The 2011 GB9 Midlands Classic 11-13 March 2011 from Barcelo Daventry Hotel

The top American pool players in Britain will be starting their campaigns to become the best in the land when the GB 9 Ball Tour returns to Daventry for the 2011 Midlands Classic from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th March.

Now in its fourth season, GB9 has come an extremely long way since its inception in 2008. Last year was the first time that national 9 ball tour events have ever been hosted in hotel venues, with GB9 establishing a partnership with the Barceló hotel group. The tour kicked off in Buxton this time last year, and also visited Blackpool and Daventry along the way. Now featuring 144 of the most talented players across Britain, Europe and the World, GB9 has played its part in cementing the reputation of British cueists on the American cuesport international stage.

Almost £190,000 in prize money has been distributed since the first GB9 event in 2008, and the 2011 season will see a record-breaking £63,500 being fought for by GB9 members. Those newly qualified to the tour this season will be looking to make their mark, whilst the established professionals look to defend their positions within an ever expanding pool of British talent. The GB 9 Ball Tour introduced an innovative format to British tour events back in 2008, catering for the nation's international elite as well as the rising stars of the game. Once again in 2011 each tour weekend will consist of three keenly fought competitions;

• The Pro Cup – featuring 32 of the leading cueists in Great Britain, including 2007 9-Ball World Champion Daryl Peach, 2010 8-Ball World Champion Karl Boyes; former English 8-Ball World Champion Chris Melling; and multiple Eurotour event winners and Mosconi Cup players Imran Majid and Mark Gray

• The Challenge Cup – consisting of 112 of the nation's most promising 9-Ball players each aiming for promotion into the pro ranks, with names such as Morray Dolan, Adam Benn Smith and Chris Buckmaster along with new qualifiers Arfan Dad, Chris Hall and Andy Croasdale all looking to grab Challenge titles throughout the season.

• The Main Event – the full complement of 144 players will take to the floor for the main competition at each event aiming for the £1300 winner's share.

Following on from the impressive feedback from both players and spectators, all five events in the 2011 season will take place at the Barceló Daventry Hotel. With easy access from the M1, M6 and M40, the hotel offers great accessibility for both players and their supporters. Once again the tour would like to extend its sincere gratitude to our sponsors and supporters, all of whom play a major part in providing the best playing conditions, equipment and coverage in what GB9 feel is the finest, most modern tournament venue of its kind in Great Britain:  


• SAM Leisure are the leading supplier for pool and snooker operators in the UK. GB9 is proud to use 16 SAM Magno Pro® tables. Once again they shall be partnered with Iwan Simonis 860 cloth, and Aramith TV Pro Cup Balls, together creating the most exact and challenging playing conditions for a pool tour of any code in the world.

• To bring all the latest news and coverage of our events GB9 is proud to be partnered with CueClubInternational.com  

• We are also delighted that Cuesport TV will be providing live online streaming of the action on each Saturday and Sunday which can be accessed via www.Cuesport.Tv for the duration of 2011 campaign

The GB9 Midlands Classic starts at 5pm on Friday 11th March 2011. Access to live coverage is available at www.cuesport.tv from 10.15 am on Saturday 12 March. Live scoring and full details about the event are available from www.gb9balltour.com.

In 2011 GB9 is proudly sponsored by Barceló Hotels, SAM Leisure, Simonis Cloth, Aramith Billiard Balls and CueClubInternational.com making the perfect combination of the very best equipment in the most outstanding venue