Tournament Rules
Depending on the format of the tournament you are entering, the tournaments will be played under either International Rules or Blackball Rules on American or English pool tables. Each round will be Race to 3 (Best of 5) with the Finals being Race to 4 (Best of 7). Guidance on each can be found linked below:
It is the player’s responsibility to be aware of all the rules applying to the competition. While tournament officials will make every reasonable effort to have such information readily available to all players as appropriate the ultimate responsibility rests with the player.
Competition Management
The draw for tournaments will be made randomly by the competition management software Challonge which will also record all of the results and show the participant’s progress throughout the tournament.
Match time
It is the player’s responsibility to check the time of their match. Players must be present in the venue and ready to play at their scheduled start time. The Tournament Director will call the match when your table is available.
Speed of play
Tournaments are run to strict time schedules and matches are allocated the following times:
- Best of 5 frames – 50 minutes
- Best of 7 frames – 1 hour 15 minutes
- Best of 9 frames – 1 hour 30 minutes
Scoring and Results
Both players are responsible for updating/completing the score sheets correctly. If you start the next frame without checking the score you will be deemed to have accepted the score. The winning player should ensure the scores are correct before commencing the next frame. Any errors, which cannot be corrected by the players, must be reported immediately to the Tournament Director or Referee.
It is the responsibility of the players to inform the Tournament Director of the result of the match.
Referee
It is the player’s responsibility to call a referee to a table to watch a shot or make a decision during a match. The player or the opponent has the right to call a referee. If the opponent calls for a referee it must be done before the player commences their shot (if a player, plays quickly, then the opponent must act quickly). The referee’s decision will be final.
Unsporting conduct
Players must conduct themselves in a fair and sporting fashion and obey the spirit of the game adhering to the rules. Unsportsmanlike conduct is any intentional behaviour that brings disrepute to the game, or which disrupts or changes the game to the extent that it cannot be played fairly, it includes any behaviour which is likely to distract, intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against (on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex or ethnic origin) their opponent.
Penalty for breach of rule: At the Tournament Director or Referees discretion any of the following penalties or a combination of these may be used:
- Warning
- Loss of frame
- Loss of match
- Disqualification from the tournament.
Situations not covered by the rules
If any situation or question arises that is not covered in the rules the Tournament Director or Referee will be consulted and their decision will be final.
General Information
Membership
All participants in the tournaments will be required to be members of Spot White.
Registration for Tournaments
Each player will receive a confirmation email upon receipt of their payment for a tournament, if the tournament is full upon receipt of your payment you will have the option of automatic entry into the next tournament or a refund. Refunds will be paid as soon as is practicable.
Entry fees
Players must pay their entry fee prior to playing in the tournament. A player may be allowed to transfer his/her place to another person if they are unable to attend, this will be at the discretion of the Tournament Director.
Refunds will not be given unless in exceptional circumstances and the decision will be made by the Tournament Director and processed as soon as is practicable.
Prize money
All the entry fees with be allocated to the prize money fund, less our costs for entries and payment processing of approx. £0.50 per entry. The allocation of prize money will be made available to all players upon registration to the tournament for example:
- Winner / Runner up and Semi Finalists of an Open Tournament.
- Winner and Runner up of the ‘Plate Tournament’.
Payment will be made by bank transfer to the respective winners within 48 hours of the conclusion of the tournament.
Social Media consent
Please be aware that we may be taking photographs and potentially filming during the tournaments. If this causes an issue, please inform the Tournament Director as soon as is practicable.
General obligations
Players shall, at all times, behave in a proper and correct manner and not do anything which is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other person.
Contact information
For any further information or details about future tournaments please contact the Tournament Director at tournaments@spotwhite.com.