UMB, Lausanne 1 September 2024.
2025 will be a key year for sport in Asia. Billiards will be present in different events, so the UMB is deploying a workplan to promote carom billiards in new regions. China has been the main target since 2022.
We had the opportunity to initiate the contacts with the Yushan Billiards Academy project and the Chinese Federation that also added their interest to this initiative
Now, two years later, and after two successful exhibition events with top-level international players that obtained a very important audience on social networks in China with nearly 2 million views, the path continues, but already with the Chinese Billiards Federation (CBSA) as a member of the Asian Confederation (ACBC) and with the first participation of a Chinese player in the 2024 Asian Confederal Championship.
Our priority was to lay the foundations on which to build growth that could be relatively rapid, so we will work immediately from September 2024 with the implementation of a month-long combined training course for future coaches from the Chinese Federation and young players from the Yushan Billiards Academy who have already demonstrated an interest in 3- Cushion billiard with a remarkable level of knowledge. We hope that the around 20 existing billiard clubs in China will be encouraged by these new activities and that will contribute to the expected growth of our activities in China.
The UMB is the KNBB grateful for their involvement, cooperation and advice on contacting Jean Paul de Bruijn, official KNBB 3-Cushion trainer, who expressed his interest in joining the program from the first moment. Jean Paul is internationally recognized as a top player and as a coach. For the occasion, we already have a magnificent training center that we have equipped with the necessary material, tables, cues, balls, etc. We can count on a successful combination of enthusiastic and capable young players and sports teaching professionals, specialized in billiards, and a trainer/coach of international stature.
We would like to highlight the two years that we have been working on this program that is already a reality and in which we have high hopes.Other programs are beginning to be developed in other regions. We will inform you about the progress of this project at a later stage.
In 2025, the World Games will be held under the IOC flag in China, in the city of Chengdu. Four disciplines will be present, including Snooker and Pool, Three Cushions and, as a novelty, HEYBALL, a pool discipline of Chinese origin that has huge quotas on the country's TV channels. The Games will also be a opportunity to loudly and broadly spread the beauty and excitement of our sport, as a unique platform that we will gratefully welcome and promote.
Our goal is to continuously grow in member countries, fans, competitions and help rejuvenate our foundations and promote the sport. To do this, we need the involvement of all clubs, federations and confederations, increasing activity and affiliation in their respective areas, confirming our presence on social networks and the development of 3-Cushion e-Games.
