2015 China Open 9-Ball Championship

Results

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

In July 2015, Austrian rising star Albin Ouschan won the China Open title at just 24 years old, becoming the youngest-ever champion of this prestigious WPA event. His 11-8 victory over Canadian veteran John Morra marked his first major championship and helped establish him at the top of European rankings, securing his debut spot on the 2015 Mosconi Cup team.

The finalists took different routes to the championship match. Ouschan lost 8-9 to Taiwan’s Che-Wei Fu in his second match and competed through the loser’s bracket. He won 9-7 against Johann Chua, then defeated Ko Ping Chung, Mateusz Sniegocki, Lee Vann Corteza, and Chu Bing Jie in the semi-final to reach the final.

Morra lost 5-7 to Vietnam’s Do Thekien early in the tournament, placing him in the winner’s bracket. He advanced by defeating Marc Bijsterbosch (11-8), Warren Kiamco (11-9), Fu Jianbo (11-10), and Nick Van Den Berg (11-8) to earn his final berth.

The championship held special significance for Ouschan. He had narrowly missed Mosconi Cup selection in 2012 after losing a three-man playoff. This China Open title delivered the breakthrough he sought, propelling him to number one in both European World Rankings and Combined Rankings.

The victory proved significant for both players’ careers. The win established Ouschan as a global force—he went on to capture World Nine-ball Championships in 2016 and 2021. The tournament also demonstrated the depth of talent in international pool. Johann Chua, who faced Ouschan in the early rounds, later defeated him 9-3 at the 2024 World Nine-ball Championship, showing how matchups between top players can shift over time.

Sources: Wikipedia Matchroom Pool Matchroom Pool

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