Fedor Gorst’s title defence remains firmly on course after the reigning world champion booked his place in the semi-finals of the 2025 World Pool Championship alongside former champion Carlo Biado and rising stars Kledio Kaçi and Bernie Regalario.
In collaboration with the Saudi Arabia Billiard & Snooker Federation and under the supervision of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sport, the 2025 World Pool Championship—the crown jewel of the World Nineball Tour—returns to the iconic Green Halls in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 21–26 July.
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Gorst returned to the semi-finals for the third time in his career after overcoming Austria’s Mario He and Filipino contender Jefrey Roda on Day Five. The American looked composed throughout the day, showing a maturity beyond his years as he closed out both matches with breathing room.
“I’m really pleased with how both matches went today. Against Mario and again against Jefrey, I found a strong rhythm and controlled the pace well. My break got better in the second match and I stayed focused even when I started feeling fatigued.
Reaching the semi-finals for the third time feels really rewarding—like the hard work is continuing to pay off.”
Standing between Gorst and a return to the final is Albania’s Kledio Kaçi, who produced another calm and clinical day of play to defeat Konrad Juszczyszyn and Ameer Ali and book his place in the last four.
“It feels unbelievable to be in the semi-finals. There was so much pressure in the match against Ameer—every rack felt huge. I just tried to stay present, trust myself, and now I’m going to give everything tomorrow. I want to make my family proud.”
Joining them on the other side of the bracket is 2017 World Champion Carlo Biado, who returned to the semi-finals for a third time after dispatching Jeffrey Ignacio before digging deep to beat Ko Ping Chung in a quarter-final thriller.
“Ko Ping Chung isn’t just one of the best in Asia—he’s one of the best in the world. I made some mistakes early on, but I stayed patient and managed to turn the match in my favour. Reaching the semi-finals again is a huge step for me.”
Biado now faces an all-Filipino semi-final against 20-year-old sensation Bernie Regalario, with the winner set to become the first Filipino to reach a World Championship final in seven years—the last being Biado himself in 2017.
Biado added: “Bernie is young, but he can beat anybody. He’s a real fighter—one of the best young players in the Philippines. If he beats me tomorrow, I’ll be cheering for him in the final.”
Regalario’s remarkable run continued with victories over fellow Filipino Patric Gonzales and former world champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz. It marks his deepest progression not only in the World Pool Championship but in any Matchroom Major.
The stage is now set in Jeddah for a dramatic semi-final line-up: two former champions, two fearless newcomers, and only one title up for grabs. Will Gorst defend his crown, or will a new world champion rise
2025 Saudi Junior Championship
The Saudi Junior Championship concluded today with a thrilling final between Albert Januarta and Pius Baier. In a match packed with tension and high-level play, Januarta claimed a commanding 9-5 victory to lift the title. The win earned the young Indonesian the $5,000 top prize and marked his second Junior Open triumph — further cementing his rising status on the junior circuit.
Juniors aged 17 and under from around the world came to Jeddah hoping to make a name for themselves as an up-and-coming superstar, as they competed for their part of the $20,000 prize fund.
Don’t miss your chance to experience pool’s greatest show live in Jeddah – secure your tickets now.
Fans can follow the full draw and live rack-by-rack scoring at www.wntlivescores.com, with global coverage on SSC (KSA), Sky Sports (UK & Ireland), and WNT TV in selected international territories.
