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Topic: *Industry News* 2015 - 2024

WORLD POOL MASTERS LIVE ON DAZN IN AMERICA

The World Pool Masters, 9-ball’s biggest invitational tournament, will be broadcast live in America on the global sports streaming platform DAZN this March 29-31, Matchroom Multi Sport is delighted to announce.

The World Pool Masters features 24 of the best players from around the world with three of America’s most recognisable faces forming part of the field for the 2019 event. Five-time US Open winner and American pool legend Earl Strickland will be looking to win his second Masters title while two of the heroes from USA’s recent Mosconi Cup winning team will also be in action; US No.1 Shane van Boening and Mosconi Cup MVP Skyler Woodward.

The 2019 World Pool Masters takes place in Gibraltar, Europe from Friday, March 29 until Sunday, March 31 and sees players battling it out for their share of the $100,000 prize fund across six action-packed sessions. As well as broadcasting the event live across America, DAZN will also show World Pool Masters live in Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Japan.

Niels Feijen won the Masters title in 2018 and the Dutchman will be looking to defend his crown against a superstar field including the likes of US Open champion Jayson Shaw and two-time Masters winner van Boening.

Matches are race-to-seven up until the semi-finals, which are race-to-eight with the final being a race-to-9. All matches are a winner breaks format with a 30 second shot clock in operation.

Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn said: “The World Pool Masters is one of pool’s majors and we are thrilled that American fans will be able to watch live on DAZN. We will be bringing together 24 of the best players from around the world for one of the must-see 9-ball tournaments of the year.

“With only the best of the best involved, the World Pool Masters guarantees great matches from the very first rack and that is what has made it one of the biggest tournaments in billiards. So many of the game’s best players have lifted the title, and looking at the field for March we know the name of another modern-day great will be etched into the trophy this year.”

The World Pool Masters is played over six sessions with two sessions each day. The first session will begin at 8am Eastern Time daily with the second session to commence at 2pm Eastern Time each day. The draw and match schedule is available at www.worldpoolmasters.com.

Betway To Sponsor Gibraltar Open

World Snooker is delighted to announce Betway as the title sponsor for this week’s Gibraltar Open.

The world ranking event runs from this Wednesday March 13th – Sunday March 17th at the Tercentenary Sports Hall, Gibraltar. First staged in 2015, the tournament was won last year by Welshman Ryan Day, he’ll be back to defend his title against the likes of Barry Hawkins, Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson and Stuart Bingham.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled to have Betway on board for this fantastic event. They are a huge supporter of snooker and have also been title sponsor of the UK Championship for the last four years.

“With a range of top players heading out to do battle on the Rock, I am certain we will see a week of enthralling action and I can’t wait for the event to get started.”

Betway’s Marketing Director, Paul Adkins, said: “As the title sponsor of the UK Championship, we’re delighted to be extending our involvement in the sport with the Gibraltar Open.

“Some of the world’s top players are set to clash at this year’s event and we’re very much looking forward to an exciting week of action.”

You can watch the action live on Eurosport from Friday March 15th.

Snooker 19, the first licensed snooker game in a generation, launches Spring 2019 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

First gameplay trailer revealed for the most authentic depiction of the sport ever created

March 14th 2019, Liverpool, United Kingdom - Ripstone Games, in collaboration with Lab42 and World Snooker, today announced that Snooker 19 is launching in Spring 2019 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The announcement has been accompanied by the first gameplay trailer for Snooker 19, showcasing the Unreal Engine 4 powered visuals, incredible physics and 3D facial scanning technology, bringing the game to life like never before. Furthermore Snooker 19 will be playable to consumers at the ‘Powered by Unreal Engine’ booth for the first time at EGX Rezzed at Tobacco Dock, London from April 4th - 6th.

Developed by Leamington Spa based Lab42, Snooker 19 will feature 128 of the world’s top players including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui as they take to the table at iconic venues including The Crucible and Alexandra Palace. In the most in-depth simulation of snooker ever seen, players can choose from a full suite of offline and online modes to master every official tournament. These include global online tournaments that link in real-time with the live World Snooker calendar, quick play online match-making, and fully customised matches of full snooker, 6-red snooker and fast-paced Shoot-Out snooker.

Made in Unreal Engine 4, Snooker 19 is the most authentic depiction of the sport ever created, and players can expect a full TV-style presentation in the game alongside evocative visual details of the players, arenas and equipment. Player likenesses have been meticulously created using 3D facial scanning technology while the subtle yet detailed wood grain of the cues and tables is rendered impeccably. With the glare of the spotlights reflecting accurately off the polished balls, Snooker 19 sets a new visual standard for the snooker video game. Players can soak up its atmosphere while the advanced physics and AI engines ensure the action remains tense, thrilling, and most importantly, true to real life.

“It’s been way too long since the last flagship snooker title,” said Justin Forrest of Lab42. “We’re hugely excited to finally give players a snooker simulation worthy of this increasingly popular sport. The combination of official World Snooker licensed content, high quality, authentic gameplay and TV-style presentation, Snooker 19 is the complete package for both newcomers and hardcore fans.”

"Partnering with Lab42 and World Snooker to bring players Snooker 19 marks a significant step-change for us," said Phil Gaskell of Ripstone. "The sport has grown exponentially in the years since the last official snooker title. Our game is built from the ground up for new and old fans alike, and we feel it's the right time to create a game that reflects where snooker and the gaming industry is today."

Snooker 19 will be launching in Spring 2019 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

2018 US Open 10-Ball Championship Matches Released on YouTube

March 14, 2019

CSI is pleased to announce that recorded matches from the 2018 US Open 10-Ball Championship have been released on the CSI YouTube Channel. Seventeen (17) videos featuring many of the world's best players such as Shane Van Boening, Alex Pagulayan, Skyler Woodward, Thorsten Hohmann, Billy Thorpe, Dennis Orcollo, Eklent Kaci and more can be viewed in their entirety at https://bit.ly/2QoP29K for free.

The 2018 US Open 10-Ball Championship was held July 18-21 at Griff's Billiards in Las Vegas, NV and was made possible by the following sponsors:
​
​CueSports International (CSI): www.playcsipool.com
Griff's Bar & Billiards: www.griffslv.com
​Simonis Cloth: www.simoniscloth.com
Cyclop Balls: www.cyclop-billiards.com

RECORDED MATCHES
Match 1: Shaun Wilkie (USA) vs Matt Edwards (New Zealand)
Match 2: Shane Van Boening (USA) vs Donny Mills (USA)
Match 3: Eklent Kaci (Albania) vs Omar Al-Shaheen (Kuwait)
Match 4: Ernesto Dominguez (Mexico) vs Warren Kiamco (Philippines)
Match 5: Max Eberle (USA) vs Ronnie Alcano (Philippines)
Match 6: Chip Compton (USA) vs Jeffrey De Luna (Philippines)
Match 7: Billy Thorpe (USA) vs Tommy Najar (USA)
Match 8: Chip Compton (USA) vs Max Eberle (USA)
Match 9: Tyler Styer (USA) vs Skyler Woodward (USA)
Match 10: Oscar Dominguez (USA) vs Alex Pagulayan (Canada)
Match 11: Dennis Orcollo (Philippines) vs Thorsten Hohmann (Germany)
​Match 12: Shane Van Boening (USA) vs Thorsten Hohmann (Germany)
Match 13: Mitch Ellerman (USA) vs Dennis Hatch (USA)
Match 14: Shane Van Boening (USA) vs Eklent Kaci (Albania)
Match 15: Alex Pagulayan (Canada) vs Mitch Ellerman (USA) HOT SEAT MATCH
Match 16: Shane Van Boening (USA) vs Mitch Ellerman (USA) SEMI-FINAL MATCH
Match 17: Alex Pagulayan (Canada) vs Shane Van Boening (USA) FINAL MATCH

Please SUBSCRIBE to the CSI YouTube Channel to be notified whenever we upload new content. Watch now at https://bit.ly/2QoP29K.

IBPF & Predator Group Partner in Women’s Eurotour

The International Billiard Promotion Foundation (IPBF), the commercial arm of the European Pocket Billiard Foundation (EPBF), is thrilled to announce a deal with Predator Group for the naming rights of the Women’s Eurotour for the next two years.

“It has been a few months since the first talks were held, but I’m delighted to welcome Predator Group as the main sponsor of the Women’s Eurotour,” said IBPF President, David Morris. “This will be a great boost for women’s pool in Europe and with a higher prize fund, we will see the women’s tour grow further with our new partners on board.”

The newly branded Predator Women’s Eurotour will consist of five main events each year and will have an added prize fund of €4,500. The first Predator Women’s Eurotour event is scheduled for May in Treviso, Italy. Details can be found at www.womeneurotouronline.com.

“We are excited to partner with the EPBF to help grow and inspire current and future generations of female players in Europe,” said Predator Group CEO, Karim Belhaj. “The Women’s Eurotour events are an asset to the sport and we are proud to be a part of their growth.”

For more information on Predator Group, please visit their website www.predatorgroup.com.

Referee Scullion Picked For First World Final

Leo Scullion will referee this year’s Betfred World Snooker Championship final for the first time, having successfully battled cancer.

Glasgow’s 60-year-old Scullion has been selected by World Snooker to take charge of the sport’s most important match at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on May 5 and 6.

The Scot was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2014 and forced to take a break from his refereeing career while he underwent treatment, including two cycles of chemotherapy.

Thankfully the cancer has now been in remission for nearly five years. Scullion was able to return to the tour in 2016.

Since then, he has been in charge of the final of his home event, the Scottish Open, on two occasions. He was also in the middle for Mark Williams’ 17-15 win over Barry Hawkins in the semi-finals at the Crucible last year.

“There were times when I wondered if I would even get back to refereeing, never mind at this kind of level,” said Scullion. “My wife Joyce and daughter Stephanie also went through a difficult time. They had some fantastic support from the snooker community and I will be eternally grateful for it.

“My health at the moment is very good. I still have go for check-ups. However, all being well at the end of October this year, the doctors will hopefully sign me off and tell me to go away and live the rest of my life.”

For now, Scullion’s focus is on refereeing at this week’s Coral Tour Championship in Llandudno. Following that his attention will turn to Sheffield.

“I think it will be tremendous,” added Scullion, who refereed the UK Championship final in 2012. “It is hard to imagine at the moment. The best I can do is think what it was like having refereed World Championship semi-finals, which are also a one-table situation. This is just the next step. I’ve had good preparation for it having done three semi-finals. I have no doubt the two days will be over in a flash. Leading up to it I’ll be nervous, I know what it will be like, but as soon as we walk down into the arena and the match starts I’ll be fine.”

The Betfred World Championship runs from April 20 to May 6.

CUESCORE ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL SCORING PARTNER OF MATCHROOM POOL

Matchroom Multi Sport is pleased to announce that CueScore are the new Official Scoring Partner of Matchroom Pool events.

Beginning with the World Pool Masters in Gibraltar from March 29-31, CueScore.com will provide live scoring from all Matchroom Pool events. The CueScore team will work alongside Matchroom Multi Sport at the 43rd US Open 9-Ball Championship in Las Vegas to make live scoring available from all 33 tables.

Emily Frazer, COO of Matchroom Multi Sport, said: “We are thrilled to be working with CueScore as our Official Scoring Partner across all Matchroom Pool tournaments. This is an exciting time for us and for the sport as we prepare for the biggest US Open 9-Ball Championship ever. We will have 256 players competing and live scoring of every match will be available via MatchroomPool.com and CueScore.com

“We have been working closely with CueScore to ensure we can bring fans around the world the latest scores live from every match during the US Open. This is a big operation but together with the brilliant team at CueScore we have been working to ensure we can provide this great service to what we expect could be the largest audience recorded for a pool event on a live scoring site.

“In addition to this year’s US Open we will be providing live online scoring via CueScore at the World Pool Masters, World Cup of Pool and Mosconi Cup, so you can always keep up with the action.”

Thomas Stavang Pedersen, CEO and Founder of CueScore International AS: “We're very proud and happy to become the Official Scoring Partner for Matchroom Pool events. Already in our first meeting it was clear that our visions and ideas for the sport matches one another perfectly.

“To us, Matchroom events are like the gold standard for arrangements, thus becoming the Official Scoring Partner is proud moment for us. We're super excited to start working together and bring information and live scores to fans around the world."

The draw for the US Open 9-Ball Championship will be made at the start of April and shown on the US Open 9-Ball Facebook page. The brackets will then be available at matchroompool.com and cuescore.com shortly afterwards.

Tickets for the 43rd US Open 9-Ball Championship are available now at www.matchroompool.com from as little as $10 with VIP packages also available for the final three days of the tournament.

The tournament will be split into two stages with the full field playing double elimination down to the final 16 from Sunday April 21st until Tuesday April 23rd across multiple tables. From Wednesday April 24th until Friday April 26th the final 16 players will play straight knockout in the TV Arena in front of a global television audience.

Predator Becomes the Official Cue of CueSports International and the BCA Pool League

April 10, 2019

CueSports International (CSI) is proud to announce a new three-year partnership in which Predator has become the Official Cue of CueSports International and the BCA Pool League.

Predator has long been an industry leader in cue design and manufacturing. Since its inception in 1994, Predator's commitment to innovation has created a legacy of high performance, supported by scientific discovery and proven results. Enhancing performance is what inspires them, drives their research, and defines their mission of making the best performing low-deflection shafts, playing cues, and break cues in the world.

Ozzy Reynolds, CEO of CueSports International, said "Predator has literally changed the industry. When the original 314 shaft was introduced, it changed everything. Since that time, they have continued to push the envelope with game-changing products such as the BK Break Cue, Uni-Loc, the Z Shaft, and now the Revo. They continue to innovate and by the time others copy and catch up, they have innovated again. We are thrilled to have a partner that shares our innovative drive."

For more information about Predator, visit www.predatorcues.com or find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.
​
CSI is an international pool league and event leader and is comprised of three divisions: CSI leagues, CSI events and CSI media. CSI leagues manages the BCA Pool League, one of the oldest and largest pool leagues in the world. It also manages the USA Pool League, a newer but fast-growing amateur league completely powered by FargoRate. CSI events produces numerous amateur and professional events around the globe, including the US Open 10-Ball, US Open 8-Ball, US Open One Pocket, US Open Straight Pool, US Open Bank Pool, and now they have partnered with Predator to produce the Predator World 10-Ball Championship. CSI media creates live streaming and digital content. To date, the CSI YouTube channel boasts over 800 full-length matches and more than 19.1 million people have watched 376.5 million minutes of video content on the channel. Through its progressive vision and strategic alliances such as this one, CSI is “Shaping the future of pool.”

We’re thrilled for the opportunity to be the official cue of the BCA Pool League and the BCAPL World Championships,” said Predator Group CEO, Karim Belhaj. “The BCAPL is a top caliber group in the U.S. with players who are passionate about the game and their equipment. This makes Predator a natural fit for the league as we’re passionate about those very same ideals. We’re grateful for this opportunity and excited for the future of this great league.”

For more information about CSI or its divisions, visit www.playcsipool.com or find CueSports International on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or Twitter.

First nomination to the EEBC TEAM for Afri-East Euro Cup !!!!

Mariusz Skoneczny is the first player who received nomination for the 2019 Afri-East Euro Cup.

29 years old player from Poland won 2018 Dynamic Billard Best of the East series. He is a gold medalist of European Team Championships in 2010, 2015,2018 and twice bronze medalist of EC 8-ball – 2014; 14/1 – 2018. Skoneczny finished the Polish ranking on 1st position in 2013 and 2018.

Mak Marketing company ( the organizer of Grand Prix of Poland series) for winning the ranking in 2013 gave him a Chevrolet car.

AFRI-EAST EURO CUP will be held in Johannesburg in days 22-23 June 2019.

More: www.ebc-billiard.com

Marcin Krzeminski
President of East European Billiard Council
www.ebc-billiard.com

ACCU-RACK TO BE OFFICIAL RACKING TEMPLETE OF US OPEN 9-BALL

Matchroom Multi Sport are pleased to announce that the Outsville Accu-Rack will be the Official Racking Template of the US Open 9-Ball Championship, which takes place at Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas from April 21-16.

A specially-designed commemorative US Open 9-Ball Championship Accu-Rack has been commissioned and will be used exclusively during the double elimination stage of the US Open. Section referees will use the Accu-Rack to rack balls for all double elimination matches.

Outsville’s Chris Renfro said: “Outsville is very pleased to be included in the 2019 US Open and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Matchroom.

“Frozen Racks in 30 seconds or less! The Accu-Rack is winning the template wars with the help of professional and amateur players alike. Proprietary Geometry and Materials work together to form a template that works where the others fail while lasting four-times longer than plastic.”

Emily Frazer, COO of Matchroom Multi Sport, said: “We are pleased to have Outsville on board for the US Open 9-Ball Championship. Having the Accu-Rack on all tables means we can deliver consistent racking across all tables throughout the double elimination stage of the tournament, something that is highly important to us as Matchroom Multi Sport promote the US Open for the first time.”

Balls will be racked by referees in all matches at the US Open 9-Ball Championship. During the double elimination stage, the 33 tables will be split into groups of three or four with a referee assigned to each section and a score controller at each table. Referees will rack using the Accu-Rack with the 9-ball on the spot and players can break from anywhere behind the headstring.

All matches at the US Open 9-Ball Championship are race to 11, winner breaks, except the final which is race to 13. The draw and match schedule for the first stage of the tournament is available now at www.matchroompool.com.

Tickets for the 43rd US Open 9-Ball Championship are still available at www.matchroompool.com from as little as $10 with VIP packages also available for the final three days of the tournament.

The tournament will be split into two stages with the full field playing double elimination down to the final 16 from Sunday April 21st until Tuesday April 23rd across multiple tables. From Wednesday April 24th until Friday April 26th the final 16 players will play straight knockout in the TV Arena in front of a global television audience.

PARTYPOKER TO SPONSOR US OPEN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

partypoker will title sponsor the 43rd US Open 9-Ball Championship, which takes place at Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas from April 21-26.

partypoker is one of the oldest, most recognised and trusted online poker brands. Launched in August 2001, partypoker.com is one of the pioneers of the online poker industry and has a long-standing history with Matchroom Pool as title sponsors of the Mosconi Cup.

The US Open 9-Ball Championship takes place over six days in Las Vegas, with 33 tables of double elimination action whittling the players down from 256 to just 16 in the first three days. Play then moves into the Diamond Arena with matches becoming straight knockout as those left standing home in on one of the biggest titles in billiards, as well as the $50,000 first prize, the famous green jacket and brand-new Barry Behrman trophy.

partypoker managing director, Tom Waters said: “We are delighted to come on board as sponsors of the US Open 9-Ball Championship for 2019 and further extend our support of Matchroom’s premier pool events, which see some of the sport’s greatest talents showcased to TV audiences across the world.”


Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled that partypoker are extending their relationship with Matchroom Pool as title sponsors of the 2019 US Open 9-Ball Championship. We have a strong and long-standing partnership with partypoker, who are a loyal partner of the Mosconi Cup and will now benefit from the worldwide exposure of Matchroom’s first US Open.


“There is a lot of anticipation for this event and now we are ready to deliver something special. The US Open 9-Ball Championship will be televised live in over 100 nations around the world. We are going to make this event massive.”

All matches at the partypoker US Open 9-Ball Championship are race to 11, winner breaks, except the final which is race to 13. The draw and match schedule for the first stage of the tournament is available now at www.matchroompool.com.

Tickets for the 43rd partypoker US Open 9-Ball Championship are still available at www.matchroompool.com from as little as $10 with VIP packages also available for the final three days of the tournament.

The tournament will be split into two stages with the full field playing double elimination down to the final 16 from Sunday April 21st until Tuesday April 23rd across multiple tables. From Wednesday April 24th until Friday April 26th the final 16 players will play straight knockout in the TV Arena in front of a global television audience.

Watch Betfred World Snooker Championship On Facebook Live

For the third consecutive year, fans in Central and South America as well as and the Indian Sub-Continent will be able to watch the Betfred World Championship for FREE on Facebook Live.

Snooker’s biggest event runs from April 20 to May 6 and the entire tournament will be broadcast live on Facebook in nearly 40 countries.

Fans in those territories can watch the event FREE simply by connecting to World Snooker’s Facebook page. 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/WorldSnooker . Then ‘Like’ the page to get notifications about the live broadcast, as well as all the latest news and information about snooker.

The live broadcast includes coverage of both tables from the famous Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, as 32 players battle for the famous trophy.

The Betfred World Championship was broadcast on Facebook Live for the first time in 2017, and again in 2018.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to once again offer this chances to many millions of fans to watch our biggest tournament LIVE and FREE on Facebook. This is all about reaching out to people in territories where we don’t have television coverage and making sure they don’t miss out on what is one of the greatest event in sport.

“We are also determined to give access to our sport to a new and younger generation of fans and hopefully add to our vast core audience across the globe. Over the past two years we have seen impressive numbers of people watching on Facebook which gives us an indication of potential growth areas.

“We’re delighted to be working with Facebook on this initiative and hope fans enjoy the 17 days of sensational live action from the Crucible.”

Countries where the Facebook Live broadcast will be available:

Central America

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
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela

Asia

India
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Afghanistan
Sri Lanka

Betfred Set For Jessie May Donation

The Betfred World Championship gets underway at the Crucible today and title sponsor Betfred will be donating £100 to Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home for every century break made during the 17 days of this year’s tournament.

And if the century tally reaches 80, the donation will be rounded up to massive £25,000. Last year there were 84 centuries so it is hoped that the 80 barrier will be smashed again.

The Betfred World Championship runs from April 20 to May 6 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield with 32 of the world’s best players battling for the title. Defending champion Mark Williams, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, John Higgins and Neil Robertson are among the top stars in the field.

Betfred boss Fred Done said: “We can’t wait for the action to get underway, this is the greatest snooker show in the world. And we are thrilled to be donating once again to a fantastic cause. It’s over to the players now to fire in the centuries. I would love to get to 80 and make the £25,000 donation which I know will make a huge difference to the families cared for by Jessie May.”

Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home, based in Bristol, is World Snooker’s official charity partner. Jessie May 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

DAZN TO BROADCAST PARTYPOKER US OPEN ACROSS AMERICA

The 43rd partypoker US Open 9-Ball Championship will be broadcast live in America on the global sports streaming platform DAZN, Matchroom Multi Sport is delighted to announce.

DAZN will show the final three days of the tournament from April 24-26 as the remaining 16 players battle it out at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Convention Center, Las Vegas to claim one of the biggest titles in billiards.

The event begins on April 21 with 256 players competing in a double elimination format across 33 tables until just 16 are left standing. From April 21-23 the US Open 9-Ball Championship Facebook page will carry free live streaming of feature matches from the double elimination stage before the action switches into the Diamond Arena, live on DAZN from April 24-26.

As well as broadcasting the event live across America, DAZN will also show the partypoker US Open 9-Ball Championship live in Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Japan.

Joseph Markowski, DAZN EVP, North America, said: “The global billiards community will have its eyes on the US Open this week and we’re excited to bring the tournament to our subscribers, live and exclusive on DAZN.”

Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn said: “The partypoker US Open 9-Ball Championship has been one of pool’s biggest events for 43 years, but we are about to take it to another stratosphere. We’re thrilled that sports fans across the United States will be able to see the dramatic final stages of this event live on DAZN.

“With 256 players starting out, only the very best will be left standing when the tournament moves to single elimination for the last 16. Whoever is crowned US Open champion on April 26 will have truly deserved to get their hands on that green jacket, $50,000 and the brand new Barry Behrman trophy.”

All matches at the partypoker US Open 9-Ball Championship are race to 11, winner breaks, except the final which is race to 13. The draw and match schedule for the first stage of the tournament is available now at www.matchroompool.com.

Tickets for the 43rd partypoker US Open 9-Ball Championship are still available at www.matchroompool.com from as little as $10 with VIP packages also available for the final three days of the tournament.

The tournament will be split into two stages with the full field playing double elimination down to the final 16 from Sunday April 21st until Tuesday April 23rd across multiple tables. From Wednesday April 24th until Friday April 26th the final 16 players will play straight knockout in the TV Arena in front of a global television audience.

World Snooker Awards Event

Following consultation with our many partners, World Snooker has taken the decision to cancel the annual awards event due to take place at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Thursday May 9th.

World Snooker will continue to present awards to outstanding achievers in snooker following the usual voting procedures. We look forward to congratulating the deserving winners.

Betfred Extend Sponsorship Of World Snooker Championship

Betfred will continue as title sponsor of the World Snooker Championship until at least 2021.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn and Betfred boss Fred Done signed the extension today at the tournament’s home, the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

The Betfred World Championship is one of the biggest and most prestigious events in sport, watched by 500 million people in over 120 countries around the globe.

The 17-day event features 32 of snooker’s top players battling for the famous trophy and a first prize of £500,000.

Betfred first sponsored the tournament in 2009.

Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Betfred for at least another two years. This is our biggest event and it is fitting that we are working alongside a fantastic sponsor. Half a billion people across the planet will be fixed to the action over the coming days as the 2019 Championship reaches its conclusion.”

Fred Done added: “At Betfred we absolutely love sponsoring the World Snooker Championship. It’s a fabulous event which receives massive exposure around the world. And the Crucible is a very special place. We look forward to working with World Snooker for years to come.”

HEARN HAILS PHENOMENAL SUCCESS OF PARTYPOKER US OPEN 9-BALL

BCA Hall of Fame promoter Barry Hearn has hailed the ‘phenomenal success’ of the partypoker US Open 9-Ball Championship, which was watched live by a global TV audience in over 130 countries worldwide.

Germany’s Joshua Filler cemented his position as the World No.1 by beating China’s Wu Jiaqing 13-10 in front of a sold-out crowd of 700 pool fans at the Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas.

The double elimination stage of the event was broadcast free on the US Open Facebook page, with the live stream viewed over 2million times. When the tournament moved to single elimination and onto the global TV stage, over 130 countries took the live broadcast, with DAZN in countries including America and Germany, Sky Sports in the UK and CCTV in China.

“It has been a phenomenal success in year one, and that is thanks to the players and fans who came out to support the sport,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Hearn. “We had over 100 players on the waiting list for this event, on top of the 256 field we had and we achieved some really impressive viewing figures on Sky Sports, so the game is in good health and is going to go from strength to strength.

“We were live to over 130 countries around the world who watched great pool from the City of Entertainment, and we had 47 different nations represented. As an opening year event for us it ticked a lot of boxes but the good news is we are not complacent and we can make this event bigger, more exciting and I think the players will be rewarded, as they should be because they have special talent.

“I am inspired by the fact pool is such an electric sport. Matchroom have shown the way with the Mosconi Cup, World Cup and World Pool Masters and the US Open has history which we can really build upon to make this an event where it isn’t several hundred, but why not several thousand people attending? We are planning something even bigger for next year and we have some really exciting times ahead in 9-ball pool.”

Details of the 2020 US Open 9-Ball Championship will be announced in due course. Fans can sign up to the free Matchroom Pool Club to be among the first to hear about next year’s US Open and get exclusive access to the ticket pre-sale. Sign up at http://www.matchroompool.com/pool-club/.

HPBU - News Report

Α historic moment for Greek Pool: HPBU becomes a full EPBF member.

Saturday 4/5/2019, Treviso - Italy. EPBF - General Assembly.

After a successful three year period of provisional membership, Hellenic Pocket Billiard Union becomes a full member of the European Pocket Billiard Federation.

Here follows the acceptance speech by Petros Andrikopoulos , President of HPBU.

“Dear Mr. President,

Honorable members of the EPBF Board,

Representatives of EPBF members,

Thank you all for accepting us as a full EPBF member, we are truly honored.

Since founded in 2015, Hellenic Pocket Billiard Union (HPBU) has indeed developed from scratch - and during hard circumstances for our country - into a full competent authority worthily representing Greek Pool.

Through hard voluntary work and grounded on solid moral principles, HPBU is a story of progress instead of standstill, a story of taking initiative instead of fatalism.

As Greeks, sharing the heritage of the Olympic spirit with all nations, we couldn’t be more proud than we are now.

As a founding member of our Union, my only wish is to see it grow further and effectively face together with our European partners the future challenges regarding our sport.

As an individual, I would like to end this short speech by expressing my gratitude to our President Mr. Gre Leenders, for placing his trust in this important task to a virtually unknown and simple man like myself.

Thank you.”

Introducing the Premier Billiard League

Despite growing participation over the past two decades, cue sports
have failed to adapt and modernize along with other sports, resulting
in a significant decline in exposure worldwide. This imbalance has
created a demand for a unified world billiard organization that is
capable of modernizing the game and recapturing spectator interest.

The Premier Billiard League has been developed to accomplish this
task. For the inaugural year, Premier will consist of six teams, each
representing a major global market. The teams are North America, North
Europe, Central Europe, Eurasia, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Each team will be comprised of five high profile players from its
respective region, including superstars such as Jayson Shaw
(Scotland), Mika Immonen (Finland), and Alex Pagulayan (Canada).

While some aspects of Premier are specific to the game of pool, many
concepts and features have been borrowed from other successful
sporting entities. The regular and playoff season structure, a shot
clock, a team format that promotes interaction between teammates, live
player and team statistics, etc. These are integral aspects of any
successful broadcast sport, that until now, have been lacking in the
billiard industry.



From the NFL's Skycam, to curling's cable camera, specialized camera
systems offer spectators a unique viewing experience. For the first
time in billiards, Premier will be bringing a new remote-controlled
camera system that suspends a camera on a 4-meter motorized arm that
pivots outward around the center of the pool table. The unique angle
offers viewers a dynamic 'floating' perspective that is ideal for pool
productions.

Another innovative element created specifically for Premier, is the
real-time compositing software. The system processes the live video
and enables the commentary team the ability to diagram shot physics
that are composited under the moving players and balls, yet over the
table felt. The diagrams automatically indicate the angle and distance
of the shot, as well as the path of the cue ball after contact. The
commentators can also use an interactive diagram of a cue ball to
change the spin applied to the shot, which folds out of the
interactive graphics package. This technology will help to better
analyze the table layout, while educating the audience on game theory,
ball physics, and pattern play.

Arguably the most impressive production tool for Premier, is the
proprietary software for real-time statistics. The software calculates
accuracy for individual shot types (breaking, pocketing, jumping,
kicking, banking, etc), average run size, break speeds using an
automated radar system, break and run percentage, balls on the break,
break speeds, fouls, etc. Each statistic is calculated individually
for triples, doubles and singles play, as well as per match, and per
season. Statistics for all players are recomputed instantly after each
shot, resulting in a total of 3,120 statistics.

As an effort to help build an active community and increase
engagement, Premier has developed two types of fantasy leagues. The
first allows members to score points for correctly predicting the
outcome of each frame, while a second more advanced league allows
members to build their own pseudo dream team by drafting their
favorite Premier players using a mock salary cap. Members accumulate
points throughout the season based on their selections, and become
eligible for substantial prize giveaways courtesy of Predator Cues.

The Premier Billiard League has been in development for three years,
and all of the aforementioned features and technologies are completed
and operational. The official league launch date is tentatively
scheduled for 2020, however a proof of concept "All-Star" exhibition
match will be held this fall, with a more specific date soon to follow.

The Premier Billiard League is proudly supported by Rasson Billiards,
Predator Cues, PoolDawg, Aramith, and the APA. Details about the
league can be found at premierbilliardleague.com.

Trump Named Player Of The Year

Judd Trump has been named Player of the Year in the 2019 World Snooker Awards.

Trump also scooped the prize in the Snooker Writers' Player of the Year category.

Victory at the World Championship last Sunday, his first Crucible crown, capped off a career-best season for 29-year-old Trump. He also won the Masters for the first time as well as the Northern Ireland Open and World Grand Prix. The Bristol cueman became the first player to earn over £1 million in a single season.

Ronnie O’Sullivan won the Fans’ Player of the Year award, voted by many thousands of fans on Twitter, Facebook, WeChat, Weibo and in person at the Crucible.

O'Sullivan won the Shanghai Masters, Champion of Champions, UK Championship, Players Championship and Tour Championship during a prolific season, as well as climbing to the top of the rankings for the first time in nine years.

The Magic Moment of the Year award also went to O'Sullivan, for making the 1,000th century of his career during the last frame of the Players Championship final.

Performance of the Year went to James Cahill for his historic victory over O'Sullivan in the first round of the World Championship. Cahill was the first amateur ever to compete at the Crucible and knocked out the world number one.

The Rookie of the Year award went to Leicester's Joe O'Connor, who climbed to 75th in the world rankings during his debut season. The 23-year-old reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open and notably scored two wins over John Higgins.

World Snooker Awards: 2018/19 winners

Player of the Year – Judd Trump

Fans’ Player of the Year – Ronnie O’Sullivan

Snooker Writers’ Player of the Year – Judd Trump

Performance of the Year – James Cahill

Rookie of the Year – Joe O'Connor

Magic Moment of the Year – Ronnie O'Sullivan


Player of the Year - former winners

2011: John Higgins

2012: Ronnie O'Sullivan

2013: Mark Selby

2014: Ronnie O'Sullivan

2015: Stuart Bingham

2016: John Higgins

2017: Mark Selby

2018: Ronnie O'Sullivan

2019: Judd Trump