i TV Pinoy

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

-- Giant sports network ESPN and ABS-CBN-Studio 23 will air live the critical matches in the World Ten Ball Championship to be held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

ESPN begins its live telecast on November 27 – the so-called judgment day of the competition. On that day, the 64 players advancing to the knockout round will be determined.

There will be 7 hours of airtime on ESPN per day up to November 30 for a total of 28 hours. Studio 23 will carry 19 hours of live action.

It’s imperative for the players to reach the knockout round to get a piece of the $262,000 prize fund and more importantly a chance to play for the title.

Initially, the 128 players in the main draw will be divided into 16 groups. The group stage will be race-to-9 and double elimination with the four survivors from each group moving on.

A 40-second shot clock rule will be implemented if a match fails to reach the halfway point after an hour to make sure that the matches will be finished within the two-hour time frame.

The matches are expected to be longer this year because of the new rule that aims to further minimize the element of luck in the game.

Golden break is now a history in world 10-ball competition. If a player pockets the 10-ball on his break, it will be returned at the frontend of the rack triangle and play continues.

The change will also create a more distinct pattern in between breaks for the TV coverage team. Last year, the plays before the commercial breaks varied in length because of the golden break factor.