LOMMEL - The sixteen best Belgian billiard players will be in the spotlights as of Monday, 28 of August, at the first battle for the new season (Monday 28 August). The Kimchi Superprestige returns to its roots in De Adelberg in Lommel after a short stop in the Mr 100 in Lier. Frédéric Caudron tops the rankings of sixteen participants, Eddy Leppens is the title defender and organizer. The first pre-round is on Monday, followed by three more flights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday are the quarter finals, on Saturday the semi finals and final.
The building of the arena has already started without Eddy Leppens, who played another tournament in Los Angeles after his successful performance in New York. On Thursday he returned to his homeland, one day later, the Belgian jack-of-all-trades took control of the Arenberg arena. ,,I have a team of around 25 great volunteers, who build a wonderful arena in a few days and take part in the organization.'' The Arenberg itself has a new, even more beautiful lighting'', says Leppens.
For the sixteen Belgian top players, it will be the first test in the run-up to a new season. Andy de Bondt, the 24-year-old rookie, is looking forward to his first appearance among the best players in Belgium. ,,We all don't know how the players get out of the summer, but usually, the Superprestige is played on a very high level. I would be happy to win a match and play a good average.''
Eddy Leppens was not on his very best in Los Angeles after his huge performance in New York (second after a lost final against the Korean Jae-Ho Cho). ,,It was difficult for everyone: there was a Royal Pro cloth on the Verhoeven tables. The averages were therefore a lot lower. I didn't even feel the billiard after seven matches.'' The tournament was won by Vietnam's Anh Vu Duong in the final against Nguyen Quoc Nguyen. Leppens defeated Carlos Campino in the knock-out, but lost in his next match to another Vietnamese, Quyet Chien Tran.
,,We took a few days off after the tournament in Las Vegas, now we are back for the Superprestige.'' And one week later for the start of the Belgian league on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 September.
Andy de Bondt is one of the few talents that Belgian billiards has produced in recent years. The 24-year-old player from Hesselt, who's a sales rep in his daily life, near Westerloo plays in his group on Wednesday with Eddy Merckx, Francis Forton and Kurt Ceulemans. De Bondt finished fifteenth in the ranking after strong performances in the BTS tournament in Eeklo (1.400 of average), in the Belgian Cup (quarterfinal, lost to Eddy Merckx) and the BTS tournament in the Mr 100 (win in the last 32 against Eddy Leppens 40-39, then a loss against Jef Philipoom).
The young Belgian took the free game title in his country in Blankenberge this year. Three times he was second in a European championship in his junior season. In the Superprestige, he played twice in the junior tournament. Both times he won the tournament with four players.
Andy de Bondt doesn't have the illusion that Belgian billiards can produce many successors after the current generation of world top playerss. ,,Unfortunately, we didn't have training, no development at all in Belgium. This is the result now. Kenny Miatton was the last one before me, after me there's nothing left. How comes? No training, no money, no support from the federation. We have to develop ourselves and the young generation is not motivated. They play billiards until they are sixteen, then they go out with girlfriends or friends and stop playing. I have seen the results of the Coup van Beem, a youth tournament with players from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. The averages were terrible. And in the past, this was the most important tournament where youth players could show themselves.''
Eddy Leppens is the current federation coach for the youth. De Bondt: ,,Eddy has a very busy life with lots of playing, travelling and now organizing this Superprestige. We can not expect him to spend lots of time to give training.''
All matches are live on Kozoom
The Superprestige group format:
Group A (Monday):
Jef Philipoom
Steven van Acker
Ronny Daniels
Frédéric Mottet
Group B (Tuesday):
Peter Ceulemans
Roland Forthomme
Davy van Havere
Ronny Brants
Group C (Wednesday):
Eddy Merckx
Francis Forton
Kurt Ceulemans
Andy de Bondt
Group D (Thursday):
Frédéric Caudron
Kenny Miatton
Eddy Leppens
Patrick Kesteloot
Patrik Mintjens is the sports director of the Superprestige.
Andy de Bondt at the Belgian championship where he took the title in free game this year
