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Kenya Pool and Billiards Federation is targeting a 16-player team for the WPA World Championships in the UK in October as the country steps up efforts to grow pool as a professional sport. Federation president Ben Ndumu Mwangi said the national pool circuit launched on Thursday by SportPesa in partnership with Cuevolution will provide a platform to identify and prepare players for international competition. “The federation is looking to take 16 players to the WPA World Championships scheduled for the UK in October,” Mwangi said. He also believes the circuit can change perceptions about the sport and create a sustainable income source for players. “Pool is the most played sport in the country, even more than football, but many people do not view it as a sport. Our objective as a federation is to make the sport a source of income so that it can be taken seriously,” he said. Kenya’s top-ranked female pool player Peninah Rose Njoki welcomed the sponsorship, saying it would be a major boost for players, particularly women. “This partnership will boost our athletes. It will change the perception of women in the game and show that pool can be a professional sport,” Njoki said. “Pool has never been embraced this closely. It is opening the way for growth in the sport.” The SportPesa National Pool Circuit will be played countrywide in phases, beginning with grassroots competitions across multiple venues before players converge for regional championships. The circuit moves to Eldoret from November 6–8, Nakuru from November 20–22 and Mombasa from December 4–6, ahead of the national finals in Nairobi from January 8–10, 2027. SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri said the company wants to provide opportunities for talented players who have struggled to secure sponsorship. “There are several people with talent who lack sponsorship. With the right structure, we are going to curb that. As a brand, we want to popularise and commercialise this sport,” Karauri said. Cuevolution Plus Africa Limited director Collins Tuwei said the partnership would provide the structured competition needed to develop talent. “Talent and passion already exist across the country; what has been missing is a structured platform that can bring that talent together, provide consistent competition and give players something to aspire to,” Tuwei said.