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Topic: *Industry News* 2015 - 2024

Woodward steals 10-Ball hot seat from Van Boening at 2017 US Bar Table Championships

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (Dec. 12, 2017) --- Skyler Woodward came back from a 6-4 deficit to steal the hot seat by a score of 7-6 of the 10-Ball Division at the 2017 US Bar Table Championships from Mosconi Cup teammate Shane Van Boening Monday evening.

The 24th US Bar Table Championships kicked off Sunday at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. The 10-Ball Division wraps up today, as the 9-Ball Division begins. The 9-Ball Division concludes Thursday and the 8-Ball is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 16.

Woodward’s path to the hot seat match included wins over: Ian Costello, 7-3; BJ Fox, 7-1; Mark Wissman, 7-5; Mark Tademy, 7-2; and Vinnie Calabrese, 7-5.

Van Boening also had a solid day, beating: Donald Weathersby II, 7-2; Robert Doral, 7-2; Amar Kang, 7-6; Jesse Engel, 7-3; and Mitch Ellerman, 7-2; before losing the hot seat to Woodward.

At 1 p.m., Van Boening will face Calabrese, an Australian with a snooker background who has only been playing American-style pool for about a year.

Calabrese posted wins over: Shane Longest, forfeit; Gary Lutman, 7-6; Donny Branson, 7-4; and Jason Klatt, 7-5; before Woodward sent him to the loser’s side of the bracket, 5-7. Then Calabrese tossed Shaun Wilkie (7-5) and Klatt (7-3) out of the tournament, to secure himself a spot in the semi-finals.

The women’s 10-Ball Division concluded on Monday, a day earlier than normal. First place went to Heather Cortez, $800; second, Rae Evans, $400; third, Trinh Lu, $250.

Live streaming of the US Bar Table Championships continues today at 1 p.m. with Van Boening vs. Calabrese in the semifinals of the 10-Ball Division. The winner of that match will play Woodward at 2:30 p.m. in the finals. If the true double-elimination finals goes to a second match, that will be streamed at 4 p.m.

Selected matches from the 9-Ball Division will be streamed at approximately 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. PST. To access live streaming, visit www.playcsipool.com/watch-live.html.

For more information, contact Mary Coffman, CSI Marketing Manager, at 702-719-7665 or by email at mary@playcsipool.com.

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, 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

Woodward Becomes US Bar Table 10-Ball Champion

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (Dec. 13, 2017) --- After settling for runner-up of the US Bar Table Championships’ 10-Ball Division for the past two years, Skyler Woodward, of Paducah, KY, earned the title of 10-Ball Champion Tuesday.

Woodward went into the finals undefeated, posting wins over: Ian Costello, 7-3; BJ Fox, 7-1; Mark Wissman, 7-5; Mark Tademy, 7-2; and Vinnie Calabrese, 7-5. Woodward met Mosconi Cup teammate Shane Van Boening in the hot seat match Monday evening, and came back from a 6-4 deficit to win 7-6.

Van Boening cleared a clean path through the winner’s bracket as well, beating Donald Weathersby II, 7-2; Robert Doral, 7-2; Amar Kang, 7-6; Jesse Engel, 7-3; and Mitch Ellerman, 7-2; before losing the hot seat to Woodward. In the semifinals, Van Boening beat Vinnie Calabrese, a Australian player with a snooker background, 7-2.

In the first set of the finals, Woodward jumped out to a 3-2 lead before a few errors put Van Boening in control of the set. Woodward miscued on an eight ball, allowing Van Boening to tie the score at 3-3. Then Van Boening broke and ran out to take the lead at 4-3. On Woodward’s next break, he scratched, allowing Van Boening back to the table where he ran another rack, and followed that up with another break and run, putting him on the hill. Woodward broke dry and Van Boening ran the rack to win the set and force a second set in the true double-elimination format.

Woodward and Van Boening traded games in the second set tied at 4-4. When Van Boening played a safe on a 3 ball. Woodward called the nine, which was hanging in the side pocket, kicked the 3 ball and the cue ball caromed off to make the shot and allow Woodward a run out to gain a 5-4 lead in the match. Woodward broke and had a tough layout, but after making two tough bank shots, he was able to run the rack, putting himself on the hill. In the final game, Van Boening broke dry and Woodward was able to run out to become the 10-Ball Champion.

Payouts:
1. Skyler Woodward            $3,200
2. Shane Van Boening         $2,000
3. Vinnie Calabrese             $1,300
4. Jason Klatt                         $800
5. Mitch Ellerman                $450
6. Shaun Wilkie                    $450
7. Mark Tademy                 $300
8. Oscar Dominguez            $300
9. Amar Kang                        $200
10. James Blackburn         $200
11. Ian Costello                    $200
12. Jesse Engel                     $200
13. Gary Lutman                 $150
14. Jerrod Frideres             $150
15. Donny Branson             $150
16. James Gestwicki            $150

The women’s 10-Ball Division concluded on Monday, a day earlier than normal. First place went to Heather Cortez, $800; second, Rae Evans, $400; third, Trinh Lu, $250.

The 9-Ball Division, which started Tuesday, continues today. Still undefeated in the Open division are: Shane Van Boening, Mitch Ellerman, James Aranas and Amar Kang. Fighting through the one-loss side of the bracket are: Dave Stachan, Abrin Schaad, Demetrius Jelatis, Jesse Engel, Josh Smith, Billy Stephan, Ernesto Dominguez, Mark Wissman and Shaun Wilkie.

Live streaming of the US Bar Table Championships continues today at 1 p.m. PST. The schedule is as follows:
1 p.m.: Jesse Engel vs. Demetrius Jelatis
2:30 p.m.: Shaun Wilkie vs. Ernesto Dominguez or Mark Wissman
4 p.m. Shane Van Boening vs. Mitch Ellerman
5:30 p.m. James Aranas vs. Amar Kang
7 p.m. Shane Van Boening or Mitch Ellberman vs. James Aranas or Amar Kang (Hot Seat Match)
8:30 p.m. Fourth place match – players TBD

For streaming information, go to www.playcsipool/live-streaming.html

The 24th US Bar Table Championships kicked off Sunday at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. The 9-Ball Division concludes Thursday, Dec. 14 and the 8-Ball is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 16.

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, 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

Live Blackball pool on Free-to-Air TV!

The IPA is delighted to announce that an agreement has been reached and signed for the IPA Professional World Championships to be televised LIVE on the UK’s only dedicated free-to-air sports channel Freesports.

Three days of coverage from the 9th - 11th February will culminate in the Open and Ladies finals showcased in 18 million homes. This unprecedented live coverage is a major development for the IPA, the Professional players, and pool in general and will allow millions of people to enjoy the World’s best players in action as Craig Marsh and Collette Henriksen look to defend their respective titles.

And in addition to this, we can also announce a brand new event to the IPA calendar - the IPA Freesports Champions Cup. This weekly event will be televised LIVE for 21 consecutive weeks, and will feature all the IPA Professionals doing battle over a series of group stages. The 16 group winners will then feature in the knockout rounds until we discover our new Champion. All matches in the Champions cup will be televised – LIVE.

FreeSports is the UK’s newest sports channel and the only dedicated free-to-air sports network. It currently operates on Freeview (95), Sky (424), TalkTalk and BT Vision (95). The channel carries a wide range of sports including Rugby, Ice Hockey, Football, Motorsport, Cricket, basketball and MMA.

IPA Chairman Kevin Barton said “We are delighted to be able to showcase the talents of the IPA players to a whole new audience through our partnership with Freesports for the biggest event of the pool year - the IPA World Championships. The new Freesports Cup will also deliver regular LIVE coverage to sports fan across the UK and beyond in what is a ground-breaking event, and demonstrates that the IPA continues to be the driving force of blackball pool. More people than ever before will now be able to watch with amazement as the skills of the IPA Professionals are showcased live and free and there is no doubt they are in for absolute treat”.

Richard Webb, Channel Manager at FreeSports commented, “This is great news to be able to announce over 23 hours of live coverage from Bradford of the World Championships. We are also delighted to be partnering with IPA to bring live pool to UK homes every Monday night as we find Britain’s best 8 ball player over the course of 21 weeks.”

For more information on FreeSports visit www.freesports.tv
 
For more information on the IPA and pool visit www.ipapool.com

A GREAT START TO THE YEAR

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A full agenda of seminars

New business ideas for the New Year

THE JANUARY SHOW - LONDON
EAG & VAE, 16TH-18TH JANUARY 2018

If you haven't already done so...........

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www.eagexpo.com
T: +44 (0)1582 767 254
E: sales@eagexpo.com

2018 Atlantic Challenge Cup Team USA Player Nominations

Player Nominations Due Wednesday, February 7, 2018

The Billiard Congress of America is pleased to open the nomination process for the 4th annual Atlantic Challenge Cup, taking place July 7-9, 2018 at the New Orleans Convention Center (just prior to the 2018 BCA Expo and BEF Junior Nationals).

Click here to complete the ACC Player Nomination Form. The form is due no later than Wednesday, February 7, 2018.

The team selection will be made from multiple league and youth billiard organizations and individual nominations of US junior players.

Please be aware players competing in this event must be considered "junior" players. Junior players may NOT turn 20 in 2018.

Final selection of the team will be made by an impartial committee no later than April 15, 2018.

Player expenses, including airfare, accommodations, food, uniforms, etc. will be covered by the Billiard Congress of America and its partners.

What Is The Atlantic Challenge Cup?

The Atlantic Challenge Cup pits the best youth from Europe and America in a Mosconi Cup style event in a race to 11 with a possible 21 total matches. On an annual basis, six players (19 years old and younger) on each team, four boys and two girls, battle it out to see who will have the bragging rights across the Atlantic. The event takes place in Europe during odd years and in the United States during even years.

The event takes place July 7-9, 2018 at the New Orleans Convention Center (just prior to the 2018 BCA Expo and BEF Junior Nationals).

More information on the event can be found at AtlanticChallengeCup.com.

Snooker's China Open hits £1 Million Prize Money

The China Open in April will become the only snooker event other than the World Championship to hit the £1 million prize money mark, thanks to a new four-year agreement between World Snooker and joint promoters Star Xing Pai and Beijing Fuhua Culture Tourism Development Ltd. Co.

The world ranking event will run from April 1 to 8 in Beijing with a top prize of £225,000 and a total prize fund of £1 million. That's almost double last year's China Open total of £510,000, when the top prize was £85,000. The £225,000 winner's cheque will only be topped only by the World Championship first prize of £425,000.

The final of the tournament will be best of 21 frames for the first time. It will be televised by CCTV, Eurosport and various other broadcasters worldwide.

The China Open has been staged in the country’s capital every year since 2005. Ding Junhui won the title that year as an 18-year-old, helping to spark a surge of interest in snooker in China. Since then top stars including Judd Trump, Neil Robertson and defending champion Mark Selby have lifted the trophy.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "We are delighted to be working with Star Xing Pai and Beijing Fuhua for the first time on what will be a truly magnificent China Open event. For many years the Gan family and their organisation Star Xing Pai have shared our vision to bring our sport to a new dimension, and they have been outstanding supporters of snooker over the past decade.

"This is a fantastic announcement which establishes the China Open in Beijing as the flagship tournament in Asia. It's remarkable to think that back in 2005 when this event was first staged, the total prize fund was only £200,000 and the top prize £30,000 - that shows how far we have come in the past 13 years in terms of the growth of snooker in China.

"This is a great deal for the players whose earning opportunities have never been better, and the fans who have this superb event secured for the next four years. We look forward to working with the Star Xing Pai and Beijing Fuhua teams for many years to come."

There will be a qualifying round from January 27 to 30 in Barnsley, with players needing to win one match to get through to the final stages.

Date: Sunday, January 21, 2017

Free 11-Night Carioca Suite Giveaway at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (Jan. 30, 2018) – CueSports International, parent company of the BCA Pool League (BCAPL), is excited to announce a great benefit to BCAPL League Operators. The League Operator with the greatest number of sanctioned players at the end of the 2017/2018 league year will receive a free 11-night stay in a Carioca Suite during the 2018 BCAPL World Championships at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The normal 11-night cost for this suite is approximately $6,000 but one BCAPL League Operator will get it absolutely free!

Carioca Suite

A Carioca Suite measures 1,100 square feet and has either one king or two queen beds in the master bedroom, a sofa bed in the living room, one and a half bathrooms, and a separate living and dining area. Amenities include a mini-refrigerator, flat-screen TVs with On Demand movies and a coffee maker. The private bathroom, which is connected to the master bedroom, features a large spa, walk-in shower, robes, a double vanity and hair dryer.

How to Sanction

The 2017/2018 league year ends May 31, 2018. The BCAPL League Operator with the greatest number of sanctioned members by this date will receive the free Carioca Suite for the duration of the 2018 BCAPL World Championships. Sanctioning is easy. Simply visit www.playcsipool.com/sanction-your-league or call us toll free at 866-USA-POOL or 702-719-POOL.

Event Details

The 2018 BCAPL World Championships will be July 18-28 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The event features approximately 5,500 players from around the globe, 700+ mini-tournaments, 300+ Diamond pool tables, 50+ exhibitors, 30+ divisions for players of all skill levels, and FargoRate as the official rating system. It has earned the title of, “The Greatest Pool Tournament in the World!” For more information about the event, visit www.playcsipool.com/2018-bcapl-wc.

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 such as the US Bar Table Championships, US Open 10-Ball Championship, US Open 8-Ball Championship, and much more. For more information, visit www.playcsipool.com or call 702-719-POOL.

Ozzy Reynolds
General Manager, CueSports International
702-719-7665

ON THE WIRE CREATIVE MEDIA IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE A PARTNERSHIP     AGREEMENT WITH THE BILLIARD EDUCATION FOUNDATION

On The Wire Creative Media (OTW) is proud to announce a partnership agreement with The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF). As the marketing manager for the BEF in 2018, OTW's charge will be to engage members, capture new followers and grow the number of supporters worldwide, goals which will be achieved by distributing interviews, free live streams and upcoming BEF events thru Facebook, Instagram and the BEF website.

Both the BEF and OTW are invested in supporting the kids through billiards education and instruction; promoting billiards as a positive way to learn life skills, developing and facilitating billiard programs and competition at all levels and providing academic scholarships.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with On The Wire Creative Media,” said BEF President Tom Riccobene. “Beau and Ra are committed to all the BEF stands for and this partnership will help us to do what we do to help these great kids. Each and every one of our juniors deserves to be recognized for their individual work and achievements. Working with OTW is a blessing to the BEF."

"The BEF is where billiards begins, I love this organization," said Beau Runningen of OTW.

"Surround yourself with the right people and great things will happen. This partnership is from our hearts," added OTW’s Ra Hanna. "We are very excited about our relationship with the BEF, the BEF is close to our hearts."

On The Wire Creative, based in Pasadena, Calif., has been making quite a splash in the pool world over the last few years, predominantly due to their viral on the spot reporting, live stream videos and tournament promotions. OTW has become a highly sought after choice of professional pool in America and were the official live streamers of the 2017 Mosconi Cup held in Las Vegas.

The Billiard Education Foundation was established to ensure that all juniors in the United States have opportunities to play and compete. The BEF's mission is to develop a lifelong love of billiard sports in junior players by supporting billiard education and instruction, promoting billiards as a positive way to learn life skills, developing and facilitating billiard programs and competition at all levels and providing academic scholarships.

Last Day to Nominate Players for ACC is Today!

2018 Atlantic Challenge Cup Team USA Player Nominations

Deadline to Nominate Player is Wednesday, February 7, 2018

The Billiard Congress of America is pleased to open the nomination process for the 4th annual Atlantic Challenge Cup, taking place July 7-9, 2018 at the New Orleans Convention Center (just prior to the 2018 BCA Expo and BEF Junior Nationals).

Click here to complete the ACC Player Nomination Form. The form is due no later than Wednesday, February 7, 2018. If you have any trouble with the nomination form please contact the Billiard Congress of America at 303.243.5070 x23.

The team selection will be made from multiple league and youth billiard organizations and individual nominations of US junior players.

Please be aware players competing in this event must be considered "junior" players. Junior players may NOT turn 20 in 2018.

Final selection of the team will be made by an impartial committee no later than April 15, 2018.

Player expenses, including airfare, accommodations, food, uniforms, etc. will be covered by the Billiard Congress of America and its partners.

What Is The Atlantic Challenge Cup?

The Atlantic Challenge Cup pits the best youth from Europe and America in a Mosconi Cup style event in a race to 11 with a possible 21 total matches. On an annual basis, six players (19 years old and younger) on each team, four boys and two girls, battle it out to see who will have the bragging rights across the Atlantic. The event takes place in Europe during odd years and in the United States during even years.

The event takes place July 7-9, 2018 at the New Orleans Convention Center (just prior to the 2018 BCA Expo and BEF Junior Nationals).

More information on the event can be found at AtlanticChallengeCup.com.

Dynamic and EPBF continue their prosperous partnership in 2018

The long-time EPBF sponsor Dynamic Billard continues its long-time partnership with the EPBF also in 2018. The company which is located in Germany has been a partner of the EPBF for many years now. In 2018, Dynamic has agreed to supply 60 tables for the anniversary European Championships in summer alone. Additionally, Dynamic provides 24 tables for the Euro-Tour events. These tables can all be bought after the respective event. If interested, please contact the President of the EPBF, Gre Leenders at gre.leenders@planet.nl. „The EPBF is very pleased with the long time partnership between us and Dynamic Billard“, stated Leenders, „it has been a fruitful cooperation with benefits for both sides for many years now and we are happy to have Dynamic Billard on board for another year“. Said Daniel Koblenz from Dynamic Billiards: „We are proud to be main sponsor of the EPBF for already 20 years now and to be part of its positive development reaching its peak in this years´ Jubilee EC on 60 Dynamic III tables. This is definitely going to be the biggest event in Europe´s Pool Billiard history.”

Simonis and EPBF remain partners in 2018

One of the longest partners in the history of the EPBF is the cloth company Simonis from Belgium. Founded already in 1680, the Belgium-based company has a unique reputation in the world of billiards. Not only pool tables but also carom tables and snooker tables are significantly bettered when using Simonis cloth with them. „Simonis is one of our key partners,“ stated EPBF President Gre Leenders, „and we could not see our future without them. EPBF and Simonis have always been a perfect match and hopefully will remain so for a long time to come“. Director of Simonis, Mr.Bernard Bollette said: "We at Simonis are delighted with the renewed deal with EPBF/IBPF. It’s an honor to support their events. Pool is a strong sport and all players participating to the EPBF/IBPF events deserve the best equipment and conditions. We think this is what Simonis provides."

Ruijsink back as Team USA Captain

2018 Mosconi Cup

Ruijsink Returns as American Captain

Johan Ruijsink will return as Team USA captain for Mosconi Cup XXV, to be staged at Alexandra Palace, London this December 4-7.

Ruijsink took the reigns as American coach ahead of last year’s Mosconi Cup in Las Vegas but his side fell to a disappointing 11-4 reversal at the hands of Team Europe.

In a bid to return the famous trophy to American soil Ruijsink will employ a new selection policy for 2018. The Dutchman will select an initial squad of players to work with throughout the year before selecting his final five for London in the autumn. Ruijsink will name his initial wider squad in due course and players may join or leave the team at any stage prior to the final line-up being announced.

“The 2017 Mosconi Cup was very disappointing, as far as the result goes,” admitted Ruijsink. “Our team lost heavily and that didn’t feel good at all. I definitely needed time to recuperate from that and make sure to find the causes and the reasons. We practiced and prepared hard. Unfortunately, we didn’t show this in the arena. I am grateful for the trust and hard work of our team, but wasn’t happy with our performance. I certainly want to apologize to the American audience, who backed us up all the way and stayed positive. We haven’t been able to meet their expectations as a team.

“Because of this heavy defeat it feels a bit strange to been asked to captain Team USA once more in 2018. However, I do feel we learned a lot and we will grow from this experience. And that we will, because of this defeat, do better in the 2018 Mosconi Cup.

“The heavy defeat is also one of two reasons to accept the offer. I would definitely like to erase this score and get 2017 out of my system. And secondly, I am convinced that Team USA is not finished yet. Team USA as a project and as an example for a professional approach of our sport. Obviously, some things have grown crooked in the American pool scene and we are unable to keep up with the rest of the world both in quality and in quantity. That is not just my humble opinion, it is shown also by the results. I certainly hope that this will be a wakeup call.

“On a personal note I have been amazed by the loyalty of the American audience and their trust in us. I am very grateful for that support and so is every player on the team. I hope and trust that you will do the same this year.

“If I wouldn’t be convinced there is progress to be expected from last year, I wouldn’t have accepted the captaincy. We will work and prepare as sharp as we can and need to do. We need to be devoted, committed and work hard to avoid the mistakes that brought us such an embarrassing score. And although it may sound strange, I think London will be a better place for Team USA to perform than Las Vegas. There will be less distractions and it will be easier to stay focused on the job.

“I want to thank Matchroom for putting up this great event and a chance for me to redeem myself and the team. See you all in London!”

Tickets for Mosconi Cup XXV are on sale now priced from £25 per session, with season tickets available priced £90. Premium seating in rows 4-7 is available at £49 per session or £175 for a season ticket, with VIP Hospitality packages from £155 per person per session with a season ticket priced at £549.

2018 Mosconi Cup is sponsored by Rasson Billiards who supplies the Official Table; the cloth is supplied by Iwan Simonis and the Official Balls are Super Aramith by Saluc. Predator is the Official Cue of the event and Ultimate Team Gear provide all Mosconi Cup apparel. APA are the Official Team Sponsor of Team USA.

Rasson prolongs contract with EPBF

One of the EPBF long-time sponsors, the company Rasson, has decided to also support the EPBF in 2018. Rasson is one of the major companies in the billiards industry and a reliable partner for the EPBF over many years now. "We're thrilled to continue the cooperation with EPBF. We've been working with EPBF since 2009 and so far it's near 10 years. EPBF makes a great contribution to promoting billiards sport in the world. They hold not only a lot of pool events for professionals, but also provide good opportunity and a great platform for players and fans of younger generation. We look forward to a longer and closer cooperation with EPBF on more products and events in the future!“, the Rasson office stated. „Rasson is one of our cornerstones“, stated IBP President David Morris, „they are on our side for a long time now and we always found our relationship has a benefit for both parties“.

EPBF extend their partnership with Saluc

The EPBF announced today that their commercial arm, The IBPF, have extended their contract with Saluc, the makers of the Aramith Billiard ball range. The extension will run into 2022 giving the athletes the quality they have become used to. Saluc, known more by the brand name Aramith, will supply the Duramith range of pool balls to all the events during this five-year period.

The EPBF president Mr Gre Leenders was extremely happy with the outcome of recent meetings and he looks forward to the continued cooperation. “Saluc have been a long-time supporter of the EPBF and our endeavours to promote the sport, it feels right that they should be with us on the next part of our journey” Mr Leenders commented.

The Aramith brand have been with the EPBF since the eighties, spanning four decades already, this new extension takes them into an unprecedented 5th decade supplying quality billiard balls for the EPBF events.

Iwan Simonis, the leading manufacturer of premium worsted cloth is also the home of Saluc, a manufacturer of many kinds of balls, but is widely known as the leader in the production of billiard balls with the Aramith range.

These two Belgium billiard giants have been long supporters of the EPBF and Commercial Director of Saluc, Mr Bollette said “We at Saluc are delighted to renew our close ties with our highly respected partner, the EPBF. With the EPBF striving to take the pool sport to the next and best level, we will be supplying our Duramith Tournament pool balls, giving the players the conditions that they deserve”.

Aramith make several different ranges of billiard balls and the Duramith technology will be in use again. Introduced to the EPBF tournaments in 2016, the Aramith Tournament set has proved to be the players choice. Bringing quality to a precision game is an important factor and is much appreciated by the players who have become accustomed to the very best.

IBPF president David Morris was very happy to be tying Saluc to another five-year contract stating “There are exciting times coming this year with some great events on the Eurotour and the 40th anniversary of the EPBF in July. We must remember, it is the support of companies like Saluc and the Aramith brand that make these events possible. We have had a long partnership together, through the good and the bad, so we are immensely proud to extend our partnership further”

The 2018 events can be found on the sports calendar at www.epbf.com for further information contact the EPBF office, the address is available on the website.

The EPBF is the governing body for pool sports in Europe and with its commercial arm, the IBPF, organise over 15 major tournaments throughout the calendar year.

Billard Beckmann signed up for 2018

Billard Beckmann is one of the major billiard equipment distributors in Europe. They have been a partner of the EPBF since the early 90's when the Euro-Tour was launched. Jurgen Beckmann, the owner of Billard Beckmann, is known for his tireless support at billiard events and he often turns up there to greet players and fans. "Billard Beckmann was almost there from day one", stated IBP President David Morris, "he is very supportive and loves the sport. As a sponsor, we appreciate very much to have him and Billard Beckmann on board for another year", Morris added.

Predator and EPBF team up again in 2018

In 2018 again, the Predator brand has chosen to become a partner of the EPBF in sponsoring all major events. It is the second consecutive year that Predator is in the EPBF sponsor pool and fans will definitely remember the colourful advertising videos that were shown in the videos last year during the events. This year, Predator is back with even more powerful videos of new products that will definitely catch the eye of many pool fans all over Europe and the World. Predator CEO Karim Belhaj stated: „Predator Group is thrilled to continue our partnership with the EPBF and Eurotour. The promotion and growth of pocket billiards is a key component of the Predator Group mission. We believe that the EPBF has been, and will continue to be an exceptional partner as we continue to grow the game’s exposure and participation.“ IBP President David Morris: „We are excited to have Predator on board in 2018 again. They are among the key companies in our industry and we are looking forward to the cooperation with them in 2018. Also, we are looking forward to more exciting advertisement videos,“ added Morris.

MansionBet Sponsors World Pool Masters

Online sportsbook brand, MansionBet, will be the title sponsors of the 25th World Pool Masters, which takes place at Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar this March 2-4, and broadcast live on Sky Sports.

The ‘MansionBet World Pool Masters XXV’ will see a host of former champions return to the tournament to celebrate its quarter-centenary, meaning the likes of Francisco Bustamante, Earl Strickland and Ralf Souquet will be competing among a star-studded 16-man field for the $20,000 top prize.

Karel Manasco, CEO of Mansion, said of the sponsorship, “We are always looking at platforms for brand promotion, and as a Gibraltar-based company, the location combined with the international exposure of this popular event, made our title sponsorship of the World Pool Masters a natural fit.”

Barry Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport said, “We are delighted to have Mansion Bet on board as title sponsor of pool’s biggest invitational event.

“We are celebrating the silver jubilee of this magnificent tournament and as such the field is packed with some of the biggest names in pool, all great champions in their own right. With live TV coverage on Sky Sports and over 100 other countries across the globe, I know we are in for an exciting weekend of world-class sporting action in Gibraltar.”

Tickets for the 25th World Pool Masters are on sale now priced £7-12 per session with season tickets available for just £34.99 at www.buytickets.gi.

The World Pool Masters will be broadcast live for 20 hours in total on Sky Sports in the UK and on networks around the world. The World Pool Masters is sponsored by the following suppliers: RASSON (tables), IWAN SIMONIS (Simonis cloth), SALUC (Aramith balls), PREDATOR (cues) and ULTIMATE TEAM GEAR (clothing).

The sponsorship was brokered by independent sports and entertainment marketing agency, CMSeven.

About Mansion

Awarded ‘Online Casino Operator of the Year’ at the International Gaming Awards 2018, the Mansion Group has firmly established itself as a leading provider of online gambling and entertainment. Founded in 2003, the group enjoys an international player base and a strong market share. Mansion possess a broad portfolio of popular online casinos catering to all tastes and markets, with Casino.com acting as the flagship brand.

Under the new MansionBet brand, the Mansion Group will diversify their product portfolio into the sports arena, leveraging the strength and brand awareness of the Mansion name across the industry.

For more information, visit: www.mansion.com

Biljardexperten supports EPBF in 2018 again

The Sweden-based company Biljardexperten is the biggest supplier for pool equipment in Scandinavia. With shops in Sweden, Finland and Norway, Biljardexperten supplies all products around the billiard table in Northern Europe. After the success in 2017, Biljardexperten CEO Kurt Roos decided to once again support EPBF and its activities in 2018. „Biljardexperten is very important for us“, EPBF President Gre Leenders mentioned, „since they are an important link to Scandinavia and we want to reach our fans in the far north as well. Many of them are supporting the Euro-Tour for years now and Biljardexperten is the right company to supply them with anything they need for and during the events“, Leenders added.

Kamui signed up for all events in 2018

The Kamui group has signed up as sponsors with the EPBF for all events in 2018. European distributor for Kamui is Jimmy Worung from The Netherlands. The Kamui group is based in Japan and supplies the billiard athletes with tips, chalk, gloves, mechanical bridges, etc. However, the main product of the brand are probably the cue tips and the chalk. „We are delighted to parter with the Kamui group“, stated IBP President David Morris, „they have proven to be a solid partner in the past and we are looking into a great future together.“ Jimmy Worung added: "Kamui Brand is proud to extend and expand the partnership with the EPBF for another year. The events organized by the EPBF are the best in Europe. The Eurotour is probably the most professional tour in the world and the hardest to win, as many overseas players competed in it, but failed to win. The EPBF sets the standard in Europe and is a role model for the rest of the world".

ManBetX To Sponsor Snooker’s Welsh Open And Gibraltar Open

World Snooker is delighted to announce ManBetX as the title sponsor of two upcoming ranking events: the Welsh Open and the Gibraltar Open, through Project 11.

The ManBetX Welsh Open will run from February 26 to March 4 at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena. It is one of snooker’s longest-running tournaments, ever present on the calendar since 1992. Top stars including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, John Higgins and defending champion Stuart Bingham will be among the 129-man field chasing the trophy next week.

The ManBetX Gibraltar Open will run from March 7 to 11 at the Tercentenary Sports Hall in Gibraltar. First staged in 2015, the tournament was won last year by Shaun Murphy, and he’ll be back to defend his title against the likes Barry Hawkins, Luca Brecel, Jimmy White and China's top star Ding Junhui.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled to welcome ManBetX on board for the first time. These are two fantastic world ranking events to look forward. Snooker continues to grow rapidly as a global sport and these tournaments will be watched by many millions of fans via the coverage on BBC Wales and Eurosport, bringing tremendous exposure to the ManBetX brand.

“We have seen sensational snooker on our tour so far this season with many of the top guns firing their way to the big titles. It will be fascinating to see where the trophies go in the coming weeks and we look forward to working with the ManBetX team.”

Scott Taylor, Partner at Project11, said: “We are delighted to lead with ManBetX’s expansion into snooker. This follows on from ManBetX’s current front of shirt sponsorship with Crystal Palace. These two prestigious title sponsorships are the perfect fit to further the reach of the ManBetX brand. It’s been great working with World Snooker - another marquee sporting property within the Project11 portfolio.”

Betting brand ManBetX, who are committed to offering the best entertainment experience and highest customer satisfaction, added: "??????????"

Tickets for both the ManBetX Welsh Open and the ManBetX Gibraltar Open are still available, for details visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets