There’s no shortage of outstanding pool tournaments, but there’s arguably none bigger than the World Pool Championship, which always promises several days of high-quality pool action. The event will be the 32nd edition of the popular pool tournament, which attracts some of the world’s best nine-ball talent. With just a matter of weeks until the championship gets underway, we thought it’d be a good idea to put together a guide to everything you need to know about the tournament, including the availability of tickets, how to use a special sign-up promotion to back a winner, and which players will have their eye on glory. Let’s dive in.
It’ll Take Place In Poland
This year’s tournament will take place in Kiele, Poland, from Wednesday, February 1, through Sunday, February 5. This is the first time that the event will take place in Poland, though Kielce does have history when it comes to hosting major pool events, having hosted the World Pool Masters back in 2012. The decision to host one of pool’s major events in Poland is a reflection of the country’s blossoming reputation in the pool world, with ten Polish players included in the top 100 players in the world, including Wiktor Zielinski, who comes in at number 7.
The championship will follow the same double-elimination format that was first introduced in the 2022 edition of the tournament. This format uses the seeding system and was applauded in its inauguration year for the high-quality pool that is produced.
There’s A Lot of Money on the Line
Winning the World Pool Championship is an honor that all professional pool players dream about. But there’s not just prestige that’s on the line here. There’s also a huge chunk of money up for grabs, too. In total, there’s more than $325,000 available, with $60,000 going to the winner. That might be enough of a motivating factor for some players to dust off their old cues and hit the table for some practice.
It’s Not Just For the Players
Like all major pool tournaments, the World Pool Championship is also one that fans of the sports can enjoy too. The growing prestige of pool as a spectator sport has meant that fans can now use introductory betting deals to back their favorite players, attend in person, or watch on television, just as they can with larger sports. It’ll be televised in countries around the world, including on DAZN here in the United States, and day and full-pass tickets are available to those who want to attend in person.
How to Attend
If you’re interested in attending the World Pool Championship, then it’s recommended that you buy your tickets soon. You can buy day tickets for €5 or a ticket that grants you access to every day of the tournament for €20. Of course, as well as getting your ticket to the event, you’ll also need to get yourself to Kielce. If you’re traveling via plane, it’ll be best to travel to the larger airport located in Kraków and then make the short journey to Kielce. You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding accommodation in town, but it’s always best to make your reservation as soon as possible.
Shane van Boening Will Be Hoping For More Glory
One of the best things about the World Pool Championship is that every player has a chance of winning. After all, you never know what can happen on the table in the heat of battle. However, some players do have more of a chance than others. One such player is Shane van Boening, the South Dakota native and number one ranked player in the world. He’s got history with the World Pool Championship, too, having successfully defeated Austrian Albin Ouschan to claim the 2022 title.
But if he’s going to win back-to-back titles, then he’ll certainly need to bring his A-Game. This, after all, is the World Pool Championship, and you don’t win it unless you’re very good.
