The WPBA maintains working relationships with other organizations within the billiard industry by enlisting their support and exchanging information and ideas as well as creating ways for aspiring amateur players to move through the ranks to compete at the professional level. In addition, the WPBA works within these structures to promote international competition both within our organization, and in providing American players for international events such as the WPA World 9-Ball Championships.
The Billiard Congress of America (BCA)
The Association of College Unions-International (ACU-I)
The World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA)
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The Billiard Congress of America (BCA)
Operating for 53 years, the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) is the longest continuously operating billiard association in U.S. history. Their mission is to promote competition and recreational participation in the sport of pocket billiards in the United States by establishing and disseminating information on all aspects of billiards. They strive to increase awareness of, and participation in, the sport to all people.
The first time billiard authorities came together in this country for an official purpose was in 1863, when a Billiard Congress was held to establish the rules for the first American Championship Tournament, won by Dudley Kavanagh. The congress consisted of player representatives and tournament officials, and only met when needed, to set rules and resolve disputes.
Today, the BCA has various categories of membership, including manufacturers, retailers, entrepreneurs and amateur players. The BCA sanctions independent leagues (about 40,000 players), publishes the official rules & records book, establishes recreational equipment specifications, provides affiliation with the WPBA, and funding with other organizations like the WPA and WCBS.
The BCA and WPBA have an exchange of seats on their respective boards of directors. With this exchange of voting membership, players and industry members are kept apprised of each other's happenings, equipment standards, and upcoming events.
The WPBA provides professional players to the BCA Open 9-ball Challenge, held in Las Vegas in May during the BCA National Championships as well as players for the annual BCA Challenge of Stars, a charity event held in conjunction with the BCA Trade Expo. WPBA membership is granted to female participants in the BCA's annual Junior Championships, and free entry is offered to the WPBA National Championships for winners of the BCA's National 8-ball Championships.
The BCA will once again produce the annual BCA Trade Expo in Las Vegas during July 19-21, catering to retailers and dealers worldwide.
For more information on BCA membership or products, you can visit their web site at www.bca-pool.com.
The Association of College Unions-International (ACU-I)
The ACU-I provides local, state, regional and national competition structures for aspiring amateur and professional players in college and university student unions. The WPBA supports their efforts by awarding free membership in the WPBA to female competitors at the national level, and a free entry into the WPBA National Championship for the ACU-I National Champion.
The World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA)
The WPA was formed in 1989 (with the WPBA as one of its founding members), and recognizes all continents as pool-playing, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia are official, with Antarctica being an honorary chapter member. Each continent becomes a member through their national federation (in North America that federation is the BCA). They work in conjunction with the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS, representing snooker, carom, and pocket billiard disciplines) to strive towards Olympic recognition. This year, the WPBA will have two representatives competing in the World Games in Akita, Japan, Jeanette Lee and Vivian Villarreal.
The WPA is the sanctioning body of the annual World 9-Ball Championship, held alternately in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.A. Each year the WPBA provides a group of touring professionals based on ranking to represent the U.S. playing against the best players from around the world.
In 1990, WPBA's Robin Bell (Dodson) won the inaugural WPA World Championship and returned in 1991, to win back-to-back world titles. In 1992, German player, Franziska Stark, became the World Champion. In 1993, Loree Jon Jones returned the title to America, and in 1994 it was defended when Ewa Mataya Laurance won the championship in Chicago. Taipei saw Gerda Hofstatter win representing Austria, and the Europeans have continued to control this title with wins in 1996, 1997 & 1998 by England's Allison Fisher. North America sent nine players to Spain to compete in the 1999 event, which was won by Hsin-Mei Liu. The 2000 World event was won by Julie Kelly, representing her home country of Ireland.
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