Earlier this year in light of the long-standing relationship between the WPA and Matchroom, and in the best interests of our athletes, the WPA made a gesture of goodwill. On 7 February 2024, the WPA resolved to sanction the following Matchroom tournaments in 2024 without requiring a sanctioning fee:
- Premier League Pool
- World Pool Masters
- U.K. Open Pool Championship
- World Cup of Pool
- European Open Pool Championship
- U.S. Open Pool Championship
- Mosconi Cup
Recently the WPA has made it clear that if players participate in the Hanoi Open (which has refused to seek WPA sanctioning) then the athletes will be choosing not to participate in WPA Sanctioned Tournaments for 6 months after that event.
It has now come to the WPA’s attention that the Peri Open is a Category 4 international Tournament and will have added prize money of USD $46,000. Whilst ultimately athletes are responsible to determine if a Pool Event is an unsanctioned event that should be sanctioned, the WPA has resolved that since it nominated the Hanoi Open as the event where athletes are making a choice that it will stand by that decision.
In the circumstance the WPA has resolved in the best interests of the Athletes to sanction the Peri Open with an Imposed Sanction under its regulations. Please note that athletes won’t receive ranking points, but they will be able to participate without affecting their WPA Athlete License.
