LIER - The stylish Salle d'Eau in the Mister 100 in Lier prepares to welcome the Superprestige tournament. The players who belong to the top sixteen of the Belgian ranking are about to enter one of the most renowned billiard rooms in Belgium this week: the stronghold to which Raymond Ceulemans has linked his name and where his son Kurt Ceulemans has been the owner for over 23 years. The story may be known: a mutation on the international calendar (the Guri World Cup in Korea which was opposed), caused a big problem for the dates of the Superprestige in Lommel. The organizer Eddy Leppens was in trouble, because the room was not available in another weekend. Kurt Ceulemans and Eddy Leppens quickly found an alternative: to move to the Mr 100 for one year. So now, on Monday (September 12), the tournament will start there with the first heats. The final day is Saturday, September 17.
The organizer himself is plenty busy these days with the set up of the hall for one of the most prestigious tournaments on the calendar in Belgium. Kurt Ceulemans realizes that it's a huge challenge to represent himself and his organization. The 53-year-old centipede in the billiards world was only known as the first descendant of the legend, in his young years. He has built his own empire through the years, as a player who belongs to the Belgian top sixteen (and will play in the Superprestige), as a presenter, including at the upcoming World championship three cushion in Bordeaux, co-commentator for tv broadcasts, chairman of the BTS (the Belgian circuit of tournaments) and for over 23 years as the manager of the Mister 100 with some 22 billiard tables.
The challenge sounds promising: ,,We don't want to compete with the success of the Lommel tournament'', argues Kurt. ,,But still we are very motivated and driven to make a wonderful tournament in a cozy atmosphere.'' The set up of the arena in the Mister 100 was completed on Friday night. The hall can accommodate 250 spectators, divided into VIP stands, reserved seats and seats for the normal tickets: three Euros a day, five Euros for Friday and Saturday, 15 Euros for a weekly ticket.
Sixteen players, seeded according to the year ranking, get ready for an exciting battle. The four flights are divided over four days from Monday to Thursday. Followed by the knockout stage on Friday and the finals on Saturday.
Kozoom spoke with Kurt Ceulemans on the eve before the start.
Kozoom/Frits Bakker: How is it to combine all these functions: hosting the tournament, appear at the table and do well on all fronts?
Kurt Ceulemans: We have done a lot of preparation in the last days and weeks with our organization, the volunteers, with Eddy Leppens, the man behind the scenes... and be sure, we will be ready. The preparatory work is seventy percent of the organization. So, it can go wrong on the other thirty percent, but I have the confidence that everything will go well. I hope it will be a success and that it will be very cozy all those days.
Kozoom/FB: Do you expect full stands, a great audience?
KC: ,,Yes, the expectations are high, because we are close to Antwerp and very central for all billiards fans. People often went to Lommel to stay there for a week. Here, in Lier, it is easier to travel up and down every day. That's also the reason that we play the final on Saturday. On Sunday, when the weather is nice, many people want to stay home or go to the beach. The Saturday is an opportunity to attract a bigger audience.
Kozoom/FB: You do all the good things to make people feel at home. We can leave that to you as a well known entertainer.
KC: We want to create an ambiance that exudes warmth and coziness and where everything is available what people want. Thus, we have an additional restaurant where fresh pastas are prepared every day. The catering is an important aspect. People who want to go for a snack should be back in the billiards room within twenty minutes. I have a great team, also with the help of volunteers for the set up and the dismantle. Without these people it would not be possible to organize this event. We have done our best to get the short-term sponsors on board, and are very happy with Kimchi, the sponsor from Seoul of Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Leppens and many other players, who immediately was willing to do some sponsoring and contribute a significant part of the costs.
Kozoom/FB: What are your ambitions and expectations as a player?
KC: ,,I can say it simply, if all goes well in the organization, I can play well and don't worry at all. But if it goes wrong, I'm going crazy. We do everything possible to not have to compromise on the last moments.
Kozoom/FB: The Mister 100 is famous in the Belgian billiards and beyond. How long has this phenomenon existed?
KC: ,,My father, Raymond, started out on the Grote Markt in Mechelen with the Royal, the billiards café that he has run for ten years. Then, the Mister 100 opened in Mechelen, for some fifteen years. We then had the Mister 100 in Leuven and finally the Mister 100 in Lier has opened its doors. We always had at least ten tables, now we have 24, both match tables, pool and snooker tables.
Kozoom/FB: Is this organization of the Superprestige the biggest in all the years for Mister 100?
KC: The organization of a ranking tournament in snooker was also big, but in fact this is the most important project. I say it again: we do this only one time, because the Superprestige is actually from Lommel. The BTS takes a main part of the organization. Marco Janssen, also a player, is one of them and luckily we get a lot of help from Eddy Leppens with all his connections. I am very grateful to him.
Kozoom/FB: Are there more plans in your mind for the Mister 100 in the next years?
KC: First and foremost, it is just prudent planning, but we are trying to revive a meeting between Belgian and Dutch top players. It is scheduled for 2018. The formula, presumably, is planned with the eight best players of each country, but we want to do it right from the get go. I really look forward to organizing that.
Good luck with those projects, Kurt... we wish you and your team a successful Superprestige.
The program and group format:
Monday: Roland Forthomme, Davy van Havere, Jef Philipoom, Kenny Miatton
Tuesday: Frédéric Caudron, Steven van Acker, Peter De Backer, Francis Forton
Wednesday: Eddy Merckx, Kurt Ceulemans, Ronny Brants, Marc Celen
Thursday: Eddy Leppens Marco Janssen, Peter Ceulemans, Ronny Daniels.
The group matches will start at 18.00. Friday are the quarterfinals from 19.00 Saturday, the semifinals at 18.00, followed by the final match.
The matches will be broadcast live by Kozoom and further RTV and Sporza in deferred form.