The latest installment from the inaugural Ultimate Pool Challenger Series takes place across the weekend of 22nd-24th October, with 128 hopefuls looking to claim a slice of the glory.
Familiar faces from this year’s circuit will return to the Players Pool and Snooker Lounge in Newcastle-under-Lyme for events 5 & 6 and they will be joined by several other high-profile cueists making their debuts on the Series. Once again, a total of £22,800 in prize money will be up for grabs – previously unheard-of amounts for an amateur-only 8-ball pool series on the 7ft by 4ft table.
All four event winners from this year’s Series are handsomely placed to earn promotion to the Professional Series next year. However, with the top eight from the end-of-season rankings list all earning automatic qualification to the top tier for 2022 – and with four more events of this season to go – the opportunity is still open to all those involved. As well as playing for money and ranking points, event winners will also earn a guaranteed place at this December’s lucrative Champion of Champions Shootout.
Opening event champion Adam Bassoo still leads the way at the summit with Liam White (Event 3 Champion) in second, Chris Day (Event 4 Champion - pictured above) in third and Eddie Barker (Event 2 Champion) in fourth. All four will be back in action at Players looking to consolidate their positions.
Tony Blount and Scott Crawley – surprising, but thoroughly deserving winners of the recent Group 6 in the Eative Ultimate Pool Pairs Cup – are also in the draws.
New Faces Up for the Challenge
Several distinguished cueists will also be featuring on the Challenger Series for the first-time next weekend.
Former World Masters winner and World Championship finalist Craig Waddingham is no stranger to the Ultimate Pool arena having made the last eight of the Apply Mortgages Ultimate Pool Masters earlier in the year. Waddingham will make his bow in this particular competition against Robbie Butterworth.
Multiple-time World Team Championship victor with England and a former UK Tour event winner Mike King is also set to star. The Westcountry ace faces Dan Bishop in a tasty opening round tie in event 5.
French maestro Roger Dumortier – a former world doubles champion with Ultimate Pool professional Christophe Lambert – will add some more continental flavour to proceedings when he makes his debut against Chris Southall.
There are intriguing early round matches in both events. To view in full, please visit CueScore: Event 5 | Event 6