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Headstring News
Souquet, DiLiberto Enter Hall of Fame
Aug 12, 2011, 10:42 AM
 | | Souquet becomes the first European male player to enter the Hall. (Photo by Lawrence Lustig-Matchroom Sport) |
Globetrotting German star Ralf Souquet and multi-talented Buffalo legend Danny DiLiberto have been voted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame, the BCA announced today. Souquet, 42, and DiLiberto, 76, will be formally inducted during ceremonies at the Chesapeake Marriott in Chesapeake, Va., Thursday, Oct. 20. Voting was conducted by the United States Billiard Media Association and BCA Hall of Fame Board.
Souquet becomes the first European male player to be elected to the BCA Hall of Fame. In addition to being a dominant presence on the Euro Tour for two decades, Souquet has captured numerous major international titles and has scored some of his greatest wins on American soil. In addition to winning the WPA World 9-Ball Championship (1996), World 8-Ball Championship (2004) and World Games gold medal (2009), Souquet has won the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship (2002) and the BCA U.S. Open 14.1 Championship (2000), and twice captured the BCA Open 9-Ball Championship trophy (2003, 2006). Additionally, Souquet has won the Derby City Classic 9-ball title three times, and the World Pool Masters four times.
“This is very nice,” Souquet said. “It’s a great honor. When you talk about the greatest players, like Archer, Reyes, Strickland, they are all in the Hall of Fame. So to be on the same list with them is a great achievement.
“You become aware of the Hall of Fame when you hear players announced at tournaments, and when I knew I was on the ballot I started thinking about it more.”
Souquet finished second in 2010 voting to Francisco Bustamante.
DiLiberto took a longer route to the Hall of Fame, having been on the ballot for many years. The 1972 Johnston City All-Around champion was removed from the ballot several years ago, but returned to this year’s ballot at the recommendation of the Hall of Fame Board’s Veterans Committee.
“I’m really choked up,” said DiLiberto, who also won the BCA National 8-Ball Championship (1981), the World One-Pocket Championship (1983) and the National Pool Classic 9-ball championship (1984). “I really thought they would wait until I was dead to put me in!”
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