Event Information | 2026 WPA Blackball World Championships

Event information

Essential championship, venue and travel information.

Managers’ meeting: Tuesday 20 October 2026 at 10:00 AM. This is the first event meeting; there is no separate event registration office. Team managers (or named deputies) collect compulsory player wristbands, submit mixed doubles names, verify League App Live and CueScore entries, confirm their nation's opening-ceremony song and receive rules/scorekeeping instructions. Room TBC. Opening ceremony 12:00; play starts 14:00. See Noticeboard and What's On.

Official Rules Event Contacts What's On

Venue

Thistle London Heathrow Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom. The hotel sits close to Terminal 5 with Pod, bus and car access from the airport.

Championship dates

Arrival is 19 October 2026. Opening ceremony at 12:00 and play from 14:00 on 20 October. Competition runs 20–28 October, with finals from 15:00 and presentation/closing at 19:30 on 28 October. Departure on 29 October. Dinner arrangements TBC.

Prize fund

The WPA has opened the prize fund with $100,000, with the final distribution to be confirmed once registration closes.

Official equipment

Tables: Rasson Ironman. Balls: Dynasphere Blackball. Cloth: LiberWin.

Competition categories

There will be two events: the World Championship and the Hawley Cup. World Championship categories include Men, Women, Wheelchair, Under 15/Under 18 (combined), Under 23, Seniors, Masters and Grandmasters. Hawley Cup categories are Men and Women.

Competition formats

Men’s A, Men’s B and Ladies: round robin with the top two teams going directly to the semi-finals. The teams placed 3rd and 6th play off, as do 4th and 5th; both winners complete the semi-final line-up. Seniors, Masters, Grandmasters, U23 and U18: the top four teams advance directly to the semi-finals. Wheelchair singles has its own confirmed format below; other singles and doubles use single elimination.

Team qualification — confirmed

Men’s A, Men’s B, Ladies: 1st and 2nd straight to semi-finals. Playoffs: 3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th. Both winners qualify for the semi-finals. Seniors, Masters, Grandmasters, U23, U18: top four straight to semi-finals. Round-robin ranking tie-breaks and exact semi-final placements remain to be confirmed.

Wheelchair singles format — confirmed

Group stage: Two round-robin groups; every match first to 4. Qualifiers: Top two in each group. Semi-finals: A1 v B2 and B1 v A2, both first to 4. Final: First to 4. To be announced: group allocations, group ranking/tie-break rules and exact fixtures/table allocation.

Dress code

Players must wear official team shirt and dress trousers; all-black leather or rubber-soled footwear is acceptable. Jeans and tracksuit bottoms are prohibited. Compulsory player wristbands will be issued at the managers’ meeting.

Conduct and safeguarding

There is zero tolerance for abuse, harassment, discrimination, gambling violations and match fixing. Each nation must appoint a responsible manager or guardian for every under-18 player. Safeguarding Lead: Anna Goodwin; on-site contact route TBC.

Additional event entry fees — confirmed

World Grand Prix: £55 per entry. Mixed doubles: £55 per pair. Both entries close at 20:00 on 22 October. For all other entry arrangements, follow the official championship information issued to managers.

Accommodation

Accommodation is based on two people sharing, with breakfast, bottled water, soft drinks, and a specially priced players menu.

Accommodation policy

All participants must stay in British Pool Federation Blackball allocated accommodation. Any outside booking will not be permitted entry into the event.

Presentation dinner — TBC

Dinner arrangements, price and payment method are TBC. Managers must collect their delegation’s payments and confirm attendance numbers by 22 October. The presentation and closing ceremony is scheduled for 19:30 on 28 October, with a DJ afterwards.

Arrival & wristbands

Hotel check-in is on 19 October. There is no separate event registration desk. Team managers receive compulsory player wristbands at the 10:00 managers’ meeting on 20 October and should check all players before each session. Wristband replacement procedure and meeting room TBC.

Additional events & entry deadlines

Mixed doubles £55 per pair: managers collect registration details on arrival; matches on 23 October, first to 4. World Grand Prix £55 per entry: enter and pay through CueScore; play on 23 October, first to 5. Both entries close at 20:00 on 22 October. Macmillan poolathon: 23 October, 09:00–21:00. Mixed doubles payment route and the exact start times are to be confirmed.

Competition play & scoring

Team events use League App Live ↗. Round robin: five-player teams play all 25 frames; three-player teams all 15. Knockouts are first to 13 or first to 8 respectively. World Championship singles (except wheelchair): first to 6; all doubles: first to 4. CueScore ↗ provides individual competition and Grand Prix tournament listings. Confirm final fixture/app access at the managers’ meeting.

Officials & disputes

Neil Toms is Tournament Director. Floating referees cover the event; Kobus Kirstein is Head Referee and has final authority on table rulings. Players should seek a referee before a disputed shot. For welfare contact Anna Goodwin through the on-site safeguarding route (TBC).