1913 World Straight Pool Championship

Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Alfredo De Oro
2	James Maturo

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

Alfredo de Oro, a Cuban legend, won the 1913 World Straight Pool Championship by defeating James Maturo. This victory was de Oro's fourth straight pool world title and added to his collection of 29 World Continuous Pool championships and 20 Three-Cushion Billiards titles.

The 1913 championship held special significance for the 49-year-old de Oro, who had lost to Maturo the previous year. In their 1912 match in Philadelphia, Maturo defeated de Oro 150 to 136. The Denver native's victory had been significant in the billiards world, as de Oro was considered the sport's most dominant player at the time.

This championship took place during the early years of straight pool as a competitive discipline. Jerome Keough invented the game in 1910 to increase difficulty compared to earlier continuous games. By 1913, straight pool was establishing itself as the primary test of pocket billiards skill. The format's demands on precision, strategy, and endurance suited de Oro's methodical approach and consistency.

Maturo entered the tournament as a strong competitor, having reached the World Straight Pool Championship finals five times. The Kansas City-based player used an aggressive style and tactical approach that had troubled de Oro in their previous meeting. De Oro's experience and table awareness proved decisive in what became another significant chapter in his career.

De Oro's 1913 win further established his status as the era's most versatile champion, as he often held world titles in both three-cushion billiards and straight pool simultaneously. His success across multiple disciplines remains unmatched in professional billiards. He was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 1967 as the first non-American honoree. Billiards Digest later ranked him as the fourth greatest player of the century, reflecting his lasting impact on the sport.

Sources: Alfredo de Oro – Wikipedia, James Maturo – Wikipedia, World Straight Pool Championship – Wikipedia

This recap was compiled from public tournament records and tournament organizer communications. ForceFollow is not affiliated with the tournament organizer.