Site News
Topic: INDUSTRY NEWS - December 2009

Champion to Win Weight in Pies

Pukka Pies have today announced that the winner of the Pukka Pies UK Snooker Championship will be rewarded with their body weight in pies.

The Leicestershire based company are sponsoring one of the UK’s premier snooker events for the first time and will reward Sunday’s winner with a bumper delivery of their famous pies direct to their home.

Ding Junhui, Stephen Maguire, Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins have all weighed in ahead of their semi final showdowns which begin today.

Pukka Pies is a privately owned family business, founded in 1963. It employs 270 people and produces over 50 million pies and pasties per year at the most modern pie production facility in Europe, with a total emphasis on quality and hygiene

Based on an average of 4 pies per kilogramme, Sunday’s winner can expect to win anywhere between 356 pies and 276 pies.

    * Stephen Maguire - 89kg - 356 pies
    * John Higgins - 80kg - 320 pies
    * Ronnie O’Sullivan - 80kg - 320 pies
    * Ding Junhui - 69kg - 276 pies

“Pukka Pies have been a fantastic sponsor of the event this week and we are all excited about the chance of winning our body weight in pies,” said China’s Ding.

“We all made sure we were wearing a few extra layers of clothes for the weigh-in and I wanted to put a few snooker balls in my pocket but I wasn’t allowed!!”

The Pukka Pies UK Championship trophy will be presented on Sunday 13th December by Marketing Director Peter Mayes.

Pukka Pies enjoy a diverse range of sporting partnerships encompassing football, hockey and motorsport.

Pukka Pies are the sponsors of the official England Football Supporters Band and club sponsors of England's most successful ladies hockey team, Leicester Ladies.

Check out the site at www.youtube.com/PukkaPiesSport

Times Square Korea

Dragon Promotions Brings 3-Cushion & Pool Together Again

Seoul, Korea- Dragon Promotions once again are bringing back the hottest carom/pool combo event in billiards with the 3rd Annual King of Carom, Korea vs World Team, and Masters of Trickshot Showdown Dec 11-13,2009 at the new Times Square Korea. 2x King of Carom defending champion Semih Sayginer from Turkey will return with new faces such as Korea's Jaegeun Kim and Chungbok Lee, Japan's National Trickshot and carom pro Nobuyasu Sakai, and introducing his first time on television France's trickshot wonderboy Florian "Venom" Kohler. All 5 men will face each other in a round robin 3cushion tournament. The events will air on XTM and CJ Media Channels and are sponsored by www.Whois.co.kr, Takini Cloth, Min Tables, Predator Cues, Poison Cues, and Times Square Seoul.

The second day of the billiards extravaganza will feature some of the lovely ladies in billiards including Queen of Carom and Asia Indoor Games Gold Medalist Yu Ram Cha and US Amateur Open Champion Amy Chen. They will join Semih, Sakai, and Florian in Korea vs World 3Cushion Team Challenge. On the final day, all the players will return for The Masters of Trickshot Showdown which will feature pocket and carom billiard trickshots on both tables.

"I always enjoy playing for Dragon Promotions and I love to be in Korea!" said Semih Sayginer, former World 3-Cushion Champion.

"I'm so thrilled to be in Korea playing and alongside Semih Sayginer, who is my idol!" said Florian Kohler, who recently has a new DVD out called Venom Trickshots. http://www.venomtrickshots.com/

Dragon Promotions is one of the leading producers of billiard programming in the world today. Dragon produces over 40 events a year airing on networks in the Philippines, USA, Korea, India, and Europe such as ABS-CBN, ESPN, MBC ESPN, XTM, XPORTS, and Euro Sport. Events include The Women's World 10-Ball Championship, The World 14.1 Championship, The Predator International 10-Ball Championship, King & Queen of Carom, Empress Cup, Pro Pool Schools, Masters of Trickshot , World Junior 10-Ball Championships, Korea vs USA, World Mixed Doubles Classic and many more. Dragon also manages some of the world's best players including Mika Immonen, Jeanette Lee, Shanelle Loraine, Mike Davis, Yu Ram Cha, Raj Hundal, Rodney Morris, Charlie Williams, and many more.

Visit www.dragonpromotions.com or www.dragonpromotions.co.kr


Semih Sayginer is one of the most entertaining sportsmen in billiards today.

DAVAO CITY BET CORTEZA NO.4 IN WORLD RANKINGS

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

MANILA, PHILIPPINES--LEE VANN CORTEZA, the pride of Davao City collected a total of 1,175 points including 800 points after settling a runner-up place in this year's World Ten Ball Championship moved up to fourth in the latest new rankings released by the World Pool-Billiard Association.

Corteza, the prize fighter of Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiard Stable lost to eventual champion Mika Immonen of Finland in the finals of WTBC at the World Trade Center in Manila.

Immonen, meantime took the No.1 spot with a total 2,117 points, including 1,000 points by winning the WTBC. Immonen also successfully defend its US Open tiara last September in Chessapeake, Virginia. He surpased erstwhile world No.1 Ralf Souquet of Germany who notch a total 1,209 points for No.2 spot.

Darren Appleton of Great Britain, last year’s World Ten Ball champion, stays at No.3.

Another Filipino player – Marlon Manalo – is also included in the top 10.

The former Asian Snooker champion and reigning Philippine national champion is ranked 10th in the world.

Reigning Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica improved to No.17 as well as Antonio Lining, who came out of nowhere and found himself at 21st spot.

Jeff de Luna, previously the highest-ranked Filipino player at No.7, dropped to 20th spot while former No.8 Demosthenes Pulpul went down to 40 in a tie with compatriots former world No.1 Dennis Orcullo and the up-and-coming Jomar de Ocampo

Chinese player Wang Ming, Thomas Engert of Germany and Nick van den Berg of the Netherlands also occupy 40th place.

POOL TEAM ASSURE GOLD AND SILVER FOR THE 8-BALL COMPETITION IN LAOS SEA GAMES

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

MANILA, PHILIPPINES---RP pool team assure gold and a silver medal after Ronato Alcano and Gandy Valle hurdle their respective rivals to set an all Filipino final in the 8-ball Pool Single event.

Alcano beat Thai Dechawat Poomjaeng, 7-3, while Valle nipped Indonesian Ricky Yang, 7-1, in the semifinals Sunday, at the Convention Hall, Don Chan Palace in Vientiane, Laos.

Women’s World 10-Ball champion Rubilen Amit, meantime subdued Malaysian Joanne Suhana, 5-4, Sunday, to advanced into the semifinal round of the 8-Ball Pool Single. She will face Vietnam’s Duong Thuy Vi on Monday.

Meanwhile, pool maestro Efren “Bata” Reyes and Reynaldo Grandea will see action in the English Billiard Single preliminary round on Monday against Malaysian Moh Loon Hong and Vietnamese Nguyen Trung Kien, respectively.

Ding Climbs To Sixth

Ding Junhui is up to sixth in the latest world rankings following his victory in the Pukka Pies UK Championship.

The Chinese player beat John Higgins 10-8 in the final in Telford tonight to capture his second UK crown and the fourth ranking title of his career. He is up three places from No 9 to No 6 in the latest list.

“There was a lot of pressure at the end of last season because I nearly dropped out of the top 16. I've had a long time without winning so I'm so happy,” said Ding Junhui, who beat Steve Davis in the 2005 UK final.

Despite defeat, Betfred.com World Champion John Higgins has extended his lead at the top of the list to over 7000 points ahead of semi-finalist Ronnie O’Sullivan, and the Scot is on course to take the official No 1 spot from the Rocket at the end of the season.

Stephen Maguire lost to Ding in the semis and is up one spot to sixth. Mark Selby and Liang Wenbo both reached the quarter-finals and they each move up two places, to 13th and 12th respectively.

Peter Lines was the surprise package of the tournament, reaching his first ranking quarter-final for ten years. He is rewarded with a leap of 12 places to 40th.

Pukka Pies, Britain's favourite branded pie manufacturer, enjoys a diverse range of sporting partnerships encompassing football, hockey and motorsport.

Pukka Pies are the sponsors of the official England Football Supporters Band and club sponsors of England's most successful ladies hockey team, Leicester Ladies.

Ding Donates Pies To Sheffield Homeless

Snooker star Ding Junhui, winner of the Pukka Pies UK Championship, is to donate 276 Pukka Pies to Homeless and Rootless at Christmas (HARC), a Sheffield voluntary group which looks after homeless people over the festive period.

China’s Ding beat John Higgins 10-8 in the final of snooker’s second-biggest ranking event on Sunday night, and part of his prize was 69 kilos worth of Britain’s favourite pie brand.

Ding said: “I’ve lived in Sheffield for the past few years and I love the city. The least I can do is try to help some of those less fortunate than me at Christmas by donating these pies – hopefully there are enough to stop people going hungry.”

A spokesman for HARC said: “This is a fantastic gesture and we’re so grateful for the generosity of Ding and Pukka Pies. The donation is a great help to us in feeding those who come to us because they have nowhere else to go, as we are the only Sheffield organisation which is open to help the homeless over Christmas and New Year.”

Pukka Pies’ Marketing and Business Development Controller, Peter Mayes, said; “Ding was a very worthy winner of the Pukka Pies UK Championship and we are delighted with his wish to help the HARC at Christmas.

“We hope the delivery of pies will bring some early Christmas cheer to the homeless in Sheffield.”

Pukka Pies is a privately owned family business, founded in 1963. It employs 270 people and produces over 50 million pies and pasties per year at the most modern pie production facility in Europe, with a total emphasis on quality and hygiene.

Pukka Pies enjoy a diverse range of sporting partnerships encompassing football, hockey and motorsport.

Pukka Pies are the sponsors of the official England Football Supporters Band and club sponsors of England's most successful ladies hockey team, Leicester Ladies.

LiquidWick Pool Cues And Jeanette Lee "The Black Widow" To Be Featured On The TLC TV Show "American Chopper"

On Thursday December 17th At 9P E / 8P C / 7P M
Albuquerque, NM - (December 14, 2009) - LiquidWick Pool Cues announced today that it will be featured along with world billiard star Jeanette Lee "The Black Widow" on the TLC TV Show "American Chopper," which features the custom motorcycle shop, Orange County Choppers.

Earlier this year, LiquidWick commissioned mega motorcycle brand Orange County Choppers (OCC) to build a Jeanette Lee "The Black Widow" bike. LiquidWick partners, Rich Gustin and Dan Shields, accompanied Jeanette Lee on a visit to Orange County Choppers on September 25th 2009 where she was filmed playing "American Chopper" star Paul Teutul Sr. in pool and was then interviewed for the episode. OCC then went on to build the bike as part of the tv show. The chopper unveil was filmed at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Ft. Lauderdale Florida on November 11th 2009. Jeanette with Bike

"The bike is awesome and currently in our possession in Albuquerque," said Rich Gustin, LiquidWick partner. "We plan to share it with the fans of both Jeanette Lee and OCC."

"It was great fun playing Paul Sr. in pool and hanging with all the guys at OCC," said Jeanette Lee. "The bike is beautiful and I can't wait to watch the episode."

The American Chopper episode featuring the Jeanette Lee "The Black Widow" bike will air on TLC on Thursday, December 17th 2009 at 9pm ET/PT. (For exact times in your area please check your local listings.) The "American Chopper" program has aired in over 160 countries and been translated into over 35 languages.

"This bike is the hottest motorcycle ever created for the billiards industry," said Dan Shields, LiquidWick Partner. "OCC bikes can be huge draws and we plan to use this incredible new chopper, along with appearances by Jeanette Lee, for marketing and promotional events to support our retail partners."

About LiquidWick Pool Cues
LiquidWick Pool Cues is a cue manufacturing and media production and promotion company endorsed by world billiards star Jeanette Lee, "The Black Widow." The company also owns the billiards product license rights for top motorcycle brand Orange County Choppers. LiquidWick was the first billiards company to air a half hour infomercial on national television. Their media production arm has produced both "The LiquidWick Infomercial," and "Trick Shot Mania" a DVD featuring Andy "The Magic Man" Segal.



About Billiard Congress of America
The Billiard Congress of America is a non-profit trade organization dedicated to growingBCA logo a united, prosperous and highly regarded billiard industry through BCA leadership. The BCA seeks to enhance the success of its members and promote the game of billiards through education, marketing and promotional efforts, an annual industry trade show, tournaments and other programs designed to encourage billiards as a lifestyle and make pool everybody's games. For more information, please visit www.bca-pool.com or call 303.243.5070.

Whirlwind White Awarded Masters Wild Card

Snooker legend Jimmy White has been given a wild card entry into the sport’s premier invitation tournament, the Masters.

Fresh from his stay in the Australian jungle in ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here’, White will swap bush-tucker gear for waistcoat and bow tie to grace the stage at Wembley Arena.

The Whirlwind takes on Mark King on the opening evening of the event on Sunday January 10. The field is made up of the world’s top 16 players plus White and qualifier Rory McLeod.

White’s stylish, attacking style of play and his man-of-the-people charisma have made him one of the most popular figures in the history of British sport. The public voted for him to stay in the jungle until the final show of ‘Celebrity’ last month, underlining his heroic status.

The Londoner is also one of snooker’s all-time greats, having won ten ranking titles on top of his 1984 Masters triumph, when he beat Terry Griffiths in the final.

“I’m delighted to get the wild card, it will be great to be back at Wembley,” said the left-hander who has appeared in six World Championship finals. “I’d like to thank the new Board for their decision. I’ve only just got my sleep pattern back after getting home from the jungle, but snooker’s still my number one priority and I’ll be ready for the Masters.”

Barry Hearn, who was confirmed as WPBSA chairman on Wednesday, added: “Jimmy is one of Britain’s great sporting superstars. He has attracted vast crowds all across the world, but nowhere more than Wembley, where the fans regard him as one of their own. He’ll pack the place out and the atmosphere will be sizzling. There was no doubt in my mind that he is the man to take up the wild card challenge. Throughout his career he’s played shots that most snooker players can only dream of and it makes great viewing for live audiences and on TV.”

The Masters runs from January 10 to 17, with White joining the likes of Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Neil Robertson and newly-crowned Pukka Pies UK Champion Ding Junhui in trying to take the crown from Ronnie O’Sullivan. Tickets are on sale now, call 0844 815 0815 (Disabled Booking Line: 020 8782 5629) or visit www.worldsnooker.com/masters

O’Sullivan – I Could Win Six Of The Best

Ronnie O’Sullivan believes that he could win snooker’s biggest titles half a dozen times apiece, if his career goes on for long enough.

The Rocket won the Masters for the fourth time last season, beating Mark Selby 10-8 in an exciting final at Wembley Arena, bringing his haul of titles in snooker’s most prestigious invitation event just two short of Stephen Hendry’s record of six.

Looking ahead to the defence of his title in the tournament which runs from January 10 to 17, the Chigwell cueman said: “If I play for another ten or 12 years then I could get more than six. I could win six UK titles and six Worlds as well if I play for that long. The Masters has been very good for me. I like all the big tournaments. The London crowds are a bit special and that helps me get up for it.”

O’Sullivan broke his cue just a few days before the start of last season’s Masters, and said in his victory speech that winning the title with a new cue was the best achievement of his career. While he stands by that assessment, he admits regret at smashing the cue which brought him the World and UK titles during the 2007/08 campaign.

“I was amazed to win a tournament with a new cue,” said the 34-year-old. “It was a freaky thing to do. I broke the old one because I was missing balls and I can’t take playing that poorly when I know what I am capable of. I regret it a bit now because I’ve had trouble finding a good cue ever since. I’m only human and I’ve had to soldier on with what I’ve got.”

Three-times World Champion O’Sullivan, who was edged out 9-8 by John Higgins in an epic semi-final in the Pukka Pies UK Championship last week, faces a tough opening match at the Masters against Grand Prix champion Neil Robertson on Tuesday January 12.

“He’s won a few tournaments, but there are quite a few young players who have won a few tournaments,” said O’Sullivan of the Australian. “Neil’s very good, but there are lots of them coming through, 16 or 17 players, and there’s not much between them. They’ve got technique, they are consistent and they can pot long balls.”

O’Sullivan will be defending his Masters title against the likes of John Higgins, Stephen Hendry and Mark Selby at Wembley Arena from January 10-17. Tickets start at just £10 and can be booked by calling 0844 815 0815 (Disabled Booking Line 020 8782 5629) or visiting www.worldsnooker.com/masters

MARLON MANALO TO DEFEND RP OPEN TITLE TODAY; BUGSY AND NEGROS WILL SEE IN ACTION

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

MANILA, PHILIPPINES---MARLON “Marvelous” Manalo will defend his title today, Sunday, December 20 when the staging of Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) 4th Philippine National Championships gets going at the famous Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.

The three-day event is a 10-ball double elimination tournament. It is open only to Filipino players. As in the past, there will be a men’s division and a women’s division.

“Sana pumanig ang bola para manalo ulit tayo sa RP Open, para maganda ang Pasko natin,” said the Mandaluyong native Manalo, a former snooker champion.

Not only the top prize P150,000 are up’s for grabs in the men’s champion, also at stakes the national titles and trophies.

“Mabigat ang National Open ngayong taon kasali na kasi ang mga Bugsy at Negros Billiards Stable players,” said Jonas Magpantay, youngest Philippine Pool tour qualifier and a quarter-finalist in the 2008 WPA World Junior of Pool Championship was held in Reno, Nevada.

Ceferino “Perry” Mariano, owner of the Bugsy Promotions and co-founder of the BMPAP will send 12 of his 16 players to participate in the event.

“Tama na ang pulitika sa bilyar, gusto lamang talaga ng mga player na maglaro. Kaya ako pasasalihan ko ang mga player ko kahit sino pa ang magpalaro,” said Mariano in a recent interview.

Jonathan Sy, also co-founder of BMPAP and chief head of the rising Negros Billiards will also field at least a dozen players, including some women players.

“Magandang balita na peace na ang RP pool,” added Sy, whose top player Lee Vann Corteza confirmed the participation.

Actually, Corteza beats Manalo in the finals two years ago.

Corteza is coming off a runner-up place finish in this year’s World Ten Ball Championships which topped by Mika Immonen of Finland.

ORCULLO, ARPILLEDA GAIN SEATS IN FINAL FOUR

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

MANILA, PHILIPPINES---REIGNING Predator Ten-Ball Champion Dennis “Robocop”Orcullo and former Southeast Asian Games 9-ball gold medallist Victor Arpilleda cruised into the semifinals of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) 4th Philippine National Championships yesterday at the famous Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.

Orcollo, one of the top player of businessman Ceferino “Perry” Mariano of Bugsy Promotions beat John Salazar, 9-7, and Bugsy stablemate Carlo “Cool” Biado, 9-0, to book his seat. For his part, The Jakarta based pool Instructor Arpilleda toppled double world champion Ronato “Volcano” Alcano, 9-3, and Cebuano hopeful Marvin Tapia, 9-8.

A new champion is sure to be crowned this year with the elimination yesterday of last year’s champion and heavyweight Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo.He lost two hill-hill thrillers to John Salazar and Japan based Antonio “Nickoy” Lining in the event hosted by long-time billiards patron Sebastian “Baste” Chua in close cooperation with Raya Sports and Star Billiards Center and backed up by congressman Bongbong Marcos.

From the losers bracket, six players remain in contention for the two other semis slots. Alcano outlasted another Japan-based Ramil “Bebeng” Gallego, 2007 World Pool finalist Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez beat Gandy “Yang-Yang” Valle, 9-5, 2009 World Ten Ball finalist Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza eliminated John Salazar,9-7, Rodrigo “Edgie Marilao” Geronimo took out Rocky Tullao, 9-6. The other contenders in the losers side are Tapia and Biado, who await separate opponents for their bid for seats in the final four.


Photo: Congressman Bongbong Marcos takes the opening break in this year’s World Ten Ball Championship qualifiers at the Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.

CORTEZA BEATS ORCULLO AND GERONIMO COPS TITLE; ORYAN TOPS LADIES

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

Past and Present champion:
(men’s division)
2006 Alex Pagulayan
2007 Lee Vann Corteza
2008 Marlon Manalo
2009 Lee Vann Corteza

(women’s division)
2007 Iris Ranola
2008 Zemonette Oryan
2009 Zemonette Oryan

MANILA, Philippines -- Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza subdued reigning Predator International 10-ball champion Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo, 9-7, in the semis then nipped “giant killer” Rodrigo “Edgie Marilao” Geronimo, 11-6, in the finals late Tuesday to rule the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) 4th National Pool Championship at the famous Star Billiards Center in Grace Village, Quezon City.

In the process, the Davao City native Corteza, the top player of Jonathan Sy’s Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) pocketed the top purse of P100,000 in the men’s division of the three-day event (December 20-22) backed up by congressman Bongbong Marcos, hosted by long-time billiards patron Sebastian “Baste” Chua in close cooperation with Raya Sports.

“I would like to dedicate my victory to boss Jo (Jonathan Sy), coach Toper (Christoper Palses), to my family and to God,” said Corteza, also the 2007 BSCP champion.

Jonathan Sy, co-founder of BMPAP and owner of the rising Negros Billiard Stable said “Maganda ang taon ng NBS ngayon, especially kay Vanvan (Lee Vann Corteza), nag 2nd place siya sa World Ten Ball at champion muli sa BSCP National Championship,” said Sy, also the manager of Ramil Gallego, Rodolfo Luat, Warren Kiamco among others. " Saka spectacular ang laro ni Van-Van,matapos matalo sa first match sa kapwa NBS player ay nagtala siya ng 11 straight wins para mag champion," added Sy.

Zemonette Oryan, who hails from Iloilo City on the other hand, turned back Floriza Andal of Laguna, 9-7, and Mica Claveria of Bacolod City, 9-5, emerged the back-back winner of the ladies section and went home with P15,000.

Oryan’s hard-earned victory against Claveria prevented what could have been an all-Negros Billiard Stable champion in both divisions.

Corteza’s big win against Orcullo

"I was lucky I was able to lead early, it’s tiring to make ground when you are too far behind", said Corteza, who lost to Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland in the finals of this year's World Ten Ball Championships last month at the World Trade Center.

Corteza, multiple Southeast Asian Games gold medallist, jumped off to a 4-1 to 7-3 start and was seriously threatened going to the final canto after Orcollo, prize fighter of Perry Mariano's Bugsy Promotions clustered four straight racks to tied the match at 7-all in this race-to-9, winner's break format after Corteza made a miscue in the red 3 ball in the 11th racks.

Perry Mariano, the president of Bugsy Promotion said “Mas may experience si Vanvan kaysa kay Edgie (Rodrigo Geronimo), y’ung Vanvan versus Dennis (Dennis Orcullo) y’ung talaga ang championships, saka magaling talaga si Vanvan,” he said.

On the road to the finals, Corteza start his bid in a wrong foot after losing his first round match to NBS stablemate Elmer Haya, 8-9.

Corteza, however, came back from the loser's bracket, beating William Millares, 9-1; Romeo del Rosario, 9-4; Oliver Villafuerte, 9-7; Godofredo Ducanes, 9-4; Elmer Haya via default; Roland dela Cruz, 9-6; John Salazar, 9-7; Roberto Gomez, 9-8 and Cebuano Marvin Tapia, 9-4, beat Orcollo in the final four and Geronimo in the finals. Over-all, Corteza scored 11 straight wins for the prestigious title.

Geronimo, meanwhile, won his first round match against Jech Limen, 9-6, but bowed to defending champion Marlon Manalo, 6-9, in the second round.

He came back through the loser's side by beating Jomel Sultan, 9-6; Leonardo Didal, 9-5; Elmer Haya, 9-5; Mario Tolentino, 9-5; Benjie Guevarra, 9-7; Michael Feliciano, 9-6; Rocky Tullao, 9-6; Ronato Alcano, 9-6; and Carlo Biado, 9-6, beat Victor Arpilleda in the semifinal then lost to Corteza in the race-to-11 finals.

Manalo, on the other hand lost to Japan based Antonio "Nickoy" Lining, 9-8, and John Salazar, 9-8, to exit in this double elimination format.




Awarding photo last Tuesday, from left to right: chief arbiter Mario Tolentino, BSCP chairman and Raya Sports chairman Yen Makabenta, BSCP 4th National Pool Championship winner Lee Vann Corteza, Negros Billiard Stable (NBS) president Jonathan Sy and BSCP president and Star Billiards Center president Sebastian Chua.

Jungle Jimmy Is Fighting Fit

Jimmy White believes that getting into shape in the Australian jungle will help his snooker career.

The Whirlwind recently appeared in ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here’ and is now preparing for the Masters at Wembley Arena, having been awarded a wild card entry into the sport’s top invitation event.

“I lost 22lb and I’m going to keep training and make sure I keep that weight off,” said the former Masters and UK Championship winner. “Make no mistake, that will be a real benefit to me in my snooker, because before there were some shots that I couldn’t reach. I’ve always been one of the best players with the rest, but I’d still rather be able to reach the shot without it.

“I had three jobs in the jungle. The first one was to fetch water for the group, which I was doing 25 or 30 times a day. That’s how I lost the weight. In the first week we were not organised with water which was a mistake as the dehydration was unbelievable. The second was to be ‘security’ for Gino (Di Campo) when he was cooking at the fire. If anyone was disturbing him, he’d shout out ‘Jimmy!’ and I’d make sure he was allowed to focus on making the dinner. The third was between myself, George (Hamilton) and Gino, we made sure there was no squabbling in the group. If there were any arguments, we nipped them in the bud.

“There was no computer and no phone, and the hardest thing for me was not being able to talk to my son or daughters. But I became very good friends with George and Gino. I’m having dinner next week with Gino and his wife and my girlfriend. I’ve been emailing and chatting with Justin (Ryan) and Colin (McAllister) and I’m in touch with Sam Fox too, and my son was very excited when he met Katie Price.”

White’s stay in the jungle meant that he had to miss the Pukka Pies UK Championship qualifiers, which caused him considerable anguish during the long hours in the outback.

“I was thinking about snooker a lot and I was gutted to miss the UK ,” he said. “In one of the trials I had to do there was a snooker ball, and that brought all the memories flooding back.”

But White is now back where he is happiest – on the green baize – and looking forward to his clash with Mark King at Wembley Arena on January 10. “I’ve always had great support from the crowds at Wembley so I’m looking forward to getting back there and enjoying that. King is a tough competitor but if my game is there I can beat him. I totally deserved the wild card because I’ve won two tournaments recently – a World Series event in Prague and the Six Red Cup in Thailand.”

White also gave his endorsement to the appointment of Barry Hearn as the new Chairman of the WPBSA. “When I came out of the jungle I found out that Barry was back involved in snooker and I was very pleased to hear that,” added the Londoner. “He did a great job for snooker in the 1980s and I was lucky enough to be involved at the time. He’s the best man for the job. He’ll get a buzz going about the sport, like he has done in darts.”

White will be battling for the Masters title, along with the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Stephen Hendry, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy and Pukka Pies UK Champion Ding Junhui at Wembley Arena from January 10-17. Tickets start at just £10 and can be booked by calling 0844 815 0815 (Disabled Booking Line 020 8782 5629) or visiting www.worldsnooker.com/masters