Over 30 global events will feature in the 2023 Nine-ball World Rankings, making it the largest calendar of Nine-ball events to date. With new and existing partnerships, ranking events will take place in all corners of the world, offering players from all backgrounds the opportunity to compete for vital ranking points and the chance to become champion of the world. The schedule will kick off with back-to-back events in the USA, and will feature Matchroom’s flagship events, including the World Pool Championship 2023 and the World Pool Masters, as well as new events such as the Asian Open and the English Open. With a transparent, ambitious, and unified plan, Matchroom Pool continues to offer more opportunities to players worldwide, making 2023 an exciting year for Nine-ball.
The schedule will kick off with back-to-back events in the USA, beginning with the Turning Stone Classic XXXIV (January 5-8) in Verona, NY, and followed by the Diamond Derby City Classic Nine-ball Division (25-28 January) in Indiana. The first blue-ribbon event on the schedule will be the World Pool Championship 2023, set to take place in Kielce, Poland from February 1-5, where the best 128 players on the Nine-ball World Rankings will compete for a slice of the $325,000 prize fund and the chance to become the champion of the world.
Matchroom’s flagship events will be the backbone of the 2023 schedule, alongside UK broadcast partner Sky Sports. The World Pool Masters will take place from May 6-9, followed by the UK Open (May 30 to June 4). Spain will look to defend their World Cup of Pool crown from June 20-25, while Premier League Pool will return with Albin Ouschan gunning for the crown for a third straight year. The European Open will get underway at Hotel Esperanto in Fulda, Germany from August 8-13, followed by the historic US Open Pool Championship at Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City (September 25-30).
For the first time, Matchroom will also launch two new multi-table open events in 2023, including the inaugural Asian Open and the English Open, each boasting a total prize fund of $200,000, 256-size player fields, and worldwide television exposure. Additionally, two new Juniors events will be launched alongside the SVB Junior Open, with more details to come in the new year.
Matchroom further underlines its commitment to providing opportunities for players worldwide by launching a new strategic partnership with Asian Pool Promotions, which will launch the Nine-ball Asian Tour. Working with Matchroom, the APP will offer players across Asia and beyond the chance to compete for vital ranking points with events in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong-China, Thailand, and Chinese Taipei in 2023.
The schedule will also feature events from EuroTour and the Balkan Tour, providing players with even more opportunities to earn ranking points. The 2023 Mosconi Cup will be the highlight of the schedule, as the USA looks to snatch the trophy back from Europe’s hands for the first time since 2019.
Conclusion
The schedule for the 2023 Nine-ball World Rankings promises to be exciting and competitive with at least 30 ranking events happening worldwide, giving players more chances than ever to earn points and vie for the title of World Champion.