Team Europe ready for WPA World Junior 9-Ball Championships

Swedish veteran Marcus Chamat dominates world number 1 Chang Yu Lung to advance to the final 32 at the 2015 MP Cup World 10-ball Championship. By Ted Lerner/WPA Press Officer Photos Courtesy Bob Guerrero (General Santos City, Philippines)–From the late 1990’s to the late 2000’s, the name ‘Marcus Chamat’ regularly featured on pool leader boards, especially the biggest events in the sport. The affable Swede  twice reached the semi-finals of the World 9-ball Championship, and finished in the top ten six other times. The last few years, however, saw the man known affectionately as “Napoleon” stay closer to his home of Gavle, Sweden. As a single father to a young boy and a pool club to administer, the calling of the brutally tough international pool circuit had to take a back seat. But on Thursday night in General Santos City in the southern Philippines, the 39 year old Swede turned back the clock with one of the finest performances of his career. Matching up against world number 1 Chang Yu Lung in the single elimination […]

The 2104 Women’s World 9-ball kicks off with a lavish opening ceremony that could only happen in the world’s most populous nation. By Ted Lerner – WPA Press Officer Photos Courtesy Jin/my147.com & Alison Chang (Guilin, China)–Visitors to China, especially those traveling here for events, conferences, trade shows, and other gatherings are often left in awe at the over-the-top hospitality that their Chinese hosts generously put on offer. This is especially true prior to the event beginning as attendees can find themselves being  treated to lavish meals, cultural performances, sometimes copious amounts of fire-starting alcohol, long winded and important sounding speeches by dignitaries, and plenty of good natured back slapping and glad handing. I have been to China perhaps one dozen times over the last five years to cover pool tournaments. The size of the welcome is not always the same prior to the beginning of a tournament, as it depends on who is promoting the event. One thing you can be sure of in China, however, is that the organizers will want to make […]

AS THE LACK OF UPSETS CONTINUES ON DAY 2 OF THE WORLD 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHP, POOLS BEST ARE SURELY HEADED ON A COLLISION COURSE BY TED LERNER WPA PRESS OFFICER Photos Courtesy of QBSF, Takayama Takao/onthehill.jp, and Richard Walker (Doha, Qatar)–As the long, slow grind of this week-long World 9-ball championship wound its way through Day 2, perhaps the best way to try and understand where it’s all headed at this point is to listen to the words of defending champion Darren Appleton, after he won his opening match on Day 1. Said the Brit: “There are probably only 20 players who you can actually say are favorites to win this tournament, 10 more who are knocking on the door of perhaps winning it, and 20 more who can, on any given night, beat any of those top 30 players.” Add that simple equation together and you’ve got 50 top pros who can wreak massive havoc out on the blue pitch, with  30 who can realistically even consider entering the winner’s circle come September 13th.  I […]