Fedor Gorst was crowned the 2024 World Pool Champion after a thrilling victory over Eklent Kaçi at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal City Sports Hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This prestigious event was held in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation (SABSF) and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sport.
Match Result
Fedor Gorst vs Eklent Kaçi: 15-14
Early Lead and Mid-Game Drama
Gorst capitalized on winning the lag, quickly securing an early 3-0 lead against Eklent Kaçi. However, Kaçi fought back in the fourth rack, escaping Gorst’s tight safety on the 2-ball. Undeterred, Gorst quickly reclaimed control, surviving a safety from Kaçi on the 2-ball in the next rack to extend his lead to 5-1.
Despite Kaçi claiming a few racks, Gorst showcased his prowess with a series of spectacular shots. A high-flying jump shot on the 2-ball in rack 8, followed by another jump shot on the 3-ball in rack 13, brought the score to 8-4.
Kaçi’s Comeback and Critical Moments
Kaçi mounted a spirited comeback, winning two consecutive racks, but a costly error in rack 15 saw him park the 9-ball next to the pocket. Seizing the opportunity, Gorst executed a brilliant carom shot off the 3-ball to sink the 9-ball, pushing the score to 9-6.
The battle intensified as the players exchanged racks, reaching rack 19. Kaçi’s repeated mistake of parking the 4-ball gave Gorst yet another opening to clear the table. Determined, Kaçi took advantage of a dry break from Gorst to clean up the rack. However, a scratch on Kaçi’s break allowed Gorst to keep his lead and execute two break-and-runs, extending his lead to 13-9.
Nail-Biting Finish
A misstep from Gorst on the 1-ball during his break gave Kaçi another chance to steal victory, allowing him to charge through the racks. The composed Albanian thrilled the audience with the shot of the tournament—a two-rail kick to a 2-9 combo—levelling the score at 13-13. Maintaining his momentum, Kaçi reached the hill first by clearing yet another rack, but a dry break handed Gorst the opportunity he needed to tie the score at hill-hill.
The final rack saw a nail-biting exchange of safety shots from the two young finalists, but an accidental scratch dashed Kaçi’s hopes of becoming World Champion. With ball in hand, Gorst methodically cleared the table one last time, earning his second World Pool Championship title.
A Historic Victory
This victory not only crowns Fedor Gorst as the top player on the World Nineball Tour but also etches his name in history as the youngest ever to win multiple World Pool Championship titles.
Upcoming Events on the World Nineball Tour
Knight Shot Dubai Open
The Knight Shot Dubai Open will take place at Jayson Shaw’s Billiard Lounge, Dubai, UAE, from June 12-15 with a prize fund of $25,000.
European Open Championship
The next signature Matchroom multi-table open event will be the European Open Championship in Fulda, Germany. The tournament takes place from August 6-11 at the Hotel Esperanto.