2026 WPA Blackball World Championships — Heathrow, London
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Playing rules

Blackball playing rules and championship guidance.

Blackball rules documents: The supplied Blackball International rulebook is available below (the document is marked Revision 2023.001). The WPA also publishes a separate Rules of Play document. The Tournament Director should confirm which edition and any event-specific instructions take precedence during this championship.

Official championship handbook

2026 World Championships handbook

Event rules context, dress code, competition categories, conduct, safeguarding and accommodation information.

Download championship handbook

Dress code

Official team shirt and dress trousers are required. All-black leather or rubber-soled footwear is acceptable. Jeans and tracksuit bottoms are prohibited. Compulsory wristbands will be issued at the managers’ meeting.

Conduct and officials

Official referees will be appointed. The handbook sets out zero tolerance for abuse, harassment, discrimination, gambling violations and match fixing.

Quick reference in the supplied PDF: legal break (page 20), fouls and penalties (pages 37–43), shot clock (page 44), conduct (pages 45–46) and phones, smoking and alcohol (page 49). Floating referees cover play. Escalated refereeing decisions are made by Head Referee Kobus Kirstein and are final. The Tournament Director is Neil Toms. The first rules and scoring briefing is the managers’ meeting at 10:00 on 20 October (room TBC).

Tournament sponsors

Official partners supporting the World Championships.