World No. 1 Cho Myung-woo seeks third Goseong-gun title at national billiards meet

Three-cushion world No. 1 Cho Myung-woo of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and women's pocket billiards standout Seo Seo-a of the Incheon Metropolitan City Sports Council will compete at a national billiards tournament in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province.

The Korea Billiards Federation announced Tuesday that the 2026 South Gyeongsang Province Goseong-gun Mayor Cup National Billiards Tournament will be held over five days from Wednesday through Sunday at the Goseong-gun National Sports Center and Goseong Indoor Gymnasium.

A total of 1,536 players — 593 professional athletes and 943 recreational players — will compete across carom and pocket billiards disciplines.

Cho, nicknamed "Jo Hwabaek," is chasing his third career title at the Goseong-gun Mayor Cup. He won the men's carom three-cushion event in 2023 and defended his title last year, defeating Heo Jeong-han of the South Gyeongsang Province Billiards Federation 50-32 in the final.

Cho has also been in strong form on the international stage. On Sept. 7, he defeated Dick Jaspers of the Netherlands 50-38 in the final of the 2026 Lierre Three-Cushion World Cup in Belgium — his third World Cup title of the season and sixth overall, setting a new record for the most World Cup victories by an Asian player.

In women's pocket billiards, Seo returns to domestic competition for the first time in about seven months. She last competed domestically in March, when she beat Lim Yun-mi of the Seoul Metropolitan Government 8-2 in the women's pocket 10-ball final at the 14th National Center of Korea Cup National Billiards Tournament, before shifting her focus to international events.

Seo swept three major titles last year, winning the Indonesia 10-Ball Open, the Spain 10-Ball Open and the World Women's 9-Ball Championship — the last of which made her the first Korean player to claim that title in 13 years.

She has kept up her winning form this year, taking the World Women's 10-Ball Open in Austria in June. Alongside the main tournament, the carom D1 and pocket billiards D2 team leagues of the 2026 K-Billiards Division League will also be held during the event.