World Pool-Billiard Association

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The World Pool-Billiard Association is the international governing body for pocket billiards. The group was formed in 1987, and was initially headed by a provisional board of directors consisting of representatives from Japan, the United States, Sweden, and Germany. The current WPA president is Tsun-che Chuan of Taipei.

One of the first tasks undertaken by the board was to organize a world championship tournament. These efforts culminated in March 1990, when 48 players (32 men, 16 women) participated in the inaugural WPA World 9-Ball Championships in Bergheim, Germany.

The first General Assembly was held on March 3, 1990, and it was at this assembly that the World Pool-Billiard Association was sanctioned as the international governing body for pool. The acronym WPA was chosen, so as not to conflict with the Women's Professional Billiard Association, already known as the WPBA.

The WPA's membership has grown since its inception. In 1991 Australia and New Zealand (under the umbrella of the Australasian Pool Association) joined. Latin America and Caribe^[clarify] became members in 1999, and Africa followed in 2000.

[edit] WPA membership

Membership in the WPA is held by national/regional billiards groups, rather than individual countries.

Organization	Member Countries
AAPA – All Africa Pool Association	Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia
APBU – Asian Pocket Billiard Union	Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam
BCA – Billiard Congress of America	Canada, United States
CPB – Confederation Panamerica of Billiards	Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela
EPBF – European Pocket Billiard Federation	Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine
OPBA – Oceania Pocket Billiard Association	Australia, New Zealand

[edit] See also

• List of World 9-Ball champions
• List of professional sports leagues

[edit] External links

• WPA Website
• WPA Initiative Website

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