MECHELEN - The ritual repeats almost every night. Home from work, eat together, bring the kids to bed, spend an hour and a half to practice and then a moment of rest. Peter Ceulemans (36, from Mechelen) is one of the top players in Belgian three cushion, but he is the only real amateur in the top five. He is the current number two on the Belgian rankings behind Frédéric Caudron, is looking back to his best season ever and won the Dick Jaspers' Crazy Billiards tournament in the Netherlands last weekend for the second time in a row.
The daily life consists of work, billiards, the two children and a top wife. The sequence is absolutely random. ,,I also hear the stories about young Korean billiard players, who practice six to ten hours a day. Who will be able to stop that invasion, let's say in ten years. We are lucky that we still have the Caudrons, the Jasperses, the Blomdahls and the Merckxes in Europe to watch them and learn to play and that we have more competiions than in Asia. That's the reason that we can handle it still for a while, but it will be difficult to keep up with this evolution.''
After his last success (final win in Rosmalen against Marc Celen), the best of this generation of Ceulemanses has already started his summer break. This weekend, he lacks in the last of three BTS tournaments, in his own Mister 100 in Lier, his home club. ,,I was thrown out very early and will definitely lose my second place on the ranking.'' He has to follow the showdown from the side lines and then... it's time for a rest and for his holydays. ,,We go to Crete for some eight days with my wife and kids and I don't play billiards for a month. I'm looking forward to it, with my kids, Jack, who's four and June just turned one. And with Bettina, I have to say a top wife. Moreover, I have my free days when I want at work. I changed my job for Telenet, where I now work in the business department. I support an account manager who retrieves contracts from big companies. My working hours are quite flexible and sometimes I can do my work from home. That makes combining with billiards more enjoyable.''
His best year ever occurs mainly in averages: 1.750 in France over a whole season, 1.600 in Belgium, 1.500 in the Netherlands. The main prizes were missed, however, twice in the Dutch finals with his team, both lost. On the individual level, a lost final in the Belgian cup against Roland Forthomme and in the semi-finals at the Belgian championship against Caudron.
,,When I look back at my career in billiard, I now play at the highest level for half of my life. I'm 36 now, I reached the highest league at my eighteenth. That was actually very fast: I took the cue sometimes since my fifth year, but started playing in competition when I was thirteen. And in five years, with the help of course of my granddad (Raymond), I climbed up from the lowest class in Belgium to the highest. My best season so far was 2011/2012, when I was in the final of the Super Prestige and won the BTS tournament in Sint Truiden. In the years later, my level remained stable. And so, I am pleased that I made a lot of progress this year at all levels.''
After having enjoyed his holydays, Peter Ceulemans leaves for New York on August 5, to play the Carom Café tournament for the sixth time. ''That's my first tournament to practice for after our holydays.'' The World Cups, he insures, are not in his program next year. ,,It's too hard and takes too much time for me as a non-prof player'', he admits. ,,For players like me, we can't handle it financially anymore. We don't receive any compensation from the Belgian federation, even if you are second on the ranking. So you have to travel, to pay hotel, food and and high costs. And surviving the qualifications is already very difficult.''
His future on the billiard lies mainly in Belgium and in countries where he plays with his teams next year: in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany. ,,I like the challenge, both in France and in Germany, where w're going to play with a pretty young team. Glenn Hofman joins our team in France, in Germany, I will start with Bergisch Gladbach with Christiani, Soumagne, Jäschke and Raspel. The Mr. 100 in Lier remains our family team. Raymond, my granddad, will continue playing for another year as long as his health allows.''
When he looks back at his second win in the Dick Jaspers tournament, Ceulemans realizes: ,,That's actually unimaginable: two wins in a row in a field with over a hundred players, on the small table to fifteen points-sets. Yes, like a Russian roulette. And I've only been in trouble against Eddy Leppens, who missed two match balls. In all the other matches, I won pretty easy. In the semi-finals against Henk Blauwblomme 15-2 in 8 innings, in the final, to 25 points, 25-7 in 8 against Marc Celen.''
Peter Ceulemans is in his busy life also involved in the organization of the BTS tournaments, where Kurt Ceulemans is the chairman. ,,We do some public relation, Leslie Menheer, my brother Bart and I do the social media.'' He realizes the complicated situation in Belgian billiards after Arthur Standaert left as the new chosen president. ,,The people who are leading now, have to realize that it must change very soon. Regeneration is needed. We would like to talk with them, with our organisation, if at least they want it. What's happening now in the Belgian federation, is very bad for all parties.''
Peter Ceulemans, son of Koen, grandson of Raymond Ceulemans:
Clubs:
Mr 100 Lier (België)
Medisch Centrum Breda (Nederland)
Albert (Frankrijk)
Bergisch Gladbach (Duitsland)
Biljart: Verhoeven
Laken: Royal Pro
Keu: Longoni.
The Super Prestige in Lommel (28 August to 2 September) brings the sixteen best billiard players in Belgium to the arena. The last BTS tournament, this weekend, is decisive for these sixteen.
The ranking with only one tournament to go (top 20):
1 Frédéric Caudron 134 points
2 Peter Ceulemans 104
3 Eddy Merckx 103
4 Roland Forthomme 97
5 Jef Philipoom 93
6 Francis Forton 78
7 Eddy Leppens 76
8 Kenny Miatton 75
9 Steven van Acker 73
10 Ronny Daniels 64
11 Ronny Brants 60
12 Kurt Ceulemans 57
13 Davy van Havere 52
14 Frédéric Mottet 48
15 Patrick Kesteloot 48
16 Andy de Bondt 46
17 Peter De Backer 41
18 Marco Janssern 39
19 Frank de Groof 38
20 Thomas Broux
en Martin Ravestyn 36.
Peter Ceulemans after his victory in the Jaspers tournament with finalist Marc Celen
The current number 2 in Belgium. ,,My best season ever at all levels.''
One of the highlights this year: final in the Belgian Cup against Roland Forthomme