2026 World 10-Ball Championship Guide: Field, Format, Prize Money and Live Streams
A 96-player field will compete for $300,000 in Ho Chi Minh City, with four former champions and many of pool's biggest names chasing the title.
The 2026 World 10-Ball Championship opens in Ho Chi Minh City on September 19 with 96 players, a $300,000 prize fund and an $80,000 first prize. The field includes four former champions, several multi-discipline world title winners and a strong group of Vietnamese contenders.
What are the key details for the 2026 World 10-Ball Championship?
The men's World 10-Ball Championship returns to Vietnam for a second consecutive year. Ho Chi Minh City again provides the stage for one of the richest events on the international pool calendar.
| Tournament detail | 2026 information |
|---|---|
| Host city | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |
| Opening date | September 19, 2026 |
| Field size | 96 players |
| Total prize fund | $300,000 |
| Champion's prize | $80,000 |
| Opening phase | Double elimination |
| Knockout phase | 32 players, single elimination |
| Match system | Set play |
Defending champion Ko Ping-Chung will not return to defend the title. His absence guarantees a change at the top and creates a major opportunity for both established world champions and first-time contenders.
Which former champions are in the 2026 field?
Four previous World 10-Ball champions are scheduled to compete. Two-time winner Eklent Kaci leads that group alongside Darren Appleton, Wojciech Szewczyk and 2024 champion Carlo Biado.
Kaci won the tournament in 2021 and 2023, making him the only two-time champion in the field. Appleton captured the inaugural edition in 2008, Szewczyk won in 2022 and Biado defeated Naoyuki Oi in the 2024 final.
The championship also includes former finalists. Two-time runner-up Naoyuki Oi returns, while 2022 runner-up Cristopher Tevez is part of a four-player Peruvian contingent that includes Gerson Martinez.
Who can complete a three-discipline world championship set?
Five elite players arrive with an unusual piece of history within reach. Shane Van Boening, Albin Ouschan, Joshua Filler, Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and Ralf Souquet have already won world titles in both 8-ball and 9-ball. A victory in Ho Chi Minh City would give any one of them a world championship in all three major rotation disciplines.
Aloysius Yapp enters with different momentum. The Singaporean won the World 8-Ball Championship in April and now has an opportunity to collect a second world title in the same season.
Fedor Gorst, Jayson Shaw, Alex Kazakis and Johann Chua add further depth to a field in which a recognized contender could face a world-class opponent from the opening phase.
Which Vietnamese players should fans follow?
Duong Quoc Hoang carries the strongest local spotlight. His run to the last 16 in the previous edition drew a vast online audience and confirmed his status as one of Vietnam's most visible international pool players.
Duong is joined by Luong Duc Thien, Phuong Nam Pham and Nguyen Anh Tuan. Home support could become a significant feature of the event, especially when Vietnamese players appear on the main table.
The international entry list extends well beyond the established champions. Moritz Neuhausen, David Alcaide, Robbie Capito, Kledio Kaci, Pijus Labutis, Oliver Szolnoki, Denis Grabe and Indonesia's Albert Januarta are among the notable invitees.
The United States is represented by Skyler Woodward, Billy Thorpe and Tyler Styer, while John Morra of Canada, Hayato Hijikata of Japan, Ko Taeyoung of South Korea and Ameer Ali of Iraq reinforce the event's global character.
How does the 2026 World 10-Ball Championship format work?
The tournament begins with a 96-player double-elimination phase. A player is not eliminated after one defeat during this stage, but a second loss ends the campaign. The surviving 32 players move into a straight knockout bracket.
Opening-phase matches are best of three sets. Each set is a race to four racks, so the first player to win two sets takes the match.
From the last 32 onward, matches become best of five sets. A player must win three sets to advance. If the deciding set reaches 3-3, a shootout determines the match winner.
This structure rewards more than raw rack-winning ability. Players must repeatedly reset between short sets, manage pressure at the end of each race to four and be prepared for a shootout when the deciding set reaches its limit.
How is the $300,000 prize fund divided?
The champion receives $80,000, while the runner-up earns $40,000. Every player who reaches the last 32 is guaranteed at least $2,500.
| Finishing position | Prize per player |
|---|---|
| Champion | $80,000 |
| Runner-up | $40,000 |
| Semi-finalists | $20,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | $10,000 |
| Last 16 | $5,000 |
| Last 32 | $2,500 |
| Qualification-stage losers | $1,250 |
| Total prize fund | $300,000 |
The payout creates a sharp financial increase at every knockout round. Moving from the last 32 to the last 16 doubles a player's earnings from $2,500 to $5,000, while reaching the final guarantees at least $40,000.
Where can fans find the draw and live scores?
The complete bracket and updated match results are available through the official Pro Billiard Series draw and live scores page. Because match assignments and results change throughout the tournament, the live bracket is the most reliable place to follow each player's route.
Fans should check the bracket before every session rather than relying on a static schedule. Double-elimination events can move quickly, and later-round pairings depend on results from both the winners' and losers' sides.
How can viewers watch the 2026 World 10-Ball Championship?
Free main-table coverage is scheduled on Billiard TV and the Pro Billiard TV YouTube channel. Box Billiards Vietnam is also expected to stream matches through its YouTube channel.
The combination of a main-table broadcast and additional table coverage gives viewers more ways to follow both title favorites and local Vietnamese players. Stream availability and table assignments can change by session, so viewers should consult the official channels near match time.
Who won the most recent World 10-Ball titles?
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Final result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Eklent Kaci | Naoyuki Oi | 10-6 |
| 2022 | Wojciech Szewczyk | Cristopher Tevez | 10-8 |
| 2023 | Eklent Kaci | Francisco Sanchez Ruiz | 10-7 |
| 2024 | Carlo Biado | Naoyuki Oi | 3-1 in sets |
| 2025 | Ko Ping-Chung | Alex Kazakis | 3-1 in sets |
Set play has defined the two most recent finals. Biado won the 2024 championship in four sets, and Ko Ping-Chung followed with another 3-1 victory in 2025. With Ko absent, the 2026 edition will produce either a returning champion or a new name on the trophy.
When does the 2026 World 10-Ball Championship begin?
The tournament begins in Ho Chi Minh City on September 19, 2026.
How many players are competing?
The field contains 96 players, with 32 advancing from double elimination to the single-elimination knockout stage.
How much does the 2026 World 10-Ball champion win?
The champion receives $80,000 from a total prize fund of $300,000.
Is Ko Ping-Chung defending his title?
No. The 2025 champion has opted not to defend the title in Ho Chi Minh City.
Where can fans watch the tournament for free?
Main-table coverage is scheduled on Billiard TV and Pro Billiard TV on YouTube, with additional matches expected from Box Billiards Vietnam.