(by Frits Bakker)
OLDENZAAL - He has been a lifelong pioneer in the world of billiards, a man from Twente in Holland with his heart on his sleeve, praised as a player, respected as a team captain and organizer. Ben Velthuis, who died this Monday, was the only Dutchman who played in the highest divisions in all disciplines. He achieved national and international successes with the teams with which he travelled the world. His team from Twente, in the glory years with Torbjörn Blomdahl, Marco Zanetti and the young Raimond Burgman among others, won the final of the European Cup for teams four times: in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. These were absolute highlights in his glittering career.
This week, on Monday 31 January 2022, Ben Velthuis from Oldenzaal passed away after a short illness. He was 77 years old and leaves behind a wife (Ineke), a son (Bart) and a daughter (Marijke). Wherever Ben Velthuis appeared, in billiard halls and far beyond, nobody could ignore his imposing, 2.05 m tall figure. Ben Velthuis was literally and figuratively a giant of billiards. He was known for his undisguised verbal discussions about the sport he cherished so much. Ben Velthuis breathed billiards, was a meritorious player in all disciplines of carom billiards, played many national championships, had many friends and fans and moved with amazing ease among businessmen, billiard phenomena and sponsors.
He had the reputation of an ambitious and determined manager. For many years, he was the driving force and booster behind the Twente team, that alternately played in competitions under the names Twentevision, Pelgrim Professionals, Procall and BC Hengelo and celebrated successes. ''We conducted a true reign of terror'', he once said, ''like Ajax did in football for many years''.
In other interviews, he said, among other things: ''I belong to the club of tall men, but that has never bothered me. I only bumped my head a bit more often.''
On June 11, 2012, he received the golden pin for the honorary membership of the KNBB for his many services to the board. From the 80's on, Ben Velthuis was active within the KNBB federation, the then professional federation BWA, the circuit where top players were under contract. Raymond Ceulemans, Ludo Dielis, Riny van Bracht, Richard Bitalis, but also Ben Velthuis and other Dutchmen were among the players who were "suspended for life" by the CEB (European federation) and were later pardoned.
Stefan Lenting, one of Ben's great billiard friends in the last fifteen years: ''I visited Ben last week: we mainly talked about his life in billiards. He was my trainer and coach. Ben was very stubborn, had his own view on things in life, but was a man with a golden heart.''
Raimond Burgman, brought to Twente by Ben for the European Cup successes: ''I remember that during tournaments we were always playing cards with Ben, Jan Janson and Henk Habraken. How sad, that I am the only one left now.''
The international successes of the teams of which Ben Velthuis was team captain, player and co-sponsor:
1998: European Cup winner in Lisbon with Pelgrim Professionals/Hengelo, players Torbjörn Blomdahl, Marco Zanetti, Raimond Burgman, Ben Velthuis. (Average 1.294).
1999: European Cup in Hengelo with Pelgrim Professionals: players Torbjörn Blomdahl, Marco Zanetti, Raimond Burgman, Ben Velthuis (average 1.474).
2000: European Cup in Hengelo with Pelgrim Professional, players Torbjörn Blomdahl, Marco Zanetti, Raimond Burgman, Ben Velthuis (average 1.270).
2001: European Cup with Twentevision in Hengelo: players Marco Zanetti, Raimond Burgman, Christian Rudolph, Jelle Pijl (average 1.415).
