The good news for professional billiards is that the WPBSA have undertaken to support their game next season with funding of up to £150,000 which will be reviewed on an annual basis. However, despite the new season being almost upon us, the WPBSA have yet to decide an administrative structure following the departure of the WBA Chief Executive Chris Smith in January. A proposal was put forward some time ago by Peter Gilchrist and supported by others on the WBA Billiards Committee, but a decision on this was delayed while two later proposals were considered. One of these comes from Mega Ace (recent sponsors of the WBA World Championship) and the other from Alan Chamberlain. No details of these proposals has been released, but they are known to have been under "consideration" for at least two months. This delay also means that no events have yet been organised in the professional calendar.
The latest ranking list for the professionals shows that Geet Sethi has dropped down from No.2 to No.4 behind Mike Russell, Peter Gilchrist and David Causier. Although Sethi is level with Causier, the Teessider takes priority having accumulated more of his points during the past season. The WBA membership now totals 43 even though five players have dropped out this year. These are B. Bhaskar, Eugene Hughes, Chandresh Shah, David Sneddon, and of course, the late Bob Close.
This season, the EABA will introduce a new rule to prevent the playing of a "coup". This will read: "A stroke from hand shall not be played directly into a pocket without incurring a penalty and will be recorded as a foul stroke and not as a miss." This is essentially the same as the unpublished rule which has been used by the professional players for some years. The new rule will be applied to all National competitions run by the EABA and the senior ranking tournaments. It may also be used in the season´s International matches, subject to mutual agreement. The Junior ranking competitions which currently fall outside the control of EABA, will have the option of adopting the change.
Due to logistical difficulties it has been decided to separate the Junior ranking tournaments on a trial basis, so that next season the North and South regions will each arrange five events within their own territory. Separate ranking lists will be produced with the top two players from each region qualifying to take part in any Junior International matches. John Hartley will be the tournament organiser for the North and a committee of Phil Welham, Roger Clark and Clive Scott will co-ordinate activities in the South. The arrangements will be reviewed at the end of the season and a decision taken as to whether they should continue.
Billiards, together with other cue sports are on the verge of being accepted into the Commonwealth Games according to IBSF President, Anthony Hull. A proposal has been made to the Australian Commonwealth Games Committee and a vote on their inclusion in Melbourne 2006 will be taken at a meeting in London this July. Mr Hull gave his opinion that "This would raise the profile of cue sports around the world".