SIMONIS BACKS BD POWER INDEX WITH YEAR-END PRIZE FUND Chicago-Iwan Simonis, the oldest and one of the most respected names in billiards will sponsor the 2001 Simonis/BD Power Index year-end prize. The cloth manufacturer will present $5,000 to the year's top player, based on the Simonis/BD Power Index rankings. "We try to support the total sport, rather than singling out individual players for sponsorship," said Hank Hayes, president of Simonis U.S.A. "[the BD Power Index] fits the Simonis philosophy perfectly." The Simonis/BD Power Index, unveiled in April, evaluates professional pool tournaments based on strength of field, size of field, format and purse, then calculates ranking points for the players based on the strength of the event. With the current pro men's scene comprised of a wide variety of independent tournaments, the Simonis/BD Power Index allows an objective assessment of players' performances. The Simonis/BD Power Index calculates standings based on the 10 most recent tournaments.