Matchroom is delighted to announce the opening two Nineball World Ranking events of 2023 will take place in the USA with the Turning Stone Classic XXXVI set to open the new year campaign from January 5-8 with the winner set to take home $10,000 before the 24th annual Diamond Billiards Derby City Classic Nineball Divison gets underway from January 25-28 at Caesars Southern Indiana.
ENTER TURNING STONE CLASSIC HERE
The 2023 Nineball World Ranking schedule will be the busiest yet promising to give players undivided opportunity to ply their trade at the top level with the chance to force their way into contention at Matchroom’s flagships events including qualification for the Mosconi Cup, World Pool Championship and World Pool Masters amongst others.
The Turning Stone Classic sees 128 players do battle in the double-elimination format so familiar at some of the sports biggest tournaments with the likes of defending champion Jayson Shaw, Fedor Gorst, and Mika Immonen amongst the early entrants.
Last year saw Gorst dominate the Derby City Classic as he became Master of the Table, but it was 2022 Mosconi Cup hopeful Francisco Sanchez Ruiz who got the better of Joshua Filler in the final.
Matchroom Multi Sport Managing Director Emily Frazer said: “I am so excited to have Mike on board with the historic Turning Stone for the first time, a highly respected event by top players and hope it’s the first of many tournaments and of course to be working once again with long term partner Chad at Diamond Billiards.”
“Players and fans can expect to hear news of the full Nineball World Ranking schedule in the coming weeks as well as our broadcast schedule, but we wanted to ensure players had maximum time possible to plan out their January and we hope this news does just that.”
“We are committed to growing the game of Nineball globally as the main commercial entity of the sport and we hope two huge events in the USA to start the season underlines just this.”
Chad Sharlow, President of Diamond Billiards said “DIAMOND looks forward to kicking off the New Year with the Derby City Classic and providing the opportunity for pool professionals to begin their year securing points towards the Nineball World Rankings. Matchroom and DIAMOND look forward to providing players with professionalism and consistency throughout the tour. From the rules to the playability of the tables, the pros can rest assured everything will be top notch!”
Mike Zuglan of the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour said “I’m honoured that my Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour’s Turning Stone Classic XXXVI will again be a part of the Matchroom Nineball World Rankings schedule. Looking forward to once again be able to help the players reach Mosconi Cup fame.”
Matchroom 公司很高興地宣佈，2023年頭兩項9號球排名賽即將在美國舉辦。首先是開年的1月5日至8日，Turning Stone 經典賽，冠軍獎金10,000美元。隨後是1月25日至28日在南印第安那州凱撒酒店舉辦的第24屆德比城經典賽的9號球賽。
2023年的9號球排名賽賽程頗為密集，球員們將有機會全情投入其中並為自己在諸如莫斯考尼盃、世錦賽、大師賽等旗艦賽事中實力的發揮積攢經驗。
在Turning Stone 經典賽中，128名參賽選手將以雙敗淘汰賽的形式進行比賽，衛冕冠軍 Jayson Shaw、Fedor Gorst 和 Mika Immonen 等知名選手均已報名參賽。
在去年的德比城經典賽中，Gorst 有著相當出眾的發揮。但在決賽中，2022年莫斯考尼盃的希望之星 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz 還是戰勝了強勢的對手 Joshua Filler 從而奪冠。
Matchroom Multi Sport 首席執行官 Emily Frazer 表示說：“我很高興 Mike 攜其知名的Turning Stone 經典賽加入到9號球排名賽隊伍中來，這是一項受到頂級球員高度歡迎的賽事，希望這給後續的排名賽開個好頭，當然也希望能再次與鑽石球桌公司的 Chad 保持長期合作夥伴關係。”
“球員和球迷可以開始期待在未來幾周內聽到更多的關於9號球排名賽定檔的消息以及我們的轉播安排，但我們想確保球員有盡可能多的時間來計畫他們在一月份的行程，希望今天的這則消息能讓球員們 ‘動起來’。”
“作為9號球運動的主要商業推廣機構，Matchroom 公司將竭力在在全球範圍內發展9號球運動，我們希望借由明年賽季開始之初兩項大型賽事在美國的舉辦的機會向大家展示出我們的誠意和能力。”
鑽石球桌公司總裁 Chad Sharlow 說：“鑽石公司期待著以德比城經典賽拉開新賽季的序幕，我們希望能夠為球員們提供比賽機會，讓他們在新賽季伊始即可贏得9號球世界排名的積分。Matchroom 公司和鑽石公司將以專業性和統一性在賽季期間為賽事和球員提供保障，職業選手們盡可以放心，無論是比賽規則還是球桌品質方面，一切都將是超一流的配置。”
Joss Northeast 9號球巡迴賽的負責人 Mike Zuglan 說：“很榮幸我的 Joss Northeast 9號球巡迴賽中的Turning Stone 經典賽再次成為 Matchroom 9號球排名賽的一部分，期待著本次賽事的積分能夠為球員們爭奪莫斯考尼盃的名額提供幫助。”