$265,000 British Open

TheOne

TheOne

www.MetroPool.club
Silver Member
Finally been announced on the front of AZ, looks like pool is picking up :-)


British 9 Ball Open Championship 13th-19th February, 2006

World Pool Management is pleased to confirm and announce that the 1st British 9 Ball Open Championship is scheduled to commence on 13th February 2006 in Manchester, England.

The 7 day tournament will make history as it will be the largest 9 Ball event ever held in the UK and with a huge payout the best players worldwide will converge on this beautiful city in their attempt for the coveted title and the massive US$100,000 first prize. The total guaranteed prize fund will be US$265,000 and the event will be sanctioned by the British Professional PoolPlayers Association (BPPPA), the World Pool - Billiard Association (WPA) and the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) as the Continental Federation Member of the WPA.

The tournament format will have all the ingredients to please all participants and the final stages will be televised and recorded for worldwide distribution.

TOURNAMENT PAYOUT
1st US$100,000
2nd US$35,000
3rd/4th US$15,000
5th/8th US$7,000
9th/16th US$3,000
17th/32nd US$2,000
33rd/48th US$1,000

TOURNAMENT ENTRY CRITERIA
This will be an open 256 field tournament.

However, and this should be clearly understood by all those wishing to participate because of the high volume of players wishing to compete in such a prestigious tournament, there will be several separate entry application procedures and dates for these will be announced shortly.

1. A number of "priority invite applications" will be determined by the organisers and these will be offered to all the continental federations of the WPA which should include the highest ranking players from countries within their continent.

2. Spots will be available through qualifying events and dates will be announced shortly.

3. Organisers wild card entries.

4. Shortfall open spots. (Although spots in this category may be unlikely, a waiting list will be created)

Entry fee: US$500 All participants will be required to pay their entry fee - no free rides!

Late fee: after January 15th, 2006 : US$550

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
There has been over the past few years many debates in relation to tournament formats (e.g. group stages, double elimination and single elimination) and we believe that we have found the right formula to please all players which includes all aspects of those formats previously used in other major tournaments.

8 Groups of 32 will play double elimination (race to 10 on both sides)

In each group 4 players (2 from the winner's side and 2 from the one-loss side) will then qualify for the Last 32 single elimination finals stage.

Losing finalists on the one-loss side fall into the 33-48 bracket and still pick up US$1,000.00

The event will be fully time scheduled and the tournament will operate as follows:

Sunday - Arrival day with registration (12.00 hours to 18.00 hours at the venue) followed by evening players meeting with complimentary buffet and refreshments (20.00 hours - hotel)

Monday - Friday : Double elimination stage (Race to 10 on both sides)

Saturday - Sunday : Single elimination Last 32 (Race to 11)

Last 16 (i.e. 15 matches) will be played and televised on the two TV arena tables.

VENUE
This outstanding venue will be announced shortly.

HOTELS
It will not be compulsory to stay at a specific hotel.

The organisers are currently negotiating substantial discounts and benefits with Manchester City Centre hotels and will be able to offer players and their guests an excellent choice of suitable accommodation. We will be able to recommend a number of hotels to facilitate everyone's budget. A free regular shuttle service will operate between the recommended hotels and the venue.
 
You can thank the pressure of Kevin Trudoe and his new organization for any sudden jumps in prize money and effort on the part of the WPA and other tours such as the UPA and their sudden Morris/Williams challenge match. Sitting on your duff and doing little to help the sport flourish is now no longer enough, the WPA and others are now actually going to have to work for the future of this sport or they will simply fall behind and not be a part of it. This sports biggest problem has always been the Ian Andersons of the world that get into key posistions near the top of this sport and then put very little effort into building the sport into something more. The IPT is a spur to all the lazy people who held this sport back with incompetence.
 
Celtic said:
You can thank the pressure of Kevin Trudoe and his new organization for any sudden jumps in prize money and effort on the part of the WPA and other tours such as the UPA and their sudden Morris/Williams challenge match. Sitting on your duff and doing little to help the sport flourish is now no longer enough, the WPA and others are now actually going to have to work for the future of this sport or they will simply fall behind and not be a part of it. This sports biggest problem has always been the Ian Andersons of the world that get into key posistions near the top of this sport and then put very little effort into building the sport into something more. The IPT is a spur to all the lazy people who held this sport back with incompetence.
Click to expand...

Actually this event was discussed (and I believe agreed) long before the IPT was made public. I think it wasn't annouced because Ted Bristow in the UK was trying to secure a suitable venue.

However I do agree, or hope that these new announcements push prize moneys up and increase healthy competition.

This comp can claim to be the largest 9 ball prize in the world if it takes off, something for the WPA/WPC to think about? Go on Mr Hearn, double the prize money!
:D
 
Celtic said:
You can thank the pressure of Kevin Trudoe and his new organization for any sudden jumps in prize money and effort on the part of the WPA and other tours such as the UPA and their sudden Morris/Williams challenge match. Sitting on your duff and doing little to help the sport flourish is now no longer enough, the WPA and others are now actually going to have to work for the future of this sport or they will simply fall behind and not be a part of it. This sports biggest problem has always been the Ian Andersons of the world that get into key posistions near the top of this sport and then put very little effort into building the sport into something more. The IPT is a spur to all the lazy people who held this sport back with incompetence.
Click to expand...

Are you kidding? The Morris/Williams challenge match? Two close firends playing each other for the millionth time and getting paid for it? You think that was in response to Trudeau?
 
Nostroke said:
Are you kidding? The Morris/Williams challenge match? Two close firends playing each other for the millionth time and getting paid for it? You think that was in response to Trudeau?
Click to expand...

You actually think that with Trudeau hyping a challange match between LJJ and Sigel and getting huge publicity that it was just coincidence that suddenly a couple weeks before the match on the exact same day Williams set up a challange match of his own? How many challange matches have you seen the UPA do? What do you think the impetus was of putting one on on that particular day?
 
TheOne said:
Actually this event was discussed (and I believe agreed) long before the IPT was made public. I think it wasn't annouced because Ted Bristow in the UK was trying to secure a suitable venue.

However I do agree, or hope that these new announcements push prize moneys up and increase healthy competition.

This comp can claim to be the largest 9 ball prize in the world if it takes off, something for the WPA/WPC to think about? Go on Mr Hearn, double the prize money!
:D
Click to expand...
It's great news Craig,

I don't know much about the strength of the organizers, the sponsorships involved or broadcasting selling rights agreements they might have, but I think more business people are waking up to the fact that worldwide broadcasting of pool is approaching significant and attractive levels. Especially in Asia, but I suspect there is a similar trend in Europe.

The content is pretty cheap and attractive. I hope this leads to more of the same and an ongoing battle to produce the biggest and best events.
 
Hope the poms play pool better than cricket!!

Wish they would do a tournament like this in Australia.
Would be good to get the top pros out here. i.e Reyes, Immomen, Riley.

In all seriousness, can only be a good thing!

Atleast you wont have to fly anywhere craig!

Cheers,
Dave.
 
TheOne said:
Actually this event was discussed (and I believe agreed) long before the IPT was made public. I think it wasn't annouced because Ted Bristow in the UK was trying to secure a suitable venue.

However I do agree, or hope that these new announcements push prize moneys up and increase healthy competition.

This comp can claim to be the largest 9 ball prize in the world if it takes off, something for the WPA/WPC to think about? Go on Mr Hearn, double the prize money!
:D
Click to expand...

Ted was working on this tournament long before the IPT. So you are right. Hopefully Matchroom will compete with the other tournaments and everything goes sky is the limit.

For now, great work by Ted and the BPPPA and their will be a Dutch army to get some of that pie!
 
I think pool is growing because it's getting more popular world wide, not because of anything that is happening in the united states. The big tournaments are going on overseas. America is falling behind in both promotion and playing ability.
 
TheOne said:
This comp can claim to be the largest 9 ball prize in the world if it takes off, something for the WPA/WPC to think about? Go on Mr Hearn, double the prize money!
:D
Click to expand...


Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the WPC have a $350,000 prizefund? The British Open has the largest payout for the winner but not for the total payout. Not that $265,000 is anything to frown upon.

Still, this event is going to be huge for 9 ball in the UK. I also love the fact that it is an open event, hopefully we see lot's of snooker players take a shot at it too. I assume this is a one time event.....
 
Last edited:
OK. It's cool to hear that folks are finally stepping up. Hoo-rah. The fact of the matter is that first place at "regular" IPT tourneys is $200,000. That's only $65,000 less than the WPC's entire prize fund! (Ok, $65 G's is nothing to scoff at, I'm just making a point here. ;)) Plus, the reason why I personally keep harping on this is because the payout is going to be really nice for those who don't make it to the final game.

On top of that, they are talking about having Open IPT tourneys in Europe, Asia, and Austrailia in 2007! So if they stay true to their guns, each Opens first place prize would be like the US Open...$350,000!!! Yeah, I like it that various pool organizations are stepping up to pay folks, but I'm wondering if they would've been as serious if the IPT never came at all? :rolleyes:
 
As previously mentioned, Ted has been organising the British Open long before the IPT ever came along, so it isn't really hoping on the IPT band wagon or anything.
 
sniper said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the WPC have a $350,000 prizefund? The British Open has the largest payout for the winner but not for the total payout. Not that $265,000 is anything to frown upon.

Still, this event is going to be huge for 9 ball in the UK. I also love the fact that it is an open event, hopefully we see lot's of snooker players take a shot at it too. I assume this is a one time event.....
Click to expand...

Correct Sniper but I was reffering to the 1st place prize like you said. And the IPT events will be 9 ball so they didn't count. Still, I would love to play in them all, anyone got a private jet, oh damn the fuel prices :(
 
Colin Colenso said:
It's great news Craig,

I don't know much about the strength of the organizers, the sponsorships involved or broadcasting selling rights agreements they might have, but I think more business people are waking up to the fact that worldwide broadcasting of pool is approaching significant and attractive levels. Especially in Asia, but I suspect there is a similar trend in Europe.

The content is pretty cheap and attractive. I hope this leads to more of the same and an ongoing battle to produce the biggest and best events.
Click to expand...


The fever for pool is definitly esculating in Asia and with Wu winning the WPC recentley, you can turn up the heat a few more notches.Pool in the UK is also very healthy and snooker fans there can adapt for sure.At one time snooker was the second most watched TV sport in the UK.

The pool coverage of the WPC in the UK and Asia is nothing sort of fantastic for the WPC. They show 50 hours of coverage, virtually every (or most) match and every rack within in the match.Seven hours of WPC pool coverage per day is not at all uncommon on Sky Sports.

Conversley we only get an 18 hour(14 hrs minus commercials) highlight package of pool here in Canada and the USA gets a pathetic 4 hrs coverage.
Pool is alive and well in Asia and the UK.Hopefully with Trudeau pitching in now, things will get a little healthier in north America.
RJ
 
TheOne said:
Finally been announced on the front of AZ, looks like pool is picking up :-)


British 9 Ball Open Championship 13th-19th February, 2006

World Pool Management is pleased to confirm and announce that the 1st British 9 Ball Open Championship is scheduled to commence on 13th February 2006 in Manchester, England.

The 7 day tournament will make history as it will be the largest 9 Ball event ever held in the UK and with a huge payout the best players worldwide will converge on this beautiful city in their attempt for the coveted title and the massive US$100,000 first prize. The total guaranteed prize fund will be US$265,000 and the event will be sanctioned by the British Professional PoolPlayers Association (BPPPA), the World Pool - Billiard Association (WPA) and the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) as the Continental Federation Member of the WPA.

The tournament format will have all the ingredients to please all participants and the final stages will be televised and recorded for worldwide distribution.

TOURNAMENT PAYOUT
1st US$100,000
2nd US$35,000
3rd/4th US$15,000
5th/8th US$7,000
9th/16th US$3,000
17th/32nd US$2,000
33rd/48th US$1,000

TOURNAMENT ENTRY CRITERIA
This will be an open 256 field tournament.

However, and this should be clearly understood by all those wishing to participate because of the high volume of players wishing to compete in such a prestigious tournament, there will be several separate entry application procedures and dates for these will be announced shortly.

1. A number of "priority invite applications" will be determined by the organisers and these will be offered to all the continental federations of the WPA which should include the highest ranking players from countries within their continent.

2. Spots will be available through qualifying events and dates will be announced shortly.

3. Organisers wild card entries.

4. Shortfall open spots. (Although spots in this category may be unlikely, a waiting list will be created)

Entry fee: US$500 All participants will be required to pay their entry fee - no free rides!

Late fee: after January 15th, 2006 : US$550

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
There has been over the past few years many debates in relation to tournament formats (e.g. group stages, double elimination and single elimination) and we believe that we have found the right formula to please all players which includes all aspects of those formats previously used in other major tournaments.

8 Groups of 32 will play double elimination (race to 10 on both sides)

In each group 4 players (2 from the winner's side and 2 from the one-loss side) will then qualify for the Last 32 single elimination finals stage.

Losing finalists on the one-loss side fall into the 33-48 bracket and still pick up US$1,000.00

The event will be fully time scheduled and the tournament will operate as follows:

Sunday - Arrival day with registration (12.00 hours to 18.00 hours at the venue) followed by evening players meeting with complimentary buffet and refreshments (20.00 hours - hotel)

Monday - Friday : Double elimination stage (Race to 10 on both sides)

Saturday - Sunday : Single elimination Last 32 (Race to 11)

Last 16 (i.e. 15 matches) will be played and televised on the two TV arena tables.

VENUE
This outstanding venue will be announced shortly.

HOTELS
It will not be compulsory to stay at a specific hotel.

The organisers are currently negotiating substantial discounts and benefits with Manchester City Centre hotels and will be able to offer players and their guests an excellent choice of suitable accommodation. We will be able to recommend a number of hotels to facilitate everyone's budget. A free regular shuttle service will operate between the recommended hotels and the venue.
Click to expand...


It's good to see some money coming into pool. Having said that, a North American player will have to finish in the top 9- 16 to break even(or at least top 17-32) given the cost of airfare accomadations and a $500 entry fee.
Finish in the top 8 out of 256 players and one can come home with some cash.

It's a good start though and hopefully it only gets better.
RJ
 
recoveryjones said:
The fever for pool is definitly esculating in Asia and with Wu winning the WPC recentley, you can turn up the heat a few more notches.Pool in the UK is also very healthy and snooker fans there can adapt for sure.At one time snooker was the second most watched TV sport in the UK.

The pool coverage of the WPC in the UK and Asia is nothing sort of fantastic for the WPC. They show 50 hours of coverage, virtually every (or most) match and every rack within in the match.Seven hours of WPC pool coverage per day is not at all uncommon on Sky Sports.

Conversley we only get an 18 hour(14 hrs minus commercials) highlight package of pool here in Canada and the USA gets a pathetic 4 hrs coverage.
Pool is alive and well in Asia and the UK.Hopefully with Trudeau pitching in now, things will get a little healthier in north America.
RJ
Click to expand...

They are still doing repeats on Asian ESPN. Wednesday night I was in the bar and there was non-stop pool. World Master's followed by WPBA Karen Corr v Monica Webb, followed by WPC replay of Wu vs some Euro guy in the last 32.

They are really milking this stuff. My guess is WPC from 2005 will end up with at least 250 hours of broadcasting on ESPN and Star Sports thrughout Asia over the 12 months.

I added up the schedules once over a full month and cue sports were 2nd in broadcasting on this network, fractionally behind golf, and well ahead of soccer, rugby, basketball etc.
 
recoveryjones said:
It's good to see some money coming into pool. Having said that, a North American player will have to finish in the top 9- 16 to break even(or at least top 17-32) given the cost of airfare accomadations and a $500 entry fee.
Finish in the top 8 out of 256 players and one can come home with some cash.

It's a good start though and hopefully it only gets better.
RJ
Click to expand...

True, the money is VERY top heavy in that event. Given the costs to an American they have to have a legitimate chance at 3/4th at least for it to be worth the trip which will cost $2500 at least (go go corrupt gas companies using New Orleans as an excuse to fleece the public)
 
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