Pune Hosts $400,000 WPA Heyball World Championships With Top Global Stars

The $400,000 Apex Sports 3rd WPA Heyball World Championships is set to commence this Wednesday at the Khinvasara Billiards and Snooker Academy, located at the Pune Jairaj Sports & Convention Centre. The four-day tournament features an elite 128-player field divided equally into 64 men and 64 women, making it the richest cue sports tournament in Indian history and eclipsing the 300,000-pound Indian Open snooker tournament.

The competition features six of the world's top ten men's players, led by world No. 1 Jack Whelan and defending champion Gareth Potts, who is a four-time World pool champion. India's 28-time world billiards and snooker champion, 41-year-old Pankaj Advani, was handed a wildcard entry into the field following player pullouts. Advani, who previously won the International Open in Chandigarh and first tried heyball three years ago, will rely on his snooker safety skills and tactical play to navigate the draw.

In the women's section, eight of the top ten players are competing. Reigning champion Kelly Fisher of Britain, who has won world titles across four disciplines, enters as a favourite alongside top-ranked Wendy Jans of Belgium. Jans brings extensive international snooker credentials to the tournament, having won 14 European championships and nine IBSF World championships.

A total of 11 Indian cueists are competing in the tournament. The host nation's hopes in the women's draw are led by Amee Kamani, who secured a bronze medal at the previous edition of the event in Australia, along with Commonwealth Billiards Championships gold medallist Vidya Pillai and World junior bronze medallist Natasha Chethan. The Indian contingent also includes IBSF World snooker champion Anupama Ramachandran and Varshaa Sanjeev, who is returning to competitive action following a three-year hiatus.

World Pool Association President Ishaun Singh stated that Pune hosting the event represents a landmark moment globally and for India, citing the country's sports-loving population, expanding cue sports infrastructure, and grassroots passion. Billiards and Snooker Federation of India President S Balasubramaniam added that the big-ticket tournament will significantly boost the popularity of heyball across the nation.