3-Cushion
HALLE-ZOERSEL - Yes, of course it was a bit late, yesterday evening, when Danielle Le Bruyn went for a short sleep. And this morning she had to wake up early, the owner of De Ploeg, a cafe and billiards center in Halle-Zoersel. A small coffee to start the day... And what a day... Tonight (Tuesday, April 17th, 19.30) is D-day for the Belgian billiard league, the day of the big clash.
Danielle Le Bruyn, Belgian champion in women three cushion herself, said: ,,Yesterday we spent a whole day to build up the billiardroom. Normally it's full with thirty or forty spectators, offering them a seat. Now we have a hundred places in the billiard place. Moreover we can enjoy the Kozoom live broadcast: people in the cafe can watch the matches on two large screens. So in total, there are about two hundred places to follow the matches.''
The clash of the year is decisive for the title in the Belgian league. De Ploeg, the home team, must win the match to be champion, Biljart Express, the current leader, one point ahead, must win or play a draw. A better scenario at the end of the league couldn't be wished.
The match will be played on historic ground. Danielle: ,,De Ploeg exists since 1760 as I know from the stories of the past. My grandmother joined the business around 1950, my parents in 1960 and from 1999 I'm in charge. And in all those years, actually, it has grown, with more space and more billiard tables.''
How many billiard tables are there in the arena now? And how many clubs are playing in De Ploeg?
Danielle: ,,Six small and two match tables, but we still think about expansion. We have 36 members in total, we play with the first team of De Ploeg, a club in the Belgian league, one in the ADL league, one with an own competition and two small clubs playing for themselves.''
For how many years the first team is playing in the highest class of Belgium. And with which players?
Danielle: ,,I think for five years now. And most of the time in the same composition. Jef (Philipoom) has leaved us for one year, going to Deurne, but he could not miss us. Bart Ceulemans replaced him. This year, Jean van Erp came instead of Allan Jensen. Martin Horn brought us from the third to the first division. And now we have a real dream team.''
It will be a crazy house, tonight, how did you manage to create so many seats?
Danielle: ,,It has been a huge project to expand with more seats. I myself have been watching it, but you have to be everywhere and everyone has his own opinion. Therefore, it was a very nervous job. Anyway, we've done as much as possible, with many people from another club who have worked on it. And with great thanks to Mintjens Decor, Armand and Patrik. I hope the result will be that we have a great night.''
That rush of spectators, how do you divide them over the most beautiful seats? First come, best place?
Danielle: ,,We will reserve the best seats for the people who normally come to see the matches. They are our loyal supporters. Biljart Express has announced to come by bus with about fifty, sixty supporters. We promised twenty of them a good seat, the will be able to look at the screens. But the atmosphere there will be wonderful as well, that's for sure.''
Can you show the way to people who want to come? And are there enough parking places?
Danielle: ,,We are on the Kapellei 276 in Halle-Zoersel, on the old road from Antwerp to Turnhout. We have quite some park places of our own, but we can use a parking in De Toverfluit as well, fifty meters from us.''
When do the matches start?
Danielle: ,,We start at 19.30 with Jean van Erp against Martin Spoormans and Wesley Jaeger against Guy van Litsenborg. Then, around 22.00, Martin Horn plays against Frans van Kuyk and Jef Philipoom against Gerwin Valentijn.''
Who will win the match and will be the champion?
Danielle: ,,I'm careful, I hope we will, no, I think we will, haha.''