ANTWERP - The two Belgian billiard heavyweights from the past, Raymond Ceulemans and Ludo Dielis, and the Belgian and Dutch players, who will perform at the World championship, were the main guest stars at the presentation day of the World tournament that will be held in Antwerp.
The presentation took place in the prestigious Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) in Antwerp, where the organizer Ludo Dielis had gathered his troops. The showpiece at the World championship press conference was the 80 diamond-studded billiards cue, donated by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre: the trophy for the new world champion three cushion.
The 66th World championship three cushion will be played in the Lotto Arena in Antwerp. The opening is on Wednesday, October 16th, the final day is Sunday , October 20.
Defending champion Eddy Merckx , the former world champions Dick Jaspers , Frédéric Caudron and Jef Philipoom, along with the other Belgian and Dutch players for this World championship, Eddy Leppens, Peter Ceulemans, Roland Forthomme and Jean Paul de Bruijn could already admire the magnificent trophy.
Of course, Ludo Dielis, organizer and promoter and 21-time world champion three cushion, Raymond Ceulemans, were present.
The value of the showpiece will be announced just before the final.
Antwerp’s sports politician Ludo Van Campenhout said that Antwerp has been a real billiard town in the past and referred to the rich years with great champions like Rene Gabriels, Clement Van Hassel, Jos Vervest, René Vingerhoedt, Raymond Steylaerts, Tony Schrauwen, Ludo Dielis and ... Raymond Ceulemans, the greatest billiard player ever.
Ludo Dielis presented the eight participants and also Ludo’s book, ’Ludo Dielis , een leven voor en door het biljarten' (written by Alex Van Haecke) was launched.
The World champioenship three cushion is back home in Antwerp after 39 years. The opening ceremony is today, exactly in two weeks. Five days of three cushion at the highest level must appoint the new world champion.
The program :
• Three cushion World championship from 16 to 20 October at the Lotto Arena
• Wednesday 16 to Friday, October 18: Group matches at 14.00 , 16.00 , 19.30 and 21.30.
• Saturday 19 oktokber:
Eighth finals at 14.00 and 16.00
Quarterfinals at 20.00 and 22.00
• Sunday, October 20:
Semifinals at 13.00
Final at 16:00
Award ceremony at 18:00
All info and tickets:
www.wkdriebandenantwerpen.be .