GLOBAL SNOOKER NEWS

The International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF), World Snooker and the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS) have announced a new cooperative policy to ensure the best possible promotion and development of snooker at all levels across the planet.

The move came about following the election of leading French lawyer, Pascal Guillaume, to the role of IBSF President, at the IBSF AGM Elections, held in Veldhoven, Holland, last week.

In his election address Mr Guillaume pledged a policy of unification within the game and true to his promise, within twenty-four hours of his election, Adrian Metcalfe, WPBSA Board Director and Mr Claude Du Pont, WCBS Board Member, had flown to Holland to attend joint talks.

The previous few years have been dogged by conflict between the Governing Bodies, but that has been swept away by strong declarations from all parties of the need to work constructively together for the future benefit of the sport.

Adrian Metcalfe, a former Olympic medallist and Media expert, pledged World Snooker support saying “Our organisations exist to promote cue sports. We must work together harmoniously and positively for their advancement.

“World Snooker is committed to increasing the number and quality of tournaments for Professionals and Amateurs alike and opening up the sport to the widest possible audience of players and viewers around the world.”

At the IBSF AGM the following officials were elected:

Mr Pascal Guillaume (France) – President

Mr Keith Horwood (South Africa) – Vice-President

Mrs Linda den Hartog (Holland) – Secretary

Mr Ray Hapgood (New Zealand) – Treasurer

Metcalfe added “We are also very pleased that World Snooker has been very quick to support the new team.”

Mr Keith Horwood, the new IBSF Vice-President and Chairman of the South Africa Federation was upbeat about the new mood of optimism sweeping through the game. “It was a great pleasure to meet Adrian Metcalfe. His visit, less than 24 hours after our election, has shown all national governing bodies that relations between the two organisations are now on a sound footing.

“I explained to Adrian that IBSF member countries had been waiting for a strong message from IBSF and World Snooker to show that there is harmony between Amateur and Professional snooker and that we will work ‘as one’ to promote and develop the game in a coordinated structure across the globe.”

Pascal Guillaume was equally delighted to welcome the WCBS, represented by Jean Claude Du Pont, President of the UMB and General Secretary of the WCBS.

“The decision of the WCBS to accept our invitation has to be interpreted as a real signal of the real willingness to resume a positive relationship with IBSF as an integral part of the WCBS.

“We look forward to taking our seat, alongside World Snooker, on the WCBS, to represent snooker with a constructive and coherent joint policy.

Mr Du Pont stressed that the WCBS constitution, adopted in Last Vegas in March 2004, leaves the way open for IBSF to resume their place as an integral part of the WCBS.

“I am glad that the past is behind us and I regret that such a situation ever arose, but now we are delighted to be here in joint talks and this bodes well for the future of snooker and all cue sports under the WCBS umbrella.”