WNT NXTGEN – A NEW GLOBAL ERA FOR JUNIOR NINEBALL
The World Nineball Tour is proud to announce the launch of WNT NXTGEN, a groundbreaking new global platform designed to unify and elevate junior nineball under one prestigious international banner.
WNT NXTGEN has been created to bring together existing Junior World Nineball Tour events into a cohesive and recognisable global circuit, establishing a clear and aspirational pathway from junior competition to the professional World Nineball Tour.
This initiative will identify, develop and reward the world’s best young talent while aligning junior competition with WNT standards, values and global reach.
Open to all players aged 16 and under at the time of competition, WNT NXTGEN will operate under consistent rules, formats and prize structures across all sanctioned events. For the first time, junior competition will be delivered with unified branding and presentation standards, including official event jerseys provided to every competitor, elevating the professionalism and experience of junior nineball worldwide.
WNT NXTGEN Sarajevo will mark the first opportunity for players to earn official Junior ranking points. Rankings will be updated live and published globally via Matchroom Pool and WNT Live Scores, with positions determining qualification for blue-ribbon junior events and progression opportunities.
WNT NXTGEN will also serve as a direct pipeline to the World Nineball Tour, offering tangible incentives for top performers, including wildcards into selected WNT professional events, invitations to become WNT Pros, and opportunities to compete in WNT Pro-Ams and showcase matches.
The launch of WNT NXTGEN builds on the success of junior stars who have already made the transition to the professional stage.
AJ Manas, a former Junior Champion, who has since established himself on the Tour and made his debut for Team Asia at last year’s Reyes Cup — where he was crowned the youngest MVP — said: “Junior events changed everything for me. They gave me belief and the chance to prove myself. WNT NEXTGEN is going to raise the standard even higher and give young players a real platform to showcase their talent on a global stage. It’s exciting to think about the next generation coming through.”
2025 Saudi Junior Champion and 2025 Hanoi Junior Champion Albert Januarta, who last year became the youngest player to win a WNT ranking event, added: “Playing in junior events gave me the confidence and experience to compete against the best in the world. To now see WNT NXTGEN creating an official pathway for young players is amazing. It shows that if you work hard and perform, the opportunities are there. I’m proud to have come through that journey.”
World No.1 and former World Champion Fedor Gorst welcomed the initiative: “Having a clear pathway from junior events to the professional tour is incredibly important. When you’re young, you need structure, opportunity and something to aim for. WNT NEXTGEN gives players around the world a real target and a professional environment from an early age. That’s how you build future world champions.”
CEO of Matchroom Multi Sport, Emily Frazer, commented: “WNT NXTGEN is about giving young players the opportunity to experience the sport on the biggest stage from the very beginning of their journey. We want them competing in a professional environment, playing alongside their heroes, and getting a real taste of what it means to perform in official World Nineball Tour events broadcast to audiences across the globe. This initiative isn’t just about junior competition — it’s about preparation, exposure and belief. We are creating a genuine pathway where the next generation can step into the spotlight early and see exactly what is possible.”
WNT NXTGEN signals the beginning of a new era — one built on opportunity, structure and global ambition — ensuring the next generation of champions has a clear route to the very top of the game.
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