The 2023 World Pool Masters is set to take place from May 10-13, and the tournament has already seen some changes. Due to visa issues, Vietnamese player Duong Quoc Hoang has been forced to withdraw, and two-time champion David Alcaide has been announced as his replacement. In this article, we’ll explore the latest updates on the 2023 World Pool Masters, including the new format, match-ups, and broadcasting information.
Alcaide replaces Duong Quoc Hoang
Duong Quoc Hoang was unable to participate in the 2023 World Pool Masters due to visa issues. As a result, David Alcaide will be stepping in to replace him. Alcaide is a seasoned professional and will be a tough competitor in the tournament. He will face off against former World Champion Shane Van Boening in the opening-round match.
New grueling format for the 2023 World Pool Masters
The 2023 World Pool Masters is returning to 16 players for the first time since 2017. The prize fund has also increased to $125,000, with the winner receiving $40,000. The tournament has also seen some changes in the opening round ties, with a Race to 9 format being introduced for the first time. The Matchroom break box, hand-racking, and winner breaks will also be in action. The semi-finals and final matches have been increased to Race to 11 and 13, respectively.
Tournament schedule and match-ups
Here’s the tournament schedule and match-ups for the opening round of the 2023 World Pool Masters:
| Date | Time | Match-up |
|---|---|---|
| May 10 | 6:00 PM UTC | Joshua Filler (GER) vs Niels Feijen (NED) |
| May 10 | 6:30 PM UTC | Max Lechner (AUT) vs Mohammad Soufi (SYR) |
| May 10 | 7:00 PM UTC | Jayson Shaw (GBR) vs Ko Pin Yi (TPE) |
| May 11 | 12:00 PM UTC | Francisco Sanchez Ruiz (ESP) vs James Aranas (PHI) |
| May 11 | 12:30 PM UTC | Wiktor Zielinski (POL) vs Zheng Xiao-Huai (CHN) |
| May 11 | 1:00 PM UTC | Albin Ouschan (AUT) vs Eklent Kaci (ALB) |
| May 11 | 6:30 PM UTC | Mario He (AUT) vs Alexander Kazakis (GRE) |
| May 11 | 7:00 PM UTC | Shane Van Boening (USA) vs David Alcaide (ESP) |
Broadcasting information
The 2023 World Pool Masters will be broadcasted live across the world by a range of broadcasters. Fans can watch the tournament on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, DAZN in the USA, Brazil, Spain, and Italy, as well as on Viaplay in Scandinavia, the Baltics, Netherlands, Poland, and Matchroom.Live in selected territories. A list of all broadcasters showing the tournament can be found below.
Here’s the list of broadcasters showing the tournament around the world:
- DAZN (Global)
- Sky Sports (UK and Ireland)
- Matchroom Live (Global)
- KAZsport (Kazakhstan)
- Nova Sport (Czech Republic and Slovakia)
- Ziggo Sport (Netherlands)
- Zhibo.tv (China)
- Supersport (Sub-Saharan Africa)
- Sky New Zealand (New Zealand)
- Fox Sports Asia (Southeast Asia)
- Sportklub (Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo)
- Fite (USA, Canada, and Spain)
- Eurosport (Europe)
- Viasat (Scandinavia)
- ESPN Latin America (Central and South America)
Viewers can also purchase tickets for the event through the official Matchroom Pool website.
Final Thoughts
The 2023 World Pool Masters is shaping up to be an exciting event, with some of the world’s top pool players set to compete. With the return to 16 players, changes in the format, and new match-ups, fans can expect some thrilling performances. If you’re a pool fan, be sure to catch all the action from May 10-13.