1948 World Straight Pool Championship

Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Willie Mosconi
2	Andrew Ponzi

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

The 1948 World Straight Pool Championship saw Willie Mosconi defeat veteran Andrew Ponzi in the championship match to claim his eighth world title. This victory continued Mosconi's dominant performance in 14.1 continuous pool during the 1940s.

The 1948 tournament was notable for being the first World Straight Pool Championship to feature a woman competitor, as Ruth McGinnis entered the event. This reflected the growing popularity of straight pool during its golden age, when the game was the premier professional pool discipline.

Andrew Ponzi was an experienced championship competitor who faced Mosconi multiple times throughout the 1940s. The two competed against each other several times during this period, with Ponzi finishing as runner-up in previous championship seasons, including the 1940-1941 World Championship League season.

Mosconi captured nineteen World Straight Pool Championships between 1941 and 1957. He became the dominant figure in pool throughout North America, and his success helped bring the game from pool halls to wider recognition as a legitimate sport.

The 1948 championship took place during straight pool's peak years, when 14.1 continuous was the most prestigious competitive format. Mosconi's success in this format established him as the leading player of his generation.

Sources: Willie Mosconi – 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.