Manchester, 10:00am 15th October 2003 -- The British Professional PoolPlayers Association (BPPPA) is pleased to announce that the inaugural season of the British Professional 9 Ball Tour begins in Harrow on the 15th November, the first of twelve ranking tour stops in the 2003/04 season. The BPPPA is inviting applications for membership from the British and European 9 ball playing community, and is actively seeking sponsorship from the private sector to raise the profile of this growing sport throughout Great Britain.

The tour events will be held at pool venues across the country, with stops in Solihull, Reading, Harrow, Middlesbrough, Basildon, Coventry, Stirling, Ipswich, Shepherd’s Bush and Stretford. All events on the tour offer significant prize funds and trophies, with all entry fees paid out. Added features include an end of season ranking position payout for the top ranking players, and the opportunity to receive wildcard entries into major tournaments. When the initial ranking list is compiled, starting points will be awarded to players from other current tours, in recognition of their prior achievements. There will be reduced entry fees to ladies and a separate Ladies’ ranking list will be introduced.

Co-founder and President Ted Bristow said “I’m delighted we’ve finally got this tour off the ground after months of preparation. The level of planning that has gone into this tour will ensure it meets the needs of the players and our sponsors. The arrival of the BPPPA sees the dawn of a new era for 9 ball, and indeed other American pool disciplines, in Great Britain.”

The 2003/04 calendar will also feature other events including the second annual Manchester Classic and Manchester Open. The full event calendar can be found on our website at: http://www.bpppa.com/calendar. Tournaments covering other disciplines, such as Straight Pool, American 8 Ball and One Pocket, are also being planned.

Initial BPPPA membership is free for the 2003/04 season and discounted for members in the following year. Membership brings benefits to players such as reduced entry fees on the tour and selected international events and tours, as well as being part of an organisation that provides a platform for the players’ views to be heard. Membership also guarantees inclusion on our official ranking list. The British Professional 9 Ball Tour is open to anyone aged over 16 and of any nationality. Players can register via our website at: http://www.bpppa.com/registration, or at the tournament desk of any BPPPA tour venue.

The BPPPA have a number of sponsorship and advertising packages available, offering various levels of exposure to a concentrated market of cue sports enthusiasts. Companies wishing to take advantage of these packages should contact Ste Williams, Vice President of the BPPPA, by email at marketing@bpppa.com, or by phone on 0870 1995168.

About The BPPPA

The BPPPA is a non-profit organisation, limited by guarantee, dedicated to the development of the American cue sports disciplines in Great Britain. As well as promoting a range of pool disciplines, we aim to support a wider player base through our Ladies’, Youth and Disabled policies. To these ends, we are working closely with the European Pool-Billiard Federation and the World Pool Association. The BPPPA are established as the official contact address for the EPBF in Great Britain.