BRISBANE, Australia, Sept. 19, 2025 — The 2025 WPA Heyball Champion of Champions, jointly presented by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) and JOY Billiards, commenced on September 17 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. This event signifies a notable step forward in the sport’s endeavor to achieve Olympic status.
The 2025 WPA Heyball Champion of Champions Starts in Australia, Highlighting Progress for Olympic Inclusion
The World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) hosts the event, which is presented by JOY Billiards and supported by Liber Win Cloth. It has attracted 128 elite players from 56 nations and territories, selected by six WPA member associations, including the BCA. The competition features a prize pool of 400,000 USD and adheres to standard WPA Heyball regulations, utilizing JOY Q8 tables. All matches are broadcast worldwide via and the WHT Facebook page.
The inaugural ceremony saw the presence of several distinguished guests, such as WPA President Ishaun Singh, Secretary General Barry Jenner, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, Cr. Greg Adermann, Stephen Huang, and Qiao Yuanyu, the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of JOY Billiards Group.
A traditional Indigenous Australian performance highlighted the ceremony, which was succeeded by addresses from prominent individuals underscoring the sport’s contribution to fostering international harmony and cultural diversity. WPA President Ishaun Singh declared, “Heyball represents not just China’s heritage but also the trajectory of worldwide sports. Its evolution from a localized game to an international sensation within a mere ten years illustrates its competitive draw and widespread acceptance. It truly embodies the Olympic ideal of unity, gathering athletes from varied origins.”
Given that Brisbane is slated to host the 2032 Olympic Games, the city offers a perfect setting to exhibit the sport. WPA Secretary General Barry Jenner affirmed ongoing initiatives aimed at incorporating Heyball into the 2032 Olympics.
Since initiating its “Champion of Champions” series in 2024, JOY Billiards has allocated more than 6 million USD towards establishing a global tournament structure that caters to all ages and genders, encompassing youth and parasport competitions.
Qiao Yuanyu, JOY Billiards’ CEO, stressed the event’s profound importance: “A sport’s true value is not solely measured by the champions it creates, but by its capacity to unite the world. This is the aspiration that we, as Heyball enthusiasts, champion!”
This grand sporting spectacle, which emerged from the East and has gained global prominence, is now approaching the prospect of Olympic inclusion, guided by the motto “JOY Billiards Uniting The World”!
Tony Zhang
tonyzhang@joybilliard.com
www.joybilliard.com
