TIELT - The colossal photo camera is always at the ready when Dirk Acx enters a billiard hall in his own country or somewhere abroad. The 62-year old Belgian from Tielt has had all the world's billiard greats in front of his sharp lens. From Ceulemans to Caudron, from Jaspers to Klompenhouwer and many hundreds of big and small players in the sport that is so close to his heart. But anyway, Dirk Acx, a former and versatile worker at the Belgian railways, is much more than just a photographer. He knows all the tricks of the trade: board member, a billiard player himself, trainer and coach of referees and, since this week, international CEB referee in all disciplines.
The promotion of the European billiard federation arrived on Monday: Dirk, living together with his girlfriend Hilde, is very proud. ''I have already done a lot of tournaments as a referee, such as the World Championship for ladies in Zoersel, a few matches at the World Cup in Blankenberge, the European Championship for juniors, the Multi's at the Belgian coast and many smaller tournaments of the federation.'' He played billiards from the age of 14, although later on, in his first marriage, with an interruption of about 15 years. And Dirk had been a national referee for about ten years.
''At the start of this year, I was nominated by the Belgian federation to become a European referee. That has been honored, together with two other Belgians: Hedwig Vandenbussche and Gregory Smal. It means that I am available from now on for the big tournaments that are played in the European countries.''
Dirk Acx sees it as a reward for his services as one of the Belgian billiard referees. ''I have gained a lot of experience and I'm ready for the next step'', he assures. Apart from three-cushion, Acx also feels at home in the classics and 5-pins, in which the Belgian has trained referees in his own country and, for example, in the Netherlands.
The appointment is in principle for five years, but will be renewed every two years. Dirk Acx is also chairman of the referees in both Flanders and the referee coordinator in his region. ''I have three main hobbies'', he says. ''Photography, being a referee and playing billiards myself.'' Photography, in which he is one of the most famous billiard photographers in major tournaments, is a hobby that got out of hand, he smiles.
Dirk Acx and his girlfriend Hilde
''I have been doing less lately, because I don't like travelling to tournaments where billiards is played with maskers.'' Photography, Dirk also says, is something he does mainly to promote billiards. ''I try to take pictures not only in Belgium, also in the Netherlands and France. It's not about earning money, because what you get in return for your pictures is minimal. We must be satisfied with a coffee and a sandwich. But I'm happy to do it, even the travels, the hotel costs, I just take it for granted. It's about the propaganda, the love and the passion for billiards, that is the most important.''
The European federation, CEB, has about 150 referees in various disciplines, according to the official website. Most of them come from Belgium (24), other countries with many CEB referees are Turkey (23, mainly three cushion), Italy (23, mainly 5-pins), France (21), Spain (19), Germany (19) and the Netherlands (13). In addition, the Belgian billiard federation has a total of six world referees (UMB).
The most experienced CEB referees are a Belgian and a Dutchman: Robert Monnissen (Belgium) has been European referee since 1991, the same for Ad van den Brand from the Netherlands.
Dirk Acx at the table when the all time champion is playing: Raymond Ceulemans
Dirk Acx at the World Cup in Veghel