Predator has been making inroads into Indonesia this year with two major events: the recently concluded Indonesia Open events at the start of July and the upcoming Bali PBS events in October.

We have long said that Indonesia is part of the “Big Three” pool nations in Southeast Asia, alongside Vietnam and the Philippines. These three countries have a combined population of almost half a billion people, with passionate fans who will always root for their players. The question now is: when will Matchroom enter this market, and what kind of event should they launch?

October is already stacked with events, but Matchroom currently has nothing scheduled in September. We also haven’t seen a World Pool Masters or a World Cup of Pool this year. At this point, it’s likely too late to hold either of those events in 2025—but why not stage a World Pool Masters or a World Cup of Pool in Indonesia next year in September? It would be a huge way to break into the Indonesian market and give local fans a world-class production. Perhaps a local promoter could even organize a WNT ranking event a few days before the main tournament to spice things up.

Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are poised to play major roles in the future of professional pool. We hope their full potential will be tapped, as this trio could be the key to attracting corporate sponsorships and bringing in a new generation of fans to sustain the sport’s momentum.