We’re in for another festive feast of top quality 8-ball pool action next week with the second edition of the Ultimate Pool Pro Cup taking place between December 27-30 live on BT Sport.

The first professional ranking event winner of the new 2023 season will be discovered at the Players Pool & Snooker Lounge in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Following the qualifying rounds there last weekend, the 32-player field for the televised stages is now known. Here is the first part of our preview (player's rankings are in brackets, all times are approximate and in GMT).

View the qualifying results on our Live Scoring page here.

Group 1 – Tuesday, December 27

• Craig Lakin (45) v Callum Singleton (New) - 11:00
• Shaun Storry (10) v John Roe (29) - 12:00
• Final at 13:00

Lakin caused the biggest upset of the qualifiers as he defeated professional number one Michael Hill. The former British Amateur Champion will break off the tournament alongside Callum Singleton, last season’s number one ranked Challenger, who pipped Jimmy Croxton 10-9 to get here.

The winner will face either Pro Series event winner Shaun Storry or 2012 WEPF World Champion John Roe, who reached the quarter-finals of this event last year.

Group 2 – Tuesday, December 27

• Shane Thompson (5) v Brian Halcrow (35) - 14:00
• Ronan McCarthy (14) v Dylan Leary (33) - 15:00
• Final at 16:00

Former professional number one Thompson ended his 2022 Pro Series campaign on a high by winning Event 8 in dramatic circumstances. He then ousted Oly Bale 10-8 to once again feature in the televised stages of this tournament. Thompson will play former Professional Championship winner Halcrow who also made this stage last year.

They’ll be plenty of experience on show in the second match between Northern Irish teammates McCarthy and Leary.

McCarthy has already had a memorable 2022 having won the WEPF World Masters, WEPF World Championship and the UP Players Championship. He also reached the last four here last year.

After perhaps a disappointing season, former European Champion Leary comes here in fine form having recently come through a Masters group and then qualifying for both this tournament and the Champions League.

Group 3 – Tuesday, December 27

• Gareth Potts (7) v Marc Fleming (New) - 19:00
• Rob Wharne (16) v Luke Gilbert (26) – 20:00
• Final at 21:00

Fresh from his dramatic title victory alongside Mark Selby in the Pairs Cup, Potts will be one of the hot favourites to claim this Pro Cup crown.

‘The Golden Boy’ lost his opening match here last year, but booked a place in the last 32 with a 10-4 win over new professional, Gary Clarke. Potts faces another stern test against a rookie, this time Scotland’s Fleming who denied one of the in-form players in Hiten Patel 10-8 in the qualifiers.

Another one of last season’s form players was Wharne who reached a Pro Series event final. The Stafford star will meet Luke Gilbert in an intriguing match – youngster Gilbert eliminated a reigning world blackball champion in Liam Dunster 10-7 to get here.

Group 4 – Wednesday, December 28

• Jake McCartney (36) v Lee Anderson (New) – 11:00
• Chris Day (37) v Cameron Tolley (New) – 12:00
• Final at 13:00

There is a case that this group is the toughest to predict a winner from, with all four players in serious contention of making the quarter-finals.

Australia’s McCartney – a Pro Series event winner – had a brilliant 10-8 success over double Ultimate Pool title holder Stevie Dempsey in one of the ties of the qualifiers. He’ll play new professional Lee Anderson who had to come through two rounds to get here.

Former Champion of Champions finalist Day comes here off the back off a narrow semi-final defeat – with Storry – in the Pairs Cup. The recent WEPF World Championship runner-up had a fantastic 10-5 win over Neil Raybone to qualify for this and he plays rookie Tolley who produced one of the results of the qualifiers with a 10-3 victory over Simon Fitzsimmons.

How to Watch

For viewers in the UK, coverage of the 2022 Ultimate Pool Pro Cup is live and exclusive on BT Sport.

For viewers outside the UK, you can watch via ultimatepool.tv and the Ultimate Pool App if you are a subscriber. If you haven't already subscribed, you can do so with either a monthly or annual pass here.

Part Two of our Pro Cup preview will be released tomorrow.