JEDDAH: The World Nineball Tour has confirmed the top 100 ranked players will play in the World Pool Championship in Saudi Arabia next week.
The event, the jewel in the WNT crown, will take place in the Green Halls, Jeddah, from June 3-8 in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation and the Saudi Ministry of Sport.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, who maintains his No. 1 status in the rankings, will be joined by stars including Shane Van Boening, Fedor Gorst and Albin Ouschan.
“I am so happy to retain my No.1 ranking, especially as we head into this year’s World Pool Championship in Saudi Arabia,” Ruiz said.
“My goal is not only to maintain my top position on the World Nineball Tour, but also to defend my World Pool Championship title. I am determined to showcase my best game and emerge victorious once again on the world stage.”
The landmark event will see a field of 128 elite cueists battling it out in a double-elimination format for a record-breaking prize fund.
In addition to the top 100, the remaining 28 players will be made up of wildcard entries, 13 of whom will represent the host nation. Full details of the players representing Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries will be announced soon.
Emily Frazer, CEO of organizers Matchroom Multi Sport, said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has hosted the world’s premier sporting spectacles of late and we are thrilled to be staging the prestigious World Pool Championships in Jeddah. Now the world’s top 100 are all signed up, this tournament truly will live up to the hype. The fans are in for a real treat and you will not want to miss it.
“We are hugely grateful to both the SABSF and the Ministry of Sport for their incredible vision and invaluable support in making this elite event a reality.”
SABSF President Dr. Nasser Saab Al-Shammari added: “We could not be more excited to host the World Pool Championship, an incredible international event steeped in history and prestige with a huge global following. Welcoming the world’s greatest players for the crown jewel of the World Nineball Tour is an occasion that will certainly be embraced and enjoyed by a Saudi population whose affiliation with this sport dates back many decades. The opportunity to work alongside both Matchroom Sport and our Ministry of Sport in staging this spectacle is a genuine privilege.”
