The 21st Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cup National Sports-for-All Billiards Tournament and the 2026 Namwon National Billiards Championship will be held from Tuesday through Sunday at the Namwon Sports Town Gymnasium and the Ibaek Happiness Sharing Center in Namwon, North Jeolla Province.
Hosted by the Korea Billiards Federation, the tournament features a total of 1,467 competitors, including 825 sports-for-all players and 642 professional players from across the country, who will vie for titles in events such as carom and pocket billiards.
Cho Myung-woo (Seoul Metropolitan Government), the world No. 1 in three-cushion billiards who claimed his fifth career World Cup title last week, will lead a large field of top Korean players representing each event, including Heo Jung-han, Kim Haeng-jik, Lim Yun-mi and Lee Dae-kyu, in matches at the highest level.
A variety of side events are also planned. On Thursday, a large screen will be set up at the front of the competition venue at Namwon Sports Town for a cheering event during the third group-stage match of the 2026 North America World Cup between South Korea and South Africa. On the weekend, a prize draw offering items such as televisions will be held for spectators and tournament participants.
All matches in the tournament can be watched on-site free of charge, and the main rounds and key matches in major divisions will be broadcast live through SOOP and SOOP TV.
