BAR billiards does not get any bigger than this.
Huge breaks, vast scores and the occasional dramatic upset, will all be on order this weekend in the arena of the Merton Hotel, as some of the best players around will battle it out for the 45th edition of the Bar Billiards World Championship.
Whatever the sport, there is no question that winning World Championship titles is the pinnacle.
With it being every player’s dream to get their hands on the grand prize, the stakes could not be any higher, so expect fireworks on the table.
The three-day potting extravaganza begins tomorrow at 7pm, with the pairs competition.
There, the 59 entries will look to commence their campaigns on a high, as the first and second rounds of the main competition will be taking place.
For the pairs that fall short in the main competition’s first round, fear not, as they will have a second shot at glory in the plate competition. The first round of that event is also set to take place on the opening day, at 10pm.
Saturday then looks set to be an jam-packed day of blockbuster action, as the main event – the singles competition – will be in full swing. Beginning at 9am and running until 3.20pm, the 125 entries will be squaring off in a round-robin format across 32 groups.
In one of the groups, there is the current Guernsey Open champion, a three-time world champion, a four-time world champion and the reigning runner-up – talk about a group of death. With everyone fighting tooth and nail to book their places in the next round, expect drama.
With play running all the way through until past 10pm, the rest of the day after that will really be all about the pairs, as that event will reach its climax with both pairs finals scheduled to run from 10pm. The singles’ last 64 in the plate will also play out during the day for two hours, from 7.10pm.
Play will then resume on Sunday from 9.30am, as the singles competitions will unfold. The plate final is scheduled to run from 7.40pm, followed by the World Championship final at 8.40pm.
Those competitions will be as unpredictable as you can get, with live “FA Cup-style” draws taking place between every round. With that element thrown in, there is simply no telling who the aces will be playing next.
Presentations will then follow from 9.40pm onwards, accompanied by a bit of fun and karaoke.
“We’re all really looking forward to organising the Bar Billiards World Championship once again, we just love this event, we love the venue and the competitors make this event what it is,” said Sean Le Beuvant, lead organiser for the Championships.
“We get a whole field of top-quality players, usually from as far as the United States. Although they haven’t been able to come over this year, all the top players from the UK, Guernsey and Jersey will be playing at the Merton, so I’m expecting some huge breaks here.
“Jersey is so lucky to host an event as illustrious as this – it is a trademarked event with real history and we are the only holders of these championships. It also benefits the Island all-round, with those coming over injecting money into hotels, restaurants, bars and tourism to really help boost the economy.”
When Le Beuvant talks about the competition’s top quality field, it really does not get any better. With the likes of the defending three-time world champion Matthew Jones, four-time winner Trevor Gallienne and seven-time champion Kevin Tunstall – who many consider to be the greatest of all time – remarkable breaks will surely be produced.
When asked what people can expect when they come down, Le Beuvant replied: “The way the 12 match tables are laid out at the Merton, you will always be able to keep an eye on about five or six matches at a time. Everyone’s really friendly, it’s a good laugh and it’s a really entertaining game to watch, as anything can happen.
“We’re also open to display the sport and get more people giving it a go, so there will be a couple practice tables out for anyone to come up and try it for themselves. We also still have three slots open in the singles, so we will be accepting last-minute entries the morning of the competition if you fancy it.
“This year’s competition brings with it a milestone, as we’re aiming to put on our first junior tournament in ten years as well. To make this happen, all we need are four players of 17 and under, with the ability and understanding to play the game.”
If you are looking to try the sport for yourself, enter the championships or join the journey as a sponsor, please get in touch with any questions you may have through their email: jerseybarbilliards@outlook.com
