3-Cushion
HOOGLEDE - The Gulden Zonne in Hooglede, where Reginald Depoorter and his team organize the Belgium Cup on 13, 14 and May 15, is the place where all Belgian top players collect for three days in a prestigious meeting during those days. Frédéric Caudron defends the trophy he won last year in a final against Peter de Backer.
The tournament will be played with 32 players, first in a system of two winning sets, from the quarter-finals to three sets. Caudron will be there from the start. The defending champions opens the tournament on Friday (13.00) against Tom Persijn, while Francis Forton is playing against Frédéric Mottet. Eddy Merckx comes in action the same day in the afternoon, just like Peter de Backer, the losing finalist last year.
The Belgium Cup has become a tradition in Hooglede, where the entrance is free and just like in the Multi Championships in Blankenberge the billiard room is filled with hundreds of spectators every day.
Frédéric Caudron defeated Peter de Backer in a high-class final last year: 3-1 with averages of 2.360 and 1.875. Eddy Merckx was third, winning to Steven van Acker.
The program for this year is as follows:
Friday, May 13:
13.00 o'clock:
Francis Forton- Frédéric Mottet, Geert Meylemans-Marc Celes, Frédéric Caudron-Tom Persijn; Henk Blauwblomme-Jurgen Goris.
15.00:
Alain Clabots-Johan Loncelle, Eddy Merckx-Koen Ceulemans, Peter de Backer-Patrick Kesteloot, Marco Janssen-Victor Herreweghe.
17.00 pm: Eighth-finals of these groups.
Saturday, May 14:
13.00:
Ronny Brants-Bart Ceulemans, Jef Philipoom-Koen Saver, Eddy Leppens-Marc Dellaert, Kurt Ceulemans-Kurt Bruggheman.
15.00:
Roland Forthomme-Davy van Havere, Freddy Staelens-Christophe Wyn, Wesley de Jaeger-Patrick Kestens, Peter Ceulemans-Kenny Miatton.
17.00 pm: Eighth-finals of these groups.
19.00: Quarter Finals
Saturday:
11.00 pm: semifinals
14.30: for places 3 to 8
15.00: Final