by Ben Hudd • August 2, 2023
Kristina Tkach has not received her invitation for this year’s China Open 9-Ball Championship due to a ban still imposed on Russian athletes.
Tkach’s professional career has been detrimentally impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with various bans being enforced to prevent athletes from Russia and Belarus competing in international events.
The anticipated return of the China Open following a four-year hiatus was announced last month, with players needing to be ranked inside the top 16 on the WPA rankings to receive automatic invitations.
Tkach is currently ranked 12th in the women’s rankings after reaching the Women’s World Championship semi-finals in January, although did not receive her invitation from the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF).
“No China Open for me this year,” she explained via social media.
“There are a couple of ways to qualify for the world event: through high rankings in your region (like Europe or USA) or through top 16 in the WPA rankings. I’m 12th right now in the WPA rankings and haven’t got an invite, yet everyone else did.
“WPA send invitations to EPBF and then they send it to players. Well I’m still banned as a Russian to participate in EPBF events so they haven’t sent me an invite along with WPA.
“It sucks as an athlete or just as a person to be punished for things you have nothing to do with. I’m not complaining but sometimes it’s just getting too much, you know? Pretending it’s okay when it’s not.
“Don’t speak up just because the whole world right now tries to make you feel ashamed for your nationality. I’m not ashamed for who I am or where I am from because human qualities were, are and will always be the most important for me.”
