3-Cushion
SLUISKIL - The smile was back, like he showed his form and his confidence again. Bart Ceulemans, the always cheerful billiard player, young brother of Peter Ceulemans, both grandsons of the legend, Raymond Ceulemans, had faced a few minor weeks at the billiard table. ,,I got no feeling at all… and before you know, you suffer a long time with bad games’’, he realized after the fifth match day in the league, in which the Dallinga-Frans Bevers team remained on top thanks to a 6-2 win against STZ in Zundert.
On Monday, after a dramatic match in the Belgian league, Bart Ceulemans spoke with his older brother Peter for an appointment and a long training session on Thursday. , , We had a long talk and after that, I felt really better. Peter is a mental coach for me. He gives me back my confidence with his pep talk.’’
And look at the result, a few days later. In his match against Martin Spoormans, on Sunday in the Dutch league with his team of Verbrugge Hyundai, the youngest Ceulemans was as reborn at the table. His opponent, the Belgian veteran and all round billiard player, who still can frighten many top players, had even won his match against Eddy Merckx last week.
But now, in the home match of Verbrugge Hyundai against Capelle De Terp, the young guy snatched the win and send Spoormans back home with a stunning score: 50-27. Bart felt on cloud nine after his win: ,,You know, sometimes I try to practice, but there’s only a little time, because I work in a fish restaurant in Mechelen, I write some articles for the Gazet van Antwerpen and since last year I live together with my girlfriend, so I want to be at home from time to time.’’
Bart Ceulemans and Berry Dallinga (45-44 in 30 against Ad Koorevaar) surprised the team from Capelle with a draw, the second point for the second Sluiskil team. Berry Dallinga played a fascinating duel with Ad Koorevaar, which he started with eight. At the end, Dallinga was trailing 44-40, but he ran out with 5.
On top of the rankings, Dallinga-Frans Bevers won the away match against the number two, STZ Zundert 6-2. Jean Paul de Bruijn and Glenn Hoffman laid the foundation before the break with a curious course on the table where Barry van Beers started with eighteen in three innings. Jean Paul de Bruijn showed himself the best in the final sprint and won 45-42 in 28.
Raymon Groot needed seven caroms in the equalizer to tie with Glenn Hoffman, but he missed the second point: 45-39 in 40. Peter De Backer took the full profit after the break by beating Peter Ceulemans 50-43 in 38. The top match between Roland Forthomme and Frédéric Caudron, in a full house, was won by Belgian champion Forthomme 50-36 in 25. On Monday night (today) they meet again in the Belgian league.
Partycentrum Osdorp and Biljartcafé Jorissen flaunted with the maximum scores in this round. The Amsterdam team defeated Van Wanrooij Transport, which was playing without its best men Kurt Ceulemans and Harrie van der Ven, 8-0. Dick Jaspers played a marvellous game and closed of in fifteen innings against Frank Martens (50-15 with a 14 run). Eddy Merckx took a 40-9 lead in his duel with good old Jan Arnouts. The ’Brabander’ fought back with two runs of ten and six and eventually lost 50-36 in 38.
Biljartcafé Jorissen sent Holland Mineraal back home with a painful 8-0 score. Raymond Ceulemans showed his everlasting power in his match against Frans van Schaik 50-40 in 32.
Aardexpress finished off a good job against De Distel, gathering the first point of this competition. Arie Weijenburg defeated Jef Philipoom, who didn’t look so fit 50-40 in 32. Gerwin Valentijn and John Tijssens scored for De Distel.
's Landswelvaren had a good performance in the away match against A1 Biljart, bringing a 4-4 back home against the former champion. Francis Forton bested Raimond Burgman 50-40 in 37, Jens van Dam proved himself as a valuable team player: 45-40 against Addie Wienk. Henk Blauwblomme was one of the star players of this match day, scoring 45 points in only 20 innings against Kees Wittens (45-15).