LIER - Two great Belgian sport legends, Raymond Ceulemans and Jean Marie Pfaff, witnessed the final of the Grand Prix Mister 100 last weekend. The victory went to Peter Ceulemans, the local favorite, who beat Eddy Merckx 40-36 in 26 innings. Kurt Ceulemans, organizer of the new World Cup cycle in Belgium in the coming years, told about a great evening of entertainment and billiards. The Ceulemans stronghold attracted a full arena for the final day with eight finalists. Peter Ceulemans beat Eddy Merckx, the best Belgian in the international rankings, just like in the Belgian championships early this year. The match initially went in Merckx's favor, leading 25-9 in 10 innings, but from then on Peter Ceulemans launched his attack. It was his second attack of the evening to win the BTS event. In the quarter-final against Jef Philipoom, Ceulemans was 36-32 down and went out with eight. And in the final too, the late winner's final shot was devastating.
Peter Ceulemans looked back on a great year afterwards. ,,This is my best year ever,‘’ he assured. ,,I became Belgian champion, played four finals in Belgium, two of which I won. But especially internationally, in the World Cups, things are going better than ever. I go into the new year with a lot of ambition.‘’ The by far best Ceulemans of this generation still has no doubts about a final, professional step in his career. ‘’I like to keep on working, with a good balance between work and billiards I feel the best. Beyond that, we'll see what the future holds.‘’
Does he ever talk about that with ‘Bompa’, the all time champion? ‘’Not directly, he just lets me do what I want,‘’ is Peter's dissenting answer. And another question was: will there be a new Ceulemans in the firmament in a few years' time? ‘Little Jack’, as Peter's son is still called, is 12 now and watched his successful father win. Peter, again with the modesty that so graces him: ‘’We wait and see, he likes to play, but has yet to discover it all.‘’
The third BTS tournament put the spotlight on the two best Belgians of this cycle. For that final, Peter Ceulemans won from Peter De Backer 40-26 in 26 and Eddy Merckx won in the best match of the evening from Davy van Havere 40-13 in 12.
The results of the quarter-finals were:
Davy van Havere-Roland Forthomme 40-19 in 25
Eddy Merckx-Philippe Vandendriessche 40-33 in 32
Peter De Backer-Steven van Acker 40-21 in 23.
Peter Ceulemans-Jef Philipoom 40-36 in 26.
Peter Ceulemans is the leader of the Belgian rankings at the end of this year. He has 208 ranking points ahead of Roland Forthomme with 168 and Eddy Merckx with 142.