Seo Seoa

In this Korean name, the family name is Seo.

Seo Seoa
Personal information
Native name
서서아
Nickname
Princess of Pool
NationalitySouth Korean
Born (2002-11-27) November 27, 2002[1]
Gwangju, South Korea[2]
Years active2020s–present
Pool career
Event(s)
Nine-ball, Ten-ball
Turned pro2018
Tournament wins
World ChampionNine-ball (2025)

Seo Seoa[a] (Korean: 서서아, born November 27, 2002)[1] is a South Korean professional pool player known for her performances in international nine‑ball and ten-ball competitions. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pool" she competes in both women's and mixed-gender tournaments.[3]

Seo was born in Gwangju, South Korea.[2] She won the 2025 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship. Seo is the second South Korean to win the WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship since Kim Ga-young in 2004 and 2006.[4] She is recognized as a WPBA Elite Pro.[5]

Career

Seo began playing pool in 2013 after her parents encouraged her to take up a sport.[6] In 2017, she competed in the World Junior 9‑Ball Championship in Moscow. Fourteen at the time, she lost in the qualifying rounds to eventual champion—and future rival—Kristina Tkach, 18, before rallying to finish in the top eight.[7] She returned in 2018 and advanced all the way to the final, finishing as runner‑up.[8] After returning home, she left high school in Gwangju and moved to Seoul to train at the Pocket Academy run by Kim Ga-young.[9] In June of the following year, at age 16, she won her first women's national championship.[10]

Seo has competed on the international professional pool circuit, representing South Korea in major nine‑ball tournaments. In July 2025, she became one of the few women to advance to the last 64 of the prestigious World Pool Championship, after defeating two-time world champion Albin Ouschan 9–2 in the early rounds of the event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.[11][12][13] She was the only female competitor in the field and stood one win away from becoming the first woman to reach the last 32 at the World Pool Championship.[14] She has also competed in domestic events such as the Namwon National Pocket Billiards Championship, where she won the women's division.[15]

Earlier in the 2025 season, Seo won the World 10‑Ball Open (Little Monster International Women's 10‑Ball Open) in Gandia, Spain, defeating world No. 8 Kelly Fisher in the final. She did this shortly after winning the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President's Cup, demonstrating strong performances in both domestic and international competition.[16]

Seo has also captured titles in regional events, including a victory at the Indonesian International Open as part of the Predator Pro Billiard Series in Jakarta.[17]

Championships

Year Event Location Result
2019 Korean 10-Ball National Championship (Muan Hwangto Onion Cup) Muan-gun, S. Korea Winner[18]
2021 Korean 10-Ball National Championship (President's Cup) South Korea Winner[19]
2023 2023 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship Atlantic City, NJ 3rd Place[20]
2023 Korean 10-Ball National Championship (Namwon) Namwon, S. Korea Winner[21]
2023 Alfa Las Vegas Women's 10-Ball Open (Predator Pro Series) Las Vegas Winner[22]
2024 Korean 10-Ball National Championship (Namwon) Namwon, S. Korea Winner[23]
2024 All Japan Championship Amagasaki, Japan Winner[24]
2024 2024 WPA Women's World 10-Ball Championship Puerto Rico Runner-up[25]
2025 Little Monster Women's 10‑Ball Open (Predator Pro Series) Gandia, Spain Winner[16]
2025 Indonesia International Women's 10-Balll Open (Predator Pro Series) Jakarta, Indonesia Winner[17]
2025 Korean 10-Ball National Championship (President's Cup) South Korea Winner[16]
2025 2025 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship Jacksonville, Florida Winner[26]

Impact

Seo's run at the World Pool Championship in 2025 was reported as a landmark performance for a female player in an open professional event, attracting attention from international sports media.[14]

Personal life

Seoa has been a member of the Korea national pocket billiards team and has received extended corporate support through sponsorship from LG U+, which confirmed continued backing for her and teammate Lee Ha‑rin through 2027.[27] Seoa currently resides in Incheon, South Korea.[28] Seoa is currently in a relationship with fellow Pool Player Robbie Capito of Hong Kong.[29]

Notes

  1. ^ The given name "Seoa" is also spelled SeoA and Seo-ah.

References

  1. ^ a b "서서아" [Seo Seoa] (in Korean). wowKorea. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Seo Seoa". Asian Pool Federation. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  3. ^ Matchroom Pool (April 21, 2025). Kuo Po Cheng vs Seo Seoa | Round Two | 2024 UK Open Pool Championship. Retrieved December 22, 2025 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  5. ^ "What makes a Player an Elite Pro?". Women's Professional Billiard Association. 2025. Archived from the original on December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  6. ^ thebilliards.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=23653
  7. ^ "2017 World 9-Ball Junior Championships|WPA Pool".
  8. ^ "2018 WORLD 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS Girls". tournamentservice.net.
  9. ^ "다시 한번 포켓볼 붐을 일으킬 국내 최연소 포켓볼 랭킹 1위 '서서아'ㅣ김유정의 더라이징 EP.35". February 11, 2022 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "'女 포켓볼 특급유망주' 서서아, 전국대회 첫 우승 - MK빌리어드". mkbn.mk.co.kr.
  11. ^ Hudd, Ben (July 23, 2025). "Seoa stuns two-time champion Ouschan to continue landmark World Pool Championship run". Absolute Pool. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  12. ^ "Seo Seoa Stuns Two‑Time Champion Ouschan – Day Three Of The 2025 World Pool Championship". AZ Billiards. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  13. ^ "Seo Seoa Stuns Two-Time Champion Ouschan - Day Three of the 2025 World Pool Championship". Matchroom Pool. July 23, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Seo Seoa becomes only fourth woman ever to reach the last 64 of the World Pool Championship". Sky Sports. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  15. ^ Lim, Jong-ryul (July 10, 2023). "'차세대 포켓볼 女王' 서서아, 남원 전국대회 우승" ['Next-generation pool queen' Seo Seo-ah wins the Namwon National Tournament.] (in Korean). No Cut News. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  16. ^ a b c "Seo Seoa wins World 10‑Ball Open after domestic title in eight days". Chosun Biz. November 29, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Malayan and Seoa reign victorious at Indonesia International Open in Jakarta". Absolute Pool. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  18. ^ "'女 포켓볼 특급유망주' 서서아, 전국대회 첫 우승". Daum. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  19. ^ "서서아, 난적 임윤미 제치고 대한체육회장배 포켓볼 우승…男 황용 정상". 네이트 스포츠 (in Korean). Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  20. ^ "2023 World Women 9-Ball Championship". Billiard Walker. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  21. ^ "'차세대 포켓볼 女王' 서서아, 남원 전국대회 우승". 네이트 스포츠 (in Korean). Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  22. ^ "Seoa Holds off Hung to Win Alfa Las Vegas Open as World 10-Ball Set to Begin". AZ Billiards. February 28, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  23. ^ "'포켓볼 월드스타' 서서아, 남원 전국당구선수권 2연패…고태영은 남자부 우승". Daum. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  24. ^ https://billi-walker.jp/en/jpba/alljapan/2024/draws#Final-day
  25. ^ "2024 VenBilliards WPA Women's World 10-Ball Championship". CueScore. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  26. ^ "Kamui Women's World 9-ball Championships". Pro Billiards Series. December 22, 2025. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  27. ^ Park, Jin-young (August 25, 2024). "LGU+, 여자 포켓볼 국가대표 서서아·이하린 선수 후원 3년 연장" [LGU+ Extends Sponsorship of Women's Pocketball National Team Players Seo Seo-ah and Lee Ha-rin for Three Years] (in Korean). Aju Business Daily. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  28. ^ "Seo Seoa". AZ Billiards. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  29. ^ Hudd, Ben (December 22, 2025). "Seoa crowned women's world champion for first time after denying Tkach in intense shootout - Absolute Pool".
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