From February 1-5, I attended the World Pool Championship (9-ball) in Kielce, Poland. On the opening night, I got there a little bit late. Upon arrival, I asked the woman working the entrance if I could take photos of the players. She responded with a “yes,” but then asked me what I had in my bag. I explained to her that it was my camera gear. She told me that I could only take photos with my smartphone, and not a camera. For that, I would need a press pass.
Later that night when I returned to my room, I wrote an email to Matchroom Sport (the organizer of the event) and asked if I could get a press pass for the remainder of the tournament. To my surprise, the following morning I got a response from Matt Lynch (Media and Brand Manager for Matchroom Sport). He told me to ask for him when I arrive at Targi Kielce, and he’ll get me a press pass. I was beyond ecstatic!
When I got there, I asked for him at the entrance, and he had a friendly guy named Louis help me out. With my press pass in hand, I checked out the brackets and started looking for players to photograph. Being both an avid player and fan of the game, this was by far the best event I’ve ever been to. It started with 128 of the top pool players from all over the world, many of whom I’ve followed online through the years.
For most of the photos I took, I used an old, fully-manual Nikkor 80-200mm f/4.5 lens that I inherited from my Grandma. It was sometimes tricky nailing the focus, but I enjoyed the challenge and am very happy with the photos that I took.
When taking pictures at such an event, one must be super mindful so as not to disturb the players. This includes not moving while in their line of sight or doing anything else that could disturb them while shooting. It’s best to set up before they get down on a shot and try to stay as still as possible.
Enough about my experience at the event… Feel free to check out the best images from the event below.
Albin Ouschan shoots the eight ball.
Albin Ouschan jumps the cue ball.
Aleksa Pecelj shoots the eight ball.
Aleksa Pecelj gets ready to break.
Aleksa Pecelj down on a shot.
Alexander Kazakis jacked up on a shot.
Alex Pagulayan shoots the nine ball.
Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan breaks the balls.
Alex Pagulayan uses the bridge.
Alex Pagulayan waits to break.
Aloysius Yapp watches Shane Van Boening shoot.
Aloysius Yapp jumps the cue ball.
Billy Thorpe bears down on a shot.
Chang Jun-lin during his match on the main TV table at Targi Kielce.
Chang Jun-lin breaks the balls.
Chang Jun-lin chalks his cue.
Chang Jun-lin shoots while referee John Leyman watches.
Chris Melling shoots while referee Desislava Bozhilova looks on.
David Alcaide breaks the balls.
David Alcaide shoots the 9 ball.
Denis Grabe chalks his cue.
Denis Grabe surveys the table.
Denis Grabe watches his opponent shoot.
Denis Grabe sinks the eight ball.
Eklent Kaci shoots the six ball.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz shoots the six ball.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz after he won the 2023 World Pool Championship.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz celebrates his victory.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz walks down to the TV table.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz jumps the cue ball.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz shoots the nine ball.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz surveys the table.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz holds the trophy.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz shoots the eight ball, winning the 2023 World Pool Championship in Kielce, Poland. His opponent Mohammad Soufi gave him the nine ball.
Nine ball rack during match between Thorsten Hohmann and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz.
Imran Majid uses the bridge as he shoots the six ball.
James Aranas bears down on a shot.
James Aranas shoots the four ball.
Jayson Shaw sits in his chair at the World Pool Championship.
Jayson Shaw shoots the two ball.
Jayson Shaw gets ready to break in his match against John Morra.
Johann Chua, watches his opponent.
Johann Chua uses the bridge to shoot the six ball.
Johann Chua shoots the four ball.
Referee John Leyman racks the balls.
John Morra strikes the cue ball.
John Morra shoots the nine ball.
John Morra shoots the seven ball while Jayson Shaw sits in his chair.
John Morra closes his eyes.
John Morra shoots the eight ball.
Joshua Filler shoots the six ball.
Joshua Filler at the table while Alex Pagulayan looks on.
Karol Skowerski looks at the table.
Konrad Juszczyszyn shoots the six ball.
Ko Ping Chung shoots at the two ball.
Ko Ping Chung strikes the cue ball.
Ko Pin Han shoots the four ball.
Ko Pin Yi looks at the table.
Ko Pin Yi strikes the cue ball.
Ko Pin Yi watches his opponent shoot.
A fan takes a photo of Emily Frazer, Matchroom Sport’s Managing Director.
A man takes a photo of the interview area at Targi Kielce.
Main TV table at the 2023 World Pool Championship in Kielce, Poland.
Mario He gets ready to jump the cue ball.
Mario He looks at the table.
Mario He shoots.
Mario He smiles while watching a fluke shot replay.
Mateusz Śniegocki shoots at the four ball.
Mateusz Śniegocki strikes the cue ball.
Max Lechner down on a shot.
Max Lechner watches his opponent shoot.
Max Lechner shoots the three ball.
Mika Immonen shoots the seven ball.
Mika Immonen looks at the table.
Mohammad Soufi strikes the cue ball.
Mohammad Soufi gets ready to break the balls.
Mohammad Soufi looks up at the screen while sitting in his chair.
Moritz Neuhausen strikes the cue ball.
Naoyuki Oi shoots at the two ball.
Niels “The Terminator” Feijen shoots at the four ball.
Niels Feijen looks at the table.
Niels Feijen ready to strike the cue ball.
Banner for the event.
Oscar Dominguez shoots.
Oscar Dominguez shoots the six ball.
Petri Makkonen strikes the cue ball.
Pijus Labutis looks at the table.
Quoc Hoang Duong of Vietnam takes a shot.
Quoc Hoang Duong shoots the nine ball.
Quoc Hoang Duong jumps the cue ball.
A referee racks the balls.
Nine ball rack on the main TV table.
Ralf Souquet sizes up a shot.
Ralf Souquet shoots the two ball.
Referee Desislava Bozhilova looks up at the screen.
Desislava Bozhilova racks the balls.
Ronald Regli shoots the four ball.
Sebastian Batkowski looks at the table.
Sebastian Batkowski jumps the cue ball.
Sebastian Batkowski bears down on a shot.
Shane Wolford shoots the two ball.
Mateusz Śniegocki signs autographs for fans at Targi Kielce during the 2023 World Pool Championship.
Shane Van Boening surveys the table.
Shane Van Boening shoots the three ball.
Shane Van Boening shoots the nine ball.
Shane Van Boening break shot.
Thorsten Hohmann about to shoot.
Thorsten Hohmann, shoots the four ball.
Thorsten Hohmann surveys the table.
Tyler Styer jumps the cue ball.
Tyler Styer jumps the cue ball.
Wiktor Zieliński shoots the nine ball.
Wiktor Zieliński jumps the cue ball.
Wiktor Zieliński shoots.
Wiktor Zieliński shoots the four ball.
Wojciech Szewczyk shoots the three ball.
Wojciech Szewczyk shoots the six ball.
Wojciech Szewczyk breaks the balls.
Nine ball rack on the main TV table at the 2023 World Pool Championship.
Wu Kun Lin shoots the three ball.
Wu Kun Lin shoots the nine ball.
Wu Kun Lin bears down on a shot.
Wu Kun lin breaks the balls in his match against Max Lechner.
