CUE SPORTS – Bahrain is set to host the 2027 World Pool Championship, the crown jewel of the World Nineball Tour, it was announced yesterday.
Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Matchroom Pool, one of the world’s leading organisers and promoters of professional pool, under a multi-year partnership that will see the world championship take place in the kingdom from April 5 to 10.
The $1million event will take place at Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB), and it will be held in partnership with the Bahrain Billiard Sports and Darts Federation (BBSDF), featuring 128 of the world’s best in the game.
The event’s poster
BTEA CEO Sara Ahmed Buhejji said the MoU is part of BTEA’s continued efforts to attract the world’s best-known championships and events to the kingdom and to reinforce its position as a leading destination for hosting and organising major international events.
She added that it will further diversify Bahrain’s calendar of events and tourism and leisure experiences, attracting more visitors from the region and around the world.
She noted that hosting the world championship would be a significant addition to the international events the kingdom attracts, given the tournament’s high standing, its field of elite professional players, and its broad international following.
Attracting global sporting events of this calibre, she said, reflects Bahrain’s strong capabilities, advanced infrastructure, and organisational expertise, which position the kingdom to host major international events and championships, strengthen its place on the worldwide tourism and events map, and support the tourism sector and national economy.
Leading the charge will be the defending world champion Carlo Biado from the Philippines, who claimed a second world title in 2025 with a dramatic 15-13 final victory over Fedor Gorst.
“It’s really exciting to see the World Pool Championship heading to a brand new home in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” said Biado. “This promises to be another great chapter in the history of the event and I’m looking forward to being part of it.
“I can’t wait to defend my title there, and I’d love to become a three-time world champion in the kingdom and bring the trophy home to the Philippines once again.”
Reigning world champion Biado will be joined in Bahrain by a star-studded field of fellow world champions, including 2024 winner Fedor Gorst, 2023 champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, and 2022 champion and five-time US Open winner Shane Van Boening – all competing for the sport’s greatest individual prize next April.
As part of the partnership, the World Nineball Tour will work closely with the BBSDF to support the continued growth of the sport at grassroots level in the kingdom, with initiatives focused on coaching, player development, and creating further opportunities for emerging Bahraini talent, broadening participation and developing a new generation of players able to compete internationally.
BBSDF president Monther Al Basri said: “We are proud to welcome the World Pool Championship to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the first time, marking an important milestone for the development of cue sports in the Kingdom.
“We commend the BTEA for its continued efforts to promote sports tourism and attract prestigious international championships, further strengthening Bahrain’s position as a leading destination for major sporting events.
“This partnership also presents a valuable opportunity to develop the sport locally, provide Bahraini players with greater exposure to international competition, and inspire the next generation of talent.
“We look forward to working closely with BTEA and Matchroom Pool to deliver a successful championship that reflects Bahrain’s organisational capabilities and leaves a lasting legacy for the sport in the kingdom.”
The tournament is set to see over 40 nationalities represented in the field, with opportunities for players from Bahrain and across the Middle East to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
The landmark event, which begins on April 5, will feature 223 matches over six days of competition, with 50 televised hours of pool and 100 streaming hours broadcast to every territory across the world.
Matchroom Multi Sport CEO Emily Frazer commented: “We are incredibly grateful to the BTEA and the BBSDF for their vision and invaluable support in making this landmark partnership a reality.
“Following my recent visit to the kingdom, I was made to feel so welcome from the moment I arrived. It was clear how much ambition there is here to host the world’s biggest sporting events, and we can’t wait to showcase the kingdom to our global audience.”
“We’re really excited to bring the World Nineball Tour to the Kingdom of Bahrain, and to give the World Pool Championship a brand-new home at EWB. It’s a stunning, welcoming, and ambitious destination, and the perfect new setting for the best players from around the globe to compete next April with $1 million on the line.”
“The 2027 World Pool Championship promises to be an extraordinary week, and the whole world will be watching to see who will be crowned champion of the world.”
Further details on the 2027 World Pool Championship including broadcast partners, tickets, and format, will be released in due course.
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