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Expect riveting world-class pool action, suspense and excitement when the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 Grand Final cues off tomorrow at the Mal Taman Anggrek from October 24 to 26. Organized by ESPN STAR Sports, broadcast of the Tour's Grand Final will also be carried "Live and Exclusive" on STAR Sports.

The battle for Asian pool supremacy will be intense and hard fought as today's players draw provided a highly-anticipated preview into the finale of a riveting tournament. Eleven players will be divided into two groups and players will play in a single round robin format. The top two players from each group will advance to the semifinals with the final two meeting in the final match.

Mr. Harvey Davis, Vice President, Event Management Group, ESPN STAR Sports, said, "We're glad to be back in Jakarta for the Grand Final of the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008, having held the opening leg of the 2007 Tour here. We have a knowledgeable and enthusiastic audience with fantastic ground support from the Indonesian public, and we are confident that the Grand Final will deliver excitement and top-notch competition to our viewers across Asia."

"Over the years, the Guinness 9 Ball Tour has firmly established itself as a gateway to world-class competition - providing young and up-and-coming players with the opportunity to shine against some of the region's - and some say the world's - best cuemasters.

The increasing number of Asian players and their consistent success on the world stage is affirmation that this Tour has contributed to the growth and dominance of Asia as the world's number one Pool continent. And we can only expect this trend to continue," he added.

Mr. Tien Wong, Regional Marketing Manager, Guinness, Diageo Asia Pacific, remarked: "Indonesia is one of our biggest markets in Asia and it has been a rewarding journey for Guinness, ESPN STAR Sports and pool fans in Indonesia and the region, where the beer and the sport are enjoyed immensely.

"I'm proud of the great relationship we share with ESPN STAR Sports and in particular, how we have worked well together to transform the Guinness 9 Ball Tour into Asia's most prestigious pool tournament in the space of two short years. Along with it, we have also transformed the image of pool into a modern, contemporary sport that appeals to an increasing number of young male adults in Asia and getting them more interested in the game."

Said Ms. Fe Olivia Mir, Marketing Manager from DIAGEO Indonesia, "We are delighted to have the Guinness 9 Ball Tour cueing off in Jakarta again this year. Our on-ground activities leading up to this tournament spread the message of the "Season of Greatness". The arrival of Asia's top pool players to contest the Grand Finale reinforces this message and we are proud to contribute to the growth of the sport in the region. We thank our consumers for the support that they have given us by being at the games and look forward to their participation in our upcoming local pool tournaments and other promotions."

Up for grabs in the Grand Final is total prize money of US$72,000, with the winner taking home US$36,000. The Guinness 9 Ball Tour remains the only ranking tour in Asia for players to qualify for the WPA World Pool Championship. The six-city Tour previously had stops in Chinese-Taipei, Penang, Genting Highlands, Singapore, and Guangzhou.

Organised by ESPN STAR Sports, the telecast of Asia's premier pool competition will be aired LIVE on STAR Sports with 15 hours of exhilarating competition from October 24 to 26. This year, STAR Sports will complement its live broadcast with a 30-minute preview programme before each leg. Broadcast times are as follows:

Fri, 24 Oct.., 2008 4.30pm (HKT) Preview show (30min)
Fri, 24 Oct., 2008 from 5.00pm (HKT) Round robin matches
Sat, 25 Oct, 2008 from 12.00pm (HKT) Round robin matches
Sun, 26 Oct, 2008 from 12.00pm (HKT) Semi-final & Grand Final

Organised by ESPN STAR Sports' Event Management Group (EMG), the Guinness 9 Ball Tour is sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU). Guinness is the title sponsor for the Tour. The local sanctioning body is the All Indonesian Billiards Association. Mansion 88 is the gold sponsor. Iwan Simonis and Aramith supply the official tablecloth and official balls, respectively.

Brunswick provides the official pool table (Gold Crown V Tournament Edition) while Predator is the official cue.

BCLN is the official apparel. The Official Hotel is Menara Peninsula Hotel. The Official Venue is the Mal Taman Anggrek. STAR Sports is the official broadcaster.

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