Emily Frazer
Matchroom Nineball World Rankings By EMILY FRAZER - Managing Director Matchroom Multi Sport
Well, what can I say. Matchroom Nineball World Rankings. Who saw it coming?
N
ineball is on the rise, the Rankings is on everybody’s lips; players, fans, promoters and even broadcasters – yes, the aim. A professional, global tour: an opportunity for players to earn a full time career in the sport we all so passionately adore. Throughout 2021, we noticed that transparency is a major factor to launching a successful and growing tour, players must have a clear pathway of qualification to the major events. The Nineball Rankings is awarded from prize money won: a meritocracy. It works in other major sports, lets try it for Nineball. We must create equal opportunity for every person involved, a combined ranking system for women to also compete on. The more open events we produce and schedule, the more opportunity every person has to compete. Now is
the time to pick up a cue and sharpen up your Nineball game. There is a great deal of excitement within the Matchroom camp at the moment, we recognise the huge potential this game of ours has but to see it move to the next level it requires investment and commitment and as the sports leading Promoter, we decided to grab the ball by the horns and take charge. I won’t lie, we have a great deal of work on our hands, huge responsibility and a wild adventure ahead of us. We may not get it right every time, but we are determined, we are passionate and we will not stop. 2022 is the year of trial and error; lets monitor the status of the Nineball schedule, the Ranking Events and lets see how we not only improve in 2023 but expand and consolidate the
rules of the game, for the players. Players want and need their place on the Mosconi Cup; players want and need their seeding in the Open fielded events. The World is opening back up, crowds are back and now we must focus on the atmosphere, fans, personalities and mainstream media presence. This year you will see a journey of the top 32 players as well as the live actual Nineball Rankings; the story of these players and how they have made this journey. Each fan will tune into the events and fall in love with them. It’s time to turn Pool into a major professional sport with players you root for and relate to. That’s our mission. Strangely on my recent trip to the Derby City Classic, the first Nineball Ranking Event, there was a sense of hope in the air amongst the pro’s, this was motivating to see. The Derby’s 9ball field increased due to Ranking Event status, the Kremin Cup is doubling the field size. How can you not get excited at the prospect of a global tour? 1.7 million dollars of prize money in just Matchroom events alone. To anyone who isn’t on board yet, see the benefit for your events; I urge and welcome you to get in touch. Join this journey with us or get left behind! I look forward to sharing this thrilling adventure with you all via this page – let’s see what’s new in a months time!
10 | Billiards Buzz • February 2022
