3-Cushion
LAUSANNE/ROSMALEN - The UMB, world billiards federation, has posted a the news on its website stating that the suspensions of players who participated in PBA tournaments have reached the expiration date of July 14. That means, these players can participate in events in the upcoming period. The Dutch federation KNBB has informed two of its players, Glenn Hofman and Jean Paul de Bruijn, that they are welcome at the Grand Prix in Rosmalen, which will be played from August 20-29.
The suspension period for participants in PBA tournaments, which were not recognized by the UMB, applied from July 15, 2019 to July 14, 2020. UMB announced that any successive equal infringement, from July 15, will result in an equal suspension for a new period of one calendar year. The UMB will continue to monitor players' participation in unrecognized international events and apply appropriate sanctions in accordance with its statutes and rules. The next PBA event is scheduled for October 1-4, 2020.
The next tournament in the period without suspensions is the first three-cushion Grand Prix in the Netherlands in the new season. Players can register for that tournament until Saturday July 25. Hans de Bruin, KNBB, assures: "Glenn Hofman and Jean Paul de Bruijn have indicated that they want to participate and they get our access."
Grand Prix participation is moving towards an increase in the number of players compared to last season's tournaments. The participation is currently at 117 with a number of new faces, such as Gerwin Valentijn and Ben Velthuis, who stayed away for for many years in the Grand Prix cycle.
The news for the World Cup in Veghel, which is still on the UMB calendar from October 25-31, depends on the travel options of players, as the UMB informed the Dutch organizers. Final decision will follow as soon as possible.