The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) and the Junior Billiard Scholarship Fund (JBSF) have agreed to collaborate and ensure the Monica Webb Battle of The Junior Champions remains a marquee junior cue sports event for years to come. Shane Tyree, BEF managing director let the cat out of the bag earlier this month during an appearance on the Window’s Open podcast. Tyree hinted at the collaboration while promoting this year’s BEF Junior National Pool Championships beginning July 8 in Quincy, IL and then formally sealed the deal with the founder and CEO of JBFS Eddie Altman, last week.
Altman, a longtime advocate of cue sports for juniors, was thrilled to finalize the discussions ensuring the continuation of an event he had invested with both his heart and pocketbook. “We started discussions with the BEF Board about six months ago. The agreement between the BEF and Monica Webb Battle of The Junior Champions will benefit junior competitors and provide growth opportunities for pool families for years to come.” Altman referenced enhancements to the event that will translate into more qualitative opportunities for participants. “The Billiard Education Foundation are well positioned to take the helm of the Monica Webb Battle of the Junior Champions event and ensure the event’s competitors have more opportunities to compete at the highest level.”
Constantly seeking to improve the BEF’s event schedule and the American players’ competitiveness on an international stage, the BEF was not about to let an existing gem like the Monica Webb Battle of the Junior Champions become anything less than another jewel to showcase America’s young superstars. “The teams competition model Eddie and JBFS apply to the Monica Webb Battle of the Junior Champions is very exciting to both watch and participate in and the BEF will leverage the event to provide more opportunities to develop Team USA,” Tyree explained. “This year’s BEF Junior National 10-Ball champions will have their travel to New Zealand covered and the BEF will utilize this new event to continue to improve prizes and travel stipends for Team USA members.”
Details surrounding the 2025 Monica Webb Battle of the Junior Champions will be announced after the 2024 WPA World Junior 10-Ball Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. Team Captains for the 2025 Monica Webb Battle of the Junior Champions will consist of the 18&U Boys and Girls 10-Ball champions from the 2024 BEF Junior National Pool Championship, and player selection will be determined by player performance during BEF qualifying events, BEF state championships, the BEF Junior National Pool Championships and the WPA World Junior 10-Ball Championships.
About Billiard Education Foundation
The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) was formed in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity committed to promoting a lifelong love of pool and building the next generation of players through youth programs and academic scholarships. The BEF also sanctions Junior State Championships, produces the annual BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships and qualifies young players each year to compete at the WPA World Junior Championships. Visit BilliardEducation.org to learn more about junior programs in your area.
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