The World Snooker Federation (WSF), the global amateur arm of the WPBSA, held its 2023 General Assembly online on Wednesday 20 December 2023.
The meeting was opened by WSF President Jason Ferguson, who welcomed delegates and friends from member federations around the globe.
The independently audited accounts were unanimously approved by the members, which confirmed that the WSF remains in a strong and robust position entering 2024.
The Board recognised the success of the 2023 WSF Championships held at the start of the year in Sydney, Australia, which saw talented junior players Ma Hailong and Stan Moody emerge victorious to earn their places on the World Snooker Tour for the next two years. The hard work of the Asia-Pacific Snooker and Billiards Federation and the Australian Billiards and Snooker Council to ensure the staging of the event was kindly acknowledged.
Looking ahead to the 2024 staging of the event in Albania, the meeting was joined by President of the Albanian Snooker Federation Ogert Shkrepa, who was thanked for his hospitality towards delegates from the WSF during a recent visit and for valuable time spent with the Albanian Olympic Committee.
The staging of the recent World Abilitysport Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand – which saw disability snooker contested at a major multisport Games for the first time since 1988 with the support of the WSF and World Disability Billiards and Snooker – was also celebrated by members at the meeting.
The President thanked the Board members and management team of the WSF for their excellent work over the past six years and also acknowledged the passing of friend and colleague John Terry back in May, who will be missed by all.
Finally, there were also fruitful discussions as to the planned formation of the WSF Council, a sub-committee of the board with strategic local knowledge aimed at sports development within the WSF member regions, and to future events.
Jason Ferguson, WSF President said: “I would like to thank everyone who attended this year’s WSF General Assembly earlier today for what is always a significant occasion during the season.
“We are all greatly excited by the upcoming staging of the WSF Championships in Golem, Albania, which will once again see two World Snooker Tour cards won by this season’s champions.
“The landmark fifth edition of the event follows the successful 2023 competition in Sydney, Australia earlier this year, from which the WSF delivered two exciting young talents in Ma Hailong and Stan Moody to the professional game, who have already shown glimpses of their potential.
“As always, the WSF remains committed to the organisation of high-quality, inclusive events open to all, offering the chance for players from around the world to participate and grasp their opportunity to progress in our sport.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with federations around the world as we continue to grow and develop this wonderful sport over the coming years.”
