Public Invited To Watch
The
National Wheelchair Poolplayers Association, Inc. (NWPA), in cooperation with
the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) and the Billiard Congress of America,
will host the WPA World 9-Ball Championship
for Wheelchair Players at the Horseshoe Casino of Southern Indiana in Elizabeth,
Indiana from January 31 – February 1, 2010. This premier event will be held immediately following the
Professional/Amateur events of the 2010
Derby City Classic, hosted by Diamond Billiard Products of Jeffersonville,
Indiana, on January 22 – 30, 2010.
The tables and tournament space of this world championship event are
being provided courtesy of Diamond Billiards Products.
The WPA World 9-Ball Championship
for Wheelchair Players is an
invitation-only event for the top wheelchair pool players from around the
world. Players were invited play
by their respective country's pool federation. The NWPA selected players from compete on behalf of the United
States based on national player rankings and life-time tournament
achievements. Gold, Silver
and Bronze medals will be awarded to the top 4 players along with cash and
other prizes. All tournament play
will be held on 9-foot Diamond Smart tables.
The public is invited to come
watch world class 9-Ball action for the best wheelchair players in the
world. The current reigning world
champion, Aaron Aragon, who is America's premier player, is expected be in
attendance to defend his title.
Also, competing will be the other 3 medalists from the 2008 World
Championship: Charlie Hans, Silver Medal, Fred Dinsmore, Bronze Medal and Jouni
Tahiti, Bronze Medalist. Both Dinsmore and Tahiti are also former world champions. In all, the tournament will have a
total of 5 world champions (current and former) in the competitive field. Currently,
players who have committed to compete will be representing the countries of
Belgium, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and the
United States.
First round action in this
tournament play will begin on January 31, 2010 at 9:00 am and play will
continue through the rest of the preliminary rounds until 9:00 pm. Matches will resume on February 1st
at 9:00 am with just 12 players remaining. Bronze Medal matches for the final 4 players will begin at
approximately 2:30 pm that day. The
two winners of these semi-final matches will advance to the world championship
match, which will start at approximately 5:30 pm. The winner will take home the Gold Medal and the
runner-up with receive the Silver Medal.
The Tournament Coordinator for
the WPA World Wheelchair 9-Ball
Championship is Jeffrey Dolezal, President of the NWPA.
This tournament is an official World Pool-Billiard
Association World Championship event.
The WPA is the worldwide governing body for pool and billiards and it worked
in cooperation with the Billiard Congress of America and the National
Wheelchair Poolplayers Association to bring this event to the United
States.
This event is being supported in sponsorship by Diamond
Billiards, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Viking Cue Manufacturing, Simonis
Cloth, Predator Products and Poison Billiards.
Jeffrey Dolezal
NWPA President
(703) 817-1215
jdolezal@cox.net
