World Pool-Billiard Association

The World Pool-Billiard 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 Japan, the United States, Sweden, and Germany. as of February 2019, the WPA president is Ian Anderson of Australia. It is an associate of the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS), the international umbrella organization that encompasses the major cue sports.

World Pool-Billiard Association
SportPool
CategoryCue sports
JurisdictionWorldwide
AbbreviationWPA
Founded1987 (1987)
AffiliationWorld Confederation of Billiards Sports
PresidentIan Anderson
Official website
wpapool.org

History

Many European players, who had the European Championships as their highest level of competition, have been aware of pool events in the United States; they were dissatisfied with the development of the sport in the continent, and wanted to compete at a higher level. In 1976, the Europeans held a world championship in Japan, which spawned some interest and initial contacts with Asia. However, most of the efforts were initiated by individuals or national organizations, and progressed slowly.

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. The group's general assembly was held in conjunction with the 1988 European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. The group also formed a provisional board that consisted of Kazuo Fujima (Japan), Paul Gerni (USA), Jorgen Sandman (Sweden), and Horst Vondenhoff (Germany).

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).

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.

Sanctioned tournaments

Member confederations and countries

Map of member countries as of November 2011 (July 2008 data also available)

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 October 2017:[2]

Organization
(and map key color)
Member Countries
All Africa Pool Association (AAPA)[2]

 Algeria
 Cameroon
 DR Congo
 Egypt
 Eritrea
 Ethiopia
 Ghana

 Kenya
 Lesotho
 Libya
 Malawi
 Mauritius
 Morocco
 Nigeria

 South Africa
 Swaziland
 Tanzania
 Tunisia
 Uganda
 Zambia
 Zimbabwe

Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU)[2]

 Bangladesh
 Brunei
 China, People's Republic of
 Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)

 Doha-Qatar
 Hong Kong
 India

 Indonesia

 Iran

 Japan
 Kuwait
 Lebanon
 Macau
 Malaysia
 Maldives
 Pakistan

 Philippines

 Saudi Arabia

 Singapore

 South Korea
 Sri Lanka
 United Arab Emirates
 Vietnam

Billiard Congress of America (BCA)[note 1][2]

 Canada

 United States

Confederation Panamerica of Billiards (CPB)

 Argentina
 Aruba

 Bolivia
 Bonaire
 Brazil
 Chile

 Colombia
 Costa Rica
 Curaçao
 Ecuador
 Guatemala

 Honduras

 Mexico

 Nicaragua
 Panama
 Peru
 Uruguay
 Venezuela

European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF)[2][3]

 Albania
 Austria
 Belarus
 Belgium
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Croatia
 Cyprus
 Czech Republic Denmark
 Estonia
 Finland
 France

 Germany
 Great Britain (UK)
 Greece
 Hungary
 Italy
 Latvia
 Liechtenstein
 Lithuania
 Luxembourg
 Netherlands
 North Cyprus
 Norway

 Poland

 Portugal
 Romania
 Russia
 Serbia
 Slovakia
 Slovenia
 Spain
 Sweden
  Switzerland
 Turkey
 Ukraine

The EPBF pre-dates, and was a founding member of the WPA.

Oceania Pocket Billiard Association (OPBA)[2]

 Australia

 New Zealand

 Tahiti

Current WPA world champions

Discipline Champion[4]
Eight-ball Chang Jung-lin (2012)
Nine-ball

(2018)

Men: Joshua Filler
Women: Han Yu
U19, Men: Yip Kin Long

U17, Men: Parris Mahkeal
Juniors, Girls: Chia-Hua Chen
Wheelchair: Fred Dinsmore (2017)

Ten-ball Men: Ko Pin-yi (2015)
Women: Rubilen Amit (2013)
Artistic Pool Sebastian Giumelli (2017)
Pyramid

(2018)

Men: Dmitry Belozerov

Women: Ekatyryna Perepechaeva

Straight pool Oliver Ortmann (2010)

Board members

As of October 2017, the WPA board of directors are:[5]

  • Ian Anderson (Australia), president
  • Skip Nemecek (United States), vice-president
  • Gre Leenders (Netherlands), secretary
  • Ishaun Singh (South Africa), sports director
  • Victor Maduro (Panama), boardmember
  • Ralph Souquet (Germany), player representative
Former boardmembers (list is not exhaustive)
  • Andy Chang (Taiwan)[5]
  • Jerry Forsyth (United States)[5]
  • Marcin Krzeminski (Poland)[5]
  • Ronnie Chua Poh Teck (Singapore)[5]

[6]

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. WPA history
  2. "Continental Members - WPA Pool". WPA-Pool.com: The Official Website for the Governing Body of Pool. World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA). Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  3. "Members of EPBF". EPBF.com. European Pocket Billiard Federation. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  4. "World Pool-Billiard Association". World Champions. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  5. "WPA Board". WPA-Pool.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  6. "About WPA: Board". WPA-Pool.com. 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.