1941 World Straight Pool Championship

Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Willie Mosconi
2	Andrew Ponzi

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

The 1941 World Straight Pool Championship was won by 27-year-old Willie Mosconi of Philadelphia, marking his first world title. Mosconi had previously lost the 1933 championship by a single ball before achieving victory in 1941.

The championship used a World Championship League format with a 32-game round-robin among eight elite players across multiple cities. Mosconi finished with a 176-48 record over the 224-match season. Andrew Ponzi was his closest competitor with a 144-80 record.

Mosconi's 1941 victory showcased his precision and technical skill. He became known for trick shots and helped transform pool from a poolroom pastime into a nationally recognized sport.

The 1941 championship began what would become the most successful career in straight pool history. Between 1941 and 1957, Mosconi won the World Straight Pool Championship nineteen times. During the 1940s and 1950s, straight pool (also known as 14.1 continuous) was the premier competitive format in professional billiards, and Mosconi's dominance during this period helped increase the sport's visibility among American audiences.

Sources: Willie Mosconi – Wikipedia

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