the league opening in Belgium: ,,You could call it a form of falsified competition, but it is within the rules, so there is no intention of false play by the teams.''
The Belgian league, starting this Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 September, is host to many top players: Torbjörn Blomdahl, Eddy Merckx, Roland Forthomme, Frédéric Caudron, Martin Horn, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Jean van Erp, Eddy Leppens, Peter Ceulemans, just to name a few of the best known.
Peter Ceulemans, who himself is active in Belgium (Mister 100), the Netherlands (Zundert), Germany (Elversberg), France (Albert) and Spain (Alcantarilla): ,,Belgium plays on Monday and Tuesday evenings. That is good, it enables the top players to play elsewhere on the weekends. The format of our league is also sound, but there is always room for improvement. In my opinion, 22 matches is a bit on the high side.''
,,Maybe we can think about a different setup, like they have in France or Spain. With Asian tournaments on the rise and lots of other events, it is not easy to get the top players to appear in all the league matches. You already see that in the Dutch league, where several of the best players only show up for half the rounds.''
Moreover, says Peter Ceulemans, it would be better for the sport and its sponsorship. As for the participation of top players, he says: ,,If you are lucky, you will not have to play against Jaspers, Horn and Caudron, if you are unlucky, you may have to play them twice. That can be the difference between making the play-offs, or getting demoted.''
The Belgian premier league starts Monday with twelve teams, and there are not many changes in the line-ups. Dick Jaspers is the only top name who is now missing. It will make the competition closer, because reigning champion De Goeie Queue has lost one of its aces. Still, the team is regarded by most to be the favorite again this year.
Kozoom asked a few players for their prognoses.
EDDY MERCKX (De GOEIE QUEUE):
,,I hope for the same result as last year, but it will be a different dynamic, closer, more exciting probably. Mondays and Tuesdays are perfect for the players, because I don't think the rooms would suddenly fill up if we started playing on Saturdays. The format is how it should be: eleven home games, eleven away games.''
ROLAND FORTHOMME (ZANZIBAR):
,,We aim for a place on the podium, with De Goeie Queue, Deurne and Op de Meir. It's all open this year, it will be close, but DGQ is still the favorite. Mondays and Tuesdays are fine. It has to be like that, because the Netherlands and Germany play in the weekends. This way, the players can participate everywhere. As for the audience: they can watch us up close, they even have a choice, who, when, where.''
MARTIN SPOORMANS (BILJART EXPRESS):
,,It will normally be a race between De Goeie Queue and BC Deurne for the title, and third place will be decided between Zanzibar, Herentals, Biljart Express, Op de Meir and De Witte Molen. Down under will be one team from De Ploeg and Dos Roeselare.''
EDDY LEPPENS (OP DE MEIR):
,,We will again try to be in the top 3, and the league is a bit more balanced out this season. De Goeie Queue and Deurne are still the favorites, I think. But there are many teams you could lose points against. I think we've finally got it right, with the format. Belgium is just a small country, we can travel quickly. And of course, we don't clash agenda's with other leagues. I am not convinced we would have more spectators if we played on weekends. People have things to do, on those days. Those who really come to watch, will do so on weekdays or in weekends. There have not been many changes in the teams, but Mr. 100 is back in the highest league. That is a foursome capable of surprising everybody.''
Eddy Leppens
TORBJÖRN BLOMDAHL:
,,I love to play in Belgium, because the competition is tough but the atmosphere is excellent. De Goeie Queue is the favorite, we can maybe play for second place and Op de Meir for third. I will be present at 15 of the 22 rounds this year. I can combine the leagues just fine, with two matches in a weekend in Germany, with Belgium the day after or on Tuesday. Let's keep it that way.''
PETER CEULEMANS (MISTER 100 LIER):
,,We don't have the team to compete for the title, with a combined team average of 1.200 - 1.300 we would be happy in the middle of the table. De Goeie Queue is favorite nr. 1, with BC Deurne, Zanzibar and Op de Meir as challengers.''
GLENN HOFMAN (DE WITTE MOLEN):
,,Not much change in our club, only the departure of Ronny Brants, He is replaced by Dirk Weeremans. We can't play for the title, we won't be in danger of demotion. First place will be either De Goeie Queue or BC Deurne, that depends. Will Blomdahl play every week? That's a factor.''
Torbjörn Blomdahl
The basic line-ups of the teams:
BC Deurne: Torbjörn Blomdahl, Jef Philipoom, Jean van Erp, Davy van Havere, Ludo Dielis
De Goeie Queue: Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Merckx, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Jerry Hermans, Raymund Swertz
Op de Meir: Eddy Leppens, Barry van Beers, Roland Uytdewillegen, Ivan Stitschinsky
Mister 100 Lier: Peter Ceulemans, Kurt Ceulemans, Raymond Ceulemans, Bart Ceulemans, Koen Ceulemans
BC Herentals: Martin Horn, Christian Rudolph, Leon Smolders, Geert Meylemans
Biljartvrienden: Raimond Burgman, John Tijssens, Martien van der Spoel, Johan Claessen, Hans van der Wurf
De Witte Molen: Glenn Hofman, Francis Forton, Ad Broeders, Dirk Weeremans, Yves Schiettecatte
Biljart Express: Frans van Kuyk, Gerwin Valentijn, Martin Spoormans, Guy van Litsenborg
Zanzibar: Roland Forthomme, Dave Christiani, Kenny Miatton, Jimmy Mues
De Ploeg 1: Jack Wijnen, Mathy Monissen, Therese Klompenhouwer, Wim van Dijck
De Ploeg 2: Dustin Jäschke, Eddy Willems, Rene Vermeiren, Jul van Aperen
DOS Roeselare: Steven van Acker, Cédric Melnitschenko, Philip Vandendriessche, Peter Mostrey.
The program for Monday and Tuesday:
Monday 21 September:
BC Biljart Express-BC DOS Roeselare
BC De Ploeg 2-BC De Ploeg 1
BC Zanzibar-De Witte Molen
BC Deurne-BC Herentals
Tuesday 22 September:
BC Biljartvrienden-BC Op de Meir
De Goeie Queue-Mister 100 Lier.
The Ceulemans team is back in the top league