Pro9 - Europe's No.1 Pool Player Resource

2015 WPA World 9-Ball Championships
Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation
Al Sadd Sports Club
Al Sadd Street
Sport Roundabout
Doha
Qatar
www.qbsf.qa - facebook - live stream - brackets
www.wpa-pool.com - Twitter - facebook
www.kozoom.com

Monday - Friday 7 - 18 September 2015

Photography courtesy of �Richard Walker - used by Pro9 with express permission
Click the image to view the full size photograph (use "back" to return here)
Past World 9-ball Champions have all proven they can handle the crushing pressure. As this year's championship begins in Doha on Saturday, it will once again be the key to victory.

On the eve of the 24th running of the WPA World 9-ball Championship, the hot discussion of pool fans around the globe is about who among the 128 best players in the world gathered here in Doha will emerge with the sport�s most coveted crown come Friday night September 18.

It is, of course, a near impossible task to settle on one or two or even three players, what with so much amazing talent from over 40 countries doing battle, along with the other key factors inherent in 9-ball like luck, fate and that old intangible, the roll of the balls. But that doesn�t stop the bar room repartee, hotel lobby banter and internet chatter from running rampant.

Will the Netherlands� Niels Feijen become only the second player to win back to back world titles? Can England�s Darren Appleton win his second World 9-ball? Or will Germany�s Thorsten Hohmann become the first player to win three World 9-ball crowns?

Finland�s Mika Immonen is showing incredible form again. Can the Finn win his second 9-ball championship? Will a player from China finally bring gold back to the world�s most populous country? Perhaps Taiwan�s Ko Pin Yi can snap off the 9-ball after winning the 10-ball title earlier this year. Can the USA�s Shane Van Boening finally lift the one crown that has eluded him? And with so many amazingly talented Filipinos in the field, perhaps it�s time a Pinoy became king after a decade drought.

So while you can�t realistically pick a winner, you can get an idea. In order to get a clearer picture of just who might take the whole enchilada, you have to start with the cold hard facts. While we are sure to see plenty of shocking upsets, unknowns staking their claim, greats of the game crashing out under crushing pressure, we can pretty much assume that, realistically, only 20 to 25 players have a chance of making it to the winners� circle on Friday.

That may seem like a harsh assessment, but pool can be cruel. For sure probably over 50 players have a chance to make a serious run at the late rounds. But at that point, no matter the conditions of the table, the parity of the talent, there is one key factor in 9-ball that always, always separates the men from the boys in this sport; pressure. While there are many superb players, and a fair amount of great players, not everyone can handle the crushing pressure that is unique to championship pool.

Share this article on FaceBook

"Read More..." for the details.