IPA (International Professional Pool Players Association) Press Release
After a series of high level meetings culminating in an overwhelming players vote in favour on Sunday 16th September, the IPA is proud to announce that as of next season (2013) they will be playing blackball rules and joining their many colleagues in this popular arm of the sport of pool.
With the multitude of new opportunities this opens up for both the current IPA players and those hoping to join, both sides (IPA and Blackball authorities) plan to take advantage of each other’s areas of expertise and professionalism.
Blackball has a superb structure in place already which is recognised by the WPA as the governing body of small table pool, and with the WPA (World Pool-Billiard Association), in turn recognised by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), there is no higher sporting body that we could possibly refer to at this time or in the foreseeable future.
With over a hundred million members worldwide the potential of this joint venture is massive and with blackball the fastest growing version of our sport we can only look forward to an exciting and prosperous future for current players and new players alike from all over the United Kingdom, Europe, and further afield.
IPA Chairman Kevin Barton said
“The professional pool players are looking forward to a new challenge and new challengers in this rapidly expanding marketplace that can only be good for them and the grass root players as we look to organises bigger and better tournaments in 2013, building on the success the new committee has brought to the sport in 2012. These are exciting times for all of us and I am delighted that the players support this move and their committee and we look forward to realising our potential in the exciting times over the months and years ahead.”
Written By: Michelle Beresford