World Straight Pool Championship
The World Straight Pool Championship is a pool competition, that was held up until the game of Nine-ball became popularized in America. It was the most prestigious straight pool tournament up until the 2010s, when tournaments like the American Straight Pool Championship and the European Pool Championship 14.1, that are still held annually, have gained prominence in recent years. During the tournament's early years, it was the only global professional title for straight pool (also known as 14.1 continuous). The event was revived in 2006, in part to restore the game's popularity in the United States.[1] The World Straight Pool Championship was held in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010 and was sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA), until ending in 2010, and with it the tournament's history of nearly 100 years.[2] Ralph Greenleaf & Willie Mosconi are the most successful players having both won the tournament on 19 occasions. The oldest player to win the tournament is Irving Crane at 59 years old at the time of his victory. The youngest player to win the tournament is Ralph Greenleaf at 20 years old at the time of his first victory.
Format[edit]
In the modern format of the tournament, all 64 players are divided into 8 groups where they play in round-robin format. Each match in this round is a race to 100 points. The leading 4 players in each group proceed to the next round.[3]
The games of the last-32 round are played in double-elimination format until 16 players remain. Matches are extended to races to 150 points.[3]
The games in the last-16 round are played in single-elimination format, and matches are extended, to races to 200 points. The finals match is further extended to a race to 300 points (with a half-hour break occurring when a player reaches 150).[3]
Winners[edit]
In 1910, Jerome Keough invented the game of Straight pool.
- Sanctioned World Championship events
Men's champions[edit]
Top performers[edit]
| Name | Nationality | Winner | Years a champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Mosconi |  United States
|
19 | 14 |
| Ralph Greenleaf | United States
|
13 | |
| Frank Taberski | United States
|
14 | 5 |
| Luther Lassiter | United States
|
7 | 4 |
| Irving Crane | United States
|
6 | 6 |
| Bennie Allen | United States
|
2 | |
| Erwin Rudolph | United States
|
5 | 4 |
| Jimmy Caras | United States
| ||
| Andrew Ponzi | United States
|
4 | 3 |
| Alfredo de Oro |  Cuba
|
2 | |
| Mike Sigel | United States
|
3 | 3 |
| Ray Martin | United States
| ||
| Joe Balsis | United States
|
2 | |
| Nick Varner | United States
|
2 | 2 |
| Oliver Ortmann |  Germany
| ||
| Steve Mizerak | United States
| ||
| Edward Ralph | United States
|
1 |
- In the event of identical records, players are sorted in alphabetical order by first name.
Women's champions[edit]
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 |  Mieko Harada |
Jean Balukas
|
| 1977 | Jean Balukas |
Gloria Walker
|
| 1978 | Jean Balukas |
Billie Billing
|
| 1979 | Jean Balukas |
Mary Kenniston
|
| 1980 | Jean Balukas |
Billie Billing
|
| 1981 | LoreeJon Ogonowski |
Vicki Frechen
|
| 1982 | Jean Balukas |
LoreeJon Ogonowski
|
| 1983 | Jean Balukas |
LoreeJon Ogonowski
|
| 1985 | Belinda Bearden |
Mary Kenniston
|
| 1986 | LoreeJon Jones |
Mary Kenniston
|
Junior champions[edit]
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Joe DiPietro |
 Richard Birolini
|
| 1981 |  Christer Lofstrand |
Troy O'Brien
|
| 1982 | Christer Lofstrand |
Norbert Lange
|
| 1983 | Samuel Guzman |
Conas Hedman
|
| 1986 | Paul Hultgren |
Kevin Poffenberger
|
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "The World Straight Pool Championship". AZ Billiards. September 29, 2005. Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
- ^ "Players: World Champions". WPA-Pool.com. Sydney, Australia: World Pool-Billiard Association. November 2011. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "2008 Predator World 14.1 Championship Group Pairings". AZ Billiards. August 24, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
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