LiveSB.io Set to Title Sponsor the Reyes Cup and Philippines Open
LIVESB.IO SET TO TITLE SPONSOR THE REYES CUP AND PHILIPPINES OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP IN NEW TWO-YEAR DEAL
The World Nineball Tour is delighted to announce LiveSB.io as the title sponsor of two flagship events on its calendar: the Reyes Cup and the Philippines Open Pool Championship. The partnership spans two years, covering both the 2025 and 2026 editions.
LiveSB.io, a leading Southeast Asian sports live scores and news platform, continues to strengthen its relationship with the World Nineball Tour following its successful title sponsorship of the 2025 LiveSB.io Florida Open and LiveSB.io US Open Pool Championships earlier this year.
The Reyes Cup (16–19 October) returns with Team Asia defending their title against the new Team Rest of the World, promising four days of elite-level competition and national pride. The Reyes Cup will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, bringing fans all over the world closer than ever to the electric atmosphere from Manila.
The Philippines Open Pool Championship (21–26 October) follows as the newest Matchroom Major on the World Nineball Tour. The tournament will welcome top players from around the globe, offering fans in the Philippines the chance to witness world-class nineball on home soil.
This collaboration further strengthens the World Nineball Tour’s mission to elevate professional nineball globally, with enhanced live coverage and digital content bringing the excitement from Manila to audiences worldwide.
Posted By admin on Tuesday, October 14 2025 @ 10:15:31 UTC (121 reads)
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Pijus Labutis Makes History With Maiden Matchroom Major Triumph in Hanoi
PIJUS LABUTIS MAKES HISTORY WITH MAIDEN MATCHROOM MAJOR TRIUMPH IN HANOI
2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
Pijus Labutis wrote his name into Nineball history, defeating Moritz Neuhausen 13–7 in a thrilling final to capture his maiden Matchroom Major title at the 2025 Hanoi Open Pool Championship.
For Labutis, the victory represents the culmination of years of perseverance and near misses on the World Nineball Tour, as he finally broke through to join the sport’s elite in front of a packed and passionate Hanoi crowd.
Posted By admin on Monday, October 13 2025 @ 08:14:32 UTC (200 reads)
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Event Guide | 2025 Hanoi Open Pool Championship
EVENT GUIDE | 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2025 Hanoi Open Pool Championship – the third edition of this fast-growing major on the World Nineball Tour – returns to the vibrant capital of Vietnam, promising another unforgettable week of nineball excellence.
Taking place at the Vietnam National Sports Complex from October 8–12, 2025, this global showcase will once again bring together the world’s best cue artists under one roof. Fans around the world can catch all the action live on through Vietcontent, and a host of leading international broadcasters. Fans everywhere else can follow the action in full on WNT TV.
We’ve put together this guide with everything you need to know ahead of the event!
Posted By admin on Wednesday, October 08 2025 @ 08:59:16 UTC (290 reads)
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Germany & Finland Are 8-ball Winners
GERMANY & FINLAND ARE 8-BALL WINNERS
THE 8-BALL ACTION concluded on Monday night in Assen as Finland won one, and Germany claimed two golds at the PREDATOR EUROPEAN SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIPS. Yvonne Ullmann-Hybler, Martin Steinlage and Valtteri Virtanen were the triumphant gold medallists, all adding to their tally this week.
Virtanen emerged a 7-4 victor over Italy’s Andrea Grosso in the 45-plus division, while Martin Steinlage relegated Manuel Pereira (POR) by 7-6 into the silver medal position in 55-plus. Ullmann-Hybler defeated countrywomen Veronika Kordian by 5-2 for her second medal of the championship.
Taking place at the De Bonte Weever Hotel in Assen, the Predator European Seniors Championship features 159 players from 24 countries contesting four disciplines of pocket billiards across three categories – men, 45-plus and 55-plus and 45-plus ladies.
Having come close in the previous event of 10-ball, winning a silver medal, Finland’s Valtteri Virtanen got his hands on a gold in the 45-plus division. He had to overcome a 3-1 deficit as Andrea Grosso came out quicker. He managed to square it up at 4-4, before running to the line for victory.
A delighted Virtanen said, “It feels amazing of course, very happy to win a really tough match. Of course, I was motivated (by 10-ball defeat) but also the experience of the final in 10-ball helped me to play better and play stronger in the 8-ball final.
“I feel that the arena is a little bit different, it’s warmer and the table affects a little bit differently. I feel very happy but also a bit lucky because these fields are so tough – there are so many good players and very tight matches and I won several hill-hill matches so I feel lucky to have won.”
The bronze medals went to Reda Belhaj of France and Poland’s Adam Kiernicki.
Posted By admin on Tuesday, October 07 2025 @ 18:50:51 UTC (205 reads)
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Polish Triumph at the 5th EEBC Championships – Łódź 2025
Polish Triumph at the 5th EEBC Championships – Łódź 2025
The 5th EEBC Championships, once again hosted at the Strefa Billiards and Darts in Łódź, concluded with complete success and dominance by Polish players. The two-day competition, with a prize pool exceeding 40,000 PLN, crowned individual and team champions.
Team Cup for Fortis Kielce
Excitement ran high in the EEBC TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP 10-BALL. Fortis Bilard Kielce, led by Sebastian Batkowski and Mariusz Skoneczny, emerged victorious among the 28 teams. The Kielce players claimed gold, defeating Dominik Jastrząb and Szymon Kural in the final. Third place went to Strefa Łódź (Mateusz Śniegocki, Norbert Żelasko) and BS Sokółka (Konrad Piekarski, Hubert Łopotko). The top foreign teams finished in places 9-16: Slovakia 1 (Lang-Szabo), Slovakia 2 (Koniar-Furko), and Ukraine (Rudenko, Nikita, and Ivan).
Polish-Slovakian podium in 9-ball
The EEBC CHAMPIONSHIP 9-BALL tournament provided equally exciting results, with Szymon Kural (Kraków, UKS YMCA) winning the individual EEBC Champion title. After winning silver in the team competition, Kural gained revenge in the individual match, defeating Mariusz Skoneczny 9-6 in the final. Timothei Furko (BC OKO Senica – Slovakia) and his compatriot Jakub Koniar (Lavos Bratislava) completed the podium jointly.
"The competition between us was at a very high level," noted tournament winner Szymon Kural. "The last set was very strange, because after playing flawlessly throughout the match, we made three simple mistakes at the very end. I lost focus, which fortunately my opponent didn't take advantage of, and I was able to avenge my loss in the team competition. It was a fantastic tournament, and I played very well. What's most pleasing is that I'm showing consistent form, I'm consistent, and my bad matches are becoming less frequent. This is very encouraging, especially with the World 8-Ball Championships in Bali approaching," adds Kural.
Posted By admin on Monday, October 06 2025 @ 19:49:33 UTC (215 reads)
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Bustamante and Jones Named Captains for Reyes Cup 2025
BUSTAMANTE AND JONES NAMED CAPTAINS FOR REYES CUP 2025
A clash of legends – Bustamante leads Team Asia, Jones takes charge of Team Rest of the World.
Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante and Jeremy Jones have been confirmed as the non-playing captains for the second edition of the Reyes Cup, set for October 16–19 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The former World Champion Bustamante will take the helm of Team Asia as they look to defend their crown on home soil, while former US Open Champion Jones makes his debut as captain of Team Rest of the World, with eyes firmly set on victory.
In partnership with Puyat Sports, the 2025 Reyes Cup will once again bring the world’s best to Manila, with coverage live on Sky Sports, One Sports, and WNT TV.
The captaincy announcement marks another chapter in the growing Reyes Cup story. Bustamante and Jones crossed paths in an exhibition during the inaugural Reyes Cup last year. Now, they return to Manila in new roles — as tactical leaders of their respective teams.
Bustamante will aim to harness his decades of experience and deep connection to the Filipino crowd to guide Team Asia in their title defence. Meanwhile Jones brings a wealth of strategic knowledge and will rally Team Rest of the World as they aim to spoil the party on enemy turf.
Bustamante said:
“It is such an honour to be named captain of Team Asia, especially here in the Philippines. The Reyes Cup means so much to our fans, and I will do everything I can to lead our team to defend the title Efren claimed. Last year was special, but this year we know the challenge will be even greater. Jeremy is a great champion and competitor, but I am ready to keep the Cup in Asia.”
Jones said:
“I’m thrilled to take on the role of captain for Team Rest of the World. The chance to offer my experience to the Reyes cup is a real privilege. Team Asia will be tough, especially with Django at the helm, but we’re coming to Manila with one mission: to make history and take that trophy back with us.”
With captains confirmed, attention now turns to the final player qualification spots, to be decided at the Hanoi Open Pool Championship (October 7–12, 2025). Wildcard selections will follow shortly thereafter.
The 2025 Reyes Cup takes place October 16–19 at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino Stadium, with live coverage on Sky Sports, One Sports, and WNT TV. Further details including broadcast times and session schedules will be announced soon.
For all the latest updates, follow Matchroom Pool on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube
Posted By admin on Thursday, October 02 2025 @ 14:54:39 UTC (250 reads)
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A Word from the Queen
A Word from the Queen
Therèse Klompenhouwer just claimed her 6th World Championship. She also won this summer the Gold Medal at the first-ever edition of the Ladies Carom 3-cushion at the World Games.
With all the billiard tournaments now streamed online and broadcasted on TV every week around the world, some players start growing an ambition: The dream of someday rising to the pinnacle of their sport.
In this last of 3 episodes, Therèse Klompenhouwer shares her advice on how to become the next World Champion.
Dive into the game “You have to get really into it. Know the rules. Have a lot of knowledge about it. And when you really like it, you’re really going to love the game because it has so many aspects. And after that, when you really love the game, of course, then you have to make really many hours at the table, practice and know the positions, what is right, what is wrong, and of course watch a lot of billiards.”
Tips for Carom 3-cushion players “Of course, a lot of training because it's a really difficult sport. I think Carom 3-cushion is the most difficult discipline of billiards. So you have to really get to know a lot of the game, like the positions, which English. Everything is really difficult but you make many hours but also enjoy the game. Enjoy it and then the rest will come.”
Posted By admin on Thursday, October 02 2025 @ 10:38:47 UTC (206 reads)
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Jastrzab Takes Dutch Open in a Thriller
JASTRZAB TAKES DUTCH OPEN IN A THRILLER
THERE’S ANOTHER POLISH champion on the block as 20-year-old Dominic Jastrzab defeated Germany’s Tobias Bongers 11-9 to lift the PREDATOR DUTCH OPEN title in a nerve-wracking final that could have gone either way. Taking place at the De Bonte Weever Hotel in Assen, Netherlands, the final was broadcast on Viaplay throughout the Netherlands as well as globally on the Predator Pro Billiard Series YouTube platform.
Played in front of an enthusiastic crowd, Bongers opened up a 4-0 lead to leave his opponent floundering. Jastrzab found his feet though, in the middle stages and started to come back. The Polish player squared the match at 8-8, having trailed 8-5 and it was the first time he had been on level terms. He then edged into the lead with some determined play and a solid break.
Bongers, who’d seen his momentum slip away, levelled it again but Jastrzab held himself together to close out the match for the championship.
The Pole, who showed early promise in winning the 10-ball gold at the 2023 European Youth Championship, was understandably thrilled at his achievement.
Posted By admin on Friday, September 26 2025 @ 10:09:49 UTC (271 reads)
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Biado and Gorst Set for Blockbuster Reyes Cup Showdown
Click the poster to view the larger image - use "back" to return here.
BIADO AND GORST SET FOR BLOCKBUSTER REYES CUP SHOWDOWN
A new rivalry is born – The World unites to battle on Team Asia in Manila, October 16-19 2025
World Number One Fedor Gorst and reigning World Champion Carlo Biado are the first confirmed players for the second edition of the Reyes Cup, set to face off once again following their thrilling clash in this year’s World Pool Championship final.
In partnership with Puyat Sports, the 2025 Reyes Cup will once again set to electrify the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports, One Sports, and WNT TV, with further broadcast information to be announced soon.
Fresh off his World Pool Championship victory, Carlo Biado rises to second on the rankings and will once again carry the flag for Team Asia. Unlike in 2024, when he was a wildcard, Biado now secures his spot through the rankings, setting him up to defend the Reyes Cup title on home
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