Kyoko Sone
| Personal information | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native name | 曽根 恭子 | ||||||||
| Nationality | Japanese | ||||||||
| Born | December 18, 1969[1] Tokyo, Japan[2] | ||||||||
| Pool career | |||||||||
| Sport | Pool billiards | ||||||||
Event | Nine-ball | ||||||||
| Turned pro | 1993 | ||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||
Kyoko Sone (曽根 恭子, Sone Kyōko; born December 18, 1969) is a Japanese professional pool player who has competed in domestic and international nine-ball events across multiple decades, achieving high rankings on the Japan Professional Pocket Billiard Association (JPBA) circuit and participating in Women's Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) events. As of October 2025, she was ranked 9th in the JPBA and 65 in the World Pool Association as of 2023.[1] In December 2025, she was ranked 14th by the WPBA.[3]
Early life
Sone was born in Tokyo, Japan, on December 18, 1969, and turned professional in January 1993, joining the JPBA as a competitive player.[1]
Career
Japan professional circuit
Sone has been a long-time competitor in the JPBA women's division. Her recorded rating as of late 2025 was approximately 1,720, ranking her among the top Japanese players.[1] She was first place on the Japan pro tour in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2012, and 2017.[2]
She has captured multiple event victories on the domestic tour, including wins at national opens and regional events. Sone won the All Japan Ladies Pro Tour Second Stage tournament in Kyoto in 2017.[4] She has also won events such as the Japan Open and regional Ladies Open tournaments.[5]
International competition
Sone has competed internationally, including in WPBA events. In 2019 she was second place on the WPBA Pro tour.[2] At the 2023 WPBA DR Pool Tour Championships, she finished among the top competitors representing Japan.[6]
She has also participated in global WPA events; for instance, she competed in the WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship, recording match wins in preliminary group play.[7]
Rankings and statistical data
According to Japanese billiards statistical listings, Sone's WPA ranking was 65 as of November 2023.[1]
Her JPBA ranking in late 2025 was reported as 9th.[1]
Personal life
Sone was born in Tokyo and currently lives in Minuma-ku, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.[2][8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Kyoko Sone". Billiard Walker. Archived from the original on December 26, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Kyoko Sone". Women's Professional Billiard Association. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ^ "Meet the Top 32 Players". Women's Professional Billiard Association. Archived from the original on December 20, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ^ "〈BD〉曽根恭子が全日本女子プロツアー第2戦 in 京都で優勝！" [<BD> Kyoko Sone wins the second round of the All Japan Ladies Pro Tour in Kyoto!] (in Japanese). Billiards Days. May 21, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ^ "〈BD〉「やりたいことが少しずつ形になってきた」― 全日本女子プロツアー第2戦優勝・曽根恭子の談話" [<BD> "The things I want to do are gradually taking shape" -- Kyoko Sone, winner of the second round of the All Japan Women's Pro Tour] (in Japanese). Billiards Days. May 25, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ^ "WPBA DR Pool Recap". Women’s Professional Billiard Association. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ^ Lerner, Ted. "Stars Rise, A Big Star Falls at Women's World 9-Ball Championship". World Pool Association. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ^ "Kyoko Sone". AZ Billiards. Retrieved December 26, 2025.