1940 World Straight Pool Championship

Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Andrew Ponzi
2	Jimmy Caras

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

Andrew Ponzi, a Philadelphia native, won the 1940 World Straight Pool Championship by defeating Jimmy Caras. This was Ponzi’s second world title, coming six years after his first championship in 1934.

Ponzi was born Andrew D’Allesandro. He earned the nickname Ponzi as a teenager when friends associated him with Charles Ponzi, the famous swindler who was making headlines at that time. Ponzi took up pool as rehabilitation following a childhood trolley accident that injured his right hand. By age 16, he was already winning significant money matches and would eventually win four world championships.

The 1940 championship took place during the peak years of straight pool in American billiards. The World Straight Pool Championship was the most prestigious tournament in the sport during this era, before nine-ball gained popularity in the late 20th century. Ponzi’s 1940 victory led to further success, with additional world titles in 1943 when he defeated Willie Mosconi and Irving Crane.

Jimmy Caras, the runner-up in 1940, was a strong competitor who later became a world champion himself. Other top players in championship competition included Mosconi, Crane, and Erwin Rudolph. Ponzi achieved success at the highest levels throughout the 1930s and 1940s and is recognized among the sport’s greatest players.

Ponzi’s career ended in 1950 when he suffered a fatal heart attack during a tournament at age 47. The 1940 championship remains a significant milestone in his legacy as one of straight pool’s most accomplished champions and represents the golden age of American pocket billiards.

Sources: Andrew Ponzi – Wikipedia, World Straight Pool Championship – Wikipedia, Category:Straight pool world champions – Wikipedia

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