Billiards and pool, though often confused, are popular cue sports with their respective fan base and competitions.
Numerous prestigious tournaments showcase the skill and excitement of these sports.
Let’s dive into the most important billiards and pool tournaments across the globe.
Most Important Billiards Tournaments:
- World Billiards Championship
- U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
- World Pool Masters
- World Pool-Billiard Association World Nine-ball Championship
- World Cup of Pool
- China Open
- U.S. Open 8-Ball Championship
- U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship
- World Pool League
- Euro Tour
- Derby City Classic
- Mosconi Cup
- International Challenge of Champions
- World Cup of Pool (Rewrite slightly, as it is already listed as #5)
- World Snooker Championship
- BCA National 8-Ball Championships
- World Blackball Championship
- Women’s World 9-Ball Championship
- World 3-Cushion Championship
- Super Billiards Expo
Table of Contents
- #1 World Billiards Championship
- #2 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
- #3 World Pool Masters
- #4 World Pool-Billiard Association World Nine-ball Championship
- #5 World Cup of Pool
- #6 China Open
- #7 U.S. Open 8-Ball Championship
- #8 U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship
- #9 World Pool League
- #10 Euro Tour
- #11 Derby City Classic
- #12 Mosconi Cup
- #13 International Challenge of Champions
- #14 World Cup of Pool (Rewrite slightly, as it is already listed as #5)
- #15 World Snooker Championship
- #16 BCA National 8-Ball Championships
- #17 World Blackball Championship
- #18 Women’s World 9-Ball Championship
- #19 World 3-Cushion Championship
- #20 Super Billiards Expo
- FAQ
#1 World Billiards Championship
- 📍 Location: Varies globally
- 📅 Established: 1870
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The World Billiards Championship is the most prestigious event in the sport of English billiards. It dates back to 1870, with titles awarded in both time and points formats.
Mike Russell holds a record 12 championships. It’s governed by the World Billiards Association, showcasing the best talent in the sport and influencing billiards’ evolution.
#2 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
- 📍 Location: United States
- 📅 Established: 1976
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship is one of the most respected pool tournaments, featuring top professional players from around the world.
The event, governed by the Billiard Congress of America, has seen notable winners like Shane Van Boening and Earl Strickland. It has grown in prestige and global interest, with a rich history of intense competition and memorable moments.
#3 World Pool Masters
- 📍 Location: Varies globally
- 📅 Established: 1993
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: 24 individual competitors
The World Pool Masters is an elite invitational tournament, which features 24 of the world’s top pool players.
As a globally-renowned event, it boasts multiple champions from various countries, including Ralf Souquet, with a record six titles. The event is recognized for its unique format, with a single-elimination knockout and winner-breaks rules.
#4 World Pool-Billiard Association World Nine-ball Championship
- 📍 Location: Varies globally
- 📅 Established: 1990
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The World Pool-Billiard Association World Nine-ball Championship is the leading international nine-ball tournament, attracting top talent from around the world.
The event offers high-stakes competition and showcases the skill and precision required in nine-ball pool. Previous champions include legendary players like Francisco Bustamante and Thorsten Hohmann, representing a truly international field.
#5 World Cup of Pool
- 📍 Location: Varies globally
- 📅 Established: 2006
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: 32 national teams (2 players per team)
The World Cup of Pool is a unique international tournament that features two-player teams representing 32 countries. This event fosters national pride, enhancing the sport’s global appeal as top players compete for their home country.
The Philippines has held the most titles, underlining its status as a pool powerhouse. Scintillating doubles play and thrilling encounters have driven its worldwide renown.
#6 China Open
- 📍 Location: China
- 📅 Established: 1999
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The China Open is a premier ranking event in the sport of pool, featuring international stars and top Chinese players.
It has become an essential stop on the global pool circuit, with a history of success for Chinese competitors like Li Hewen and Wu Chia-ching. Its growing prestige reflects China’s growing influence as a hub of pool talent and passionate fans.
#7 U.S. Open 8-Ball Championship
- 📍 Location: United States
- 📅 Established: 2013
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
Established in 2013, the U.S. Open 8-Ball Championship quickly became a coveted title in the world of professional pool.
Featuring top American and international players, the event’s winner-takes-all format delivers high-intensity matches. The tournament showcases 8-ball’s enduring appeal as a classic pool discipline, with champions like Shane Van Boening and Rodney Morris claiming victories.
#8 U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship
- 📍 Location: United States
- 📅 Established: 1966
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship is a longstanding and prestigious event in the world of straight pool.
Governed by the Billiard Congress of America, the event has produced numerous legendary champions, such as Nick Varner and Danny Barouty. The tournament showcases classic straight pool, emphasizing accuracy, strategy, and endurance, with a rich history of captivating performances.
#9 World Pool League
- 📍 Location: Varies globally
- 📅 Established: 1998
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The World Pool League is a top-level invitational event featuring elite players from around the world. The tournament’s round-robin and knockout stages provide thrilling and intense competition among renowned players.
The World Pool League has contributed significantly to the sport’s global popularity by showcasing the talents of pool giants like Efren Reyes, Mika Immonen, and Ralf Souquet.
#10 Euro Tour
- 📍 Location: Varies across Europe
- 📅 Established: 1992
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The Euro Tour is a series of high-profile ranking events played throughout Europe, attracting top-notch players from around the world.
With its roots in the European Pocket Billiard Federation, the tour highlights the growing pool talent in Europe and provides a platform for both established stars and emerging talents. Dynastic players like Ralf Souquet and Niels Feijen have dominated the Euro Tour circuit.
#11 Derby City Classic
- 📍 Location: United States
- 📅 Established: 1999
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The Derby City Classic, held in Louisville, Kentucky, is a unique event that combines multiple pool disciplines, including 9-ball, one-pocket, and bank pool.
Its all-around championship format distinguishes it as a crucial test of skill and versatility. With past winners like Efren Reyes and Shannon Daulton, the Derby City Classic remains a distinctive and highly-regarded event in the pool world.
#12 Mosconi Cup
- 📍 Location: Varies globally
- 📅 Established: 1994
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: 2 teams (Team Europe and Team USA)
The Mosconi Cup is pool’s equivalent of golf’s Ryder Cup, featuring two teams representing Europe and the United States. Named after legendary player Willie Mosconi, the event has developed a heated rivalry and stunning displays of skill.
Europe has dominated in recent years, but the competition remains fierce, enhancing the sport’s popularity and global fan base.
#13 International Challenge of Champions
- 📍 Location: United States
- 📅 Established: 1990
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: 8 individual competitors (by invitation)
The International Challenge of Champions is an elite invitational tournament boasting a lofty winner-takes-all prize.
With exclusive participation from eight top-ranked players worldwide, the competition is known for its high intensity and close finishes. The tournament has propelled the careers of renowned pool players like Francisco Bustamante, Mika Immonen, and Thorsten Hohmann.
#14 World Cup of Pool (Rewrite slightly, as it is already listed as #5)
- 📍 Location: Varies globally
- 📅 Established: 2006
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: 32 national teams (2 players per team)
The World Cup of Pool, an exceptional international event, showcases 32 two-player teams representing their countries. Encouraging national pride, this tournament creates an exhilarating atmosphere among pool enthusiasts with its spirited international competition.
The Philippines, as a dominant nation in pool, claims the most titles, while captivating doubles play and electrifying encounters promote its global stature.
#15 World Snooker Championship
- 📍 Location: Sheffield, England
- 📅 Established: 1927
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The World Snooker Championship, established in 1927, is the most prestigious event in the snooker world. Governed by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, it showcases the highest level of snooker talent.
Joe Davis holds a historic record of 15 titles. The event has witnessed iconic matches and moments, with players like Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan dominating the modern era.
#16 BCA National 8-Ball Championships
- 📍 Location: United States
- 📅 Established: 1978
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors, doubles, and team divisions
The BCA National 8-Ball Championships, organized by the Billiard Congress of America, is a popular event that caters to amateurs and professionals alike.
With multiple divisions, including singles, doubles, and teams, the competition offers opportunities for players at all skill levels. The event has grown in size and stature over the years, attracting top talent and fostering pool’s growth across America.
#17 World Blackball Championship
- 📍 Location: Varies globally
- 📅 Established: 2006
- 🔄 Held: Every 2 years
- 👥 Teams: National teams
The World Blackball Championship is a biennial event organized by the World Blackball Association. It features international teams competing in one of the more recent and fascinating cue sport disciplines.
The event brings together a variety of national teams, showcasing the global appeal of blackball pool. Scotland and England have been among the strongest contenders in the competition.
#18 Women’s World 9-Ball Championship
- 📍 Location: Varies globally
- 📅 Established: 1990
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The Women’s World 9-Ball Championship is the premier global event in women’s pool. It has fostered the development of women’s participation in cue sports and attracted top competitors from various countries.
Past champions include Kelly Fisher, Allison Fisher, and Pan Xiaoting, who have significantly contributed to the growth and popularity of women’s pool worldwide through their skillful play and thrilling performances.
#19 World 3-Cushion Championship
- 📍 Location: Varies globally
- 📅 Established: 1928
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The World 3-Cushion Championship is the most prestigious event in the sport of carom billiards. The tournament showcases the best 3-cushion players globally, emphasizing incredible skill and strategy in a highly technical discipline.
Historical winners like Raymond Ceulemans and Torbjörn Blomdahl have embodied the sport’s evolution, while the championship continues to inspire and promote the growth of carom billiards worldwide.
#20 Super Billiards Expo
- 📍 Location: United States
- 📅 Established: 1993
- 🔄 Held: Annually
- 👥 Teams: Individual competitors
The Super Billiards Expo is an annual event that celebrates all aspects of cue sports, including pool, billiards, and snooker. It features a large exhibition hall, amateur and professional tournaments, and various workshops.
With a focus on promoting industry awareness, the expo offers opportunities for enthusiasts, players, and industry professionals to network, learn, and enjoy everything the sport has to offer.
FAQ
What is the most important billiards tournament?
The most prestigious event in the sport of English billiards is the World Billiards Championship, given its rich history dating back to 1870 and exceptional talent.
What is the oldest billiards tournament?
The World Billiards Championship, which was established in 1870, is the oldest tournament in the sport.
What is the hardest billiards tournament to win?
The World Billiards Championship is often considered the hardest to win due to the highly skilled competitors and the demanding formats it adopts.
