World Pool Association

Last updated

World Pool Association
World Pool-Billiard Association logo.jpg
Sport Pool
Category Cue sports
JurisdictionWorldwide
AbbreviationWPA
Founded1987 (1987)
Affiliation World Confederation of Billiards Sports
Headquarters Gauteng, South Africa
PresidentIshaun Singh
Official website
wpapool.com

The World Pool Association (WPA) is the international governing body for pool (pocket billiards). It was formed in 1987, and was initially headed by a provisional board of directors consisting of representatives from Australia, the 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.

Contents

History

In 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 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 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). [1]

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. [1]

On March 3, 1990, 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). [1]

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, the organizations associated with Latin America and the Caribbean became members, and in 2000, a substantial portion of the organizations from Africa joined. [1]

Currently sanctioned tournaments

Partnerships

Member confederations and countries

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: [6]

Map of member countries as of November 2011
(July 2008 data also available) WPA map.PNG
Map of member countries as of November 2011(July 2008 data also available)

In 2022 the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS) replaced the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) as the WPA continental affiliate for Asia. [7]

Organization
(and map key color)
Member Countries
All Africa Pool Association (AAPA) [6]

Flag of Algeria.svg Algeria
Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg DR Congo
Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt
Flag of Eritrea.svg Eritrea
Flag of Eswatini.svg Eswatini
Flag of Ethiopia.svg Ethiopia
Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana

Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya
Flag of Lesotho.svg Lesotho
Flag of Libya.svg Libya
Flag of Malawi.svg Malawi
Flag of Mauritius.svg Mauritius
Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco
Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
Flag of Zambia.svg Zambia

Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Flag of Tanzania.svg Tanzania
Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia
Flag of Uganda.svg Uganda

Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS) [6]

Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh
Flag of Brunei.svg Brunei
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg Chinese Taipei

Flag of Qatar.svg Doha-Qatar
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong
Flag of India.svg India
Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan

Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia

Flag of Iran.svg Iran

Flag of Japan.svg Japan
Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait
Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanon
Flag of Macau.svg Macau
Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia
Flag of Maldives.svg Maldives

Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines

Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia

Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore

Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Sri Lanka
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg United Arab Emirates
Flag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam

Billiard Congress of America (BCA) [note 1] [6]

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada

Flag of the United States.svg United States

Pan-American Billiard Confederation (CPB)

Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
Flag of Aruba.svg Aruba

Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia
Flag of Bonaire.svg Bonaire
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
Flag of Chile.svg Chile

Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica
Flag of Curacao.svg Curaçao
Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador
Flag of Guatemala.svg Guatemala

Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Honduras

Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico

Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
Flag of Panama.svg Panama
Flag of Peru.svg Peru
Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay
Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela

European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) [6] [8]

Flag of Albania.svg Albania
Flag of Austria.svg Austria
Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina
Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia
Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic

Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia
Flag of Finland.svg Finland
Flag of France.svg France
Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia

Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain
Flag of Greece.svg Greece
Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary
Flag of Italy.svg Italy
Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Liechtenstein
Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania
Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.svg North Cyprus
Flag of Norway.svg Norway
Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine

Flag of Poland.svg Poland

Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal
Flag of Romania.svg Romania
Flag of Russia.svg Russia
Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia
Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia
Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia
Flag of Spain.svg Spain
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey

Oceania Pocket Billiard Association (OPBA) [6]

Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia

Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand

Flag of French Polynesia.svg Tahiti

Board members

As of 2025, the WPA board consist of: [9]

See also

Notes

  1. The BCA is a single organization, without separate national US and Canadian federations. It pre-dates, and was a founding member of, the WPA.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "WPA History". WPA Pool. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  2. https://wpapool.com/wpa-heyball-parasport-world-championship-presented-by-joy/
  3. "WPA Joins Hands With Joy Billiards to Promote Heyball - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". 15 December 2023.
  4. "IHPA".
  5. "IPC".
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Continental Members". World Pool-Billiard Association: The Official Website for the World Governing Body of Pool. World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA). Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  7. "Letter to APBU members « Asian Pocket Billiard Union".
  8. "Members of EPBF". EPBF.com. European Pocket Billiard Federation. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  9. "WPA Board". WPA Pool. Retrieved 9 September 2022.