In a gripping showdown at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal City Sports Hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Fedor Gorst emerged victorious as the 2024 WPA World 9-Ball Champion. The event, organised by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation, and the WPA’s promoter Matchroom Sport Limited, saw Gorst narrowly defeat Eklent Kaci with a final score of 15-14.
The match began with Gorst winning the lag, which set the stage for an early advantage. He quickly secured a 3-0 lead, but Kaci responded in the fourth rack by escaping a tight safety on the 2-ball. Gorst, undeterred, reclaimed control, extending his lead to 5-1 after surviving another safety attempt from Kaci.
Despite Kaci’s efforts to stay in the game, Gorst showcased his skill with a series of spectacular shots, including a high-flying jump shot on the 2-ball in rack 8 and another on the 3-ball in rack 13, bringing the score to 8-4. Kaci then mounted a spirited comeback, winning two consecutive racks. However, a costly error in rack 15 saw him park the 9-ball next to the pocket, allowing Gorst to execute a brilliant carom shot off the 3-ball to sink the 9-ball, pushing the score to 9-6.
The match intensity soared as the players exchanged racks, reaching rack 19. Kaci’s repeated mistake of parking the 4-ball provided Gorst another opening to clear the table. Taking advantage of a dry break from Gorst, Kaci cleaned up the rack. However, a scratch on Kaci’s break allowed Gorst to maintain his lead and execute two break-and-runs, extending his advantage to 13-9.
A misstep from Gorst on the 1-ball during his break gave Kaci another chance to close the gap. The composed Kaci thrilled the audience with the shot of the tournament—a two-rail kick to a 2-9 combo—levelling the score at 13-13. Kaci maintained his momentum, reaching the hill first by clearing yet another rack. However, a dry break in the final rack gave Gorst the opportunity he needed to tie the score at hill-hill.
The final rack was a nail-biting exchange of safety shots between the two young finalists. An accidental scratch by Kaci dashed his hopes of becoming World Champion. With ball in hand, Gorst methodically cleared the table one last time, securing his second WPA World 9-Ball Championship title.
This victory not only solidifies Fedor Gorst’s position as one of the top players in the world but also etches his name in history as the youngest ever to win multiple WPA World 9-Ball Championship titles. His performance throughout the tournament and particularly in this final match demonstrated exceptional skill, composure, and a champion’s mindset.
The 2024 WPA World 9-Ball Championship was a testament to the high level of competition and sportsmanship in the world of professional Pool. Fedor Gorst’s triumph will be remembered as one of the most thrilling and well-fought victories in the sport’s history.
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* Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/matchroompool
