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Topic: *Industry News* 2013

Doncaster To Host Snooker Events

The Doncaster Dome will host World Snooker tournaments in August, giving fans in the region the chance to see the world's leading players.

The Yorkshire venue will stage the qualifying rounds of the Shanghai Masters world ranking event from August 7 to 10 as well as a European Tour event from August 15 to 17.

The European Tour events, which carry ranking points and a top prize of £20,000, are open to all professional and amateur players so top stars like Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, John Higgins, Mark Selby and Neil Robertson will be eligible to enter.

Snooker legends like Steve Davis and Ken Doherty plus rising stars such as Michael White and Jack Lisowksi could be competing in the Shanghai Masters qualifiers.

Tickets for these events are ON SALE NOW and fans are advised to book quickly - for details call 01302 370 777 or visit www.the-dome.co.uk to book tickets online.

Tickets cost just £5 per day, amazing value! And fans can buy a ticket for any three days for just £10!

A spokesman for World Snooker said: "We're excited to bring our events to Doncaster. The Dome is a fantastic venue and the snooker arena hosts a substantial capacity for spectators. It's a great chance for fans to come and see the sport played at the highest level and watch their heroes in action.

"Yorkshire could already be considered the home of snooker with the World Championship in Sheffield and the UK Championship in York, and now Doncaster has its own events. We want to see supporters turning out in force and taking advantage of the incredible value for money that snooker tickets offer."

The Doncaster Dome could also host the qualifiers of a new world ranking event on August 11 and 12, with negotiations on that tournament in progress.

The line-up of players for each event will be released when available.

There can only be one….
19th – 24th November, Ricoh Arena, Coventry

The inaugural 888casino Champion of Champions breaks off at Coventry’s prestigious Ricoh Arena this November, when 16 of the world’s top snooker players will compete to be crowned the best of the best. The event will run from Tuesday 19th to Sunday 24th November in the stunning 800 seat purpose-built arena within the Ricoh’s Jaguar Exhibition Hall.

International stars such as four-time World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, current International Championship winner Judd Trump and World Number 1 Neil Robertson, will all be competing for a total prize fund of £270,000 – with the ultimate winner receiving £100,000.

Ticket prices start at a giveaway £5 if booked before the 5th August while tickets for the final and play-offs begin at £20. There are plenty of good value offers available and all tickets are available from www.theticketfactory.com (search snooker) or 0844 3388000.

With four players competing each day, the champions will advance from four group stages, before the play-off games take place on a dazzling final weekend. Matches will be played to unique 7, 11 and 19 frame formats.

Barry Hearn, chairman of promoters Matchroom Sport, commented; “We’re thrilled, not only about bringing world class, yet affordable, snooker to Coventry, but also to be at the forefront of innovation in the game with the creation of the 888casino Champion of Champions,

“We’ve set the ticket prices for all budgets and it will be great to see the winners of all our events, go head to head to see who the ultimate champion will be.”

WPBL STATEMENT

LAS VEGAS (July 9, 2013)

Beginning immediately the World Professional Billiard League will go on hiatus from the league’s current schedule. Over the next several weeks, the WPBL will begin a plan to correct mistakes made in the operation of the league by management.    

As most fans know, the WPBL endured unforeseen hurdles during the launch of the league. As a consequence of the fraudulent practices by the original contractor on the WPBL Arena's construction, the allotted operating capital for the league’s inaugural season had to be used to finish the construction on the arena. As a result, the WPBL has found itself in a difficult financial predicament only six weeks into the season. Unfortunately, the business model was not executed according to the original plan and consequently did not allow for such a setback. The WPBL has now been forced to re-evaluate our business structure and restart with a cohesive strategy for success.

During the next few weeks, the WPBL staff will take time to redistribute responsibilities and reform our strategies. Two weeks ago the players were informed of the league’s current financial status and have shown an allegiance of support to the WPBL by continuing to play during this time. Furthermore, the players are standing by our decision to recess the league’s season temporarily in an effort to restructure.

Both the WPBL staff and players have overwhelmingly spoke out with words of encouragement regarding the league. Most notably, Scott Frost captain of the Phoenix Fire had this to say: “This league is the present and future of pro pool and I need the fans and the world to believe me when I tell you there’s no other game on earth we want to play. If you see the true passion of myself and all of the other players then you must believe we are behind this game and league 110% and look forward to the future as WPBL players!”

Philadelphia Aces captain Darren Appleton added “I love the game, it’s the best game I have ever played. I believe in this game and I plead to the public to give it a chance, because it could be the best thing to happen to professional pool. This concept and game is where the future lies for billiards to become recognized globally and finally taken seriously.”

We at the WPBL acknowledge the mistakes made operating the league. In the coming weeks, we will make every effort to rectify these errors with the cooperation of the staff, players and fans. The WPBL has every intention to continue the 2013 season by executing a newly developed business plan that has the support of the WPBL pros.

During this time off, the WPBL will not only work to strengthen its internal structure, but help fans and skeptics understand how Bonus Ball is played. We recognize that some people are having a difficult time understanding various aspects of the game, including subtle rules, or how the scoring relates to the statistics and league standings. In the coming weeks, we look to improve our relationship with our fans as well as the billiards industry as a whole by responding to industry concerns such as this.

With the number of active billiards players declining throughout the globe, our goal at the WPBL has always to been to reinvigorate the sport whose rich history dates back to the 15th century, by adding proven contemporary sporting elements to the game. At present, although numbering in the millions, billiards fans would have a difficult time finding “pool” on traditional broadcast television. Our mission is to create an outstanding production of a cue sport that is exciting to watch, challenging to play and esthetically pleasing to the eye. We believe that by building the first dedicated billiards arena in the world, it is evident that we are committed to advancing the future of the sport through the creation of Bonus Ball as well as the World Professional Billiard League.

Finally, anyone who has bought WPBL PPV access will be contacted in the coming weeks regarding compensation for their purchase.

On behalf of all involved, we want to thank the fans and the billiard community as a whole, for their patience and understanding during this time. The WPBL staff and players will diligently work over the next few weeks to make improvements in all aspects of the corporation for the betterment of league, the players and the industry.

Please continue to follow the WPBL for additional updates:

Web: http://wpbltv.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wpbltvcom
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WPBLtv

GORINA CLOTH AT BCA 2013

Dear Sirs,

We remind you that on JULY 10-12, GORINA CLOTH will be present at the BCA EXPO (SUMMIT 2013) in Chicago, showing in booth #643 together with our distributor in the USA, "Mueller Recreational Products" from Lincoln.

If you are planning to attend the show, you can take the opportunity to visit our booth and we will show you our cloth and will make you an offer for your needs.

Best Regards,
Carles Oller
GORINA, S.A.

European Tour Event Named Bluebell Wood Open

Snooker's European Tour event in Doncaster in August will be called the Bluebell Wood Open, in recognition of World Snooker's official charity.

The tournament runs from August 15-17 at Doncaster Dome and will feature many of the sport's leading players.

Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice in Sheffield offers care and support to children and young people with a shortened life expectancy, both in their own homes and at the hospice. It provides support to children and their families throughout South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, North Nottinghamshire and parts of North Lincolnshire.

There will be fund-raising activities during the three-day tournament.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "Given the proximity of Doncaster to Sheffield, we felt it would be appropriate to name this tournament after Bluebell Wood. Hopefully this will help generate awareness and much-needed funds for the hospice.

"We're delighted to bring top class snooker to Doncaster and we look forward to seeing many of the top stars competing to be the first Bluebell Wood Open champion."

Claire Rintoul, Chief Executive of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, added: “We were delighted to learn that this event is going to be named after us. We rely hugely on local support, so the more people that know about us the better. Many of the children we look after come from Doncaster and the surrounding areas, so this event feels very close to home.”

Tickets for the tournament are on sale now and cost just £5 per day. For details call 01302 370 777 or visit www.the-dome.co.uk

The line-up for the event will be announced shortly.

Snooker Stars Going For Gold

Leading snooker players including Joe Perry, Nigel Bond and Dechawat Poomjaeng will be heading for Columbia later this month to compete in the World Games.

The event runs from July 25 to August 4 in Cali, Columbia, and it will feature snooker as a major sport, giving 16 players the chance to battle for a gold medal in a straight knock-out event.

The World Games is an international multi-sport event for sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. It is organised and governed by the International World Games Association, under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee.

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said: “We are working very closely alongside the IBSF on developing snooker around the globe, and both bodies are delighted to send a total of 16 professional and amateur players from 13 countries to compete in this prestigious event.

"As we strive to strengthen our position as a World Sport it is vital that we earn our participation in such high calibre sporting events.

"Several sports previously in the World Games, such as triathlon, subsequently made it into the Olympics as participation in the World Games is used as a stepping stone towards the Olympic dream.

“Involvement in multi sports events like this is also vital to many National Governing Bodies around the globe who receive significant funding for their sports development.

"I would like to thank all of our athletes who are competing for medals in Cali as they carry our Billiard Sports flag in to another major sporting arena."

The players competing are:

Dechawat Poomjaeng (Thailand)
Hossein Vafaei Ayouri (Iran)
Nigel Bond (GB)
Joe Perry (GB)
Pankaj Advani (India)
Aditya Mehta (India)
Liang Wenbo (China)
Igor Figueiredo (Brazil)
Saleh Mohammed (Afghanistan)
Noppon Saengkham (Thailand)
Alex Borg (Malta)
Lyu Haotian (China)
Manuel Francisco (South Africa)
Brendan O’Donoghue (Ireland)
Ajeya Prabhakar (USA)
Omar Al Kojah (Syria)

Junior Players Sponsored by CSI at 25th Annual Junior National 9-Ball Championships

CueSports International, Henderson, Nevada, (July 8, 2013) – Rallying behind the future of pool, CueSports International (CSI) is proud to announce the sponsorship of 24 junior players to the 25th Annual Junior National 9-Ball Championships being held July 25-28 at the Convention Center of the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.

The CSI sponsored players are:
Jonathan Alistock
Kyra Avalos
Mark Avalos
Blake Baker
Sheldon Barber
Shawn Begay
Chad Behnke
Cheyanne Cevallos
Tory Conley
Brendan Crockett
Madison Dunn
James (Nick) Evans
Mikey Evans
Zachary Hampton
Elizabeth Herpel
Kaiden Hunkins
Clayton Lofgren
Lauren Michaud
Jake Miosi
Manny Perez
Isabelle Plumb
Julianna Poutry
Sierra Reams
Tyer Styler

This is the fourth consecutive year CSI has participated in the event as a sponsor and the largest roster of sponsored players to date.

The Junior National 9-Ball Championships is comprised of four divisions: Boys 14 and Under, Girls 14 and Under, Boys 19 and Under, and Girls 19 and Under, the winners of which are selected to represent the United States in the WPA Junior World 9-Ball Championships.

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) is the long standing producer of the junior national event. Traditionally, the Junior National 9-Ball Championships has been hosted at college campuses across the United States, however due to the event’s increasing growth a change of venue was needed.

CSI recently moved their Las Vegas based events: the BCAPL & USAPL National Championships, the US Open 10-Ball Championship, the US Open One Pocket Championship and the US Open 8-Ball Championship to the 163,000 square foot Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Convention Center, which presented an opportunity for the BEF to expand. Samm Diep-Vidal, the BEF Executive Director, stated on the BEF website (www.billiardeducation.org),

“Over the past few years, as Junior Nationals has grown, it had become increasingly difficult to find a venue (college campus or pool room) that fit the criteria to host an event of this size, with enough tables, seating, and was affordable to travel to and stay. Thanks to the support from CSI and the Rio, this year’s event will offer world class equipment, a chance to play alongside the pros, pool clinics all week with the pros, live streaming in HD, live scoring, online brackets, and ultimately more fundraising opportunities for the BEF. Opportunities that the BEF otherwise would not have been able to fund alone.”

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) was formed in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity committed to promoting a lifelong love of pool and building the next generation of players through youth programs and academic scholarships. For more information about the Junior National 9-Ball Championships and other BEF programs visit www.billiardeducation.org.

CueSports International is dedicated to creating more choices for all players. In the past 8 years CSI has directly paid out over $8,000,000 to players. CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League and the USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events such as the US Bar Table Championships, the Jay Swanson Memorial, the US Open One Pocket Championship, the US Open 10-Ball Championship, and the US Open 8-Ball Championship. Visit www.playcsipool.com, www.playbca.com, and www.playusapool.com for more information about CSI and its divisions.

Crucible Snooker Tickets On Sale From Saturday

Tickets for snooker’s 2014 World Championship go on sale at 10am this Saturday, July 13.

Fans of the sport are strongly urged to be ready to book quickly, as many sessions of the showpiece event at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield will sell out within minutes.

Tickets can be purchased from July 13 by calling 0844 6565 147 or visiting sheffieldtheatres.co.uk, or in person from the Crucible box office.

Sales for the 2013 World Championship broke all records, with nearly 40,000 tickets sold, generating revenue of over £1 million for the first time. Ronnie O'Sullivan won the title for the fifth time, beating Barry Hawkins in the final.

The 2014 event runs from April 19 to May 5 and will feature the top 16 seeds against 16 qualifiers.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "Get ready for Saturday morning because tickets for this event are going to sell very rapidly. The World Championship is such an exhilarating event and everyone wants to be at the Crucible to witness history in the making.

"There is a tremendous level of excitement around our sport at the moment and this is our most celebrated event with all the top stars trying to get their names on the trophy. As if they needed more motivation, we have increased the winner's cheque to £300,000, which will be the biggest prize in the history of snooker.

"Tickets start at just £15 which is tremendous value for money if you compare this to the blue riband events in other sports. I'm expecting to break all of the records again and to see the arena packed for every session."

There are also some amazing hospitality packages available for the semis and final, giving fans the ultimate snooker experience.

The seeding cut-off to determine the top 16 seeds is on March 24, 2014, after the PTC Grand Finals. The format of play for the World Championship will be available shortly after this date. The qualifying rounds run from April 8 to 16 and the full draw will be made on April 17.

For details of session times and ticket prices see www.worldsnooker.com

The World Championship is supported by Sheffield City Council.

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Can we demolish the Aussies over the next 6 weeks?

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For the next 6 weeks we're going cricket crazy with 3 £100 power draws daily and £6 and £4 cash matches on your favourite games.

So, as well as watching all the Ashes action live on the big screen, you can try your luck on our jackpot machines.

Don't forget to pick up a bingo ticket whilst you're in club - win up to £5,000 from a £1 stake.

Let's play!

The Rileys Team

Dynamic Bulgaria-10 Ball in Bourgas
13-14.07.2013

92 players registered in the Dynamic Best of the East - Bulgaria 10-Ball. The are players from Romania, Macedonia, Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Serbia and Bulgaria.

"I'm very glad how many players would like to participate in our event. This confirms the importance of the Dynamic Best of the East to the European sport of pool. Thank you very much to my partners and sponsors" told Marcin Krzeminski - organizer of the series.

He started the Best of the East with friends from Slovakia and Czech Republic 16 years ago. They have organized 5 tournaments per year. In 2013 the events took place in Poland and Czech. After Bulgaria players go to Romania and Slovakia.

The favorites of Bulgaria 10-Ball are: Sandor Tot (SER)- former European Champion, Michal Lichodziejewski (POL) the winner of 2002 Best of the East, Mieszko Fortuński (POL) - Polish Champion, Melkonyan Babken ( ROM) - the winner of the 2010 Dynamic Best of the East and Stanimir Ruslanov - Bulgarian no.1.

The tournament is supported by the Mayor of Bourgas City and the Bulgarian Billiard Federation.

More information: www.makmarketing.pl or www.ebc-billiard.com

China & Vietnam's First Olhausen World Tournament of 14.1!

FURY Named Official Cue

China's Can Wang is a young, fearless threat that could make some noise at the World Tournament. FURY takes over as Official Cue

Charlotte, North Carolina- China, Vietnam, and FURY Cues have joined support of the world's oldest pool tournament as the Official Cue of the Olhausen 73rd World Tournament of 14.1. Dragon Promotions and Dr. Michael Fedak will bring another globally star studded field at this year's 73rd Olhausen World Tournament hosted by Steinway Billiards in New York on August 19th-24th,2013. Through additional support from such sponsors such as Olhausen Tables, Championship Cloth, Aramith Balls, Amsterdam Billiards, Pool & Billiard Magazine, Master Chalk, and now FURY Cues, the absolute best pool players from around the world will arrive on the birth country of 14.1 once more to attend this prestigious event. All to vie for the coveted title of greatest straight pool player in the world.

"Fury Cues is delighted to join in support of the world's oldest pool tournament at the Olhausen World Tournament of 14.1. Being chosen as the official cue of this prestigious championship will make all the Fury Cue fans worldwide happy, and we hope to create some new fans,too", says Nelson Tsai, President of Kao Kao Industrial Co., Ltd and manufacturer of Fury cues.

"We are ecstatic to be part of the event and see Fury Cues representative John "Mr.400" Schmidt defend his title as the greatest 14.1 player in the world. We look forward to working with Dragon Promotions on making the 73rd World Tournament a huge success", says Scott Taylor, President of Sterling Gaming, the exclusive North American Distributor for Fury cues.

"I'm thrilled that my sponsor Fury Cues has come on board as the Official Cue of the World Tournament! It was great having them behind me on my route to the title, and will be even better this year seeing Fury everywhere at the event", said John "Mr.400" Schmidt, the reigning champion of the World Tournament of 14.1.

Vietnam will be sending a player from their World Tournament Qualifier held in Hanoi City. This will be a first for Vietnam to ever have a straight pool event, and the first qualifier for the World Tournament held in Asia. A team of Vietnamese journalists and media will also be attending the Olhausen World Tournament in New York City.
"We want to come to America and learn from Dragon Promotions", says Nguyen Phuc Long, host and media relations in Vietnam.
    
China's teenager young gun Can Wang will represent China in the discipline of 14.1 for the very first time. Wang first came to the United States last year to compete in the ABP sanctioned events held in Georgia, Louisiana, and Virginia. He returned this year as an improved player and finishing 2nd at the recent pro championship held in Mississippi.

The new additions of China, Vietnam, and Fury Cues will make this year's event even more dynamic as they mix it up with the western players. These Asian players will be further introduced to American style events and players.

Get the latest news by following www.facebook.com/Worldstraightpool and www.twitter.com/Dragonpromoter

Vendor spaces are also available, for more information on player registration, sponsorship, or if you would like to submit a comment, please email worldstraightpoolchampionships@gmail.com or contact Dragon Promotions at 1-407-782-4978. Full event info is at www.dragonpromotions.com

Join the 141 Club ! Limited to the first 141 members. Visit www.worldstraightpool.com/tickets.html Tickets will be sold at the door during the event. Sponsors and private contributors can still join this year's event. Final added money and fundraising for the 3rd Annual Straight Pool Hall of Fame are still being generated. To help be a part of this treasured event, please contact Dragon Promotions and join the 141 Club.

Since their debut in March 2003, Fury has had one single goal in mind; to build a pool cue that has the hit, feel, and balance of the best custom cues at the most affordable prices on the market . Fury has one of the premier cue making facilities in the world and by investing in the highest quality woods and materials, and employing the same techniques as the finest custom cue makers in the world, Fury continues to evolve and deliver affordable cues that can win world championships. Over the years, Fury has continued to amaze players at tournaments across the globe, landing in the hands of some of the world's top professionals, and surprising many of these players who never thought a cue could play so well. Fury is also dedicated to the sport and has sponsored professional and amateur players and events world-wide, as well as many civic and charitable events and organizations. These endeavors not only promote our brand, but support our sport as well. For more information please visit Fury-cues.com.

Green Baize Kings Back In Portsmouth

Snooker superstars past and present will return to the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth in October for the 2013 World Seniors Championship.

The tournament was staged in the South Coast city for the first time last year with the likes of Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Dennis Taylor, Cliff Thorburn, Joe Johnson and Tony Knowles competing for the trophy, which was won by Nigel Bond.

This year’s Sky-televised event is on the weekend of October 19-20 and once again many of the sport’s all-time greats will be gracing the green baize, with the line up to be announced shortly.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW and start at just £15. There are also some fabulous VIP tickets available with access to the players' lounge and the chance for fans to mingle with their heroes. For details call 02392 626509 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

And until the end of July there is a SPECIAL OFFER with £5 off all tickets. A limited number of tickets are available at this special price.

Six-time World Champion Steve Davis said: “This is such a wonderful celebration of snooker and a chance for anyone who follows the game to see the characters they loved in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s also a chance for the likes of Jimmy and myself to show we can still play a bit. Above all it’s very enjoyable for everyone and the players can have a bit of fun with a crowd.

“I’m delighted that we’re going to back to Portsmouth as it’s an excellent arena and we had a cracking atmosphere there last year. Hopefully the snooker supporters will come again this year, and for anyone who hasn’t seen the game live before, we can promise a great day out!”

Verhoeven 3-Cushion Open, NYC - July 17th to 21st

The Verhoeven Open will be Live from the Carom Café in New-York: Blomdahl, Caudron, Merckx, and also Sayginer are among the favorites for this event that is broadcasted on Kozoom for the first time. The livestream will start on Wednesday July 17th at 10AM local time or 16:00 CET, and is reserved to Premium Members. You can order your Premium Pass now to enjoy watching the competition.

Polish Billiard Association on the meeting with the President of Poland

The representatives of the Polish Billiard Association - Grzegorz Kedzierski and Marcin Krzeminski attended a meeting with the President of Poland - Bronislaw Komorowski.

The representatives of Poland at the World Games were invited to the Presidential Palace. According to the Olympic tradition the President wished them success and handed them a national flag. The President of the city of Wroclaw - host city of the World Games 2017 proposed a cooperation with sport associations four years before the event. Unfortunately, no billiard player from Poland qualified for the tournament which will take place in Colombia in July. Marcin Krzeminski, as a member of the board of World Confederation of Billiard Sports, will go to Cali. He will be responsible for supervising the anti-doping controls.


Photo: Marcin Krzeminski during the meeting with the President.

Snooker To Stage Ranking Event In India

World Snooker will stage the first ever world ranking tournament in India in October.

The Indian Open will run from October 14 to 18 in Delhi.

Snooker has expanded across the globe in recent years, particularly in China and continental Europe, and it is hoped that India will be the next successful market.

The tournament will feature 64 of the world's top players. All players on the World Snooker Tour will have the chance to compete in the qualifying round on August 11 and 12 at the Doncaster Dome, needing to win one match to earn a place at the venue.

The event will offer prize money of £300,000, with the winner to take home £50,000.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "This is a momentous announcement for snooker as we stage a world ranking event in India for the very first time. If we can replicate the phenomenal success we have had in China then India will be a very exciting prospect.

"It's amazing to think that snooker was invented in India in 1875, and now nearly 140 years later we are taking the world's leading players back for a major ranking tournament.

"This is fantastic opportunity for the players to showcase their skills in a new territory and I hope they grasp it."

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson added: "I have been in Delhi this week to finalise the agreement for the event and I have witnessed first hand the enthusiasm for snooker in India. The people really love our game and I've no doubt that this event will be a great success and provide a basis for snooker's growth in India.

"We now have two Indian players on the professional tour, Aditya Mehta who reached the last 16 of the International Championship last season, and Pankaj Advani who got to the semi-finals of the Paul Hunter Classic and the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open ranking event. Both of these players are excellent role models for snooker and hopefully their success will help increase participation levels among the youth in India.

"Delhi is a wonderful city with a rich and deep history of billiard sports and we look forward to working with our new partners in the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India. For the players who earn a place in the tournament it's going to be an amazing experience in Incredible India.

"We believe that snooker is the world's fastest growing sport and this is another huge step forward in our globalisation plan."

Further details on the tournament will be announced shortly.

Tickets for the qualifying round in Doncaster are on sale - for details call 01302 370 777 or visitwww.the-dome.co.uk

TICKET OFFERS EXCLUSIVE TO RILEYS MEMBERS

We've teamed up with the RFL to bring you not one, but TWO fantastic ticket offers this summer.

First up there's a whopping 50% off tickets to watch the Tetley's Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on the 24th August, followed up by tickets from just £10 if you fancy a trip to Old Trafford on the 5th October to take in all the drama as the Super League season comes to a climax.

All you need to do is click here and enter the promo code RILEYS to take advantage of these great ticket deals. Hurry though, as this offer is strictly on a first come, first served basis.

If you can't get to the game, then remember you can take in all the rugby league action LIVE on the big screen at Rileys - your home for live sport.

Regards,

The Rileys Team

Day One Of US Open One Pocket in the Books

Sixty-four top one-holers began their clash in Vegas on Wednesday at the CSI-produced US Open One Pocket Championship at the Rio Hotel and Casino.

The competition is a race to four games on the winner's side and a race to three for the one-loss bracket. This can be a very frustrating discipline for players unaccustomed to the deliberate pace this game incurs. When the rapid-fire Earl Strickland had to endure a match with Bernie Pettipiece that went for over three hours only to lose 4-3 he reacted and had words for slow play that were anything but praiseworthy. Strickland had been put off of his game by the pace and in the hill-hill match missed a cut that he would normally own and that missed shot cost him the match.

Strickland was not the only giant to fall in the first round. World number one Darren Appleton found himself on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline with Justin Hall and moved left early. No huge surprise there, however, as Justin Hall seems to find friendship with the rails on any table. He is a superb banker and his cue ball control is nothing short of amazing.

Jeremy Jones did not have a good day. After disagreeing with two decisions in the game by the tournament directors he unscrewed his stick and left the arena. He felt the decisions favored his opponent, Shane Van Boening, and left the arena saying that this was the "Shane Van Boening" tournament. Sometimes calls go your way, sometimes they do not.

Scott Frost is reveling in this, his favorite medium. He completely dominated Ronnie Wiseman 4-1 in the opening round, a match that should have been tough, and then wiped out Junior Tolentino 4-0. Frost must face Francisco Bustamante in the first round on Thursday. Carlo Biado, who just won the Hard Times event last week, is enjoying his week thus far. He destroyed young gun Brandon Shuff 4-1 and looks as comfortable at One Pocket as he does in the rotation games.

Mika Immonen does not offer himself up as a One Pocket champion. His specialties are the rotation games as well, but he was looking sharp as his shot-making skills can allow him to prevail over most, whether he knows the 'moves' or not. But all that changed when he faced Ike Runnels, a One Pocket veteran. Ike took him down 4-2 and today faces another toughie in the form of Corey Deuel.

Charlie Williams arrived at the Rio only moments before his first match but the rush did not seem to bother him. He calmly destroyed two opponents by the identical scores of 4-1 and never appeared uncomfortable at the tables. Thursday will find him against Bernie Pettipiece who, after his defeat of Strickland, has no fear of taking on the giants.

Play continues today and you can follow all of the action on the AZB live scoring page and you can watch all of the headline match-ups on TAR.

FANCY A TRIP DOWN UNDER TO PLAY POOL?

The British 8-Ball Lions Team is heading to Australia in October, and you could be part of the action.

Rileys is delighted to have joined up with the English Pool Association to offer a coveted place on the British 8-Ball Pool Lions team. The team will be travelling to Perth on Thursday October 10th to play in a 5 match test series against Australia.

The winner's airfare and hotel accommodation will be covered by Rileys and the EPA, and we'll also supply a team outfit, so this really is a superb not to be missed opportunity.

The winner of each qualifier will pocket £75 and the runner-up £25, but more importantly the top 4 from each qualifier will book their place in the final at Rileys Worcester on August 10th.

Entry is just £10. To find a list of participating clubs and to secure your place, click here for our British Lions page.

Best of luck,

The Rileys Team

Williams Ends Title Drought In Rotterdam

Mark Williams won his first title in over two years by beating Mark Selby 4-3 in the final of the Rotterdam Open.

A winner of two World Championship titles and 18 ranking events, Williams is one of snooker's all-time greats, but hadn't won a tournament since the German Masters in February 2011, when he beat Selby in the final.

So tonight's victory marks a welcome return to form for the 38-year-old, who got the better of an exciting final to take the 25,000 Euro top prize. The European Tour event was the first professional tournament in the Netherlands for over 20 years.

World number two Selby led a high-quality final 2-1 with a top break of 136 then Welshman Williams took the next two frames with 51 and 67. He had a chance for victory in frame six but missed a red to a top corner on 32 and Selby cleared with 77 to force the decider. But Williams regrouped to compile a run of 65 which proved the winning break.

"Mark and Neil Robertson are the best two players in the world at the moment, so to beat one of them in a final is a great win for me," said Williams. "When I arrived at this event I decided to go for everything and play as fast as I can. I was almost rushing at times but I wasn't going to stop, especially not in the final. I've won the tournament so it must have worked.

"I'm out of the top 16 now but I don't care much because everyone starts in the same round of most events. I would like to be in the Masters so that's the main reason to be in the top 16 now.

"The crowd and the arena in Rotterdam have made it one of the best European Tour events we've had. There were big crowds on both days over the weekend and that makes it easier to play well."

The European Tour comprises eight events, with the top 24 on the final Order of Merit to qualify for the Grand Finals next March, to be joined by eight more players from the Asian Tour Order of Merit. The next event is the Bluebell Wood Open from August 15-17 in Doncaster.

Results (Last 16 onwards)

Last 16
John Higgins 1-4 Stephen Maguire
Ryan Day 3-4 David Gilbert
Anthony McGill 1-4 Martin Gould
Jimmy Robertson 0-4 Mark Selby
Stuart Bingham 4-0 Martin O'Donnell
Mark Williams 4-2 Sam Baird
Gary Wilson 4-2 Joe Swail
Mark Davis 4-1 David Grace

Quarter-finals
Stephen Maguire 1-4 David Gilbert
Martin Gould 3-4 Mark Selby
Stuart Bingham 2-4 Mark Williams
Gary Wilson 4-3 Mark Davis

Semi-finals
David Gilbert 3-4 Mark Selby
Mark Williams 4-3 Gary Wilson

Final
Mark Williams 4-3 Mark Selby

Ga Young Kim to Captain Team Asia in Queens Cup!
OB Named Official Cue

Chicago, Illinois - South Korea’s Ga Young Kim has been selected as the Captain of Team Asia at the inaugural Queens Cup. The East vs West team showdown between the world’s greatest lady professional billiards players will take place November 5th-7th,2013. The event is produced by Dragon Promotions which has signed on OB Cues as the Official Cue of the Queens Cup.

"I really envied the guys because they have their own yearly team event, so I was really happy to hear about the Queens Cup. I'm very excited for all the women because we have our own annual rivalry now. I think this a really important event for women's billiards to help encourage more players and grow pool further", said Ga Young Kim, the current reigning Yalin Women's World 10-Ball Champion. She adds, "Now we have alot of young people in Asia that are coming out now to play. There's more skill in the game, and that's why I'm happy we are playing 10-Ball in Queens Cup. There is less luck especially on the break, so everyone will have to play good to win. This will help determine who's better in the East or West."

The Queens Cup creator and producer Charlie Williams of Dragon Promotions explains the captain selection. “When it came to select the Captain of Team Asia, there really wasn’t much question on who the pick would be. Ga Young Kim is the most decorated Asian women’s player in history. She is one of the very few Asian women who has won major championships on both sides of the pond. A 2x US Open champion and 3x World Champion with being the only Asian woman to hold the World Championship in both 9-Ball and 10-Ball. So it’s a statistical fact she is the absolute best Asian women’s player by far in the history of pool. And she’s only 30!”

The Queens Cup will showcase the rivalry between the Asians and their western counterparts in Europe and USA, much similar to the Ryder Cup in golf or Davis Cup in tennis. The absolute best ladies from their respective countries and continents will be selected for the teams. The event will last 3 days in a 10-Ball format that will race to the first team reaching 10 matches for the win. Style of play will include singles, doubles, triples, and 4-on-4. Captains will be put to the test to best strategize partnerships and chemistry of match-ups.

The #1 Technology Cue Made in the USA

"It was only a matter of time that an internationally televised women’s team event would happen and Dragon Promotions are finally making this a reality. With OB Cues as the official cues of the Queens Cup, we are proud to be involved with what will surely become as popular as the Mosconi Cup and watched by millions of pool fans around the world. The idea of East versus West insures that the players competing will be the very best in the world and is sure to bring excitement and drama as the rivalry officially begins!", says Shane Sinnott, Director of Sales & Marketing for OB. Based in Plano, Texas, OB has been supporting pool on many levels since the inception of the company in 2005, from smaller local events to internationally televised events like the Women’s World 10 Ball Championships. Shane adds, "We will continue to support the game in every way that we can. We take pride in manufacturing high performance pool cues and pool cue shafts in the USA and we look forward to being a part of the Queens Cup's high performance drama for many years to come."

“We are happy to have OB Cues continue their great relationship with us as the #1 Made in the USA technology cue", says Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions.

Location of the Queens Cup will be announced shortly.

Sponsors may now contact Dragon Promotions at support@dragonpromotions.com or 1-407-782-4978 . More official equipment sponsors will be announced shortly.

Stay tuned for more exciting news and follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thequeenscup

OB Cues first introduced the revolutionary Low Deflection OB-1 Shaft in 2005. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, OB Cues now has a High Performance shaft line that consists of four different Playing Shafts and a Break Shaft to fit all styles of Players. In 2008 they introduced the J-Line Cues and then in March of 2012 launched the New 2012 OB Cue Line manufactured exclusively in the OB factory in Texas. With an ongoing effort to constantly improve the performance and feel of their products, OB Cues is now recognized as an industry leader in High Performance Billiard products. OB Cues encourages Pool Players to Get serious about their game by experiencing the OB Technology that will help Pool Players to be more consistent and more accurate when using OB products. For more information on OB Cues and OB Shafts, visit obcues.com or contact your local billiard retailer.