**The 2026 Ultimate Pool Challenger Series will feature a new format for 2026. There will be 256 players in the Elite/Premier Divsion and 192 Players in the Gold, Silver and Bronze Division.

Dates

All Challenger Series events in 2026 will take place at either the Premier Suite, Bolton Wanderers FC, Bolton, Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan and Loughborough University, Loughborough.

There are four weekend stops, with two Pro Series events taking place at each one. Events will run from Fridays to Sundays. The dates are:

Events 1 & 2 | April 3-5 - Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan
Events 3 & 4 | July 3-5 - Premier Suite, Bolton Wanderers FC, Bolton
Events 5 & 6 | Aug 13-16 - Loughborough University, Loughborough
Events 7 & 8 | Dec 11-13 - Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan

Prize Money

Challenger Series 2026 – Prize Fund Total Prize Money for 2026: £271,400

All prize money is subject to fully paid entries.

Elite Division (x4 Events)

Winner: £6,500
Runner-Up: £3,000
Semi-Finalists: £1,500
Quarter-Finalists: £800
Last 16: £400
Last 32: £200
Last 64: £100

Total Fund: £101,200

Premier Division (x4 Events)

Winner: £4,500
Runner-Up: £2,000
Semi-Finalists: £1,000
Quarter-Finalists: £500
Last 16: £250
Last 32: £125
Last 64: £75

Total Fund: £67,600

Gold Division (x4 Events)

Winner: £3,000
Runner-Up: £1,500
Semi-Finalists: £750
Quarter-Finalists: £350
Last 16: £175
Last 32: £100

Total Fund: £41,600

Silver Division (x4 Events)

Winner: £2,500
Runner-Up: £1,250
Semi-Finalists: £650
Quarter-Finalists: £300
Last 16: £150
Last 32: £75

Total Fund: £34,600

Bronze Division (x4 Events)

Winner: £2,000
Runner-Up: £1,000
Semi-Finalists: £500
Quarter-Finalists: £250
Last 16: £100
Last 32: £50

Total Fund: £26,400

Ranking Points Distribution - To be Confirmed Soon

INFORMATION FOR PLAYERS

ABOUT ULTIMATE POOL

The Ultimate Pool Group organises and promotes professional 8-ball pool events featuring the world’s top players. Founded in 2020 when the QK Sports Entertainment and Orange Media Group brands merged forces, the Ultimate Pool Group harbours an exciting vision for the sport’s future, with an emphasis on supplying quality, entertainment and increased levels of professionalism, exposure and prize money.

Ultimate Pool hosts a portfolio of live televised tournaments including several major invitationals and a structured two-tier floor circuit that consists of an open amateur series and an elite 64 player professional series. Throughout 2025, Ultimate Pool is set to pay out approximately over £840,000 in prizes (subject to a fully paid fields).

SCHEDULE

Ultimate Pool Series Events will commence on Friday and conclude on Sunday. All matches will have an allocated start time: A comprehensive match schedule will be published a minimum of two weeks prior to each Series event.

RANKING SYSTEM

The top 8 from the Elite/Prem will be offered a space on the 2026 UP Professional Series. The top 8 from the Gold, Silver and Bronze Divsion will be automatically promoted to the Elite/Premier Division whilst the 24 players will be offered a place in the Elite/Premier Division.

HOW IT WORKS

Ultimate Pool – Challenger Series 2026 A New Format for 2026! Ultimate Pool is excited to introduce a brand-new format for the 2026 Challenger Series, built around three key principles:

✅ Better Value ✅ Fairness ✅ Event Quality

There will be 448 total spaces available, with players placed into one of two categories based on ability. (Player placements will be decided by the Tournament Director team, whose decision is final.)

ELITE & PREMIER DIVISIONS

256 Players (Example players: Ex-Pros, High-Level Amateurs, County A/B) **Format:

64 groups of 4 players
Group stages: Races to 5
Random draw each weekend
Top 2 in each group → Elite Division
Bottom 2 in each group → Premier Division
Players guaranteed 4 matches
Ranking points combined into one list for all 256 players

Progression:

Top 8 promoted to the Pro Series automatically

GOLD, SILVER & BRONZE DIVISIONS

192 Players (Example players: County A/B, Low-Level Amateurs) **Format:

32 groups of 6 players
Group stages: Races to 4
Random draw each weekend
Top 2 in each group → Gold Division
3rd & 4th place → Silver Division
Bpttom 2 → Bronze Division
Players guaranteed 6 matches
Ranking points combined into one list for all 192 players

Progression:

Top 8 promoted to Elite/Premier Divisions
Top 24 in rankings offered Elite/Premier Division places for the following year

DRESS CODE

All players will receive an official series shirt, which must be worn during your matches. No jeans or trainers allowed. Trousers and shoes to be worn whilst playing in all events. Any player who doesn’t wear the official Ultimate Pool Shirt will be fined £45.00 and a new shirt will be ordered for them.

TV & STREAMING

Our events will either be televised and/or livestreamed on ultimatepool.tv, Facebook and YouTube and TikTok. For further details please visit ultimatepoolgroup.com.

WRISTBAND FEE

For the 2026 season, we will be using a wristband system for each series event. If you are participating in the events, the charge will be £50.00 per weekend. If you are planning on bringing your partner, friend etc., weekend passes are available for £20.00. Under 16s go free, but must be accompanied by a fee-paying adult.

HOW TO ENTER

Please contact the Tournament Director via email: TD@ultimatepoolgroup.com and provide your full name and a contact telephone number. By entering the Ultimate Pool Series you agree to abide by the rules set out by the organisers of the Ultimate Series, accept they are subject to change and that decisions made by The Tournament Director will be final.

BY PAYING YOUR DEPOSIT YOU ARE DEEMED TO HAVE READ AND AGREED TO THESE RULES.

ENTRY FEE

Challenger Series 2026 – Payment Schedule Elite & Premier Divisions

Total Fee: £775

£275 – Deposit (Due by 31st October 2025)
£250 – Payment 1 (Due by 27th February 2026)
£250 – Payment 2 (Due by 30th April 2026)

Gold, Silver & Bronze Divisions

Total Fee: £650

£250 – Deposit (Due by 31st October 2025)
£200 – Payment 1 (Due by 27th February 2026)
£200 – Payment 2 (Due by 30th April 2026)

OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION

Ultimate Pool are pleased to annouce our partnership with Hotel Planner. You can use the following link to book nearby accommodation with reduced rates via our official accommodations partner Hotel Planner https://ultimatepool.hotelplanner.com/

Entry includes series shirt & Annual Ultimate Pool app subscription. DEPOSITS AND ALL ENTRY FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. If your application is not successful, your deposit will be returned as soon as possible.

The organisers reserve the right to remove and replace any entrant who fails to make the payment deadline as set out above. All players must pay all the entry fees, even if they do not attend all the Events. The organisers reserve the right to decline any unsuitable new applicants.

By applying to join the Ultimate Pool Series, you have read and agreed to the Ultimate Pool Players Terms and Conditions which can be found at https://www.ultimatepoolgroup.com/tournaments/terms-and-conditions