MECHELEN/ANDERNOS - The sea change with new formats, new tournaments, new outfits and more charisma has given billiards in all its facets a new impulse. Peter Ceulemans (40) is young and ambitious enough to experience the boost in his sport from nearby. ''More flashy, more dynamic and modern'', that's how the youngest of the last Belgian generation of top players wants to summarize his view in the future. He is on his way by tgv during the interview, from his hometown Mechelen to Andernos les Bains on the rugged French west coast, where he will try to make it to the finals of the Kozoom Challenge Cup cycle this week (Tuesday until Thursday) in the battle with Dick Jaspers and Rui Costa.
He expresses his preferences for sportsmen for whom he has a huge admiration, replies to questions about the combination family, work and sports, makes honest choices in the game of short answers inciting questions about life, happiness and balance.
Briefly, Peter Ceulemans, grandson of the all time greatest billiard player, in a candid interview with Kozoom.
Kozoom/Frits Bakker: You certainly watched the first session of the Kozoom Cup: how did you like it, how do you think in general about the new formats that are coming up now and that give the traditional three cushion tournaments another dynamic and impulse?
Peter Ceulemans: I certainly watched the first session. It looked very nice, wonderful setting in the Kozoom studio. The sets of 10 always give a certain tension, because the match can change in every inning. You could see that in the Duke Challenge and it was played successfully during the Christmas tournament in Zundert. I like new formats to make billiards more of a TV product. That is the way to go.
Kozoom: Which Peter Ceulemans will we see this week? Well trained, well prepared? Was the stunt against Sayginer at the Duke a coincidence, or could another top player fall off his pedestal this week? How rare is it to win against Jaspers?
Peter Ceulemans: Certainly well prepared, I have made lots of training hours. Unfortunately no competition rhythm, but that goes for the other players as well. I don't see winning against Sayginer as a stunt. I already beat him before and besides, those sets of 10 points give more chances to the lower ranked player. Winning against Jaspers is rare, according to Kozoom statistics. Since 2007, I won only once out of 20 matches.
Kozoom: How should billiards look to you, especially to people who watch from a distance, online? I'll give you a few examples: like in World Cups in Porto, Blankenberge, Veghel? Like in the new Korea of PBA with a lot of show, cheerleaders, players who are conspicuous? Like in the Kozoom Cup. Stylish ambiance and entourage? Like in the Duke Challenge?
Peter Ceulemans: Flashy, modern, dynamic, to make a summary. The PBA tournaments are fun to watch. But the World Cups too. If you love billiards, the matches are the most important element and not all what is shown around. But if you want to bring in big sponsors and reach the general audience, we have to work on all these changes.
Kozoom: Which status do you have now as a billiard player who still wants to reach the top, but has his family, his work, is an absolute lover of billiards, but doesn't want to give up the main things in life to deal with it?
Peter Ceulemans: I have the feeling that progress in my sport is still possible. The most important thing for me is the combination between my family, work, free time and billiards. If I have the good balance, there are still possibilities.
Kozoom: Your grandfather was the best and most successful billiard player of all time. Philosophize with me, in a playful way: would he have been on top of the rankings if he lived in the current generation?
Peter Ceulemans: Hard to say... I think with his style of play, his charisma and his ruthless character at the billiard table, he would certainly be one of the world's best.
Kozoom: Where, or in which direction, would you like to manage your son Jack? Would it be nice for him to continue the Ceulemans dynasty? Or will you tell him that he should become a football player or a cyclist?
Peter Ceulemans: Jack has to choose his own direction. At the moment he's doing athletics, but he also likes to play football. He also likes and is interested in billiards. He is good at acting, in theatre. But in short, everything is possible when you're young and on your way to realize your dreams.
Kozoom: What are the usual conversations at birthdays and parties with the Ceulemans family? Do the ladies and wives, for example, like it that it'ss mainly about billiards?
Peter Ceulemans: It's not always about billiards. We talk about the normal things in life like any other family. And when it is about billiards, the women don't mind, at least I think so.
Kozoom: Who are your favourite sportsmen nowadays? Which sport on tv do you want to stay at home for and for what can you sit, relax and watch for hours?
Peter Ceulemans: Snooker! I am a huge fan of Ronnie O'Sullivan. Unbelievable what he can do. And his interviews are always entertaining. I also follow football in the European leagues closely and I am a big fan of the club in my hometown, KV Mechelen.
Kozoom: Which are the moments in your life that make you the most happy, both privately and in sport?
Peter Ceulemans: If there is a good balance in my life between sport and private life, then I am a happy man!
Kozoom: How do you expect the world of billiards to look like in about five, ten years from now?
Peter Ceulemans: I expect some serious changes, especially after these Corona era, when organizers have to be inventive and try out other formats. We can already see that the centre of gravity is in South Korea and that will be even more in the future.
Talking during the Duke in an interview with Ziggo Sport: about life and sports
Short questions, short answers:
Will life return to normal after this summer?
PC: No
Frédéric Caudron or Dick Jaspers?
PC: Caudron
French wine or Belgian beer?
PC: French wine
Will the Belgian billiard federation be able to get things right again?
PC: Yes
Did Mister 100 have a big influence on your career?
PC: Definitely
Mathieu van der Poel or Wout van Aert?
PC: Wout van Aert
Who will be the next world champion to follow this generation in three cushion?
PC: Myung-Woo Cho
The Multi's or the Duke?
PC: The Duke
Eddy Merckx or Eddy Merckx?
PC: Merckx the billiard player
Belgian champion or World Cup winner?
PC: Belgian champion
Romantic dating in Rome or Paris?
PC: Rome
Lewis Hamilton or Novak Djokovic?
PC: Hamilton
UMB or PBA?
PC: UMB
Thanks, Peter, for the interview, good luck at the Kozoom Challenge
