Cairo, February 6th, 2025
The 2024 season closed just weeks ago, and the first World Cup of 2025 (Bogota) is only two weeks away. A good moment to take stock, and look at the 3-cushion sport from a global perspective. We asked UMB president Farouk Barki to look back, and also talk about the road ahead of us.
What an exciting finish to the 2024 World Cup cycle we had. Your comments?
FB: You are of course talking about the race between Dick Jaspers and Quyet Chien Tran, which was so close. I do wish that players and fans would read our rules. They are very clear, but people kept asking “In a tie, who is number one, who is number two?” The ranking rules gave first place to Dick Jaspers, and there was never any ambiguity.
What are your expectations for 2025, in terms of the World Cups and the World Championship?
FB: There are so many good players coming up, I think we will see some considerable changes in the ranking, and that includes the seeds. There will again be seven World Cups in 2025, they are all on the calendar as we speak. Seven is the maximum number we can organize, in combination with the World Championships in different categories. The UMB financially contributes largely to these events, and with two Invitational tournaments added, we are at maximum capacity.
Another World Cup in Colombia. That’s a good thing.
FB: Colombia must be mentioned in the same sense as Korea, Turkiye and Vietnam, for the amount of talent. There is also considerable potential in Mexico, Javier Vera is carrying their flag, he’s a very good player, hopefully we can find a way to bring the younger talents in Mexico and CPB to the international podium as well.
Other international developments you’d like to comment on?
FB: Yes. Two Federations have a new Board: the KBF (South-Korea) and the FFB (France). The new president of the KBF, Mr. Kevin Seo, intends to provide Korean players with new opportunities to play tournaments. The new President, Mr. Yves Tournier, and board in France is also active: they have requested the organization of next year’s World Championships individual, as well as the Juniors and Ladies. These are already on the calendar for September 2026, most likely in Blois, France.
You are the president of the WCBS. In that position, can you work towards Olympic recognition of 3-cushion?
FB. We have, as UMB, a very good working relationship with WCBS, and also with IOC. What we are aiming for, is billiards to be a demonstration sport at the Brisbane Olympics of 2032. That is our target. Our similar bid for Paris 2024 failed, but we’ve learned. This time, I think we’re going through the right channels and our lobbying will be more effective.
The situation with the PBA has been mostly unchanged in the past seasons. Any developments on the horizon?
FB: We remain open to talks, but the way the PBA organizes their events simply does not leave us enough weeks on the calendar for World Cups, World Championships, the Leagues in Europe, and the National and Confederal championships. No cooperation can work successfully as long as PBA players are required to spend six months of the year in Korea. We simply can’t find a compromise, or middle ground, if that’s a given.
Many top players, especially from Europe are approaching the age of sixty or are over sixty. Are you worried about the sport aging, or is it a regional problem? Can the CEB play a part?
FB: The responsibility to rejuvenate the sport rests primarily with the National Federations. Some have produced impressive results: Spain and Turkey, to name just a few, are coaching young players well. I can think of other Federations that, to be honest, aren’t doing enough.
Can you tell us some more about the new contacts made by the UMB in China?
FB: We have organized two very successful exhibition events in China, one in Shanghai and another in Yushan, with different top players, and Jean Paul de Bruijn has done a four-week teaching course which was much appreciated by the CBSA (Chinese Billiards & Snooker Association). I think we will see a Chinese carom player at the World Games in Chengdu, in August of this year. I heard he’s a talent; he’s only 16 and he’s improving. In addition: Chinese manufacturers have expressed an interest in making carom tables. These massive factories have greatly contributed to the rise of snooker and pool in China, and they could be a valuable partner in the popularization of carom.
What about new contacts in Saudi-Arabia?
FB: For the first time, carom was included in the Arab Championship in Jeddah, last month. Saudi-Arabia sent two players to the World Cup in Sharm El Sheikh last December, and two are on the players list for Bogota. A new Board will be elected soon in Saudi-Arabia, and I will re-establish our contacts. More good news: the Commonwealth Games to be held in Mauritius in 2026 will (naturally) focus on snooker and pool when it comes to cue sports, but we’ll have a carom table there and two strong Korean players, to showcase our sport. A preceding event focused on cue sports will take place in Mauritius in the first week of July 2025.
A few words about Farouk Barki. You are not a young man anymore; how long can you keep steering the ship, do you think?
FB: Age is just a number, I feel healthy and mentally well. I think that after 2026, I can continue for four more years. Actually, being part of the UMB and doing this work is good for my health (laughs).
UMB.