WPC 9 Ball 2000-2006 Top 8 records

I am listing the results of the WPC from year 2000 to 2006 the records can be found in www.azbilliards.com for the top 8 players of each year for the Countries of USA, Philippines and Taiwan so you might get an idea of what is happening in the pool world... (I couldn't find previous results from 2000)

USA top 8 finishers: Total 8 times from 5 players Earl Strickland(3), Johny Archer(2),Corey Deuel, Jeremy Jones, Rodney Morris,
Philippines top 8 finishers: Total 11 times from 7 players Rodolfo Luat(2), Leonardo Andam, Francisco Bustamante(2), Efren Reyes, Alex Pagulayan(2), Marlon Manalo(2), Ronnie Alcano
Taiwan top 8 finisher: Total 15 times from 11 players Fong-Pang Chao(2), Chia Hsiung Lai, Ching-Shun Yang(2), Hui Kai Hsia, Pei-Wei Chang, Po Cheng Kuo(2), Chin-Ching Kang, Chia-Ching Wu(2), Kun-Chang Huang, Che-Wei Fu, Chun-Chiang Liu

I choose the WPC because IMO it is the biggest International tournament and has the toughest field of players. What I am seeing from the results especially in the last years that in every year I am expecting from a new Taiwanese player to go deep into the tournament up to the point of might winning it. I think these is what makes the difference between Taiwan and the other countries they have so mant new players coming up that I don't have to expect the favorite players to go deep I know some less known player will go far in the tournament.


Victor Chandler World Pool Championship
July 1-9, 2000
Cardiff International Arena
Cardiff, Wales

Place Player Name Prize Money
1st place Fong-Pang Chao $60,000.00 TAIWAN
2nd place Ismael Paez $30,000.00
3rd place Corey Deuel $15,000.00 USA
3rd place Earl Strickland $15,000.00 USA
5th place Rodolfo Luat $7,500.00 Philippines
5th place Johl Younger $7,500.00
5th place Peter F. Nielsen $7,500.00
5th place Steve Davis $7,500.00

Admiral World Pool Championship
July 14 - 22, 2001
Cardiff International Arena
Cardiff Wales

Place Player Name Prize Money
1st place Mika Immonen $65,000.00
2nd place Ralf Souquet $30,000.00
3rd place Alain Martel $17,500.00
3rd place Chia Hsiung Lai $17,500.00 TAIWAN
5th place Leonardo Andam $8,500.00 Philippines
5th place Niels Feijen $8,500.00
5th place Jeremy Jones $8,500.00 USA
5th place Marcus Chamat $8,500.00

World Pool Championship
July 13 - 21, 2002
Cardiff International Arena
Cardiff Wales

Place Player Name Prize Money
1st place Earl Strickland $65,000.00 USA
2nd place Francisco Bustamante $30,000.00 Philippines
3rd place Takeshi Okumura $17,500.00
3rd place Ching-Shun Yang $17,500.00 TAIWAN
5th place Kunihiko Takahashi $8,500.00
5th place Efren Reyes $8,500.00 Philippines
5th place Johnny Archer $8,500.00 USA
5th place Marcus Chamat $8,500.00

World Pool Championship
July 12 - 20, 2003
Cardiff Wales

Place Player Name Prize Money
1st place Thorsten Hohmann $65,000.00
2nd place Alex Pagulayan $30,000.00 Philippines
3rd place Earl Strickland $17,500.00 USA
3rd place Tony Drago $17,500.00
5th place Hui Kai Hsia $8,500.00 TAIWAN
5th place Ching-Shun Yang $8,500.00 TAIWAN
5th place Shin Young Park $8,500.00
5th place Francisco Bustamante $8,500.00 Philippines

World Pool Championship
July 10 - 18, 2004
World Trade Center, Taiwan

Place Player Name Prize Money
1st place Alex Pagulayan $75,000.00 Philippines
2nd place Pei-Wei Chang $35,000.00 TAIWAN
3rd place Marcus Chamat $20,000.00
3rd place Po Cheng Kuo $20,000.00 TAIWAN
5th place Chin-Ching Kang $10,000.00 TAIWAN
5th place Johnny Archer $10,000.00 USA
5th place Fong-Pang Chao $10,000.00 TAIWAN
5th place Marlon Manalo $10,000.00 Philippines

2005 World Pool Championship
July 2 - 10, 2005
Kaohsiung

Place Player Name Prize Money
1st place Chia-Ching Wu $75,000.00 TAIWAN
2nd place Po Cheng Kuo $35,000.00 TAIWAN
3rd place Rodney Morris $20,000.00 USA
3rd place Marlon Manalo $20,000.00 Philippines
5th place Kun-Chang Huang $10,000.00 TAIWAN
5th place Mika Immonen $10,000.00
5th place Thorsten Hohmann $10,000.00
5th place Nick Van Den Berg $10,000.00

World Pool Championship
November 4 - 12, 2006
Manila

Place Player Name Prize Money
1st place Ronnie Alcano $100,000.00 Philippines
2nd place Ralf Souquet $40,000.00
3rd place Che-Wei Fu $20,000.00 TAIWAN
3rd place He Wen Li $20,000.00
5th place Chi Dung Luong $10,000.00
5th place Rodolfo Luat $10,000.00 Philippines
5th place Chun-Chiang Liu $10,000.00 TAIWAN
5th place Chia-Ching Wu $10,000.00 TAIWAN

Marvel said:

ps. You had Rodolfo luat twice in your list

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Thanks i just corrected the list.

Roy Steffensen said:

Not looking good for Europe and America when looking at the picture attached

EDIT: Couldn't the picture larger, so put on your glasses and study it

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Have you included in your chart for Asia the following players?
Takeshi Okumura Japan, Kunihiko Takahashi Japan, Shin Young Park Korea, He Wen Li China, Chi Dung Luong Vietnam.

John Barton said:

I think what this shows is that when the Taiwanese have more players in the field then they end up with more players in the top eight. Put an equal number of players from the pool powerhouses in the field and you will see different results.

Or - hold the WPC in the United States for the next 3 years and see what the results show then. I am confident that there will be more Americans in the top eight than when the tournament is held in Asia.

The USA has plenty of top players who can give the Taiwanese all they can handle. They just don't have the motivation to travel and play.

I have been around the world many times and seen players everywhere. Until there is a World Tour that all the players can compete on there will never be a true way to say which country has the best players overall other than personal feeling.

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If I remember correctly every year USA has about 10-11 spots for the WPC Taiwan and Philippines has also about the same spots and there are 10-11 open spots for the qualifier events, which the last 3 years they went to players from Taiwan and Philippines about an even share I think the most players was 17 for Taiwan and Philippines.

You can not even imagine how much I would like to see 10-11 playres from Taiwan competing in the US Open and see how much damage they could do, just to reverce your theorie.

If the WPC Title is not enough to motivate a pool player he is the wrong sport. Two things come in mind year 2002 and Earl Strickland dancing on top of the pool table and year 2004 Alex Pagulayan running around like crazy and doing backflips. Not to mention the $100.000 prize money and that you actually getting paid.