Site News
Topic: *Industry News* 2015 - 2024

2018 Supreme Pool Series Choose Strachan & Aramith

2018 will see the new Supreme Pool Series offering the biggest ever prize money in English Pool. The newly expanded series organised by Lee Kendall has total prize money of £125,000 and the Series winner will bank a remarkable £40,000 first prize.

The new series, sponsored by Supreme Pool Tables, will be held at the Players Pool & Snooker Lounge in Newcastle Under Lyme over 5 events throughout 2018. The very best players from World and Blackball rules will be battling it out for the title and the £40k prize. The big money has pulled in big names from across the various branches of pool including Gareth Potts, Chris Melling, Craig Marsh and Tom Cousins.

The event’s creator, Lee Kendall said: “It gives me the great pleasure to announce that the world’s leading woollen pool cloth manufacturer Strachan and the world’s best ball manufacturer, Aramith, will be the sole and exclusive equipment partners for the Supreme Pool Series.

We will be playing on a new Strachan napped, woollen, cloth throughout the Supreme Pool Series which will give our series its own identity and is designed to give the very best speed, response and control. It is the Players choice! We need the very best conditions for the very best players.”
Stuart Gardiner (UK & Ireland Sales Manager for Strachan, Aramith and Simonis) talking about the new Supreme Events said: “Strachan Cloth is a long-term supporter of English Pool at all levels and the new Supreme Players Pool Events is an exciting new series of tournaments. Big prize money and some exciting new rules will breathe new life into the sport. Credit to Lee Kendall for trying to take the game to the next level and also for delivering prize money that will really get the players from all pool backgrounds excited”.

He added: “Working with Lee as an advisor, Strachan have introduced a new lighter, faster and more responsive 6811 Tournament cloth, in a new colour, that offers the modern player the ultimate in speed, control and response. The new cloth will really give the series its own identity. Lee and his team have some great new ideas and I am sure that the new Supreme Tournaments will be a huge success going forward”.

EPBF says „Thank you“ to all fans

22.334…. 273.465… over 500.000… those numbers are not anybody’s phone number but are a result of our fans, especially on facebook who enjoy our service for quite some time now.

Currently, we have 22.334 fans who subscribed to the EPBF facebook page and we are still growing. We have an average reach of over 200.000 per day of our events. And we have people who watched over 500.000 minutes of our matches … within the last 7 days only! This is a massive response by our fanbase and EPBF would like to say „Thank you!“ for all your support and interest. You, the fans, are the main reason why we do what we do and if we see these results, we know we are on a good way with a bright future in front of us. „Seeing those figures makes us very happy“, stated EPBF President Gre Leenders, „and it is amazing to see how many people follow closely what we are doing!“

In our recent Euro-Tour event, the Dynamic Billard BHR Treviso Open 2018 in Italy, we had most matches with a peak viewership of over 700 simultaneous viewers! Several matches even had over 1400 fans watching us at the same time. On top of that, we also have the large number of viewers on www.kozoom.com who are our partners for broadcasting and producing the footage for our events. While EPBF „only“ provides a few matches per day on facebook live, fans can watch every table during the whole event on www.kozoom.com if they hold a premium membership pass. In our recent Euro-Tour alone that was more than 350 matches for men and women.

These figures show us quite impressively that we are working in the right direction. Thanks for all the support out there! Spread the word even more so we might be able to reach 50.000 fans on the EPBF Facebook page or 1.000.000 minutes watched within a week… Together we will make the sport bigger and better!

CHAMAT BACK AS EUROPEAN CAPTAIN

Marcus Chamat will return as European captain for the 25th annual Mosconi Cup this December 4-7 at Alexandra Palace, London.

The energetic Swede has led his side to three impressive victories since taking the helm in 2015 and, buoyed by an 11-4 success in Las Vegas in December, is confident he has turned his charges into an unbeatable force.

Chamat marked his Mosconi debut as a player in 2000 and made six consecutive appearances for his continent. He returned to the tournament as European captain in 2016 and immediately guided the side to an 11-7 success on American soil.

Twelve months later Europe registered an 11-3 victory over Team USA at Alexandra Palace and last year extended their winning run to eight successive Cups when Chamat had to bond a new team together with only one of his 2016 squad in Vegas.

Alexandra Palace is set to play host to the tournament’s biggest ever arena later this year, with record ticket sales already experienced for the December showdown. The iconic north London venue first staged the Mosconi Cup two years ago and Europe’s captain is anticipating an even hotter atmosphere this time around.

“London 2016 was one of the most amazing Mosconi Cups I have ever been a part of,” said Chamat. “Now, looking ahead to December, I can just imagine how really amazing it will be. Team Europe is doing great, it’s an amazing team with a lot of confidence and amazing players, and I’m growing more and more as captain to any challenge that is ahead of us.

“We will look forward to any challenge that USA will bring. I’m taking every year as captain as the first and last game of my life. I think my job as captain has proved to be a really strong force for us – I know how to get our team together and stick by each other.

“London will be an amazing feeling for all of us, we will enjoy it and by December we will be well oiled, well glued together. Last year, in Vegas, so many people said Team Europe were weak and would be beaten. But, surprise, surprise, we are Team Europe and any team they bring, we will take them down.”

The make-up of the European team will again be decided by a 15-event ranking series, with three players to automatically qualify for the team and the remaining two to be selected by captain Chamat. The ranking series schedule and latest standings can be found at: www.matchroompool.com/mosconi-cup/#teamEurope

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.

BCAPL World Championships Future Date Changes

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (March 22, 2018) – CueSports International, parent company of the BCA Pool League (BCAPL), is excited to announce that beginning in 2020, the BCAPL World Championships will no longer be in July. The event will still be at the beautiful Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, but will take place earlier in the year. Below are the dates for the next eight years.

2018 July 18-28
2019 July 17-27
2020 Mar. 11-21
2021 Mar. 3-13
2022 Mar. 23 – Apr. 2
2023 Feb. 22 – Mar. 4
2024 Feb. 21 – Mar. 2
2025 Feb. 19 – Mar. 1

Why the Change?

Player feedback shows an overwhelming preference for an earlier time of year. The major benefits of this change include:

·        Milder temperatures. Las Vegas temperatures in March are normally 70-80 degrees.

·        Convenience. March offers fewer conflicts with family vacation plans.

·        Simplified league year. In 2019, the league year will change to a simple calendar year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31).

League Year Change to a Calendar Year

The BCAPL league year has traditionally been June 1 – May 31. That pattern was set long ago when the BCAPL National Championships were held in May. When the event dates changed to July in 2013, there was no compelling reason to change the league year. However, changing the dates to earlier in the year presents an opportunity to simplify the league year to run on a calendar year basis (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31).

Although operating on a calendar year will simplify things, there will be a “transition period” in 2019. The 2018/2019 league year will be June 1, 2018 – May 31, 2019. To be eligible for the 2019 BCAPL World Championships, players must meet the minimum eligibility requirements during that timeframe. The 2019 league year will be Jan. 1, 2019 – Dec. 31, 2019. To be eligible for the 2020 BCAPL World Championships, players must meet the minimum eligibility requirements during that time frame.

2018 Event Reminder

The 2018 BCAPL World Championships will be July 18-28 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The event will feature 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 the parent company of the BCA Pool League, USA Pool League, and 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.

World Snooker Championship to be Broadcast on Facebook Live

Snooker’s biggest tournament will be broadcast on Facebook Live throughout North and South America as well as and the Indian Sub-Continent for the second consecutive year.

The Betfred World Championship runs from April 21 to May 7 and the entire tournament will be broadcast live on Facebook in nearly 40 countries throughout North and South America as well as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Fans in those territories will be able to watch the event FREE simply by connecting to World Snooker’s Facebook page.

The live broadcast will include coverage of both tables from the famous Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, as 32 players battle for one of the most prestigious titles in sport.

The Betfred World Championship was broadcast on Facebook Live in the same territories for the first time last year, generating a total of 3.2 million video views and 53 million post impressions.

Pakistan had the highest number of fans watching the broadcast, with 576,000 video views, followed by India, Brazil, Colombia and the USA.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “This is fantastic news for snooker fan across the globe as it means that people in many territories where we do not have television coverage can watch our biggest tournament for free on Facebook Live.

“We were thrilled by the figures we saw last year when we delivered this broadcast for the first time, with over three million video views in a wide range of countries.

“It’s fascinating for us to discover how much support there is for our sport in territories where we do not have television coverage. This helps us to build our strategy in terms of finding out the strength of the markets and developing our sport across the planet.

“We’re delighted to be working with Facebook on this initiative and looking forward to what will be a wonderful 17 days of action from the best players in the world.”

To watch the Facebook Live stream, if you are in one of the countries listed below, all you need to do is visit www.facebook.com/WorldSnooker1 once the tournament starts. Then 'Like' the page to get notifications about the live broadcast, as well as all the latest news and information about snooker.

Countries where the Facebook Live broadcast will be available:

North America
USA
Mexico
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Nicaragua
Panama
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago

South America
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela

Asia
India
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Afghanistan
Sri Lanka

There will also be extensive Facebook Live coverage of the final qualifying round of the Betfred World Championship on April 17 and 18. With commentary from Rob Walker and Neal Foulds, we’ll be following the action on Judgement Day as players compete for places at the Crucible. The draw for the final stages will then take place at 10am on Thursday April 19, on Facebook Live as well as Betfred TV.

The qualifying rounds run from April 11 to 18 and fans can watch on the Eurosport Player, with live coverage of two tables throughout the eight days. To sign up to the Eurosport Player and enjoy live coverage of many of the biggest tournaments throughout the year, visit www.eurosportplayer.com.

BCA Announces 2018 Atlantic Challenge Cup Location and Date

The Billiard Congress of America today announced the fourth annual Atlantic Challenge Cup will be held in Las Vegas, November 29 - December 1 at the South Point Hotel & Casino. Specific match times will be announced at a later date.

"I would like to thank our European partners, event sponsors, South Point and everyone involved in the ACC for their patience as we made the difficult decision to move the location and time of this terrific event to Las Vegas in November," said BCA Chief Executive Officer Rob Johnson. "While we would like to have staged t he event in conjunction with the 2018 BCA Expo, logistical issues with a city-wide event taking place during the previously announced dates in New Orleans prevented us from making this possible. We have worked with our event stakeholders and determined the best location and date for this event is this fall in Las Vegas."

"The United States and BCA will be a great host for the 2018 Atlantic Challenge Cup," said EPBF President Gre Leenders. "We are very proud to have won the first three editions of the event, but know America is capable of presenting a very capable team to compete against what we believe will be a very competitive contingent from Europe."

Event sponsors, teams and team captains will be announced in the coming weeks.

Launched by the Billiard Congress of America and European Pocket Billiard Federation in 2015, the Atlantic Challenge Cup pits the best of youth from Europe and America in a Mosconi Cup style event in a race to 11 with a possible 21 total matches. Six players on each team, four boys and two girls, will battle it out to see who will have the bragging rights across the Atlantic. Europe has captured the 2015, 2016 and 2017 titles.

More information can be found at AtlanticChallengeCup.com.

The Spot Hosts the 78th World 14.1

The greatest 14.1 players in history come back each year to vie for the most prestigious & traditional title in pool

New York City- One era ends, and a new era begins. After 5 years, the World 14.1 will be moving to a new venue, the recently opened The Spot Billiards Cafe. On August 13-19th, 2018, The Spot will have the honor of hosting the longest running and oldest tradition in billiards, the World Tournament of 14.1. For well over a decade, the World Tournament of 14.1 will be staged which has already set the record as the longest consecutive run of the championship ever in its 106 year history, with Dragon Promotions continuing at the helm. This year's 78th WorldTournament of 14.1 will be presented by BottleDeck.net . A star studded 48 player round-robin field is expected for this year's lineup that will be aiming to win the world's greatest straight pool championship. The World 14.1 is sanctioned by the WSA World Sports Alumni.

"Upon visiting the Spot Billiards my very first time, I knew right away it would be a fantastic venue for the World 14.1. Everything in the room is pristine and well thought out. You can tell the owners took great care in making sure their room would not just satisfy players of all backgrounds, but also that it would be capable of hosting world class events", said Charlie Williams, Executive Producer of Dragon Promotions and CEO of the WSA World Sports Alumni.

"We love the enthusiasm and hospitality that the Spot Billiard Cafe has given thus far. We feel confident that the players and fans are going to love the new look of the World Tournament", said Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions.

“We are excited and honored to be hosting this prestigious event. The Spot family has been both fan and participants of the sport. We are excited to bring this level of play to our hometown in the Hudson Valley ", said Lenore Donovan-Chen, co-owner of The Spot. She continues, "One of our goals is to help educate and teach the next generation about billiards. We believe that the local pool-player, as well as the adjoining communities, will enjoy the opportunity to witness a world championship event right in their hometown. Our goal as both avid fans and players of the sport is to help teach the next generation about the game and the multiple ways in which it helps to think critically and strategically all while using mathematics and science."

The Spot has a total of 22 pool tables compiled of 14 regulation and 8 bar tables with a full bar that also serves food. The Spot has hosted numerous regional pro-am tournaments as well as operating their own successful in-house tournaments that have 100% entry pay-outs.
On top of special tournaments, the Spot hosts a variety of league play including team 8 ball, individual 9 ball and 14.1 weekly events.
In additional to offering the best billiard conditions in the local area, the Spot provides guests with multiple forms of entertainment ranging from darts to ping pong to chess and an arcade room. The Spot also has space available for party rentals as well.

Qualifier events will be held once again and interested poolrooms may contact 407-782-4978 or worldstraightpoolchampionships@gmail.com

Livestream will be available for all TV table matches. Pay-Per-View will be announced and available shortly. Event elite partners include Mr.Tom Gleich, Dr. Gregory Diehl, Mr. Greg Hunt of Amsterdam Billiards, and Mr. Harold Siegel of Excelsior Graphics. The World Tournament Official Equipment will feature all matches played on:
Official Cloth: Andy Cloth
Official Balls: Aramith Balls.
Official Spa : Your Backyard Superstore
Official Tennis Sponsor: The FTT Florida Tennis Tour
Official Magazine : Pool & Billiard Magazine
Official Marketing Firm: Orlando Synergy
Sanctioned by the World Sports Alumni

Betfred Donate Cash For Centuries To Jessie May

Snooker’s Betfred World Championship starts on Saturday and title sponsor Betfred will be donating £200 for every century break made to Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home.

The tournament at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield runs for 17 days, with 32 of the world’s best players competing for the famous trophy.

Every break of 100 or over will mean £200 for Jessie May, which is World Snooker’s official charity. And if the century count reaches 75, the donation will be rounded up to a massive £25,000.

Betfred boss Fred Done said: “We’re delighted to make this donation to a fantastic cause in Jessie May. It’s going to be a fabulous 17 days of action at the Crucible and I can’t wait for it to start. Hopefully the players will be knocking in the centuries and I’d love to see the target of 75 reached.”

Lindsey Horton, Corporate Partnerships Officer at Jessie May, added: “We can’t thank Betfred enough for their generosity and support. Impressive century breaks from the snooker players equals essential breaks for our families and we have our fingers crossed for a fantastic tournament. We can’t wait for the Betfred World Championship to start!”

Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home, based in Bristol, provides a hospice at home service for terminally ill children, offering care to families in the Bristol area.

For more information about Jessie May visit www.jessiemay.org.uk


The world's top stars gathered at the Crucible today.

Predator and Poison Renew Their Support of the 2018 World Pool Series (WPS) Tour

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (April 24, 2018) - In 2018 again, the Predator Group has renewed its partnership and support of the World Pool Series (WPS). Both Predator and Poison brands are official sponsors of the 2018 WPS events, and Predator is the Title sponsor of the final “Predator Grand Finale” event. It is the second consecutive year that Predator Group supports the WPS and this year Predator also agreed to produce a unique co-branded Predator + WPS glove.

Predator CEO Karim Belhaj stated, “Predator Group is thrilled to continue our partnership with the WPS and to see a Professional Tour grow in the United States. The promotion and growth of pocket billiards is an intricate part of the Predator Group mission and we believe that the WPS will continue to be a great partner to give the game more exposure.”

For more information about the World Pool Series tour and the next events, visit https://worldpoolseries.com/

Tour Championship Added To ITV's Series Of Snooker Events

The new Tour Championship will be added to World Snooker’s calendar for the first time in 2019, televised by ITV4.

The event will run from March 19 to 24, with the leading eight players from the one year ranking list, after the seeding cut off point, competing for total prize money of £375,000 and a top prize of £150,000.

This follows in the series incorporating the World Grand Prix, which is for the leading 32 players on the one year list, and the Players Championship which is for the top 16.

All three world ranking events will be televised by ITV4 for the next three years.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to add the Tour Championship to our global calendar, it will be a highly prestigious event for the best players in the world.

“The race to qualify for this series of tournaments begins from the very first moment of the 2018/19 season, and every pound earned counts. All players will be striving throughout the season to move up the one-year ranking list and make it to these three crucial and highly lucrative events.

“We’re also thrilled to be working with ITV on this series for the next three years. They are a great team to work alongside, with fantastic production values. The viewing figures they receive for snooker are outstanding and growing year on year so their appetite for broadcasting our sport is growing in tandem. This is great news for snooker fans as the amount of coverage on television throughout the season continues to increase.”

The venue and ticket details for the Tour Championship will be announced soon, as will the calendar and seeding cut-off points for the 2018/19 season.

The IPA to be broadcast Live

The IPA - the officially recognised Professional body for pool, is delighted to announce that its upcoming Tour event at Coventry (3rd – 5th August) will be aired live by the BBC. Utilising their global-leading sports website, which is accessed by millions of sports fans worldwide, the BBC will be featuring all three days of the upcoming event at Coventry via live links on the BBC Sport homepage.

This unprecedented development is a true first for the IPA, 8-ball pool, and blackball, and will ensure the Professional stars and the game we all love will be available to be viewed by a whole new audience.

IPA Chairman Kevin Barton commented “Working with a brand as huge and as influential as the BBC is a major breakthrough for the IPA, and demonstrates that the gradual rebuilding of the sport that we have led over the last few years is now beginning to pay dividends. We look forward to working with the BBC”

EPBF Award bestowed on Theo Riedlecker

Theo Riedlecker from Sankt Johann im Pongau in Austria was bestowed with a very special award just recently. On occasion of the 30th anniversary of the pool billiard club UBSC Pongau, Riedlecker received the coveted trophy for his outstanding work for the development of pool billiard in his country and in Europe. The award was firstly given in 2005 to Norbert Engel, Austria, and has now been awarded for the second time in the EPBF history only.

Riedlecker has organised nine Euro-Tour events for Men and Women and three European Championships in Sankt Johann. This effort is second to none and cannot be appreciated high enough. The trophy is engraved with a sign that states: „Four outstanding work, contribution and promotion of the pool billiard sport in co-operation with the European Pocket Billiard Federation“. The presentation was done by EPBF President Gre Leenders, who was present during the anniversary celebrations in Austria.

Cheltenham To Stage Snooker’s World Grand Prix

Cheltenham will host a major snooker tournament for the first time in February 2019 when the World Grand Prix comes to the town.

The world ranking event will run from February 4th to 10th in The Centaur, part of the famous Cheltenham Racecourse. Fans in the Gloucestershire area will have the perfect chance to see the best snooker players on the planet competing for a prestigious title.

The World Grand Prix will feature the leading 32 players on the 2018/19 season one year ranking list, starting with July’s Riga Masters and ending with the final counting event, the German Masters which finishes on February 3rd.

With extensive live television coverage from ITV4, the tournament offers a top prize of £100,000 from a total prize fund of £375,000.

Last season the World Grand Prix was staged in Preston, with Ronnie O’Sullivan beating Ding Junhui in the final.

The top 16 on the one year ranking list will go on to compete in the Players Championship in Preston (March 4th to 10th) and then the top eight will progress to the new Tour Championship in Llandudno (March 19th to 24th).

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled to bring the World Grand Prix to a new location at the fantastic Cheltenham Racecourse. As well as being world famous for horse racing, this is a superb venue which hosts a wide range of major events and we have no doubt it will prove a top class facility for one of our leading tournaments.

“The popularity of snooker has grown dramatically in recent years, both in terms of its television and live audience, so we are always looking for new locations where we can give fans the opportunity to see the players in the flesh. Tickets will go on sale soon and they will sell rapidly so fans are strongly urged to book fast.

“From the moment the very first ball is struck at the beginning of the new season, players will be striving for every pound to get themselves up the one year ranking list and earn a place at the three highly lucrative events which will take place early in 2019 in Cheltenham, Preston and Llandudno. There will be star-studded fields at all three venues.”

Lee Moulson, Regional Head of Sales at Cheltenham Racecourse, added: “We couldn’t be more excited to be hosting the 2019 World Grand Prix here at Cheltenham Racecourse. The Centaur is a fantastic venue for an event of this type and we are delighted to be hosting snooker at the Home of Jump Racing for the first time. We look forward to working on the event over the coming months, next Spring will be a busy time for us with the snooker in February and the world famous Cheltenham Festival the following month.”

Details of how to buy tickets will be released soon.

Crawley To Host Snooker's English Open

Crawley will welcome the best snooker players in the world later this year when the English Open comes to the town.

Taking place at K2 Crawley from October 15th to 21st, it will be the first world ranking event ever staged in the West Sussex town.

The English Open is the first of the 2018/19 season’s Home Nations events, to be followed by tournaments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It brings together 128 of the world’s top stars, competing in a flat draw with all players needing to win seven matches to take the Steve Davis Trophy.

Ronnie O’Sullivan won the title last year in Barnsley by thrashing Kyren Wilson 9-2 in the final.

Once again there will be a £1 million bonus on offer to any player who can win all four Home Nations events over the 2018/19 season. The Home Nations series receives extensive live television coverage from Eurosport and Quest.

K2 Crawley staged the qualifying rounds of the Australian Open in 2015 and will now host the final stages of a tournament for the first time.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “This is fantastic news for the people of Crawley and the surrounding area as they will have the chance to watch the best players on the planet live in action. Having staged qualifiers at K2 before we know it is an excellent venue and I hope to see the place packed out with fans.

“The English Open is the first tournament to be staged on UK soil next season and what a fantastic event it will be, with 128 top stars battling for glory. Ronnie O’Sullivan’s performance in the final last year was arguably the best of the 2017/18 season as he had a 98 per cent pot success rate. And Ronnie definitely had his eyes on the £1 million bonus until he lost in the third round of the Northern Ireland Open.

“We’re really looking forward to working with the team in Crawley on staging another top class event. It’s always a pleasure to bring a big tournament to a new location and once tickets are on sale they will be selling fast.”

Details of how to buy tickets will be released soon.

Big Jubilee EC only one month away

The 40 year anniversary jubilee Dynamic Billard European Championships 2018 of the European Pocket Billard Federation EPBF which will be held in the NH Hotel Koningshof in Veldhoven, The Netherlands, is only one month away from now.

40 years of promotion and support of European pool billiards! That achievement will be celebrated this year in an event that is full of superlatives. When the first players pick up their cue sticks and start pocketing balls on July 19th, the largest pool Billard event ever hosted on European soil will commence. 60 Dynamic III 9-foot tables will be set up in the venue. A total of 550 players from 37 different European nations are nominated by their respective National Federation for this fabulous event. The European Championships will last until July 31st, 2018, and will produce not less than 35 new European Champions - individuals and teams.

„We have worked hard and very intensive for this jubilee European Championships over the past years“, stated EPBF President Gre Leenders, „and it was really not easy to fit all the different needs we had to look after. But in finding a venue like the Königshof where 60 tables fit in easily was the first step for us. So we went step by step and we are very confident that this year’s jubilee EC will remain in the memory of many pool players, visitors and fans worldwide for many years“, Leenders added.

The entry for all events during the Championships is free for everyone. Veldhoven is located in the western part of The Netherlands and easily accessible through the airports Maastricht, Einhoven and Duesseldorf.

Ladbrokes To Sponsor Trio Of Snooker’s Key Events

Ladbrokes has renewed its sponsorship of snooker’s World Grand Prix and Players Championship, and added the new Tour Championship to the series.

Those three events will make up the Ladbrokes Series of world ranking events in 2019.

The Ladbrokes World Grand Prix will run from February 4-10 in Cheltenham, followed by the Ladbrokes Players Championship from March 4-10 in Preston, then the new Ladbrokes Tour Championship in Llandudno from March 19-24. All three events will be televised live by ITV4.

The top 32 on the one-year ranking list will qualify for the first tournament at The Centaur venue in Cheltenham, then the top 16 will go on to the Guild Hall in Preston, and only the top eight will make it to the final event at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.

There will be a top prize of £100,000 available at the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix, with the winner to receive £125,000 at the Ladbrokes Players Championship, and £150,000 at the Ladbrokes Tour Championship. Any player winning all three tournaments will receive an extra bonus of £125,000, rounding up his total prize money to £500,000.

Ladbrokes has sponsored the World Grand Prix and Players Championship since 2016.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “The development of the Ladbrokes Series has been one of the most exciting innovations on our global tour in recent years. It means that from the very first ball of the season, players must earn enough money to qualify for these prestigious and lucrative events in the second half of the campaign.

“Adding the Tour Championship to the series makes it so competitive as we will go from 32 to 16 to eight players, with only the very best surviving until the end. And with a possible £500,000 to be won, it is a huge incentive for all of the top stars.

“We are delighted to have Ladbrokes on board for the full series, they have been fantastic supporters of snooker for many years and they are a superb team to work with. The viewing figures on ITV and the overall exposure that Ladbrokes receive for their brand from these three events is growing year on year.

“We have three excellent venues for the Ladbrokes Series including a new location in Cheltenham. It’s going to be fascinating to find out which players can go all the way and lift the coveted trophies.”

Adrian Osman, Head Of Sponsorship and Events for the Ladbrokes Coral Group, said: "Having worked with Barry and the World Snooker team for many years we are delighted to be involved in yet another innovation in the sport, with the launch of the Ladbrokes Series."

Tickets for all three Ladbrokes Series events will be on sale from Friday June 29th – for details see www.worldsnooker.com/tickets


O'Sullivan won the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix & Ladbrokes Players Championship last season.

ManBetX Renew Welsh Open Sponsorship

World Snooker is delighted to announce that ManBetX has renewed its title sponsorship of the Welsh Open world ranking event.

The ManBetX Welsh Open will run from 11 to 17 February in 2019, at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. ManBetX sponsored the event for the first time in 2018, when John Higgins won the title for a record fifth time by beating Barry Hawkins in the final. Also among the field were top stars including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby and home favourite Mark Williams.

The Welsh Open is snooker’s longest running ranking event other than the UK Championship and World Championship, as it has been staged every year since 1992. Contested by a field of 128 players, it is the last of the season’s Home Nations series.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with ManBetX on this fantastic tournament. ManBetX have become tremendous supporters of snooker in recent months through sponsorship of some of our biggest events. They are clearly delighted with the coverage they receive for their brand as our sport is watched by so many millions of fans around the world.

“The Welsh Open is always one of the highlights of the snooker calendar and we look forward to another week of outstanding action on the green baize in Cardiff in February.”

Scott Taylor, Partner at Project11, said: “The continuation is superb and endorses the impact of the title sponsorship and superior product delivered by World Snooker and Matchroom Sport in their marquee sports portfolio, with which Project11 work closely. We are excited to see the event unfold and the ManBetX brand along with their client base increase. Project11 are proud to work with both ManBetX and World Snooker on this, one of many collaborations, as we continue to strive forward in the world of sports marketing.”

ManBetX added: “We are very happy to be placing the ManBetX brand alongside another of the most prestigious events in world snooker, taking our brand to the next level."

Tickets for the ManBetX Welsh Open are on sale, for details see www.worldsnooker.com/tickets


John Higgins won the 2017 ManBetX Welsh Open.

Hungary To Stage Challenge Tour Event

The Hungarian capital of Budapest will stage a tournament on snooker’s new Challenge Tour later this season.

The event will run on November 24 and 25 at the Snooker Terminal academy in Budapest, which has eight tables made by World Snooker’s official supplier Star. It will be the eighth Challenge Tour event of the season.

The new Challenge Tour is running for the first time this season, as a secondary circuit below the World Snooker Tour. There are ten events, with the top two players on the final Order of Merit earning a two-year card to the professional circuit.

Each tournament has 64 players from the Q School Order of Merit, plus a maximum of eight wild cards. As part of the agreement to stage an event in Budapest, the Hungarian national champion will receive a wild card to all Challenge Tour events this season, from event three onwards.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to bring a tournament to Hungary for the first time as our sport continues to move into new territories. To compete in this event in Budapest will be a fantastic opportunity for the Challenge Tour players. We look forward to working with our friends at the Hungarian Billiards Federation on a successful event.

“Having already staged the first two Challenge Tour events we can see it will be an extremely competitive circuit with a high standard of play, and a huge reward at the end for the two players who earn a World Snooker Tour card.”

Peter Varga, Chairman of the Snooker Department of the Hungarian Billiards Federation, said: “The Hungarian Billiards Federation is exceptionally honoured by the opportunity to host an event of this importance. We are looking forward to staging the Challenge Tour event in our capital Budapest, and to cooperating with the organisers of the Tour. We wish the best to all of the players on the Tour, we’ll do everything to guarantee an excellent event in Hungary.”

Further details on the event will be announced in due course.

Hofstatter, Davenport Elected to Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame

Broomfield, Colo., August 3, 2018 - The Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame welcomes two of the game's top players of the '90s to the class of 2018. The United States Billiard Media Association today announced that Austrian import Gerda Hofstatter Gregerson and "California Kim" Davenport have earned induction as the 71st and 72nd members of the sport's most prestigious club.

Hofstatter Gregerson, 47, will enter the Greatest Players wing of the BCA Hall of Fame, while Davenport, 62, will be honored in the Veteran Players category. Both will be formally inducted during ceremonies on Oct. 26, 2018, at the Norfolk Sheraton Waterside in Norfolk, Va.

A native of Friesach, Austria, Hofstatter Gregerson was an accomplished athlete, competing in tennis and skiing, and winning a national junior fencing title before committing herself to pool. Hofsttater Gregerson won her first European Championship (and the first ever for Austria) at 18, and has collected 10 European Championship gold medals. In 1993, she relocated to the U.S. to join the new Women's Professional Billiard Association Classic Tour and promptly won the very first event. Over the next seven years, Hofstatter Gregerson added seven more Classic Tour titles, as well as the 1995 WPA World 9-Ball Championship, the 1997 WPBA National Championship and the 2000 BCA Open 9-Ball Championship. She added her ninth Classic Tour title in 2010 at the San Diego Classic.

Hofstatter Gregerson currently resides Charlotte with her husband Dan and daughters Sophie and Madison. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from New York University, and has a pilot's license.

After finishing second in voting in each of the last three years, Hofstatter Gregerson was named on more than 70 percent of the ballots in 2018, far outpacing first-time nominees Niels Feijen and Corey Deuel, each of whom were named on 36 percent of the ballots. Shannon Daulton, Jeremy Jones, Stefano Pellinga, Vivian Villarreal and Charlie Williams received votes on fewer than 25 percent of the ballots.

"My first reaction is, 'What am I doing in there with all those great players?'," Hofstatter Gregerson. "Honestly, I never expected to get in. Everyone who has gotten in is so deserving, I was just honored to be on the ballot. But I am excited, humbled and honored to be in such great company.

"It's a great thing for my kids," she continued. "They'll be so proud. And it's nice to know that you will be remembered in the history books."

Born in Oklahoma, Davenport relocated to Modesto, Calif., in the early '80s. By mid-decade, Davenport was making a name for himself on the pro tour, winning events like the Bowling Green Open and Tar Heel Classic. He broke through in 1988, winning the highly regarded Japan Cup and Eastern States 9-Ball Championship. After adding three more titles in 1989, Davenport put in a Player of the Year performance in 1990, winning the Brunswick Challenge Cup in Sweden, the Sands Regency Open and the B.C. Open - all major tour titles. Davenport added eight more pro tour titles, before an injury to his left eye for all practical purposes ended his pool-playing career.

Davenport, who resides in Acworth, Ga., had been recommended for consideration by the Hall of Fame Veteran Players Committee after failing to garner enough votes for election on the general ballot prior to turning 60.

"That's really good news," said Davenport upon being informed of his election. "I had started to wonder if it would ever happen, so it's hard to explain how I feel right now. To be honest, I thought my record was good enough to get in before now, but better late than never.

"In the end, this is what 40 years of playing pool comes down to," he added. "And 100 years from now, people will see my name next to Mosconi's, which is not a bad thing."

USA Announces 2018 Atlantic Challenge Cup Team Captain

Superior, Colo., August 9, 2018, The Billiard Congress of America today announced its team's captain to face the Europeans during this year's staging of the Atlantic Challenge Cup taking place November 29 - December 1, 2018 in Las Vegas.

"We are delighted to appoint Allison Fisher to lead Team USA as its captain for the 2018 Atlantic Challenge Cup," said BCA CEO Rob Johnson. "Allison's accomplishments as a player speak for themselves and now she is not only committed to competing at the highest level, but also working with our next generation of players. She has been on our radar for some time and the stars aligned for her to be able to lead our team in 2018. We are also excited to announce Allison will be supported by former ACC Team Captain and BEF Junior Nationals Tournament Director Earl Munson and former Mosconi Cup Team USA Captain and current head coach of Lindenwood University's billiards program, Mark Wilson. Team USA is fortunate to have these three individuals donate their time and energy to supporting our junior players."

A 2009 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame inductee, Fisher won 80 Snooker titles, including 11 world championships (four of those in doubles competition). She moved to the U.S. in September 1995 to try her hand on the WPBA Classic Tour, and promptly won two 9-ball titles in three months and finished 3rd in her first World 9 ball Championship. Fisher won an astounding 80 Classic Tour and WPA titles in the next two decades. She also won the WPA World 9-Ball Championship in 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2002. During Fisher's reign, she earned POY honors from both Billiards Digest and Pool & Billiard Magazine 11 times in 12 years. In 2009 she won a World Games Gold medal.

"I am very honored to be chosen to lead Team USA," said Fisher. "Preparing our junior players for such a prestigious event is very exciting. With Earl and Mark assisting me, I look forward to working with the team to prepare them for what to expect and how to handle the pressures of this format. We will work with them in advance of the event and during the matches to help them play to the best of their abilities. We have a very formidable opponent, so we know we have our work cut out for us."

Fisher has also chosen Munson and Wilson to support her efforts to prepare Team USA. Munson has nearly two decades of experience working with US junior players, including serving as captain for the first two Atlantic Challenge Cup events. Munson also brings more than a decade of experience working with juniors as the USA BEF Junior National tournament director and five-time USA team leader for WPA World Junior Championship events.

Wilson, has been a billiards instructor and coach for more than 40 years and as a professional player, has been ranked in the top 25 in the world. He is currently the head coach for Lindenwood University, one of the country's premier collegiate billiard programs. He is also a former Team USA Mosconi Cup captain.

Launched in 2015, the Atlantic Challenge Cup features the best youth players from Europe and America in a Mosconi Cup style event. Six players on each team, four boys and two girls, battle it out on an annual basis to see who has bragging rights across the Atlantic. The event is the result of a joint venture between the Billiard Congress of America and the European Pocket Billiard Federation.

Stay tuned to AtlanticChallengeCup.com for continuous updates on the 2018 event.