Despite an announcement that Professional billiards would receive the same level of funding as last season, the WPBSA have decided to cut back on the £150,000 previously allocated for this purpose and the budget for the 2002-03 season will now be £50,000. No plans to stage any tournaments have yet been confirmed and official sources advise that the professional season will not start before February 2003.
Initial indications that the top English professionals would be invited to contest a "test series" of three matches against an Indian team, seem to be receding. Michael Ferreira, organiser of this tour, is now focusing his attention on developing the game within the Asian community and active consideration is being given to the practicality of running a five nation "Asian" competition. If it comes about, it would replace the event with England, making it potentially a depressingly short season for our professionals.
Problems with obtaining a visa and sorting out accommodation meant that Peter Gilchrist was delayed by almost a month in taking up his new post as National Coach in Qatar. He eventually arrived in the capital, Doha, in the middle of August for the start of an anticipated one-year assignment.
Gilchrist has now stood down from his position as Chairman of the WBA, although he retains his place as a member of the Billiards Committee. No new appointment for Chairman has yet been announced.
Mike Russell, whose status as a coach was boosted by the success of Thailand's national team in the recent Asian Games, departed for a tour of New Zealand and Australia. Arriving at Auckland on 6th November, he will embark on an intensive series of exhibition engagements visiting Hamilton, Hastings, Petone, Christchurch (2 nights), Oamaru and Invercargill before returning to Auckland on 14th November to do some coaching of the players in the New Zealand team for the IBSF Championships. Mike will then travel on to Australia where he intends to take part in the IBSF Championship himself.
The IBSF had their long-awaited elections during the course of their Snooker Championship, held at the Movenpick Hotel, Cairo from 19th October to 2nd November. Tony Hull who was opposed for the post of president by a former incumbent Mohanjit Singh (Singapore) managed to retain his position, and W Y Chin (Malaysia) was elected as vice-president in preference to Pascal Guillaume (France). Sam Louw (South Africa) was elected as a life member. Bill Telford (Northern Ireland) and Linda Den Hartog (Holland) were unopposed in their posts of treasurer and secretary respectively.