2023 WPA World 9-Ball Championship

Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Francisco Sanchez Ruiz
2	Mohammad Soufi

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

Spain’s Francisco Sánchez Ruíz won his first World 9-Ball Championship title with a 13-10 victory over Syria’s Mohammad Soufi in Kielce, Poland. The match was broadcast live across multiple international networks including Sky Sports and DAZN.

Soufi won the lag and took an early 2-0 lead. Sánchez Ruíz, nicknamed The Ferrari, came back from the early deficit. The Spaniard took his first lead at 9-8 and extended that advantage.

The match featured multiple momentum swings and critical mistakes by both players. Soufi scratched on the break in the eighth rack while holding the lead, allowing Sánchez Ruíz to tie the match. Sánchez Ruíz won the ninth rack with a break-and-run for a 5-4 advantage. The score became tied at 8-8 before Sánchez Ruíz pulled ahead for the final victory.

This victory marked a significant achievement in Sánchez Ruíz’s career. In 2022, he won the World 8-Ball Championship and the U.S. Open. The 31-year-old from Murcia had established himself as one of the sport’s top players. He advanced past Mario He in the semifinals before defeating Soufi in the final.

Soufi finished as runner-up. Sánchez Ruíz’s title defense ended early at the 2024 championship.

Sources: WPA Pool, Wikipedia, WPA World Champions

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