连中三元

lián zhòng sān yuán

(old) to rank first in the imperial examinations at the provincial capital, the national capital and the palace successively

(sports etc) to achieve three successes in a row (three matches in a row, three goals in a match etc)

lián

to link

zhòng

to hit (a target)

sān

three

yuán

currency unit (esp. Chinese yuan)