Billiards: Genius Caudron launches big series, impressive comeback at World Cup HCMC

Caudron launches series 14 in the opening match

Before the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup, Frederic Caudron was ranked 22nd in the World Carom Billiards Federation (UMB) rankings. Therefore, the Belgian player was scheduled to appear in the 4th qualifying round, taking the field today (May 22). The player born in 1968 is in Group G with Mikael Devogelaere (France) and Hwang Bong-joo (Korea).

In the opening match on the afternoon of May 22, Caudron faced Mikael Devogelaere. The Belgian player started the match very well. In the first and third turns, he scored 4 points to lead 8-4. In the fifth turn, Caudron continued to hit a series of 14 points, increasing the gap to 17 points (leading 22-5), and at the same time bringing the match into the break.

Caudron makes an impressive comeback at the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup

PHOTO: PL

In the second half, Caudron, although unable to maintain his scoring pace, still controlled the game well. The Belgian player won 40-23 against Mikael Devogelaere after 21 rounds. The victory in the opening match helped the "billards genius" have a bright chance to advance to the main round of the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup, where he will reunite with names such as Dick Jaspers, Tran Quyet Chien, Eddy Merckx, Marco Zanetti, Cho Myung-woo...

Desire to conquer World Cup billiards

Caudron is the most successful player in the UMB arena. He currently holds 21 World Cup billiards championships, including 2 crowns in Ho Chi Minh City. However, since leaving the PBA to return to the UMB tournament system (in May 2024, also at the Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup 2024), the genius Caudron has not been able to win a single title. Therefore, the Belgian player is currently very eager to conquer the championship in the World Cup billiards arena.

Caudron (left cover) lost to Quyet Chien in the final of the Veghel Billiards World Cup (Netherlands) in October 2024.

PHOTO: UMB

By the end of 2024, Frederic Caudron will have competed in 5 World Cup Billiards tournaments. The 57-year-old player has reached the quarter-finals twice (Ho Chi Minh City World Cup and Sharm el Sheikh World Cup) and the semi-finals once (Porto World Cup - Portugal). Caudron's best achievement after returning to UMB was the runner-up position at the Veghel Billiards World Cup - Netherlands in October 2025. Notably, in the final of the Veghel World Cup 2025, the Belgian genius lost to Vietnam's number 1 player Tran Quyet Chien.

Before the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup taking place at Nguyen Du Stadium (District 1), the most recent World Cup Billiards tournament that Frederic Caudron appeared in was in Sharm el Sheikh - Egypt in December 2024. After that, after 2 consecutive tournaments under the UMB system in 2025, the Billiards World Cup Bogota - Colombia (March) and the World Team Championship in Germany (early April), Caudron did not participate.

Prizes at the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup

The 2025 Ho Chi Minh City 3-Cushion Carom Billiards World Cup will take place from May 19 to 25 at Nguyen Du Stadium (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Billiards & Snooker Federation (HBSF). The tournament will have the participation of 149 players, including the world's top superstars. The champion of the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City 3-Cushion Carom Billiards World Cup will receive 16,000 euros (about 467 million VND), the runner-up will receive 10,000 euros (about 291 million VND), and the two third-place players will receive a prize of 6,000 euros each (about 175 million VND).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/billiards-thien-tai-caudron-tung-se-ri-lon-tai-xuat-an-tuong-tai-world-cup-tphcm-185250522165452872.htm