CueSports International (CSI) and Predator Group are excited to announce that the 2022 US Pro Billiard Series will feature nearly a half million dollars in added prize money and a total prize fund of approximately $775,000, representing more than a 300% increase in added money over the inaugural 2021 season. All six events will have more than $52,000 added each, upgrading them all to World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) Category 3 sanctioned events which secures the exclusive dates on the WPA calendar and allows players to earn more WPA ranking points from each event. The 2022 season will culminate with the 2023 Predator World 10-Ball Championship, boasting a quarter-million-dollar prize fund, held as part of the CueSports International Expo in Las Vegas, February 22 – March 4, 2023.
The Predator US Pro Billiard Series provides a clear pathway to becoming a WPA World Champion. The winner of each 2022 event will receive a guaranteed spot in the 2023 Predator World 10-Ball Championship. In addition, a minimum of the top 12 players in the Predator US Pro Billiard Series rankings who are not otherwise invited by the WPA, a WPA continental federation or a promoter wild card, will also earn spots in the 2023 Predator World 10-Ball Championship. Below are the events scheduled for the 2022 season.
How were we able to triple the added money in just the second season? The unique format, two sets, race to four each plus a shootout if the set score is tied at 1-1, has created much more drama and excitement. Routine fans are watching longer and more importantly, it is attracting a broader audience. We have received many messages from people saying that their spouse began watching for the first time because the matches are faster and more dramatic. Children are telling their dads to let them know when another shootout happens. On-site spectators are crowding the tables to see who will win the final game of a set or who will crack under the pressure of the shootout. This increased excitement has led viewership numbers on Billiard TV and YouTube to rise which has attracted new sponsors. As promised from the beginning, this additional revenue is being reinvested in the Predator US Pro Billiard Series and the players’ pockets. After all, they are the stars, not the promoters.
CSI and Predator are committed to a long-term growth strategy. Our goal is to elevate and grow the entire sport, from top to bottom, leveraging the synergy between league participation, event turnout, equipment sales, increased viewership, and new sponsors.
Maximum exposure. We are not interested in selling a few on-site spectator tickets or pay-per-view packages. The product is made available to as many people around the world as possible for free via YouTube’s World Billiard TV channel, Billiard TV and For the Fans (FTF) TV networks.
Build the fan base. To better build the fan base, every event is staged alongside CSI league events with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of BCA Pool League and USA Pool League members in attendance. For the sport to grow, fans must admire the pros and pros must appreciate the fans.
A more professional game. 10-ball is featured as the “game of the pros” because it requires more skill than 9-ball. In 10-ball, shots must be intended and called, breaking requires better technique and maneuvering the cue ball for position on the next shot is often more difficult.
Format and equipment consistency. Every Predator US Pro Billiard Series event is played using the same format and equipment. There won’t be different race lengths, different bracket types, or different equipment from event to event. Every event will feature Predator Apex Tables with 4-1/4” pro cut pockets, tournament blue Arcadia Cloth, Predator Arena Lights and Predator Arcos II Balls.
The most innovative ranking system. The US Pro Billiard Series ranking system is managed by FargoRate, the most trusted pool player rating system on earth. It has been designed specifically to balance overall skill level and event results. It eliminates the need for ranking committees and top players are not knocked out of contention by a single misfortune or tough draw.
Billiard associations are also seeing this increase as beneficial to the entire industry. “It is always great for our athletes and our sport when we see promoters continually raise the bar and grow their events and their prize funds.” said Shane Tyree, WPA Board Chairman and Billiard Congress of America Communications Manager. “To see what CSI and Predator have planned for 2022 and beyond with the US Pro Billiard Series is very exciting for North American professional players and cue sports enthusiasts.”
To learn more about the US Pro Billiard Series or to register, visit www.usprobilliardseries.com.
