LINT – The son of the most famous billiard player, with his deep brown voice, announces two fantastic tournaments that afternoon. Two grandsons, potential successors, are enthusiastic viewers and listeners. The famous champion himself sits at the front of the room, visibly enjoying all the beauty that the Belgian and international billiards world has to offer. The stage is well chosen, the company exudes sporting glory. The World Three-Cushion Championship, with all its global stars, returns to Belgium from October 14 to 18 2025. An image of Frédéric Caudron, winner of the world title in Antwerp in 2013, appears on the big screen at the press conference. It was the last time that the famous billiards country organized the battle for World gold. Raymond Ceuemans, his son Kurt, the organizer, and grandsons Peter and Bart fervently hope that another Belgian winner will emerge.
The best thing would be for that to happen at the World Championship, which is the showpiece of the organization in the AED studios in Lint, not far from Antwerp. It could also be at the World Cup, a warm-up from October 6 to 12, also featuring the world's top three-cushion players. Belgian billiards, with all its famous champions, will be in the spotlight for two weeks. Raymond Ceulemans, as the unrivaled ambassador of his sport, will proudly mingle with all those world stars. 'The hand of the master' is the image that will run like a red thread through the two tournaments. The ‘forehand’ of the 88-year-old, 35-time world champion is portrayed in a piece of art, in honor of the billiards player who has joined the gallery of greatest sportsmen of all time in his country.
The master is looking forward to the event, is proud of his son Kurt, the organizer, is ready to welcome every spectator, and will not miss a single match. Raymond Ceulemans still looks very healthy. “I do my exercises every morning, I still play billiards for at least an hour a day, and it keeps me fit,” he beams with a certain pride. The winner of so many world events will see his great successors pass by on those days of organization. Myung Woo Cho, the Korean and current world champion, Dick Jaspers, the world number 1, Torbjörn Blomdahl, a multiple winner in the shadow of Ceulemans, Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Merckx, the best Belgians of this generation, absolute contenders for the world title and leaders in the rankings.
Raymond Ceulemans, often accompanied by his eternal rival Ludo Dielis, has closely witnessed and followed the progress of his sport. “We're going to see lots of spectacle here,” he predicts on the eve of the World Championship and the World Cup. "In my days, we Europeans were the great champions and winners, occasionally followed by a Japanese player, such as Kobayashi. What we will see now is a battle between mainly Europeans and Asians. The Koreans and Vietnamese have risen rapidly and are ready to compete with us on our own ground. The level has risen enormously, and I invite everyone to come and watch the wonderful billiards and players of today."
Kurt Ceulemans, organizer together with Jan Peeters and assisted by many volunteers, is the mastermind behind this two-part event of international stature. The son, who also plays billiards, has already shone at World Cups in Blankenberge, where billiards was combined with show and entertainment. That modern entourage will not be missing at the World Championships and the World Cup in Lint. In addition to all those world stars, spectators will be treated to a range of singing, music, a famous DJ, and light shows. Viewers and other members of the public are welcome in a passerelle, a lounge room, food bar, and coffee bar during and after the matches. “Billiards is no longer the quiet sport it used to be,” Kurt Ceulemans assures us.
Billiards is the main item on the menu at the World Championship and World Cup. Hence the summary during the press presentation of players and details about the organization.
X The World Championship will be played with a total of 48 billiard players, including the reigning champion, 16 seeded players, and two wildcards: Belgians Frédéric Caudron and Bart Ceulemans.
X The tournament starts on Tuesday, October 14, with the qualifiers at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., Thursday is the official opening at 11:00 a.m. and the first matches at 12:00 p.m. On Friday, the matches for the best 16 and best 8 players will be played, and on Saturday, October 18, the semi-finals will start at 12:00 p.m. and the final at 6:00 p.m.
X The total prize money is €188,000, with the winner receiving €40,000.
X The top five in the rankings are: Myung Woo Cho, Dick Jaspers, Eddy Merckx, Quyet Chien Tran, and Marco Zanetti.
X The Belgians competing in the World Cup are: Eddy Merckx, Peter Ceulemans, Roland Forthomme, Frédéric Caudron, Bart Ceulemans, and Ronny Brants.
X 13 players come from Europe, 8 from North and South America, 5 from Asia, and 3 from Africa.
X The World Cup precedes the World Championship with the qualifiers from Monday, October 6, to Wednesday, October 8. The last qualifying day is on Wednesday with 12 groups of 3 players. This is followed by the main tournament with 32 players starting on Friday, October 10. The opening ceremony is on Friday at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, October 11, is the day leading up to the semifinals, with matches starting at 10:00 a.m. on 8 match tables.
X Sunday is the first semifinal at 12:00 p.m., with entertainment and a light show in between, followed by the second semifinal. The final is at 6:00 p.m.
X The prize money is €16,000 for the winner, €10,000 for the runner-up, and €6,000 for third and fourth place.
X The World Cup will be played with 149 players. There are 153 players on the reserve list.
X Website: www.worldcupbilliards.com
Ticket service and general information on the website.
Location: AED studios, Fabriekstraat 38, 2547 Lint.
