FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/27/07
TO:  ALL BILLIARD LEAGUES/MEDIA
FROM: UNITED STATES PROFESSIONAL POOLPLAYERS ASSN.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Rodney "The Rocket" Morris
                                                              UPA Representative
 
 

 

Phoenix, Arizona - 07/27/07

 

The United States Professional Poolplayers Association (the "UPA") recently made some administrative transitions to in-affect renew the association and its presence in the pool community.  One of those positive changes was to name "The Rocket" Rodney Morris (arguably one of the most recognized male pool players internationally) as the individual to take over the role of UPA's Lead Player Representative. 

 

Mr. Morris replaces former Representative, Frank Alvarez, who is now president of the association.  Rodney elaborated by saying, "I believe in the UPA, I believe in its leadership and goals.  At this stage in my career I want to do my part in giving back to the industry by representing player interests." 

 

The UPA Player Representative serves as not only a representative to the association's Touring Professionals, but also for the organization on behalf of the players.  Representatives also include World Class players Tony Robles and Tony Crosby.

 
 

To contact us directly with questions, please call (480) 353-6747 or email info@upatour.com.

Further information on the UPA is available at www.upatour.com.

25^th July

2007 Philippines World Pool Championship

 

3 – 11 November

 

Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines

 

 

 

MATCHROOM Sport can announce they will be changing the format for the opening round of the 2007 Philippines World Pool Championship.

Double elimination play will be introduced for the first time in the nine years that the UK-based sports promotion company has been promoting the event.

Once again there will be 128 players competing in the tournament, which will be held in Manila from November 3 to November 11, and everyone will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of 2006 winner Ronnie Alcano.

However, the old round-robin format has been replaced by a first round consisting of 16 groups of eight players, which will split the field from 128 to 64 competitors before the single-elimination knock-out phase.

The eight players in each group will play a total of 10 matches between them. Two successive wins will see them into the last 64 while two straight defeats will see them eliminated from the tournament.

The final set of matches in the group will feature players with one win and one defeat fighting it out to stay in the competition. All first round matches will be a race to nine racks with the winner breaking.

Each group will be played out over one day on two tables and the first round matches will be completed over four days from Saturday, November 3 to Tuesday, November 6.

From Wednesday, November 7, single elimination, straight knock-out matches will take place with the following duration:

Last 64 – race to 10, winner breaks

Last 32 – race to 10, winner breaks

Last 16 – race to 11, winner breaks

Quarter-finals – race to 11, winner breaks

Semi-finals – Race to 11, winner breaks

The Final – Race to 17, winner breaks

A Matchroom Sport spokesman said: “This change will mean that every single game will count and there will be no room for any player to take their foot off the pedal.

“We have consulted with the WPA to come up with a format that will liven up the first round of matches and generate more excitement for spectators, both in the arena and on TV.

“After the first four matches in each group, every game will either see a player go through or be dumped out the Championship and that can only be good for the competition.”

A sample first round group (consisting of eight players).

Match 1 - Player A v Player B
Match 2 - Player C v Player D
Match 3 - Player E v Player F
Match 4 - Player G v Player H

Match 5 - Winner of match 1 v winner of match 2 (the winner advances into last 64)
Match 6 - Winner of match 3 v winner of match 4 (the winner advances into last 64)

Match 7 - Loser of match 1 v loser of match 2 (the loser is eliminated)
Match 8 - Loser of match 3 v loser of match 4 (the loser is eliminated)

Match 9 - Winner of match 7 v loser of match 6 (winner advances, loser eliminated)
Match 10 - Winner of match 8 v loser of match 5 (winner advances, loser eliminated) 

4th Annual Korea International Championships 
 
July 26-29,2007
 
Location:  Seoul Palace Hotel- Seoul, Korea

9-Ball Event      Televised on XTM
 
 Field comprised of        64 Men      16 Women
 
 
MEN   Stage 2  Begins July 27

Race to 9  Winner Breaks   Double Elimination
Final 16 Race to 10 Single Elimination
TV Race to 7 Alt Breaks
 
WOMEN  Stage 2       Begins July 27
Race to 7 Winner breaks Double Elimination
Final (4) players Race to 8 Single Elimination

TV Race to 6 Alt Breaks
 
MEN  Stage 1 :  July 26
*4 Qualifier Tournaments     Single Elimination  Race to 7
Qualifier #1,#2,#3 will award 4 spots each  into Stage 2 Qualifier #4 will award 2 Spots
 Entry Fee $100  Each additional $65
 
 
WOMEN  Stage 1  July 26

*One Qualifier Tournament DOUBLE ELIM   Race to 5

Final 2 Women Qualify
 Entry Fee: $100 
 
MEN Entry Fee Stage 2
 $350
 
WOMEN Entry Fee Stage 2
$250
 
Prize Money
Based on 64 Players
 
Men
st   $7000 Guaranteed

2nd     3000
3-4th    1650
5-8th    800
9-16th  500
 

Women Prize Fund

Based on 16 Players

Women
1st  $3000     
2nd  $1500   
3-4th $700  
5-6th $300

Televised matches will be all played on July 29.  

Press Release: KIA Motors Becomes Pool's First Modern Car Sponsor

 
 
KIA Motors Becomes Pool's First Modern Car Sponsor
 
Seoul, Korea- KIA Motors has signed on as the title sponsor of four televised events produced by billiard promotions giant Dragon Promotions. KIA will be title sponsoring Masters of the Trickshot, Showdown in Seoul, and the 4th Annual Korea International Championships,
 
"I believe this marks the first time in pocket billiards history that a major automobile manufacturer has been involved as a title sponsor. It's a great achievement for not only DP, but for the billiards community in that we have shown that our sport is a viable medium for major advertisers." said Dragon Promotions President Cindy Lee.
 

 
KIA is Korea's oldest car company founded in 1944 and in 1998 was acquired by Hyundai Motor Company. Today KIA has expanded into the US with their $1 billion plant in Georgia with KIA Motors America and also KIA Motors Europe based in Germany. KIA is one of Europe's fastest growing car companies and is one of the most improved brands in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study.
 
KIA Motors Showdown in Seoul will consist of two matches first with Semih Sayginer taking on Mike Massey. The King of Carom Magic against the World's Greatest Artistic Pool Champion, in a contest of 9-Ball, 3-cushion, and trickshots. Then female fury in Korea versus Japan with #1 Yu Ram Cha against Miyuki Sakai. The two Asian beauties will battle in 9-Ball, 3-cushion, and 8-Ball.
KIA Motors Masters of the Trickshot will feature the first time ever a trickshot pool team playing against a trickshot carom team, led by captains Mike Massey and Semih Sayginer.
The finale of the star studded pool week will end with the 4th Annual KIA Motors Korea International Championships which will feature players from USA, Europe and Asia vying for the title and prize money in the 9-Ball tournament.
 
     
 
DP will also be hosting a special cocktail party at the W Hotel, Korea's most elite and glamourous hotel. The cocktail party will be a powerhouse of corporate leaders including the CEO of KIA Motors, Gucci Korea, Coca Cola, MBC ESPN, SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System), CYON (Mobile phones), and KT&G (Korea's Largest Tobacco manufacturuer). In all, over 50 companies with a special interest in billiards will be in attendance and entertained by pool's brightest stars including Jeanette Lee, Mika Immonen, Thorsten Hohmann, Yu Ram Cha, Shanelle Loraine, and Charlie Williams.
 
"This is very exciting for us and our partnership with Dragon Promotions. Bringing KIA & the Hyundai Group on board with billiards is very encouraging to the network and bringing other top sponsors on board." said CJ Media rep Jimmy Go. CJ Media heads 11 TV networks and is a division of Samsung. 

Dear all,
 
Please find below the first information about the WPA World Championships for Juniors & Girls which will be held in November 2007. As you can see, the Quota are also put in this information. Please confirm a.s.a.p. the acception of your quota and / or your wishes for more or less spots.
Please send us your confirmation till 15.07.2007.
 
 
2007 WPA World 9-Ball Championship for Juniors and Girls

 

 

Venue
Sauerland Stern Hotel
Kneippweg 1
34508  Willingen
Germany                                          

 

Schedule
26.11.07                               
Arrival day                                                                                       

27.11.07

30.11.07           
Matches

01.12.07
Departure day

 

Participants
Continent                                                                 

Boys Girls

 

All Africa Pool Association (AAPA)

2            1       

Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU)
9            4

                                  
Oceania Pocket Billiard Association (OPBA)
2            1

Billiard Congress of America (BCA)
6            2

                                  
European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF)
12            4

Defending World Champion
1            0       

Total                                                                                  

32        12