The 2023 Ultimate Pool season got underway today with the qualifying rounds for the upcoming Pro Cup later this month and the Champions League in the new year.

See all the results on our live scoring page here.

The day after Tom Cousins’ heroics in the Champion of Champions Shootout at the Players Pool & Snooker Lounge, professional players were looking to make it through to the main draw and televised rounds with 32 making the Pro Cup and 64 for the Champions League.

Champions League

Only a handful of qualifying matches were required for the Champions League, with the main stages of the competition beginning on Monday, January 9.

Welshman Luke Sagnes came through the only tie that needed a deciding frame as he ousted fellow new professional Connor Jones 10-9.

Former World Blackball Champion Jon McAllister also made it through, as did Dylan Leary, Lewis Roberts, Tom Ford and Brian Halcrow.

Pro Cup

In the Pro Cup qualifiers – with the televised stages taking place between 27-30 December live on BT Sport – Craig Lakin registered his best result on the Ultimate Pool circuit, so far, as he eliminated professional number one Michael Hill 10-7.

Reigning champion Jordan Shepherd made it through with a 10-3 win over Adam Bassoo, while last year’s runner-up Cousins saw off former world champion Carl Morris 10-6.

Hill wasn’t the only pro event winner to exit the competition; snooker star Ford denied Karl Sutton 10-7, Jake McCartney ended the hopes of Stevie Dempsey 10-8, and rookie Andy Williams pipped Declan Brennan 10-9.

In fact, several new professionals qualified – Cameron Tolley, Callum Singleton, Marc Fleming, Lewis Roberts, Phil Parkin - and Lee Anderson, who came through an additional round to book his spot.

Plenty of familiar Ultimate Pool professionals did progress, though, including top tier event winners Chris Melling, Gareth Potts, Jack Whelan, Phil Harrison, Shane Thompson, Shaun Storry, Dom Cooney, Shaun Chipperfield and current WEPF World Champion Ronan McCarthy.

Luke Gilbert defeated World Blackball Champion Liam Dunster 10-7.