List of world three-cushion billiards champions
the World Three-Cushion Championship is a billiards competition held in the Americas.[1] It was the most prestigious Three-cushion tournament up until the UMB World Three-cushion Championship popularized Three-cushion in Europe. The event was held in United States and from 1928 ran alongside the UMB World Three-cushion Championship, both as World Championship events. By the 1950s, the popularity of three-cushion had declined in the US following the retirement of Willie Hoppe.[2][page needed][3][4][5]
History[edit]
The first three-cushion billiards tournament took place at Mussey’s Billiard Hall in the United States in 1878. The winner was Leon Magnus, who received a cash prize of $75 (equivalent to $2,274 in 2023). However, fans of cue sports were not immediately taken with the new sport of three-cushion billiards. This lack of popularity resulted in a lull in the occurrence of additional tournaments in the United States for several years. In the subsequent decades, the tournament was held only once in 1899 and was won by William Catton.
The popularity of three-cushion billiards increased with the introduction of the Lambert Trophy in 1907. To win this trophy, a player had to defeat others in a knockout-style tournament. Harry Cline was the first winner of the Lambert Trophy. Around this time, less formal tournaments also became popular, especially in the United States. These were designed for both amateur and professional players, with the winner receiving a trophy or cup. Tournaments took place in billiard parlours with proprietors using posters to advertise the tournament events.
Winners[edit]
In the 1870s, Wayman McCreery invented the game of three-cushion.[1]
- Sanctioned World Championship events
Top performers[edit]
| Name | Nationality | Winner | Years a champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Hoppe |  United States
|
15 | 12 |
| Johnny Layton | United States
|
6 | 5 |
| Welker Cochran | United States
|
5 | 5 |
| Harold Worst | United States
|
4 | 4 |
| Otto Reiselt | United States
|
2 | |
| August Kieckhefer | United States
|
3 |
- In the event of identical records, players are sorted in alphabetical order by first name.
References[edit]
- ^ a b Billiards: The Official Rules and Records Book. Billiard Congress of America. 2006. ISBN 1-878493-16-7 – via Google Books.
- ^ Shamos, Mike (1999). The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards. New York: Lyons Press. ISBN 9781558217973 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Hoppe–Greenleaf Match is Clinched; to meet in 600-Point Contest at 3-Cushions – Play Will Begin Sept. 22". The New York Times. September 15, 1924. Retrieved February 21, 2007.
- ^ "Greenleaf Beaten by Hoppe, 600-527: Balkline Star Takes Final Block in 3-Cushion Match at the Strand, 50 to 44". May 23, 1926. Retrieved February 21, 2007.
- ^ "Hoppe, 65, Leaves Cue Competition; Three-Cushion Ace Will Play Exhibitions — Won 51 Titles During 46-Year Span". The New York Times. October 17, 1952. Retrieved January 2, 2007.
- ^ "Arthur Thurnblad, Good at Geometry, Becomes World Champ". The Tuscaloosa News. January 30, 1931 – via Google News.
- ^ "Harold Worst". Billiard Congress of America. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
Worst won the world title for three-cushion billiards in Argentina in 1954, the youngest player to compete in world competition.