Elims on for Women's 10-Ball

MANILA, Philippines – Dozens of aspiring lady cue artists from around the world gather to take a shot at the JBETpoker.net Women’s World 10-Ball Championship through a series of qualifying tournaments that begin today at the Paeng’s Skybowl in Robinson’s Galleria Mall in Quezon City.

Six slots in the 48-woman main draw are up for grabs in the two-day qualifiers for what is billed as the biggest sporting event for women in the Philippines this year.

The event is presented by Dragon Promotions and JBETpoker.net.

National team mainstay Mary Ann Basas will lead the local bets hoping to join 2007 Women’s World 9-Ball Championship runner-up Rubilen Amit and 2008 WPBA Rookie of the Year Iris Ranola in the tournament slated June 2-6 at the SM City North Edsa.

Qualifiers will also gain a chance at the $20,000 top prize at stake in the event supported by ABS-CBN, SM Mall North Edsa, Magic 89.9, Predator Cues, The Philippine STAR, Bugsy Promotions, and recognized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines and the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines.

A total of $75,000 cash prize is at stake in this event, which will run under the theme “Billiards, the sport of the Philippines, the sport of the people” and sanctioned by the World Pool and Billiard Association.

The tournament will be telecast by ESPN-Star Sports and ABS-CBN.

With the combined coverage of ESPN Star Sports and ABS-CBN, the Women’s World 10-Ball Championship will be seen in 40 countries worldwide.

Over 40 hours of match coverage is scheduled. No women’s billiards event in history has ever had so much televised airtime, especially live, organizers said.