Grayson Vaughan, Shane Tyree (BCA CEO & WPA delegate), Sofia Mast, Adrian Prasad, Samm Diep (Team Coach) (Photo courtesy Alison Chang)
The WPA World Junior Championships concluded the 22nd of October, 2023 and the American Juniors are thrilled to be bringing home some hardware. It’s been five years since Virgin Island’s Mahkael Parris’s Under 17 Boys victory in 2018 and the U.S. was ready to get back in the finals. 15-year-olds Sofia Mast from Wesley Chapel, Florida and Adrian Prasad from Sacramento, California both earned Silver Medals in the Under 19 Girls and Under 17 Boys divisions, respectively. Also earning a Bronze Medal in the U17 Boys division is 14-year-old Grayson Vaughan from Shenandoah, Virginia who was defeated by Prasad in the semi-finals round.
The WPA World Junior 10-Ball Championships is the most prestigious junior event each year. The most elite young billiard athletes from all over the world qualify through national championships each year for the coveted title of World Junior Champion. Each of the three divisions (Boys U19, Girls U19, Boys U17) began with competitors from over 50 countries. This year’s event was held at the Klagenfurt Sport Park, home of Jasmin Ouschan’s training academy and hometown of Klagenfurt, Austria.
“I was very happy and honored to have the wild card pick and represent Team USA at the junior worlds. I was happy with the way I played throughout the tournament and even though I wanted to be the champion, being second in the world is still cool,” said Sofia Mast. “All the support from every Team USA member was unreal and also getting out of the country was so much fun!”
“The level of competitiveness and discipline by all the athletes representing their countries was very high. I fell short of my goal to be Jr World Champion, but I had fun and learned a lot,” said Adrian Prasad. “Looking forward to the next opportunity. Thank you to all my fans, family and sponsors for the support.”
“I loved being a part of the WPA World Pool Championship. It felt good to represent Team USA. “I will remember this experience for the rest of my life,” added Grayson Vaughan. “I am already looking forward to playing in more events in the future. Thank you to everyone that helped to make it happen.”
Through the BEF (Billiard Education Foundation) Junior National Championships, 12 players qualified for Team USA. Joey Tate and Sofia Mast were wildcard invites through the WPA. PBIA Master Instructor & BEF Board Member, Samm Diep led the team as the North American Team Leader and Coach.
“I could not have been more impressed with the level of play I witnessed this week at the WPA World Junior Championships, and I can’t wait to see what Team USA brings back in 2024,” said Samm Diep. “This was my fourth experience as North American team leader and to come home with three medals is still very surreal. We hope this sends the message to all the young players out there that if they dream it, they can achieve it, and it all begins at the BEF Junior Nationals.”
The 2024 BEF Junior National Championships will be held in Quincy, Illinois July 8-13, 2024. Check the BEF website at BilliardEducation.org to find a qualifier near you or contact Steve Mathias (303-243-5070 x 124) to host a qualifier or BEF state championship in your area.
FULL RESULTS
GIRLS U19:
- Xin Yu Hong – Chinese Taipei
- Sofia Mast – USA
- Linnea Hjalmarström – Sweden
Jolien Schuurman – Netherlands
BOYS U17:
- Derin Asaku Sitorus – Indonesia
- Adrian Prasad – USA
- Maks Benko – Slovenia
Grayson Vaughan – USA
BOYS U19:
- Yannick Pongers – Netherlands
- Mika van Berkel – Netherlands
- Fu Huan – Hong Kong
Kledio Kaci – Albania
About Billiard Education Foundation
The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) was formed in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity committed to promoting a love of pool and building the next generation of players through youth programs and academic scholarships. The BEF is managed by the Billiard Congress of America. For more information about the BEF or to learn how you can support the foundation please visit BilliardEducation.org.
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