Top billiards players boycott world pool association, demand lifting ban on Vietnam

On Friday, Jayson Shaw (England), Shane Van Boening (U.S.), Francisco Sanchez Ruiz (Spain), Fedor Gorst (Russia) and Joshua Filler (Germany) posted similar messages on social media to protest the rulings of the WPA and Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) to ban players having participated in the Hanoi Open in October last year, which was not licensed by ACBS.

"We are really concerned about the recent moves by ACBS and WPA to ban Asian players from tournaments like the Hanoi Open," the players wrote on Facebook. "Every player has the right to choose where to compete without fear of unfair penalties."

The world's top players say the ACBS and WPA's ban on Asian players is not only harmful to individuals, but also threatens the development and integrity of billiards.

"In solidarity with our colleagues, we have decided not to participate in any WPA events unless the bans are lifted," the players said.

Russian-American Gorst is a two-time world 9-ball champion. Ruiz, Boening and Filler are also former world number one winners of WPA tournaments, while Shaw has advanced in many tournaments run by the organization.

WPA is part of the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS), which governs pool categories such as 8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball. In 2019, WPA sold the rights of 9-ball tournaments to the U.K.-based billiards company Matchroom, including the World 9-ball Championship.

By 2023, Matchroom had launched the World Nineball Tour (WNT) with more tournaments and higher prize money than 8-ball or 10-ball, and signed professional contracts with more than 100 top players. Players who signed contracts with the WNT will still be able to play in WPA tournaments.

However, the Hanoi Open of the WNT, taking place in October 2023 in Hanoi, was the reason for the downfall of the relationship between WPA and Matchroom. The tournament coincided with the Qatar Open organized by the WPA, so the WPA issued a warning for players participating in Hanoi.

ACBS manages all types of billiards in Asia and has a Qatari chairman. Other continental billiards federations have not made any moves, but ACBS has decided to ban Asian players who participated in the Hanoi Open from competing in the SEA Games, Indoor Games or tournaments organized by ACBS.

On July 30, the Vietnam Billiards & Snooker Federation issued a press release about the ban from ACBS, which will last for six months. Vietnamese players in three-cushion or snooker cannot participate in Asian events either.

While the Asian players have not spoken out, Shaw, Boening, Ruiz, Gorst and Filler are not expected to participate in upcoming major WPA tournaments, such as the World 8-ball Championship from Sept. 2 to 8, the China Open from Sept. 14 to 22, the Ho Chi Minh City Open from Sept. 25 to 29 and the Qatar 10-ball World Cup from Dec. 5 to 14.

Instead, they will continue to compete in tournaments under the WNT.