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35-599: In the summer of 1989, the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) began plans for a world championship tournament. The group sent invitations, rules, sports regulations and by-laws. Reception was positive, and a provisional Board was created. In March 1990, the inaugural WPA World Nine-ball Championship was held in Bergheim, Germany . The playing field included 32 men and 16 women in separate divisions, and has since become an annual event. The event

70-648: A member as well, and the WSF has dissolved. Since the election of the sixth president, Pascal Guillaume of France, in late 2004, all parties have agreed to try and work constructively together for the future benefit of the sport. Guillaume has pledged a policy of unification. In 1992, the first goal for the newly formed WCBS was to gain recognition by the IOC and obtain membership in the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). In October 1993,

105-591: A three-man committee (consisting of Gagnaux for carom, Jorgen Sandman for pool and Mark Wildman for snooker) was appointed to write the first constitution for the new organization. Eighteen months were spent devising a way to enable the various disciplines to work closely together, while maintaining their independence. The inaugural General Assembly of the WCBS was held in Yverdon-les-Bains , Switzerland on January 25, 1992. A board consisting of nine delegates

140-524: The pockets on the tables were narrowed, to make the game more difficult. In the 2006 event , the Philippines became the host country for two years. All matches became alternating- break all the way from the group stages to the finals. Men's division first prize escalated to $ 100,000. In 2007 , the event ran from November 3–11, and Daryl Peach of the England was the victor. Because of

175-538: The 2001 Akita World Games . The WCBS also applied for the inclusion in the 2004 Summer Olympics . Among 15 other sports that had applied for inclusion, the Greek Olympic Committee decided to consider five, billiards sports among them. It selected two sports out of the five, with billiards sports ending up as their third choice. Apart from the 2001 World Games, cue sports have been included in many different important multi-sports events, such as

210-3860: The Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) as the WPA continental affiliate for Asia. [REDACTED]   Algeria [REDACTED]   Cameroon [REDACTED]   DR Congo [REDACTED]   Egypt [REDACTED]   Eritrea [REDACTED]   Eswatini [REDACTED]   Ethiopia [REDACTED]   Ghana [REDACTED]   Kenya [REDACTED]   Lesotho [REDACTED]   Libya [REDACTED]   Malawi [REDACTED]   Mauritius [REDACTED]   Morocco [REDACTED]   Nigeria [REDACTED]   Zambia [REDACTED]   South Africa [REDACTED]   Tanzania [REDACTED]   Tunisia [REDACTED]   Uganda [REDACTED]   Bangladesh [REDACTED]   Brunei [REDACTED]   China [REDACTED]   Chinese Taipei [REDACTED]   Doha-Qatar [REDACTED]   Hong Kong [REDACTED]   India [REDACTED]   Pakistan [REDACTED]   Indonesia [REDACTED]   Iran [REDACTED]   Japan [REDACTED]   Kuwait [REDACTED]   Lebanon [REDACTED]   Macau [REDACTED]   Malaysia [REDACTED]   Maldives [REDACTED]   Philippines [REDACTED]   Saudi Arabia [REDACTED]   Singapore [REDACTED]   South Korea [REDACTED]   Sri Lanka [REDACTED]   United Arab Emirates [REDACTED]   Vietnam [REDACTED]   Canada [REDACTED]   United States [REDACTED]   Argentina [REDACTED]   Aruba [REDACTED]   Bolivia [REDACTED]   Bonaire [REDACTED]   Brazil [REDACTED]   Chile [REDACTED]   Colombia [REDACTED]   Costa Rica [REDACTED]   Curaçao [REDACTED]   Ecuador [REDACTED]   Guatemala [REDACTED]   Honduras [REDACTED]   Mexico [REDACTED]   Nicaragua [REDACTED]   Panama [REDACTED]   Peru [REDACTED]   Uruguay [REDACTED]   Venezuela [REDACTED]   Albania [REDACTED]   Austria [REDACTED]   Belarus [REDACTED]   Belgium [REDACTED]   Bosnia and Herzegovina [REDACTED]   Croatia [REDACTED]   Cyprus [REDACTED]   Czech Republic [REDACTED]   Denmark [REDACTED]   Estonia [REDACTED]   Finland [REDACTED]   France [REDACTED]   Georgia [REDACTED]   Germany [REDACTED]   Great Britain [REDACTED]   Greece [REDACTED]   Hungary [REDACTED]   Italy [REDACTED]   Latvia [REDACTED]   Liechtenstein [REDACTED]   Lithuania [REDACTED]   Luxembourg [REDACTED]   Netherlands [REDACTED]   North Cyprus [REDACTED]   Norway [REDACTED]   Ukraine [REDACTED]   Poland [REDACTED]   Portugal [REDACTED]   Romania [REDACTED]   Russia [REDACTED]   Serbia [REDACTED]   Slovakia [REDACTED]   Slovenia [REDACTED]   Spain [REDACTED]   Sweden [REDACTED]    Switzerland [REDACTED]   Turkey [REDACTED]   Australia [REDACTED]   New Zealand [REDACTED]   Tahiti As of 2023 ,

245-488: The International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF). These groups work closely together, but the independence of each organization is maintained and respected. As a result, unlike other international sports organizations, the WCBS does not set the rules of the sports nor organize any international competition itself. Instead, these functions are carried out by the associated organizations. Before

280-549: The Olympic Charter . The primary aim of WCBS is to establish billiard-type sports as medal events in as many multiple-sports competitions as possible, on both regional and world levels. The ultimate goal of WCBS is to have billiard sports included in the Olympic Games . The WCBS serves as platform for its associated groups: The Union Mondiale de Billard (UMB); the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA); and

315-690: The World Youth Games in Moscow and the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games . There were 10 medals of cue sports in the 1998 Asian Games . Participation at the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan , Korea was in jeopardy, mostly due to financial concerns that the host city had. But, in the end, billiards sports were in competition for 10 medals. Later, they were included in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha , Qatar . The WCBS has also tried to get billiards sports included in

350-585: The "World Professional Pool Championship", a competing and non-WPA-sanctioned event in Cardiff , Wales , which was won by Efren Reyes of the Philippines . In 2000, Matchroom and the WPA agreed that tournaments would merge into a single official world championship. The WPA also agreed to recognise the results of the 1999 Matchroom event, meaning that official listings show both Varner and Reyes as 1999 world champions. Matchroom changed its promotional name for

385-549: The 1950s. In 1985, André Gagnaux , of Switzerland, became the new president of the UMB, the world governing body for carom billiards. In an attempt to achieve Olympic recognition, he contacted the WPBSA, the governing body of professional snooker, to discuss the possibility of forming a governing body for all cue sports. There was no world governing body for pool at that time. Nonetheless, his first attempt failed as he could not convince

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420-641: The GAISF must first be a provisional member for two years before they are accepted as a full member with voting rights. In July 1996, the IOC decided to grant the WCBS a provisional recognition for two years. In September of the same year the WCBS became a member of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF). An application for membership with the International World Games Association (IWGA)

455-576: The United States and were dissatisfied with the development of the sport in the continent, and wanted to compete at a higher level. In November 1987, at a European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) board meeting in Germany, the idea of a worldwide competition resurfaced. The EPBF board members used their own money to fund a group to create a logo, letterheads and communications with various pool organizations. Kazuo Fujima of Japan replied that Asia

490-537: The WCBS from deciding to declare the snooker component of the WCBS temporarily vacant. The IBSF, displeased with this decision, turned to the IOC Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne , Switzerland on May 30, 2003. The CAS delivered its final decision on January 20, 2004, and the WCBS won the case on all counts. Since then the WPBSA has returned to the WCBS, now in its own right as a direct member. IBSF remains

525-580: The WCBS should apply for membership with the GAISF, stating that "whilst this is not a prerequisite, the IOC would look favorably on a WCBS membership with the GAISF." In October 1995 the GAISF Congress and General Assembly was held in Seoul , Korea. André Gagnaux became ill and was hospitalized, so the WCBS delegation was led by Jorgen Sandman, who was accompanied by Nigel Oldfield (Great Britain) and Massimino Del Prete (Italy). The WCBS had learned from

560-629: The WCBS was invited to be an observer at the GAISF Congress and General Assembly in Lahti , Finland. However, the WCBS application failed to make it into the agenda of the AGM (Annual General Meeting), so the two WCBS representatives at this meeting, (André Gagnaux and Jorgen Sandman), could only listen and learn. In October 1994, when the GAISF AGM took place in Monte Carlo , Monaco, the WCBS application

595-735: The WPA board consist of: World Confederation of Billiards Sports The World Confederation of Billiards Sports ( WCBS ) is the international umbrella organization encompassing the major cue sports (billiards-type games), including carom billiards , pool games of several varieties, and snooker . The confederation was formed in Yverdon-les-Bains , Switzerland , on January 25, 1992. Its headquarters were previously located in Sint-Martens-Latem , Belgium . Jean-Claude Dupont, of Belgium, served as WCBS' president from 2010 to 2015, followed by England 's Jason Elliott Ferguson for 2015–2017. Australia 's Ian Anderson became

630-410: The WPBSA why it would be important for them to achieve IOC recognition, and what possible cooperation with the UMB could do to further their goals. Following the founding of the WPA as the international governing body for pool and their successful organization of the first WPA World Nine-ball Championship in 1990, Gagnaux contacted the WPBSA again. This time he was more successful. In order to fulfill

665-611: The WPBSA withdrew from the WCBS. For unknown reason, the IBSF failed to share this information with the WCBS board, and it was only due to rumors that the WCBS finally was informed of the situation. Having failed to impress the IBSF about the importance of resolving this dispute, a board meeting was held in Bottrop , Germany, in March 2003. The IBSF representatives, although formally invited, did not show up for this meeting. This did not prevent

700-589: The World Pool-Billiard Association was sanctioned by the general assembly as the international governing body for pool. The acronym WPA was selected so it would not conflict with the existing Women's Professional Billiard Association (WPBA). Membership in the WPA has grown since its inception. In 1991, Australia and New Zealand, under the umbrella of the Australasian Pool Association, became members. In 1999,

735-559: The conditions set by the IOC, the representatives of the governing bodies of the three main cue sports convened on August 30, 1990, at a meeting in Bristol , UK, with the WPBSA as the host. This was the first time representatives of the three divisions gathered around one table. As a result, it was decided to form the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS), an umbrella organization encompassing all billiards sports, and

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770-706: The confederation's ninth president in 2017. The World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS) has 135 member national federations, as well as continental bodies for Africa, the Americas , Asia, Europe, and Oceania . WCBS, in turn, is affiliated with many international sports organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), International World Games Association (IWGA) and Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). Its statutes, practices and activities all conform to

805-505: The establishment of WCBS in 1992, there was no single organization representing all cue sports, which was necessary to meet the requirements of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Moreover, cue sports did not meet the official definition of a sport. These were the main obstacles to gaining approval for the inclusion of cue sports in the Olympic Games, despite many attempts to achieve Olympic recognition that have been made since

840-607: The event to the "World Pool Championship", dropping the word "professional" from the title. The event remained in Cardiff through 2003. In 2001, the number of competitors in the men's division was increased to 128 and a men's division first prize raised to $ 65,000. The 2004 and 2005 events were held in Taiwan , with a men's division first prize of $ 75,000 as of 2004. The 2005 tournament saw two rules changes: last 64 and last 32 matches were extended to race-to-10 format, and

875-435: The failures of 1993 and 1994, and was better prepared to present its case. The main feature of their presentation was a glossy brochure entitled Right on Cue , a professional overview of billiards sports, which was distributed among the delegates. The WCBS also hosted a cocktail reception for the approximately 500 attending officials. At AGM, the WCBS finally became a provisional member of the GAISF. Any new organization entering

910-416: The global late-2000s recession the championship did not reappear on the calendar in 2008. For some time neither Matchroom nor the WPA released any predictions regarding its reinstatement, and no 2009 event was held, either. After a two-year hiatus, the tournament returned as the 2010 WPA World Nine-ball Championship in Doha , Qatar . Francisco Bustamante of the Philippines won the 2010 title. The event

945-623: The late 1970s, Kazuo Fujima of Japan invited various European players to compete in the All Japan Championship . This led to cooperation with Europe, being the first time contacts between Europe and Asian associations had been made. However, most of the efforts were initiated by individuals, and progressed slowly. By the mid-80s, many European players, who had the European Pool Championship as their highest level of competition, have been aware of pool events in

980-623: The organizations associated with Latin America and the Caribbean became members, and in 2000, a substantial portion of the organizations from Africa joined. The WPA members are grouped by six continental/regional confederations, who in turn, consist of members from a country's national federation. The chart and table shows the WPA's members as of September 2022 : In 2022 the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS) replaced

1015-455: Was also filed shortly thereafter, and at the 1997 IWGA AGM it was decided that the WCBS would be granted membership as of January 1, 1998. On February 5, 1998, the IOC granted the WCBS full recognition, clarifying the status of billiards sports as true sports. Later, the GAISF accepted the WCBS as a full member at the 1999 AGM and the IWGA decided to include billiards sports into the program of

1050-402: Was elected with three representatives from each founding member: the UMB, the WPA and the new World Snooker Federation (WSF), formed by cooperation between the WPBSA and the IBSF. The office of president rotated, so that all three divisions take a turn at heading the organization. In September 2002, the WPBSA informed the IBSF that it was no longer interested in cooperating with the latter, and

1085-542: Was initially headed by a provisional board of directors consisting of representatives from Australia , Americas , Africa , and Europe . As of 2023, the WPA president is Ishaun Singh of South Africa . It is an associate of the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS), the international umbrella organization that encompasses the major cue sports . WPA is headquartered in Gauteng , South Africa. In

WPA World Nine-ball Championship - Misplaced Pages Continue

1120-606: Was interested in participating. In May 1988, the group's general assembly was held in conjunction alongside the European Pool Championship in Stockholm , Sweden . The group formed a provisional board that consisted of Kazuo Fujima (Japan), Paul Gerni (USA), Jorgen Sandman (Sweden), and Horst Vondenhoff (Germany). In March 1990, the inaugural WPA World Nine-ball Championship was held in Bergheim, Germany . The playing field included 32 men and 16 women in separate divisions, and has since become an annual event. On March 3, 1990,

1155-424: Was on the agenda. A discussion about whether billiards could be considered a sport led to a compromise wherein the GAISF would define what constituted a sport, meaning the issue would have to be tabled for a year. Meanwhile, the IOC had responded to their application for recognition by stating that the WCBS was too new, so any possible IOC recognition could not be granted immediately. The IOC also recommended that

1190-547: Was organised solely by the WPA from this inauguration through 1999. In July 1999, Matchroom Sport attempted to get involved with the organisation of the event, but their bid failed. The WPA event was played in Alicante , Spain , and won by Nick Varner of the United States . Broadcast on ESPN , it was the first pro nine-ball championship to be televised. Matchroom Sport, meanwhile, instead organised tournament called

1225-652: Was then held annually in Doha through 2019. After not being contested in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the championship resumed in 2021 in Milton Keynes , England. The 2022 edition is scheduled for April 6–10 in Milton Keynes. World Pool-Billiard Association The World Pool Association ( WPA ) is the international governing body for pool (pocket billiards) . It was formed in 1987, and

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