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Topic: *Industry News* 2015 - 2020

Europe Announces Atlantic Challenge Cup Team To Face America

ACC Official LogoThe European Pocket Billiard Federation today announced its team to face the Americans during the inaugural staging of the Atlantic Challenge Cup starting on the 1st July, 2015.

There is a formidable duo of Germans in Joshua Filler & Raphael Wahl, who both picked up double gold's at last year's European championships. Another duo, this time all the way from Russia, sees European Girls 8-ball Champion, Kristina Tkach, and the #34 ranked player, therefore the highest ranked youth player on the Eurotour,Maxim Dudanets make the team.

With the team consisting of four boys and two girls, there was still one spot in each category to fill. Finalizing the girls’ roster is the Belarusian Marharyta Fefilava, with her silver medal at the 9-ball girls Youth EC in 2014.

The final boys’ spot goes to Sweden's Daniel Tangudd who qualified through the Eurotour rankings due to the double winners of Joshua & Raphael. Daniel himself also picked up a silver and a bronze medal at the Youth EC and has earned his place on the team.

"It is a team packed with skill, courage and oozing excitement with the players who qualified and it will a great event when matches commence on the 1st July. I am really excited at the prospect of these two great pool continents coming together in such a magnificent event" said IBPF President David Morris.

Also launched today is the official Atlantic Challenge Cup logo which will be at the forefront of all the publicity promoting the Atlantic Challenge Cup.

A beautiful design made by Norbert Engel, the logo brings the two continents together in a starring role.

Merchandise will be available with the official logo during the event and online afterwards.

Also coming soon!!!

The BEF sent out a letter of intent recently stating that the American Team to face the Europeans will be announced on the 4th May.

An announcement on the location of the event along with the event schedule will be made available shortly.

Press release issued by the EPBF & BCA

亚美娱乐 AM8.com QueensCup.com Website Launched!

Manila, Philippines- Fans can now follow all the latest news and info on the upcoming greatest rivalry in women's billiards! Please visit www.queenscuppool.com to see the complete format, schedule, photos, videos, facts and figures from the past and present. The 2015 亚美娱乐 AM8.com Queens Cup takes place on April 16-18th, 2015 and will feature champions vs champions as the best women from Asia will take on the best in the West! The 亚美娱乐 AM8.com Queens Cup will be hosted by the award winning Resorts World Manila Casino & Hotel and sponsored by Andy Cloth , Aramith Balls, and Viking Cue. The Queens Cup is a Dragon Promotions production.

Pay-per-view is now available at a special $20 pre-event sale by going to www.queenscuppool.com

A special exclusive "Easter egg" will be announced on the site tomorrow unveiling the final player selected for the AM8.com Queens Cup. It's going to be a good one so stay tuned!

The Queens Cup will showcase the rivalry between the Asians and their western counterparts in Europe and USA, very similar to the Ryder Cup in golf or Davis Cup in tennis. Elite professional ladies from their respective countries and continents are selected onto two sides representing the East and West. The event will last 3 days in a 10-Ball format that will conclude when one team reaches 10 match wins.

The AM8.com Queens Cup brings a level of excitement and pressure never before seen in women's billiards. On April 16th, The Empresses of Pool Battle for Glory.

Date Change: 75th World Tournament of 14.1 on July 13-19,2015

2015 will mark the 10th consecutive year the World Tournament of 14.1 will be staged. This is the longest consecutive run of the championship since the 1960's.

DATE CHANGE: JULY 13th-19th,2015 will be the new firm dates for the 75th World Tournament of 14.1! Apologies, it's adjusted one week as China Open was announced after our event announcement. OUr new dates makes it much easier for the pro players to travel comfortably and not be affected by jetlag. This World 14.1 ONE day has been added as only the FINALS will be played on Sunday! 7 days of world class straight pool at Steinway Cafe-Billiards in #NewYorkCity!

Dragon Promotions is pleased to announce the 10th consecutive year that the world's oldest billiard event will be produced. The 75th World Tournament of 14.1 will take place for the third straight year at Steinway Billiards in New York City.

We still need your help to keep the 103 year old tradition & the 5th Straight Pool Hall of Fame . For $250, Please become one of the 141 special people joining the 141 Club which will fund this year's events. The list of benefits & gifts are huge. Become a proud sponsor of the most prestigious and classiest event in the United States, the World Tournament of 14.1 which has been ongoing since 1912. Join the elite 141 Club and garner all the benefits that well exceed the money you spend. Click here for full details. We invite you to join this year's 75th anniversary event in New York City as a supporter or attendee. For those interested in a higher level of support as one of our advertisers or elite World 14.1 Patrons, please reply here or call 407-782-4978.

European Championships for Men, Women and Wheelchair athletes to start soon

In less than a week from now, one of the most prestigious events in European Pool Billiard will begin. Starting Saturday, April 12th with the straight pool competition, the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Men, Women and Wheelchair athletes will kick off.

Venue will be the beautiful Ria Park Hotel in Vale do Lobo, Portugal. The tournament will once again be hosted in a lovely holiday environment which will definitely benefit the player’s leisure time activities.

A total of 184 players from 36 European countries will be on the mark when the EPBF will fire the starting pistol. The complete event schedule can be viewed at the event website at www.epconline.eu. The Championships will contain straight pool, 10-ball, 8-ball, 9-ball and team matches. The complete creme de la creme of European Pool will be in Vale do Lobo to joust for the title.

The complete tournament can be followed online. Kozoom offers 24 tables in Live Stream throughout the whole event. Just check in at www.kozoom.com/en/pool-billiard/, become a premium member and the door to the Dynamic European Championships is wide open.

The EPBF will report from the event with up to two news clips and a press release per day. You can also follow the EC at facebook.com/europeanpocketbilliardfederation or at our youtube channel.

The event will last until Wednesday, April 22nd, and will be followed by a Euro-Tour event for Men and Women in the same location, starting right after the EC.

These upcoming three weeks will be a festival for European Pool with a lot of action packed matches, sporty rivalry and many medals to be fought for. Make sure you do not miss out on this.

All matches can be viewed LIVE at www.kozoom.com. 24 tables in HiRes quality are providing you with all the action of the event. You do not miss out one single match! Join today!

More information about participants, schedules, achievements, rankings, etc can be found on the event website www.epconline.eu.

The event will be hosted by the European Pocket Billiard Federation EPBF and organized by International Billiard Promotion Foundation IBPF.

TAR 31: Van Boening vs Dechaine Now Available OnDemand!

TAR 31 featured Shane Van Boening taking on Mike Dechaine in a 10 Ball match filmed at the TAR Studio. This was a fun week at the TAR Studio with both guys woofing up a storm before it kicked off.

The Match format was 10 Ball race to 27, best two out of three sets, winner breaks. You can check out the free pre-match podcast with both players and hosted by Jennifer Barretta on the TAR YouTube channel HERE.

TAR 31 On Demand is available here.

I want to thank everyone who has supported TAR for all these years and let you know that I am focused on getting all the great archive content available and working on new projects I hope will you will find interesting.

You will be seeing a lot of things from TAR in the future. Thank you for going along for the ride so far and I hope you stick around for the future.

Justin Collett

TAR OnDemand Available Catalog

You can watch some of the great TAR matches of the past anytime you like as well as download the files to keep. To view the catalog of available matches please visit the OnDemand page here: TAR OnDemand Catalog.

The Fisher Queens - Official Press Release

4/1/2015 Waxhaw, NC - From the early 80’s, women’s billiards in the UK has been mostly dominated by three unrelated women who share the same last name. The story of Mandy Fisher, Allison Fisher and Kelly Fisher, who shaped an entire sport, is ready to be told and your help is needed to bring their stories to life.

Former WPBA touring professional Kim Shaw has teamed up with television director Julie Edwards to tell the story of “The Fisher Queens: The Making of 3 Champions". This video documentary will follow these three champions as they return to their hometowns, discuss their lives and goals, and relate the stories of what made them exceptional within their field. This project will also introduce viewers to some of the influential people in their lives, and demonstrate the drive, determination, and motivation needed for women to progress and succeed in a sport dominated by men. This documentary will not only provide a historical record of the rise of women's professional billiards but will also provide an insight into the minds of three women who have shaped and dominated a sport traditionally viewed as predominantly male. Hopefully it will inspire women all over the world to dream big and accept that no obstacle is insurmountable.

"We wanted to tell the story of how women's snooker became a springboard for Kelly Fisher and Allison Fisher's careers and then showcase them. When we realized that it was largely due to the efforts of another former snooker champion who shares the same last name, Mandy Fisher, we were excited to tell the story of all three Fishers" said Kim Shaw, who has been instrumental in putting the project together.

The filmmakers will be launching a Kickstarter campaign on April 1st to help fund the project. They have also started a Facebook page with classic and new images, stories, and comments from fans. With your help, these ladies can bring their stories to the world.

For more information about the project you can view THE FISHER QUEENS Kickstarter campaign here:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/48629490/the-fisher-queens

Or…contact Kim Shaw or Julie Edwards at THE FISHER QUEENS Facebook page here:
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fisher-Queens/743987039049664

Amway eSpring International Women 9-ball Championship

Please kindly find the link as below for the information on Amway eSpring international Women 9-ball Championship,
http://sport.videoland.com.tw/event/20150107/

Group list: http://sport.videoland.com.tw/event/20150107/game01.asp
Schedule: http://sport.videoland.com.tw/event/20150107/game02.asp
The First day qualifying Winner:
Q1 Chezka Centeno( PHI)、
Q2: Zhi Ting Wu(TPE)

US Open 10-Ball & 8-Ball Championships Qualifiers!

CueSports International, Henderson, Nevada (April 8, 2015) – CSI encourages you to host a qualifier for the upcoming 2015 US Open 10-Ball and 8-Ball Championships to be held in Las Vegas, NV July 24-31, 2015! Both events will be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino during the BCAPL National Championships and be played on 7ft Diamond tables with Cyclop balls. They are open to anyone and no BCAPL or CSI membership is required.

Each event will be $15,000 added and limited to the first 128 paid entries. The total prize fund, based on full fields, will be $53,500 for each event and $107,000 total! Additionally, both are USA Team Mosconi Cup points events. The entry fee is only $350 for each event.


WHY HOST A QUALIFIER?
1. Promote Your Room! Your room’s name will be listed as a qualifier location on the CSI website and will be promoted on the CSI Facebook page.
2. Attract Customers! Qualifiers for prestigious events such as these will attract players and spectators to your room.
3. Earn a Modest Profit! Although many local tournaments do not charge green fees or administrative fees, it is acceptable for the person organizing and conducting the qualifier to be reasonably compensated for his or her time and effort.

STEPS TO HOSTING A QUALIFIER
1. Visit www.playcsipool.com/2015-us-open-championships.html and download the Qualifier Application.
2. Choose a format that is best suited for your area.
3. Complete the application and submit online, email, fax, or postal mail.
4. Wait for application approval. If approved, your qualifier will be listed on the upcoming events page of www.playcsipool.com and the official webpage of the 2015 US Open Championships.
5. Conduct the qualifier and submit the results, entry form, and entry fee(s) of the winner(s) to CSI.

Official Webpage: www.playcsipool.com/2015-us-open-championships.html
Qualifiers for the US Open 10-Ball and 8-Ball Championships will be listed on this page.


CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League (BCAPL), USA Pool League (USAPL) and also produces independent events such as the US Bar Table Championships, Jay Swanson Memorial, US Open One Pocket, US Open 8-Ball, US Open 10-Ball, and the CSI Invitationals. Visit www.playcsipool.com, www.playbca.com, or www.playusapool.com for more information.

CueSports International (CSI) ◊ 2041 Pabco Rd., Henderson, NV 89011 ◊ 702-719-7665 ◊ 866-USA-POOL

McDermott Announces Free Cue Giveaway for April 2015

MENOMONEE FALLS, WI (April 7, 2015) – McDermott Cue Mfg. LLC is a leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of pool cues, performance shafts and billiard accessories. McDermott is proud to announce the Custom Cue of the Month Giveaway for April 2015.


Each month, McDermott gives away a free pool cue to a lucky contestant. The giveaway cue for April is the GS12C2, a customized version of their popular GS12 model. It features a custom Curly maple forearm and sleeve with a custom “triple-wash” red, maple and walnut stain. The GS12C2 has been upgraded from a traditional maple shaft to McDermott’s high-performance G-Core shaft.


To enter the contest, visit www.mcdermottcue.com/giveaway and fill out the simple survey. There is no limit to the number of times you can enter the contest. At the end of the month, McDermott will randomly select a winner to receive a free GS12C2 pool cue. McDermott would like to congratulate last month’s winner, Courtney Prescott of Astoria, NY. He won a G212C pool cue.

McDermott Cue is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, WI and markets under the brands of McDermott Cue, Star Cue, Lucky Cue, Element Cue, Wildfire, Pool Prodigy, Intimidator i-Shafts, G-Core Shafts, Big Boy Shafts, Sledgehammer Break Cue and Stinger Break/Jump Cues.

Betfred To Donate To Bluebell Wood

World Championship title sponsor Betfred will donate £200 to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice for every century break made during the 17 days of this year’s tournament.

And if the century tally reaches 70, the donation will be rounded up to £25,000.

The Betfred World Championship runs from April 18 to May 4 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, with 32 of the world’s best players competing for the title.

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in North Anston, Sheffield has been World Snooker’s official charity since 2012.

Rachael Dawes, Corporate Fundraiser for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, said: “We are incredibly proud and grateful to have such support from Betfred and World Snooker. This creative and fun century break initiative will help to raise much needed funds towards the £3m a year we need to keep our doors open and our specialist services running.

“At Bluebell Wood, we help to create treasured memories for our children and families going through very tough times. Every penny makes a real difference and we are thankful for all of the fantastic support from our charity partnership with World Snooker.”

Dynamic Portugese Open (POR)

The Dynamic Billard Portuguese Open will be LIVE on Kozoom from Thursday, April 23rd to Sunday, April 25th. A men's and a women's event will be held. For the first time in several years, the number of participants has passed the 200-player-mark in the men's event. 48 Women complete the billiard-festival in Vale do Lobo, Portugal. Not Premium Pass holder yet? Order it now and enjoy our multi-channel Live Page. All matches will be broadcasted.

European Championships Carom, Brandenburg (GER)

The starting shot for the European billiards championship in all disciplines is the signal for a ten-day marathon of matches, in which all the European top players battle for the titles and the medals. The Stahlpalast in Brandenburg an der Havel is converted into a billiard arena with 24 tables from Friday, April 24 until Sunday, 3rd of May. There, in the spotlight of Kozoom and led by the European federation, 880 matches will be played spread over eighteen championships with 100.000 euro’s prize money. The two-year event is facing its second edition and is hosting men, women and youth.

The tournament starts with the three-cushion championship (defending champion Marco Zanetti) and will finish off with the European women championship (defending champion Therese Klompenhouwer). In between are all the other coveted titles at stake. Kozoom shows up in Brandenburg with a highly professional team to broadcast all the matches live and will take care of the reply’s, the reports and the interviews.

With a Premium pass you can follow all the 880 matches you want. This wonderful event you should not miss.

National Snooker Disability Day

The WPBSA is hosting the first National Snooker Disability Day in Sheffield tomorrow (Saturday).

The activities will take place in Cue Zone in the Winter Garden, close to the Crucible Theatre where the Betfred World Championship is being staged.

The day will start at 9am with free coaching available, led by coach Steve Rutter and his team, including specialist disability coach Tim Squires and player Jason Wholey.

All disabled snooker players will take part in the 60 second challenge championship, endeavouring to pot as many reds as they can in a minute.

At 1.30pm the winner will receive the trophy and all participants will receive WPBSA medals.

Pupils from a local school for children with disabilities will be attending and will also watch live snooker inside the Crucible.

Jason Wholey, who has a false eye and leg, said: “I started playing snooker as an escape after being bullied at school. I got the bug and now I often compete in European Tour events. Thanks to snooker I've played in many countries around the world and met many new friends. It has given me the opportunity throughout my life to meet many inspirational people. Playing the sport around the country, I have come across so many disabled snooker players. My aim is to see other disabled snooker players follow in my footsteps and to see disabled snooker as a recognised global sport."

Tickets On Sale For York Snooker

The Betway UK Championship returns to the York Barbican later this year, and tickets are now available for fans to see their snooker heroes in the sport’s second biggest ranking event.

The Triple Crown event has been staged in York since 2011 and has attracted record crowds year on year. Supporters are strongly urged to book quickly to make sure of their seats for the showpiece BBC-televised tournament, which will run from November 24 to December 6.

Last year’s final was arguably the match of the season as Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Judd Trump 10-9 in a dramatic finish, after Trump had come from 9-4 down to 9-9.

O’Sullivan has now won the UK title five times, and could defend the title this year against the likes of Trump, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy and Ding Junhui. All 128 players will start in the same round at the venue.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “York has become a fabulous home for the Betway UK Championship, it’s a beautiful city and the Barbican is a superb venue. Fans have shown tremendous support for this event and once again we expect many sessions to sell out very fast.

“This tournament has been ever present on our calendar since 1977 and it’s one the top players are always so determined to win. That’s why we always see such high quality snooker and an abundance of exciting matches.”

Tickets start at just £6 (plus booking fees) and are available by calling 0844 854 2757 or visiting www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Special Half Price Offer

For a limited time only get tickets half price! Offer is for session tickets only from Monday 30 November to Friday 4 December. Tickets are subject to availability.

Snooker Stars Return To Alexandra Palace

Snooker’s biggest invitation event, the Dafabet Masters, returns to Alexandra Palace in January, with 16 of the world’s top stars battling for the prestigious title.

The tournament, which runs from January 10 to 17 in North London, brings together the elite global stars, with only the top 16 seeds invited.

Shaun Murphy won the title for the first time last year, thrashing Neil Robertson 10-2 in the final. Among the other green baize kings who could be battling for the famous trophy next time are Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Ding Junhui and Mark Selby.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “Ever present on our calendar since 1975, the Masters is truly one of the highlights of the sporting calendar. It is contested by only the very best players, which means that the champion always has to come through the toughest of challenges.

“We’ve seen so many tremendous matches since the event moved to Alexandra Palace in 2012. It’s a tournament and an arena which produces a sizzling atmosphere. This year we saw a dramatic increase in ticket sales because of the demand from fans to taste that atmosphere and see the best players. So the message is that you must book early this time or risk missing out.”

Tickets start at just £15 and are available by calling 0871 620 7052 (calls cost 10p per minute) or visiting www.worldsnooker.com/tickets        

Special Half Price Offer

For a limited time only get tickets half price! Offer is for tickets from Monday, 11 January to Wednesday, 13 January. Tickets are subject to availability.

There are also some phenomenal VIP and corporate hospitality packages available, starting at just £75, including superb food and wine, prime view seating and a photo opportunity with the trophy.

Atlantic Challenge Cup Signs First Partner

With the inaugural staging of the Atlantic Challenge Cup quickly approaching, the first partner to join the staging of this great event has spoken. Tweeten Fibre, best known for its Master Chalk, have signed on to support the event being held In Rankweil, Austria from the 1st to the 4th of July, 2015.

Tweeten Fibre President Skip Nemecek was extremely happy at the opportunity to support this event and had this to say, “I'm very excited for the first annual Atlantic Challenge Cup. Nothing could be better than bringing together the young pool players of Europe and America to showcase these future stars in a fun, exciting, and competitive event. I'll be there ringside for the first match in Austria, as well as when America hosts the event in 2016 and I challenge the entire pool world, and pool industry to support this event for years to come.”

The event in 2015 will be staged in the beautiful surroundings of Rankweil, Austria in Patricks Canadian Tavern. This is a location familiar with the top players in Europe and has staged many top level events over the past 12 years, including the women’s world championships in 2005. Norbert Engel, the owner of this establishment, did not need any convincing when asked to be a part of this event and got straight to work with the preparations.

The Atlantic Challenge Cup is organized by the EPBF and its partner IBPF in conjunction with the BCA and will be staged each year between the two Continents. The annual event will feature four boys and two girls representing Europe and America in a Mosconi Cup style event.

Press release issued by the EPBF & BCA

BCA Seeks Candidates for Board of Directors Seats

Broomfield, Colo. - April 29, 2015- The Billiard Congress of America (BCA) announces a call for nominations for Board of Directors seats for the 2015-2016 Board year. The 2015 Nominating Committee is currently accepting nominations for a total of two (2) available Board seats. The two seats are in the Category 1 (Manufacturer/Distributor) category.

BCA members can nominate themselves or a colleague for these positions. Candidates for the Board seats must be current members of the BCA, be designated as the representative for the member company and qualify in the appropriate member category. The following are the open positions available on the BCA Board:

•Manufacturer/Distributor Seats - Candidates must qualify as a manufacturer or distributor to apply for the Manufacturer/Distributor Seats. This means the organization the candidate represents is a licensed business entity with its principle business in the manufacture or wholesale distribution of billiard equipment or accessories. These seats are for three-year terms.

The process the committee will use in making these appointments is as follows:

In order to select the best candidates, the decision will be based on the needs of the organization and the information provided by potential candidates. Each nominee will be provided a Candidate Data Form that is designed to allow candidates to tell the committee why they are the best candidate for the position at this time. All candidates are required to complete all five sections of this candidate data form.

The Candidate Data Form is comprised of sections that ask specific questions about the candidates:    

•BCA Member Status
•Billiards Industry Volunteer Experience
•Professional Job Experience and Responsibilities
•Potential Contributions to the BCA and Committee Interest
•Vision for BCA
•Consent to Run and Serve by Member Entity
•Indication of Willingness to Follow BCA Policies and Procedures

The nominating committee will review the forms, follow up with phone interviews if necessary and propose a slate of candidates for all open positions. The committee will then notify the BCA secretary, in writing, of the names of the candidates.

All candidates will be contacted as to whether they have been slated or not by Friday, June 19, 2015.

Candidates unsuccessful in being slated will be asked if they want to contribute to the organization in other ways, such as through committee participation.

Candidates interested in running or those wishing to nominate a candidate should contact Shane Tyree, BCA membership and communications manager, at shane@bca-pool.com. Those who are nominated will receive a Candidate Data Form via e-mail no later than the next business day. The form is also available for download.

The nomination should include a message stating the candidate name, title, company and complete contact information (including e-mail address).

The Candidate Data Form must be completed by the candidate and returned by 5:00 p.m. MDT, Wednesday, May 27, 2015, in order to be considered for a position.

Completed forms should be returned to Shane Tyree, BCA membership and communications manager, at shane@bca-pool.com or via fax at 303-243-5075.

Bluebell Wood children cue up with snooker ace – celebrating more than £200k donated to the charity over three years

Former World Snooker Championship finalist Nigel Bond today met youngsters at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, where he played a few frames with them and signed autographs.

Nigel, who reached the final at the Crucible Theatre in 1995 and won the British Open the following year, paid a visit this morning. Bluebell Wood is the official World Snooker charity for the third year running and the partnership has now raised more than £200,000 for South Yorkshire’s only children’s hospice since it began.

Tournament sponsor Betfred pledged to donate £25,000 to the hospice when 70 centuries were recorded in the current championship and that number was achieved today. This, along with bucket collections by Bluebell Wood volunteers, auction prizes for the charity and many other fundraising activities, add the total amount up to more than £200,000.

Nigel, from Chesterfield, said: “It has been great to meet the children here at Bluebell Wood and see what an amazing place the hospice is.

“It is clear to see that Bluebell Wood is filled with love and laughter, giving families a place to call home in the toughest of times. It’s incredible to be able to support this charity through World Snooker and I feel humbled to have visited today.”

Rob Walker, World Snooker MC, also visited today and found the visit both inspiring and humbling.

Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, in Sheffield, supports more than 200 children with complex medical conditions and shortened life expectancy and their families. It costs more than £3m a year to keep the hospice’s doors open and the charity only receives 10% government funding.

Rachael Dawes, Corporate Fundraiser at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, said: “It was brilliant welcoming Nigel to our hospice, our children really enjoyed meeting him and getting a few snooker tips along the way!

“We are extremely proud to be associated with such a prestigious event as World Snooker. Every penny raised really does make a difference to our children and families; we are here to help create special memories for them. Having the opportunity to partner with World Snooker is incredible and I would like to thank Nigel and the whole team for such great support.

“Being able to say that more than £200,000 has been raised by World Snooker is amazing. I’d also like to add a big thanks to Betfred for their £25,000 donation – making such a massive difference to our children families through a fantastic initiative.”

For more information about Bluebell Wood, visit www.blubellwood.org


Picture, left to right: (back) Bluebell Wood nurse Catherine Jackson, World Snooker MC Rob Walker, snooker player Nigel Bond, Kanisha Fullwood (22) who is supported by Bluebell Wood and Bluebell Wood Activity Co-ordinator Diane Price. Front: Bluebell Wood child Ellie Mitchell (10).

WPBSA Launch 2015/16 Sheffield’s Inter-Schools Championship

Following the success of the 2014/15 Cue Zone Into Schools Sheffield Inter Schools Competition, the WPBSA is launching the 2015/16 championship.

The event will be open to primary, specialist and secondary schools in Sheffield.

This season, 4000 individual school children took part in the 14/15 championship, which concluded on the day before the start of the Betfred World Championship.

In addition, 40 schoolteachers graduated as WPBSA World Snooker Coaches to enable them to supervise snooker sessions within school.

Each school taking part in this year’s event will receive six-foot tables to set up their own Cue Zone, as well as the opportunity for their teachers to become snooker coaches.

The Inter-Schools Championship will again be led by Sheffield Park Academy and the event will again conclude on the day prior to the 2016 World Championship.

There will be specific events throughout the year for primary and specialist schools, running alongside the main tournament which every participating school can take part in.

Chris Lovell said: “We are throwing the doors open to get schools involved and to continue our development in Sheffield. There will be specific projects to support primary and - in particular - specialist schools following the huge success of the WPBSA National Snooker Disability Day during the World Championship.

“There’s a place for everyone in snooker and we’re striving to get as many children as possible taking part by picking up a snooker cue and playing.”

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson added: “We are delighted with the support we receive from Sheffield City Council. The WPBSA’s intention is to build on this support and continue to create the model snooker city of the world.”

The closing date for schools to enter is Friday 26th June 2015, which schools can do by contacting Chris Lovell at chris.lovell@nltg.co.uk or Chris Motley at Christopher.Motley@sheffield-academy.org

U.S. Announces Atlantic Challenge Cup Team To Face Europe

The Billiard Congress of America proudly announces its team of four boys and two girls to face the Europeans during the inaugural staging of the Atlantic Challenge Cup. This long-awaited event will take place July 1-4, 2015 in Rankweil, Austria.

The first of the selected players for the U.S.A. team includes junior state and nationals champion Nick Evans. Evans has been a key part of the U.S.A. team during the past two WPA World Junior Championships with both top 6 and top 8 finishes. Evans is joined by three more seasoned young men: Lindenwood scholar Nick Niepoetter, and top regional players Tyler Brandom and Josh Franklin. All three boys have proven themselves not only in junior events but have numerous top finishes in open adult events between them.

Junior pool stars April Larson and Taylor Hansen make up the two girls for the team with their extensive list of tournament wins and accomplishments both academically and at the table. These bright young ladies are both fierce competitors bringing a multitude of skills and experience to the table. Larson has faced and defeated some of the top European junior players and competed in several world junior events.

Team U.S.A. (starters)

Tyler Brandom, age 18 (Harvard, MA)

Nick Evans, age 18 (St. Peters, MO)

Joshua Franklin, age 17 (Creve Coeur, IL)

Drake Niepoetter, age 18 (Albers, IL)

Taylor Hansen, age 16 (Mankato, MN)

April Larson, age 15 (Bloomington, MN)

Four alternates of two boys and two girls were also selected to be a part of this team.

Team U.S.A. (alternates)

River Burke, age 18 (Andalusia, IL)

Manny Perez, age 17 (Overland Park, KS)

Serena Black, age 16 (Warrensburg, IL)

Taylor Reynolds, age 17 (Winslow, ME)

"The interview process was brutal. Such great kids with lots of passion, talent and experience! I really wish we could've selected more than six players,” added Earl Munson, the newly named U.S. Team Captain. Munson has over 35 years in the sport as a player. He’s a PBIA certified instructor with nearly 20 years of teaching experience. He also has more than 20 years of league and tournament director experience, including being the official Billiard Education Foundation Junior National tournament director since 2007.

“We’re thrilled with the selected group of competitors and team captain for this first event,” said Billiard Congress of America Chief Executive Officer Rob Johnson. “The industry’s response to the launch of this event has been overwhelming. We look forward to a great competition in Europe and hosting the event in the US in 2016.”

Press release issued by the EPBF & BCA