Meet World Pool Masters Champion Raj “The Hitman” Hundal

Press Release courtesy of Premier Billiards League (PBL)

World Pool Masters Champion Raj “The Hitman” Hundal was born in London on September 30, 1981. His family is from Punjab, India where his grandfather was a captain of the Indian army.

Hundal was only 6 years old when he was introduced to the cue sports. He began playing on a 6-foot snooker table in his aunt and uncle’s restaurant where his mum worked as a chef. Because he was too young to be left at home alone, he went to work with his mum and played snooker every day after school. His dad, an avid player himself, noticed he had a natural talent.

When he was only 7 years old, his father took him to a local snooker club to play on the full-size 12-foot table. Hundal (barely able to reach over the table, let alone make shots) would stand on a wooden box and play. Over the next few years, his hobby soon escalated into his passion and he began playing in snooker tournaments around the UK.

At the tender age of 11 he played in a Pro-Am and by 13, he was making century breaks and winning. It wasn’t until he was 17-years-old, Raj discovered pool. He was due to play a snooker challenge match and there was a no-show from his opponent so he turned his attention to the pool tournament that was taking place. He paid the entry fee, picked up a cue from the rack, and finished 3rd, eventually losing 11-10 in the semi-final. He had enjoyed the tournament, the venue, and the game immensely. This seemed to be his sport – very offensive and never over till it’s over.

Hundal began turning his sights to Pool. 9-Ball was his game! Raj never played snooker again and after meeting up with Steve Knight (aka The Night Rider) he trained as hard as he could to master the game. At the time, Steve was the best UK pool player; having won multiple tournaments and a World title and he was willing to share his knowledge and experiences with Hundal. Although Steve has since retired his legacy lives on through Hundal and one day through a protégé, and for that Hundal is eternally grateful.

Through perseverance, he began competing around the world and soon became known for his expertise on the table. He traveled across every continent playing in almost every tournament he could possibly find, big or small. Determined to succeed and willing to put in the hours of hard work required, Hundal soon became a force on tour and was recognized for never surrendering as he eliminated others from tournaments. Hence the name: “The Hitman”.

Raj Hundal turned Pro in 1999 and won his first world title in 2005. At age 23, he became the youngest World Pool Masters Champion in history. That same year, Hundal was the youngest UK representative for Europe at the 2005 Mosconi Cup in Las Vegas. This was a successful year for Raj Hundal and one that holds many fond memories. It was towards the end of 2005 that he received a phone call from a sporting hero, Mr. Ronnie O’Sullivan, asking if he would introduce him to American Pool. Hundal jumped at the challenge and agreed with Ronnie that he would take him to pool tournaments and teach the snooker legend how to play pool. In 2006, Hundal and O’Sullivan were made partners to form the England ‘A’ team at the inaugural World Cup of Pool. In 2007, at the request left by his late Grandfather, Hundal decided to start representing his motherland and began playing for India.

Working Off the Table

As the World Pool Masters and World Cup of Pool were televised on UK prime time television, with many magazine and newspaper features as well as radio interviews, Raj Hundal became a local sporting hero. He always felt he wanted to give back to his community and began pool schools in the local pool hall for kids of all ages, an activity he carries on all over the world to this day.