MECHELEN - In Belgian billiards, three BTS tournaments and a Supercup return to the calendar again, starting next year, 2022. Two years after the break with the Belgian federation, Kurt Ceulemans and his board have breathed new life into the cycle of Grand Prix tournaments. The relationship between the federation (KBBB, with chairman Benny van Goethem) and the BTS (chairman Kurt Ceulemans) is still fragile, but in the interest and on request of the Belgian players, the tournaments will return very soon.
Kurt Ceulemans: ''We still have some little obstacles to overcome, but let's say we are on the right track. The news for now is that we have an agreement with three organizers for the new BTS cycle: in Bruges, Eeklo and Geraardsbergen. For the Supercup with the best 32 players there is no location yet, but that event will certainly be played in the neighbourhood of Antwerp.''
A point of contention is the ranking and an agreement with the Belgian federation to let the ranking decide on participation in the Belgian Championship in Blankenberge. Kurt Ceulemans: ''The negotiations about that will follow soon, but for now the Belgian championship in 2022 will be played according to the current rules.'' The Belgian federation, by the way, would consider to organize this next three-cushion championship with sixteen players.
The BTS organization, in which Marco Janssen has an important mission as match-coordinator, wants the ranking over the three tournaments in 2022 and the Supercup to determine the field for the Belgian Championship. What is especially important for the Belgian players now, is that they can play individual tournaments again from next year. The first event in Bruges starts already in December 2021, followed by Eeklo, after the Belgian Championship and Geraardsbergen in March or April.
The registration fee for the BTS tournaments is 25 euro. Prize money for the tournaments is 4.000 Euros with 1.500 Euros for the winner. The total prize money for the Supercup is 10.000 euro. The big sponsors behind the tournaments are for the moment Royal Pro, Gabriëls biljarts, Dynasphere and Biljardin.
The Belgian Federation and the BTS board will discuss the details of the project in a fortnight time.