2022 WPA World 8-Ball Championship

Results

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

Francisco Sánchez Ruíz won the 2022 WPA World 8-Ball Championship, defeating Poland’s Wiktor Zielinski 10-6 in the final at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan. The victory marked the Spaniard’s first World Championship title and came with a $60,000 winner’s prize. The win secured his position atop the world rankings after a dominant year.

The 30-year-old entered the tournament having already collected numerous titles in 2022, including the Derby City Classic, three EuroTour events, the World Cup of Pool alongside David Alcaide, and the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship, making him the first Spaniard to win one of pool’s oldest majors. That U.S. Open triumph had already propelled him to World No. 1, but this 8-ball world title represented the pinnacle of his campaign.

In the final against Zielinski, Sánchez Ruíz pulled away from his Polish opponent in the later stages. The crowd at the Puerto Rico Convention Center provided strong support throughout the match, with local fans helping create an energetic atmosphere.

For Sánchez Ruíz, this triumph held special significance. He had won a Junior World championship in 2010 (the World Nine-ball Junior Championship) but achieving a senior world title represented a major milestone in his career. The victory confirmed his place among the sport’s elite competitors and provided a capstone to a season widely regarded as one of pool’s greatest individual campaigns.

With the 8-ball world title secured, Sánchez Ruíz went on to capture the 2023 WPA World Nine-Ball Championship, becoming a dual world champion. The victory in San Juan announced the arrival of Spanish pool’s newest superstar on the global stage.

Sources: WPA Pool, Wikipedia, WPA Pool World Champions

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