World Pool Masters

In an exciting final match, Ko Pin Yi defeated Eklent Kaçi to win the 2023 World Pool Masters title. The event took place in Brentwood, Essex, and was broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and around the world.

Kaçi won the lag and took the first rack with a break and run out. He had a chance to take the second rack with a 6-9 combo, but nerves got the better of him, allowing Ko to level the score. Ko took the lead in the third rack, and the two players engaged in a deep safety battle that eventually saw Kaçi take the lead.

The players traded racks back and forth, with Kaçi leading 4-3. However, a dry break from Kaçi allowed Ko to run through the next few racks, taking a commanding 7-4 lead. He then won the 12th and 13th racks with a break and run to take a 9-4 lead.

Kaçi managed to win the next rack after Ko faltered, but his hope was short-lived as he scratched on the break in the following rack. This allowed Ko to take a 10-5 lead and move closer to victory. A long safety battle in the next rack saw Kaçi miss a shot, and Ko was able to run out the table and reach the hill in quick time.

In the final rack, Ko broke well and finished with a clever 3-9 carom shot to secure his first major victory since 2015. Ko defeated Jayson Shaw in the opening round 9-1 and then knocked out Shane Van Boening in the quarter-finals 11-7. He then won a hard-fought semi-final match against James Aranas 11-9 to reach the final.

After his victory, Ko expressed his joy, saying, “It feels so good. The World Pool Masters was the one I wanted to win. After I beat Jayson (Shaw), I thought already about winning and jumping on the table. It was tough, but I feel so happy to win this tournament. I knew that the only person that could beat me was myself.”

The next major event on the World Nineball Tour is the JFlowers Scottish Open, which will take place at McGoldricks Sports Bar in Glasgow. The tournament is a vital World Nineball Tour Ranking event and a crucial tune-up ahead of the UK Open Pool Championship.

The UK Open Pool Championship will take place from May 30 to June 4 at the Copper Box Arena in London, with the first-ever Jayson Shaw Junior Open scheduled for June 2-3. Fans can purchase tickets for the event starting at £15.

In a much-anticipated clash, Eklent Kaçi and Ko Pin Yi will go head-to-head in the final of the 2023 World Pool Masters at the Brentwood Centre in England. The match will take place at 7:00 pm tonight and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and various other broadcasters worldwide, including Matchroom.Live in Albania and Sportscast in Chinese Taipei.

Both players had to navigate through tough semi-final matches to reach the final. Kaçi faced off against Niels Feijen in a thrilling European clash that went the distance. Feijen got off to a strong start and led 6-0 early on, but Kaçi managed to mount an impressive comeback, winning six racks in a row to level the match. From there, it was a tense affair, with both players trading racks until Kaçi eventually emerged victorious, winning 11-10 to reach his first World Pool Masters final.

Ko Pin Yi’s semi-final was also a tightly contested affair, as he faced off against James Aranas. Ko took an early lead, but Aranas fought back to level the match at 2-2. The two players traded racks throughout the match, with neither able to establish a significant lead. However, in the end, it was Ko who came out on top, winning 11-9 to secure his spot in the final.

The final promises to be an exciting and closely fought encounter between two highly skilled players. Kaçi, from Albania, is a rising star in the world of pool, with a string of impressive performances on the international stage. He will be looking to cap off a fantastic tournament with a victory in the final.

Ko, from Chinese Taipei, is a former world champion and one of the most experienced players in the field. He has been in excellent form throughout the tournament, and will be hoping to add another title to his already impressive resume.

The World Pool Masters has returned to the UK for the first time since 2015, with a revamped format featuring 16 players, with 14 qualifying automatically based on their World Nineball Tour Rankings. Two wild card entries complete the field, making for a highly competitive and entertaining event.

The final will be a race to 13, with the winner taking home a prize of $40,000 from the $125,000 prize fund. Fans around the world will be tuning in to watch these two great players battle it out for the title of World Pool Masters champion.

Niels Feijen of the Netherlands and James Aranas of the Philippines have advanced to the semi-finals of the 2023 World Pool Masters. The prestigious event is being held at the iconic Alexandra Palace in London and has attracted some of the best pool players from around the world.

Feijen, a former world champion, secured his spot in the semi-finals with a hard-fought 8-6 victory over Spain’s David Alcaide. The Dutchman showed great composure and skill under pressure to overcome Alcaide, who was playing some outstanding pool himself.

Aranas, on the other hand, produced a dominant performance to defeat Germany’s Joshua Filler 8-3. The Filipino was in scintillating form, potting balls from all angles and leaving Filler with very few chances to mount a comeback.

Feijen and Aranas will now face off in what promises to be an enthralling semi-final matchup. Feijen, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, will be looking to add another World Pool Masters title to his already impressive resume. Aranas, on the other hand, is a rising star in the world of pool and will be eager to cause an upset and reach the final.

The other semi-final will feature the USA’s Shane Van Boening and Taiwan’s Chang Jung-Lin. Van Boening defeated Austria’s Albin Ouschan 8-5 to book his place in the last four, while Chang overcame China’s Wu Jiaqing 8-6 in a thrilling encounter.

The World Pool Masters is one of the most prestigious events on the pool calendar, and the quality of play on display has been nothing short of exceptional. Fans of the sport have been treated to some outstanding matches, and the semi-finals promise to be just as entertaining.

The tournament is being broadcast around the world, allowing fans to watch the action unfold live. Pool enthusiasts can also follow the scores and updates on social media and various online platforms.

The winners of the semi-finals will progress to the final, where they will battle it out for the title of World Pool Masters champion and a share of the $100,000 prize money. The final promises to be a nail-biting affair, with the best players in the world vying for glory on the biggest stage.

Overall, the 2023 World Pool Masters has been a resounding success, showcasing the very best of pool and providing fans with some unforgettable moments. As the tournament enters its final stages, the excitement and anticipation continue to build, and fans around the world will be eagerly awaiting the crowning of a new champion.

World No.1 pool player Francisco Sanchez Ruiz suffered a surprise exit in the opening round of the 2023 World Pool Masters in Brentwood, Essex. James Aranas, a wild card entry, defeated the Spanish player in a closely contested match, which was broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and other broadcasters worldwide.

Sanchez Ruiz had high hopes of bettering his previous best performance of reaching the quarter-finals. However, Aranas proved to be a tough opponent, taking an early lead and maintaining it throughout the game. Despite a valiant effort from Sanchez Ruiz, who pulled off a three-pack to hit the front at 6-5, Aranas remained composed and sealed the win with two break and runs at 7-7.

Reflecting on his victory, Aranas said, “I felt so nervous, but I knew I had to fight. I was shaking early on. I calmed myself down, and I knew with a good layout, I was capable of getting out.”

Aranas will now face Wiktor Zielinski in the next round after the Polish player defeated China’s debutant Zheng Xiao Huai in a closely fought contest. Both players struggled to find their break, and the 4-inch pockets punished them with Zheng making no fewer than six fouls during the match. Despite a late resurgence from Zheng, Zielinski closed out the game with his experience in the Matchroom arena.

The final match of the afternoon featured two former Mosconi Cup teammates, Eklent Kaci and Albin Ouschan, battling it out for a place in the quarter-finals. Kaci, an Albanian player, set the early pace, racing to a 6-2 lead. However, Ouschan, an Austrian player, ran five racks on Kaci to take the lead for the first time at 7-6. Kaci then seized his moment to reach the hill, and a brief safety battle off the break in the final rack secured his victory.

RELATED: Defending Champion Joshua Filler Knocked Out in Opening Round of World Pool Masters 2023

The World Pool Masters, which returned to the UK for the first time since 2015, features a field of 16 players, with 14 of the 16 automatically earning their place from the World Nineball Tour Rankings, and two wild cards completing the field. Round 1 matches are Race to 9, with quarter and semi-final encounters Race to 11 before the final stretches to a Race to 13 for the first time. The prize fund for the event has been bolstered to $125,000, with the winner taking home $40,000.

Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports in the UK, DAZN in the USA, Spain, Italy, and Brazil, as well as on Viaplay in the Netherlands, Poland, Scandinavia, and the Baltics. If no broadcaster is available in your country, fans can watch the action on Matchroom.Live. See where to watch in your country on the official website.

Although Sanchez Ruiz’s defeat was a shock, it highlights the unpredictable nature of the sport, where any player can defeat their opponent on their day. The World Pool Masters promises to be an exciting tournament with many talented players vying for the coveted title.