Women’s Professional Billiard Association Returns To Rivers Casino

Rivers Casino Open Brings International Talent Back to Pittsburgh 

PITTSBURGH — March 14, 2017 — The Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) will return to Pittsburgh for a second year with top international professionals competing in the 2017 Rivers Casino Open on April 19—23.

Competing in this year’s 9-ball tournament will be representatives from countries including Norway, Sweden, Canada, China, Japan and the United States. Top-ranked WPBA players including Line Kjorsvik, Monica Webb, Jennifer Barretta and Helena Thornfeldt will be among the 48 professionals taking part in this year’s tournament.

As part of the tournament’s events, Rivers Casino and the WPBA will host a Charity Pro-Am and Challenge-A-Pro event on Wednesday, April 19 that will benefit the Friends of the Riverfront charity organization. During these events, billiards players, pool enthusiasts and guests at Rivers Casino will be able to compete with and play against the WPBA’s pros. The Charity Pro-Am will run from 7—8:30 p.m. and is limited to 48 participants. The Challenge-A-Pro will run from 8:30—10 p.m. To learn more about these events, visit www.riverscasino.com.

“The WPBA is excited to return to the ‘Burgh in 2017. Rivers Casino is a great venue for our tournament and we are looking forward to the Pittsburgh fans’ overwhelming support again,” said Belinda Calhoun, president of the WPBA. “The competitive nature of our professionals makes our tournaments a fun experience for novices and seasoned players alike. Billiards is always exciting to watch, as you never know who will get snookered.”

Tournament matches are scheduled to take place on April 20, 21 and 22 from 11 a.m.—midnight. The event final on April 23 will kick off with semifinal matches at 1 and 3 p.m., followed by the championship round at 5 p.m. Seating for the event finals on April 23 costs $10 and includes $10 in Free Slot Play or $10 Match Play, with all proceeds benefiting Friends of the Riverfront.

“Rivers Casino is pleased to welcome back the Women's Professional Billiard Association for another exciting tournament,” said Craig Clark, general manager of Rivers Casino. “Last year, we saw what exceptional athletes these women are and we are privileged to be able to provide our guests another opportunity to experience a tournament of this caliber.”

The tournament is open to the public and guests visiting Rivers Casino must be 21 years of age or older.

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ABOUT RIVERS CASINO
Opened in 2009, Rivers Casino has been voted a “Best Place to Work” in the Pittsburgh Business Times, a “Top Workplace” in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Best Overall Gaming Resort” in Pennsylvania by Casino Player magazine and “Best Overall Casino” in Pennsylvania by Strictly Slots magazine. The casino features more than 2,900 slots, 92 table games, a 30-table poker room, nine distinctive restaurants and bars, a riverside amphitheater, a multi-purpose event space, live music performances, free parking and multiple promotions and giveaways daily. Already, more than $631 million in jackpots have been awarded to players at Rivers Casino. For more information, visit www.riverscasino.com.

ABOUT THE WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL BILLIARD ASSOCIATION (WPBA)
The WPBA was established in 1976 under the name of Women's Professional Billiard Alliance. It celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2016 as the oldest pro player organization in the sport. The WPBA sanctions and produces the Women's Pro Billiard Tour which features the greatest women players from around the world. For more information about the WPBA, its top players, and sponsors, visit www.WPBA.com or find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WPBATour and Twitter: https://twitter.com/WPBAbilliards

ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE RIVERFRONT
Since its inception over 25 years ago, Friends of the Riverfront has been a pioneering organization working to restore the Pittsburgh region’s riverfronts. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail now encompasses 25 miles of urban riverfront trails on both banks of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. Friends of the Riverfront’s robust stewardship program provides the maintenance and beautification of the Trail in an effort to provide economic vitality, environmental renewal, and public health benefits to our region.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Garrett Allen
For Rivers Casino
267-932-8760 x 303
[email protected]