Gareth David Potts (born 30 June 1983) is an English pool player, nicknamed "the Golden Boy". He is a two-time amateur and four-time professional world champion in British-style eightball/blackball, a co-champion in that discipline's (doubles) event, and a three-time champion of a leading Chinese eight-ball competition.

Career

Turning professional in 2000, he won the 2000 and 2001 Junior World Pool Championships. He won the WEPF World Eightball Championship three times, in 2005, 2007 and 2008, and was IPA World Blackball Professional Champion in 2014. Potts won the Chinese 8 Ball Masters in 2013, beating Chris Melling 17–9 in the best-of-33 final. He successfully defended the Chinese 8 Ball Masters in 2014 by beating Shi Hanqing 15–6 in a match lasting 2 hours and 10 minutes. As of 2015, Potts has concentrated his career on Chinese eight-ball pool. In 2021, Potts joined the Ultimate Pool circuit, a professional tour in the UK, in which his first win was Pro Series 7 (3–4 December 2021). In that tournament, he defeated Rob Wharne 7–4, Karl Sutton 7–6, Greg Batten 7–4, Chris Melling 7–5, and Shaun Storry 9–4. In 2022, Potts and Mark Selby took the Ultimate Pool Pairs Cup Championship.

Sponsorships

Potts first signed a contract with Joy Billiard, to sponsor him in the Chinese 8 Ball Masters tournament. He is also sponsored by the Finnish chalk, glove, and tip company TAOM Billiards. Since 2010, pool table retailer Home Leisure Direct has sponsored Potts; through them, he offers coaching services, as well as free instructional videos.

Achievements