1996 WPA World 9-Ball Championship

Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Ralf Souquet
2	Tom Storm

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

Germany’s Ralf Souquet, known as The Kaiser, defeated hometown favorite Tom Storm 11-1 in the final of the 1996 WPA World Nine-ball Championship in Borlänge, Sweden. The October tournament showcased the rise of European players in pool’s top competition, with defending champion Oliver Ortmann reaching the semifinals before his elimination.

Souquet advanced through the early round-robin stages and navigated the knockout bracket, where matches were contested as race-to-13 affairs until the final. He defeated Paul Potier 13-3 in the quarterfinals and Craig Duffy 13-10 in the semifinals. Storm reached the final by defeating defending champion Ortmann 13-8 in his semifinal match.

In the final, Souquet defeated Storm 11-1. The 27-year-old Souquet, who began playing pool at age six in his parents’ pub, won his first world championship title.

Storm’s runner-up finish marked a significant achievement for Swedish pool despite the final score. His semifinal victory over defending champion Ortmann had raised expectations for the championship match. Souquet dominated the final with his 11-1 victory.

The victory became a defining moment in Souquet’s career. The world title established his status among pool’s elite competitors. The win preceded over 100 professional tournament victories throughout his career, establishing his legacy as one of the greatest players in pool history and demonstrating that European players could compete successfully at the sport’s highest levels.

Sources: 1996 WPA World Nine-ball Championship – Wikipedia, Ralf Souquet – Wikipedia, Ralf Souquet – Matchroom Pool

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