3-Cushion
SEOUL - The first commissioner of the PBA, the professional billiards organization in South Korea, wants to conquer the world with his PBA Tour. Mr. Kim Young soo (79) says in an interview in a Korean newspaper during the final weekend of the PBA championship, that after the COVID pandemic, the PBA will plan to organize tournaments in other parts of the world, such as Europe, South America and also in Vietnam. The PBA president indicated that after two years, his organization is on track for professionalism for players and expansion of sponsors and billiard fans.
Kim Young-soo, speaking at the Grand Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul during the ''SK Rent-a-Car PBA-LPBA World Championship'', the final tournament of PBA Tour in the 2020-2021 season, first made clear that he is proud to be the leader of the PBA. He is, as he said himself, ''in the second half of his life'' after a stellar career in government offices and sports organizations, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. ''I can sum up the two years in PBA behind us with confidence. I even had the feeling that I was walking on thin ice every day because of past failures of professionalization. But despite the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19, the PBA Tour is the only professional sporting event that was on the calendar the entire season.''
The president is pleased to hear that carom billiards is growing to a major professional sport in Korea very quickly. ''The goal of the billiard player to become a true top athlete or sportswoman has been achieved to a certain extent. It is still insignificant compared to other sports, but I am proud that more than 50 players are currently well secured in the team competition.'' He is convinced that he has fulfilled his promise to players, sponsors and worldwide fans: the PBA will show exciting games.''
''No one doubts the existence of the PBA Tour anymore,'' he said. ''The main goal is that professional billiard players can make a decent living through broader sports marketing and sponsorship.'' Regarding concerns about the financial status of the PBA, Kim said, ''That was because of the high launch costs at the start.'' The financial goal was, as he said it, reach the 'break-even point (BEP)' within its four-year term, but it has already been achieved in two seasons. ''That is the result of the outstanding performance of PBA's marketing partner company, in close cooperation with all PBA executives and staff.''
For the new season, the PBA has two main projects: to make the PBA Tour even more known in the world. ''First and foremost, we want to launch major PBA events abroad, such as Vietnam, Europe and Pan America when the pandemic is over. And strengthening cooperation with WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association) to bring billiards into the major sport category to be recognised globally.''
''The PBA is already well recognised internationally as a representative organization for carom three cushion and willing to cooperate with other capable world organizations. With this, we want to take all billiard sports to another level and promote it worldwide.''