World Cup of Pool

In 2006, the World Cup of Pool filled a huge gap in the market, as Matchroom Sport devised an exciting instant knock-out format that pitted nation against nation for the first time in a major international pool event.

Played over six days, the two-man teams do battle initially in race-to-nine matches with the games stretching out to race-to-11 as the event progresses. All games are played to a ‘scotch doubles’ format whereby each player takes alternate shots. That adds heightened drama as mistakes are magnified and nerves play their part.

All games were played to a 'scotch doubles' format where the players take alternate shots. This makes teamwork essential as each player attempts to read his partner's game over the course of the match.

The inaugural World Cup of Pool took place in Newport, Wales, and was won by the Philippines pair of Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante, two true legends of the game. The following two years saw the event staged in Rotterdam, Holland, where China and the USA respectively took the honours.

The event then moved to Manila where the dream team of Reyes and Bustamante regained their title in front of several thousand countrymen amid wild scenes. In 2010 it was the Chinese pair of Fu Jianbo and Li Hewen who once again took down this prestigious title.