Kunihiko Takahashi

Kunihiko Takahashi (高橋 邦彦, Takahashi Kunihiko) (born March 4, 1969 in Nagasaki) is a Japanese professional pool player and a WPA World Nine-ball Champion. Nicknamed "the Sniper".

Kunihiko Takahashi
Born (1969-03-04) 4 March 1969
Nagasaki, Japan
Nickname"The Sniper"
Professional1996
Pool games9-Ball
Tournament wins
World Champion9-Ball (1998)
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Men's Eight-Ball
1998 Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 1998 Bangkok Individual

He began practicing pool at 17 and turned professional in 1996.[1] In 1998, he won the WPA World Nine-ball Championship by defeating the reigning champion, Johnny Archer, in the final match. He became the second World Nine-ball Champion from Japan, after Takeshi Okumura, who won it in 1994. In 1999, Takahashi won the ESPN Ultimate Shootout, earning him US$40,000.[2]

Four years later, Takahashi was three stages away from a second world title when he lost to Earl Strickland, who would later win the championship. Takahashi was critical of the Strickland's behavior during the match: "I lost up here. Strickland shows no sportsmanship. He played very well. But no sportsmanship." Strickland denied the allegation of unsportsmanlike conduct.[3]

Achievements
  • 2013 All Japan 14.1 Championship
  • 2011 All Japan 14.1 Championship
  • 2009 Shikoku 9-Ball Open
  • 2005 All Japan 14.1 Championship
  • 2005 Hokuriku 9-Ball Open
  • 2004 Hokuriku 9-Ball Open
  • 2003 Hokuriku 9-Ball Open
  • 2002 All Japan 14.1 Championship
  • 2001 Tohoku 9-Ball Open
  • 2000 Hokkaido 9-Ball Open
  • 2000 Hokuriku 9-Ball Open
  • 1999 Kansai 9-Ball Open
  • 1999 ESPN Ultimate Shootout
  • 1999 Hokuriku 9-Ball Open
  • 1998 WPA World Nine-ball Championship
  • 1997 All Japan Championship 9-Ball
  • 1996 Japan Open 9-Ball

References
  1. "高橋　邦彦　Kunihiko Takahashi". Cosmo-Tokyo (in Japanese). 2001. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  2. "Other titles". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  3. "Result in 2002 World Championship". Billiardsdigest.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
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