Career Story

Early Life and Rise Through the Ranks

Feijen was born on 3 February 1977 in the Netherlands, a country with a strong billiards tradition that has produced several world-class players. He developed his game during the 1990s, a period when European pool was still finding its footing on the global stage and most of the sport’s biggest names came from the Philippines, Taiwan, or the United States.

His first major indication of world-class potential came in 2001. He traveled to Tokyo, Japan, for a nine-ball tournament that attracted a field of more than 700 players and offered the largest prize money available in the sport at that time. Feijen fought his way through to the final, a remarkable achievement in itself against that kind of international competition. He faced Efren Reyes in the title match, arguably the greatest player in the history of the sport. Losing to Reyes was no disgrace, but it confirmed that Feijen belonged at that level and would eventually be back to collect.

In 2004, he added his first notable title win by taking the inaugural Skins Billiards event, signaling a shift from promising finalist to genuine champion. From that point, his career trajectory moved consistently upward.

Career Highlights

Feijen’s career contains two achievements that define his legacy. The first came in 2008 when he won the WPA World Straight Pool Championship. Straight pool, also known as 14.1 continuous, is one of the oldest and most demanding formats in cue sports. Players must call every shot and maintain accurate positioning across extended runs, with no room for the power-break luck that can influence nine-ball. Winning a world title in straight pool requires a different kind of mastery than the shot-making athleticism that dominates televised pool, and Feijen’s victory in that format demonstrated the breadth of his ability.

The bigger moment came six years later. In 2014, Feijen won the WPA World 9-Ball Championship, the most prestigious title in professional pool. Nine-ball is the format that commands the widest audience, the most media attention, and the deepest field of competitors. Winning it on the world stage puts a player in rare company. For Feijen, it was the confirmation of everything his career had been building toward since that Tokyo final in 2001.

Beyond the world titles, Feijen has been a consistent performer on the World Nineball Tour, securing at least four ranking titles on that circuit. He also won the World Pool Masters on two occasions, including a final victory over Shane Van Boening, the dominant American player of his era. Defeating Van Boening in a Masters final is a result that carries genuine weight, given how rarely the American loses at that level.

His longevity has been just as impressive as his peak results. In 2019, he was still the reigning World Pool Masters champion heading into that year’s edition. As recently as 2026, he was competing and winning matches in the European Open Pool Championship, showing that age has not dulled the precision that earned him his nickname. Anyone looking to understand what elite pool cue selection means at the professional level would find it worth reading about pool cues, because the equipment choices players like Feijen make reflect decades of refined personal preference rather than marketing trends.

His performances at the World Pool Championship have been a consistent thread through his career, and his record at that event tracks the broader arc of his career better than almost any other single measure.

Playing Style

The nickname “The Terminator” was not applied casually. Feijen’s game is built on relentlessness. He does not let opponents breathe easily, and he converts at a high percentage once he reaches the table. His cue ball control is precise enough to play effectively across both nine-ball and straight pool, which are formats that demand different positional skills, and that versatility separates him from players who excel in only one discipline.

Feijen’s safety play is underrated relative to his shot-making reputation. He reads defensive situations with the same clarity he brings to offensive runs, which makes him difficult to trap. Opponents cannot simply play him safe and expect an easy out, because he often turns defensive positions into opportunities through smart reads on the geometry of the rack.

His break shot is powerful and consistent, which matters enormously in nine-ball where the break can effectively decide a rack before the opponent touches a ball. Professionals at his level pay careful attention to equipment on the break, and understanding what goes into a proper break cue helps explain why serious players often separate their break equipment from their playing cue entirely.

Temperamentally, Feijen is composed under pressure. He does not play with visible emotion, which is where the Terminator label fits beyond just his winning record. He competes with a clinical efficiency that can be disconcerting for opponents who need momentum shifts to stay competitive.

Legacy and Standing in the Sport

Feijen sits comfortably among the best European pool players of any era. His two world titles in different formats, his Masters victories, and his tour-level consistency over more than two decades place him well above the category of one-event wonder. He has competed in and around the world’s biggest events for long enough that two full generations of professional players have had to prepare specifically for the challenge of facing him.

For the Netherlands, his success has helped establish that European players can compete at the very top of pool, not just in billiards or snooker. That matters for the development of the game across the continent, even if Feijen himself has never particularly played the role of ambassador over competitor.

His continued participation in major events into the mid-2020s is a mark of genuine professionalism. Many players at his level and age have moved into exhibition work, commentary, or coaching. Feijen keeps showing up to compete seriously, which says something about both his physical maintenance of his game and his appetite for competitive pool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Niels Feijen’s nickname and where did it come from?

Feijen is known as “The Terminator,” a reference to his clinical, relentless style of play. The nickname reflects how efficiently he closes out frames and opponents once he gets to the table.

How many world titles has Niels Feijen won?

Feijen has won two WPA world titles, the World Straight Pool Championship in 2008 and the World 9-Ball Championship in 2014. He has also won the World Pool Masters on two occasions.

What nationality is Niels Feijen?

Feijen is Dutch, born on 3 February 1977 in the Netherlands. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful pool players in Dutch history.

Did Niels Feijen ever face Efren Reyes in a major final?

Yes. In 2001, Feijen reached the final of a major nine-ball tournament in Tokyo that attracted over 700 players and carried the largest prize fund in the sport at that time. He lost the final to Efren Reyes.

Is Niels Feijen still competing professionally?

As of 2026, Feijen was still competing at professional events, including the European Open Pool Championship. His continued presence in top-level competition is a testament to his longevity and sustained skill.