2000 WPA World 9-Ball Championship
Part of the WPA World 9-Ball Championship archive
WPA World 9-Ball Championship
Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chao Fong-pang | |
| 2 | Ismael Páez |
Recap
Published April 13, 2026
The 2000 WPA World Nine-ball Championship in Cardiff, Wales took place July 1-9 and featured Taiwan’s Chao Fong-pang defeating Mexico’s Ismael Páez 17-6 in the final to capture his second world title. The tournament saw notable early exits, with both defending champions Efren Reyes and Nick Varner eliminated in the first round.
Chao’s path to the title began in the round-robin phase, where 96 players were divided into 16 groups with the top four from each advancing to the knockout rounds. The format required players to perform consistently across multiple matches. Chao reached the final after advancing through the preliminary rounds, building on success from his 1993 world championship, when he became the first male player from Chinese Taipei to win a world title.
In the final, Páez was unable to match Chao’s performance. Chao won the match by controlling play with strong defensive positioning and accurate shooting. The 17-6 scoreline reflected Chao’s control throughout the match, as he dominated the table early and limited Páez’s opportunities. With the victory, Chao secured the $65,000 winner’s purse and solidified his status as a top nine-ball player from Asia.
This championship marked Chao’s second world title, arriving seven years after his 1993 breakthrough. His dominant final victory demonstrated his ability to perform at the sport’s highest level and reflected Taiwan’s competitive strength in nine-ball. The tournament underscored the significance of experience in professional pool competition.
The 2000 championship illustrated how nine-ball can produce unexpected results, with established champions exiting early while other competitors advance deep into the tournament. Chao’s consistent performance throughout showed the importance of reliable play combined with competitive experience at elite levels.
Sources: Wikipedia – 2000 WPA World Nine-ball Championship, Wikipedia – Chao Fong-pang, WPA Pool – World Champions
This recap was compiled from public tournament records and tournament organizer communications. ForceFollow is not affiliated with the tournament organizer.