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Bio
Name
Michelangelo Aniello
Nationality
Italian
Date of Birth
16th OCTOBER 1976
Category
Billiard Cue
CAREER
BEGINNINGS
Michelangelo Aniello was born in Mola di Bari on 16/10/1976.
Already at the age of 6, he started playing billiards with his father, a French carom and artistic carom player, among the strongest in Puglia.
At the age of 12, in Mola di Bari, he began practising free carom and 3-spin at the Sports Centre of which his father was president, and at the age of 14 he won his first competition in the family club.
At the age of 16, he took part in his first Italian Junior Championship of 3-spine Carom, in Barrafranca (EN), finishing in 3rd place.
THE TRANSITION TO 5-PIN
In 1990, on the Tele+2 television network, the Biliardo Pro Circuit was born, featuring the world’s best 5-pin players.
At that time, his father suggested that Michelangelo specialise in that category.
In 1997, the Fibis Circuit was officially born, where he joined the 2nd Category.
After his year of conscription, in ’97 he began competing at a national level and at the first round of the Fibis Circuit by category, he won both the provincial, regional, and nationals, finishing 1st in Italy in Salsomaggiore Terme. (January 1997)
The escalation of categories begins.
He finished the season in 3rd place in the 2nd Category Final Poule, earning his passage to the 1st Category.
In the 1997/1998 season, he continued his progression in the 1st category, immediately reaching the top of the regional rankings (Apulia), earning his passage to the Master category.
He continued to practise the two disciplines (Carom 3 banks and 5 skittles) reaching, in November ’99, the Master Category for both.
At the time, he was among the best 8 in the Master Category of 3-Sided Carom.
In the same year, in Saint-Vincent, he won the 1st Master Circuit Trial of 3-Sided Carom in the Final with Fabio Gaiotti, broadcast for the first time ever on TV, on RaiSport.
In 2000, he left Carom with a 5th place in the Poule Final and dedicated himself completely to 5-pins.
The 2000/2001 season represents for Michelangelo the year of consecration.
He made the double leap in category, starting from the Master’s selections to winning the professional test, beating Marco Sala in the final at the ‘Bidi Bodi Bu’ in Legnano.
WINNING THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
After winning many competitions at regional and national level, he moved to Mirabella Eclano in September 2005, where he opened a 700-square-metre Coni-affiliated sports centre. One of the largest facilities in Italy at the time.
In 2006, Michelangelo flew to Spain, to Seville, and achieved his greatest goal, becoming World Champion, after a spectacular final against Andrea Quarta, which ended 4:2.
THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD 2021/2023
In the last two years, Michelangelo Aniello has written unforgettable pages in the world of billiards, accumulating a series of extraordinary successes. From his triumph in the Fibis Challenge 21/22 in Arco di Trento, to his encore in Gallipoli in January 2022, to his third European title won in August.
The following season was a real success for Michelangelo, who finished in first place in the overall ranking thanks to victories in the Fibis Challenge in Vernio and Alba. But the climax of this incredible season was on 1 July 2023, when after 16 years of waiting, Michelangelo Aniello returned to lift the prestigious title of Italian Champion in the Professional category.
2024 - THE PERFECT WEEK
In January, the European Championships Biathlon and 5-Pins All-In-One take place in Calangianus.
Michelangelo is called to a week-long tour de force, starting with the European Biathlon Pairs with Marco Zanetti.
The two won a silver medal.
The top step of the podium the next day in pairs with Daniela Romiti in the Mixed Genders Grand Prix.
She won the final in the individual European Championships after two intense challenges in the quarter-finals and semi-finals against Caratozzolo and Gabel.
The final started on an uphill slope with 2 sets to 0 loss against Andrea Quarta.
With his trademark character, he staged an epic comeback to win his fourth career European title.
Closing the circle was the European Championship victory with the Italian national team in a historic final against Italy 2.
Miking in one week brandished his snooker history, playing all the competition matches and winning three gold and one silver.
THE STORY CONTINUES...
Other milestones in Michelangelo’s career:
- In 2007 he won the 2nd Italian Title
- In 2009, the “Mundialito” was organised in Messina, featuring 8 World Champions. The only two editions in 2009 and 2010 saw him win.
- In 2013 he became European Champion in Brandenburg
- In August 2017, a tournament dedicated to him was organised in Uruguay, in San José. And he wins it.
- In October 2017, he reaches the final at the World Cup in Argentina, in Necochea, losing the final with the host Alejandro Martinotti.
- In 2019, the 1st World Championship for Nations in 5-pin billiards is organised. His last decisive shot, which made the rounds of social and web newspapers, is historic.
- In November 2021, he receives a medal from the Italian National Olympic Committee for Athletic Valour in Avellino as an athlete who has distinguished himself in sport.
- In December 2021 he becomes Italian Biathlon Champion
- In May 2022, he becomes European Team Champion
- In August 2022, he becomes European Champion for the third time
- In April 2023, he becomes European Team Champion
- In September 2023, he wins the International Biathlon-Teams Cup with Marco Zanetti
- In July 2025, he became Italian Champion for the fourth time and, just a few months later, won the World Championship with the Italian national team.