Site News
Topic: *Industry News* 2015 - 2024

Coral To Sponsor Snooker Shoot-Out

World Snooker is delighted to announce Coral as the new title sponsor of the Shoot-Out.

The celebrated three-day tournament features fast and furious snooker, with 64 players in a knockout format. Matches last a maximum of ten minutes, with a shot clock ensuring rapid and dramatic action.

The Coral Shoot-Out will run on the weekend of February 12 to 14 and will be staged at the iconic Hexagon in Reading for the first time.

Televised by ITV4, it will feature top stars including Shaun Murphy, Stuart Bingham, Judd Trump, John Higgins and defending champion Michael White battling for the trophy and £32,000 top prize.

World Snooker Commercial Director Miles Pearce said: “We are thrilled to welcome Coral as title sponsor of the Shoot-Out for the first time. They have previously sponsored the UK Championship so they are aware of the tremendous exposure our sport can achieve for their brand.

“The Shoot-Out has become one of the most exciting and popular events on the calendar since it was first staged in 2011. It has a fabulous atmosphere for the fans in the arena and we’re looking forward to going back to The Hexagon, a venue stepped in snooker history. ITV will broadcast this tournament for the first time which will be a treat for fans on free-to-air television.”

Nicola McGeady, Coral PR Manager, added: “Snooker has evolved and modernised over the last few years and the Shoot-Out has become one of the most exciting events on the calendar since it started in 2011. In the same way Coral has also modernised and innovated to offer the very best betting service, whilst staying true to its proud heritage as one of Britain’s biggest and best known betting brands. Together, the Shoot-Out and Coral make a very good fit indeed. Last year we were proud sponsors of the UK Championship, and by supporting the Shoot-Out, we are continuing to show our commitment to the sport."

Tickets for the Coral Shoot-Out are on sale now and you can buy a pass for all five sessions for just £75. Fans are strongly urged to book fast as tickets are selling out. For details call 0118 960 6060 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

76th World Tournament of 14.1 September 5-11, 2016!

Another bonus for the players coming this year who will be in pool heaven as they will have 3 back to back tournaments in New York with the World Tournament of 14.1 taking place 1 week after Turningstone Casino and the Tony Robles 9-Ball Tour stop at Steinway Billiards on Sunday September 3rd-4th Sat-Sun before the World Tournament begins on Monday.

76th World Tournament of 14.1
September 5-11,2016!
September 5-11, 2016 New York City, Steinway Billiards

Ina Kaplan and Roman Hybler are German Tour Champions

DARMSTADT, GERMANY (January 11, 2016) – McDermott Cue Mfg., LLC is a leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of pool cues, performance shafts and billiard accessories. McDermott would like to congratulate Ina Kaplan and Roman Hybler on winning the German Tour Final.

The German Tour Final took place in Darmstadt from January 5th through 10th. The top 350 players out of nearly 3,500 German Tour competitors qualified for the event. The German Tour Final was played in an open division and in a women’s division. Special guests like Efren Reyes, Francisco Bustamante, Tony Drago and Nick van den Berg were invited and made this event very special to both the participants and the spectators. The tournament was streamed live online and drew a lot of viewers during its six day span. On the final day, around 13,000 spectators watched the games for an average time of 100 minutes.

The organizers from the German billiards magazine, Touch, provided three official photographers and coordinated the live stream, which featured Ralph Eckert as commentator.

Roman Hybler of the Czech Republic, (based in Munich, Germany) won the tournament with a 7-4 win over Nick van den Berg. The final day of the German Tour Final was played in 8-Ball, while the first two rounds were played in 9- and 10-Ball. The winner of the women’s division was Ina Kaplan, who beat Jennifer Vietz 5-3. Kaplan also finished 17th in the open division.

The main sponsors of the event were the German and European Brunswick dealer, Billard Beckmann, and the American pool cue manufacturer, McDermott Cue. Other sponsors included Kamui Tips and Arthur Cues.
McDermott Cue is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, WI and markets under the brands of McDermott Cue, Star Cue, Lucky Cue, Wildfire, Intimidator i-Shafts, G-Core Shafts, Big Boy Shafts, Sledgehammer Break Cue and Stinger Break/Jump Cues.

For more information about this press release, contact McDermott’s Creative Director, Derek Blaguski, at derekb@mcdermottcue.com or call 1-262-251-4090. More information can also be found at www.mcdermottcue.com.

Duramith ™ - the new benchmark in billiard balls

The EPBF & Saluc have had a long standing cooperation, the quality and service that comes with this partnership is second to none. For decades, the EPBF have used the Aramith billiard balls at every International event and it is this history & cooperation that has led to a further development.

Saluc, the master behind Aramith billiard balls have again come up with a superior product that will take the billiard world by storm. The new product with it’s increased durability will surely cement Saluc as the leading supplier of billiard balls throughout the world.

Just when you thought that things could not get better,the Aramith brand have improved on what was already considered the best in the business. For generations, Aramith have used a resin that produced superb billiard balls and with the new Duramith ™ Technology that has been developed, we can look forward to having the best equipment available for our athletes.
With a totally overhauled resin formulation and with new hi-tec reticulation, cross-linking and curing technologies, the Aramith products now set a new benchmark in quality, durability and longevity, increasing their service life up to 50% during which: their through-hardened vitrified surface and core holds their glossy look
their specifications, rebound and playing consistency throughout the set is maintained the cloth wear and white marks that are common place are reduced significantly their friction resistance minimizes burn spots as well.

The Aramith Tournament set features the Duramith ™ technology with its high-tech engineered molecular structure enhancing drastically the longevity of the balls while minimizing significantly table cloth wear. With a life-span that exceeds up to 8 times that of the average polyester and phenol-like resins, Aramith ball sets are the logical choice for both the trade and the player.

EPBF is delighted to continue its cooperation with Saluc and the Aramith brand and look forward to introducing the new Tournament sets to its international high-standard tournaments such as European Championships and Euro-Tours in the coming season.

2015 Kamui Challenge (Jayson Shaw vs Corey Deuel) Released on YouTube

CueSports International, Henderson, Nevada (January 13, 2016) – CSI is pleased to announce that the 2015 Kamui Challenge (Jayson Shaw vs Corey Deuel) has been released on the CSI YouTube Channel. The match was filmed on July 22, 2015 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

This video features the pure shooting style of Shaw against the strategy and pattern play of Deuel in an 8-ball match that was intense down to the very end. Everyone was on the edge of their seats and the ending is hard to believe. The video even includes player interviews at the conclusion and they explain their thought process at different points of the match.

FORMAT
8-Ball
Race to 21
Alternating breaks
Played on a 7ft Diamond table with pro cut pockets

JAYSON SHAW (GBR)A Scotland native, Shaw has risen quickly to become one of the most feared players on American soil. His rapid fire style of play shows pure confidence and often ignites the crowd in disbelief.

COREY DEUEL (USA)Deuel has long been one of top professional players in the U.S. He plays all games well and is generally considered a mastermind when it comes to strategy, racking, and breaking techniques.

Make sure to “SUBSCRIBE” to the CSI YouTube Channel to be notified every time new content is added.

CSI YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/csipool

On 2016-01-13 22:14 , Administrator Wrote:

I have this version and the TV version and i'm very happy with them. They play exactly the same as the current Pro cup TV and look nicer!!


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Snooker’s Q School 2016 Open For Entry

All budding snooker players will have the chance to qualify for the sport’s professional tour at Q School 2016.

The tournament will start on May 11 and will be staged at the Meadowside Leisure Centre in Burton.

Once again there will be EIGHT TWO-YEAR TOUR CARDS available, given to the semi-finalists in each of two events. The entry fee remains £600 and Q School is open to players of all ages and nationalities (subject to terms and conditions).

Those eight players will go on to compete on the World Snooker Tour, travelling the globe to play in the biggest tournaments, with many millions of pounds in prize money up for grabs.

Entries are now being taken, just go to www.wsplayers.com and follow the instructions. All players are strongly advised to get their entry in as soon as possible. The closing date for entering Q School is Wednesday April 6 at 12pm.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “Opportunity for all is an integral part of sport and that’s why we launched Q School back in 2011. Since then we’ve seen hundreds of players competing for a coveted place on our tour. Each year only the best eight make it. So it’s time to ask yourself the question: will you be one of those in 2016? Have you got the talent, the determination and the temperament to get through the field and earn professional status? If the answer is yes, get your name down NOW for Q school.

“There has never been a better time to be a snooker player. Next season we are adding several brand new ranking events to the calendar, so the schedule will be busier than ever, and the level of prize money higher than ever. There will be no resting on our laurels and the tour will continue to grow. So the players who take the opportunities open to them will truly be living the dream.

“Over the past five years, Q School has proved the best and fairest way for players to qualify for the tour. It is played in fantastic conditions at an excellent venue in Burton so there are no excuses. The best will rise to the top. Now is the time to get on board. Get your name down for Q School because it could change your life.”

As in previous years, a ranking list will be compiled during Q School, with players earning one point for every frame won. During the main tour season, should any of the tournament draws fall below a total entry of 128 then the field will be topped up with the highest ranked players from the Q-School list who have not gained one of the eight tour cards.

Adam Duffy finished third on the same list last year and has gained entry into every ranking event so far this season. At the UK Championship in York he scored a memorable win over Ding Junhui in the first round. He said: “The fantastic thing about Q School is that even if you don’t earn a tour card, you can still get the chance to play in a lot of major events, and you could end up on TV against one of the top stars. Every match you win in Q School counts. Beating Ding at the UK Championship was a great moment for me and hopefully there will be many more wins like that to come.”

So don't forget...enter Q School today, and chase your dream! For more details see

www.worldsnookerqschool.com

GB9 to use Aramith’s New Tournament Ball Sets with Duramith Technology

Duramith ™ – the new benchmark in billiard balls

GB9 have been proud to be associated with the Saluc brand since the tours inception back in 2008. GB9 players old and new all appreciate the quality and consistency that the product brings to the sport.

Saluc, the master behind Aramith billiard balls have again come up with a superior product that will take the billiard world by storm. The new product with it’s increased durability will surely cement Saluc as the leading supplier of billiard balls throughout the world.

Just when you thought that things could not get better, the Aramith brand have improved on what was already considered the best in the business. For generations, Aramith have used a resin that produced superb billiard balls and with the new Duramith ™ Technology that has been developed, we can look forward to continuing to have the best equipment available to our players.

With a totally overhauled resin formulation and with new hi-tec reticulation, cross-linking and curing technologies, the Aramith products now set a new benchmark in quality, durability and longevity, increasing their service life up to 50% during which: their through-hardened vitrified surface and core holds their glossy look their specifications, rebound and playing consistency throughout the set is maintained the cloth wear and white marks that are common place are reduced significantly their friction resistance minimizes burn spots as well.

The Aramith Tournament set features the Duramith ™ technology with its high-tech engineered molecular structure enhancing drastically the longevity of the balls while minimizing significantly table cloth wear. With a life-span that exceeds up to 8 times that of the average polyester and phenol-like resins, Aramith ball sets are the logical choice for both the trade and the player.

GB9 is delighted to continue its cooperation with Saluc and the Aramith brand and look forward to introducing the new TV Pro-Cup Tournament sets with Duramith ™ Technology to all its events for the 2016 season.


In 2016 GB9 is proudly sponsored by Simonis Cloth, Aramith Billiard Balls and Carlson Rezidor Hotels making the perfect combination of the very best equipment in the most outstanding venues.

2015 Tiger Challenge (Shane Van Boening vs Mike Dechaine) Released on YouTube

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (Jan. 19, 2016) – CSI is pleased to announce that the 2015 Tiger Challenge (Shane Van Boening vs Mike Dechaine) has been released on the CSI YouTube Channel. The match was filmed on July 23, 2015 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

This challenge match features what many consider to be the two best players in the U.S., and both are known for their explosiveness and pure run-out style. The video even includes player interviews at the conclusion as they explain their thought process at different points of the match.

FORMAT
10-Ball, Race to 21
Alternating breaks
Played on a 7ft Diamond table with pro cut pockets

SHANE VAN BOENING (USA) – Fargo Rating: 822
Van Boening is generally considered to be the best player in the U.S. and has dominated the American pool scene since 2007. He really seems to excel in one-on-one challenge matches, often amassing overwhelming leads and discouraging his opponents early.

MIKE DECHAINE (USA) – Fargo Rating: 797
Dechaine is considered by many to be the second best player in the U.S. behind Van Boening. He has many titles to his credit and in 2015, he landed a role in a reality series called "The Hustlers" which aired on truTV.

Make sure to “SUBSCRIBE” to the CSI YouTube Channel to be notified every time new content is added.

CSI YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/csipool

Doherty Expects Tough Guild Hall Test

Former World Snooker Champion Ken Doherty believes that the standard of play with be higher than ever at this year's World Seniors Championship in Preston.

The tournament at the Guild Hall runs on the weekend of January 30-31 and will feature many of the sport's great names including Jimmy White, John Parrott and defending champion Mark Williams.

Last year the age limit was lowered from 45 to 40 and Doherty believes that has led to a far tougher field. Six of the world's top 40 players will be among the 16-man line-up in Preston.

"It has got so much more competitive over the last couple of years because of the change in age limit," said 46-year-old Doherty, who won the World Championship in 1997. "There are a lot of very good players in it this time. Mark Davis is an extremely tough first round draw, he's ranked 23rd in the world and we've had a lot of battles over the years.

"It's good prize money and for the winner it's great to be a world champion at any level. Everyone there is in it to win, and not just to have fun. It's a great event and I love playing in it every year."

Returning to the Guild Hall will bring back plenty of memories for Irishman Doherty as he played several times at the Preston venue earlier in his career.

"The Guild Hall is where it all started for me," he said. "That's where I went to try and qualify as a professional in 1988, back in the pro-ticket days. I failed to qualify but I won the world amateur title the next year to get my pro card.

"My best memory of playing in Preston was the 1994 UK Championship. I played out of my skin that week and beat the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan and James Wattana to reach the final. Then I was involved in a brilliant match against Stephen Hendry, he made seven centuries and beat me 10-5. I couldn't hold on to him, he was just too good. It's a great venue, particularly when there's a big crowd in."

Doherty has had an inconsistent season so far and dropped to 47th in the world rankings, but he showed signs of his best form in December when he won two qualifying matches to reach the final stages of February's German Masters.

"I had a couple of good wins before Christmas and hopefully that's a sign of things to come for the next few months," he added. "I hope 2016 will be a good year for me on the table. The game doesn't get any easier as you get older but I still love playing."

Televised by Sky Sports, the World Seniors Championship brings together stars of the modern game and past eras.

Tickets are ON SALE NOW and start at just £10, but fans must book fast because they are selling out. For details call 01772 804444 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

The full draw and format is:

January 30th
From 1pm

Peter Ebdon v Nigel Bond
Mark Williams v Anthony Hamilton
Tony Drago v Robert Milkins
Joe Johnson v Darren Morgan

From 7pm
Ken Doherty v Mark Davis
John Parrott v Dominic Dale
Rory McLeod v Fergal O’Brien
Jimmy White v Gary Lees

January 31st

From 1pm
Quarter-finals

From 7pm
Semi-finals
Final

Williams – I’m Not At Rocket's Level

Mark Williams insists he is no longer at the same level as Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins as he looks ahead to his defence of snooker’s World Seniors Championship title.

O’Sullivan described the trio as the “OAPs of the sport” after winning the Masters last week, with all three having turned 40 within the past year. Higgins won three ranking events in 2015, while Williams also enjoyed a resurgence, taking the seniors crown on his debut in the event and climbing back into the world’s top 16 with consistent form.

But the Welshman maintains that his best years are well behind him. “We are the old men on the tour but it’s those two who are winning the tournaments,” said Williams. “Ronnie has still got good form and can play to a high standard, so can John.

“Unfortunately I can’t play to the standard that they play to at the moment even though they are not at their best. I just keep plugging along and just getting on with it.”

In fact two-time World Champion Williams is relieved just to be competing on the pro tour having recovered from a rotator cuff injury which threatened his career.

“It feels fine now, for the first time in about two years I can wipe my cue with a cloth and not have any pain,” said the winner of 18 ranking titles, who had surgery last July. “My doctor said I might have been out for 18 months. That would have been a nightmare, but luckily enough I was only out for two or three months.

“It was painful for a year or two, I couldn’t even wipe my cue because I would be in constant pain from my shoulder going down to my elbow, really bad pain and I had it for so long in the end I couldn’t stick it any more.”

Williams will join the likes of John Parrott, Jimmy White, Ken Doherty and Joe Johnson among the 16-man field for the World Seniors event at the Preston Guild Hall.

The tournament will run on the weekend of January 30-31 and the Williams has happy memories of the venue at which he defeated John Higgins to win his third Grand Prix title back in 2003.

“The Guild Hall is my favourite venue,” said Williams. “Even when we used to have the qualifiers there it is one of the best venues I have played in.”

Last year, Williams defeated Fergal O’Brien 2-1 in the final to capture the £18,000 top prize but expects a tougher challenge in 2016 with several main tour players in the draw.

“It’s more difficult now with a lot of top pros in there who are still on the circuit,” he added. “Last year everyone expected me to win it because I was one of the main pros in it. It’s very open this time.”

Televised by Sky Sports, the World Seniors Championship brings together stars of the modern game and past eras.

Tickets are ON SALE NOW and start at just £10, but fans must book fast because they are selling out. For details call 01772 804444 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

The full draw and format is:

January 30th
From 1pm

Peter Ebdon v Nigel Bond
Mark Williams v Anthony Hamilton
Tony Drago v Robert Milkins
Joe Johnson v Darren Morgan

From 7pm
Ken Doherty v Mark Davis
John Parrott v Dominic Dale
Rory McLeod v Fergal O’Brien
Jimmy White v Gary Lees

January 31st

From 1pm
Quarter-finals

From 7pm
Semi-finals
Final

No Steve Davis ?

888sport Sponsor World Seniors Snooker

This weekend’s World Seniors Championship, featuring many of snooker’s great names, will be sponsored by 888sport for the first time.

The 888sport World Seniors Championship runs on Saturday January 30 and Sunday January 31 at the Guild Hall in Preston, televised live on Sky Sports.

Mark Williams won the title on his debut in the event last year and will be defending the crown against the likes of Jimmy White, John Parrott, Ken Doherty and Joe Johnson. In all there are 16 players, aged 40 and over, chasing the £18,000 top prize.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to welcome 888sport on board for what is a wonderful celebration of snooker. 888sport has sponsored a variety of our events in the past so they are fully aware of how popular snooker is on a global scale.

“The World Seniors is a fabulous event which brings together legends of the past three decades. It’s a lot of fun for the players, but once the first ball is struck it is serious business. The Guild Hall is a historic snooker venue and any fans lucky enough to have a ticket are ready for a weekend of marvellous entertainment.”

Itai Pazner, SVP B2C 888.com, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be sponsoring the World Seniors Snooker Championship. With once the world’s best players vying against each other like old times, this promises to be the biggest and most competitive tournament yet. May the best man win!”

Tickets for the tournament are still available and start at just £10, but fans must book fast because they are selling out. For details call 01772 804444 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

The full draw and format is:

January 30th
From 1pm
Peter Ebdon v Nigel Bond
Mark Williams v Anthony Hamilton
Tony Drago v Robert Milkins
Joe Johnson v Darren Morgan

From 7pm
Ken Doherty v Mark Davis
John Parrott v Dominic Dale
Rory McLeod v Fergal O’Brien
Jimmy White v Gary Lees

January 31st
From 1pm
Quarter-finals

From 7pm
Semi-finals
Final

#WinningStillMatters

Simonis WSP Aramith announcement 26 January 2016

ANNOUNCEMENT

Verviers, Belgium - January 26, 2016

Peltzer & Fils Group, owner of Iwan Simonis S.A. and Saluc S.A. is delighted to announce that WSP Textiles Limited, England and its STRACHAN™ and PLAYNE™ brands has joined the Group. Iwan Simonis is the leading manufacturer of the SIMONIS™ premium quality worsted billiard cloth and Saluc S.A., home of the famous ARAMITH™ balls, is the global leader in the production of true phenolic billiard balls.
    
WSP Textiles is the leading manufacturer of premium quality billiard and tennis ball cloth. Based at Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, WSP has been making billiard and tennis ball cloth for over a hundred years. Its STRACHAN™ range of traditional snooker and English pool cloth is used at various high profile tournaments including the recent Dafabet Masters 2016 (World Snooker) and its PLAYNE™ tennis ball cloth range is the choice of the majority of leading manufacturers and brands in the tennis industry including the current Australian Open.

This new partnership with WSP enables a diversification of the Group activities by taking a leading position in the tennis ball cloth market. In billiard this combination of high quality iconic brands and products SIMONIS™, ARAMITH™ and STRACHAN™ makes our Group to be the partner of choice for cue sport federations, distributors, retailers and players and will create new opportunities to further develop the business.

Betway Extends UK Championship Sponsorship

World Snooker is delighted to announce that Betway has renewed its title sponsorship of the UK Championship for another two years.

Betway sponsored the Triple Crown tournament for the first time in 2015, and has now signed up for 2016 and 2017.

This season’s tournament at the York Barbican was won by Neil Robertson, who beat Liang Wenbo in the final and made a 147 break in the process.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled to welcome Betway on board for another two years. The UK Championship is one of our most historic and prestigious tournaments. There were many fantastic moments at this season’s event, broadcast to hundreds of millions of fans around the world, and the Betway team were clearly very pleased with the exposure achieved for their brand. We look forward to working them on the event for the next two years.”

Alan Alger, PR Manager of Betway, added: “After Betway’s incredibly exciting and successful inaugural sponsorship of the UK Championship, we look forward to two more years.”

The dates and ticket details for next season’s Betway UK Championship in York will be announced soon.

2016 BCAPL National Championships to use Fargo Ratings

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (February 3, 2016) – CSI is excited to announce that Fargo Ratings will be used at the 2016 BCAPL National Championships for the purpose of placing players and teams in the appropriate divisions. We are confident that this will be a major improvement in making all divisions much more competitive.

Why use Fargo Ratings for the BCAPL National Championships?
With enough data, FargoRate is the most accurate and unbiased pool player rating system ever developed. Data from past events reveal an enormous range of talent within every division. The 2015 Men’s Open Singles division had a rating spread of nearly 700 and several players that could be classified as professionals. The 2015 Men’s Leisure Singles division had several players with skill levels equal to many in the Advanced division. These are just two of many examples but the typical player in most divisions had almost no chance of beating the top players. This problem, which exists in many national events, can now be solved.
Additionally, no player rated over 720 may register for amateur divisions. They must compete in the unrestricted events such as the 9-Ball Challenge, 10-Ball Challenge, 8-Ball Challenge, US Open 10-Ball Championship, or US Open 8-Ball Championship. This will prevent professional-caliber players from entering amateur events.

How to Obtain or Lookup a Fargo Rating
Although thousands of players already have established ratings (200+ games of data), many have fewer than 200 games of data or none at all. In these cases, CSI has assigned “starter ratings” based on previous rankings (see table below) or known ability. For those with some data but fewer than 200 games, the official rating is a mix of the starter rating and the computed rating. For those with no data, the starter rating is the official rating. Players with no rating may contact CSI to obtain a starter rating.

Old Ranking (Starter Ratings)
Grandmaster (male: 710 / female: 675)
Master (male: 675 / female: 600)
Advanced (male: 625 / female: 525)
Open (male: 525 / female: 425)
Leisure (male: 400 / female: 300)

Players may look up their official rating any of the following ways:
1. Login to the member area of the CSI database. This will show the player’s rating only.
2. Click the online registration link on the 2016 BCAPL National Championships webpage.
Players can view their own ratings and can search for potential teammates and see their ratings.
3. Visit fairmatch.fargorate.com. Players can view anyone’s rating


FargoRate for Singles
Rather than registering for a specific singles division, players will now register for a type of singles event. As an example, assume a player registers for Mixed 8-Ball Singles. After registration is closed, the entire field will be divided into separate divisions (Platinum, Gold, Silver, & Bronze) based on Fargo Ratings.
While women’s-only divisions are offered, women now have the opportunity to compete against men of similar skill level. Under Fargo Ratings, women rated 450 are the same as men rated 450. Therefore, women are encouraged to participate in mixed divisions.

Mixed 9-Ball Singles
Platinum Division (Upper 25% of field)
Gold Division (Lower 75% of field)

Mixed 8-Ball Singles
Platinum Division (Upper 15% of field)
Gold Division (Upper middle 35% of field)
Silver Division (Lower middle 35% of field)
Bronze Division (Lower 15% of field)

Mixed Senior 8-Ball Singles
Platinum Division (Upper 25% of field)
Gold Division (Lower 75% of field)

Women’s 9-Ball Singles
Platinum Division (Upper 25% of field)
Gold Division (Lower 75% of field)

Women’s 8-Ball Singles
Platinum Division (Upper 15% of field)
Gold Division (Upper middle 35% of field)
Silver Division (Lower middle 35% of field)
Bronze Division (Lower 15% of field)

Women’s Senior 8-Ball Singles
Platinum Division (Upper 25% of field)
Gold Division (Lower 75% of field)


FargoRate for Scotch Doubles (male/female)
Scotch doubles teams will register for specific divisions which have team rating limits. The sum of both players’ Fargo Ratings may not exceed the division limit. The divisions and team limits are shown below.

Scotch Doubles
Platinum Division (1,300 rating limit)
Gold Division (1,200 rating limit)
Silver Division (1,100 rating limit)

FargoRate for Teams
Teams will also register for specific divisions which have team rating limits. Teams must specify “core players” for the purpose of establishing a team rating. The sum of core players’ Fargo Ratings may not exceed the division limit. Teams may also list “substitutes” on the team roster. However, a substitute must be rated the same or lower than the person being replaced in any round. The divisions and team limits are shown below.

Mixed 9-Ball Teams (3-player)
Platinum Division (1,950 rating limit)
Gold Division (1,800 rating limit)
    
Mixed 8-Ball Teams (5-player)
Platinum Division (3,250 rating limit)
Gold Division (3,000 rating limit)
Trophy Division (2,750 rating limit)

Women’s 9-Ball Teams (3-player)
Gold Division (1,500 rating limit)
    
Women’s 8-Ball Teams (4-player)
Platinum Division (2,200 rating limit)
Gold Division (2,000 rating limit)
Trophy Division (1,800 rating limit)

Individual Rating Changes
Because Fargo Ratings are updated every day, there is a 10-point “forgiveness cushion” for players rated 720 or lower at the time of registration but their rating moves above 720 before the tournament. If a player’s rating moves beyond 730, the player or team will have the following options:
Play and accept a 1-game penalty in each match for every 25 points over 730.
Example: A player had a 703 rating at the time of registration but it moved to 735 (5 over the cushion). The player will incur a 1-game penalty in each match (opponents get a 1-game spot).
Move into an unrestricted open event (singles), move up into the next division (teams)

Team Rating Changes (Scotch Doubles & Teams)
There is a 10-point per player “forgiveness cushion” if the team is eligible for a specific division at the time of registration but one or more members’ ratings move up to push them over the limit. If the team rating moves beyond the cushion, it will have the following options:
Play and accept a 1-game penalty in each match for every 50 points over the cushion.
Scotch Doubles Example: A Platinum Team (1,300 limit, 1,320 with cushion) is rated 1,290 when they register but increases to 1,318. There will be no penalty in the match because the increase did not exceed 1320. If their rating increases to 1,352 (32 points over the cushion), they will incur a 1-game penalty in each match.
Team Example: A Gold Team (3,000 limit, 3,050 with cushion) is rated 2,975 when they register but increases to 3,093 (43 points over the cushion). They will incur a 1-game penalty in each match. If their combined rating increases to 3,127 (77 points over the cushion), they will incur a 2-game penalty in each match.
Move up to the next division (not possible if already registered for the Platinum division)
Replace one or more players to get within the team limit

Miscellaneous Eligibility Requirements & Details
Each division has its own specific requirements regarding membership, eligibility, format, etc. Those details and much more can be found on the entry forms which can be downloaded by visiting the official 2016 BCAPL National Championships webpage.

CueSports International (CSI) ◊ 2041 Pabco Rd., Henderson, NV 89011 ◊ 702-719-7665 ◊ 866-USA-POOL

IPA Pool Press Release

The IPA (International Professional Pool Players Association) are delighted to announce that Coral are now their official betting partner for the IPA World Championships and further events in 2016.

For the first time, pool players and fans can bet on their heroes or otherwise in both the main event and the Doubles via sports.coral.co.uk/pool while watching on the IPA industry leading livestream at ipapool.com/tour-extra/live-streaming/

Marc Farnsworth is the current favourite at 4/1 with reigning Champion Jack Whelan a 7/1 shot and others available at odds all the way up to 66/1, so why not have a dabble (small or large stakes, your choice) and liven up your weekend.

Selby Ready For Rocket Challenge

World number one Mark Selby says he is pleased to see Ronnie O’Sullivan among the field for next week’s BetVictor Welsh Open in Cardiff as winning the title would mean more.

The world ranking event runs from February 15 to 21 at the Motorpoint Arena with 128 players battling for the trophy. The draw was made yesterday and O’Sullivan will face Barry Pinches in the first round next Monday while Selby will take on Welshman Duane Jones.

It could be the only tournament O’Sullivan will play before the World Championship in April and Leicester’s Selby is looking forward to the challenge.

“It makes it more special to win a tournament when he is in the field,” said Selby, who beat O’Sullivan in the 2008 Welsh Open final. “Even if you don’t end up playing him, you still know at the back of your mind that you’ve won an event when he was in it. He is always the man to beat when he turns up to a tournament in the right frame of mind.

“Any time Ronnie plays in a tournament it helps give it an extra buzz and I’m sure it makes a difference to the TV figures and live crowds. Cardiff is a great venue and I really enjoyed playing there last year.”

O’Sullivan missed the first few months of this season before making a triumphant return to the limelight at the Masters last month, thrashing Barry Hawkins 10-1 in the final.

Selby added: “I wasn’t surprised by how well he played at the Masters because everyone knows how good he is. The frustrating thing was that the best he played all week was against me in the quarter-finals. Perhaps he tries that little bit harder against me.

“Barry Hawkins would have been disappointed by the way he played in the final, he under-performed. The Masters is Ronnie’s home tournament and the crowd there can be intimidating for his opponents. Barry was a bit overawed by the occasion.

“When I beat Ronnie in the World Championship final in Sheffield two years ago, most of the crowd were behind him but they were very respectful. At the Masters when I played him this year there were people shouting things out when I was down on a shot. That wasn’t the difference between me winning and losing, it’s just the way it is in London.”

Among the other star names competing in Cardiff will be Judd Trump, defending champion John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Stuart Bingham, Jimmy White and home favourites Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens. For the full draw and format see www.worldsnooker.com

Tickets are on sale now and start at just £8, tremendous value to see the world’s top players live. Certain sessions are selling out so fans are urged to book fast. For details call 02920 22 44 88 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

IPA Pool Press Release

With the (chalk) dust now settled the new IPA World Blackball Pool Champions have now been crowned after an intense five days of competition at the Bradford Hotel.

200 or so competitors from around the pool World were watched by thousands of on line viewers from an amazing 141 Countries, and were eventually whittled down to our finalists who had all earned their places in such a high quality and competitive field.

Jason Twist was the first to collect a trophy when he saw of Jeremy Hooper to retain his Seniors title on Saturday afternoon, thus becoming the first ever back to back World Champion in IPA History, but he was closely followed by Deb Burchell who did the same in the Ladies when seeing off Shona Lucas in a repeat of last year’s final on Sunday afternoon.

The doubles was as thrilling as it could possibly be as a 6-6 scoreline left us with the infamous black ball shoot out that had us all on the edge of our seats until Dean Shields sunk the final black to win it with Gareth Hibbott, beating the ever popular French pair of Christophe Lambert and Roger Dumortier

Last but not least we had the Open Final, the one that every player wants to win, and a battle royal between Gareth Hibbott (again) and Craig Marsh. In a three set format, it went to the very last frame at one set each and four frames all, so it doesn’t get any closer than that. A one frame final at the end of the day saw Gareth keep his nerve for perhaps the most pressurised break and dish clearance in the history of 8 ball to walk away the new World Champion – it honestly couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke!

More info required? Go to www.ipapool.com or follow us on all social media.

U.S. Announces 2016 Atlantic Challenge Cup Team

The Billiard Congress of America proudly announces its team for the 2nd Annual Atlantic Challenge Cup event to take place July 8-11, 2016 in Schaumburg, Illinois (just outside Chicago), scheduled immediately before the Billiard Congress of America Home & Leisure Expo and the Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) Junior National 9-Ball Championships.
The 2016 team begins with reigning Junior National 9-Ball Champion and member of the 2015 US World Junior Team Christopher Robinson. Chris will be joined by his 2015 World Teammate Zachary Gurganus, long time Junior stand outs Shane Wolford, Tyler Howell, Ryan Ponton, and Ricky Evans (who is also a veteran of the 2014 US World Team).

2015 Atlantic Challenge Cup Team USA MVP April Larson, and 2015 reserve member Serena Black make their second appearance on Team USA, bringing experience, grace and determination. They are joined by new team members Sierra Reams and Emily Herpel (who was also a part of the 2015 US World Team).

All of these juniors have experience on a big stage placing high, or winning, at national and international events.

Members of 2016 Team U.S.A.
Christopher Robinson, age 18 (Ventura, CA)
Ricky Evans, age 14 (St. Peters, MO)
Shane Wolford, age 16 (Troutville, VA)
Tyler Howell, age 18 (Davenport, IA)
Ryan Ponton, age 18 (Bradley, IL)
Zachary Gurganus, age 18 (Marietta, GA)
April Larson, age 16 (Bloomington, MN)
Serena Black, age 17 (Warrensburg, IL)
Sierra Reams, age 17 (Richmond, VA)
Emily Herpel, age 16 (Freehold, NY)

The team of 10 players includes six boys and four girls. The official starting team of six players (four boys and two girls) will be announced on June 1st after the 10 players meet for an intensive spring training camp to prepare for the big event. This camp will once again be sponsored by the Jeanette Lee and the Black Widow Foundation and will include her expertise along with that of Johnny Archer, Tom Rossman and other top professionals and instructors.

The selection process used a modified Mosconi Cup type system. The pool of 30 Team USA nominee’s earned points for their finishing position at national events held by each supporting organization in which they participated along with academic achievement. The top points-earning nominees (12 boys and eight girls) advanced to become Team USA finalists. Extensive phone interviews were then conducted and the results reported to the Team USA Selection Committee. The committee then considered the points earned, player bio, player history and results of the phone interviews. After considering all this information, the committee then selected the 10 Team USA Members for the 2016 Atlantic Challenge Cup. “Having such a diverse pool of juniors,” said Committee Chair Rick Doner, “has once again provided Team USA with strong, knowledgeable and experienced players to represent our country as Ambassadors of our sport “.

“The Billiard Congress of America and BEF is thrilled with this year’s team and gives great thanks to each of the members of the selection committee, particularly Team USA Committee Chair Rick Doner for his countless hours of hard work and dedication to ensuring the best possible team is selected,” said Billiard Congress of America CEO Rob Johnson. “We are already counting the days until the 2016 Atlantic Challenge Cup.”

For more information about the Atlantic Challenge Cup event, visit:
www.billiardeducation.org/events/atlantic-challenge-cup/. A new website solely dedicated to the Atlantic Challenge Cup will be launched in the coming weeks.

Press release issued by the EPBF & BCA