AMSTERDAM/TOULOUSE - The suitcases are packed for a Dutch and a French billiards referee. Paul Brekelmans (63) from the Netherlands and Hervé Lacombe (64) from France have been invited by the world federation (UMB) to an international event in China. They travel from Amsterdam and Toulouse tonight, Tuesday, meet some famouw billiard players during the stopover in Istanbul and travel on to Shanghai. The world federation UMB for all billiard players and disciplines is organizing a Masters event in Yushan city, China with matches and exhibitions in three-cushion. Moreover, a major billiards museum will be introduced and a conference centre and billiards academy opened.
One of the highlights includes the Masters event with exhibitions and matches by four world top players in three-cushion: Tayfun Tasdemir (Turkey), Haeng Jik Kim (Korea), Sameh Sidhom (Egypt) and Vietnamese world champion Phuong Vinh Bao. The matches are on 15 and 16 March and will be broadcast by Afreeca TV. The referees are Paul Brekelmans and Hervé Lacombe.
Kozoom spoke with the two international referees in a preview of the event.
Paul Brekelmans has been European CEB referee since 2016 and world referee since 2021. The Dutch referee was active in World Championships for men, women and juniors, in 10 World Cups, at the World Games in Wroclaw (Poland) and Birmingham (USA) and in many national matches and tournaments, among others.
Hervé Lacombe has refereed at the highest French level since 2005 and is an international referee since 2011, including at the World Championships in Bordeaux (2x), Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh. In addition, he was a referee in 11 World Cups, the 3CC Masters in Seoul, the McCreery Trophy and the World Games in Birmingham.
Kozoom/Frits Bakker: What does the event in China look like for you gentlemen, what is your mission there?
Paul Brekelmans: There are matches scheduled on Friday and Saturday, in which we have to referee together. During the matches, Chinese visitors and fans can put up questions to players and possibly referees.
Hervé Lacombe: There are also visits to a billiards academy and, on Sunday, the opening of the biggest billiards museum in the world.
Kozoom/FB: The year has started for you with an extremely busy period. The referees, as it seems, are as busy as the current top of billiard players. Luckily it’s combinable, because you are not professionals.
Paul Brekelmans: I have just finished a period of six Dutch championships as a referee and/or sports director. Apart from the normal board work, as soon as I get home I leave for the Nations World Cup in Viersen, the week after that with the juniors to the European Championships in Spain and another day after that is the Dutch cup final.
Hervé Lacombe: We are in France in the middle of the national Masters, one cushion and balk-lines in Ronchin, the free game Masters in Montbrison, the ladies and three-cushion in Périgueux and finally the three-cushion national final at my club in Agen.
Kozoom/FB: Do you know anything about the format there in China, the schedule of matches, the daily program?
Paul Brekelmans: We get to hear that there in China, but it's not so important otherwise. We have to be ready to arbitrate the matches properly and help in the organization.
Hervé Lacombe: The matches are over two days, then we referee the matches and exhibitions of the top players. On the third day, we are invited when the museum will be opened.
Kozoom/FB: What do you know about China as a billiard country? It is not nearly as well known in carom (three-cushion) as South Korea and Vietnam?
Paul Brekelmans: Billiards is mainly played there in the disciplines of snooker and pool billiards. The UMB, world federation, wants to bring three-cushion billiards more to the attention of the Chinese to gain a foothold in that big country. In 2025, the Chinese city of Chengdu will host the World Games where, in addition to the men, the women will be invited to play in three-cushion for the first time.
Kozoom/FB: What else do you do in billiards besides refereeing?
Paul Brekelmans: Together with Hans de Bruin, I have been a director in the Dutch section three-cushion for nine years now. I am currently chairman, also responsible for the juniors and I am top sports coordinator.
Hervé Lacombe: I am vice-president of my billiards club in Agen and I do train and lead meetings for referees at the French federation.
Kozoom/FB: How does look your trip to China like?
Paul Brekelmans: I leave Tuesday evening, make the stopover in Istanbul, where I meet the others (Tasdemir, Sidhom, Hervé) to travel on to Shanghai. We will stay there until next Tuesday.
Hervé Lacombe: By car from Agen to Toulouse, then fly to Istanbul, to Shanghai and by train to Yushan.
Kozoom/FB: How does the busy schedule as a referee combine with your daily work?
Paul Brekelmans: I work at Hermes in Eindhoven in personnel planning. Since last month, I work three days in a week. My work at the Three-cushion Section and refereeing leaves nothing for other hobbies.
Hervé Lacombe: I was lucky enough to quit my job early, then I put my heart and soul into billiards: refereeing, training and billiards myself.
Thanks for the interview, Paul and Hervé, have a good trip and a nice stay there.
Paul Brekelmans and Hervé Lacombe, big international experience