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An idea to came about to form a world organisation Inaugural WPA World 9-Ball Championships The WPA World 9-Ball Championships becomes an annual event WPA true global coverage WCBS applied for recognition by IOC IOC granted a the WCBS its outright recognition

After having had European Championships as the highest level of competition for many years, and being aware of the fact that many events were organised in the USA, many of the European players were becoming dissatisfied with the development of the sport in Europe and yearned for competition on a higher level. With knowledge of this, the idea came about to form a world organisation.

The history of Pool has seen many previous attempts to accomplish this, but unfortunately, just as many failures. On occasions the Europeans had been a part of whatever efforts were made, sometimes being an Asian idea, and more often these attempts came from various groups from within the USA The first event that could be truly considered a World Championship was a tournament taking place in Japan in 1976. It was because of that event, the Europeans became aware of the fact that game was also played in many Asian areas and so initial contacts were established. Unfortunately most of these efforts to create a world organisation were just from individuals or national organisations. At a time when communications were still a very slow process, it appeared no one seemed capable of making this idea realise.

At an EPBF (European Pocket Billiard Federation) Board meeting in Germany during November 1987, the idea again re-surfaced. Although everyone knew that this was not going to be an easy task, somehow all agreed that the worst thing that could happen would be another failure. In order to make this attempt possible, all Board members voluntarily donated money of their own to create a logo, proper letterheads and initiate proper communication with various parts of the world. Soon after the work began, letters were sent to all persons and/or organisations that were known.

One of these persons was Kazuo Fujima of Japan. His answer was returned immediately – of course the Asians are interested in founding a world body! Strengthened and encouraged by his reply, an invitation was sent out for the first General Assembly to take place in conjunction with the 1988 European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. Once again, Mr. Fujima rapidly sent his appreciation for the invitation and announced that he would attend. No response had been received from the USA, therefore it turned out to be a surprise when Mr. Paul Gerni appeared at the meeting willing to represent the USA. As a result of this meeting, a provisional Board consisting of Mr. Kazuo Fujima (Japan), Mr. Paul Gerni, (USA) Mr. Jorgen Sandman (Sweden) and Mr. Horst Vondenhoff (Germany) was created; each one given responsibilities to secure further development.

Inaugural WPA World 9-Ball Championships

During 1989, witnessing again the stagnation of their dreams, Mr. Sandman and Mr. Vondenhoff realised that it was going to be necessary to actually produce a true World Championship in order to substantiate the need for a world-wide network. Mr. Vondenhoff immediately began negotiations with the Town Council of Bergheim, Germany, and eventually they became the generous and gracious host for our inaugural WPA World 9-Ball Championships. By mid-summer invitations were sent, followed by rules, sports regulations and by-laws. As always, the Asians agreed to be part of this event almost immediately. The Americans however, were not so quick to respond. Their hesitation was a combination of lack of knowledge about the development of the sport in Europe and Asia, their security in their own level of play and lack of the necessary funds to become members. Over the following few months, many inquiries were made, but it was not until October when Mr. Michael Kopriwa of Sweden went to the US. There he used his personal recommendations of the individuals involved in the creation of the association to impress upon Mr. Jim Bakula of Brunswick (also BCA President at the time) and Ms. Jacky Moeller of McDermott to solicit some means of participation by the USA. Finally, a Board meeting of the BCA in Chicago early in December voted in favour to pay the fees on behalf of the US Men’s and Women’s professional associations to become involved in this world-wide effort.

An extremely successful result was experienced as 32 men and 16 women players emerged on the small city of Bergheim during March, 1990. The decade of dreams of Sandman and Vondenhoff unfolded with an exquisite opening ceremony in the highest of European tradition. The event, immaculately organised, stretched over four days of gruelling competition and ended with an extravagant banquet celebration, honouring the first true world champions, Robin Bell and Earl Strickland.

The WPA World 9-Ball Championships becomes an annual event

However, while the players were engrossed with their competitions, the dignitaries of the various federations spent countless hours in meetings establishing common grounds on which an intercontinental federation could exist. It was in March 3, 1990 that the first true General Assembly of the World Pool-Billiard Association was held. With representatives from three continents, the WPA was now established as the world organisation for Pool. The following persons were elected to the Board of Directors for an initial three year term: President – Horst Vondenhoff, Vice President and Sports Director – Jorgen Sandman, General Secretary – Shari Stauch (USA), Treasurer – Jacky Moeller (USA), Manager – Kazuo Fujima (Asia), Yung-Hui Tu (Asia) and Joe Kerr (USA). It was decided that the 1991 World Championship would be organised in the United States. It was also decided that the abbreviation of the association would be WPA as opposed to WPBA, to avoid confusion with the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) which already existed in the USA. The inaugural WPA President was Horst Vondenhoff of Germany. Mr. Vondenhoff held this position until stepping down to allow Jorgen Sandman of Sweden to take over in 1991. Mr. Sandman continued as President until December 1999, where in Alicante, Spain during our World 9-Ball Championships he announced his resignation. He is succeeded by Tsun-che Chuan of Taipei.

It did not take long before the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) was formed, to work as an umbrella organisation for the Asian countries. Already in time for the 1991 event, Australia and New Zealand came forward through Ian Anderson with their interest to become involved, and later that same year the Australasian Pool Association was founded and applied for membership.

The WPA World 9-Ball Championships were now established and have since become an annual event, touring the globe for its venue. The 1991 event was held at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas. In 1992 it was held at the Sports Centre of the Taipei Sports College where, for the first time, a junior division was initiated.

WPA true global coverage

In 1999 Latin America and Caribe became members and in 2000 Africa joined, finally giving the WPA true global coverage.

Ever since the 1950’s many attempts had been made in order for Billiards to possibly achieve Olympic recognition, but to no avail. Not only did Billiards have difficulties to comply with the definition of Sports that was valid at that point in time, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also demanded that there must be only one organisation representing all Billiards Sports. In order to fulfil the IOC’s condition, the three main Billiard divisions (Carom, Pool and Snooker) convened together in August of 1990 at a historic meeting in Bristol, England, where it was decided between them to form the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS) – an umbrella organisation encompassing all kinds of Billiards. The following eighteen months was spent on developing a set of by-laws enabling the various divisions to work closely together, whilst still maintaining their independence. The inaugural General Assembly of the WCBS was held in Lausanne, Switzerland January 1992. A Board consisting of nine delegates was elected, three representatives from each of the founding members, Union Mondiale de Billard (UMB – Carom), World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA –Pool) and World Snooker Federation (WSF – Snooker), and soon after the work to a possible IOC recognition commenced.

The applications for membership with the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and for the gaining of recognition of the IOC were submitted in 1992, and in October 1993 the WCBS were, for the first time invited as observers to the GAISF Congress & General Assembly in Lahti, Finland. However, the WCBS application failed to make it to the agenda of the AGM, and therefore the two WCBS representatives at this meeting, Mr. Andre Gagnaux and Mr. Jorgen Sandman were confined to listen and learn. In October of 1994, when the GAISF AGM took place in Monte Carlo, again Mr. Gagnaux and Mr. Sandman were invited as observers, but this time the WCBS application was on the agenda. At the time this point was to be discussed, Mr. Gagnaux and Mr. Sandman were asked to leave the room, a GAISF rule in order to allow discussion between the representatives on member IF’s. After what had seemed an eternity, the two WCBS representatives were invited back to the meeting and were told by the GAISF President, Dr. Un-Young Kim, that the AGM had decided to postpone any decision awaiting “a more defined definition of Sports”.

WCBS applied for recognition by IOC

Meanwhile, the IOC had responded to the application for recognition by stating that the WCBS was too new as an umbrella body for Billiard Sports, and therefore they could expect to be waiting for another few years. The IOC also recommended to the WCBS to apply for membership of the GAISF – “whilst this is not a prerequisite, the IOC would see favourably on a WCBS membership with the GAISF”. In October of 1995, the GAISF Congress and General Assembly were held in Seoul, Korea and again the WCBS were invited as observers. Three WCBS representatives attended, Mr. Nigel Oldfield, Mr. Jorgen Sandman and Mr. Massimino Del Prete. They were busy distributing “Right on Cue”, a brochure which had been developed for the purpose of informing the delegates at the AGM about the WCBS, and also hosted a cocktail party for around 500 attending officials. Whether it was the brochure and/or the cocktail reception that did the job, or if it was due to the IOC altered definition of Sports, we cannot be sure, but as of this AGM, the WCBS had finally become a member of the GAISF.

In July 1996, the IOC decided to grant the WCBS provisional recognition for two years, and in September of the same year the WCBS became a member of the Association of Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF). An application for membership with the International World Games Association (IWGA) was also filed shortly afterwards. At the 1997 IWGA AGM it was decided that the WCBS would become a member of them as of January 1, 1998. The IWGA organises every four years the World Games, and even though the WCBS would now be a member, this did not automatically warrant participation at these Games. However, as new members of the IWGA, the WCBS did meet with the organising committees for the 2001 Akita World Games, and also submitted its application for participation with the IWGA.

IOC granted a the WCBS its outright recognition

On February 5, 1998, the IOC granted a the WCBS its outright recognition, and by that, it was now clear once and for all, that Billiard Sports were to be treated as one sport among others. Later on in the year the IWGA decided to accept the inclusion of Billiard Sports into the program of the 2001 Akita World Games, and four medals are to be competed for according to the following:

The 1999 GAISF AGM decided to accept the WCBS as full members, and by that the WCBS must be deemed to have accomplished a great deal in its seven short years of existence. The WCBS will continue its efforts in order to also one day be accepted for participation in the Olympic Games, a dream now perhaps not that far from reality, but ten years earlier must have seemed an impossibility.

Andre Gagnaux (UMB), who must be credited very much that the WCBS was at all founded, became the first President back in 1992, an office he carried until 1996. He took ill during the second half of 1995, at which time he passed on his immediate tasks to Jorgen Sandman who took over as President in January 1996, just one month before Mr. Gagnaux passed away. Mr. Pulsirivong replaced Mr. Sandman as President in December 1998, and in October 2000 Mr. Graus was elected. The office of President is passed around on a rotating order, so that all three divisions will take their turn at heading the organisation.