Szewczyk Wins Second 10-Ball World Crown Unbeaten

Wojciech Szewczyk won his second WPA Men's 10-Ball World Championship on 26 September in Ho Chi Minh City, completing a flawless run by defeating two-time champion Eklent Kaci 4-1, 1-4, 4-2, 4-3 in the final. The Pole did not lose a match across seven rounds at Phu Tho Indoor Stadium, becoming only the third player to hold the world 10-ball crown twice.

Sublime safety in a four-set struggle

Szewczyk seized the early lead with precise safety play, taking the opening set 4-1. Kaci responded immediately after a costly scratch from the Pole levelled the match at a set apiece. Three dry breaks and errors from the Albanian then gave the third set to Szewczyk.

Kaci punished a dry break and compiled the first break-and-run of the contest to lead 2-0 in the fourth. Two more successful tactical exchanges from Szewczyk, separated by his own break-and-run, moved him onto the hill at 3-2. Kaci forced a deciding rack, only to rattle the pocket on the three-ball after a spectacular jump shot from Szewczyk had opened the table.

An undefeated run with historic weight

Across the tournament Szewczyk dropped only five racks, winning 19 of 24 for a 79% win rate — the best in the 96-player field. He never required a deciding set, sweeping aside Hayato Hijikata and Kaci during the double-elimination phase before outlasting Oliver Szolnoki in a four-hour battle.

His path then passed through close contests with Johann Chua and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, followed by a commanding semi-final against Sanjin Pehlivanovic. The victory places Szewczyk alongside Kaci and Ko Ping-Chung in the exclusive group of two-time world 10-ball champions, four years after his first title against Cristopher Tevez.

The win carried an $80,000 champion's cheque and confirmed his standing as Poland's finest ever pool player. The emotion was visible as the achievement registered, though this time it was no surprise.