Becoming world champion is the pinnacle and the ultimate aspiration for anyone who travels around the world striving for perfection. Four remain in the reckoning to transform dreams into reality as the World Pool Championship concludes in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Amongst those endeavouring to stand on the summit of professional pool are the world number two and 2019 world champion, an Albanian who has come full circle following an excruciating year, a flamboyant Filipino and a Polish wildcard who could unravel a bittersweet scenario.

World Masters champion Fedor Gorst will encounter Poland’s Wojciech Szewczyk, while Eklent Kaci and Johann Chua attempt to reach the final for the first time. All four semi-finalists have already guaranteed $50,000 – which could become a life-changing $250,000 should they reign supreme.

Eklent Kaci vs Johann Chua

A World Pool Masters runner-up and a UK Open champion before his freak injury twelve months ago, Eklent Kaci was quite conceivably the finest player on the planet. He’s now well recovered and come full circle as he sets his sights on what would be the most prosperous success of his career.

Kaci could add the World Nineball Tour’s showpiece staging to his two World 10-Ball Championship titles in Las Vegas. The Golden Eagle of Albania has been the most consistent operator this week, never appearing in any trouble and winning each of his matches in relatively dominant fashion.

In a contest that could perhaps transpire at the inaugural Reyes Cup in October, Kaci encounters World Cup of Pool champion Johann Chua. The Filipino has redeemed the spectacular play that he produced during that Filipino success alongside James Aranas this week and fulfilled his potential at long last.

Nonetheless, Chua will be extremely grateful to be appearing in the semi-finals. Eritrea’s Hamzaa Ali missed three match-winning balls against him in his opener and a second round defeat at the hands of Jayson Shaw banished him onto the one-loss side, where he ultimately survived with a crushing win over Albin Ouschan.

Having emerged through a subsequent hill-hill affair against Max Lechner and manoeuvred his way past against 2023 runner-up Mohammad Soufi, the flamboyant Filipino came good in the quarter-finals. Chua produced a magnificent seven break and runs in a flawless display, a confidence boost ahead of the business end.

Chua has provided a reminder of his undeniable talents during a potential life-changing week, although overcoming the considerable force that Kaci has proved to be in the Middle East will be no mean feat.

Prediction: 11-8 Kaci

Fedor Gorst vs Wojciech Szewczyk

Fedor Gorst was expected to reach the semi-finals as the world number two – him becoming world champion for a second time was a scenario that many would have envisaged. However, it’s the manner in which his campaign has unfolded which has been extraordinary and truly captured the imagination.

Blighted by jet-lag early on, Gorst was imminently banished onto the one-loss side as Turkey’s Mustafa Alnar achieved a stunning scalp. His route has been the polar opposite of straightforward since then, requiring two deciding racks as well as a spellbinding comeback from 7-1 down against Iraq’s Ameer Ali. Perhaps it’s destiny and his name is already on the trophy.

Having brushed aside Joshua Filler’s conquerer Anton Raga in the quarter-finals, the World Pool Masters champion has another challenge on his hands. Poland’s Wojciech Szewczyk inflicted defeats on Shane van Boening and Wiktor Zielinski on Friday, and Gorst will be vying to avoid becoming his latest high-profile victim.

In a similar instance to his semi-final opponent, Szewczyk was also defeated in his opening match at the hands of Jonas Souto Comino. However, the former world 10-ball champion has recuperated and left his opponents with minimal opportunity, breaking well and obtaining the leverage early on in matches.

Szewczyk will not reap the rewards of his run to the fullest extent should be overcome Gorst and reach the showpiece. Having not announced his commitment to the World Nineball Tour at the beginning of the year, the Pole could be ineligible for Mosconi Cup and Reyes Cup qualification. Perhaps that allows him to focus fully on becoming the world nineball champion for the first time nonetheless.

Prediction: 11-7 Gorst