Site News
Topic: *Industry News* 2015 - 2025

New website of the World Confederation of Billiards Sports

Dear friends in Sport,

On behalf of the WCBS Board of directors, I am delighted to send you the following link to the new WCBS website : www.wcbs-billiards.org

May I please ask you to update your websites and files with that new link? Many thanks for your cooperation.

Regards

Marcin Krzeminski
Vice President of World Confederation of Billiard Sports
Chairman of WCBS Anti-Doping Committee
E-mail: mak@makmarketing.pl
www.wcbs-billiards.org/

Asian Tour Event One Postponed

The first Asian Tour event of the 2015/16 season has been postponed and will now take place in China from October 19 to 23.

The tournament was previously scheduled for September 22 to 26.

World Snooker will issue guidance on the impact of this development regarding Tour cards and the qualifying criteria for the Players Championship shortly.

2015 PartyPoker World Pool Masters - Chamat in!

Chamat joins the Manchester party!

EUROPEAN MOSCONI CUP captain Marcus Chamat (Sweden) has been extended a last-gasp invitation to compete in the 2015 PartyPoker World Pool Masters following the pull-out of Peruvian Cristopher Tevez with visa issues.

Chamat, who is ranked No.3 in Europe, is also highly placed on the three Mosconi Cup rankings. He can look forward to a first round match against 2013 Masters Champ Niels Feijen, and was delighted to get the call.

“I’ve not played in the Masters for a very long time, but my recent form has been really pleasing and I’ve got nothing to lose,” said Chamat.

“I will be giving it 110% and I’m quietly confident ahead of the tournament. I’ve always loved the crowds in England, going back to my Mosconi Cup days and I’m very excited to be given the opportunity. It will also give me a chance to look at Mosconi Cup contenders ahead of December.”

Pool’s biggest invitational event, the PartyPoker World Pool Masters features 16 top players from around the world competing for a $70,000 prize fund and the prestigious title. There is a high-quality stream available for $19.99 through www.matchroompool.com

Tickets are priced at £5 for Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and £10 for the Saturday and Sunday evening sessions. To catch all the 9 ball action there is a great value season ticket taking in all sessions for just £30 available from SEE Tickets http://www.seetickets.com/tour/world-pool-masters

Follow the PartyPoker World Pool Masters on Facebook, Twitter @mosconicup and Instagram @matchroompool

The 2015 PARTYPOKER WORLD POOL MASTERS is sponsored by PartyPoker, the world's leading online poker site. The Official Table of the Masters is supplied by Diamond Billiards, the cloth is supplied by Iwan Simonis, the Official Clothing Supplier is Ultimate Team Gear, Official Balls are Super Aramith by Saluc and the Official Cue, Chalk and Bridge are Predator.

ITV4 To Televise Snooker Shoot-Out

Snooker’s exhilarating Shoot-Out event will be televised by ITV4 for the next three years.

The one-frame knockout tournament was first staged in 2011 and it is among the most thrilling events on the calendar, with high drama ensured by a shot clock and matches lasting a maximum of ten minutes.

From this season it will be shown on free-to-air television for the first time, thanks to a new three-year deal between World Snooker and ITV.

The 2016 event will run from February 12 to 14, with 64 players battling for the £32,000 top prize.

Michael White lifted the trophy last season after beating Xiao Guodong by potting four balls in the last 40 seconds of an incredible final.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to bring the Shoot-Out to a free-to-air audience for the first time. It’s a fabulous event which has proved extremely popular for the fans in the arena and those at home.

“ITV4 have shown tremendous support for snooker in recent seasons, with live coverage of the Champion of Champions and World Grand Prix. They are clearly very happy with the viewing figures achieved as they continue to build their portfolio of snooker events with the Shoot-Out.

“It’s great news for fans that coverage on ITV4 is ensured for the next three years and we look forward to another weekend of sensational snooker in February.”

The venue and ticket details for the tournament will be announced soon.

Steve Lillis Book "But You Must!"

Read the exciting story of Steve Lillis a former American pool hustler turned pro tour road player who then left the game to become a university professor only to return as a billiard missionary evangelist. Available in paperback and e book at www.gospeltrickshot.org.

Oliver Ortmann and Charles Ursitti Earn Enshrinement in Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame

Broomfield, Colo., August 18, 2015 - Two trailblazers in the pool world have earned election into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2015. Former world champion Oliver Ortmann of Germany and pool promoter/historian Charles Ursitti will be inducted as the 65th and 66th members of the sport's hall of fame, the United States Billiard Media Association announced today.

Ortmann, 48, of Hamburg, will enter the Greatest Players wing of the BCA Hall of Fame, while Ursitti, 68, who was born in New York City and now resides in Florida, will be honored for Meritorious Service. Both will be formally inducted during ceremonies on Oct. 29, 2015, at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside in Norfolk, Va.

One of the most decorated players in Europe, Ortmann led the way for European players in the United States by scoring a shocking win over pool legend Steve Mizerak in the final of the 1989 BCA U.S. Open 14.1 Championship in Chicago. Ortmann went on to win the 1993 BCA U.S. Open, as well as three World Pool-Billiard Association world titles - the 1993 WPA World 9-Ball Championship and the WPA World 14.1 Championship in 2007 and 2010. The fiery Ortmann twice won the International Challenge of Champions (1997 and 2000), and captained Team Europe's winning Mosconi Cup squad in 2002. He also holds 14 European Pool Championship gold medals, 13 Euro Tour titles and was three-time European Player of the Year.

"This is a great surprise to me," Ortmann said, after being notified of his election. "It's great news. To be honest, I had stopped thinking about the hall of fame. Many years ago I thought it was possible, but after years went by, I thought my time had passed."

Ursitti's career in billiard promotions began when he teamed with boxing promoter Big Fights, Inc., to produce the first-ever meeting of pool legends Willie Mosconi and "Minnesota Fats" in the "Great Pool Shootout." The 1978 ABC-TV Wide World of Sports production drew more than 10 million television viewers, and remains the most watched pool match ever aired in the U.S. Ursitti went on to promote televised matches between Fats and Mosconi, eventually introducing modern day players like Allen Hopkins and Steve Mizerak into the productions. A seven-year run with CBS Sports Spectacular created opportunities to add more pro players, as well as female stars Jean Balukas and Loree Jon Ogonowski (Hasson). Ursitti was responsible for pool's initial forays onto cable giant ESPN, where he promoted the "King of the Hill" series and the "Legends of Pocket Billiards" series.

In addition to being a promoter, Ursitti researched and created a database documenting the history of competitive pool and three-cushion billiards in the U.S., chronicling the sport from 1878 to present day. The database is available online for free at charlesursitti.com.

"Needless to say, I'm thrilled to be elected into the BCA Hall of Fame," Ursitti said. "When I was first introduced to pocket billiards in 1976, I never dreamed of someday joining the greatest of the great. I consider myself really lucky with all of my promotions, and was honored to work with the legends of the sport, from Willie and Fats, Irving Crane and Jimmy Caras, to Mizerak, Hopkins, Mike Sigel, Jimmy Rempe and the rest. It has been a great trip, and I will cherish that forever."

Voting for the 2015 BCA Hall of Fame was conducted by the USBMA Hall of Fame Board, which consists of USBMA members, elected At-Large members and living members of the BCA Hall of Fame. Induction into the Greatest Players category is awarded to the player named on the most ballots. To be eligible for consideration in the Greatest Players category, a player a) must be 40 years old by Jan. 1 of the year of their induction; b) must have a professional playing career of at least 10 years; and c) must have recorded significant achievements in U.S.-based events.

A special Meritorious Service Committee recommends a person for consideration by the Hall of Fame Board. Induction into the Meritorious Service category is achieved if more than 50 percent of the Hall of Fame Board votes in favor of the candidate.

Ortmann, in his eighth year of eligibility, was named on 60 percent of the ballots, edging out fellow pros Gerda Hofstatter (44 percent) and Kim Davenport (37 percent). Belinda Calhoun, Shannon Daulton, Mary Kenniston, Rodney Morris and Vivian Villarreal each received votes on fewer than 25 percent of the ballots.

GBE2016 Invitation

Dear Sir/Madam,

Greet from Eve Cheng on behalf of GBE Organizing Committee.
The worldwide brand feast--9th China Guangzhou International Billiards Exhibition(GBE2015) was successfully held in China Import and Export Fair Complex on May 9-11. Covered the exhibition area of 10,000 square meters with 495 booths, it attracted over hundred exhibitors including Xingpai, Shender, Rasson, Lucasi, Predator, Aramith, Simonis and so forth to display their latest products, receiving high praise from the buyers coming from 50 countries and regions.

Thanks again for all the support from our exhibitors, buyers, associations and other media partners, You can catch all the latest GBE news on the website www.gbechina.com, “follower us” on our Twitter page (@gbechina), such as scene pictures, post show report, etc.

Next session shall be an eye-catching show based on the successful experience of this year.Please mark the dates on your next years’ schedule!
10th China Guangzhou International Billiards Exhibition(GBE2016)
Date: March 9 - 11, 2016

Venue: Guangzhou Pazhou · China Import and Export Fair Complex
See you in 2016!
Best regards,
Eve Cheng

GBE Organizing Committee

Daqing To Host Snooker’s International Championship

Daqing in the north-east of China will host a world ranking event for the first time this season when the 2015 International Championship comes to the city.

The tournament will run from October 25 to November 1 at the Baihu Media Broadcasting Centre in Daqing, in the west of China’s Heilongjiang province.

The International Championship is the richest snooker event staged outside the UK, with total prize money of £657,000 and the winner to collect £125,000.

Ricky Walden won the title last year by beating Mark Allen 10-7 in the final. The event was first staged in 2012 in Chengdu, won by Judd Trump in that year and Ding Junhui in 2013.

The qualifying round will be staged in Barnsley from September 30 to October 3, with all players needing to win one match to go through to the last 64 at the venue. However the defending champion (Walden), World Champion (Stuart Bingham) and the top two Chinese players will have their matches held over to Daqing.

Miles Pearce, World Snooker's Chief Representative in China, said: “We are delighted to bring a major snooker event to the wonderful city of Daqing for the first time. There is an incredible level of support for snooker throughout China so it’s important to continue to the grow the sport through holding events in new cities.

“The World Snooker International Championship has rapidly become one of the most prestigious tournaments on the calendar and will be contested by an extremely strong field. Alongside the promoter CCTVSE we look forward to delivering another top class sporting event.”

The draw will be announced after the entry deadline of September 16th.

WPBSA Statement

The WPBSA was today alerted to unusual betting patterns regarding the match between Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon and Martin O'Donnell at the Paul Hunter Classic in Germany.

The WPBSA monitors betting on ALL professional snooker and has the most sophisticated methods available today. Working with partners worldwide and by liaising with the Gambling Commission, the WPBSA will review the available facts surrounding betting on this match. A decision will then be taken on whether any further action is necessary.

Carter Wins Paul Hunter Classic

Ali Carter won his first professional tournament since successfully battling cancer, beating Shaun Murphy 4-3 in the final of the Paul Hunter Classic.

Carter won a Kreativ Dental Clinic European Tour event for the first time with triumph over Murphy in an exciting final in Fürth, Germany.

The victory is worth 25,000 Euros, but far more significant for Carter is the knowledge that he still has the game and temperament to win titles at the top level.

The 36-year-old from Chelmsford beat testicular cancer in 2013, as well as a tumour on his lung last year which required several cycles of chemotherapy to overcome.

Carter, who also suffers from Crohn's disease, missed a series of tournaments last season and saw his world ranking drop to 29th as a result. But he is now on the right path on and off the table and the three-time ranking event winner will believe he can regain a place among snooker's elite.

Fittingly, his return to the winner's podium came at a tournament named after Paul Hunter, who died of cancer in 2006.

Carter built a 3-1 lead in the final with top breaks of 61 and 54, Murphy's only response coming with a run of 72 in the second frame. Masters champion Murphy took the fifth with an 83 then came from 56-7 down to nick the next, sealing it with a green-to-black clearance.

But two-time World finalist Carter was not to be denied as he won the deciding frame with a superb break of 95 to win his first pro title since the 2013 German Masters.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Carter beat Michael Holt 4-2 while Murphy edged out Mark King 4-3.

The Kreativ Dental Clinic European Tour is a series of six events across the continent, with the top 24 on the final Order of Merit to qualify for the Players Championship. The next event is the Ruhr Open in Mülheim, Germany from October 7-11.

Results (last 16 onwards)

Last 16

Mark King 4-1 Kyren Wilson
Ian Burns 4-3 Thor Chuan Leong
Stuart Carrington 4-3 Mark Davis
Shaun Murphy 4-1 Robbie Williams
Judd Trump 4-3 Jamie Cope
Michael Holt 4-0 Sean O'Sullivan
Ali Carter 4-2 Jimmy Robertson
Mark Williams 4-1 Scott Donaldson

Quarter-finals
King 4-0 Burns
Murphy 4-2 Carrington
Holt 4-1 Trump
Carter 4-2 Williams

Semi-finals
Murphy 4-3 King
Carter 4-2 Holt

Final
Carter 4-3 Murphy

Kings Cup :The War We Want Begins

The Legend begins...

Manila, Philippines- The pool world is about to get rocked in a war that fans have been dreaming about for years. Dragon Promotions is pleased to announce the Kings Cup, a first time ever event pitting the men's champions of Europe & USA versus the champions of Asia in a three day contest to declare which side is the strongest, the East or the West. On November 19th-21st the world, as well as the players themselves, will find out! Four players on each side will be selected to represent their continent. The Kings Cup will be hosted by the award winning Resorts World Manila Casino & Hotel and produced by Dragon Promotions.

"We are thrilled to have these world champions from around the globe for the inaugural Kings Cup," said Stephen Reilly, Chief Operating Officer, Resorts World Manila. "This will be a historic event -- with Asia going against Europe and USA for the very first time -- that will truly put the country on the sporting map for the duration of the tournament and beyond. RWM, as a strong advocate of the Filipino talent, is proud to support this major tournament that will showcase and reinforce the Philippines' contribution to the game of billiards." Resorts World is one of the largest and most successful casino chains in the world.

The Queens Cup was broadcasted worldwide and exceeded ratings expectations. Many predict that the Kings Cup is going to be a gigantic hit as it touches upon the rivalry between the East and the West.

"The Kings Cup is a great concept. East and West are very closely matched in the world of pool, which is not common in other sports. It will be great to see how the hemispheres collide on the table. For sure the games will be very competitive", says Bob Guerroro renowned football and billiards TV sports commentator and sports writer for Rappler.com.

Hot of the heels of the Queens Cup earlier this year, Dragon Promotions and Resorts World Manila is continuing the hot streak of international billiards in Asia

The format of the Kings Cup will follow in the footsteps of the successful Queens Cup. Teams will play in versatile styles including singles, doubles, triples, and quadruples each of the 3 days of the men's competition.

"Why fix something if it's not broken? That was our philosophy when developing the Kings Cup. The format of the Kings Cup was the evolution of numerous team events we have produced in the past from the United States, South Korea, China, and the Philippines. The media and fans loved the Queens Cup format, and more importantly the players loved it. And that's important for the event to be dynamic. I truly feel this is the best format there is for a team event in this sport", said Charlie Williams, Executive Producer of the Kings Cup. Williams was a 16 year veteran on the pro tour who created the formats for such hits as the World 14.1 Championship and the Queens Cup.                

The big question will be who will be selected for the honor this year to represent both sides.

"The Kings Cup is an event that has been 3 years in the making. We are really excited to announce the player selection. And we promise that no pool fan is going to be disappointed", explained Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions.

An interesting dynamic will be the teaming of European and Americans together for the first time ever as one unit.

"That part I'm really excited about seeing. I know the top Americans have been getting beat on pretty good in international competition when it comes to teams, so I think this is going to be completely different. Which is a good thing I'm predicting", said Williams.

And about Team Asia?

Lee adds, "Oh, it's going to be a powerhouse team. Something I think that none of the players on the Western Team can say they've ever faced before. It's going to be a scary challenge for both sides"

Billiards is considered to be a national sport in the Philippines, and the atmosphere for national sports is always electric in Manila!

Impressions, a 5 star Award Winning French Restaurant with Master Chef of France Cyrille Soenen. The glamorous swimming pool and cabanas of Maxim Hotel.
The beautiful Atrium of Newport Mall will host the AM8.com Queens Cup. Resorts World Manila is a symbol of luxury and prestige in Asia.

Follow the Kings Cup at www.facebook.com/kingscuppool and visit www.KingsCupPool.com for updates.
Fans and sponsors can e-mail dragonpromotionsnews1@gmail.com

Dragon Promotions & Synergy International are event organizing and marketing companies respectively. Dragon Promotions is one of the leading producers of billiards and sports programming in the world today covering billiards, tennis, football, golf, MMA, charity events and more. In a span of 14 years, Dragon Promotions has produced over 300 international events and over a 1000 hours of original television programming airing on TV networks globally from the USA, China, Philippines, South Korea, Canada, the Middle East, all of Asia, and Europe. Events include The World Tournament of 14.1, KIA Motors Football Korea vs Philippines, The Women's International Pool Championship , Dragon MMA Combat Night, The Queens Cup,
The African American Tennis Tournament, The Orlando Summer Tennis Open, The International 10-Ball Championship, King & Queen of Carom, The Typhoon Haiyan Tennis Tournament, Pro Pool Schools, Women's Trickshot Challenge, World Junior 10-Ball Championships, The World Mixed Doubles, the Vietnamese Tennis Open and many more. Visit www.dragonpromotions.com
For interest in marketing and branding your company, business, or events please contact Orlando Synergy at 1-407-782-4978 or email support@dragonpromotions.com

Statement From World Snooker

Michaela McInnes (Tabb) and World Snooker Limited have come to a confidential accommodation regarding the claims brought by Mrs McInnes in the Employment Tribunal.

2015 DAFABET WORLD CUP OF POOL

Dafabet announced as World Cup of Pool title sponsor

DAFABET are the title sponsors of the 2015 World Cup of Pool which takes place from 22nd to 27th September at the York Hall, London. Following on from successful sponsorships in snooker and boxing, the Asian-based company now lend their name to one of the biggest events on the pool calendar.

Featuring 32 two-man teams from around the world, the Dafabet World Cup of Pool is celebrating its tenth year as defending champions England attempt to become the first team ever to successfully defend the title.

Broadcast for six days live on Sky Sports in the UK, the tournament is also live on ESPN3 in the USA, ESPN Latin America as well Sky in New Zealand, CCTV (China), Nova TV in the Czech Rep & Slovakia, Viasat (Scandinavia & Bulgaria), Fox in Greece, Turkey, Israel, Cyprus and Malta and finally OSN/Showtime across the Middle East.

In addition the Dafabet World Cup of Pool is syndicated around the world as 31 x 1 hour programmes by Matchroom Television.

Commented John Cruces, Head of Marketing Operations at Dafabet; “We’re very pleased to be title sponsors of the 10th World Cup of Pool on its return to London. With our head office being based in the Philippines we know the sport very well and wish all the players the best of luck as the action unwinds at the famous York Hall.

“With Dafabet’s key markets being Asia and the UK, this partnership allows us to connect with pool followers on an international basis to give Dafabet increased exposure across a global platform.”

Barry Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport said, “We’re delighted to have Dafabet on board for one of pool’s majors. We have worked successfully with them in the past and are really looking forward to forging a strong partnership through the Dafabet World Cup of Pool.

“With the event taking place in London and with England as defending champions, the scene is set for what could be the best World Cup of Pool yet!” he added.

Since its foundation in 2004, Dafabet has rapidly grown its market share to become one of the leading global betting brands. They’re currently main club sponsors of Sunderland AFC & Blackburn Rovers FC and have international gaming partnerships with Everton FC and Celtic FC. They have also been title sponsors of the Masters Snooker tournament for the last two years.

The company offers sports betting on a number of sports from the Barclays Premier League, Champions League, nothing Cup, Europa League, La Liga and Bundesliga to other sports including the NBA, major tennis tournaments, snooker, Formula One and horse racing amongst others.

Tickets are now on sale at www.SEETickets.com and are priced at £10.00 per evening session (Tuesday to Friday), £12.50 per evening session on the Saturday and Sunday. Weekend afternoon sessions are £7.50 while Tuesday to Friday afternoons are free!
A season ticket covering all sessions is priced at £65.00.

The World Cup of Pool will carry a $250,000 prize fund including $60,000 for the champions. The event will be produced by Matchroom Sport Television and televised live on Sky Sports and then syndicated internationally as 31 x 1 hour programmes.

Diamond Billiards are the Official Table of the 2015 World Cup of Pool; the Official Cloth is supplied by Iwan Simonis and the Official Balls are Super Aramith. The Official Cue, Chalk and Rest are supplied by Predator.

Efren Reyes Named Captain of Asia in Kings Cup

Manila, Philippines- The most successful and decorated player in the history of Asia, possibly the world, will lead the East against Europe/USA on November 19-21st. Efren "Bata" Reyes has been chosen as Captain of Team Asia and will lead them against the West in what surely will become the most epic rivalry in cue sports. The pool world is about to get rocked in a war that fans have been dreaming about for years. Dragon Promotions is pleased to announce the Kings Cup, a first time ever event pitting the men's champions of Europe & USA versus the champions of Asia in a three day contest to declare which side is the strongest, the East or the West. On November 19th-21st 2015, the world, as well as the players themselves, will find out! Four players on each side will be selected to represent their continent. The Kings Cup will be hosted by the award winning Resorts World Manila Casino & Hotel and produced by Dragon Promotions.

"Who else could be better than the greatest player of all time? Efren Reyes has a big track record of success in team events. And he's going to have an amazing supporting cast. The West will have their hands full", said Charlie Williams, Dragon Promotions Executive Producer of the Kings Cup.

"Being named captain of Asia is a big responsibility. But I know our Asia team players are all really good, so it's going to be a joint effort together", said Reyes.

Efren Reyes has a pedigree that is unmatched by any player in Asia. He has won the World 9-Ball Championship, World Bank Pool, World One Pocket, US Open, and numerous Asian Games and SEA Games gold medals. He has also excelled in team play and won such events as the World Mixed Doubles and World Cup of Pool. He is widely regarded by other professionals as the biggest genius that the sport of billiards has ever seen.

"I've learned so much from Efren who has always been my idol. He has been a huge mentor and influence on me", said Rubilen Amit, a 2x World Champion and twice winner of the World Mixed Doubles with Reyes. Amit also led Team Asia as captain earlier this year in the AM8.com Queens Cup, which she credited Reyes to be a great influence on leadership skills.

The Queens Cup was broadcast worldwide and exceeded ratings expectations. Many predict that the Kings Cup is going to be a gigantic hit as it touches upon the rivalry between the East and the West.

"The Kings Cup is a great concept. East and West are very closely matched in the world of pool, which is not common in other sports. It will be great to see how the hemispheres collide on the table. For sure the games will be very competitive", says Bob Guerroro renowned football and billiards TV sports commentator and sports writer for Rappler.com.

GBE2016-- The 10th China (Guangzhou) International Billiards Exhibition

Date: March 9th--11th, 2016
Venue: Guangzhou Pazhou · China Import and Export Fair Complex
Add: No.380, Mid of Yuejiang Road, Haizhu Distract, Guangzhou, Guangdong
Organized by: Guangdong Grandeur International Exhibition Group

GBE Brief Introduction
The worldwide brand feast -- 9th China Guangzhou International Billiards Exhibition(GBE2015) Covered the exhibition area of 10,000 square meters with 495 booths, which attracted over hundred exhibitors to display their latest products and newest technology, receiving high praise from the buyers coming from 50 countries and regions. Thanks again for all the support from our exhibitors, buyers, associations and other media partners.

Below are the domestic and overseas exhibitors who are supporting GBE all the time:
Representative of Chinese brand: Xingpai, Shender, Rasson, Fury etc.
International representative companies:
Predator Group, Lucasi Hybrid, McDermott Cue MFG LLC – USA        
Peradon, Hainsworth Cloth, Unicorn Products Ltd, WSP Textiles Ltd(Strachan 6811) -UK
Ball Teck Korea(Hanbatt Co., LTD.), Cosmos billiards - Korea
Longoni Cues - Italy
Wiraka-Singapore
Iwan Simonis S.A./Saluc S.A. - Belgium

Next session shall be an eye-catching show based on the successful experience of this year.Please mark the dates on your next years’ schedule!

Exhibition Scope
Billiards Products: Billiards Tables, Cues, Billiards Slate, Billiards Cloth, Balls, Cue Cases, Chalk, Gloves, Billiards Lights, Billiards pockets, Cue Tips, Scoreboard, Tripod, Accessories, hardware fittings for billiard table, etc.
Others: Darts, Darts Board, Shuffleboard, Games and Amusement products, etc.

WPBSA Launches World Disability Billiards And Snooker

World Disability Billiards And Snooker (WDBS) is a new body which has been created to give more people with disabilities the opportunity to play cue sports.

The WDBS has been set up under the auspices of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, with guidance from the English Federation of Disability Sport.

The new body will run tournaments for people with disabilities, under eight different categories. Details for the first tournament, which will include five of these categories, will be announced shortly.

There will also be open days when players can get free advice and guidance from experienced World Snooker coaches.

WPBSA's Nigel Mawer will be chairman of the body, with coaches Bob Hill and Tim Squires, tournament director Clive Brown and Paralympic athlete Jonathan Adams also on the board.

Mawer said: "Snooker and Billiards are among the few sports which can be played by anyone, regardless of age and gender, and the WDBS will give more chances to people with disabilities to meet up and play competitively. I would like to thank the EFDS for their specialist advice as creating the correct framework at this early stage is vital to our international success. We aim to work with the international, regional and national governing body structure and in the longer term we would like to expand this out to community programmes. We would like to hear from any organisation or body that is willing to contribute to our sport's growth in this area."

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson added: “Under the World Confederation of Billiards Sports and working with a number of global partners, we recently put together a fantastic bid to get cue sports included in the Olympics, and while this narrowly failed, we remain determined to get recognition in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Our sport is a sport for all and we strive to break down any boundaries and get more people involved at all levels."

Gloucester To Host First WDBS Event

The first tournament staged by the new World Disability Billiards and Snooker body will take place in Gloucester in November.

The WDBS was launched this week having been created to give more people with disabilities the opportunity to play cue sports.

The first event will take place on the weekend of November 28 and 29 at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester. Full details and the entry pack are now available at www.worldsnooker.com with a closing date of November 20.

There will be five different disability classification groups at this tournament, though the WDBS intends to extend this to eight groups at future events.

The medal and trophy presentations will be made by Paralympic shot-putter Jonathan Adams.

On Friday November 27 there will also be a free open day for disability snooker, with coaching sessions by Tim Squires.

The South West Snooker Academy provides world class practice and playing facilities, featuring five Star tables fitted to World Snooker specifications, three more Star tables and two further tables.

WDBS Chairman Nigel Mawer said: "We are delighted to announce the first WDBS tournament and we are sure it will be a great success. We encourage anyone eligible to take part regardless of their snooker standard. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet others, get free coaching, and play in a competitive environment at an excellent venue which has been used for professional tournaments. Hopefully this will be the first of many successful WDBS events."

GBE2016-- The 10th China ( Guangzhou ) International Billiards Exhibition

GBE2016 - the 10th China Guangzhou International Billiards Exhibition will bounce back during Mar. 9-11, 2016. This three day annual event will provide a big opportunity to the billiard Industries to jointly meet with each other, showcase their latest products, gather with the attendees and give them information on the future trends and valuable business tools for immediate positive impact on their business.

GBE2015 review
13,000 square meters, 180 exhibitors, 12,000 visitors from 40 countries and regions recorded the glory of GBE2015! Our regular exhibitors and international brands never miss the feast, included Star, Shender, Predator Group (USA), Leo, Iwan Simonis (Belgium), Strachan 6811TM (UK), Aramith Ball Belgium, McDermott Cues (USA), Cosmos Billiards(Korea), Longoni Cues(Italy), Figboh (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd(Peradon UK), Kanghom, Jianying, Sampro, Wiraka, Rasson, Fury Cues, Master Cues, Mezz Cues, etc. Their participation further highlighted GBE’s comprehensive influence.

Who attends?
Billiard Distributor, Agent, Importer/Exporter, Sport Products Retailers, Amusement Center, Leisure Sites, Individual, Lovers, Billiards Club, etc.
For attendees, the GBE show has become their one-stop sourcing platform that no one can afford to miss.

Who exhibits?
Exhibitors at the annual GBE expo represent product lines in Billiards Tables, Billiards Board (stone), Billiards Cloth, Billiards Pole Bags, Billiards Baskets, Billiards Balls, Cues, Chalk, Lighting, Tripod, Special Gloves, Accessories, etc.
GBE provides incomparable opportunities for home and overseas companies in this line to explore Chinese market, strengthen international market and establish strategic cooperation.

Leaders in many sports have discovered first-hand the value that a well-run trade show can stimulate the development of the industry. Nowhere is this more evident than at the annual China Guangzhou Billiards Exhibition, which has grown over the last 10 years into one of the most important yearly events for organizers, suppliers and many event athletes in the billiards industry.

Opportunity knocks but once! So come and join us. There are numerous business opportunities, as long as you take, you are a winner.

GBE2016 Organizing Committee
Ms. Jenny Xiong
Phone: +86 15876558395
Fax: +86 20 82579220
E-mail: gbechina @ yeah.net            jenny0124 @ aliyun.com
Website: www.gbechina.com

EPBF and Rasson extend partnership

The successful partnership between the European Pocket Billiard Federation and Jiangxi Rasson Billiard Manufacturing Co Ltd. has just been extended for another three years.

The president of the EPBF, Gre Leenders, announced that Rasson will continue their sponsorship of European pocket billiards throughout 2016, 2017 and 2018.

All European top events including European Championships and Euro-Tour events will feature Rasson as one of their sponsors. The China-based table and slate company which has their office in Jiujiang City, China, belongs to the elite group of European sponsors for several years already and will continue to do so for the benefit of both entities.

Snooker Returns To Preston's Guild Hall

Many of snooker's most famous names will return to the Guild Hall in Preston in January for the World Seniors Championship.

The iconic Lancashire venue, which has hosted major tournaments including the UK Championship, has again been selected to host a World Snooker Tour event.

The Sky Sports-televised World Seniors Championship will run on the weekend of January 30-31 and will be open to players aged 40 and over by the end of the current season.

Several former World Champions and former winners of the Seniors event will be invited to make up the 16-man field. The remaining spots will be available in a qualifying tournament.

Mark Williams is the current champion having taken the title on his debut in the event last year, while other winners in recent years include Steve Davis and Jimmy White.

A spokesman for World Snooker said: "We are thrilled to return to the Guild Hall for the World Seniors Championship. It's a venue synonymous with snooker as so many of the great names have walked the floors of the arena over the years.

"We know how passionate the people of Preston and Lancashire are about snooker so we are sure they will turn out in force to support this event. It's a chance to see so many favourites of the sport in action while enjoying a relaxed atmosphere. We have staged this tournament every year since 2010 and it's always a lot of fun for the fans and players."

Richard Simkin, Head of Operations at Preston Guild Hall Ltd, added: "It is absolutely fantastic for us to have top snooker stars back at the venue and hopefully this event will stay for many years to come."

Ticket details will be announced shortly.