World Pool-Billiard Association

The World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) is the international governing body for pocket billiards (and also sactions rules and events for carom billiards games as well, in cooperation with other bodies). The group was formed in 1987, and was initially headed by a provisional board of directors consisting of representatives from Japan, the United States, Sweden, and Germany. The current WPA president is Tsun-che Chuan of Taipei.

WPA is also one of the member organizations of the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS), the international umbrella organization encompassing the major cue sports.

History

An idea to form a world pool organization

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 United States, 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 a worldwide competition, but unfortunately, just as many failures. 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 pool 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 so the process went slowly.

At a European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) Board meeting in Germany during November 1987, the idea again re-surfaced. 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.

Kazuo Fujima of Japan immediately replied that 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. Mr. Fujima rapidly confirmed his attendace quickly while no response had been received from the USA. However, it is unexpected that Mr. Paul Gerni appeared at the meeting 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.

WPA World Nine-ball Championship

One of the first tasks undertaken by the board was to organize a world championship tournament. By mid-summer 1989, invitations, rules, sports regulations and by-laws were sent. Positive replies were quickly recieived except the one from the U.S. The U.S. is hesitated owing to 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.Fact|date=October 2007 The U.S. agree to join not until December 1989.

These efforts culminated in March 1990, when 48 players (32 men, 16 women, in separate divisions) participated in the inaugural WPA World Nine-ball Championship in Bergheim, Germany. The event is now annual.

The official establishment

After the event, 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. The first General Assembly was held on March 3, 1990, and it was at this assembly that the World Pool-Billiard Association was sanctioned as the international governing body for pool. The acronym WPA was chosen, so as not to conflict with the Women's Professional Billiard Association, already known as the WPBA.

The WPA's membership has grown since its inception. In 1991 Australia and New Zealand (under the umbrella of the Australasian Pool Association) joined. Latin America and the Caribbean became collective members in 1999, and Africa followed in 2000.

WPA membership

Membership in the WPA is held by national/regional billiards groups, rather than individual countries.

Current world champions

ee also

*List of professional sports leagues
*List of World Eight-ball Champions
*List of WPA World Nine-ball Champions

External links

* [http://www.wpa-pool.com WPA Website]
* [http://www.poolcomps.com/web/whoweare.htm WPA Initiative Website]