Carom
BLANKENBERGE - The wonderful stage of the Multi championships in the Blankenberge Casino is presented as the new start of a new era for Belgian billiards. The sport in which Belgian billiard players have worldwide fame, has been outraged this year by quarrels and struggles inside the board, and it even brought the parties to court. But fortunately, all the fights did not influence the sporting ambitions and achievements. The opposite is true: the Belgian top players recorded huge successes: a world title for Frédéric Caudron, who also won a World Cup and two World Cup victories for Eddy Merckx.
The previous board, led by Arthur Starusndaert, has disappeared, a new board led by Benny van Goethem should bring back calmness and implement a reorganization. The Multi-championships (from Sunday 7 to Sunday 14 January), in which titles are contested in all disciplines except artistic billiards, will show an organization according to the new composition. Benny van Goethem, formerly speaker, is now the chairman of the organization, Henri Pelgrims the sportsdirector, Benny Delvaux the speaker and Robert Monnissen the general secretary and press officer. The place of action is like in previous years: the Casinozaal in Blankenberge, where the stands will undoubtedly be full again to view all disciplines of billiards from up close. Kurt Ceulemans is the host in the restaurant hall and Dirk Acx is the photographer who records all matches. The matches will be broadcast on all tables by kozoom.com, as in the past. Kozoom will also show reports and interviews on the website.
The tournament is played according to the traditional set-up. On Sunday (January 7) the first matches are on the program. The juniors in the game type three-cushion and the ladies play a complete championship on this opening day. Jaimie Buelens and Danielle le Bruyn are the favourites in the ladies tournament, Dylan Parent and Stef van Hees for the juniors. Furthermore, on the first day the 5 pins players come to action with, among others, Peter Debaes, Peter Mostrey and Martin Spoormans.
Three cushion is played with the 32 seeded players divided into eight groups of four. Frédéric Caudron is the defending champion, Eddy Merckx, Eddy Leppens, Roland Forthomme and Peter Ceulemans the other favourites. On Monday, the first selection will be played among others with Jef Philipoom and Steven van Acker. On Tuesday, the group with Eddy Merckx comes to the arena, on Wednesday with Eddy Leppens, Peter Ceulemans and Francis Forton, on Thursday with Roland Forthomme, Ronnie Daniels and Frédéric Caudron.
On Monday, the classic disciplines, including Eddy Leppens, Patrick Niessen and Philipe Deraes, are launched in the balk-line games. Frédéric Caudron starts his one cushion mission on Wednesday.
On Friday, January 12 are the eighth finals in three cushion, on Saturday the quarter finals. On Saturday, the wheelchair players will show up. On Sunday are the semi-finals and the final in three cushion. The final is Sunday, January 14 at 16.00.
The participants in the various disciplines:
Three cushion:
Frédéric Caudron, De Goeie Queue
Eddy Merckx, Driebandclub De Leug
Jef Philipoom, De Ploeg
Peter Ceulemans, Mister 100 Lier
Roland Forthomme, Herstallen
Steven van Acker, Kon. Eeklose
Francis Forton, De Witte Molen
Kenny Miatton, Maaslandse
Eddy Leppens, Op de Meir
Kurt Ceulemans, Mr. 100
Ronnie Daniels, Biljartpalace
Davy van Havere, Deurne
Ronny Brants, Kortrijkse
Frédéric Mottet, Sprimont
Andy de Bondt, Zanzibar
Patrick Kesteloot, Dos Roeselaere
Martin Ravestijn, Kortrijkse
Marco Janssen, Mister 100
Frank de Groof, De Leug
Marc Celen, Mister 100
Peter De Backer, Quality Zele
Luc Salvo, Woondecor
Henk Blauwblomme, Brugse
Mathy Monnissen, Maaslandse
Wesley de Jaeger, De Goeie Queue
Danny Geysen, De Ploeg
Bart Leys, Brugse
Danny Wuyts, Woondecor
Bart Ceulemans, Mr 100
Dirk Weeremans, De Witte Molen
Eddy Willems, De Ploeg
Thomas Broux, Herstallen.
Free game:
Andy de Bondt, Patrick Niessen, Philippe Deraes, Maarten Janssen, Robby Sonck.
Balk-line 47/2:
Eddy Leppens, Johan Devos, Patrick Niessen, Robby Sonck, Maarten Janssen
Balk-line 47/1:
Eddy Leppens, Patrick Niessen, Philippe Deraes, Maarten Janssen, Peter Debaes
Balk-line 71/2:
Patrick Niessen, Eddy Leppens, Philippe Deraes, Maarten Janssen, Peter Debaes
One cushion:
Frédéric Caudron, Francis Forton, Maarten Janssen, Eddy Leppens, Martin Spoormans
5 pins:
Peter Debaes, Mathy Monnissen, Peter Mostrey, Martin Spoormans, Miguel Bustos, Yves Schiettecatte
Wheelchair players:
Rudy Rousseau, Johan Grimon, Jean Mailleur en Stefan Neyens.
Juniors:
Dylan Parent, Stef van Hees, Gérome Dieu, Michael Parent, Kevin van Hees
Ladies:
Jaimie Buelens, Danielle Le Bruyn, Tiani Platteau, Karolien Matthys.
