A Champion's Name on Every Cue
Gülşen Degener has spent decades proving herself at the highest levels of three-cushion billiards. Born on October 25, 1968, in Şanlıurfa, Turkey, and now based in Germany, Degener has claimed the Turkish national three-cushion championship an extraordinary 15 times. Her most recent milestone came in 2025, when she and partner Güzin Müjde Karakaşlı won the European Championship gold medal for women's national teams, defeating Belgium in the final in Aarhus, Denmark.
The Longoni Istanbul carom cue carries her name, but it is far more than a branding exercise. As a Longoni Custom Pro model, the Istanbul represents the highest tier of signature cues in Longoni's lineup. Every Custom Pro cue is built in direct collaboration with an active world-class professional, not simply endorsed after the fact. Degener's competitive demands at the elite three-cushion level shaped every material choice and technical specification in this cue.
This article covers the Istanbul's materials, technology, shaft options, and who it's best suited for.
80 Years of Italian Craftsmanship Behind the Istanbul
Longoni has been manufacturing billiard cues in Mariano Comense, a small town near Milan in the Como province of Italy, since 1945. That makes the company one of the oldest continuously operating cue makers in the world. Every Longoni cue, including the Istanbul, is produced entirely in Italy under strict family-run quality control — a sharp contrast to mass-produced cues manufactured overseas with less oversight.
The "Made in Italy" distinction matters to serious buyers. Longoni is recognized alongside Predator and Mezz as a top-tier cue brand globally, and that reputation rests on decades of consistent quality. Every cue released under the Longoni name is tested and endorsed by world-class champions before it reaches the market, ensuring the Istanbul performs at competition level rather than serving as a display piece.
The broader market reflects growing demand for exactly this kind of equipment. Purchases of premium and personalized billiard equipment have grown by 18% in recent years, and carom billiards accounts for approximately 28% of the global billiards equipment market. Players are investing in quality, and the Istanbul sits squarely in that trend.
Ural Wood and Floral Inlays: The Istanbul's Butt Construction
The butt of the Longoni Istanbul is constructed from solid Ural wood. Ural wood is a dense, stable hardwood sourced from the Ural region, prized among cue makers for its consistent grain structure, rigidity, and natural vibration-dampening properties. When you strike the cue ball, Ural wood delivers a solid, feedback-rich feel that tells you exactly what happened at contact.
Butt wood matters significantly in three-cushion play. Carom billiards demands precise cue ball control through multiple cushion contacts. A butt that flexes or absorbs energy inconsistently will undermine your stroke mechanics over the course of a match. Ural wood's rigidity keeps energy transfer predictable, shot after shot.
Visually, the Istanbul is striking. A full-length floral theme of synthetic mother-of-pearl inlays runs the entire length of the cue, reflecting Degener's personal aesthetic and Turkish cultural identity. The inlays are integrated without compromising the cue's structural integrity.
There is also a collectibility angle worth noting. As a limited Custom Pro collaboration with an active professional, the Istanbul carries investment value beyond its playability. These are not mass-produced catalog items; each cue represents a specific moment in Longoni's history and in Degener's career.
The butt features the patented VP2 titanium joint with a 22mm joint diameter, Longoni's flagship joint system across its professional carom range.
VP2 Titanium Joint and the 3lobite System Explained
The VP2 joint is one of the Istanbul's most important technical features. A titanium joint with a 22mm diameter, it provides superior energy transfer compared to standard wood or steel joints. Titanium's rigidity minimizes energy loss at the connection point between butt and shaft, delivering a crisper, more responsive hit.
For context: wood joints absorb energy and can warp over time with changes in humidity and temperature. Steel joints add unwanted weight that shifts the cue's balance. Titanium strikes the ideal balance of rigidity, weight neutrality, and long-term durability.
The Istanbul also comes standard with Longoni's proprietary 3lobite system installed on the butt. This interface allows compatible extensions and accessories to attach securely. For carom players, this is a genuine competitive tool. Carom tables have no pockets, and precise positional play across the full table surface often requires adjusting cue length for specific shots or bridge distances. The 3lobite system makes those adjustments quick and reliable.
Both the VP2 joint and 3lobite system are included as standard on the Istanbul. They are not optional upgrades or add-ons; they come with the cue out of the box.
Luna Nera Graphite vs. S30 Laminated Shaft: Choosing Your Configuration
The Longoni Istanbul is available with two distinct shaft options, and the choice between them is one of the most important decisions you will make when purchasing this cue.
Luna Nera Graphite Shaft
The Luna Nera shaft is made of pure unidirectional carbon fiber (graphite). It features extremely low deflection, high power transfer, and polyurethane filling for vibration absorption. It is non-deformable and completely resistant to humidity. If you play in multiple venues where temperature and humidity vary, the Luna Nera removes environmental conditions as a variable, giving you the same consistent performance every time. The Luna Nera also carries a 24-month manufacturer's warranty against manufacturing defects, a concrete sign of Longoni's confidence in this technology.
S30 Laminated Shaft
The S30 shaft is constructed from 10 slices of Canadian hard rock maple alternated with 10 slices of European hornbeam, dried over a long period for high stability. It delivers very low deflection and excellent weight control, with a more traditional wood feel. Players transitioning from classic maple shafts often prefer the S30 because the tactile feedback feels familiar while still offering the stability advantages of laminated construction.
Which One Is Right for You?
The honest answer is that neither shaft is objectively superior. The Luna Nera suits competitive players who want cutting-edge technology and total environmental consistency. The S30 suits players who value the natural feel of wood and want a shaft that bridges the gap between traditional and modern construction.
The Istanbul's availability in both configurations is a deliberate choice by Degener and Longoni, designed to serve different playing styles rather than impose one philosophy on every buyer.
Who Is the Longoni Istanbul Built For?
The Istanbul is built for serious club players and league competitors who want to train and compete with the same cue configuration used by a 15-time national champion and 2025 European gold medalist. If you are committed to three-cushion billiards at a competitive level, this cue will support your game rather than limit it.
Aspiring competitive players will also benefit. The Istanbul's precision engineering supports skill development at every level above recreational play; as your technique improves, the cue keeps pace.
Collectors and enthusiasts have reason to look closely as well. The limited Custom Pro designation, the Degener collaboration story, and the full-length mother-of-pearl inlay work make the Istanbul an art object as much as a playing instrument.
Within Longoni's Custom Pro lineup, the Istanbul sits alongside other signature cues like the Epica and Como. What distinguishes it is the Turkish-inspired aesthetic and Degener's specific technical preferences, which give it a character all its own.
Billiard City is an authorized Longoni dealer, which means every Istanbul cue we sell is a genuine product backed by full factory warranty coverage. The Istanbul with Luna Nera shaft is listed at $1,450, with fast 2 to 5 business day US shipping and free shipping on orders over $99. You can find it on our Longoni Istanbul product page for direct purchase.
The Longoni Istanbul: A Cue Worth Playing and Owning
To summarize what makes this cue exceptional: champion pedigree from Gülşen Degener's 2025 European gold, over 80 years of Italian craftsmanship from Longoni's workshop in Mariano Comense, a solid Ural wood butt with full-length floral inlays, the VP2 titanium joint and 3lobite extension system as standard, and a choice between two elite shaft technologies in the Luna Nera graphite and S30 laminated.
At $1,450, the Istanbul is a Custom Pro cue built to competition specification. You are investing in the same engineering that supports elite three-cushion play, not a cosmetic signature piece with a famous name attached.
Before purchasing, take time to consider your shaft preference. If you are unsure whether the Luna Nera or S30 is right for your game, reach out to our customer service team. With a 4.7-star rating across 97 reviews, we take pride in offering personalized guidance to every customer.
As women's carom billiards continues to rise on the international stage and Degener's profile grows, the Istanbul's story is still being written. Owning one connects you to that ongoing legacy.