ANTALYA – The cheering lasted for minutes; the crowd responded with loud and powerful applause. Peter Ceulemans could barely contain his emotions. The new European champion is called Peter Ceulemans, who defeated Eddy Merckx in the final 50-45 in 25 innings. It is his first major title for the magnificent scion of the Ceulemans family. Peter (45 himself) secures that European title exactly 34 years after Raymond Ceulemans, his legendary grandfather and role model, won his very last European title. For Peter, it is his first; for Raymond, it was his 23rd European success. These years, the Belgians are showing that they are living in the absolute billiards Valhalla of the world. The European championship concluded with a Belgian final, and last year's World championship with a final between Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Merckx. Frédéric Caudron holds the title of World champion for the foreseeable future, while Peter Ceulemans is the European champion.
The final between the two Belgians in Antalya showed a fluid start from Merckx and a timid Ceulemans in the opening phase. The 19-8 and 21-9 inspired Ceulemans for his first counter. The younger of the two Belgians made his first run, going 6 to 21-15, but when Merckx then went to 27-16 again, Ceulemans found his rhythm. And just like in his match against Caudron, Ceulemans made a high run just after the break, this time 11 for a tie at 27-27. The next attack came again from Merckx, who took the score to 41-30 and 45-33, when Merckx briefly stalled with four misses in a row and Ceulemans launched his final sprint. The new champion finished with 7, covered his face in disbelief, and shortly afterwards fell into the arms of Roland Forthomme.
The new European champion had never stood on the highest podium of a major international tournament. For the Belgians, especially due to Raymond's many successes, he is the 38th to win gold at a European championship—a record for Belgium, which has won a total of 84 medals in European three-cushion billiards.
Peter Ceulemans rises in the rankings thanks to his title. He is number 16 in the Events ranking and the Players ranking, but will undoubtedly climb a few places.
At this European Championship, Peter Ceulemans entered the tournament with the top 32. He defeated Thomas Andersen 50-34 in 29 and then faced Frédéric Caudron. Ceulemans secured that victory 50-40 in 30 innings, partly thanks to a decisive series of 14. In the round of eight, Ceulemans was paired with Sergio Jimenez (50-27 in 22) and, in the semi-finals, with Martin Horn, the reigning European champion, whom he defeated 50-38 in 26. Finally, Ceulemans triumphed in the final against Merckx, the player who has only won one European title in his extensive record. Ceulemans-Merckx ended 50-45 in 25 innings.
In the knockouts, Eddy Merckx successively defeated Turgay Orak 50-17 in 17 innings, Mikaël Devogelaere 50-41 in 29, Berkay Karakurt 50-44 in 32, and Tayfun Tasdemir 50-22 in 22 in the semi-final, securing the silver medal due to losing the final to Ceulemans.
The final standings
1 Peter Ceulemans 10-1.893-14
2 Eddy Merckx 8-1.960-11
3 Martin Horn 6-1.593-12
4 Tayfun Tasdemir 6-1.954-15
5 Berkay Karakurt 4-1.309-8
6 Torbjörn Blomdahl 4-1.746-11
7 Sergio Jimenez 8-1.318-7
8 Ruben Legazpi 4-1.650-7
9 Glenn Hofman 2-1.524-7
10 Jérémy Bury 2-1.649-9
11 Sam van Etten 6-1.327-8
12 Mikaël Devogelaere 6-1.413-9