The World Pool Championship takes place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from June 3-8 as 128 of the world’s elite compete in the crown jewel of nineball pool, with a $1million prize purse up for grabs.
Having endured near misses when tipping Joshua Filler to win the World Pool Masters and 100/1 outsider Pijus Labutis to win the recent UK Open, pool writer Ben Hudd returns with his best bets and analysis for pool’s showpiece staging.
World Pool Championship 2024 betting tips
- Joshua Filler to win the World Pool Championship – 15/2 Bet365
- Ko Ping-Chung to win the World Pool Championship – 22/1 E/W Bet365 1/2
- Carlo Biado to win the World Pool Championship – 33/1 E/W Bet365 1/2
- Pijus Labutis to win the World Pool Championship – 80/1 E/W Ladbrokes 1/2
- Duong Quoc Hoang to win the World Pool Championship – 80/1 E/W Ladbrokes 1/2
Usually when the World Pool Championship comes around, it’s the world’s elite who have reached the business end and gone onto to reign victorious. Albin Ouschan, Shane van Boening and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz been crowned world champions in the World Nineball Tour era, meaning it tends to be between a handful of players as to who picks up for the trophy.
Joshua Filler, the 2018 champion when the tournament was held in Qatar, is the name that leaps off the page when it comes to any significant occasion. He’s been installed as a rightful 15/2 favourite, although there’s still an element of value as he will be highly-fancied to land a second world title.
The seventh seed would skyrocket his way to world number one should be trouser the quarter-of-a-million dollars top prize, a position many would argue that he should already occupy. Filler is undoubtedly the most dangerous player on the planet and it will take something genuinely special to stop him.
Filler overcame Carlo Biado to become world champion six years ago, denying the Filipino back-to-back titles, something only achieved by the legendary Earl Strickland. Now a US Open and a world 10-ball champion, Biado offers value at 33/1 as he’s a considerable force when everything comes together for him.
Another name that could attract attention is 22/1 world number four Ko Ping-Chung, the reigning US Open champion. Defending champion Sanchez Ruiz completed the blue-ribbon double when winning the title last February, and there’s no reason why the Taiwanese sensation couldn’t emulate that accomplishment.
Twice a semi-finalist at the sport’s showpiece staging, Ko has all the ingredients needed to follow in his brother’s illustrious footsteps. He sunk the one ball in the middle pocket on twelve successive occasions on his way to winning the US Open last year, and the break is always an important aspect of the game.
Pijus Labutis was tipped on these pages to win the UK Open as a 100/1 outsider last month, narrowly missing out on an each-way return. Labutis overcame defending champion Eklent Kaci on his way to the semi-finals in Telford, before coming unstuck against eventual winner Robbie Capito.
Perhaps the occasion and what was at stake proved a strenuous one to handle for the Lithuanian, who was also a semi-finalist at last year’s Spanish Open. Nonetheless, he has evolved into one of the form horses this year, having also reached two ranking finals, and he’s difficult to avoid as an 80/1 each-way fancy.
Duong Quoc Hoang is another who could give many a run for their money at massive odds and backing him 80/1 each-way could well be worth the gamble. The Vietnamese number one was a quarter-finalist last year in Poland, notably dethroning Shane van Boening during an eye-catching campaign.
Duong recently snapped off the Scottish Open in Glasgow, beating Eklent Kaci and Ko Pin-Yi during that impressive campaign. He is one of the most talented shotmakers but also has the knowhow to emerge victorious, knowing when to play safe and when to chance his arm at an ambitious shot.
Other selected odds for the World Championship include 12/1 for Francisco Sanchez Ruiz to defend his title, 33/1 for recent UK Open champion Robbie Capito, 80/1 for last year’s runner-up Mohammad Soufi and 125/1 for UK Open quarter-finalist Tobias Bongers.
