Ultimate Pool Group
HILL, MELLING AND WHELAN
WIN ULTIMATE POOL PRO SERIES TITLES An exciting new era for English 8-Ball Pool has got underway over the past couple of months with the opening tour stops on the expanded 2022 Ultimate Pool Series.
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ow taking place in big hotel venues to accommodate entries, this year’s Ultimate Pool Series consists of the Professional Series (up from 34 to 48 players), the amateur-only Challenger Series (up from 128 to 288 players per event) and the new Women’s Series (84 players per event). In total, over 400 cueists have travelled to each of the first two weekends in March and April, pursuing titles, ranking points and a slice of the £388,500 prize money on offer across the four long-weekends throughout the year.
KING OF THE HILL On the top tier Professional Series, world champion trio Michael Hill,
Michael Hill
Chris Melling and Jack Whelan have lifted trophies so far. During the opening weekend in Blackpool, reigning six-time world champion Hill made his intentions clear for the campaign by claiming the Event 1 title and pocketing £10,000.
Chris Melling
48 | Billiards Buzz • May 2022
Having lost two finals in the inaugural 2021 season, third time was a charm for ‘The Machine’ as he joined the Ultimate Pool winner’s circle. Hill dropped just 11 frames in four matches getting to the final – eliminating former world champions Carl Morris and Phil Harrison on the way – before dispatching former World Masters winner Neil Raybone, 8-2.
