Felix Vogel: A Star in the Making
Last year, as the world’s best battled it out under the lights of the World Pool Championship in Jeddah, a quieter triumph was unfolding on a nearby table. Among the young hopefuls in the inaugural Saudi Junior Championship, it was Felix Vogel who emerged victorious—his name etched into the tournament’s first-ever trophy and into the […]
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Felix Vogel
Last year, as the world’s best battled it out under the lights of the World Pool Championship in Jeddah, a quieter triumph was unfolding on a nearby table. Among the young hopefuls in the inaugural Saudi Junior Championship, it was Felix Vogel who emerged victorious—his name etched into the tournament’s first-ever trophy and into the spotlight of a sport in rapid evolution.
For Vogel, the memories of that week are vivid—not just because of the trophy he lifted, but for the atmosphere that surrounded it. “It was the arena and the atmosphere,” he recalls. “I’ve never played in a tournament that grand before. I loved all of it—the crowd, the beauty of the venue, the kindness of the people.”
The final match of that junior event marked a personal milestone for the young German, who had never experienced a stage of such scale. The nerves were real. The pressure, immense. But Vogel found his focus when it mattered most. “It was my biggest match so far in my career,” he says. “But I tried to enjoy it and not let my nerves get the better of me. It wasn’t easy, but I enjoyed every moment.”
His road to that win wasn’t without its stumbles. Vogel started the tournament with early losses, admitting he wasn’t fully locked in at the outset. “Maybe I didn’t take it so seriously at the start,” he says. “But after escaping the losers’ bracket, I started to find my game and focus. In the final, I just made fewer mistakes than my opponent.” It was a lesson in perseverance—and a glimpse of what was to come.
This July, Vogel will walk into the same venue in Jeddah—but this time, as a WNT Pro and a debutant in the main draw of the World Pool Championship. He’s gone from being a junior champion to a professional player rubbing shoulders with elite-level competition.
“It’s something special,” he says of his upcoming debut. “It will be the best event I’ve ever played in. I want to enjoy it like last year, but I also want to leave my mark on the tournament.”
That victory in Jeddah changed more than just his resume—it transformed his mindset. “Before that win, I struggled in junior events. But after it, I felt confident. I believed I could play with the top pros. Since then, I’ve had a different mindset going into matches. That mindset changed at that event.”
Felix Vogel
Confidence, however, doesn’t mean complacency. Vogel has been working hard to prepare both physically and mentally. “The mind needs to be on point,” he says. “No negative thoughts. I’m playing as many hours as I can and continuing to work with my coach as much as possible.” Balancing practice with school life remains a challenge, though. “I have the time, but I’m always tired after school,” he admits. “I usually take a nap before evening practice—then I’m ready for a session.”
As he prepares for the biggest stage of his career so far, Vogel is realistic about his position in the field, calling himself an underdog—but he’s one with bite. “I believe I’m capable of making it to the single elimination stage. Anything can happen in a tournament. You can always beat a top player, especially with a decent run.”
Momentum is on his side. Earlier this season, Vogel captured the JS Junior Open title at the 2025 UK Open—his second major junior win. “I never felt so good before in a Matchroom tournament,” he says. “That’s the feeling I want to carry forward—the positive mindset and belief that I can do it again.”
His recent experiences on tour, including appearances at last year’s European Open and more recently the 2025 Scottish Open, have offered a taste of what’s ahead. “This could be the turning point,” he reflects. “I see this as a start, and then the future results will come.”
At just 17, Felix Vogel already has a junior world title, a pro tour card, and a growing reputation in the sport. But his goals are far from modest. “Step by step, I’m trying to become a world champion,” he says. “And ultimately, I want to be the best player in the world. That’s what I want to say when I look back in ten years.”
In Jeddah, his next chapter begins—not as a junior hopeful, but as a contender ready to write his name into the future of the sport.
