The final Ultimate Pool Series weekend of 2022 is upon us as over 400 players representing several different nations congregate at the Grand Hotel in Blackpool.
Taking place between Friday 9th to Sunday 11th December, ultimatepool.tv and the Ultimate Pool App will cover live action from the Pro, Challenger and Women’s Series across three arena tables with commentary. You can subscribe here.
Information on account/livestream issues can be read here.
As well as six Ultimate Pool titles on offer on the Lancashire coast, there are several other interesting stories that are set to unfold...
The Michael Hill Grand Slam
Having not won an Ultimate Pool title during the organisation’s inaugural season, six-time world champion Michael Hill has gone on a blistering run of form during this year’s Pro Series.
Event wins in March (Blackpool), April (Birmingham) and June (Blackpool) see him go into this weekend on the cusp of creating history by claiming a title at each of the four weekends this year.
If he were to complete that incredible feat, he would also surpass current number one Shane Thompson’s three-title haul from 2021.
On another note, no Pro Series title winner from 2021 has won one in 2022, so far – Thompson, Declan Brennan, Jake McCartney, Shaun Storry, Gareth Potts and Dom Cooney will be looking to change that this weekend, though...
The Number One Spot
Unsurprisingly, Hill sits at the top of the provisional 2023 rankings with a very healthy lead over the chasing pack, although finishing the season as the circuit’s number one ranked player is still not guaranteed.
Currently on 24,750 points, Hill is very likely to be numero uno at the close of play on Sunday night, but mathematically several could still overtake him with 12,000 points on offer (6,000 for an event win). One of those would have been provisional number two Stevie Dempsey, but the Irishman will not be in Blackpool.
Potts – who is seventh on 13,750 – is the lowest ranked player on the list that could mathematically come top, although it would require him winning both events and Hill not scoring more than 1,000 points.
Third-placed Chris Melling – the Event 2 Winner – is Hill’s closest threat, but even he is 7,750 points adrift of him going into the weekend.
Champion of Champions Shootout Qualification
The invitational 16-player end-of-season extravaganza takes place on Saturday 17th December with afternoon and evening sessions.
The tournament features event winners from this season’s Pro and Challenger Series. Those qualified so far are: Hill, Melling, Jack Whelan, Karl Sutton, Neil Brittain, Josh Corkett, Cameron Tolley, Callum Singleton, Richie Oliver and Jez Graham.
With Hill having won multiple titles, though, (and with the Pro and Challenger Series getting eight allocations each) at least two of the Pro spots will come from the rankings.
As it stands, Dempsey – who can’t improve on his total – and fifth placed Storry are in possession of those spots, although a lot can change across the weekend.
Six different winners have claimed titles from six events on this year’s Challenger Series, but again, if someone ‘doubles up’, the highest non-title winner from the rankings will be invited.
With so many permutations, the picture is likely to change a lot throughout the events.
Race for the Top 28 and 2023 Seeding
As previously mentioned here, the top 28 ranked players at the end of this season will all be seeded for the 2023 Series and avoid the preliminary round.
Dylan Leary currently holds on to 28th position but is just 50 points ahead of Liam White in 29th.
Everyone is still well in contention to climb up into those top 28 positions, with a few results here and a good run there likely to change everything.
Challenger Series – Race for Number One and Promotion
The top 16 players at the end of this season’s Challenger Series will all earn promotion to the 2023 professional ranks.
With over 280 players set to be in action across two events, the permutations are monumental, but will become a lot clearer as the weekend progresses. What we do know, is that every single competitor in Blackpool can make their way into the promotion slots.
Over 350 players are on this season’s ranking list, so whoever ends the campaign in first can be extremely proud of their achievement. Singleton currently occupies top spot by 2,300 points following a fantastic season so far that has seen him win an event and reach a semi-final and a quarter-final (all of these were in separate weekends).
Women’s Series – Race for Number One and Promotion
The inaugural Women’s Series has already been a massive success for the women’s game with over 100 players having taken part so far and dedicated livestream coverage of the latter rounds in the main arenas.
Harriet Haynes has enjoyed a memorable season, claiming titles at Events 1 and 3, and the Kent cueist will aim for a Blackpool hat-trick this weekend.
The number one player at the end of this weekend will earn promotion to the 2023 pro ranks and join Emma Cunningham on the sport’s top tier – a commitment that Ultimate Pool made to the women’s game, creating opportunities that weren’t there before.
Haynes currently tops the rankings on 13,500 points and will sew up that number one accolade and promotion if she collects more than 500 points.
The only player that can usurp her is Event 2 Winner Amy Beauchamp, who is on 8,000 points. However, Beauchamp needs to win Event 4 and hope Haynes doesn’t claim more than 500 points.
Please note, if players are tied on the same number of ranking points at the end of the season, you can see how they would be separated by visiting the relevant rankings page under the Tournaments tab of the website.
