• World Pool Championship will take place in the Kingdom of Bahrain next April for the first time
• $1,000,000 prize fund on the line for the world's best 128 pool players
• New multi-year partnership between Matchroom Pool and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority brings the World Nineball Tour to a new territory
The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Matchroom Pool, one of the world’s leading organisers and promoters of professional pool, under a multi-year partnership that will see the World Nineball Tour head to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the 2027 World Pool Championship, taking place from 5–10 April. The championship will be staged in partnership with the Bahrain Billiard Sports and Darts Federation.
The 2027 World Pool Championship, the Crown Jewel of the World Nineball Tour, will see 128 of the world’s best battle it out at Exhibition World Bahrain – the same venue that hosted the 2026 Bahrain Darts Masters.
Ms Sara Ahmed Buhejji, Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, said the MoU is part of BTEA’s continued efforts to attract the world’s best-known championships and events to the Kingdom and to reinforce its position as a leading destination for hosting and organising major international events. She added that it will further diversify the Kingdom’s calendar of events and tourism and leisure experiences, attracting more visitors from the region and around the world.
She noted that hosting the World Pool Championship would be a significant addition to the international events the Kingdom attracts, given the Championship’s global standing, its field of elite professional players and its broad international following. Attracting global sporting events of this calibre, she said, reflects Bahrain’s strong capabilities, advanced infrastructure and organisational expertise, which position the Kingdom to host major international events and championships, strengthen its place on the global tourism and events map, and support the tourism sector and the national economy.
Leading the charge will be the defending world champion, Carlo Biado from the Philippines, who claimed a second world crown in 2025 with a dramatic 15–13 final victory over Fedor Gorst.
Defending World Pool Champion Carlo Biado said: "It's really exciting to see the World Pool Championship heading to a brand new home in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This promises to be another great chapter in the history of the event, and I'm looking forward to being part of it. I can't wait to defend my title there, and I'd love to become a three-time world champion in the Kingdom and bring the trophy home to the Philippines once again."
Reigning world champion Biado will be joined in the Kingdom of Bahrain by a star-studded field of fellow world champions, including 2024 winner Fedor Gorst, 2023 champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, and 2022 champion and five-time US Open winner Shane Van Boening, all competing for the sport's greatest individual prize next April.
As part of the partnership, the World Nineball Tour will work closely with the Bahrain Billiard Sports and Darts Federation to support the continued growth of the sport at grassroots level in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with initiatives focused on coaching, player development and creating further opportunities for emerging Bahraini talent, broadening participation and developing a new generation of players able to compete internationally.
Monther Al Basri, President of the Bahrain Billiard Sports and Darts Federation, said: “We are proud to welcome the World Pool Championship to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the first time, marking an important milestone for the development of cue sports in the Kingdom. We commend the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority for its continued efforts to promote sports tourism and attract prestigious international championships, further strengthening Bahrain’s position as a leading destination for major sporting events.”
He added: “This partnership also presents a valuable opportunity to develop the sport locally, provide Bahraini players with greater exposure to international competition, and inspire the next generation of talent. We look forward to working closely with BTEA and Matchroom Pool to deliver a successful championship that reflects Bahrain’s organisational capabilities and leaves a lasting legacy for the sport in the Kingdom.”
The tournament is set to see over 40 nationalities represented in the field, with opportunities for players from the Kingdom of Bahrain and across the Middle East to compete on the sport's biggest stage.
The landmark event, which begins on 5 April, will feature 223 matches over six days of competition, with 50 televised hours of pool and 100 streaming hours broadcast to every territory across the world.
Matchroom Multi Sport CEO Emily Frazer said: "We are incredibly grateful to the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority