Simonis Cloth Joins Camel Pro Billiards Series: Purses Grow To $75,000, Payouts To 32 Players Simonis billiard cloth has joined with the Camel brand as an associate sponsor of the Camel Pro Billiards Series and as the title sponsor of the Series' Charlotte tournament, which will be called the Simonis 10-Ball Open. The Simonis sponsorship will boost the purses of each Camel Pro Billiards Series event to $75,000 and the payouts to 32nd place. With the increased support from Simonis, the eight professional billiards tournaments that make up the Camel Series will each award a $75,000 purse. In addition, the number of players who will finish "in the money" at each event will grow from 24 to 32-a 33 percent increase in the number of players who will cash at Camel Pro Billiards Series events. "We welcome Simonis on board as an associate sponsor of the Camel Pro Billiards Series," said Cliff Pennell, president of Sports Marketing Enterprises. "With the added support from Simonis, we can pay out more prize money to more players. " Simonis has manufactured billiard cloth since 1680 and is still operated by the Simonis family. The company has a long history of supporting the highest levels of cue sports around the world. "It is important to Simonis to give back to the sport," said Hank Hayes of Dufferin, Inc., the North American distributor for Simonis, "in particular, the Simonis philosophy is to support as many players as possible, so we are pleased to be part of extending the Camel Pro Billiards Series payouts to 32 players." The Camel Pro Billiards Series is a program of eight professional billiards tournaments that showcase the 8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball skills of the world's top cueists. Fields of 96 qualified professional players compete for $75,000 purses and year-long points. At the end of the season, a $300,000 year-end bonus fund is awarded to the top finishers based on points earned throughout the year. Sponsors of the Camel Pro Billiards Series include associate sponsor Simonis 860, the official cloth of the Series and the title sponsor of the Charlotte event; Super Pro Aramith Billiard Balls; Diamond Billiard Products, The APA, The National 9-Ball Tour and Viking Cue Manufacturing.