KIELCE, POLAND — The 2026 WPA European Heyball Open has concluded at the Grand Hotel Kielce, with Maks Benko of Slovenia and Waratthanun Sukritthanes of Thailand claiming the men’s and women’s titles respectively after several days of world-class Heyball competition.
The WPA-sanctioned event brought together 102 athletes — 64 men and 38 women — from across multiple countries and continents, competing for a total USD $116,000 prize fund. Held immediately following the European Heyball Championships, the European Open continued a landmark period of international Heyball competition in Kielce, keeping the Świętokrzyskie region at the centre of the sport for an extended run of elite competition.
The event was organized by the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) in partnership with the Polish Billiard Association (PZBil) and FORTIS Bilard Kielce, and was sanctioned by the World Pool Association (WPA) under the governance framework of the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS).
Benko Completes Outstanding Run to Men’s Title
Slovenia’s Maks Benko produced a commanding performance through the knockout stages to claim the men’s European Open crown. Benko began his quarter-final campaign with a 7–4 victory over Germany’s Yuma Dörner, before advancing to the final with another impressive 7–2 win over Pakistan’s Arfan Dad in the semi-finals. On the opposite side of the draw, Great Britain’s Jordan Shepherd defeated Kęstutis Žadeikis 6–5 in the quarter-finals before overcoming Poland’s Radosław Babica 7–1 in the semi-finals. The championship final saw Benko and Shepherd battle for the title, with the Slovenian ultimately prevailing 7–4 to become the 2026 WPA European Heyball Open Men’s Champion.
Men’s Podium
🥇 Maks Benko — Slovenia
🥈 Jordan Shepherd — Great Britain
🥉 Arfan Dad — Pakistan
🥉 Radosław Babica — Poland
Sukritthanes Claims Women’s Crown
Thailand’s Waratthanun Sukritthanes completed an equally impressive campaign to claim the women’s title. In the quarter-finals, Sukritthanes overcame South Africa’s Marina Jacobs 5–4, before defeating Mongolia’s Narantuya Bayarsaikhan 6–3 in the semi-finals. Great Britain’s Mary Talbot secured her place in the championship match after defeating Japan’s Tamami Okuda 6–3 and Germany’s Veronika Halliday 5–4. The women’s final saw Sukritthanes maintain her excellent form, defeating Talbot 6–3 to secure the European Open title.
Women’s Podium
🥇 Waratthanun Sukritthanes — Thailand
🥈 Mary Talbot — Great Britain
🥉 Veronika Halliday — Germany
🥉 Narantuya Bayarsaikhan — Mongolia
The WPA congratulates both champions and all medalists on their outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
Global Coverage Brings Heyball to Fans Worldwide
The 2026 WPA European Heyball Open also delivered extensive live coverage throughout the competition, with matches broadcast from all 16 tables, including the feature TV table.
The tournament’s comprehensive digital coverage helped bring the action in Kielce to audiences around the world and further demonstrated the growing international reach of Heyball.
The event was streamed through WPALIVE.TV, covering the TV Table while TVSPORTS.PL and the EPBF channels supported the international media coverage of the championship, covering live tables 2- 15.
The WPA thanks the EPBF, Polish Billiard Association, FORTIS Bilard Kielce, JOY Billiards, officials, referees, volunteers, media partners and all event partners for their contribution to a successful European Open.
The medal ceremony marked the conclusion of another major international Heyball event in Kielce, with trophies and medals presented by Viktoria Nagorna, representing the World Pool-Billiard Association, and Grzegorz Kędzierski, President of the Polish Billiard Association.
The successful conclusion of the European Open follows the European Heyball Championships, making Kielce the centre of international Heyball competition for consecutive days and providing another important platform for the development and promotion of the discipline across Europe.
The WPA European Heyball Open continues to demonstrate the growing depth of international Heyball, with athletes from multiple continents competing at the highest level and an expanding global audience following the sport.
Event Information
Event: 2026 WPA European Heyball Open
Location: Grand Hotel Kielce, Poland
Dates: 6–10 August 2026
Athletes: 102 — 64 Men / 38 Women
Prize Fund: USD $116,000
Tables: 16 JOY Heyball Tables
Sanctioned by: World Pool Association (WPA)
Continental Federation: European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF)
Governance: World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS)
Media Contact
World Pool Association (WPA)
Media & Communications Department
📧 media@wpapool.com
🌐 www.wpapool.com
