Raymond Ceulemans
Encyclopedia
Raymond ridder
Ceulemans (born 12 July 1937 in Lier, Belgium
) is a three-cushion billiards
player and possibly the most dominant single figure in any one sport, having won 35 World Championship titles (23 in three-cushion + 12 in other carom disciplines), 48 European titles (23 in tree-cushion) and 61 national titles. His nickname is "Mr 100". He was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America
's Hall of Fame in 2001, one of the very few non-Americans to receive the honour. In October 2003 King Albert II of Belgium honoured Raymond Ceulemans by awarding him a knighthood (Ridderschap) in recognition of his lifetime achievements.
. He also liked to play association football
at the local club. Although he was a good midfielder
(in 1958 he was discovered by the club K. Beerschot V.A.C.
but a transfer was never made) he stopped playing football and began to concentrate on billiards.
.
A year later he won his first world title at the UMB World Three-cushion Championship
with averages of 1.159 and 1.307 per . He went on to win the title 11 times in row. The winning streak came to end in 1974 when he lost to Nobuaki Kobayashi
in finals. He was the first three-cushion player to reach levels of 1.500 and 2.000 average points per .
Ceulemans won the first BWA World Three-cushion Championship in Paris, France in 1986. In 1998 he tied the world record held by Junichi Komori
of Japan during professional match play by scoring 28 points in a single . (The record was later broken.)
Ceulemans won the European three-cushion championship 23 times and defended it 19 times.
Ceulemans also won 24 World three-cushion championships (21 from the UMB
and 3 from the BWA
). Additionally he has prevailed in 16 title defenses.
At the age of 64 Ceulemans won his latest UMB world title in Luxembourg
where he defeated Marco Zanetti
.
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Ridder (title)
Ridder is a noble title in the Netherlands and Belgium. The collective term for its holders in a certain locality is the Ridderschap . In the Netherlands and Belgium no female equivalent exists...
Ceulemans (born 12 July 1937 in Lier, Belgium
Lier, Belgium
Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per...
) is a three-cushion billiards
Three-cushion billiards
Three-cushion billiards is a form of carom billiards, and one of the most popular and challenging cue sports in the world.The object of the game is to the off both and contact the at least 3...
player and possibly the most dominant single figure in any one sport, having won 35 World Championship titles (23 in three-cushion + 12 in other carom disciplines), 48 European titles (23 in tree-cushion) and 61 national titles. His nickname is "Mr 100". He was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America
Billiard Congress of America
Billiard Congress of America is a governing body for cue sports in North America , the regional member organization of the World Pool-Billiard Association...
's Hall of Fame in 2001, one of the very few non-Americans to receive the honour. In October 2003 King Albert II of Belgium honoured Raymond Ceulemans by awarding him a knighthood (Ridderschap) in recognition of his lifetime achievements.
Early life
By the age of 7 Ceulemans was playing billiards on the table in his father's caféCafé
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
. He also liked to play association football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
at the local club. Although he was a good midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
(in 1958 he was discovered by the club K. Beerschot V.A.C.
K. Beerschot V.A.C.
Koninklijke Beerschot Voetbal en Atletiek Club is a former Belgian football club from Antwerp. The club was founded in 1899 when most players of R. Antwerp F.C. left the club. It played in the 1920 Olympic Games Stadium named the "Kiel". After many financial problems over the years, the club was...
but a transfer was never made) he stopped playing football and began to concentrate on billiards.
Professional career
In 1961 at the age of 23 Ceulemans won his first Belgian three-cushion title. In 1962 he won his first CEB European Three-cushion ChampionshipCEB European Three-cushion Championship
The CEB European Three-cushion Championship is three-cushion billiards tournament organized by the Confédération Européenne de Billard. Held since 1933, it is one of longest-running tournaments in the sport...
.
A year later he won his first world title at the UMB World Three-cushion Championship
UMB World Three-cushion Championship
The UMB World Three-cushion Championship is a professional carom billiards tournament in the discipline of three-cushion billiards, organized mostly annually by the Union Mondiale de Billard...
with averages of 1.159 and 1.307 per . He went on to win the title 11 times in row. The winning streak came to end in 1974 when he lost to Nobuaki Kobayashi
Nobuaki Kobayashi
is a Japanese professional three-cushion billiards player and 2-time world champion.After placing 2nd to Belgium's Raymond Ceulemans three times in the UMB World Three-cushion Championship, Kobayashi turned things around and defeated Ceulemans for the world title in 1974. With this win, he ended...
in finals. He was the first three-cushion player to reach levels of 1.500 and 2.000 average points per .
Ceulemans won the first BWA World Three-cushion Championship in Paris, France in 1986. In 1998 he tied the world record held by Junichi Komori
Junichi Komori
is a Japanese three-cushion billiards player.Komori has won 4 Japanese titles. However, he never won an individual world title, finishing in third position at the UMB World Three-cushion Championship on three occasions, in 1976, 1978 and 1985...
of Japan during professional match play by scoring 28 points in a single . (The record was later broken.)
Ceulemans won the European three-cushion championship 23 times and defended it 19 times.
Ceulemans also won 24 World three-cushion championships (21 from the UMB
Union Mondiale de Billard
The Union Mondiale de Billard is the world governing body for carom billiard games. The organization was founded in Madrid, Spain on 1 June 1959, and is dedicated to promoting the modern carom billiards games...
and 3 from the BWA
Billiards World Cup Association
The Billiards World Cup Association was a governing body for carom billiards, like its competitor and successor, Union Mondiale de Billard....
). Additionally he has prevailed in 16 title defenses.
At the age of 64 Ceulemans won his latest UMB world title in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
where he defeated Marco Zanetti
Marco Zanetti
Marco Zanetti is an Italian professional three-cushion billiards player and a two-time world champion from Bolzano, Italy. He was ranked 7th in the world as of 2007 by the Confédération Européenne de Billard....
.
Titles
- CEB European Three-cushion ChampionshipCEB European Three-cushion ChampionshipThe CEB European Three-cushion Championship is three-cushion billiards tournament organized by the Confédération Européenne de Billard. Held since 1933, it is one of longest-running tournaments in the sport...
(1962–1972, 1974–1983, 1987, 1992) - BWABilliards World Cup AssociationThe Billiards World Cup Association was a governing body for carom billiards, like its competitor and successor, Union Mondiale de Billard....
World Three-cushion Championship (1986, 1987, 1990) - UMB World Three-cushion ChampionshipUMB World Three-cushion ChampionshipThe UMB World Three-cushion Championship is a professional carom billiards tournament in the discipline of three-cushion billiards, organized mostly annually by the Union Mondiale de Billard...
(1963–1973, 1975–1980, 1985, 1990, 2001)
External links
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