2003 WPA World 9-Ball Championship

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Recap

Published April 13, 2026

The 2003 WPA World Nine-ball Championship in Cardiff, Wales marked a breakthrough moment for German pool, as 24-year-old Thorsten "The Hitman" Hohmann claimed his first world title with a 17-10 victory over Canada's Alex Pagulayan. Held at the Cardiff International Arena from July 12-20, the tournament featured 128 players competing for a $300,000 prize pool, with Hohmann earning $65,000 for his win.

The path to the title involved notable matchups. Defending champion Earl Strickland faced six-time snooker world champion Steve Davis in the Round of 16 and advanced to a semifinal matchup against Hohmann. Hohmann defeated Strickland in the semifinal, eliminating the 2002 world champion and advancing to the final.

In the final, Hohmann faced Alex Pagulayan, a Canadian player who advanced through the knockout rounds. Hohmann won the match 17-10, capturing the world title. The tournament format featured 16 round-robin groups with the top four from each advancing to a 64-player knockout stage, testing players' skills over eight days of competition.

Hohmann's victory established him among pool's elite players and marked Germany's emergence as a competitive force in nine-ball. His 2003 world title was followed by a second world nine-ball championship in 2013, cementing his status as one of the game's premier champions.

Sources: 2003 WPA World Nine-ball Championship – Wikipedia Thorsten Hohmann – Wikipedia

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