by Ben Hudd • March 28, 2023

The Spanish Open Pool Championship has been unveiled as the latest major tournament launched by Matchroom in recent times, with 256 players set to compete in Lugo, Spain from June 20-25.

Following the same format as the famous US Open Pool Championship and the new UK, European and Asian events, the Spanish Open will feature the world’s elite nineball players as well as keen amateurs competing for $200,000 in prize money.

Reigning world champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz will compete on home soil as the current world number one, while two-time World Masters champion David Alcaide and European Open semi-finalist Jose Delgado will also be amongst the home favourites.

The top 64 on the nineball world rankings will receive priority for entry, which opens on Monday, April 3 and costs $250 per participant, with the remaining spots up for grabs to both professional and amateur players.

The tournament will be double elimination until 64 players remain in the reckoning following the success of the inaugural UK Open and the European Open last year, and the eventual champion will receive the $30,000 top prize.

Matchroom will promote the tournament in partnership with the Asociación Gallega de Billar Pool (AGP), who have been hosting pool tournaments in Spain for three decades and welcomed the likes of Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante to their events.

Sky Sports and DAZN will broadcast finals weekend from the last 16 onwards, while the double elimination phase as well as the last 64 and last 32 will be shown via Matchroom’s social media channels beforehand.