The World Nineball Tour are delighted to confirm the top 100 ranked players qualified to play in the crown jewel of WNT, the World Pool Championship in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.
 
The thrilling final of the 2024 UK Open Pool Championship cemented the top 100 WNT ranked professionals gearing up for the World Pool Championship in the Green Halls, Jeddah between 3-8 June, in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation (SABSF) and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sport.
 
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz maintains his status as No.1 on the rankings, and is joined by other stars including Shane Van Boening, Fedor Gorst, and Albin Ouschan in a pursuit to claim another World Pool Championship title next month.
 
Ruiz said: 'I am so happy to retain my No.1 ranking, especially as we head into this year's World Pool Championship in Saudi Arabia next month. My goal is not only to maintain my top position on the World Nineball Tour but also to defend my World Pool Championship title. I am determined to showcase my best game and emerge victorious once again on the world stage.'
 
The landmark event will see a field of 128 elite cueists battling it out in a double-elimination format for a record-breaking prize fund.
 
In addition to the top 100, the remaining 28 players will be made up of wildcard entries, 13 of whom will represent the host nation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Full details of the players representing Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries will be announced soon.
 
Matchroom Multi Sport CEO Emily Frazer said: 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has hosted the world's premier sporting spectacles of late and we are thrilled to be staging the prestigious World Pool Championships in Jeddah. Now the world's top 100 are all signed up, this tournament truly will live up to the hype. The fans are in for a real treat and you will not want to miss it.
 
'We are hugely grateful to both the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sport for their incredible vision and invaluable support in making this elite event a reality.'
 
The World Pool Championship joins an incredible year-round schedule of international sports in Saudi Arabia, where investment across all sports is inspiring the population to embrace active and healthy lifestyles as part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 cultural transformation.
 
From its investments in grassroots infrastructure to hosting international events – including motorsport, football, tennis, and boxing – the country's Ministry of Sport has helped inspire an 800% increase in organised sports groups and a 300% increase in weekly sports participation among the local population.