World Snooker Tour stars Jack Lisowski, Gary Wilson, and David Lilley will all take on the World Nineball Tour at the 2023 UK Open Pool Championship set to take place at the Copper Box Arena in London from May 30 to June 4 live on Sky Sports.
World No. 14 Lisowski is widely seen as one of the most entertaining in snooker with the Englishman known for his explosive style of play, reaching the semi-finals of The Masters, UK Championship, and German Masters in the 2022/23 season.
For Lisowski, it will be his first experience of Nineball with the left-handed cueist looking to make his mark with an opening round match-up with fellow Brit Dan Suh live on broadcasters worldwide including DAZN in the USA, Viaplay in Scandinavia, the Baltics, Netherlands, and Poland. with the match on Matchroom.Live and the Matchroom Pool YouTube in the UK on Tuesday at 11:30 am. Sky Sports coverage will begin from Saturday, 3 June from midday.
Lisowski will also join the punditry team for the final two days live on Sky Sports, and he’s looking forward to the challenge ahead: “I am looking forward to it, I think it’s a cool challenge and really like the look of the World Nineball Tour. Judd (Trump) had a go last year and he did ok, hopefully, I can do better than him!”
“Chances of winning – probably close to zero but I am looking forward to it. At this stage, I am not sure about my pool skills, I will have to learn as I go, hopefully, I’m a quick learner!”
©Matchroom Multi Sport
Meanwhile, Wilson will compete in the tournament for a second year in a row after getting a first taste of it last year where defeat to two-time world champion Albin Ouschan ended his run. Since then, the WST No. 15 is a ranking event champion having won the Scottish Open last December having beaten Ronnie O’Sullivan, and Kyren Wilson on the way to the final. Wilson will loosen up ahead of the UK Open with a trip to Glasgow for the WNT Ranking Scottish Open from 26-28 May.
The Tyneside Terror will meet fellow Brit Joe Granville in the opening round: “I haven’t played much since then but perhaps I’ve had less time on the table than last time. I will go to Glasgow in the Scottish Open to get some action. It will be a bit of a warm-up for me. I will try and enjoy it. I’ve got some experience in understanding what the tables are like, and I think that should help and I will know what to expect. I enjoyed doing it around the snooker, I feel I could do some damage if I get it going. I like the prospect of doing something different and maybe I could earn some prize money on the World Nineball Rankings!”
2022 World Seniors champion Lilley meets Scott Hunter in the first round with a potential tie with either two-time World Cup of Pool winner Mario He or Adam Lewis in the offing if he can see past his opener.
Wherever you are in the world, you will be able to sweat the action with broadcasters globally and live on the Matchroom Pool and Multi Sport YouTube channels in selected territories and on Matchroom.Live. UK and Ireland based fans can see the final two days on Sky Sports with the opening four on Matchroom.Live and the Matchroom YouTube.
Fans in the USA will be able to watch all six days live on DAZN whilst those in Scandinavia, the Baltics, Poland, and Netherlands can watch live on Viaplay. Fans in the Philippines meanwhile will be able to sweat the action on TAP Go and those in Vietnam on VietContent channels.
See where to watch in your country here.
Tickets are available from £15 a day to enjoy the action inside one of London’s most historic sporting venues. A season pass is available for £95 with access to all six days whilst a weekend pass giving access to Saturday and Sunday for only £40. Tickets are limited for the weekend sessions. Buy tickets here.