Moments

Here I would like to share with you some moments, pictures or events that happened to me from the moment on that carom billiards started to play a big role in my life.

These moments are for sure not placed in chronological order but more as they came to mind.

In loving memory of my parents who supported me not only in being able to build my own room but helping out to build my collection.

They definitly understood that carom billiards was and alway will be a huge part of my life.

Several years ago I worked for a company called Miele and every other year at the end of that year they organized a big party where partners were also invited.

That year (1994) my wife accompanied me for the first time. As soon as we entered the room a colleague told me that Raymond Ceulemans was there playing billiards. The first two I didn’t believe but after an hour or two, a third one mentioned it again to me and I decided to check it out. I asked my wife if she could hang out with some colleagues and I wouldn’t be away long. Well, Ceulemans was there and we played together for a long time. And to make a long story short, the first time I did see my wife again was about an hour and a half before the party ended and we went home.

For those who want to know, yes we are still together.

It has taken some time but finally Mike has taken an interest. But the biggest question remains, will he get bitten completely by the billiard bug?

It's up to him but I really hope he would carry on with what I have started.

Together with Dick Jaspers after handing him a 65-inch smart TV my employer sponsored.

During the 2019 Dutch Three Cushion Masters Dick won his 18th Master title 3C and his 19th 3C title in total. March 20th this year (2018) I had the pleasure of (on request by Dick) installing the TV at his house and afterward I had an even greater pleasure of receiving some valuable three cushion pointers.

2019 re-design of "the great wall" after acquiring some wonderful new objects

Some new lithographs, the big framed painting on the right, a pencil drawing by Werner Bayer and many more.

2018 billiard room re-designed. I am always on the look out for items that make my billiard room more complete and have it look more as a whole. This time I changed some carpets for Persian rugs giving it a more time period correct feel. Of course there are plenty of people who are having astonishing modern styled billiard rooms, great if that's what you prefer. My room is more historically based, or at least that is what I'm trying to achieve.

Trophy of the Legends, Eeklo Belgium 2018. Together with Ludo Dielis, one of the best carom players ever

Trophy of the Legends, Eeklo Belgium 2018. Together with Jose Maria Quetglas, one of the best carom players in Spanish history

Trophy of the Legends, Eeklo Belgium 2018. Together with Raymond Ceulemans, the best player in the history of carom billiards

Christ van der Smissen

Former carom billiards player with seriously good results in the past.

3C three times Dutch champion 1978, 1980 and 1986

I always will have fond memories about the picture and the time it was taken, May 3rd 1992 when we received the trophy for the league win with our team.

Four matches before the end we already were so far ahead that other teams could not pass us anymore. My dad is the second one from the left (I'm on his right)

2021 eSBee badges and glove received as a gift from Rita and Stany Buyle

2021 new business card, front

Masters 2020

This year’s Masters was again won by Dick Jaspers who played absolutely great during the group phase.

The quarter final also went as planned but both semifinal and final turned out to be difficult, more innings than usual but at the end there's only one thing that counts.....winning.

Dick has won his 20th Masters title (21 in total) exactly 30 years after winning his first title in Groningen 1990.

Well done and let's go for the next one.

My new logo as of May 2018

To be used in any future carombilliards.eu communication and hopefully this will make my website more recognizable.

Please note that the carombilliards.eu logo (the three balls) is used by others but the intellectual property undisputedly remains with me!

Wil Janssen

At the age of 70 Wil Janssen was the oldest player of this year's Masters, a truly excellent achievement reaching the finale 16 players who were allowed to play in this tournament. Hats off to him.

At the end of the tournament, in the evening after the final, we met each other and I'm very glad we did. The stories you shared about billiards where absolutely beautiful and well worth a couple of books. An invitation to come and see the first (and more) following match of Het Caves was gladly accepted.

February 28th 2005 a spontaneous visit from Jesús Humberto Gallegos

World Cup Veghel 2019

Can't understand a word of what they say whilst commenting, but their enthusiasm is absolutely great. And they are super friendly

Masters 2019

Sometimes things you are hoping for all come together in one specific time or moment, doesn't happen a lot but when is does it's pretty good.

Just take this year's Dutch National Championship 3 Cushion, or as we call it here the "Masters".

You have a player you're rooting for, people you see who you would like to meet or just meet someone you didn't expect to meet.

To start with the player I was rooting for.....Dick Jaspers.

Did he became champion? Yes, luckily he did, again proving to be the best player we have

But it wasn't an easy final against Jean van Erp, who played well and won all of his matches until the final. Just coming short of two points by losing 40-38 to Dick.

The final had all the ingredients you want in a three cushion game, both offence as defence, luck and bad luck, amazing points and amazing misses.

At the end the best won with a tournament average of 2.00.

During the days I had the privilege to speak with two persons who are a real treasure-trove of billiards history. I never had the opportunity to speak to them before but I'm really glad I had the chance to do so now, Christ van der Smissen and Wil Jansen.

Dick, congratulations on your hard-won new title.

World Cup three-cushion Veghel 2021

The World Cup three-cushion Veghel 2021 has come to an end. Unfortunately not the winner I’ve hoped for but at the end Dani Sanchez deserved the win.

Thanks to Stichting BEN for the ‘loge card’, I really enjoyed being here after a long time of not being able to watch events like this live. It was good to see a lot of people who I respect face to face again. Great job performed by them and all who contributed this to this tournament.

Photo of the trophies by Jan Rosmulder

Veghel 2021 bonuses

Ton Smilde was so kind to donate his personal badge to the BWA archive.

I had the luck to have the option to buy Eddy's book directly from him.

Jan Rosmulder was so kind to donate this book with all press releases from 1988 in it to the BWA archive

Billard Fabriek Wilhelmina

Today I had the opportunity to spend some very enjoyable hours with Paul and Robèrt van Oosterhout, owners of Billard Fabriek Wilhemina in Amsterdam.

Indeed they are the sons of Cees van Oosterhout, a great player in his time but an even greater ambassador of our sport.

It was great talking to them, they have a vast knowledge of the game, its history and all related materials.

Paul and Robèrt also were so kind to donate great items to the BWA archive and gave me to chance to make digital copies of BWA material from their private collection.

The attached scans will be available soon, in a better quality and together with all other items, on www.carombilliards.eu.

Paul and Robèrt, thanks for the beautiful items and a great time spent. Until the next time.

You should definitely visit their beautiful store, it breathes history.

Here’s the link to the website: https://www.wilhelmina-billards.nl/

Masters 2022

The Dutch Three cushion Masters (edition 2022) ended up in a well deserved win for Jean Paul de Bruijn. He was the better of the two in the final against Dick Jaspers. This time I would like to describe the tournament from another point of view, the people I have met and or spent time with during this tournament.

Raymond and Angéle Ceulemans, Daisy Christiani, Annemiek Uijtdewillegen, Rinske van Beers, Syvia van Mouruk and the one that's closest to my hart my son Mike.

Spending time with them gave special luster to this tournament for me. Each of them has his or hers own interest in this tournament or in the game itself and that makes them special.

I had a wonderful time with all of them.

European Championship

3-Cushion 2022

With Dani sanchez as the deserved (but not the one I was hoping for) winner the European Championship turned out good. I finally had the oportunity to meet with Dieter Haase again.