VEGHEL - The president of the world billiards federation, Mr. Farouk Barki, has handed Paul Brekelmans from the Netherlands the UMB badge as referee in three cushion. The 60-year-old Dutchman was very pleased with his promotion, after having been a European referee for five years and having gained experience in many international tournaments.
He is the third Dutchman with the highest referee license after Ad van den Brand, who was appointed in 1991, and Willem Hofman. The UMB has a total of 19 UMB referees in Europe. The Belgian federation has the highest number of referees with 7, followed by Germany, France and the Netherlands with 3, Switzerland with 2 and Spain with 1.
Paul Brekelmans, who lives in Veldhoven, Brabant, has been a member of the KNBB (Dutch federation) since 1990 and passed the exam as a national referee in 2014. Two years later he became a CEB referee and after five years, the minimum period for promotion, he was honored as UMB referee today.
Paul Brekelmans has besides his referee career many merits for the billiard sport. He is vice-chairman of the KNBB section three cushion since seven years as successor of Santos Chocron. After Bennie Deegens, about two years ago, stopped as Section Chairman, Brekelmans is interim chairman. At the World Cup in Veghel, Brekelmans is referee coordinator: the World Cup is arbitrated by 19 Dutch, six Belgian and one German referee.
As an international referee, Brekelmans gained experience during the World Games in Poland, the Junior World Championship, eight World Cup tournaments, two European championships in Brandenburg and many premier league matches in the Netherlands.
''I am very happy with this promotion, it feels like a great recognition'', Brekelmans commented. ''For the coming period, my schedule has not been planned yet, but surely it is I will referee at the World Championship in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, and also at the World Cup that is being played there.