1946 World Straight Pool Championship

Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Willie Mosconi
2	Jimmy Caras

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

The 1946 World Straight Pool Championship was won by Willie Mosconi, who defeated Jimmy Caras in the championship match. This was one of Mosconi’s nineteen World Straight Pool Championship titles won between 1941 and 1957.

Mosconi, a native of Philadelphia, won his first title in the 1940-1941 season and successfully defended it through the war years. By 1946, he was the leading player in professional pool competition.

The championship was played in 14.1 continuous (straight pool), the primary format in professional competition during this era. The format required players to pocket as many object balls as possible in extended sessions that could last for hours, demanding both tactical skill and mental endurance. Mosconi’s precision and pattern play gave him an advantage over competitors like Caras.

The 1946 championship took place during straight pool’s peak period, when the game held the same status that nine-ball would later achieve. Mosconi’s victory was part of a career that helped popularize pool as a recreational activity while pioneering trick shots and setting records. His consistent success during the 1940s established his reputation as one of the greatest pool players of all time and earned him a place among the first Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame inductees.

The 1946 title reflected Mosconi’s sustained success in the sport. Each victory during this period increased the sport’s visibility and set new standards of play that influenced future generations of players. The championship was another milestone in his legacy as the most successful straight pool player in history.

Sources: Willie Mosconi – Wikipedia, World Straight Pool Championship – Wikipedia, Straight pool – Wikipedia

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