2019 WPA World 9-Ball Championship

Results

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

In Doha’s December pool halls, 19-year-old Fedor Gorst captured the 2019 WPA World 9-Ball Championship at the al-Arabi Sports Club. The Russian defeated Taiwan’s Chang Jung-lin in the final, winning 13-11 in a match that lasted four hours.

Gorst’s victory was significant given his age and Chang Jung-lin’s experience. Chang used a methodical approach throughout the match. The lead changed hands several times before Gorst secured the win.

Both finalists advanced through a 128-player field. Chang defeated Finland’s Casper Matikainen in the semifinals 11-10. Gorst won his semifinal to reach the championship match. Germany’s Joshua Filler, the defending champion, did not retain his title.

Gorst, nicknamed The Ghost, won the Junior 9-Ball world championship in 2017 and the 2018 Treviso Open on the Euro Tour. The Moscow-born player executed well during critical moments in the final.

The $30,000 winner’s prize and world title placed Gorst among pool’s elite players. At 19, he became one of the youngest world champions in the modern era. This achievement established him as a top competitor, with Gorst winning a second world title in 2024.

Sources: 2019 WPA World Nine-ball Championship – Wikipedia WPA Pool – Gorst The Great!

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