The "EPBF" or European Pocket Billiard Federation was founded in November 1978
Foundation members were the German Pool Billiard Federation and the Swedish Billiard Federation. Both federations were presented at this time by the president Horst Vondenhoff and the general secretary Bo Sternberg. Reason and object was to combine the national sports federations into one organisation. The creation of unifield game and sports rules was one of the main tasks. The creation of the possibility to make the different national players meet and play against each other was another task. Aside from the two foundation members at first Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein and then the Netherlands became members of the EPBF in the year 1980. The EPBF currently has 32 nations as members and it represents around 800.000 sportsman and athlete.
The EPBF, as the umbrella federation for all pool players in Europe, is a member of the World Pool-Billiard Association. (WPA) . Other members of the WPA are:
- Billiard Congress of America (BCA) for North America,
- Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) for Asia and
- Australasian Pool Association (APA) for Australia.
By the WPA membership, the EPBF is
belonging to the:
World Confederation
of Billiards Sports. (WCBS)
This organisation stands up for the recognition of Billiard as an Olympic
discipline.
The EPBF is member of the : |
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European Championships/Tournaments
The first European Championships were held in 1980. It was only for Men. In 1981 it was also Women and Junior. In 1985 the European Championships were split in men/ women and pupils as a special incentive for the young players. In 1990 a Seniors EC was created. In 1992 the changes of the realisation of the European Championships decided by the members of the EPBF, were practised. The EC was split in 9 ball and 8 ball/14.1.
In
1993, the EPBF started with the EPBF Euro Tour, a series of
tournaments for women and men in EPBF member countries. The Goal of the
EPBF Euro Tour is to improve the image of Pool Billiard , to achieve
recognition and attention from the media and to interest possible sponsors
in the Sports of Pool Billiard; additionally the EPBF Euro Tour shall help
the male and female players to make their way into professionalism.
In 1996 the first European Championships for wheelchair driver was organised. 1998 was the year of the first Black Ball European Championships.