The World Pool Masters is an annual international nine-ball tournament. Formerly, it was called the European Pool Masters (until 1995) until players from other parts of the globe were invited.

History

Throughout much of its history, the tournament has featured sixteen world-class pool players, competing in single-elimination format. In 2010, the number of players was doubled to 32. The first round of the event was played in double elimination with the second round in single-elimination.

In 2011, the tournament reverted to the original 16-player single-elimination format, with each match a race-to-8, winner breaks. The 2011 edition was held in SM North EDSA Mall in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Ralf Souquet of Germany won the said tournament for the record-setting sixth time, beating defending champion Dennis Orcollo of the Philippines, 8–5.

For the 2019 World Pool Masters, the field was changed to accommodate 24 players, with seeded players being given a bye through the first round. The 2022 World Pool Masters went back to its original format, inviting 16 players, with 8 seeded players meeting the other 8 in the first round of the single-elimination tournament.

Winners

DateLocationWinnerRunner-upFinal score
1993Plymouth, EnglandAustria Werner DureggerGermany Ralf Souquet2–1 (sets)
1994Doncaster, EnglandGermany Ralf SouquetEngland Jimmy White2–1 (sets)
1995Blackpool, EnglandEngland Daryl PeachEngland Lee Kendall2–0 (sets)
1996Blackpool, EnglandGermany Ralf Souquet (2)France Vincent Facquet2–1 (sets)
1997Thurrock, EnglandUnited States Earl StricklandRepublic of Ireland Tommy Donlon2–1 (sets)
1998Thurrock, EnglandPhilippines Francisco BustamanteGermany Ralf Souquet11–9
1999Thurrock, EnglandNetherlands Alex LelyPhilippines Efren Reyes7–5
2000Thurrock, EnglandGermany Ralf Souquet (3)Netherlands Alex Lely7–3
2001Thurrock, EnglandPhilippines Francisco Bustamante (2)United States Earl Strickland7–6
2002Milton Keynes, EnglandGermany Ralf Souquet (4)Philippines Efren Reyes9–4
2003Egmond, NetherlandsMalta Tony DragoChinese Taipei Hsia Hui-kai8–6
2004Egmond, NetherlandsGermany Thomas EngertGermany Oliver Ortmann8–6
2005Doncaster, EnglandEngland Raj HundalUnited States Rodney Morris8–7
2006Egmond, NetherlandsGermany Ralf Souquet (5)Philippines Alex Pagulayan8–4
2007Egmond, NetherlandsGermany Thomas Engert (2)Spain David Alcaide8–5
2008Las Vegas, United StatesPhilippines Alex PagulayanFinland Mika Immonen8–6
2009Las Vegas, United StatesEngland Darren AppletonNetherlands Nick van den Berg8–4
2010Las Vegas, United StatesPhilippines Dennis OrcolloJapan Toru Kuribayashi8–3
2011Quezon City, PhilippinesGermany Ralf Souquet (6)Philippines Dennis Orcollo8–5
2012Kielce, PolandPoland Karol SkowerskiPoland Mateusz Śniegocki8–6
2013Barnsley, EnglandNetherlands Niels FeijenEngland Darren Appleton8–6
2014Nottingham, EnglandUnited States Shane Van BoeningGreece Nikos Ekonomopoulos8–2
2015Manchester, EnglandUnited States Shane Van Boening (2)England Darren Appleton8–2
2017Victoria Stadium, GibraltarSpain David AlcaideScotland Jayson Shaw8–7
2018Victoria Stadium, GibraltarNetherlands Niels Feijen (2)United States Shane Van Boening8–4
2019Victoria Stadium, GibraltarSpain David Alcaide (2)Greece Alexander Kazakis9–8
2020Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021Europa Sports Park, GibraltarGreece Alexander KazakisUnited States Shane Van Boening9–0
2022Europa Sports Park, GibraltarGermany Joshua FillerHong Kong Lo Ho Sum9–6
2023Brentwood, EnglandChinese Taipei Ko Pin-yiAlbania Eklent Kaçi13–5
2024Hildesheim, GermanyUnited States Fedor GorstGermany Joshua Filler13–12

Records

  • Ralf Souquet holds the record for winning the World Pool Masters the most times: six. (1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2011).
  • Shane Van Boening holds the record for the most consecutive wins: two. (2014, 2015).
  • The oldest pool player to ever win the tournament to date is Ralf Souquet of Germany, at 42 years old at the time of his victory. The youngest is Daryl Peach of United Kingdom, aged 23 years old at the time of his victory.

Top Performers

NameNationalityWinnerRunner-upFinalsSemi-final or better
Ralf SouquetGermany6288
Shane Van BoeningUnited States245
David AlcaideSpain133
Francisco BustamantePhilippines02
Niels FeijenNetherlands4
Thomas EngertGermany3
Darren AppletonEngland1234
Alex PagulayanCanada125
Earl StricklandUnited States4
Alex LelyNetherlands3
Dennis OrcolloPhilippines
Alexander KazakisGreece2
Ko Pin-yiChinese Taipei13
Fedor GorstUnited States11
Joshua FillerGermany22
  • Active participants are shown in bold.
  • In the event of identical records, players are sorted in alphabetical order by first name.

External links