The WPBA Carolina Classic Billiards Tournament
The world’s best women billiards players bring the Power of 9-Ball to Downtown Durham this September!

A lucky few will see the power of 9-ball in person when 64 world class players of world class players invade Bay 7 on the American Tobacco Campus for the Carolina Classic Billiards Tournament, organized by the Women’s Professional Billiards Association. The Carolina Classic is one of seven qualifying tournaments leading up to the Tour Championship in November in Hollywood, Florida.

Ewa Mataya Laurance (the Striking Viking), regarded as one of the sport’s true pioneers beginning in her native Sweden in 1981, will join the world’s best women billiards players including Jeanette Lee (the Black Widow) and North Carolina residents Allison Fisher and Kelly Fisher.  Kelly Fisher currently ranks #1 and holds the 2008 US Open 9-Ball Championship title.  

The Carolina Classic takes place Sept 11-14 and includes:

• Pre-Tournament ProAm contest with the WPBA’s top 12 players on Wed. Sept.10th, 7pm-9pm in Bay 7 on the American Tobacco Campus in Durham. Proceeds to benefit the Central North Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross.
• Pre-Tournament Trick Shot Contest, including Ewa Mataya Laurance, also on Wednesday night, 8pm- 10pm, at the Green Room on Broad Street in Durham. Proceeds to benefit Duke Children’s Hospital.
• Tournament play begins Thursday, Sept. 11th at 10am through Sunday, Sept. 14th. 
• ESPN and ESPN 2 will record the championship match on Sunday for rebroadcast multiple times on the cable networks.

 

Media Opportunities

• Player interviews available pre-tournament, Wednesday, Sept. 10th at noon and 5pm.
• Photo opportunities available Wednesday night, Sept. 10th during Pro-Am tournament, 6:30-9p, and Trick Shot contest, 8-10p.
• Photo opportunities during tournament play Thursday through Saturday. Player interviews limited.
• Videotaping prohibited during championship play on Sunday, Sept. 14th.  ESPN exclusive.
  • All media inquiries: Cindy Sink | 919-413-1470 | media@cbc-raleigh.com
  • WPBA contact: Anne Craig | 615-859-9722 | anne@wpba.com
  • Durham community and visitor information; event packages: Contact Shelly Green | 919-680-8302

About the WPBA

Originally formed in 1976, the Women’s Professional Billiards Association has helped grow the sport into a top 10 recreational sport in America, drawing over 35 million players annually.  The modern day WPBA Classic Tour was established in 1993.  A partnership with ESPN provides airings of WPBA tournament play in over 90 countries, which allows fans all over the world to follow the race to become the world’s best. The WPBA players are at the pinnacle of their sport representing many nationalities, and command tournament purses of up to $100,000. The Carolina Classic is one of 7 qualifying tournaments leading up to the Tour Championships in November in Hollywood, Florida.  See www.wpba.com for player bios, history, and tournament details.

About the game of 9-ball

Professional 9-ball is played with a cue ball and object balls numbered 1 through 9. The object balls are racked in a diamond configuration with the one-ball always at the top and the 9-ball always in the middle. The player must always hit the lowest numbered ball on the table first for the shot to be considered legal.

Any balls pocketed as a result of a legal shot allow the player to continue shooting. As long as the next ball in order is hit first (i.e. a legal hit on the next numbered ball), a game is won when the 9-ball is legally pocketed.

About Durham
The Carolina Classic Tournament is proudly sponsored byDurham – Where Great Things Happen.  Durham is a colorful, creative, and entrepreneurial community and the proud home of Research Triangle Park, Duke and North Carolina Central universities. Visitors have found this congenial town to be filled with an engaging spirit, where diverse and passionate people come together to shape a better world.  Both residents and visitors enjoy the host of cultural, historical, educational, and natural amenities that it has to offer. Occupying a prime location in the heart of North Carolina, Durham is a nexus for learning, achievement, creativity, research, and industry, and draws 5.8 million visitors each year. 

The American Tobacco Historic District in the heart of downtown Durham is home to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the new Durham Performing Arts Center, and American Tobacco Campus where over 3000 people live, work and play.  From baseball to Broadway, American Tobacco is Downtown Durham’s Entertainment District.

All media inquiries,
Contact Cindy Sink, 919-413-1470
media@cbc-raleigh.com

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