Gareth David Potts (born 30 June 1983) is an English pool player, nicknamed "the Golden Boy". He is a two-time amateur and four-time professional world champion in British-style eightball/blackball, a co-champion in that discipline's pairs (doubles) event, and a three-time champion of a leading Chinese eight-ball competition.

Career

Turning professional in 2000, he won the 2000 and 2001 Junior World Pool Championships.[clarification needed]

He won the WEPF World Eightball Championship three times, in 2005, 2007 and 2008, and was IPA World Blackball Professional Champion in 2014.

Potts won the Chinese 8 Ball Masters in 2013, beating Chris Melling 17–9 in the best-of-33 final. He successfully defended the Chinese 8 Ball Masters in 2014 by beating Shi Hanqing 15–6 in a match lasting 2 hours and 10 minutes. As of 2015, Potts has concentrated his career on Chinese eight-ball pool.

In 2021, Potts joined the Ultimate Pool circuit, a professional tour in the UK, in which his first win was Pro Series 7 (3–4 December 2021). In that tournament, he defeated Rob Wharne 7–4, Karl Sutton 7–6, Greg Batten 7–4, Chris Melling 7–5, and Shaun Storry 9–4.[permanent dead link] In 2022, Potts and Mark Selby took the Ultimate Pool Pairs Cup Championship.

Sponsorships

Potts first signed a contract with Joy Billiard, to sponsor him in the Chinese 8 Ball Masters tournament.[citation needed] He is also sponsored by the Finnish chalk, glove, and tip company TAOM Billiards.[citation needed]

Since 2010, pool table retailer Home Leisure Direct has sponsored Potts; through them, he offers coaching services, as well as free instructional videos.

Achievements

  • 2000 Junior World Pool Championships
  • 2001 Junior World Pool Championships
  • 2005 WEPF World Eightball Championship
  • 2007 WEPF World Eightball Championship
  • 2008 WEPF World Eightball Championship
  • 2013 Chinese 8 Ball Masters
  • 2014 Chinese 8 Ball Masters
  • 2014 IPA World Blackball Professional Championship
  • 2017 Chinese 8 Ball Masters
  • 2022 Ultimate Pool Pairs Cup Championship (with Mark Selby)
  • 2024 O’Min Cuelees Duya Legends Golden Nine Masters

External links

  • 13 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine, British eight-ball pro tour organiser
  • , Home Leisure Direct
  • , former personal website (as of 30 July 2016)