The event brings together 128 players from 47 countries, including a 13-strong Polish team, state news agency PAP reported.
Ishaun Singh, head of the World Pool-Billiard Association, said he was “delighted that Poland has agreed to organise the world 9-ball championship.”
He praised the progress made by Polish players in recent years, and the country’s “exemplary work to develop young players.”
Poland "has fully deserved to stage this event,” he told reporters, as quoted by PAP.
'At least one Polish player will make the podium': official
Meanwhile, Polish Deputy Sports Minister Anna Krupka said the government had spent PLN 500,000 (EUR 106,000) to organise the championships.
She added: “We are also allocating funds for the promotion of pool-billiard and for the Polish national team. In 2022 alone, we earmarked PLN 700,000 (EUR 149,000) for these purposes and the results are clear to see.”
Krupka also said Polish billiard-pool players last year claimed three world championship medals and 13 European championship medals.
"I am confident that come Sunday, at least one Polish player will make the podium in these world championships,” she told reporters.
Poles tipped to vie for medals
The event in Poland's Kielce features all of the world’s leading nine-ball players, including defending champion Shane Van Boening from the United States, according to officials.
Several Polish players are tipped to compete for medals, notably world No. 7 Wiktor Zieliński and last year’s 10-ball world champion Wojciech Szewczyk, the PAP news agency reported.
The 2023 World Nine-Ball Pool Championship runs until Sunday.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, tvp.info