Frederic Caudron Crowned Champion at the 2006 Sang Lee International Open
After playing over 500 matches from start to finish, two three-cushion players remained standing at the Sang Lee International Open, both determined to be this year’s strongest billiard player. It all came down to a single momentous point made by great Belgium carom player, Frédéric Caudron, in order to dethrone defending champion Torbjörn Blomdahl of Sweden in the final match.
Eighty-two world-class three cushion players representing 18 countries, descended onto Carom Café’s 10-table arena from August 13-20 for a grueling round-robin competition to vie for the $85,000 prize fund. Blomdahl and Caudron burned up the heated carom tables to make it to the final, where, if Blomdahl would score his last point, both players would then have an identical 6-3 record and thus force a sudden-death 15-point playoff. Caudron, who is undisputedly the supreme straight, balkline, and one-cushion carom player of all time, was on a mission to prove that he stands above the greatest giants in three-cushion billiards – by winning this Sang Lee title. To start the final match, in the presence of a huge crowd and in front of the TV cameras, Caudron literally burst out of the gates with a sudden 19-6 lead over Blomdahl in a race to 40 points. Intent on defending his “home-turf”, as Blomdahl affectionately terms New York — due to his numerous titles taken down in the three-cushion city, Blomdahl fought back aggressively to narrow the gap 28-26. Caudron immediately responded by surging ahead and was the first to hear the referee’s call, “Playing for three” — leaving his opponent trailing desperately behind 37-28. In typical Blomdahl fashion, the great champion stepped right up and ran an amazing 10 points – missing his 39th point by a single hair. At this critical moment, both players traded unbelievable near-misses while they simultaneously hedged themselves with carefully planned safety moves — bringing the score up to 39-39 while every single audience member inched themselves to the very edge of their seats in anticipation.
It was then that Caudron unleashed a breathtaking out-shot and immediately upon delivering the winning blow, shook his cue tightly with two clenched fists and let out a deep victory roar that was heard all around the three-cushion world. As he hoisted the massive Carom Cup trophy over his head, the enthusiastic crowd gave him a highly spirited and lengthy standing ovation for his monumental accomplishment.
-provided by Ira Lee, Sang Lee International Open director
U.S. Three-Cushion Star Allen Gilbert Dead at 77
One of the best American three-cushion players of the modern era died Saturday, July 15, in Los Angeles at the age of 77. Allen Gilbert passed away at Veterans Hospital in West Hollywood from renal failure after suffering from a variety of ailments in recent years. He was a veteran of the Korean War.
He was a very strong player as a teenager in Los Angeles, but didn’t come to national attention until the Billiard Federation of the USA (later the USBA) was organized. He won the first BFUSA National tournament in 1968, followed by wins in 1970, 1971, 1977, and 1988, and finished second eight times. In the 1993 event, he led Sang Lee 35-25 only to lose 50-44. He won four Champ of Champs national tournament sponsored by the American Billiard Association, He spent four years competing against the best players in the world in the Billiard World Cup tournaments, finishing fifth overall in 1986.
In addition to successes in national and international tournaments, he won at least twenty other elite events in his 40-year career as a top player. Gilbert was a left-handed slip-stroker whose confident style was all his own. He had a great fighting heart and could never be counted out of any game no matter what the score. His scoring ability and safety play gave him many come-from-behind wins. — Robert Byrne
Part Two of the Sang Lee Series Airs This Sunday
This Sunday, June 18, part two of a four part series on the 2005 Sang Lee International Open will air at 10 p.m. EST on America One Sports, a division of America One Television Network.
This episode will feature the exciting semifinal matchup between the celebrated “Turkish Prince”, Semih Sayginer, and four-time world champion, Dick Jaspers — as they vie for the $100,000 prize fund and a spot in the final.
The tournament took place last August at the Carom Café Billiards, in Flushing, N.Y., and served as a memorial for the tournament’s namesake, Sang Chun Lee, who passed away on Oct. 19, 2004, at the age of 51. As player, organizer, promoter and room owner, Lee devoted his life to “making billiards beautiful in America,” and rejuvenated three-cushion billiards in the United States.
This series captures “The Road to the Finals,” of the event, which featured 76 of the strongest three-cushion players in the world, from 23 countries, competing for the most prestigious title in the game and $100,000, the richest purse ever offered on American soil.
The four-part series began airing May 7 and will culminate Aug. 1. For TV scheduling information, check your local listings or visit www.americaonesports.com.
Three Cushion Debuts on American TV
This Sunday, May 7, the first show of a four part series on the 2005 Sang Lee International Open will premiere at 10 p.m. Eastern on America One Sports, a division of America One Television Network.
The tournament featured 76 of the strongest three-cushion players in the world, from 23 countries, competing for the most prestigious title in the game and $100,000, the richest purse ever offered on American soil.
The event took place last August at Carom Café Billiards, in Flushing, N.Y., and served as a memorial for the tournament’s namesake, Sang Chun Lee, who passed away on Oct. 19, 2004, at the age of 51. As player, organizer, promoter and room owner, Lee devoted his life to “making billiards beautiful in America,” and rejuvenated three-cushion billiards in the United States.
Ira Lee said Sang would be incredibly pleased to see three cushion’s debut on American TV. “It’s a dream for him,” Ira said.
Three-cushion is a mesmerizing game, in which there are only three balls, a yellow ball for one player, a white one for the opponent and a neutral ball, which is red. The object is to hit both balls and three cushions, but players commonly make five-, eight- and even 10-cushion shots under extreme pressure.
“Many of the top pros in our event have played billiards for over 30 years,” Lee said. “Raymond Ceulemans, perhaps the greatest of them all – has been playing billiards for over 50 years and is still in great form.”
Lee says that the television coverage will be of interest to anyone, with expert commentary and intricate shot problems charted out and diagrammed for the audience beforehand.
“Pool players can learn a lot about cue ball control from these masters, who practice just that aspect of the game that long and that diligently.”
The four-part series will air between May 7 and Aug. 1. For TV scheduling information, check your local listings or visit www.americaonesports.com.
Lee gives 3-cushion a stab
Women’s Professional Billiard Association attraction Jeanette Lee has announced she will participate in the United States Billiard Association’s next Carom Corner 3-cushion billiards event at World Class Billiards in Peabody, Mass., March 12-18. She will compete in a handicapped event during the tournament, which will feature recently crowned U.S. champion Sang Chun Lee and current world No. 1 Dick Jaspers.
For more information contact the host site at (978) 535-7000.