S.L. Benfica (billiards)

Sport Lisboa e Benfica, commonly known as Benfica, is a semi-professional billiards team based in Lisbon, Portugal. Founded in 1938, Benfica compete in the Portuguese Billiards League, in carom billiards (three-cushion), pool (eight-ball and nine-ball), and snooker events. The team is almost exclusively composed of Portuguese players. They play at the Estádio da Luz in a 202 square meters room with 4 professional pool tables and a 50 people stand.

History
The billiard section was created in 1938–39 with players like Alvaro Figueiredo de Lima, Maximiano Varges Henrique da Costa Santos and Aguinaldo Cacho. The section continued to grow and in the sixties it won its first regional title in 66/67 and by 69 its first national championship. Also in 69 it participated for the first time into the CEB European Three-cushion Championship.

Between 1983 and 2000, Benfica won most of its titles, 10 Regional Championships, 6 National Championships, 2 Portuguese Cups and 3 Supercups.

In 2002/03, Benfica hired Dick Jaspers, Dion Nelin, Henrique Penalva, Jaime Faraco in an attempt to win the CEB European Three-cushion Championship but it only managed a second place.

In 2011/12, Benfica won a combined number of 13 titles, 9 for teams.

Men's honours
According to Benfica's official website

Three Cushin

 * Portuguese Three-cushion Men's Billiards Championship
 * Winners (9): 1968–69, 1970–71, 1976–77, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1991–92, 1994–95


 * Portuguese Three-cushion Men's Billiards Cup
 * Winners (2): 1992–93, 1999–2000


 * Portuguese Three-cushion Men's Billiards Super Cup
 * Winners (3): 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98


 * Lisbon Regional Three-cushion Men's Billiards Championship
 * Winners (15): 1966–67, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95


 * CEB European Three-cushion Championship:
 * Runners-up: 2002–03

Pool

 * Portuguese Pool Men's Billiards Cup
 * Winners (1): 2010–11, 2011–12


 * Portuguese Pool Men's Billiards Super Cup
 * Winners (3): 2011–12

American Pool

 * Portuguese American Pool Men's Billiards Championship
 * Winners (1): 2011–12


 * Portuguese American Pool Men's Billiards Cup
 * Winners (1): 2010–11, 11–12


 * Portuguese American Pool Men's Billiards Super Cup
 * Winners (1): 2011–12

Snooker

 * Portuguese Snooker Men's Billiards Championship
 * Winners (2): 2011–12, 2013–14


 * Portuguese Snooker Men's Billiards Championship
 * Winners (2): 2013, 2014

Pool

 * Portuguese Pool Women's Billiards Championship
 * Winners (1): 2011–12


 * Portuguese Pool Women's Billiards Cup
 * Winners (1): 2010–11, 2011–12

Notable past athletes

 * Alvaro Figueiredo de Lima
 * Maximiano Varges Henrique da Costa Santos
 * Aguinaldo Cacho
 * Manuel Rodriguez
 * José Tavares
 * Alvaro Lima
 * Artur Ribeiro
 * Eduardo Martins
 * José Alabern
 * Alvaro Araujo de Oliveira
 * Alfredo Ferraz
 * Jorge Pinto
 * Dr. Joaquim Lourenço Gago
 * João Pereira
 * Manuel Barroso Sanchez
 * Victor Hugo Leal
 * Vladimiro Correia Monteiro
 * Carlos Alberto França
 * Ilídio Gomes
 * Mário Machado
 * Vladimiro Monteiro
 * Mário Ribeiro
 * Victor Hugo Leal