Click the image to view the larger photograph - use "back" to return here.
MATCHROOM POOL ACQUIRES WORLD 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Matchroom Pool has acquired the rights in perpetuity to host the World 9-Ball Championship from 2020 in a ground-breaking agreement with the WPA.
The World 9-Ball Championship joins Matchroom Pool’s portfolio of major events and will benefit from increased prize money and global TV coverage. The 2020 World 9-Ball Championship will be staged from Wednesday, October 14 until Sunday, October 18 at a venue to be announced in due course.
Matchroom Pool previously staged the World 9-Ball Championship from 1999 to 2008 and will apply its world-renowned promotion, TV production and arena staging to this prestigious event.
Matchroom Sport Chairman and BCA Hall of Fame promoter Barry Hearn said: “This is great news for pool fans and pool players all over the world. We are making a big push on 9-ball pool and we’ve had a lot of success over the last 12 months, particularly with the US Open which was sensational in Las Vegas. But this will be even bigger for the world of pool.
“We’ll have 128 players, prize money will go up, the event will be open to men and women and it will be televised all over the world. This is a major addition to Matchroom Pool and I think a real huge benefit to pool players and pool fans all around the world.
Click the image to view the larger photo - use "back" to return here.
Lely To Captain Team Europe
Alex Lely has been appointed as the new captain of Team Europe at the partypoker Mosconi Cup, with Karl Boyes as his vice-captain. Europe will be looking to regain the Cup at Alexandra Palace, London this December 1st-4th after suffering back-to-back defeats against USA.
Dutchman Lely returns to the helm having been European captain in 2008 and 2009. In his first Cup as captain he led Europe to an 11-5 victory in Malta before losing 11-7 to USA the following year.
“It is very exciting,” said Lely of his appointment. “It has been ten years since I was last the captain and that is a long time in the context of the Mosconi Cup. It has grown to be so big in that time and it is getting better every year. With USA winning it the last two years, the Mosconi Cup has sparks once again.
“We have a big pool of talent in Europe. We have two wildcards so together with Karl Boyes we will need to make the right choices to compliment the three players who qualify through the rankings. There will be a list of usual suspects and new contenders we have to consider. One new contender to consider would have to be Fedor Gorst, who came really close to making the team last year and is now World Champion.
Click the image to view the larger photograph - use "back" to return here.
Ultimate Team Gear Announced As Official Merchadise Partner Of Matchroom Pool
Matchroom Pool and Ultimate Team Gear are thrilled to announce an expansion of the partnership between the two companies, which sees Ultimate Team Gear become the Official Merchandise Partner of Matchroom Pool.
Ultimate Team Gear (UTG) has been the Official Apparel Partner of the partypoker Mosconi Cup since 2015 and has also supplied player jerseys and staff clothing for the World Pool Masters, World Cup of Pool and US Open 9-Ball Championship in recent years.
UTG have established themselves as the number one name in tournament pool clothing over the last decade. Renowned for their stylish and colorful designs, UTG will continue to produce two different shirts for each team at the partypoker Mosconi Cup, as well as official jerseys for all Matchroom Pool events.
The new long-term agreement expands the partnership across all merchandise and means fans will soon be able to purchase replica jerseys and much more online at UltimateTeamGear.com and on site at the US Open 9-Ball Championship and partypoker Mosconi Cup.
Emily Frazer, COO of Matchroom Pool, said: “As we expand our Matchroom Pool brand and stable of events, it is important to work with great and consistent partners. Ultimate Team Gear undoubtably design and produce the best and most creative jersey’s in the industry.
Click the image to view the larger photo - use "back" to return here.
Buckley Starts 2020 in Style
Report by: Matt Hawthorn Photos by: Shaun Berrisford
On Saturday 4th January 2020 the 24 highest ranked Cyclop Pool Series participants were invited back to Rileys Sports Bar Solihull for our series Grand Final. This event would see our highest pay-outs of the series, with a prize fund of ÂŁ1600 broken down as follows : winner ÂŁ600, R.Up ÂŁ300, Semis ÂŁ150, Quarters ÂŁ100. Live streaming, and commentary, came courtesy of Extreme Q Sport TV. All players were polled beforehand, with the option of playing either 9 Ball or 10 Ball on the day. The majority voted for 10 Ball. All matches were a race to 7, subject to handicaps, played to a modified double elimination format with the top eight ranked players seeded and given a bye through to the second round.
The 8 seeded qualifiers were (ranking points in brackets) : Luke Garland (149), Kev Simpson (145), Benji Buckley (128), Alan Coton (127), Ian McCormik (114), Andy Lacey (109), Shane Conroy (108) and Ryan Coton (103).
The following sixteen players would enter the competition in the first round: Elliott Sanderson (95), Carl Weaver (93), Raffy Gonzales (92), Daryl Garland (92), Kris Kovacs (92), Steve Weaver (88), Keith Walkerdine (88), Kurt Weaver (87), Andy Carter (87), Chris Seville (84), Chris Parker (84), Mark Eardley (83), Ryan Wissett (74), Danny Douane (74), Shaun Berrisford (69) and Romy Roque (63). Unfortunately, Chris Seville and Romy Roque were unable to attend but their spots were filled by the 25th and 26th ranked players, Alan Morgan and Matt Hawthorn.
Click the image to view the larger photo - use "back" to return here.
Tiger Products Signs Darren “Dynamite” Appleton as an Ambassador for Tiger Tips!
Tiger Products is excited to announce its signing of BCA Hall of Famer, Darren “Dynamite” Appleton as an ambassador for Tiger Tips!
“I’m absolutely delighted and excited to be working with Tiger. I think it’s something that has been in the works for many years and now seemed like the perfect time to join forces,” said Appleton.
For over 20 years, Tiger tips have set world records, helped win world championships and been the most used amongst professionals. All proudly made in the USA, Tiger tips continue to be the epitome of what Tiger Products stands for: Craftsmanship, innovation and technology.
“I started out with Everest tips many years ago and loved the consistency of the tip. It never really lost its control, even after many months of use. Unlike most tips I’ve used over the years,” Appleton said. “The Sniper hits so easy as well, so I’m looking forward to playing with these tips in the future and actually think it’s a perfect fit for my style of play.”
“We are very excited to have Darren on board with the Tiger Team. He is a true professional in every sense of the word. His resume speaks for itself and his overall generosity and kindness are why we feel he will be a great addition to the Tiger Team and the perfect representative for our Tiger tips,” said Tiger CEO, Tony Kalamdaryan.
Posted by admin on Thursday, January 02 2020 @ 09:38:53 UTC (324 reads)
Masters 2020 — Odds and Predictions
The 2019/20 snooker season has come to an end, and when the players return to the green baize in the new year, the countdown to the most significant tournament in the snooker calendar — the World Championship that starts in April — will begin. But before that, we have several top-tier competitions in January.
Whether you’re a casual fan or a seasoned snooker player, the Masters’ tournament will keep you on the edge of your seat with fantastic gameplay and incredible action. The Masters is the second leg of the Triple Crown and an event that has great importance for those participating. Who will take the big prize home? Read on to discover our latest predictions.
Favourites
Once Ronnie O’Sullivan pulled out of the Masters, Judd Trump became an instant odds-on favourite to win the title. William Hill has the 30-year-old as a title favourite with the odds of 3.25. Trump is also the favourite in Bet365 that’s offering 3.30 odds.
If you’re thinking about betting on him, you should check out bonus offers at https://freebets.uk/. The site lists enticing offers from all the top operators in the business. One such offer may not increase your chances of winning, but it can certainly boost your prize pot.
After winning last year’s Masters, Trump went on to win the World Title and finally delivered on his vast potential. However, a shocking defeat to Nigel Bond in the UK Championships suggests he remains inconsistent and that he may not be a safe bet as the 3.25 indicate.
The 2010 World Championship winner and the fifth-ranked player in the world Neil Robertson is close behind Trump at 5.00 odds in William Hill. He’s also the second choice in Bet365, with 5.00 odds. Robertson missed this tournament last year, as he dropped out of the world’s top 16 and failed to qualify. He quickly rediscovered his touch, though, and made four finals appearances throughout the year.
Posted by admin on Tuesday, December 24 2019 @ 10:50:11 UTC (55 reads)
Kingdom Adds 9-Ball to Grass Roots Sports Portfolio
Saudi Arabia has announced it will host the 2020 World Cup of Pool, which will run from the 23rd-28th June 2020 in Jeddah.
Sanctioned by the WPA, the World Cup of Pool will present 32 two-player teams from 31 countries with players selected by qualifying criteria and qualification events which will take place globally. As host nation, Saudi Arabia will enter two teams to be selected by the Saudi Arabian Billiards and Snooker Federation.
The World Cup of Pool has been an established major event in 9-ball since 2006 and adopts a straight-knockout format. Matches are race to 7 in the first two rounds, race to 9 in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, and race to 11 in the final.
Austrian pair Albin Ouschan and Mario He are defending champions having won the trophy for a second time in 2019. Previous winners of the World Cup of Pool include Philippines, China and USA.
The newly formed partnership with Matchroom Pool kick starts a ten-year agreement, throughout which the Kingdom aims to raise the profile of pool at grass roots level by way of coaching visits, player appearances and school seminars.
Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki AlFaisal Al Saud, Chairman of the GSA, said: “The 2020 World Cup of Pool is another significant step for the Kingdom, that showcases our to desire to open up as welcoming hosts to a diverse mix of world-class sporting events, while also offering the people of Saudi Arabia a chance to be inspired to play a vast array of sports all year-round.
KELLY FISHER CROWNED 2019 WOMEN’S WORLD 9-BALL CHAMPION
Posted by admin on Sunday, December 22 2019 @ 20:09:40 UTC (269 reads)
2019 Hainan Sanya Women's World 9-Ball Championship
Jinghai International Holiday Hotel and Resort
139 Sanyawan Road
Sanya
China www.wpapool.com www.alison-chang.com
16-19 December 2019
Click the image to view the larger photo - use "back" to return here.
KELLY FISHER CROWNED 2019 WOMEN’S WORLD 9-BALL CHAMPION
Kelly Fisher is crowned the 2019 Women's World 9-Ball Champion after her victorious win against Jasmin Ouschan in what was indeed a nail biting final of note!
Congratulations to all participants and well done to the officials for hosting yet another successful World Championship in the beautiful city Sanya, China.
Fedor Gorst (RUS) - 2019 World 9-ball Champion. Click the image to view the full size photograph (use "back" to return here)
GORST THE GREAT!
19 year old Fedor Gorst of Russia wins the 2019 World 9-ball Championship with a hard fought 13 -11 win over Taiwan’s Chang Jung Lin in Doha.
Story and Photos By Ted Lerner
WPA Media Officer
Playing with a poise, calm and skill that clearly belied his 19 years of age, Russia’s Fedor Gorst won the 2019 World 9-ball Championship today in Doha, Qatar, defeating a stingy Chang Jung Lin of Taiwan, 13-11.
The match was nothing short of a brutal marathon, lasting four hours, and the slow, grinding style of Chang only added to the supreme test of pressure and drama that seemed to accompany every rack. That Gorst was able to suck it all up against one of the greats of the last 15 years, and withstand the inevitable emotional peaks and valleys that come in a long, tiring match, will surely add to the satisfaction the young Russian must surely be feeling. There were several lead changes, and the more experienced Chang grabbed the momentum midway through. But Gorst persevered and grabbed the momentum back when it counted most, and close it out in style.
The win by Gorst will surely be extremely pleasing to his many fans. Not only is the low key and friendly Russian easy to root for, but his hard work and prodigious talent have, for the last few years, portended greatness. That Gorst pulled off the ultimate prize in pool at just 19 years of age is an absolutely stunning feat, and bodes amazingly well for the young man’s future, and for European pool as well.
For Chang, the loss was clearly a bitter disappointment that will sting for the foreseeable future. The 2012 World 8-ball champion has been one of pool’s most consistent and successful players over the last 15 years. But the World 9-ball Championship was the one title he has wanted the most. Winning in the pool world is so tough and so brutal, that opportunities like this don’t often come your way. Chang’s demeanor afterwards spoke of his realization that he let the ultimate prize slip out of his hands.
The marathon final came on the heels of two long semi-finals matches played concurrently earlier in the day. In one semi-final Gorst matched up with World 10-ball Champion Ko Ping Chung in a fascinating battle of two of the sports finest young talents. Most fans had “Little” Ko the favorite as he had look implacable over the last 4 days. But Gorst proved to be the more resilient on this day. With little between them the first half of the match, It was the Russian who outwitted the Taiwanese winning in strong showing, 11-7.
The other semi-final featured Chang against China’s Lui Haitao in a battle of hard core grinders. Chang took an early lead and never once fell behind. Playing his methodical and calculating style, Chang turned the screws throughout and won in a relative breeze, 11-5.
The final presented the ideal story line for fans to sink their teeth into: the wily 34 year old veteran finally on the brink of capturing the sport's most coveted title, taking on the 19 year old upstart looking to become the second youngest player to ever win the World 9-ball title.
PRO9 has established an outstanding reputation as Europe's No.1 source for information on American Pool in the UK and Europe.
Upcoming tournament details, prompt match reporting, exclusive images by talented photographers, superb articles by expert pundits, active pool related forums, player profiles and a very sophisticated membership - basically, an incredible information resource for the American style game in Europe.
Since it launched, PRO9 has become compulsory reading, not just for the UK's pool players, but to hundreds and thousands of pool obsessives from around the world every single day.
PRO9's members range from professional pool players, cue-sports enthusiasts, club managers, tournament organisers, pool fans and aficionados, as well as various "movers and shakers" in the cue-sports field, including entrepreneurs in the wholesale and retail sector, as well as magazine editors and television sports promoters.
Growing more and more popular every single year, PRO9 is the best placed vehicle for the promotion of your pool club, billiards brand, associated products, services and opportunities in the truly massive pan-European billiard market.
If you're reading this, you should check out www.Pro9.co.uk for yourself! Please use these logos and text in your links to www.Pro9.co.uk - thank you.
Forum rules: No advertising, no links to businesses/shops/eBay, no swearing, respect our sponsors and each other, no hate!
