One look at the Pockets Pro Series leaderboard and two names stick out.

Lyndall Vine and Jayme White are both without a match win to their name for the series.

Fittingly enough, both players have drawn themselves in the first round in Championship 7.

Lyndall, the receiver of a wild card due to her dominance in women's pool for decades has shown glimpses of class, but has been unable to get that first win.

The South Australian is arguably the most decorated player in Australian cue sports, yet hasn't been able to replicate the feats that has seen her win title after title.

Jayme, also winless after six Championships has struggled to find form capable of producing a win.

'The Kid' has found himself on the wrong side of the scorecard early on in his matches and while he has clawed his way back into the matches, the damage had already been done.

Lyndall and Jayme break off at noon on table 8, with the winner progressing to table 1 at 2.30pm.

Championship 7 kicks off on Saturday 17th of June. Keep up to date with the live scores at pockets.com.au

The Pockets Pro Series is days away from Championships 7 and 8 and we've seen six different championship winners.

These 6 winners have themselves firmly lodged in the top 8 on the leaderboard.

The most glaring factor of the top 8 is the absence of multiple time winners in the Pockets Pro Series 2022.

Steve Woods, Justin Sajich and Marc Robertson have failed in their attempts so far this year to be sprinkled with confetti - something they were so familiar with last season and a key factor to the ranking points.

Justin and Marc both won events outside of the Pro Series this year, but have been unable to replicate that in the high pressure of the Pockets Sports arena.

Players also featuring in 2022 who haven't held winners cheques, or capitalised on ranking points this year include Alec Evreniadis and Michael Scerri.

Michael, the human highlight reel of 2022, started the year in promising fashion making the Semi Final in both the first two championships.

He has since not lived up to the hype only winning three matches since.

Alec also has returned a poor 2023 track record with only the 4 match wins for the series.

With 4 championships remaining, are we going to see any of these five players step up and bathe in confetti? Or is the top 8 just too far out of reach?

Catch the live action on the 17th and 18th of June at pockets.com.au

The weekend of the 7th of September is scheduled to host the first Pockets Champ of Champs. The 16-player field will be made up of the top 8 overall players from both the Pockets Pro Series and the Pockets Challenger Series. Pockets Sports’ largest sponsor – Pockets Bar is putting up $20,000 in prize money in a winner takes all, one-off Championship. Yes, you read that right - $20,000 for the winner!

The largest winners cheque offered thus far by Pockets Sports, entry is free for the lucky players who qualify for the Champ of Champs. As per usual, Pockets Sports will be creating a high-pressure, high reward experience for the best 8 players of both categories who are vying for the right of the first name on the Champ of Champs trophy.

With both Pro and Challenger Series wrapping up over the next couple of months, all eyes are on the overall rankings for both categories to see who takes the highly sought after spots. Be sure to have your subscriptions up to date as this is a Championship NOT to be missed!

Not even 24 hours after the debut of the Pockets Pro Series on Fox Sports and Kayo, the major sports producer have already scheduled more time slots on their calendar.

What came as a bit of a shock, but not a surprise to the Pockets Sports team, was that the time slots were scheduled without any notice.

Arthur Titus, Director of Pockets Sports was notably excited when we spoke to him. He was always confident that model that he developed and the team that he had with him would get the project to this point.

“As long as we are moving together as a community and watching/recording, there is no doubt that the polls will surprise Fox Sports. We are stronger in numbers than alone. So please keep watching! Even if it’s your fifth time, I am doing the same”.

Through this announcement, it is evident that Pockets Sports are creating a product that is entertaining and enthralling.

Fox Sports have scheduled in a prime-time slot of 6pm – 7pm on Friday evening, as well as a 11pm – 1am for the night owls.

Give your mates a call and gather round the TV. The excitement of Pockets Sports continues!

Friday 26th of May - Fox Sports Channel 505 (or Kayo Live Channels 505) 6pm – 7pm.
Saturday 27th of May - Fox Sports Channel 507 (or Kayo Live Channel 507) 11pm – 1am

The year is 2023 and a Thursday afternoon in May is the day Australian Pool breaks onto mainstream television. The Director of Pockets Sports, Arthur Titus has delivered a promise that was visioned before inception and a critical foundation to the project to push Pool in Australia into the public spotlight. Fox Sports, the major producer of sports in Australia will air for the first time to its 4.5million subscribers, Australian Pool at its finest.

Just like major sports around the world, players are financially supported to keep at the top of their game. 3pm AEST begins the next step in not having to prioritise work schedules over practice and training. For athletes to stay at their peak performance, focussing on training and practice is the priority if they are to compete at world class levels.

Australian Pool is rich history, but poor in funding. Rich in community, but poor in perception. Rich in talent, but poor for rewarding talent. Gone are the days that Pool is seen as just a grubby pub sport for drunks. The 25th of May 2023 is the day Pockets Sports shows to the country that Pool is a professional career sport. With the incorporation of the best New Zealand talent, Pockets Sports is now Oceania’s leading Pool Promoter and the pinnacle for the players to participate in.

The Pockets Sports team have prided themselves on creating drama and putting on a show. Be prepared for edge of your seat action and a highly entertaining couple of hours of action captured at the Pockets Sports arena in Melbourne, Australia. Check your local Foxtel or Kayo guides for your airing times. If you can’t watch it, record it. This is a spectacle NOT to be missed.

Fox Sports Channel 505 (or Kayo Live Channels 505) 3pm – 5pm. Then Fox Sports Channel 507 (or Kayo Live Channel 507) 9pm – 10pm.

In a ground-breaking development for the sport of pool in Australia, Pockets Sports is set to take centre stage on Fox Sports channels 505 and 507.

The upcoming broadcast of the previous Pro Series event on the 24^th and 25^th of May marks a pivotal and historic moment for professionalising pool in the country and is a testament to the growing popularity and appeal of the sport.

Once confined to smoky pool halls and select enthusiasts, pool is now taking its place among the mainstream sports in Australia.

The exposure to a wider audience will not only captivate fans but also generate fresh interest and attract players to the sport.

Enhanced exposure will attract sponsorships, encourage investment, and provide a platform for emerging talent to showcase their skills and make a name for themselves.

“I believe if you are good at something, you should be rewarded for it.”

Arthur Titus – Director, Pockets Sports

Throughout history, many sports have experienced game-changing breakthroughs when they first hit the airwaves.

The introduction of televised darts tournaments transformed it from a pub game to a fiercely competitive sport with a dedicated following, with the World Darts Championship now one of the most-watched sporting events on British television.

Similarly, the broadcasting of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) revolutionized the game, turning previously unknown players into household names and attracting massive audiences worldwide.

Pool, with its inherent excitement, strategic intricacies, and nail-biting finishes, is poised to experience a similar surge in popularity through its televised exposure.

Since the iconic 60’s British television show “Pot Black,” the upcoming broadcast on Fox Sports heralds the long-awaited revival of pool on national screens.

Enthusiasts and casual viewers alike will finally have the opportunity to witness the skill, flair and drama that define this must-watch sport.

The future of pool in Australia is brighter than ever as it takes its rightful place alongside other mainstream sports, capturing the hearts and minds of fans across the country.

Victorian Michael Reardon is $6000 richer and your Pockets Challenger Series Championship 2 winner after a whitewash final against Western Australian, Alex Kingsbury.

Michael almost found himself as a spectator for the final, as his 2nd round match went to a deciding frame. Not having the break in the 11th frame, Michael sat in hope that he would get an opportunity to even get to the table. Luck would have it that his opponent Brett Niemann’s (South Australia) break came up dry and Michael mapped a really classy clearance to take a 6-5 win.

Having surpassed his way through a very challenging field, Michael set up an East/West final against Alex Kingsbury. Alex, was also in sublime form and cueing exceptionally well to craft his way to the final. The final however, began polar opposite to the style of play both players were displaying in the earlier rounds. A slow and scrappy first frame saw Michael draw first blood in what would be a one-sided affair. Alex just couldn’t find his feet and string together a full frame of potting and positional play. Michael on the other hand went from strength to strength to take a commanding 6-0 victory.

After his Semi Final exit in Championship 1, Michael sees himself with 12 ranking points. He is 4 points clear atop the Pockets Challenger Series Overall Rankings with a guaranteed top 16 finish and a ticket into the 2024 Pockets Pro Series. However, this is not mission accomplished just yet for Michael. If he can consolidate himself in the top 8 at the conclusion of Championship 3, he will earn himself a spot in the Champ of Champs and a chance at a $20,000 cheque.

Next up on the Pockets Sports calendar on the 17th and 18th of June is Championships 7 and 8 of the Pockets Pro Series.

After being eliminated by Kolbe Poole 3-2 in the Quarter Finals of Championship 1, the Womens Series Championship 2 trophy is headed West as Ramona Belmont reverses that exact scoreline with a 3-2 win.

In a win that almost didn’t happen, Ramona found herself fortunate to be at the table as the last minute counted down.

A positional error by Kolbe on the eightball after she almost executed a really classy out, handed Ramona the opportunity to close the frame out, or let the time expire.

Had Kolbe closed that frame out, we could have seen a different finish with roughly a minute on the match clock.

Ramona, originally from New Zealand had to dust the cobwebs off her cue as it laid untouched for over a decade: 

“It feels amazing to win a Pockets Womens Championship. I was so grateful and humbled to get an invite after not playing for over 10 years. Winning is a real bonus for me.”

“I woke up Sunday feeling confident and kept telling myself to keep it simple & stay calm”.

Ramona will have to increase her luggage allowance as she returns home to bring the cue out again this coming weekend.

The Pockets experience has whetted the appetite for Ramona as she takes to the tables again, in an attempt to take part in the Western Australian state team to do battle later this year.

Championship 3 of the Pockets Womens begins on 24th of June.

Pockets Challenger Series’ 128 players are ready to battle it out for the second time to share in the $28,000 prize pool that is on offer next weekend.

While a cool $6000 prize is handed to the winner of the weekend, it’s the valuable ranking points that are on offer and their overall rankings which matter the most.

Players finishing overall top 16 in the rankings receive an invitation into the 2024 Pockets Pro Series, while the top 8 get the added bonus of free entry into the Pockets Champ of Champs which is scheduled for later in the year.

The Challenger series truly is a star-studded line up, with the majority of players more than talented enough to hold their own against the Pro’s.

The team caught up with Wonthaggi’s own and one of our young rising stars, Logan Brann: 

“I’ve been playing competitively against these blokes for a while now and reckon I’ve definitely got what it takes.”

“I’m looking forward to having a crack at some of the big guns.”

Another player who is looking forward to his next opportunity is seasoned veteran, Travis Martin: 

“It’s an extremely tough field in the Challenger Series and there are no clear favourites as to who might win.” 

We definitely agree with Travis.

Pockets Sports has filled a very strong field of players and it is extremely tough to not only single out a winner, but to even pick a player to make the Semi Finals.

Championship 2 breaks off on Saturday 13th of May at 10am. Catch the action at www.pockets.com.au

Oceania’s first of four World Ranking Nineball events is quickly reaching its maximum capacity. In little under a week since registrations opened, the first tournament in partnership with Matchroom Pool has received an overwhelming response with event organisers scrambling to accommodate the sheer volume of entrants.

Initially the event set to take place at Empire Bar & Pool in Adelaide which was set at a 64-player maximum cap. This was quickly revised to a 96-player entry limit and now 128.

Resident professional James “Showboat” Georgiadis could scarcely hold back his excitement over the upcoming event:

“To see a World Ranking event like this held in our hometown is wild, I can’t wait for August to roll around!”

The first of two satellite events guaranteeing entry into the Ranking Tournament filled overnight, with the second still rapidly reaching capacity. Michael Cacciola who is a champion cuesports all rounder is stunned with the reception to the registrations:

“The response has been extroadinary. We know there is a strong Nineball community throughout Australia & Oceania but to see numbers like this is mind-blowing. We can’t wait to see the level of skill showcased. This is going to be huge.”

The first of four World Ranking events on the Oceania Tour begins on the 18th of August. Registrations are open on the Pockets Sports website but spots are now limited.