1990 WPA World 9-Ball Championship
Part of the WPA World 9-Ball Championship archive
WPA World 9-Ball Championship
Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earl Strickland | |
| 2 | Jeff Carter |
Recap
Published April 13, 2026
The inaugural WPA World Nine-Ball Championship in 1990 marked a significant moment in professional pool history, establishing what would become the sport’s most prestigious title. Held in Bergheim, Germany, this tournament was created by the World Pool-Billiard Association to establish a true world championship for the global pool community.
Earl Strickland, known as The Pearl, won the historic first title, defeating fellow American Jeff Carter 3-1 in the final to become the sport’s inaugural world champion. Strickland had previously won the 1983 Caesars Tahoe Billiard Classic over Steve Mizerak. The North Carolina native turned professional in 1981 and had been competing on the professional circuit for nearly a decade before winning the world title.
The final matched two American players, Strickland and Carter. Carter advanced through the tournament field to reach the championship match. The inaugural event’s format and structure became the foundation for future championships, with nine-ball established as pool’s premier competition format.
This victory launched Strickland’s successful career in nine-ball. He won his second world title in 1991, defeating Nick Varner 9-7 in Las Vegas, and added a third world championship in 2002. Strickland also won five US Open titles. These WPA and US Open victories established him as one of the greatest nine-ball players in the sport’s history.
The 1990 championship represented pool’s development into a global sport with standardized world-class competition. The tournament created the foundation for what has become an annual event showcasing the world’s finest nine-ball talent, with the championship continuing to crown world champions across multiple divisions for over three decades.
Sources: WPA World Nine-ball Championship – Wikipedia, Earl Strickland – Wikipedia, List of WPA World Nine-ball champions – Wikipedia, WPA Pool
This recap was compiled from public tournament records and tournament organizer communications. ForceFollow is not affiliated with the tournament organizer.