Site News
Topic: *Industry News* 2015 - 2024

2015 EPBF Youth Player of the Year voting

The voting for the 2015 EPBF Youth Player of the Year is on. The votes will be separated in three categories:

1. Public voting
On the website www.europeanpocketbilliardfederation.com/youth-player-2015/ everybody can vote for his/her favorite player. The voting will be open for the public until 15.7.2016. Then, the public voting will be closed and votes will be counted.

2. Federations and Teamleaders
Each EPBF member federation gets one vote and one vote extra for the respective youth team leader.

3. EPBF Board and VIPS
The Board of the EPBF and VIPS such as sponsors will also get a separate vote.

These three categories will be counted individually and in the end, the player with the most votes will be awarded will the title „2015 EPBF Youth Player of the Year“. The award will be given during the Youth European Championships this year in Tirana, Albania.

Up for voting are the following players:

Daniel Maciol (POL) - World Champion U17; European Youth Champion U17 in 9-ball

This young talent won his first medal at the age of 12 in Brandenburg in 2012. In Portoroz/ Slovenia he added 3 medals and in Sankt Johann he was one of the favorites for the medal ranks. He won the 9-Ball, was runner-up in straight pool and 3rd in 8-Ball.

His highlight was the title at the World Championships for boys U17 in Shanghai after his 3rd Place in the previous year.

Maksim Dudanets (RUS) - 2nd place WC U19; EC straight pool youth; 2nd in 8-ball and 3rd in 10-ball

Maxsim played in 2015 in the U19 division for the first time and started with the first title as European Youth Straight Champion, runner-up in 8-Ball and the 3rd in 10-Ball.

Kristina Tkach (RUS) - 2 times EC youth (9-ball and 10-ball)
Since 2012 she has in total 8 medals in girls and women division on the European level.

In 2015, she won the title in girls 10-ball and 9-Ball and bronze medal in 8-Ball. In the women division she added another gold medal in 8-Ball.
Fedor Gorst (RUS) - 2 times EC U17 (straight pool and 10-ball)
In 2015 this young man from Russia played strong and deserved the titles in straight pool and 10-ball.

Krystian Cwikla (POL) - EC U19 9-ball; 3rd place WC 9-ball
In Sankt Johann, Austria, in 2015, Krystian was the European Youth 9-Ball Champion in U19 competition and 3rd in 8-Ball and deserved his ticket for the World Championships U19 in Shanghai. At his first World Championships U19 he took the 3rd place.

Official Atlantic Challenge Cup Website Launched

Organizers of the Atlantic Challenge Cup today launched a website promoting the event. With a URL of AtlanticChallengeCup.com, the website provides a comprehensive overview of the event, competition details, a preview of this year's competitors and the supporters responsible for making this event a reality. Throughout the event, the site will also provide current scores, live Internet stream details and contest results.

"We are beyond thrilled with the excitement and energy leading up to round two of the Atlantic Challenge Cup," said BCA CEO Rob Johnson. "The aim of this website is to provide a comprehensive and user-friendly experience for users wishing to learn more about and follow the Atlantic Challenge Cup. With just about a month before the competition, the anticipation for the first Atlantic Challenge Cup on American soil is really building. This is truly an event of partnership - including the players working together to prepare for the event, the BCA, BEF, EPBF and IPBF teaming up to create a special and unique junior event and the industry lending its financial support to bring this event to reality. Junior play is on the rise with the introduction of events such as the Atlantic Challenge Cup."

Stay tuned to AtlanticChallengeCup.com for continuous updates on the 2016 event.

Press release issued by the BCA & EPBF.

PREDATOR 1080 PURE CHALK - THE OFFICIAL CHALK OF 2016 CSI EVENTS

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (June 14, 2016) – CueSports International (CSI) is pleased to announce that Predator 1080 Pure Chalk is the official chalk of the 2016 BCAPL National Championships, USAPL National Championships, US Open 10-Ball Championship, and US Open 8-Ball Championship! The events will be held July 20-30 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Predator 1080 Pure Chalk
After more than five years of research and development, and three years of testing by the game’s top pros, the next Predator evolution has arrived. Comprised of a special formula utilizing Pure silica and an exacting development process, 1080 Pure was created with one thing in mind — winning.

·         Improved accuracy
·         Greater consistency
·         Increased spin
·         Longer on-tip chalk life
·         Better application coverage and comfort

“I’ve tried a lot of chalk over the years but the Predator chalk is the best I have ever used. It’s the best value for money and simply the best chalk on the market.” – Darren Appleton

“I love the new predator chalk because it is a combination of great quality and a unique style. The revolutionary design and the quality of the chalk makes this product the perfect companion of every pool player! I love it.” – Jasmin Ouschan

"We are very excited to have Predator 1080 Pure Chalk onboard for these events. It is a very high quality product and will make 'The Greatest Tournament in the World!' even better" says CSI General Manager, Ozzy Reynolds.

All participants will be given their own Predator 1080 Pure Chalk during check-in at the registration desk. Because of the high quality and cost of Predator chalk, players should keep their chalk with them at all times and should not leave it at the table after a match. Open boxes of chalk will not be available at the Tournament Director's desk.

Get 25% off select clothing & apparel items!

25% Off

Select Clothing & Apparel items!

Get 25% off select clothing & apparel items while supplies last. There are a variety of t-shirts, polos, retro sweaters and more available! Order now before they sell out!

See our closeout Clothing & Apparel items!

2 for 1 on table play this weekend!

The perfect Father's Day treat.

Corner Bank 10 Ball Series Releases Details

The Corner Bank 10-Ball Series will consist of five preliminary events of $25,000 CAD each followed by a Grand Championship of $100,000 CAD to be held in April of 2017. Events will commence in September of 2016. Entry fee for the Preliminaries is $250 CAD or $200 USD. The full schedule is:

EVENT #!: September 20-23, 2016
EVENT #2: October 11-14, 2016
EVENT #3: November 8-11, 2016
EVENT #4: January 10-14, 2017
EVENT #5: February 14-17, 2017
Grand Championship: April 17-21. 2017

All events will be conducted at The Corner Bank Sports Bar & Grill, 925 Warden Avenue, Toronto, Canada. All events will be live streamed.

All events will carry Mosconi Cup points for the 2017 Mosconi Cup and will carry Corner Bank Points for seeding in The Corner Bank 10-Ball Series. The first event will be seeded from the International Money list for 2016. The format is 16 groups of 8 players (two seeds per group) playing in a double elimination format, race to 7 games, and alternate break. 3 players from each group will advance to the single elimination stage (48 players in total).  The group winners will be seeded into the final 16.  The remaining 32 players will be randomly drawn to face each other with the match winners playing into the group winners to make up the final 32.

The single elimination stage will be a race to 9 games except for the semi’s and finals which will be a race to 11 games. The prize money payouts for the preliminaries are as follows in CAD and are based on full fields:

$25,000 ADDED

Winner:  $15,000
Runner-Up:  $8,000
3-4 Place:  $4,000 each
5-8 Place:  $2,000 each
9 -16 Place:  $1,000 each
17-32 Place:  $500 each
33-48 Place:  $250 each

Fields are limited to the first 128 PAID players. An online payment system will be available shortly. For those wishing to assure their spot in the first event you may send a money order made out to The Corner Bank to:

The Corner Bank
925 Warden Ave.
Toronto, Ontario, M1L 4C5
Canada
ATTN: Jim Wych

GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP
No entries are as yet being accepted for the $100,000 added Grand Championship as in order to qualify to play in it you must first play in at least 3 of the 5 prelims. After the first prelim all players will be seeded into the following events based on their performance in prior Corner Bank 10-Ball Series Events. So the winner of the first event in September will be the #1 seed in the second event in October. The entry fee for the Grand Championship will be $500 CAD or $400 USD unless the exchange rate for the CAD changes markedly prior to April of 2017.

Kamui’s Ongoing Quest for Excellence

June 14, 2016 (Denver, CO): The Billiard Education Foundation is thrilled to announce Kamui will once again be recognizing 4.0 students with sponsorships as part of their Quest for Excellence award during this year’s Junior National 9-Ball Championships.

This year, four lucky billiard student-athletes will be featured as part of Kamui’s Quest for Excellence. These four players will receive:

·         A custom Quest for Excellence award
·         A professional photoshoot with senior designer/photographer JP Parmentier
·         Over $500 in Kamui product as part of the Kamui sponsorship
·         A custom one-page Player Profile Website by On The Wire Creative Media
·         Their very own collectible Kamui Players Card

“It’s important to invest in our future,” emphasized John Bertone, Kamui USA Brand Representative. “These kids have so many great achievements on and off the table and we’re here to help them showcase it,” added Ra Hanna, owner of On The Wire Creative Media.

Names of the four recipients of this award will be announced during the Junior Nationals Banquet on Friday, July 15th. For complete details on the award and criteria, visit: www.billiardeducation.org/kamui-quest-for-excellence/

About Kamui USA
Kamui Brand is the leading manufacturer of pool cue tips and chalk for over 12 years. Kamui is known for providing the best quality products while maintaining the highest consistency and repeatable performance. Kamui is forever seeking excellence in the products they produce; they are also on a Quest For Excellence in the players that represent the sport of billiards. Kamui's Quest For Excellence team of players exemplify sportsmanship and professionalism in their everyday life. The Kamui Brand is seeking youth in the billiards sports to take it to the next level. www.KamuiBrand.com, www.KamuiTips.com 877-GO-KAMUI

About the On the Wire Creative Media
On The Wire Creative Media was created with the intention of growing the sport of billiards through branding, design and sound marketing principles. OTW guides new ideas from conception to completion, assists billiards companies to see an increase in sales, and has the knowledge base to support an individual's dream of making a living playing the game of pool. Visit www.OTWpromotions.com or call (651) 428-3370 to learn more about how we help businesses and players reach their goals.

About the Billiard Education Foundation (BEF)
The BEF was formed in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity committed to promoting a lifelong love of pool and building the next generation of players through youth programs and academic scholarships. Visit billiardeducation.org or call (303) 926-1039 to learn more about junior billiard programs in your area.

Corner Bank Series Postponed

It is with a great sense of disappointment that the owners of The Corner Bank in Toronto must announce that their plans for The Corner Bank 10 Ball Series are now on hiatus. Quite simply, our guarantee of funding evaporated over the weekend and has made our plans for beginning a series this September unrealistic.

We are hard at work attempting to re-engage with financial supporters and hope to resurrect the Series at some point in the future. Until this materializes we can only offer our sincere apologies to all who put in so much effort to plan the Series and for the disappointment that this obviously means to our friends the players and to the industry supporters who had already signed on to make our plans possible.

It has always been our hope that our efforts to grow the game would help everyone involved in any and all aspects of pool. That remains our goal. We will continue our efforts and will assist anyone in the industry who shares that goal to achieve their dreams. Please be alert for future announcements.

BCAPL National Championships Entry Deadline Approaches

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (June 20, 2016) – CueSports International (CSI) is reminding all players that the last day to register for the 40th BCAPL National Championships is Tuesday, June 28.

ANYONE CAN PLAY!
You don’t have to participate in a BCAPL league to compete in the BCAPL National Championships. Anyone can purchase a CSI Associate Membership for just $25 to become eligible to compete in the singles and doubles events, as well as in select BCAPL state and regional events. To purchase an Associate Membership click here.
ALL BCAPL PLAYERS & TEAMS WELCOME!
There is a misperception that only those players and teams that won their local league can participate at the BCAPL National Championships. This is false. Any BCAPL player or team may compete, regardless of how they finished in their local league. However, eligibility requirements for each division must still be met.

The 40th BCAPL National Championship features more than 40 playing divisions, 300 Diamond pool tables, 5,500 players, 50 exhibitors and more than 700 mini tournaments!

The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino has special group rates and players who book using the Group code SRCUE6 by July 1 won’t pay resort fees. For online reservations, click here.

CSI is dedicated to creating more choices for all players. CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League and the USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events like the U.S. Bar Table Championships, the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship, the U.S. Open 8-Ball Championships and much more. For more information, go to www.playcsipool.com or call CSI at 702-719-POOL.

Dafabet Extend Masters Sponsorship

Dafabet’s title sponsorship of snooker’s most prestigious invitation tournament has been extended for an extra three years.

Dafabet has been the sponsor of the Masters since 2014 and this new extension brings the agreement to 2020.

The Dafabet Masters is one of the sport’s Triple Crown events and it is known for its elite field as it brings together the top 16 players in the world. It has a rich history dating back to 1975, and now boasts a top prize of £200,000, the biggest outside the World Championship.

The 2017 event runs from January 15 to 22 at Alexandra Palace in North London, its home since 2012.

Last season’s Dafabet Masters was won by crowd favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan who thrashed Barry Hawkins 10-1 in the final to win the title for the sixth time, equalling the record set by Stephen Hendry. Other winners in recent years include Shaun Murphy, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui.

The BBC-televised tournament is broadcast live in 89 countries, reaching hundreds of millions of viewers around the world.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled to have Dafabet on board for another three years at the Masters, bringing their title sponsorship of the event to seven years in total. They have proved fantastic supporters of snooker and it’s no wonder when you see the remarkable exposure they gain for their brand through TV coverage to massive audiences across the globe. We look forward to working with them on delivering another fabulous tournament in 2017.

“The Dafabet Masters is one of the crown jewels of the snooker calendar, loved by players and fans. For the next six months the players will be battling for places among the top 16 to secure their spot at Alexander Palace. Fans should book their tickets fast as many sessions will be sold out.”

John Cruces, Head of sports marketing and sponsorships at Dafabet, added: "While we already had the title sponsorship for the 2017 tournament, we wanted to extend our deal sooner rather than later ensuring we tied down such a prestigious sporting event.

“We want Dafabet to become synonymous with the Masters, so knowing now we'll be title sponsor for a minimum of seven years can only help our aim.

"World Snooker are a pleasure to work with, so we're thrilled to be continuing our partnership for a further three years."

Tickets and VIP packages for the 2017 Dafabet Masters are on sale and there is a half price offer running until the end of June – for details call 0871 620 7052 (calls cost 10p per minute from a BT landline plus network extras) or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Schedule Released For 2016 Atlantic Challenge Cup

Organizers of the Atlantic Challenge Cup today released the schedule for the 2016 Atlantic Challenge Cup taking place July 8 - 11, 2016 in Schaumburg, Illinois (just outside Chicago). There are 21 matches scheduled. The first team to 11 will take home the 2016 Atlantic Challenge Cup. All matches are a race to six, alternate breaks.

2016 ATLANTIC CHALLENGE CUP SCHEDULE*

Friday July 8 - 7:30 p.m.
Match 1    Team Match (all 6 to play)
Match 2    Triples (2 boys and 1 girl play singles)
Match 3    Triples (2 boys and 1 girl play singles)

Saturday July 9 - 3:00 p.m.
Match 4    Scotch Doubles (boys' pair)
Match 5    Scotch Doubles (girls' pair)

Saturday July 9 - 7:30 p.m.
Match 6    Singles (boys)
Match 7    Singles (boys)
Match 8    Singles (girls)

Sunday July 10 - 2:00 p.m.
Match 9    Mixed Scotch Doubles
Match 10 Mixed Scotch Doubles
Match 11 Singles (boys)

Sunday July 10 - 7:30 p.m.
Match 12    Singles (boys)
Match 13    Mixed Scotch Doubles
Match 14    Mixed Scotch Doubles
Match 15    Scotch Doubles (boys)

Monday July 11 - 1:00 p.m.
Match 16    Singles (girls)
Match 17    Singles (boys)
Match 18    Singles (boys)
Match 19    Singles (girls)
Match 20    Singles (boys)
Match 21    Singles (boys)
Award banquet and presentations will begin at the conclusion of the event.

*Schedule of matches is subject to change

For more information, visit AtlanticChallengeCup.com.

Press release issued by the BCA & EPBF.

Robertson Rules In Riga

Neil Robertson won snooker’s first ranking event of the 2016/17 season by beating Michael Holt 5-2 in the final of the Kaspersky Riga Masters.

World number five Robertson came from 2-1 down to win the last four frames of the final in the Latvian capital to get his season off to a flying start. By winning seven matches in all during the event he captured the top prize of 50,000 Euros.

Snooker’s most successful ever non-British player, Australia’s 34-year-old Robertson has now won 12 ranking titles, one more than China’s Ding Junhui.

Holt was competing in the final of a full ranking event for the first time and had high hopes of landing the trophy, having beaten Robertson 10-6 in the first round of the World Championship two months ago. But this time the world number 29 from Nottingham was second best and had to settle for the 25,000 Euro runner-up prize.

Robertson took the opening frame with a top break of 56 before Holt won the second on the colours and dominated the third to lead 2-1. But Robertson won a scrappy fourth then a run of 79 put him 3-2 ahead. The sixth was another fragmented frame but it went to Robertson and he wrapped up the result in the seventh with a top break of 69.

“It’s an amazing feeling to win the first ranking event of the season,” said Robertson, who won the Champion of Champions and UK Championship last term. “I have done it a couple of times before and it’s a good feeling because you can try to build on it for the remainder of the season. I wasn’t too sure what to expect coming here, but as it went on I played really well.

“Michael is one of the most improved players on the circuit, he’s worked a lot with Terry Griffiths and you can see that in his game. He’s not afraid of the top players any more. The final was really hard work. I had to dig in deep and I potted some really good balls under pressure. I’m looking forward to the World Open in China next month and trying to claim another title.”

Earlier in the semi-finals, Robertson ended the run of amateur Darren Morgan, who at the age of 50 became the oldest ranking event semi-finalist since Rex Williams in 1986. Welshman Morgan earned a wild card to the event by winning the EBSA European Open and won five matches before losing 5-0 to Robertson. Holt edged out Mark Williams 5-4 in a tense deciding frame after a miss on the final brown from Williams ended his chances.

Crucible Snooker Tickets Close To Sell Out

Tickets for snooker’s Betfred World Championship have virtually sold out, ten months before the tournament starts.

The box office at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield opened in May, with the majority of seats for the 2017 event selling within a few hours.

Next year’s tournament runs from April 15 to May 1 and there are only a few tickets remaining for selected sessions.

Snooker’s other two Triple Crown tournaments, the Betway UK Championship in York (November 22 to December 4) and the Dafabet Masters in London (January 15-22) are also selling fast with certain sessions close to capacity.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “The ticket sales for our major BBC-televised Triple Crown events are staggering and this just underlines how lucky you are if you have secured a seat already. The World Championship, the UK Championship and the Masters are at the very pinnacle of British sport.

“Tickets for the World Championship in particular are like gold dust. We recently announced a new deal to keep the event in Sheffield for another ten years. Anyone who has the opportunity to go to Sheffield, York or London and see the very best players on the planet competing for the biggest titles must take advantage. Snooker has developed into a huge global sport and British fans must realise how fortunate they are to have the biggest events on their doorstep.”

World number three Judd Trump is targeting glory in the biggest events in the coming season. The Bristol cueman hasn’t reached the final of a Triple Crown tournament since winning the 2011 UK Championship.

“I feel as if I should have done better in the big tournaments last season,” said 26-year-old Trump. “I threw away the semi-final against Barry Hawkins at the Masters and collapsed against Liang Wenbo in the third round at the UK Championship. I won two tournaments last season but if I had knuckled down I might have won four or five.

“This season I’ll be playing in one or two fewer tournaments in order to be more focused at the biggest ones. I want to prepare for every tournament the way I do for the World Championship where I am 100 per cent prepared. If I am only 80 per cent then I am just going through the motions rather than concentrating on winning the trophy.

“I want to become a multiple winner of the UK Championship, while in the Masters I’ve never been to the final so that is one target. And obviously the World Championship is the one everyone wants to win the most.”

Tickets for the Betway UK Championship and Dafabet Masters are on sale and there is a special HALF PRICE OFFER running until the end of June. And very few tickets remain available for the Betfred World Championship. For all details see www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

BCAPL National Championships Deadline Extended

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (June 28, 2016) – To align with the hotel reservation deadline, CueSports International (CSI) has extended the online, fax and email registration deadline for the 40th BCAPL National Championships to Friday, July 1. Online entries are processed automatically and we are still manually processing entries received by mail, so the extension won’t cause a disruption. However, the extension applies only to online registration, faxed and emailed entries paid by credit card.

Reduced Room Rates
The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino has special group rates and players who book using the Group code SRCUE6 by Friday, July 1 won’t pay resort fees. For online reservations, click here.

Anyone Can Play
You don’t have to participate in a BCAPL league to compete in the BCAPL National Championships. Anyone can purchase a CSI Membership for just $25 to compete in the singles events and in scotch doubles divisions with a league-qualified partner. To purchase a CSI Membership click here.
All BCAPL Players & Teams Welcome
Any BCAPL player or team may compete, regardless of how they finished in their local league, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements for each division. The 40th BCAPL National Championships will feature more than 40 divisions, 300 Diamond pool tables, 50 exhibitors and more than 700 mini-tournaments.

Tables Open 24/7
The tables in the main tournament room will be available 24/7, giving players plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the best equipment in the business and get the most out of their trip.

FargoRate
FargoRate is being used at this year’s National Championships and it’s a great opportunity for players to accumulate more games to make their ratings as accurate as possible. Those who aren’t familiar with FargoRate should read the blogs on our website. The new system will help ensure players compete against others of their own skill level, making it more competitive and fun for all! Mike Page, of FargoRate, is offering free seminars daily during the National Championships to help players and league operators better understand the system.

Watch the Top Pros
Watch the world’s top professional pool players compete in the US Open 10-Ball and US Open 8-Ball Championships for free. In addition, there will be several special pro challenge matches. The first featured will be Shane Van Boening taking on Thorsten Hohmann in a race to 21 in 8-ball!

CSI is dedicated to creating more choices for all players. CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League and the USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events like the U.S. Bar Table Championships, the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship, the U.S. Open 8-Ball Championships and much more. For more information, go to www.playcsipool.com or call CSI at 702-719-POOL.

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

WPBSA Statement - Leo Fernandez

After a hearing before the WPBSA Disciplinary Committee that took place on 24th June 2016 Leo Fernandez admitted to a breach of 2.1.2.1 of the WPBSA Members Rules:

2.1.2        Corruption:

2.1.2.1 to fix or contrive, or to be a party to any effort to fix or contrive, the result, score, progress, conduct or any other aspect of the Tour and/or any Tournament or Match;

This related to suspicious betting on who would commit the first foul in the first frame in his match with Gary Wilson at the World Championship Qualifiers at Ponds Forge in Sheffield on 6th April 2016.

At an early stage Leo Fernandez fully admitted his involvement in delivering the foul shot in the first frame of the match in question for other persons to make money through betting. As a condition of his sentence he has pledged to assist the WPBSA in its anti-corruption education work to try and help other players avoid being drawn into match manipulation.

On Tuesday 5th July the WPBSA Disciplinary Committee issued their decision on sanction: Leo Fernandez is suspended from the sport of snooker for a period of 15 months. The suspension will run from 27th May 2016 when the interim suspension was imposed by the WPBSA. Therefore Leo Fernandez will not be eligible to participate in snooker before 27th August 2017.

He has been ordered to pay a contribution towards the WPBSA costs of £2,000.

The WPBSA take allegations of match fixing very seriously and in this case worked closely with the betting industry, the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) of the GB Gambling Commission and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS). This case is further evidence of our uncompromising approach to dealing with such issues.

For the ruling of the Disciplinary Committee on finding and sanction, see attached document.

Jason Ferguson the Chairman of the WPBSA said: "This demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that all aspects of matches in World Snooker events are competed in a fair and honest manner. Working closely with our many international partners, the WPBSA has developed the strongest anti-corruption strategies available in sport today. Leo Fernandez had just qualified to play on the WSL tour this season as a full professional and by his actions he has thrown away this opportunity.”

2016 Atlantic Challenge Cup Free Stream Details

Organizers of the Atlantic Challenge Cup today announced the event will be broadcast for free in a live stream provided by CSI and AZBilliards. The stream will be available to view at www.playcsipool.com/live-streaming.html.

2016 ATLANTIC CHALLENGE CUP SCHEDULE*

Friday July 8 - 7:30 p.m.
Match 1    Team Match (all 6 to play)
Match 2    Triples (2 boys and 1 girl play singles)
Match 3    Triples (2 boys and 1 girl play singles)

Saturday July 9 - 3:00 p.m.
Match 4    Scotch Doubles (boys' pair)
Match 5    Scotch Doubles (girls' pair)

Saturday July 9 - 7:30 p.m.
Match 6    Singles (boys)
Match 7    Singles (boys)
Match 8    Singles (girls)

Sunday July 10 - 2:00 p.m.
Match 9    Mixed Scotch Doubles
Match 10 Mixed Scotch Doubles
Match 11 Singles (boys)

Sunday July 10 - 7:30 p.m.
Match 12    Singles (boys)
Match 13    Mixed Scotch Doubles
Match 14    Mixed Scotch Doubles
Match 15    Scotch Doubles (boys)

Monday July 11 - 1:00 p.m.
Match 16    Singles (girls)
Match 17    Singles (boys)
Match 18    Singles (boys)
Match 19    Singles (girls)
Match 20    Singles (boys)
Match 21    Singles (boys)

Award banquet and presentations will begin at the conclusion of the event.
*Schedule of matches is subject to change
For more information, visit AtlanticChallengeCup.com.

Press release issued by the BCA & EPBF.

Still Time to Enter CSI Events

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (July 7, 2016) – There is time to enter some events at the 40th BCAPL National Championships July 20-30th at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

9-Ball Team Divisions
Qualified league members can register for Mixed 9-Ball Teams and Women’s 9-Ball Teams. In the Mixed 9-Ball Teams, the FargoRate limit for the Gold Division is 1,800 and the limit for the Platinum Division is 1,950. In the Women’s Division, the FargoRate limit is 1,500. Online entries for the 9-Ball team divisions will be accepted until midnight, Saturday, July 23. On-site entries will be accepted until 8 p.m. Monday, July 25. The 9-Ball Team Divisions will be played Tuesday, July 26 – Wednesday, July 27.

Junior 9-Ball Challenge
The Junior 9-Ball Challenge is open to boys and girls ages 17 and younger. It is a singles division that is handicapped by age. Every young player is eligible for the event and there is no BCAPL or CSI membership required. Online entries will be accepted until midnight, Saturday, July 23. On-site entries will be accepted until 8 p.m. Monday, July 25. The event will be played Tuesday, July 26 – Wednesday, July 27.

9-Ball Challenge/10-Ball Challenge/8-Ball Challenge
These events are open to men and women of all skill levels.
The 9-Ball Challenge will be played Monday, July 25 – Tuesday, July 26. Online registration ends at midnight July 23. On-site entries will be accepted until 8 p.m. Sunday, July 24.
The 10-Ball Challenge will be played Wednesday, July 27 – Thursday, July 28. Online registration ends at midnight Monday, July 25. On-site entries will be accepted until 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 26.
The 8-Ball Challenge will be played Friday, July 29 – Saturday, July 30. Online entries registration ends at midnight Wednesday, July 27. On-site entries for the 8-Ball Challenge will be accepted until 8 p.m. Thursday, July 28.
Enter all three of these events and save money by registering for the Triple Play. Online entries for the Triple Play Challenge will be accepted until midnight Saturday, July 23.

2016 US Open 10-Ball Championship
The 2016 US Open 10-Ball Championship will be played Wednesday, July 20 — Friday, July 22 and is part of the 2016 USA Mosconi Cup event series. U.S. players who finish in the top 32 will be awarded Mosconi Cup points and the top three point leaders at the end of the 2016 series will be selected for the USA Mosconi Cup team. Online registration ends at midnight Monday, July 18. On-site entries will be taken until 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 19.

2016 US Open 8-Ball Championship
The 2016 US Open 8-Ball Championship will be played Saturday, July 23-Monday, July 25. This event is part of the 2016 USA Mosconi Cup Team event series and U.S. players who finish in the top 32 will be awarded Mosconi Cup points. Online registration ends at midnight Tuesday, July 19. On-site entries will be taken until 8 p.m. Friday, July 22.

Tables Open 24/7
The 40th BCAPL National Championships will feature approximately 40 divisions, 300 Diamond pool tables, 50 exhibitors and 700+ mini-tournaments. The tables in the main tournament room will be available 24/7, giving players plenty of opportunity to take advantage of the best equipment in the business and get the most out of their trip.

CSI is dedicated to creating more choices for all players. CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League and the USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events like the US Bar Table Championships, US Open 10-Ball Championship, US Open 8-Ball Championship, and much more. For more information, go visit www.playcsipool.com or call CSI at 702-719-POOL.

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

Manchester To Host Snooker’s English Open

Snooker’s new English Open will take place at Event City in Manchester later this year, and tickets are now on sale.

The world ranking event is part of the new Home Nations quartet of tournaments, alongside the Irish Open, Scottish Open and Welsh Open. Any player who wins all four events will receive a massive £1 million bonus.

The English Open will run from October 10 to 16 and will feature 128 of the world’s leading green baize stars, in a flat draw with all players starting in the first round. Last season, Event City in Manchester staged the Players Championship, won by Mark Allen.

Total prize money for each of the Home Nations events will be £366,000, with the winner to receive £70,000. All four tournaments will be televised by Eurosport.

Rising star Kyren Wilson said: “It’s important to have big aims and goals so a lot of players will have an eye on that £1 million bonus. If one player wins the first couple of events then there will be added expectation but he’ll be full of confidence and hard to stop. It’s a great way to create headlines and get people talking about snooker.

“It’s fantastic to have more tournaments in the UK. I’ve never played in a ranking event in Ireland or Scotland before so I’m looking forward to visiting new places.”

World number three Judd Trump added: “I think it will be virtually impossible for someone to win all four because the standard is so high now. It would be great if someone did it but it would be very hard.”

Tickets are ON SALE NOW and fans are STRONGLY URGED to book quickly because demand will be high and certain session are expected to sell out quickly.

And there’s a SPECIAL OFFER available as for a limited time only, All Day tickets for Monday 10th – Wednesday 12th October will be just £15. A limited number of tickets will be available at this special price. Terms and conditions apply.

For details call 0843 487 5555 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Home Nations events
English Open – Event City, Manchester, October 10-16
Irish Open – Titanic Belfast, November 14-20
Scottish Open – Emirates Arena, Glasgow, December 12-18
Welsh Open – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, February 13-19

23rd Annual US Bar Table Championships Moves to Las Vegas

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (July 8, 2016) – After 22 years in Reno, the 23rd Annual US Bar Table Championships moves south to Las Vegas. The popular event will be Aug. 22-28 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Entries are being accepted for the event and players should register before Tuesday, Aug. 2 to avoid late fees. OB Cues is the Official Cue and Kamui is the Official Tip for the $20,000-added event.

The US Bar Table Championships is known for attracting top players from across the globe. This year it is in a new venue, a new town and there’s new excitement surrounding the event. The seven-day event gives players the opportunity to compete in 8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball divisions and includes a Master of the Table Bonus for both the open and women’s divisions.

In addition, players who finish in the top 32 of each open division receive Mosconi Cup USA Team points on a sliding scale. The top three American players with the most points at the end of the year will be selected for the USA Mosconi Cup Team.

Other sponsors for the event include Diamond Billiard Products, Cyclop Balls, Simonis Cloth, BadBoys Billiard Productions, FargoRate, Magic Ball Rack, and Matchroom Sport.

10-Ball Divisions Aug. 22-24
Open 10-Ball: Race to 7/$5,000 added
Women’s 10-Ball; Race to 5/ $1,000 added

9-Ball Divisions: Aug. 24-26
Open 9-Ball: Race to 9/$5,000 added
Women’s 9-Ball; Race to 7/ $1,000 added

8-ball Divisions: Aug. 26-28
Open 10-Ball: Race to 5/$5,000 added
Women’s 10-Ball; Race to 4/ $1,000 added

Master of the Table Bonuses*
Open Divisions: $1,500/Women’s Divisions: $500
*Players must compete in all three divisions to be eligible for the bonus.

Register by Tuesday, Aug. 2 to avoid late fees. Mailed entries will be accepted through Aug. 2. The final day to register online is Saturday, Aug. 20 and on-site registration closes at 8 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 21.

Register online at playcsipool.com/2016-us-bar-table-championships or email entry@playcsipool.com. Mail entries to USBTC Entry, CueSports International, 2041 Pabco Road, Henderson, NV 89011.

Book your room by Aug. 1 to receive the special room rate of $59 per night at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Book online at resweb.passkey.com/go/SUSBT6R or call 800-635-7711 and use group code SUSBT6R.

The 2016 US Bar Table Championships is produced by CueSports International. CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League and USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events, such as the US Open 10-Ball Championship, US Open 8-Ball Championship and much more. For more information, visit www.playcsipool.com or call CSI at 702-719-POOL.

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

McGill Is Fifth Recent Maiden Winner

Anthony McGill’s victory in the Indian Open made him the fifth first time winner of a world ranking event within the past 16 months.

McGill joins Michael White (2015 Indian Open), Joe Perry (2015 Players Championship), Kyren Wilson (2015 Shanghai Masters) and Martin Gould (2016 German Masters) in lifting a ranking event trophy for the first time.

White, Gould and McGill all triumphed at events using flat 128 draws, each needing to win seven matches to take the first prize. Wilson’s Shanghai victory came in an tournament where the top 16 were seeded through to the venue, while Perry’s success came in an event where players qualified via the European and Asian Tour Orders of Merit.

Prior to White’s win in March 2015, there had only been four first time winners in the previous six years: Stuart Bingham (2011 Australian Goldfields Open), Judd Trump (2011 China Open), Mark Allen (2012 World Open) and Barry Hawkins (2012 Australian Goldfields Open).

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "The fact that we are seeing more first time winners these days highlights two things. Firstly there are many more tournaments on the calendar now which gives more opportunity for all players to win titles. Secondly, the flat draws we introduced in 2013, alongside the transition to prize money-based rankings, provide a better chance for the best young talent to succeed.

"I have been delighted to see three players in their mid-20s – Michael White, Kyren Wilson and Anthony McGill – winning ranking titles and proving they have the ability to take on the established top stars. And we have seen others like Luca Brecel, Ben Woollaston and Gary Wilson reach ranking finals, all in flat draw events. Every sport thrives on new talent and snooker has it in abundance. I anticipate more promising players grasping their opportunities and making a breakthrough in the season ahead.”