More titles than ever before were won during the 2022 WEPF World 8-Ball Pool Championships in Killarney with players and teams representing several different nations achieving glory.
Due to the last two planned editions of the Championships having been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, both underage categories were temporarily moved up to under-20 and under-25 to give those that qualified for their nations the deserved opportunity to play.
In the Under-20 Team Championship, England Juniors went through the whole event with a 100% record, topping the round robin phase before an 8-2 win over Ireland in the semi-finals and then an 8-5 success against Australia in the final.
Host nation Ireland won on home soil in the Under-25 Team Championship. Ireland qualified second in the group and then had to endure a valiant comeback from France in the semi-finals before ousting them 5-4.
In the final, Ireland faced Malta, who had finished top of the group and swept aside India 5-0 in the last four. However, Irish eyes would be smiling, as Cormac Kerr completed a 5-3 victory for the title.
There was great satisfaction for India in the Over-50 Team Championship as they got even with England by defeating them in a close and entertaining final.
In one of the tightest races for knockout qualification across all the different divisions, four teams in the 10-team event ended up on the same number of points to decide the final three spots to go through. India were one of those, but their superior record saw them end the phase in second place.
India then enjoyed a comeback 13-11 win over Malta to reach the final. Their opponents there were England, who came top of the group – with just one defeat – and since eliminated Australia 13-8 in the last four.
A repeat match-up of the 2019 final – the last time it was held – it was also a repeat scoreline of 13-11, although this time the roles were reversed, and it was India who lifted the trophy.
For the remaining team events, please view previous articles that have been published in recent days.
