WPA WORLD TEN BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

The WTBC is the biggest and most prestigious event in the annual world pool calendar, with the greatest number of countries and players participating. It is the only world championship in 2009.

Home to major international exhibitions and events, the World Trade Center in Manila will host the WPA world pool championship for the first time. The WTC is strategically located in the Manila Bay Area along Roxas Boulevard, in proximity to major hotels and malls.

The event will take place on November 25-30, 2009 – at the beginning of the Christmas season when the Philippine capital is swarming with tourists, shoppers and OFWs vacationing in the country.

Since November 2006. when the Philippines first hosted the WPA World Championship at the Philippine International Convention Center, the country has swiftly become, in the words of Billiards Digest, “the new epicenter of international pool.” From that time onward, the country has hosted a world championship annually in Manila. And top players from all over the world have journeyed here to bid for glory.

In November 2007, Araneta Coliseum served as the venue, and the event played to record audiences in the country and all over the world. In October 2008, the world championship returned to the PICC, as Ten Ball took its bow on the global stage and emerged as the new standard for international pool competition.

This year, the WTBC in Manila promises to be even bigger and better as it takes its bow at the World Trade Center.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

• The one and only official World Men´s Pool Championship
• The biggest prize fund in international pool -- with $262,000 in prize money and $60,000 going to the champion
• Featuring the top players from all over the world, with some 50 countries and over 300 players participating
• 128 players in the Main Tournament; Over 200 players in the Qualifying Tournament
• Worldwide TV coverage provided by ESPN and ABS-CBN
• Sanctioned and supervised by the World Pool-Billiard Association

PHILIPPINE FRANCHISE ON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

• Franchise for the World Ten Ball Championship belongs to the Philippines under an agreement between the WPA and Raya Sports
• Term of franchise is for five years, renewable for three years
• Event is held in the Philippines in the last quarter every year
• WTBC destined to become RP’s Wimbledon

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES AND PLAYERS

• All regions and some 50 countries represented in the two stages of the tournament
• Australia
• Austria
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Canada
• China
• Chile
• Chinese Taipei
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Great Britain
• Guatemala
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• India
• Indonesia
• Italy
• Iran
• Japan
• Korea
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• Philippines
• Poland
• Qatar
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Scotland
• Serbia Montenegro
• Singapore
• Slovenia
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Uniter Arab Emirates
• United States
• Uruguay
• Vietnam
• Top 32 players in the world ranking system of the World Pool-Billiard Association
• Reigning WPA champions in all disciplines
• National champions in participanting countries

SCHEDULE AND FORMAT

Stage 1 – Qualifying Tournaments
November 19-23, 2009
Star Billiards Center

10 Qualifiers to select 12 players for main tournaments. Matches race to 7

Stage 2 – Main Tournament
November 25-30, 2009
World Trade Center

128 players divided into 16 groups. Group play, double elimination, to select the last 64 players.

Last 64 to Finals – Knockout System
• Last 64 to Semifinals – race to 9
• Finals – race to 11

PAY-PER-VIEW COVERAGE

Watch the World 10-Ball match at clubcapo.tv

• Live video of the main TV-table and up to 4 selected tournament tables streamed to your computer
• High quality video streaming
• $9.99 enables you the live event plus unlimited access to archive viewing

WORLDWIDE TV COVERAGE

The WTBC will be broadcast live and delayed all over the world by major terrestrial and cable networks.

TV production will be handled by a Philippine network with the participation of respected international pool broadcasters and commentators.

LINKS