A Touch of Canadian Class
When you think of Canadian snooker players, one name springs to mind. Bob Chaperon was a former professional snooker and billiards player. His career spanned through the 1980s and into the 1990s. Part of a generation of North American players that succeeded the likes of Kirk Stevens, Cliff Thorburn and Bill Werbeniuk. Chaperon managed to cause an impression when the Davis/ Hendry dynasty were ruling the roost. Bob was and still is a fine player and his greatest accomplishment was to beat Alex Higgins in his last major final in 1990, winning 10-8 in the British Open. Higgins may have been at the end of his career but he had only just won the Irish Masters the previous year, beating Stephen Hendry, a triumph he achieved despite having broken his leg!
Bob also had two more victory strings to his bow, winning the World Cup with Canada in 1990 and the Canadian Snooker Championship in 1981, defeating Carey Lorraine in Ottawa. He also reached the quarter-final stage of the 1987 Grand Prix. With a highest ranking of 26 and career earnings of £214,456, Chaperon even managed to score a high break of 132 in the 1991 World Championship. Bob will always be remembered as a major ranking event winner - a very exclusive club. The French Canadian is still the last Canadian to lift a trophy, a man who was treated as an underdog by the media prior to his win, his long hair and moustache must have hid the true talent of this player but friend and colleague, Alain Robidoux, knew this man could play our glorious game.
Chaperon retired from snooker in 2003 but still plays in his native and only won a trophy recently when he won the Canadian National Snooker Championship, an amazingly 38 years after first winning the title. Snooker owes a grow debt to this Canadian trailblazer who cut his teeth in smoke filled pool halls and learnt his trade, hustling for the odd dollar and promise of a cold beer. Bob recently traveled to the UK to be ordained in a hall of fame in recognition of all Canadian players for the part they played in creating snooker history. The video tape of his win may now be worn and the picture wobbly but his wins are etched in snooker audiences’ memories and the fizz and crackle these players caused on the variety of snooker tables they played on in their careers Bob Chaperon clearly still has the gift and long may he lift the silverware!
https://youtu.be/k2He6V4PzPE
Bob also had two more victory strings to his bow, winning the World Cup with Canada in 1990 and the Canadian Snooker Championship in 1981, defeating Carey Lorraine in Ottawa. He also reached the quarter-final stage of the 1987 Grand Prix. With a highest ranking of 26 and career earnings of £214,456, Chaperon even managed to score a high break of 132 in the 1991 World Championship. Bob will always be remembered as a major ranking event winner - a very exclusive club. The French Canadian is still the last Canadian to lift a trophy, a man who was treated as an underdog by the media prior to his win, his long hair and moustache must have hid the true talent of this player but friend and colleague, Alain Robidoux, knew this man could play our glorious game.
Chaperon retired from snooker in 2003 but still plays in his native and only won a trophy recently when he won the Canadian National Snooker Championship, an amazingly 38 years after first winning the title. Snooker owes a grow debt to this Canadian trailblazer who cut his teeth in smoke filled pool halls and learnt his trade, hustling for the odd dollar and promise of a cold beer. Bob recently traveled to the UK to be ordained in a hall of fame in recognition of all Canadian players for the part they played in creating snooker history. The video tape of his win may now be worn and the picture wobbly but his wins are etched in snooker audiences’ memories and the fizz and crackle these players caused on the variety of snooker tables they played on in their careers Bob Chaperon clearly still has the gift and long may he lift the silverware!
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