Comprehensive statistics are a requirement of any successful sport. Billiards has had basic statistics in the past, however Premier’s new real-time automated statistics engine takes things to a whole new level.

The system records every shot into an event history log, and then monitors the shot clock, schedule, and scoreboard to intelligently calculate all statistics in real-time.

The software calculates 104 statistics per player, including accuracy for individual shot types (pocketing, jumping, kicking, banking, etc), average run size, break and run percentage, balls on the break, break speeds, fouls, etc. Each statistic is calculated individually for triples, doubles and singles play, as well as per match and per season. Statistics for all players are recomputed instantly after each shot, resulting in a total of 3,120 updated statistics. The statistics are then pushed to the broadcast graphics package, website, and fantasy league system, allowing for automated real-time statistics from a variety of sources.

The software also monitors the event history log for statistical anomalies, such as performance above or below current standards, and suggest to the commentary team that the statistic may be pertinent to the current shot scenario.

Since all formulas are computed using the shot history log, old statistics can be easily reconfigured or new statistics can be added, and the entire season will instantly be recalculated. This makes it easy to fix errors or make changes based on viewer feedback.

As events are added to the event history log, the software can intelligently change the lights in the arena, activate the fog machine, or trigger graphical overlays. The entire process is automated and ensures that the all statistics are as consistent and objective as possible.

Upgrades to the system will be applied regularly as an effort to continue our commitment to innovation.

The Premier Billiard League is proudly supported by Rasson Billiards, Predator Cues, PoolDawg, Aramith, and the APA.

As media and entertainment consumption increases each year, it becomes increasingly difficult for content creators to remain competitive. While most sports have continued to improve their production values and maintain mainstream appeal, billiards has failed to innovate, instead slowly regressing over the last two decades. Funding has been cut, production values have declined, and televised coverage has been replaced by ineffective online streaming.

In an effort to regain mainstream appeal, the Premier Billiard League aims to raise production values and narrow the gap between billiards and other mainstream sports. One of the ways that Premier will achieve this, is through the implementation of specialized technology. The first major innovation, is the overhead live physics diagramming software.

Designed in-house, the software allows the commentary team the ability to draw animated diagrams on the table. The software intelligently analyzes the table layout in real time, generating dynamic indicators for the viewers. Examples include the angle of the shot, the distance to the target, or the path of the cue ball after contact with the object ball (the tangent line). The commentary team can also activate a spin control panel, which folds out of the score ticker, indicating the contact point on the cue ball and the resulting effect.

The software uses live compositing technology, similar to what is used during NFL broadcasts. A real-time filter separates the live video, placing the animated diagrams on top of the table’s cloth, yet under the players and balls. This layering effect seamlessly integrates the diagrams in an exciting and realistic way that was previously unavailable to billiard broadcasts.

This new technology is a small yet significant step towards modernizing billiard productions and displaying the game at its full potential.

The Premier Billiard League is proudly supported by Rasson Billiards, Predator Cues, PoolDawg, Aramith, and the APA.

For the inaugural year, the Premier Billiard League will consist of six teams, each representing a major market. The teams are North America, North Europe, Central Europe, Eurasia, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Sporting teams typically use a conventional naming and logo scheme. Although occasionally the names will share an association with something native to a team's geographical region, most of the names are completely arbitrary. For instance, in Toronto Canada, sporting franchises are the Blue Jays, Maple Leafs, Argonauts, and Raptors. None of these names depict any significant association with the Toronto area, nor are the corresponding minimalistic logos indicative of which sport the teams pertain.

Premier uses a more direct naming and logo convention. Both the league and team logos feature a 9-Ball emblem, each custom designed to incorporate elements from flags of each region. Although unorthodox, this approach will help increase brand awareness. A potential fan who has never seen or heard of Premier, can look at any logo, be it online or on merchandise, recognize the 9-Ball and flag elements, and know precisely that the logo belongs to a billiard organization representative of their geographical region.

The league logos, motion graphics, and arena design all share a cohesive style that will be used to brand the Premier Billiard League, and help make it easily identifiable to new and existing billiard fans.

The Premier Billiard League is proudly supported by Rasson Billiards, Predator Cues, PoolDawg, Aramith, and the APA.

Here at the Premier Billiard League, we are working towards creating the best billiard broadcasts possible. To be the best, we need the best. From players, to technology, to equipment, there is no room for compromise.

It’s for this reason that we’d like to take this opportunity to thank a few industry sponsors, who have answered the call and have offered to support this endeavor. These aren’t just any sponsors, but rather have been hand selected. They are the best the industry has to offer.

First up, Rasson Billiards. Quality slate, innovative table design, and quickly becoming the professional standard for televised events. Their signature Victory table is undoubtably our favorite table on the market.

Next, Predator Cues. The perfect balance between aesthetics and performance. Be it their new low deflection carbon fiber Revo shaft, their signature 314 and Z shafts, or their elegant inlays, Predator dominates the cue market.

PoolDawg. Our favorite online retail outlet for all our pool and billiard needs. Large inventory, competitive prices, great customer support, and they ship internationally.

APA. The worlds largest amateur league. While the professional billiard industry struggles, the amateur leagues flourish. We can thank the APA in part for this.

And finally, Aramith. A staple of any quality event, pool room, or home games room, Aramith has been making the best balls on the market for decades. Their new Duramith balls are without a doubt the best set on the market, hence why it’s the standard for all major professional events.

We would like to not only welcome these sponsors, but also thank them. They’ve done a lot for the industry over the years, and they now continue that tradition by supporting the Premier Billiard League.

Despite growing participation over the past two decades, cue sports have failed to adapt and modernize along with other sports, resulting in a significant decline in exposure worldwide. This imbalance has created a demand for a unified world billiard organization that is capable of modernizing the game and recapturing spectator interest.

The Premier Billiard League has been developed to accomplish this task. For the inaugural year, Premier will consist of six teams, each representing a major global market. The teams are North America, North Europe, Central Europe, Eurasia, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia. Each team will be comprised of five high profile players from its respective region, including superstars such as Jayson Shaw (Scotland), Mika Immonen (Finland), and Alex Pagulayan (Canada).

While some aspects of Premier are specific to the game of pool, many concepts and features have been borrowed from other successful sporting entities. The regular and playoff season structure, a shot clock, a team format that promotes interaction between teammates, live player and team statistics, etc. These are integral aspects of any successful broadcast sport, that until now, have been lacking in the billiard industry.

From the NFL’s Skycam, to curling’s cable camera, specialized camera systems offer spectators a unique viewing experience. For the first time in billiards, Premier will be bringing a new remote-controlled camera system that suspends a camera on a 4-meter motorized arm that pivots outward around the center of the pool table. The unique angle offers viewers a dynamic ‘floating’ perspective that is ideal for pool productions.

Another innovative element created specifically for Premier, is the real-time compositing software. The system processes the live video and enables the commentary team the ability to diagram shot physics that are composited under the moving players and balls, yet over the table felt. The diagrams automatically indicate the angle and distance of the shot, as well as the path of the cue ball after contact. The commentators can also use an interactive diagram of a cue ball to change the spin applied to the shot, which folds out of the interactive graphics package. This technology will help to better analyze the table layout, while educating the audience on game theory, ball physics, and pattern play.

Arguably the most impressive production tool for Premier, is the proprietary software for real-time statistics. The software calculates accuracy for individual shot types (breaking, pocketing, jumping, kicking, banking, etc), average run size, break speeds using an automated radar system, break and run percentage, balls on the break, break speeds, fouls, etc. Each statistic is calculated individually for triples, doubles and singles play, as well as per match, and per season. Statistics for all players are recomputed instantly after each shot, resulting in a total of 3,120 statistics.

As an effort to help build an active community and increase engagement, Premier has developed two types of fantasy leagues. The first allows members to score points for correctly predicting the outcome of each frame, while a second more advanced league allows members to build their own pseudo dream team by drafting their favorite Premier players using a mock salary cap. Members accumulate points throughout the season based on their selections, and become eligible for substantial prize giveaways courtesy of Predator Cues.

The Premier Billiard League has been in development for three years, and all of the aforementioned features and technologies are completed and operational. The official league launch date is tentatively scheduled for 2020, however a proof of concept “All-Star” exhibition match will be held sometime this fall, with a more specific date soon to follow.

The Premier Billiard League is proudly supported by Rasson Billiards, Predator Cues, PoolDawg, Aramith, and the APA.

2019

• MAY 01 - Automated real-ti...
• APR 19 - Real-time composi...
• APR 18 - Team Region Logos
• APR 17 - Welcome Sponsors
• APR 16 - Introducing the P...

Return to top of page.