1993 WPA World 9-Ball Championship

Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Chao Fong-pang
2	Thomas Hasch

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

In Königswinter, Germany, 25-year-old Taiwanese player Chao Fong-pang won the 1993 WPA World 9-Ball Championship. He defeated home favorite Thomas Hasch in the final with a 2-0 victory.

The championship marked a significant shift in professional pool. American players had won the first three WPA World Championships—Earl Strickland won back-to-back titles in 1990-91 and Johnny Archer won in 1992—but Chao's triumph was the first world title for a player from Chinese Taipei. His victory showed that top-level pool talent existed beyond the United States.

Chao defeated Germany's Thomas Hasch with a 2-0 match score in the final.

This victory was historically important for professional pool. Chao became the first male player from Chinese Taipei to win a world championship in pocket billiards. His win opened the door for increased success by Asian players in professional pool competitions and motivated many players from the region to pursue world titles.

Chao won a second world championship in 2000. Born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 1967, he established himself as one of the sport's top champions. His 1993 victory in Germany marked the moment when the world championship became truly competitive on a global level, reflecting the international reach of modern professional pool.

Sources: Wikipedia – List of WPA World Nine-ball Champions, Wikipedia – Chao Fong-pang, Wikipedia – WPA World Nine-ball Championship

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