Quick Facts
| Tournament | World Pool Championship 2022 |
| Format | 9-Ball |
| Organizer | World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) |
| Venue | Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, England |
| Champion | Ko Pin Yi (Chinese Taipei) |
| Runner-up | Albin Ouschan (Austria) |
| Final Score | 13-7 |
The World Pool Championship is the premier event in American pool, organized by the World Pool-Billiard Association and contested over the 9-ball format. This page covers the 2022 edition of that cue sports tournament, not any other sporting event that may share a similar name. The 2022 renewal marked a significant moment for the competition, which had been disrupted in prior years, and it delivered one of the more compelling finals the event has seen in some time.
Tournament Overview
After pandemic-related disruptions had complicated the World Pool Championship’s scheduling in the years prior, the 2022 edition came as a welcome return to something approaching normality. Held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England, the tournament drew a strong international field and gave fans a genuine sense that the event was back on solid footing. The venue, which has become a familiar home for high-profile pool events in the United Kingdom, provided a professional atmosphere with a crowd that was enthusiastic throughout the week. For anyone wanting full historical context on the competition, the World Pool Championship overview page covers every edition in detail.
The round-robin group stage and subsequent knockout rounds produced several high-quality performances and the occasional upset, as is typical when the world’s best 9-ball players gather in one place. The field included representatives from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, reflecting the genuinely global spread of professional pool at the top level. Asian players in particular arrived in strong form, consistent with broader trends in the sport over the past decade. Ko Pin Yi of Chinese Taipei was among the contenders mentioned before the event even began, given his pedigree and consistent performances on the international circuit.
Ko Pin Yi navigated the bracket with authority, combining clinical break-and-run sequences with the composure under pressure that separates elite players from the merely talented. Albin Ouschan, the Austrian star who had been one of the most consistent European performers on the global stage for several years, matched Ko stride for stride through the latter stages of the draw. Ouschan’s route to the final was impressive, and by the time the two men met under the lights for the championship match, both had clearly earned their place there.
The final itself played out as a fairly decisive contest. Ko Pin Yi built an early lead and, while Ouschan worked hard to stay within range, Ko’s potting accuracy and positional play proved too consistent over the full distance. The final score of 13-7 in Ko’s favor tells a story of controlled, high-percentage pool from the winner. Ko claimed his first World Pool Championship title, a meaningful achievement for a player who had long been regarded as one of the best in the world without holding that particular trophy. Ouschan, for his part, gave a performance that any runner-up could be proud of, and his standing in the global rankings remained strong heading into the remainder of the season. If you are looking to elevate your own game with better equipment, our pool cues buyer guide is a good place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the World Pool Championship 2022?
Ko Pin Yi of Chinese Taipei won the 2022 World Pool Championship, defeating Albin Ouschan of Austria 13-7 in the final. It was Ko’s first world title at this event.
Where was the 2022 World Pool Championship held?
The tournament was held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England. The venue has hosted several major pool events and offered a well-suited environment for the competition.
What format is the World Pool Championship played in?
The World Pool Championship is contested in 9-ball, the dominant format in professional American pool at the international level. Players compete through a combination of round-robin group play and single-elimination knockout rounds.
Who is Ko Pin Yi?
Ko Pin Yi is a professional pool player from Chinese Taipei who has been one of the top-ranked players in the world for a number of years. The 2022 World Pool Championship title represented a landmark moment in his career on the international stage.
Had the World Pool Championship been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic before 2022?
Yes, the pandemic caused significant disruption to the scheduling and staging of the tournament in 2020 and 2021, as it did with many major cue sports events worldwide. The 2022 edition was welcomed by the pool community as a more complete return to regular competition.