A new era for 8-ball pool will begin next month when the opening Ultimate Pool Series weekend of the season gets underway in Blackpool.
Following on from the success of the inaugural campaign in 2021 which took place at the Players Pool and Snooker Lounge, the Ultimate Pool Series has accommodated a huge increase in entries, with weekend Series stops now being held at hotel venues.
Over 400 players representing nations from the UK, Europe and beyond are set to feature at The Grand Hotel between the 4th-6th March, with the 2022 Professional, Challenger and Women’s Series’ all taking place across the 35 tables that will be in operation at the venue.
Recently recognised by the World Eightball Pool Federation as the Official Promoters and Organisers of Professional English 8-Ball Pool Events, the sport’s biggest international Series is set to pay out over £380,000 in prizes across the season.
The Professional Series forms part of Ultimate Pool’s overall professional circuit with 48 players on this season's top tier (up from 34 in 2021). In 2023, there are set to be 80 professionals.
Inundated with requests to join the circuit, the 2022 Challenger Series will feature 288 entries in each event – well over double the 128-player capacity in 2021. At the end of the season, the top 16 ranked players will all earn promotion to the 2023 professional ranks.
An exciting addition to the Ultimate Pool scene this season is the 84-player Women’s Series. In a commitment to boost the standard and profile of the women’s game, Ultimate Pool guarantees that at least one woman player will be in the professional ranks each season, and the Women’s Series offers a pathway for this.
There will be extensive live television coverage from Blackpool next weekend courtesy of FreeSports TV for viewers in the UK, whilst ultimatepool.tv will be livestreaming the three feature tables across all three days for FREE.
Fans are welcome to come and watch the action live in Blackpool; admission is free and there is no need for a ticket – just turn up.
Unfortunately, there are no more spaces for this season’s Challenger or Women’s Series’. Ultimate Pool will be announcing plans and details about the 2023 season in the coming months.
