The 2025 World Pool Championship kicks off tomorrow, Monday, July 21, 2025, in Jeddah, marking the city’s second consecutive time as host. The tournament will feature 128 elite players from over 40 countries, competing from July 21 to 26 at the Green Halls. The event is jointly organized by the Saudi Arabian Billiards & Snooker Federation and “Matchroom,” under the supervision of the Ministry of Sports.
This year’s edition boasts strong international participation, with world champion Fedor Gorst of the USA leading the lineup. Other top contenders include Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, the USA’s Shane Van Boening, the Philippines’ Carlo Biado, Germany’s Joshua Filler, Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi, Britain’s Jason Shaw, and the Philippines’ Johann Chua.
The competition also includes professionals from the World Nineball Tour (WNT), players invited by the World Pool Association (WPA), qualifiers from open international trials, and several Saudi players. The tournament begins tomorrow with 32 matches (race to 9) featuring 64 players, with the first match starting at 7:30 PM.
Several nations are making notable appearances, including the USA, Chinese Taipei, Germany, the Philippines, Poland, and Britain, alongside strong representation from Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria, Turkey, and New Zealand. This reflects the championship’s growing global stature, aligned with the Ministry of Sports’ efforts to attract major international tournaments as part of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position the Kingdom as a leading destination for premier sporting events.
