Rita Chou Won Women's 9-Ball World Championship
The 39-year-old Taiwanese competitor secured her second world title by defeating Seo Seoa in Bali.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Tennis
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Rita Chou captured the Women's 9-Ball World Championship after defeating South Korea's Seo Seoa in the final match. This victory marks the second world title for the 39-year-old professional.
Why it matters
The tournament win reaffirms Chou's standing in professional billiards, following her previous world title victory in 2023. Her performance throughout the 64-player field demonstrated her continued dominance in the sport.
Rita Chou earned US$55,000 in prize money after winning her final match with set scores of 4-1, 1-4, 4-1, and 4-1. She advanced to the championship by defeating competitors Huang Qingning and Chihiro Kawahara.
The players
Rita Chou
She is a professional billiards player from Taiwan who has now secured two world championship titles.
Seo Seoa
She is a 23-year-old professional billiards player from South Korea who finished as the tournament runner-up.
Liu Hsin-mei
She is a historic professional billiards player who previously won world titles in 1999 and 2002.
The details
Chou maintained momentum throughout the final, overcoming 23-year-old Seo Seoa to claim the trophy. The event, held in Bali, concludes a high-stakes competition that featured an international field of 64 participants.
Timeline
September 28, 2026: The tournament officially began in Bali.
October 4, 2026: Tournament play concluded.
October 5, 2026: Rita Chou won the championship final.
Season Trajectory
This victory places Rita Chou in the rare company of multi-time world champions, echoing the legacy of predecessors like Liu Hsin-mei. Her consistent performance across the 2026 season cements her status as the benchmark for competition in international 9-ball.
Chou's win secures a significant US$55,000 increase in her season earnings and confirms her position as a top-ranked player. This outcome serves as a key reference for upcoming tournament seeding and future betting odds in professional billiards.
The takeaway
Professional billiards remains a sport where seasoned veterans frequently compete at the highest level alongside younger talent. Fans and players can look to these championship results to understand the current technical standards of modern 9-ball competition.
Further reading
For more updates on professional sports tournaments, visit the Tennis section.
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