WORLDPOOL OO


WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW SPONSORSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED SOON


With only three months to go before the start of the World 8-Ball Pool Championships there is still no final decision on who will sponsor the event.


Discussions have been ongoing since January and an announcement is expected within days.


Aftermany years support from leading compa- nies, including Embassy, 888.com, Foster’s, we understand another major brand name has ex- pressed interest in the championships, which hopefully will be confirmed shortly. If it doesn’t materialise then the English Pool Association has formulated a Plan “B”.


With or without a sponsor, there is no doubt that the Barcelo Imperial Hotel, Blackpool will host this year’s World Championships starting on Saturday, June 25 with the final stages of the National qualifiers which will be played to a new format.


In 2010, qualifiers joined the championships at the early stages and many of them fell by the way side having only played one match in the main arena.


This year there will be 28 qualifiers who will start their World Championships in the main arena on June 25 where they will play a round- robin format giving each player several matches.


The top four from each of the groups will progress to the next stage when the first round of the men's individual event commences whilst the other competitors will leave the event.


All qualifiers involved in the round-robin stage will receive accommodation at the Imperial for this part of the competition.


As an additional prize, the final 16 qualifiers will also compete (on June 25) in a knockout event with the winner receiving the massive prize of a place in the last 48 stage of the championships.


This is just one round away from where the 14


seeds enter, including defending champion Mick Hill.


So, this is surely a great incentive for anyone fortunate to gain entry at the Regional Quali- fiers.


There will be 20 venues in the National quali- fiers. (See page 46-47 for details)


All aspects of the championships will be as per last year, including Tiered Seating and T.V. Arena. If the championships are not televised, it is planned to “Stream” live on the World WideWeb.


Prize monies will still be a total of £ 26,000 if “Streamed” and £ 30,000 if “Televised.”


THREE THE MAGIC NUMBER FOR HILL?


Mick Hill aims to join an exclusive club of one when he gets to Blackpool for this year'sWorld 8-Ball Championships.


Hill defeated Gareth Potts in last year's excel- lent, high quality final to claim his second men's singles crown.


But it was a long time between drinks for the WestMidlands born star`who first lifted the tro- phy in 2004. In doing so he became only one of five players to win the title twice after Potts, Jason Twist, Rob McKenna and Chris Melling.


Potts is out on his own with three and Hill has his sights set on equalling that total while also becoming the second player to successfully re- tain his crown.


The women's singles has almost become the personal property of Sue Thompson. The Hull based star has an aura about her that intimi- datedmany opponents before they even get to the table.


Thompson is a 10-time world champion, 15 years after taking the title for the first time.


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