CAMEL PRO BILLIARDS SERIES RELEASES 1999 SCHEDULE Winston-Salem, NC-The Camel Pro Billiards Series will bring the world's best professional billiards competition to two new cities this year, according to series sponsor R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. officials, who released the 1999 schedule of professional billiards tournaments today. Tournaments in Atlanta and Milwaukee will join the eight-event series in 1999. The Camel Pro Billiards Series, open to qualified professional billiards players, tests the 8-Ball, 9-Ball and 10-Ball skills of the world's top cueists who compete for $70,000 purses at each of eight events. With a total of $860,000 at stake, the 96-player fields will shoot it out for guaranteed event purses totaling $560,000 and for a share of the $300,000 year-long point-fund bonus. The $300,000 year-end bonus fund is awarded to the top 24 finishers based on points earned throughout the season. Last year's champion, Francisco Bustamante, took home over $122,000 in purses and bonus money. The series sponsor, the Camel cigarette brand, enters its fourth year of professional billiards sponsorship. By the close of the 1999 season, Camel-sponsored professional billiards events will have paid out over $2.7 million in purses and point-fund bonuses. In addition to the new tournaments in Atlanta and Milwaukee, several local qualifying events will join the line-up. Top amateur players will have a chance to break into the big leagues with qualifying tournaments for each of the eight pro events. Qualifiers are held by the National 9-Ball Tour and by local American Poolplayers Association league operators. The official sponsors for the Camel Pro Billiards Series include Simonis 860, the official cloth of the Series; Super Pro Aramith billiard balls; Diamond Billiard Products; and the American Poolplayers Association.