3-Cushion
HOOGLEDE - You like to enjoy one or two days three cushion at the highest level, now the season of the top billiard players comes to an end? Then, head for the wonderful region of West Flanders, to the small, picturesque Hooglede, with its barely 10.000 inhabitants to witness the annual Belgian cup gala.
With the cup holder Eddy Merckx, his main competitors Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Leppens and Roland Forthomme and Peter Ceulemans Jef Philipoom, Peter De Backer, Kenny Miatton, Davy Havere Ronny Brants, Frédéric Mottet, Martin Spoormans Henk Blauwblomme and many other known players.
De Gouden Zonne, in the center of the town, opens its doors today (Friday, May 15th) just before noon to the Belgian top players at the match table and the small table. In total, 64 players come in action in three days, 32 on the match table, 32 on the small table. The winners will receive the Belgian cup, handed over by the already legendary Belgian president Reginald Depoorter.
The Belgian Cup is one of the few tournaments played in sets: in the first round to best of three, in the final stage to best of five. The Belgian cup is, after the Belgian championship, the most coveted trophy in the country with so many world class players.
The set system is a yearly guaranty for surprises: including the victories of Davy van Havere and Peter De Backer in recent years in a field with Caudron, Merckx, Forthomme and Leppens.
Eddy Merckx is the titleholder in Hooglede
The system is unique:
x sixteen of 32 seeded players come to the arena on the first day (Friday, May 15th, from 13.00) and play knockout until two players remain.
x sixteen other players will do the same on the second day (Saturday, May 16th).
x Four players at the big and four at the small table remain for the semi-finals (11.00) and final on Sunday (15.00).
The main players for today, Friday:
13.00: Eddy Merckx-Roland Forthomme
15.00: Jef Philipoom-Frédéric Mottet
Saturday:
13.00: Peter Ceulemans-Martin Spoormans
Peter De Backer-Bart Ceulemans
15:00: Eddy Leppens-Sven van Orshaegen
Frédéric Caudron-Kenny Miatton.
The tournament is important for the sixteen places to play the Superprestige in Lommel after the summer. The Belgian championship, the three BTS tournaments that have been played so far, the Belgian cup this weekend and the last BTS tournament, that will be played in Mister 100 in Lier, are counting for the national ranking.
All matches are live on Kozoom
The ranking so far:
1 Eddy Leppens 181 points
2 Eddy Merckx 106
3 Frédéric Caudron 85
4 Ronny Daniëls 84
5 Peter De Backer 72
6 Kenny Miatton 72
7 Peter Ceulemans 69
8 Steven van Acker 67
9 Jef Philipoom 66
10 Roland Forthomme 64
11 Marco Janssen 57
12 Henk Blauwblomme 56
13 Francis Forton 49
14 Kurt Ceulemans 45
15 Davy van Havere 43
16 Martin Spoormans 43
17 Frank de Groof 41
18 Marc Celen 40
19 Wesley Jaeger 38
20 Rudy de Laet 38
21 Marc Dellaert 38.