The jointly promoted World Open Billiards Championship, originally scheduled for Bangkok is now to be held in the United Kingdom after the Thailand Association withdrew their offer to host the competition. It is understood that they had difficulty attracting sufficient sponsorship for the event which will be contested under the controversial 50-up format reported in our last issue.
The event will now be staged at the North Ormesby Institute in Middlesbrough, home to the WPBSA Northern Open Championship for the last three years. The dates provisionally arranged are Wednesday 8th - Saturday 18th November and prize money has been confirmed at £20,000. Places have been allocated for 20 professional players. The entry details have still to be released by the IBSF, but applications from amateur players will be taken through each county´s National Association and it is understood that an entry fee of £50 will be charged.
It was generally expected after the WPBSA announced that they would cover snooker and billiards separately under what was described as "marketing" titles of WSA and WBA that this was the precursor to making a distinct split between the two professional games. It has now been announced that a Limited company formed at that time, called WBA Ltd, has been activated and Chris Smith has been appointed Chief Executive. The administration of the company will move from the WPBSA Bristol office to premises in Dudley which will also administer the activities of the amateur association, EASB, of which Chris Smith will also be Chief Executive.
The corporate WBA Ltd is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of the WPBSA although it is anticipated that this situation will soon change to make it a company "limited by guarantee" in it's own right. This is the current structure of EASB which is effectively owned by it's subscribing members.
The WPBSA will continue to fund both the professional and amateur associations on a reducing basis for the next three years. After this, support will cease and both the WBA and EASB will be expected to operate under their own resources.
In an interview with Chris Smith, he confirmed that the £100,000 budget announced for the professional game next season will be unaffected by this move and funding will actually increase to cover the initial administrative costs of the new company. Negotiations with the IBSF for a joint championship in Middlesbrough should be finalised by the time we go to press and it is expected that a professional tournament will also be held at Midsomer Norton, as it was last year. The remainder of the professional calendar should be known soon, with negotiations still proceeding for the World Professional Billiards Championship to take place in India.
Asked if there were any plans to integrate amateur and professional billiards, Mr. Smith said he would be seeking the views of the EABA before making any decisions on that matter.
The WPBSA have announced that they will run a “School of Excellence” which will assist with the development of emerging young talent. Although this would seem to be an ideal vehicle to help encourage the game of billiards amongst the Nation´s junior players, we are advised by the WPBSA that entry will be restricted to snooker players.
Peter Gilchrist completed a successful eight day tour of the West Country on 12th May. He was booked to play exhibition matches at various clubs in Radstock, Newport, Bradninch, Taunton and Wincanton. Player of the Year World Professional Champion, Mike Russell, was awarded "Billiard Player of the Year" at the WPBSA's annual awards dinner which was held at Carden Park, Chester.