World Pool Masters: Lo Ho-sum stuns Shane Van Boening – now he wants to save Hong Kong cue sports

Lo makes most of wild card for Masters, knocking out new world champion Van Boening before losing final to Joshua Filler

‘This result means a lot to me, because our sport is in danger of getting booted out,’ Lo says, with cue sports fighting to keep Hong Kong funding

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Hong Kong pool player Lo Ho-sum reached the final in Gibraltar, beating several established stars. Photo: World Pool Masters

Published: 9:20pm, 9 May 2022Updated: 9:42pm, 9 May 2022

Lo Ho-sum made a name for himself by reaching the final of the World Pool Masters on Sunday, and he hopes it can help secure a future for Hong Kong’s cue sports players.

Relatively unknown on the world stage, the Hongkonger had been handed a wild-card place in the Masters in Gibraltar and made the opportunity count, announcing himself with a string of spectacular victories.

Newly crowned world nine-ball champion Shane Van Boening was among those Lo beat as he reached the final, where he lost to Germany’s Joshua Filler. The scores were level at 6-6 before the 2018 world champion ended Lo’s hopes, winning 9-6.

But 23-year-old Lo said he hoped he had shown cue sports were “worth their place” among those receiving top-level funding in Hong Kong when their status is reviewed next April.

Joshua Filler was the opponent for Lo Ho-sum in the World Pool Masters final. Photo: World Pool Masters

“This result means a lot to me, because our sport is in danger of getting booted out [of the top funding bracket],” he said. “It shows the importance of billiard sports in Hong Kong.”