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World Pool Association

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World Pool Association
Image
SportPool
CategoryCue sports
JurisdictionWorldwide
AbbreviationWPA
Founded1987 (1987)
AffiliationWorld Confederation of Billiards Sports
HeadquartersGauteng, 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.

History

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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

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Partnerships

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  • International Heyball Pool Association (IHPA) - (Since 2023)[3][4]
  • International Pyramid Confederation (IPC) - (Since 1998)[5]

Member confederations and countries

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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]

Image
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]

Image Algeria
Image Cameroon
Image DR Congo
Image Egypt
Image Eritrea
Image Eswatini
Image Ethiopia
Image Ghana

Image Kenya
Image Lesotho
Image Libya
Image Malawi
Image Mauritius
Image Morocco
Image Nigeria
Image Zambia

Image South Africa
Image Tanzania
Image Tunisia
Image Uganda

Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS)[6]

Image Bangladesh
Image Brunei
Image China
Image Chinese Taipei

Image Doha-Qatar
Image Hong Kong
Image India
Image Pakistan

Image Indonesia

Image Iran

Image Japan
Image Kuwait
Image Lebanon
Image Macau
Image Malaysia
Image Maldives

Image Philippines

Image Saudi Arabia

Image Singapore

Image South Korea
Image Sri Lanka
Image United Arab Emirates
Image Vietnam

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

Image Canada

Image United States
Pan-American Billiard Confederation (CPB)

Image Argentina
Image Aruba

Image Bolivia
Image Bonaire
Image Brazil
Image Chile

Image Colombia
Image Costa Rica
Image Curaçao
Image Ecuador
Image Guatemala

Image Honduras

Image Mexico

Image Nicaragua
Image Panama
Image Peru
Image Uruguay
Image Venezuela

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

Image Albania
Image Austria
Image Belarus
Image Belgium
Image Bosnia and Herzegovina
Image Croatia
Image Cyprus
Image Czech Republic

Image Denmark
Image Estonia
Image Finland
Image France
Image Georgia

Image Germany
Image Great Britain
Image Greece
Image Hungary
Image Italy
Image Latvia
Image Liechtenstein
Image Lithuania
Image Luxembourg
Image Netherlands
Image North Cyprus
Image Norway
Image Ukraine

Image Poland

Image Portugal
Image Romania
Image Russia
Image Serbia
Image Slovakia
Image Slovenia
Image Spain
Image Sweden
Image  Switzerland
Image Turkey

Oceania Pocket Billiard Association (OPBA)[6]

Image Australia

Image New Zealand

Image Tahiti

See also

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Notes

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  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

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "WPA History". WPA Pool. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "WPA HEYBALL PARASPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – Presented by JOY|WPA Pool".
  3. ↑ "WPA Joins Hands With Joy Billiards to Promote Heyball - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM". 15 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "IHPA|WPA Pool". www.cuesports.org.tw.
  5. ↑ "IPC|WPA Pool". wpapool.com.
  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.[dead link]
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