Nineball Pool: Premier League heads to United States as world's best players compete for $100k
Premier League Pool returns on March 18 in Connecticut, with the World Nineball Tour’s (WNT) top eight professionals confirmed to compete for the $100,000 prize fund.
The elite league format will be held in the United States for the first time, pitting 16 of the best against each other in a close quarters race to five league format.
Defending Premier League Pool and world champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz leads a star-studded line-up as number one on the WNT Rankings.
Five-time US Open winner Shane Van Boening and recent Mosconi Cup debutant Fedor Gorst will also feature on home soil.
Winner of the 46th US Open Pool Championship, Ko Ping Chung, returns to the States to mark his first appearance in the competition, with Hanoi Open champion Jayson Shaw also competing near his residence of West Haven.
Mosconi Cup MVP Joshua Filler returns, with 2022 Premier League Pool champion Albin Ouschan also set to fight to reclaim the trophy.
Two-time World Cup of Pool winner Mario He will make his debut in the competition, with an additional eight wild cards set to make up the rest of the field. The final eight names will be announced in the coming weeks.
For the first time in Premier League Pool history, spectators will be able to watch the action live from US 1 Billiards, West Haven, Connecticut.
Nineball fans will be able to enjoy both tables live globally with Table 1 live on broadcasters worldwide, including DAZN in the United States, Germany and Spain and Viaplay in Poland, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
Matchroom Multi Sport CEO Emily Frazer said: “We have seen a strong demand to bring more events to our American fans, and Premier League Pool presents the ideal opportunity.
"Held in one of America’s leading pool halls, with fans present for the first time in the events history, this will showcase the atmosphere and emotion of pool in the States.
“Along with the 47th US Open Pool Championship and this year’s Mosconi Cup, we are incredibly excited to continue pushing more and more elite events in America.”
Premier League Pool Format
All 16 players face each other once across the first five days of play
After day five, the bottom 6 in the League Table are eliminated
The remaining 10 players face each other again across days six and seven before 4 more players are eliminated
The remaining 6 play each other once more on day eight before the top four contend the playoffs
All group matches are race to 5, alternate break
A win will give a player a point on the league table
After points, the table will be determined by Rack Difference, then Racks Won followed by Head-to-Head record if nothing can split the players