The World Pool-Billiard Association is delighted to have the opportunity of holding its World 9-Ball Championships for Junior players and Wheelchair athletes in Kielce.

The athletes who are to participate will represent more than twenty different nations, from all continents. There will be three individual world championship events, one for Junior boys, one for Junior girls, and another for wheelchair athletes.

Of all the world championships we have each year in different disciplines, none are considered higher or more important than these that are held for our younger players, known as juniors. It is from these ranks that tomorrow's champions emerge, stars such as Austrian Jasmin Ouschan who last year won the women's World 10-Ball Championship.

This event has been played annually since 1992, and while Europe has been the host continent on several occasions, this will be the first time we have seen the event played in Poland. Last year the events were held in Reno, USA, and the year before we were in Nicaragua, South America. Next year it is planned to play the events in the United Arab Emirates.

Organising this event will be WPA & EPBF Board Member, Marcin Krzeminski, and we know that he will handle this responsibility admirably. Marcin is a great advocate for our sport, and in particular for the youth and seeing that they get every opportunity that can be afforded toward them.

As an international organisation, we are all very grateful for the amount of support that we are receiving and I would like to pass on our sincere appreciation to everyone involved through the Lord Mayor of Kielce, Mr. Wojciech Lubawski and Mr. Marshal Adam Jarubas.

I know I speak on behalf of everyone in saying that we are all looking forward to visiting Kielce during the August/September period.


Ian Anderson
WPA President



I kindly welcome all participants who take part in the world championship pool billiards for juniors and wheelchair players. I am pleased that the Świętokrzyskie region has the honor of hosting so great athletes from all over world.

Participation in sports teaches healthy rivalry, coping with failure, self-control and self-criticism. Sport, in addition to desire to fight and win, develops in people a sense of discipline and ability to work in a group. Also teaches coping with difficult situations and learn from both winning, and the failure. These features are undoubtedly needed in society.

All Championships participants I wish the success of the competition, many emotions and true sport competition.


Adam Jarubas
The Marshal of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship



I cordially invite to Kielce all guests and participants of the World Pool-Billiard Championship for Juniors and Wheelchair Players.

Kielce is a modern and dynamic city, which has taken the advantage of the leap forward related to the membership in the European Union. In recent years, thanks to EU funds, investing in cultural institutions, social assistance, technical and sport infrastructure, Kielce has become friendly for its residents, tourists, businessmen and people with disabilities.

Kielce is also the city of geological curiosities. Experts call the capital of Świętokrzyskie "the greatest museum of geology in the open sky".

Thanks to modern base for sports, the city has also a chance to become the Polish capital of sports. All of this is evidenced by the existing infrastructure, modern hotel base and active participation of inhabitants in the sport life of Kielce. I should mention some of the local sports clubs: Vive Targi Kielce - Polish champion in handball and participant of the Champions League; Korona Kielce - football club, currently playing in the Ekstraklasa, the top level of Polish professional football competition; "Nosan Kielce" - 2nd place in the Polish billiards; "Stella Kielce" - Poland 2nd place in archery; "FART Kielce" - a volleyball club currently playing in PlusLiga; "KSS Kielce" - female handball club contends in Ekstraklasa. As a result, from our city come not only Polish champions, World Cup and European Championship participants, but also numerous Olympic athletes.

Cycling routes in Kielce are very popular among cyclists. A scenic route marked around the city (length 85 km) and designated Municipal Tourist Route were built especially for active leisure. Kielce race-track is located nearby Kielce, in Miedziana Góra. It is the perfect place for meaningful regional and national motor car and bike racing events.

Among the many recommendable sites to visit, a special place takes the National Museum located in the Former Cracow Bishops' Palace and the Museum of Toys and Play, which is the one of its kind in Poland that has in the collection about 30 thousand exhibits. It is also worth to see the Museum of Stefan Żeromski's School Years too. The collection of Gallery of Contemporary Religious Art includes works of prominent Polish artists such as Tadeusz Kantor, Wladyslaw Hasior and Jerzy Nowosielski.

I wish all the contestants who are going to participate in the Championships a good form as well as healthy and safe rivalry, and the guests - an unforgettable experience of staying in Kielce.


Wojciech Lubawski
Mayor of Kielce



Dear Sirs/Madams,
Dear Colleagues,

For the first time Poland is the host of the World Pool Championships. This is a great distinction and confirmation that work done together brings great results.

Polish billiards, especially in the junior category, is considered as one of the best in the world. This is evidenced by nearly 100 medals-won by our representatives in the World and European Championships, but also not present in other countries, a network of school sports clubs, which in recent years have trained over 10,000 children.

I am glad that we will visit in Kielce best pool players on wheelchairs. For many of you billiard sport has become a passion and way of life.

I sincerely thank the President of the World Pool Billiard Association (WPA), Ian Anderson for the trust he bestowed on us by arranging for the organization of the tournament. Thank you for support to my colleague, the member of the board of the WPA, Marcin Krzeminski and authorities of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, City Kielce and Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. Thank you for the logistical support of the European Pocket Billiard Federation and financial help of sponsors.

I am convinced that the participants and guests of our event in Kielce spend wonderful, memorable moments. Your visit to Poland is important to us for one more reason. In July, Poland took the lead in the European Union. You are not only guests of Kielce and Poland, but the whole of a united Europe.

I wish all the great moments and I hope that our team will succeed in the championship.


Grzegorz Kedzierski
President of the Polish Billiard Association