Pro's React to World 8 Ball Championship Announcement

By Markus Noé  

This past weekend the World Pool Association (W.P.A) through Azbilliards.com  dropped a bombshell of an announcement into the pool world. The first time since 2012 the World 8 Ball Championship will be played. Over the past few years outside of the World 9 Ball Championships both the 8 Ball and 10 Ball have had difficulties getting the $275,000 prize pool necessary to receive the W.P.A sanctioning.


Last year boxing legend Manny Pacquiao stepped up and put the money forward so that the Philippines could host the World 10 Ball. This year Jim Wych and John White owners of the Corner Bank in Toronto, Ontario are bringing us the World 8 Ball Championships, the first World Pool Championships in North American since the 1990's. This will also be the first World Pool Championship ever to be held in Canada.


If any sport needs a shot in the arm it would be pool which has seen the money sucked out of it over the last decade. Pool coverage on major television networks have been cut down to just a handful of events throughout the year. The result of this is that it has been increasingly difficult to obtain major sponsorship which has taken its toll on the prize funds and intern has left the sport in some disarray.


However in this recent announcement is was stated that first prize for this event will be $100,000 something that has not been seen since Matchroom Sports ran the World Championships. This has created a significant buzz throughout the pool community especially in North America. Below are some quotes from a few of the top North American players on what they think about this announcement.  The dates have not been set yet but they are tentatively planning on mid August, we will be updating continuously as the details are made available.


 Erik Hjorleifson

    

2014 Canadian 10 ball Champion,
recent runner up Turning Stone Classic

"The news coming out of the corner bank this week is a little surreal for me. On a personal level this will be the first time I well ever be able to play a World Championship on home soil and the fact that it is actually in my home room is a dream. For the game as a whole in North America and Canada it is my deepest hope that this tournament receives extensive media coverage so that everyone In North America can see the athletes that we are. Congratulations to everyone involved at the corner bank on this monumental announcement"






Robb Saez

         

American Pro, runner up 2011 Super Billard Expo

"This is so awesome to hear $100,000 first place at the World 8 ball championship in Toronto WOW ! Hats off to all who are making this happen and glad to hear it's in Toronto cause the people there have lots of love for pool always have....thank you to all who are making this happen"










Jason Klatt                                                                 

   

Multiple Canadian Champion

"It hasn't quite sunk in yet. It's very exciting just to be  playing in your back yard . It's great to see the world 8 Ball is back on the calendar and hopefully it sticks around. Big shout out to Jim Wych and John White and the Corner Bank for taking a risk on they event, and hopefully it puts Canada back on the map for more upcoming pool events."

Shannon Ducharme

Canadian representative at the 2015 World Championship

"So happy that it is held in Canada ,the game needs more people like Jim Wych and John White out here, the prizes are amazing"

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