For the fourth straight year, Dragon Promotions will produce the Annual Predator World 14.1 Championship, marking the 69th running of this prestigious title. Comet Billiards will host this year's event playing on beautiful Brunswick Gold Crown tables and using Simonis Cloth, Master Chalk, and the Laser Rack. Play begins August 24, 2009 and ends with a new champion on August 29. The greatest straight pool players from around the world will arrive on USA's east coast Invented by Jerome Keough and shortly after recognized as the official game of billiards, the first World 14.1 Championship was held in 1911, won by Alfredo DeOro. In its history due to war and economics, the World 14.1 Championship had 29 tournaments that did not take place including a 15 year gap between 1990-2005 until Dragon Promotions revived the game and the World Tournament in 2006. That also became the first year a non-American won the event, Germany's Thorsten Hohmann...

  14.1 stars including Thorsten Hohmann, John Schmidt, Ralf Souquet, Danny Harriman, Tony Robles, Mika Immonen and defending champion Niels Fiejen are just a few of the powerful list of world beaters who will compete. Qualifiers thus far will be held at Drexeline Billiards in PA, Amsterdam Billiards in NY, and Comet Billiards in NJ. To host a qualifier or play, contact worldstraightpoolchampionships@gmail.com  

The format for the event will be the same as the past three years. 64 players divided into 8 groups of 8 players in round robin brackets playing races to 100. The top 32 players will advance to a double elimination tournament races to 150. The top 16 players will then advance to a single elimination race to 200 points. Half of the field will earn prize money with the champion winning $11,500. The champion will also have his/her name inscribed on the World 14.1 Champion's Cup alongside the names of previous winners such as Steve Mizerak, Mike Sigel, Willie Mosconi, Thorsten Hohmann and Oliver Ortmann.  

August 23, the night before the event kicks off, Comet Billiards will host a special sponsor / pro team match tournament for the patron sponsors of the event. Billiard aficionado Stu Mattana of NYC and long time billiard supporter Harold Siegel of NYC are two of this year's generous patrons of the Predator World 14.1 Championship. Their contributions are helping keeping the event going.  

"The World Straight Pool Championship has become a very important event for the players, fans, and billiard community. It is a very tough time in the economy now, but based on the outpouring support of players and fans we felt it was our responsibility to try to put on the event. We hope others in the billiard community feel the same and work towards keeping the World Straight Pool Championship alive," said Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions.  

The 2009 Predator World Straight Pool Championship is proudly sponsored by Predator Cues, Comet Billiards, Brunswick Billiards, Simonis Cloth, Ozone Billiards, Laser Rack, Master Chalk and patron sponsors Stu Mattana and Harold Siegel of Excelsior Graphics. For more information on player registration, sponsorship, or if you would like to submit a comment, please email worldstraightpoolchampionships@gmail.com or contact Dragon Promotions at 1-407-782-4978.    

For more info on this event and its sponsors, visitwww.dragonpromotions.com