Premier League Pool will head stateside this year, with 16 of the world’s elite set to compete in the unique tournament from March 18-25 at US1 Billiards in West Haven, Connecticut.
The world’s top eight players on the world nineball rankings will be accompanied by eight wildcards in the $100,000 tournament, and the league format will see all 16 players encounter one another with the top four contesting the play-offs.
Defending champion and world number one Francisco Sanchez Ruiz will headline a star-studded field, which also includes Shane van Boening and Fedor Gorst who will compete on home soil.
US Open champion Ko Ping-Chung will make his league debut following a stellar year that saw him rocket into the world’s top four, while Hanoi Open winner Jayson Shaw will compete at his home venue in West Haven.
Former champion Albin Ouschan and Joshua Filler are also amongst the eight members of the world’s elite who receive automatic spots, with Ouschan’s Austrian countryman Mario He set to make his debut.
All 16 players will face one another during the initial five days of the event prior to the bottom six in the league standings being eliminated, before the remaining ten players face off to decide a further four players who will be eliminated.
The remaining six players will play one another for a third time to determine who qualifies for the play-offs, with all matches being contested over a race-to-five racks and alternate break format throughout.
The tournament will be played across two tables, with both tables broadcast on the Matchroom Pool social media platforms as well as via DAZN in the USA, Germany and Spain as well as Viaplay in numerous European countries including Poland.
In addition, spectators will be present to witness the Premier League in person for the first time in the invitational event’s history, with fans set to be welcomed to the West Haven venue from March 18-25.
