1999 WPA World 9-Ball Championship
Part of the WPA World 9-Ball Championship archive
WPA World 9-Ball Championship
Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Efren Reyes | |
| 2 | Chang Hao-ping |
Recap
Published April 13, 2026
The 1999 pool season featured an unprecedented situation in professional nine-ball: two world championships in the same year. Nick Varner won the official WPA World Nine-ball Championship in Alicante, Spain in December, while Efren "The Magician" Reyes won the Matchroom Sport-promoted World Professional Pool Championship in Cardiff, Wales earlier that summer, which was later recognized as an official world title.
The Cardiff event took place July 18-26, 1999, and attracted 96 of the world's elite players. The tournament used a format combining round-robin play with single elimination. Initially positioned as an alternative to the WPA's championship, the event gained full WPA recognition after its success, with the governing body later incorporating future versions into the official calendar.
Reyes advanced through the competitive field with strong play throughout the tournament. He adjusted his approach based on match situations, employing both defensive safety play and aggressive offensive shots as needed. By 1999, the Filipino player was building the foundation of what would become over 100 professional tournament victories in his career.
Reyes defeated Taiwan's Chang Hao-ping 17-8 in the final.
This victory marked a significant moment in Reyes' career, adding a world championship to his major titles. The circumstances of 1999, with two world champions crowned, elevated the significance of both tournaments. The WPA's decision to retroactively recognize the Cardiff championship as official reflected the pool community's view that Reyes' performance qualified as a legitimate world championship.
Sources: 1999 World Professional Pool Championship – Wikipedia, Efren Reyes – Wikipedia, 1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship – Wikipedia
This recap was compiled from public tournament records and tournament organizer communications. ForceFollow is not affiliated with the tournament organizer.