Bogotá Hosts 2025 World Cup Billiards, Highlighting Global and Local Talent

Xinhua News reports that the 2025 World Cup 3-Cushion Billiards is underway in Bogotá, Colombia, at the Palacio de los Deportes.

Running from February 24 to March 2, this event gathers 149 players from 28 countries, including stars like Dick Jaspers (Netherlands) and Eddy Merckx (Belgium).

The tournament, one of the most prestigious in the UMB system, features a prize pool of €106,000 ($110,000). The competition format includes multiple qualifying rounds leading to the final stage with 32 players.

Matches progress from 30 to 50 points as the tournament advances. The event highlights Colombia’s growing prominence in billiards, with 24 Colombian players participating, thanks to wildcard entries and regional qualifiers.

Carolina Portela, president of the Colombian Billiards Federation, emphasized Colombia’s organizational excellence. She noted that after years in Las Vegas, the tournament moved to Bogotá due to its passionate fanbase and strong infrastructure.

“We successfully hosted the 2024 Cup and will continue through 2027,” Portela stated. Colombia’s dominance in the Americas is evident. Local players have secured four consecutive Pan-American titles in women’s and junior categories and a silver medal at the World Games.

Bogotá Hosts Prestigious Billiards Tournament

Portela attributes this success to widespread participation, with over 4,000 billiards venues in Bogotá alone. The venue, Complejo Deportivo El Salitre, is equipped with eight tables for simultaneous matches.

Early rounds feature group stages where players compete for spots in later phases. The final rounds adopt a knockout format, culminating on March 2 with the championship match.

Spanish player Carlos Crespo praised the tournament’s organization and highlighted billiards’ accessibility across ages. “This sport captivates you or doesn’t appeal at all,” said Crespo, who recently won silver at Spain’s Three-Cushion Championship.

Venezuelan champion William Villanueva described billiards as requiring intelligence and calmness under pressure to succeed. The tournament has already seen advancements by top players from Turkey, South Korea, Belgium, and others.

With live broadcasts on SOOP Live and a robust local audience presence, the event underscores Bogotá’s status as a global hub for billiards excellence.

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