Karl Boyes
Three world champions are among the 12 players chosen as alternates for the World Professional Billiard League. Renowned European players Chris Melling, Karl Boyes and Jayson Shaw have each joined a team. Melling, who was just named the MVP of the recently completed 2012 Mosconi Cup, will play for the Toronto Blue Sharks and Boyes, the 2010 WPA World 8-Ball champion will join the already star-studded lineup of the Chicago Rockets. Scottish player Shaw, the 2010 World Black Ball champion, will play for the Philadelphia Aces.
The entire list of alternates is as follows:
South Conference
John Brumback Atlanta Scorpions
Nick Spano Las Vegas Dice
Josh Ulrich Los Angeles Wave
Marc Vidal Phoenix Flames
Teddy Garahan Miami Cruise
Joey Gray Houston Hustlers
North Conference
Karl Boyes Chicago Rockets
Santos Sambajon New York Pride
Donny Mills Pittsburgh Poison
Chris Melling Toronto Blue Sharks
Max Eberle Minnesota Outlaws
Jayson Shaw Philadelphia Aces
Each team consists of three core players and one alternate player who will substitute in the event that one of their teammates cannot play a match. WPBL President Larry Chiborak added, “With the addition of such talent, the depth of these teams is amazing.”
Upon being selected as an alternate, Karl Boyes stated “I’m over the moon to have joined the WPBL in Las Vegas, and to have been signed up to the Chicago Rockets is an honor in itself.” Boyes, the 2012 Guinness World Speed Pool champion, will not have an issue adjusting to the 24 second shot clock employed by the WPBL. Furthermore, he is accustomed to playing with a team as he has been a member of championship teams in both the World Team Championship as well as the Mosconi Cup.
The UK’s Chris Melling who was formerly ranked #1 in the world said “I'm really excited about playing in the WPBL it's a new challenge and I can't wait to get started.” He is the first person to have competed as a professional 8-Ball Pool, 9-Ball Pool and Snooker player at the same time. Melling will now have Bonus Ball to add to his list of billiard specialties.
Alternates have begun practicing Bonus Ball and training with their teammates. Therefore, any one of these skilled players will be prepared to step in when called upon by their team during the season.
