WITH THE 2010 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters increasing its field from 16 to 64, Matchroom Sport can announce that there are 26 qualifying events in place.

The first of these will be in Paris, France on February 14 and will run regularly around the world before the 'last chance saloon' tournaments the day before the event proper starts on Wednesday 12th May.

Working with an array of respected partners around the world, the qualifying events take in France, England, Scotland, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Germany, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Russia, Spain, Canada, USA, Australia, Malaysia and Japan. This will give every pool player in the world the opportunity to win a trip to Las Vegas and mix it with the world's elite in the Masters.
Each qualifying event will carry an entry fee and have, in most cases a maximum field of 32 players. The winner of each event wins a trip to Vegas, to include flight and accommodation, to compete in the Masters and there are cash prizes for high finishers.

The formats for the qualifying events are determined by the local organisers and all qualifiers, dates and contact details are listed below.

After 17 years as a 16-player invitational competition, the Masters, one of the longest established tournaments in pool, has moved to 64 players and will run from Wednesday, May 12 to Sunday, May 16, will take place at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Working in conjunction with Cuesports International, the Masters takes place during the annual BCA National 8-Ball Championships, which sees thousands of players and fans flock to the Riviera for a lengthy festival of pool.

Seven previous winners - Ralf Souquet, Daryl Peach, Francisco Bustamante, Tony Drago, Raj Hundal, Alex Pagulayan and defending champion Darren Appleton - are among the players invited.

The full list of invited players is; Jasmin Ouschan (AUT), Tyler Edey (CAN), Fu Jianbo (CHN), Ko Pin-yi (TPE), Darren Appleton, Allison Fisher, Mark Gray, Imran Majid, Daryl Peach (All ENG), Mika Immonen (FIN), Thorsten Hohmann, Ralf Souquet, Thomas Engert (All GER), Naoyuki Oi (JAP), Niels Feijen (NED), Raj Hundal (IND), Yu Ram Cha (KOR), Tony Drago (MAL), Francisco Bustamante, Dennis Orcollo, Alex Pagulayan, Efren Reyes, Lee Van Corteza (All PHI), Mateusz Sniegocki (POL), David Alcaide (ESP), Marcus Chamat (SWE), Johnny Archer, Corey Deuel, Oscar Dominguez, Dennis Hatch, Rodney Morris, John Schmidt, Shane Van Boening and Charlie Williams (All USA)

(All players appear subject to contract)

The first two days of the main event in May feature double elimination play on a multi-table set-up as the field reduces from 64 down to 32.

The event then goes to single elimination and the last 16 is played out in a single table arena setting in front of the TV cameras, culminating in the final on the evening of Sunday, May 16.

Television is produced by Matchroom Sport and will be seen as 15 x one hour programmes in 14 countries around the world with more to be added to the list.

The prize fund is set at a guaranteed $100,000 with $20,000 going to the eventual champion.

LIST OF QUALIFIERS