BORDEAUX - For the first time since 2000 (Saint Etienne, Dick Jaspers the winner), the 3-cushion World Championship is played in France. The beautiful city of Bordeaux, named favorite European destination of 2015, will receive the best players in the world from 1 till 5 December. Korean Sung-Won Choi is the title holder after his victory on home soil last year.
Kozoom is well known as a multimedia company, responsible for the online broadcast of all major 3-cushion tournaments in the world and has taken on the organization of the World Championship for both 2015 and 2016.
Two months before the event, organization chairman Xavier Carrer looks forward and tells us about the preparations. What are the expectations, when do we know the field of players, which players will receive the wildcards, what is the capacity of the room in the Palais des Congres in Bordeaux?
In short: a look ahead to the world's most prominent 3-cushion championship. The main message: hurry up and order your tickets. This is the moment.
Frits Bakker/Kozoom: Preparations for the World Championship 3-cushion are ongoing, and the event is on the horizon as we speak. Are things going as they should? Can you tell us a bit more about the venue, the time schedule, the participants?
Xavier Carrer: As expected, it's a lot of work and it's tough to manage considering the usual planning of Kozoom and the numerous productions we have ongoing at our web platform. The nights are shorter and we can feel the stress coming in two month before the D-day. On the other hand, I'm not alone and I have a great organizing committee with big skills and network. it's very exciting to build partnerships with other media, private and institutional partners to promote our sport. The 3-Cushion and the worldwide dimension of the event are taken serious by our interlocutors. This makes me confident for the future.
Kozoom/FB: When is the deadline for the UMB to publish the final list of participants? Is there any news about the wild cards?
XC: The 27th of October is the deadline. Still to be confirmed by the French Federation but the Wildcards should go to Jean Reverchon and Semih Sayginer. As organizer, I take responsibility for the choice of Semih Sayginer even if it's not the most popular decision I took in my own country. He missed us the last years. I respect the player and his dedication to get back to the top, that's why I wanted to give him this chance. He's still playing very well of course and he can do great things in Bordeaux. But first of all, it's a chance for us, the French public and the Fans of 3-Cushion to see him competing for the biggest title. This will also help the new board of the Turkish Billiard Federation who is doing a great job to promote the sport. We are going to try and convince the Turkish TV Channel NTV Spor to broadcast Live the World Championship. That would be great.
Kozoom/FB: The last time France hosted the WC was in 2000, Dick Jaspers was then the winner. Is it your expectation that the host country will show much interest in the event? What is the capacity of the venue?
XC: I was not in Saint Etienne 15 years ago so I cannot comment on that. But I remember my emotion when I was young spectator of the BWA World Cup that took place in the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris in 1988. I was fascinated by the stars of 3-Cushion and I really fell in love with the sport at that moment. I was so happy to get signatures on my program book of the champions who became good friends since then... If this organization could create the same feeling for young spectators who will come to Bordeaux, I will be happy. But my main goal is to see our 1000 seats filled in Bordeaux. I would be proud of that. Proud to show that our sport in our old Europe can do it in a big way.
Kozoom/FB: Would you advise spectators (especially those from abroad) to reserve tickets well in advance?
XC: We did a nice promotion for our Premium members who own a yearly or monthly Pass. It will end the 30th of September, there's still a few days for them to get their Passe-Partout for only 25€ (normal price is 50€). They need a promotional code to order their ticket in our online store. They can contact our support by email if they did not get it yet.
Kozoom/FB: We need to go back in time quite a while, to find the last and only French world champion: Alfred Lagache in 1935 en 1937. Is there a chance that he could finally, and in his home country, be succeeded?
XC: Since many years, I trust in Bury. He is a big fighter with good nerves. He can beat everyone. The retirement of Claude Fath and sudden stop of the AGIPI team three years ago has halted his progression and created doubt about his own career. This gives him a role of challenger in Bordeaux which is not so bad for him. He will have enough pressure to handle anyway...
Kozoom/FB: Is the format as it has been the past several years? A group stage with sixteen flights of three players, a main K.O. tournament with the sixteen group winners?
XC: Yes, it's the usual format. I'm not a big fan of Groups but it's very simple and understandable for the public. I hope in the future that the UMB will take a look to what is done in Pool with the Double KO. I like when both opponents are always playing their match for the same goal which is not possible in groups. That's why the final tournament of UMB events is always exciting.
Kozoom/FB: Will the event be completely French, including the referees, or will there be referees from abroad?
XC: The team of Kozoom is composed of many nationalities, French for sure, but also Korean, Dutch, German, Spanish, Colombian... Most of our Korean team will be working in Bordeaux, yourself and probably other Kozoom editors... That's why the term « completely french » is not matchable with Kozoom. Regarding the referees, this part of the organisation is taken in charge by the FFB and only French referees will be in action in Bordeaux. I think it will be something to be improved in 2016.
Kozoom/FB: What does the organization look like? Are many of the Kozoom people involved, that is: the billiard club of that name in Andernos?
XC: You will have one week to see and comment on it Frits. We will mix professionals and volunteers. We want to make it as professional as we can considering our budget which is far from the ones of big organizations seen in professional Sport.
Kozoom/FB: What it a premeditated decision to opt for two World Championship events in two years? What is the advantage?
XC: Yes, it was a sine qua non condition. « If we do it in 2015, we need to make it also in 2016 », that's what I explained to Jean-Claude Dupont. It takes time to build something like this from scratch . Within 10 months, it was almost impossible to build on time all the partnerships required to make it a success. Our plan is also to become promoter of international events in the future. It was a good chance to use the World Championship as a kick-off. We have plenty of ideas for the future.
The city of Bordeaux, elected as Best European destination 2015, is hosting the World Championship 3 cushion.
Kozoom/FB: So far, how is the interest from sponsors?
XC: It's difficult to convince the big companies who always put their money in the same sports. They have to see first what we are talking about... Locally, we are in touch with about 15 partners. It will be tough to reach our break-even point the first year but we are used to take risks...
Kozoom/FB: Kozoom is a media company. Can we therefore expect the event to get optimal publicity, and will it be broadcast in the best possible quality?
XC: Of course, it will be well broadcasted! First of all on kozoom.com for the fans, but also on TVs in France, Belgium, Turkey and Korea of course. Around this event, I try to build a pool of TV broadcasters who will be very interesting for the UMB in the future.
Kozoom/FB: When will you consider this event to have been a success?
XC: As I said, I want to see and hear 1000 spectators in the stands. This will give a great feeling to the players, and also good feedback from the sponsors and it will make me and my organizing committee more than Happy. So, if you read these lines, convince your friends to come with you to Bordeaux and I promise you will not regret your trip!
The venue for the World's: the Palais des Congres in Bordeaux
Order your tickets now on the Kozoom store:
https://store.kozoom.com/uk/carom_billiards/carom-billiard-tournaments-tickets.html
Official site: www.kozoom.com/bordeaux