International ban on 87 Vietnamese pool players lifted

Vietnam's number one pool player Duong Quoc Hoang at the U.K. Open in Telford, Shropshire, West Midlands, U.K,. on May 6, 2025. Photo by Matchroom Pool

In a joint statement, British promoter Matchroom Pool and the WPA confirmed that World Nineball Tour (WNT) events will now be officially approved by the WPA, ending months of tension between the two organizations.

"Crucially, this deal guarantees that all player license suspensions will be lifted with immediate effect, and all licenses reinstated without any financial liability," the statement wrote. "Furthermore, the agreement ensures that no WPA-licensed player will be banned solely for participating in ratified WNT events, providing players with the freedom to compete wherever and whenever they choose without fear of sanctions."

The WPA called the deal a significant step forward in resolving the previous dispute and reaffirmed its commitment to working with Matchroom "in the best interests of players, fans, and the sport."

Also in the statement, WPA President Ishaun Singh acknowledged Matchroom's role in elevating the global profile of 9-ball pool and emphasized the importance of maintaining a unified global structure under the WPA.

"Matchroom's contributions are undeniable, and we look forward to working together under the WPA's strategic plan to elevate the sport," he said. "Collaboration is key, and this agreement will help drive pool forward in a unified and sustainable way."

According to Matchroom Multi Sport CEO Emily Frazer, the priority was to ensure that players could compete freely without fear of bans.

"We're looking forward to moving forward with mutual respect and recognition so we can focus all of our energy on making the WNT the biggest and best professional pool tour in the world," she said.

Matchroom has been organizing 9-ball tournaments under WPA designation since 2019. However, in 2023, it launched the World Nineball Tour (WNT) as a separate tournament with its own ranking system.

Disputes over revenue sharing from WPA led the federation to ban players who participated in WNT events, including the Hanoi Open Pool Championship, which involved dozens of Vietnamese players. As a result, 87 Vietnamese players were handed a six-month ban and were told they would have to pay $500 each to reinstate their licenses.

This agreement between WPA and Matchroom Pool nullifies those suspensions and all financial penalties.

While the WPA continues to oversee 8-ball, 10-ball, and other cue sports formats, 9-ball pool remains the most popular globally.

The current world champion in 9-ball pool earns $250,000, significantly more than the $44,600 awarded in 3-cushion billiards, though still far below snooker. The most recent world snooker champion, Zhao Xintong, received $665,000 in prize money.