World ChampionshipAntwerpen (Belgium)

Frédéric Caudron crowned king in his homeland

10/18/2025

Published by frits bakker

Frédéric Caudron is the world champion, on stage with Eddy Merckx, Arnim Kahofer and Myung Woo Cho

ANTWERP – The three-cushion world title in a Belgian titanic battle went to Frédéric Caudron this Saturday. The 57-year-old Walloon billiards player defeated 57-year-old Eddy Merckx in a fight in front of a packed stadium. Caudron's fourth world gold medal was loudly applauded in the magnificent AED studios in Lint, where the world's elite were hosted two weeks for the World Cup and the World Championship. The mainly Belgian crowd saw a rarely seen, thrilling climax early Saturday evening in the clash between two star players, with Caudron emerging as the ultimate champion: 50-47 in 32/31 innings. The battle between the two home players, who had survived the wear and tear of qualifying and the knock-outs, entertained the spectators from the start to the decisive caroms. The two seasoned European world champions, from the land of the legend Raymond Ceulemans, have faced off countless times in head-to-head battles. The Saturday final, which was high-quality and captivating due to the changing chances, will remain in the memories of the players, the audience, and viewers of the live online broadcasts for a long time.

The initial skirmishes were evenly matched. Merckx launched the attack first, with a run of 8 for a 17-12 lead in the 10th inning. Shortly before the real battle broke out, the next part was one of high tension, defensive tactics, and lower scores. The margin widened slightly in Merckx's favor (34-22 in 22 innings), but Caudron countered with 12 and 5 and took his first lead (39-36) The final phase was breathtaking: Caudron came close to finish with a 5 and 2x2 at 48-43, missed three more times, and ended the match at 48-47 with two: 50-47 in 32 innings. The crowd cheered their champion and waved goodbye to the wonderful runner-up during the ceremony. Frédéric Caudron, who won his first world title in Bogota, Colombia, in 1999 many years later was crowned the champion in Antwerp in 2013 and in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, in 2017. The final there also featured two Belgians, also between Caudron and Merckx. Caudron triumphed 40-16 in nine innings.

The champion in this World’s final raised his fist, received congratulations, and ran to the stands to celebrate with his girlfriend. The entourage was illuminated with blue lights and white smoke to salute the stars on stage.

The glorious champion returns to the top ten of the world rankings for players, where Eddy Merckx is now number one for the first time. Frédéric Caudron has made a meteoric comeback after disappearing from the UMB rankings in the early years of the PBA, the Korean professional association. Two years ago, amid conflicts with the PBA, Caudron returned to compete with the world’s elite again like the prodigal son. There, with the world title, he is once again the Master he was before his step to the Korean tour. Most of all with the two top players in the final, the Belgians demonstrated that Asian dominance is out of the question for the time being. The world titles of Myung Woo Cho and Phuong Vinh Bao, in 2024 and 2023, seemed to mark the start of a power shift in three-cushion billiards. The final stages of this week's World Championship, with seven Europeans in the top eight, have refuted that theory.

Besides the two Belgians, Myung Woo Cho also shines at the top of the World Championship standings, including the sensational Austrian Arnim Kahoferl, German Martin Horn, Greek Nick Polychronopoulos, Dutchman Jean Paul de Bruijn, and Turkish Berkay Karakurt. These are mainly pretty new names at the top level at a World Championship where Dick Jaspers, Marco Zanetti, Tayfun Tasdemir, and Torbjörn Blomdal finished somewhat in the shadows.

The two semifinals at the World Championship in Lint, early Saturday afternoon, provided a preview of the rise to power of Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Merckx. For reigning champion Myung Woo Cho, his new adventure ended in the match against Merckx, despite a dazzling run of 18 just before the decisive phase. Myung Woo Cho had a small lead after 10 innings (22-20) thanks to runs of 5 and 7, but Eddy Merckx slipped to 36-22 with an 8, 9, and 6. Sensing the danger, the Korean launched a beautiful 18 to make it 40-36, but was overwhelmed by a 4 and 7 from Merckx: 50-47 in 21.

Frédéric Caudron faced Arnim Kahofer in the semis, an opponent who, after a magnificent tournament, could no longer find the strength to fight Caudron's dominance. The Belgian led 22-3 after 7 innings, extended his lead to 37-13 with small runs, and delivered the knockout blow 50-14 in 22 after eight outs for Kahofer in the final stages.

The Saturday afternoon between the matches was marked by an impressive tribute to Raymond Ceulemans, the Belgian multi champion in billiards history who, among other things, was crowned 21-time world champion in three-cushion billiards, a record that will almost certainly never be approached again.

Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Merckx, two famous Belgian billiard stars