The World Pool Association (WPA) have released a statement following a scheduling collision set to occur this October that has left players to choose between the Hanoi Open and the Reyes Cup or the World 8-Ball Championship.
The Hanoi Open has been pencilled in for October 8-13 in Vietnam and will be followed by the inaugural Reyes Cup in Manilla, Philippines from October 17-20, while the World 8-Ball Championship will take place in Venezuela from October 9-20.
Predator officially released dates for their $250,000 World 8-Ball Championship three weeks earlier than the Hanoi Open, although Matchroom would have held discussions with sponsors and international broadcasters for a number of months beforehand.
Matchroom’s Hanoi Open has been scheduled for the same week in October that it was held last year. Plus, the WPA were reportedly made aware of their provisional schedule in January and those dates were already included in December’s Mosconi Cup programme.
The WPA believe that Matchroom and the World Nineball Tour have ‘undermined the prestige’ of the World 8-Ball Championship and urged them to ‘consider the broader impact of such decisions’.
“We need to address a recent scheduling conflict within our pool community,” the WPA began, in a statement released on Saturday morning.
“It has come to our attention that Matchroom has scheduled two tournaments on their World Nineball Tour that clashes with the upcoming World 8-Ball Championship sanctioned by the WPA.
“This timing coincides with both the Men’s Predator WPA World 8 Ball Championship and the Women’s Predator WPA World 10 Ball Championship.
“This move by Matchroom undermines not only the prestige of the World Championship but also the spirit of fair play and collaboration that the WPA strives to uphold in organizing global events.
“Such actions contradict the WPA’s sanctioning guidelines, which are meticulously designed to prevent calendar clashes and ensure the best interests of the sport and its athletes.
“The WPA’s guidelines aim to support the growth of pool by facilitating well-organised, high-standard competitions that do not overlap, thus allowing players to participate in major tournaments without having to choose between equally significant events.
“We believe in the strength of our sport and its community when we all adhere to agreed-upon standards and respect each other’s contributions to the game.
“This scheduling overlap does not reflect the unity and sportsmanship that are foundational to pool’s global presence.
“We urge Matchroom and all involved parties to consider the broader impact of such decisions and to collaborate with the WPA to promote the best possible outcomes for our sport and its remarkable athletes.
“Let’s continue to support each other and work together to keep pool a fair, competitive, and enjoyable sport for everyone.”
