Philippe Suchaud - The Dream Team's Shooter | Petanque Player Profile
Philippe Suchaud profile - the French legend with 14 world titles, a record 10 Coupe de France des clubs wins and a record 9 Masters de Pétanque titles. Discover his career, his Marseillaise wins and his 2026 season with Pétanque Arlancoise.
14
World Titles
🇫🇷
Nationality
Shooter / Milieu
Role
1970
Born
Equipment
Boules and gear used by this player
Career Achievements
The Master of Every Moment
Philippe Suchaud is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of pétanque, a player whose shooting, competitive intelligence and ability to deliver in the most critical moments have earned him a place among the sport's all-time greats. Born on December 10, 1970, in Cosne-d'Allier, Allier, France, Suchaud has won 14 world titles, three European titles, a record 10 Coupes de France des clubs and a record 9 Masters de Pétanque titles. As the tireur of the legendary Dream Team alongside Philippe Quintais and Henri Lacroix, he is one of the three most important players in modern pétanque history.
Beyond the numbers, Suchaud is defined by his ability to perform when the pressure is at its peak. In the pétanque world, this has earned its own name: "Suchaud Time."
Career Overview
Philippe Suchaud's career spans more than three decades of elite competition. He started at CSC Pétanque Cosne-d'Allier, then played for the Amicale des Marais de Montluçon (1995-2003), DUC de Nice (2003-2013) and Dreux Pétanque (2013-2017) before joining Pétanque Arlancoise in 2017. He plays mainly as a tireur (shooter), and occasionally as milieu.
The crowning achievement of his team career was the Dream Team. With Henri Lacroix pointing, Philippe Quintais at milieu and Suchaud shooting, the trio won the triplette world title three years running (2001, 2002, 2003) and again in 2018 and 2021, and also won the French triplette championship together in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
World Championships
Suchaud has claimed 14 world championship gold medals:
- Triplette (12): 1995 Brussels and 1996 Essen (with David Le Dantec and Philippe Quintais); 2001 Monaco, 2002 Grenoble and 2003 Geneva (with Quintais, Lacroix and Éric Sirot); 2005 Brussels (with Lacroix, Simon Cortes and Julien Lamour); 2007 Pattaya, 2008 Dakar and 2010 İzmir (with Lacroix, Bruno Le Boursicaud and Thierry Grandet); 2012 Marseille (with Lacroix, Le Boursicaud and Dylan Rocher); 2018 Desbiens and 2021 Santa Susanna (with Quintais, Lacroix and Rocher).
- Doublette (2): 2017 Ghent and 2019 Almería, both with Henri Lacroix.
He also has a world silver in mixed doubles (2019, with Angélique Colombet) and five triplette bronze medals, the most recent in 2024.
European and French titles
Suchaud is a three-time European triplette champion (2009, 2017, 2023) and won the 2015 Confederations Cup with France. At national level he has won 11 French championship titles, including the triplette in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013, the doublette in 1995 and the mixed doublette in 2000, 2006 and 2007. With his clubs he also won the European Club Cup six times (2004, 2008, 2009 and 2010 with DUC de Nice, 2022 and 2025 with Arlanc).
Mondial la Marseillaise
Suchaud has won the Mondial la Marseillaise à Pétanque four times: in 2004, 2005 and 2009 with Philippe Quintais and Philippe Pécoul, and in 2024 (63rd edition) with Quintais and Jean-Claude Jouffre, beating Tyson Molinas, Marc Tierno and Sébastien Rousseau in the final. The same trio reached the 2025 final, where they lost 13-10 to Madagascar. He also won the Mondial de Millau several times, including the triplette in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011 with Quintais and Lacroix.
2026 season
In February 2026, Suchaud helped Pétanque Arlancoise retain the Coupe de France des Clubs, beating Saint-Tropez 18-3 in the final at the Boulodrome du Douaisis. It was his 10th title in the competition (2003 with Montluçon, six with DUC de Nice, then 2022, 2025 and 2026 with Arlanc), extending his own record.
At the 2026 Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque, Suchaud teamed up with Damien Hureau and Julien Lamour. The trio won their opening match 13-1 before being eliminated in the second round by the team of Yoann Francone and Fernand Molinas, 8-13. See our 2026 Marseillaise results recap.
The Dream Team reunited in September 2026 for the Masters de Pétanque Final Four in L'Île-Rousse, Corsica. Suchaud, alongside Quintais, Lacroix and Laurent Matraglia, went through the event unbeaten and beat Team Rocher 13-4 in the final on 17 September, Suchaud's record ninth Masters de Pétanque title. See our 2026 Masters de Pétanque results for the full breakdown, or our Masters de Pétanque history and all-time records for the complete list of champions since 1999.
Playing Style and Technique
Suchaud is above all a tireur: his job is to remove opposing boules, ideally with a carreau, so his pointeur can take back the point. He can also play milieu, pointing or shooting as the end requires, which made him a flexible piece in every team he played in.
What truly distinguishes Suchaud is his game intelligence and the legendary "Suchaud Time": those critical moments, often in the final ends of a tight game, when he raises his level and delivers the decisive shot that changes the complexion of a match.
Equipment
Philippe Suchaud is a long-time partner and ambassador for Obut. He plays with Obut ATX boules, a high-end stainless steel model known for its precision and balance. Obut's team page links him to an ATX set but does not yet list his diameter or weight, so figures such as 72 mm and 700 g that circulate online are unconfirmed.
Shop the Obut ATX, the same boule Philippe Suchaud plays with:
Obut ATX
The 'Rolls-Royce' of pétanque boules. Used by top champions, manufactured from high-tech nickel-chromium stainless steel.
- Nickel-Chrome Stainless Steel
- Semi-soft (130 kg/mm²)
- Surgical balancing
- Material
- Nickel-Chrome Stainless Steel
- Hardness
- Semi-soft (130 kg/mm²)
- Finish
- Bronze / Satin Gold
- Diameter
- 71 - 76 mm (also offered in 80 mm)
- Weight
- 650 - 750 g (also offered at 800 g)
- Grip Pattern
- Available smooth or striated, grades 0-3
Achievements and Honors
- 14 World Championship gold medals (12 triplette, 2 doublette)
- 3 European Championship titles (triplette 2009, 2017, 2023)
- 9 Masters de Pétanque titles (record): 2002, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2026
- 10 Coupe de France des Clubs titles (record)
- 11 French championship titles
- 4 Mondial la Marseillaise titles (2004, 2005, 2009, 2024)
- 6 European Club Cups
- Dream Team member with Philippe Quintais and Henri Lacroix
Legacy
Philippe Suchaud's legacy in pétanque is defined by his longevity and his ability to win in any situation. As a member of the Dream Team, he helped define an era that may never be replicated. Even in 2026, at 55, he was still winning the biggest team events in France with Pétanque Arlancoise and the Masters de Pétanque with Quintais and Lacroix.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Philippe Suchaud?
Philippe Suchaud was born on 10 December 1970 in Cosne-d'Allier, France, making him 55 years old in 2026.
How many world titles has Philippe Suchaud won?
Fourteen world championship gold medals: 12 in triplette (1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2021) and 2 in doublette with Henri Lacroix (2017, 2019).
Which boules does Philippe Suchaud use?
A long-time Obut ambassador, he plays the Obut ATX stainless-steel model. Obut links his profile to an ATX set but has not published his diameter or weight.
What is 'Suchaud Time'?
It's the nickname for his ability to raise his game in the most critical, high-pressure moments, often the closing ends of a tight match, delivering decisive shots when it matters most.
Who were the Dream Team?
The Dream Team was the French triplette of Henri Lacroix (pointeur), Philippe Quintais (milieu) and Philippe Suchaud (tireur), world champions together in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2018 and 2021.
How many times has Philippe Suchaud won the Mondial la Marseillaise?
Four times: in 2004, 2005 and 2009 with Philippe Quintais and Philippe Pécoul, and in 2024 with Quintais and Jean-Claude Jouffre. The Quintais, Suchaud and Jouffre trio also reached the 2025 final, losing 13-10 to Madagascar.
How did Philippe Suchaud do at the 2026 Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque?
He entered with Damien Hureau and Julien Lamour, winning their opening match 13-1 before being eliminated in the second round by the team of Yoann Francone and Fernand Molinas, 8-13.