World Cup of Pool
The World Cup of Pool is the international annual single-elimination tournament for doubles teams in nine-ball pool competition. It is held annually, at various locations, and was first held in 2006 in Newport, Wales.[1] The tournament is hosted by Matchroom Sport and used to be sponsored by PartyPoker.com. The 2014 event was sponsored by Betway.[2] The 2015 event is sponsored by Dafabet.[3]
Format
There are usually 32 participating teams, representing 31 nations (the host nation have two teams represented, A and B) composed of two players each. The participating nations do not have to go through a qualifying tournament in order to join, as they are selected by the organizers. Sixteen teams are seeded; they will face the unseeded teams at the first round.
The individual matches are scotch doubles, and races to nine racks, except for the final which is more than nine racks, with alternating break. The rules used are World Pool-Billiard Association World Standardized Rules for nine-ball, modified for scotch doubles play (players on a team alternate shots; no one shoots twice in a row).
Winners by year
Performances by nation
# | Country | Winners | Runners-up | Semifinalist | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Philippines | 3 (2006, 2009, 2013) | 1 (2010) | 2 (2008, 2009) | 6 |
2 | China | 2 (2007, 2010) | — | 2 (2008, 2009) | 4 |
3 | England | 1 (2014) | 2 (2008, 2015) | 1 (2015) | 4 |
4 | Finland | 1 (2012) | 1 (2007) | 2 (2013, 2014) | 4 |
Germany | 1 (2011) | 1 (2009) | 2 (2006, 2010) | 4 | |
6 | United States | 1 (2008) | 1 (2006) | 1 (2012) | 3 |
7 | Chinese Taipei | 1 (2015) | — | 4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) | 5 |
8 | Netherlands | — | 2 (2013, 2014) | — | 2 |
9 | Thailand | — | 1 (2011) | — | 1 |
Poland | — | 1 (2012) | — | 1 | |
11 | Japan | — | — | 2 (2007, 2015) | 2 |
12 | Vietnam | — | — | 1 (2006) | 1 |
Canada | — | — | 1 (2007) | 1 | |
Korea | — | — | 1 (2011) | 1 | |
Austria | — | — | 1 (2014) | 1 |