(2025 World Matchplay and Irish Open Champion David Causier)
Macau Casino World Matchplay Championship & Sammin Engineering Irish Open – 17-24th April ’26
The SBI Academy in Carlow (Snooker & Billiards Ireland HQ) once again plays host to the Macau Casino World Matchplay Billiards Championship, our second level 6 event of the season, which is taking place in April. We are also pleased to confirm that both Macau Casino and Sammin Engineering have continued their sponsorship of the World Matchplay and Irish Open respectively. There is a prize pool in excess of £24,000 on offer across our ‘double-header’ of events.
The Irish Open is a level 3 World Ranking Event and open to all. The World Matchplay Championship is played over the short format of multiple games of 100up. Spectators are welcome in the venue and streaming of both events will be available on our YouTube channel.
The state of the art SBI Academy and HQ opened in 2021. This will be our fifth year of staging events at this venue and it is one of the most popular on the circuit.
The venue has four Star tables and four Rasson tables, all of which have TV style lighting and under table heating. It promises to be a Festival of Billiards, with the IBSF’s World Billiards Championship following on from the conclusion of the World Matchplay at the same venue.
Once again the modified short format and baulkline crossing rules will be in operation for the World Matchplay. The Irish Open will be played using the timed format with standard rules.
Sponsors:
Current Champion:
David Causier is the current champion of both the World Matchplay and Irish Open. Please visit our YouTube playlist for footage from the 2025 World Matchplay Championship.
Venue Details:
SBI HQ,
Academy of Excellence Graiguecullen,
Co. Laois,
Carlow Town
A location map is included here.
(SBI Academy)
Dates:
The Irish Open will run from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th April. The Matchplay will follow on from this on the 20th and running until its climax on the 24th.
Accommodation:
We have negotiated a reduced rate at the The Talbot Hotel which is situated a short drive, or a 10-15 minute walk, from the venue. We are grateful to the Talbot Hotel for their sponsorship of the event.
- Twin/Double room (2 people sharing) – €135 per night
- Single room (sole occupancy) – €125 per night
These rates include breakfast.
Please be aware we stipulate that all players and officials must stay at this hotel. It can be very expensive to stay in Ireland around this time of year and we are very thankful to The Talbot Hotel for their hospitality and agreement in hosting us at the reduced rates. A block of rooms have been reserved to ensure availability for all participants, however we ask that players book their rooms by 19th March.
Please email reservations@talbothotelcarlow.ie to book and quote WBL26, or call and speak to the reservations team.
(Credit: SBI – SBI HQ/Academy in Carlow)
Opening Ceremony:
The opening ceremony for the World Matchplay will take place in The Talbot Hotel on the Sunday evening. Please join us for what promises to be a fantastic evening of entertainment as we kick-off for the big event. More information to follow.
Travel:
The nearest international airport is Dublin Airport.
Just outside the arrivals terminal is a coach park where you can find coaches that will take you direct to Carlow. To book coach travel please visit JJ Kavanagh or Bus Eireann. The journey time is on average about 2 hours. If you get off at Carlow Coach Park it is a 6 minute drive (or 30 minute walk) to the Talbot Hotel. Taxis are available from local firms.
You can also travel by train to Carlow from Dublin Heuston station, these run frequently however the station is 20 minutes from the airport. To book train travel visit Irish Rail.
(Credit: SBI – SBI HQ/Academy in Carlow)
Draw and Schedule:
Entries to both the Sammin Engineering Irish Open and the Macau Casino World Matchplay Championship are now closed. Please contact us if you would like to be added to the reserve list.
Please note, if there are any withdrawals due to factors out of our control, we will endeavour to replace affected players with those from the reserve list whilst minimising the effect on the wider draw.
The draw and schedule for the World Matchplay is available here. The draw and schedule for the Irish Open is available here.
Prize Pool:
2026 Macau Casino World Matchplay Championship
| Winner | £7000 |
| Runner-up | £3500 |
| Semi-Final | £1750 |
| Quarter-Final | £700 |
| Last 16 | £350 |
| Last 24 | £150 |
| High Break | £200 |
2026 Sammin Engineering Irish Open
| Winner | £1000 |
| Runner-up | £500 |
| Semi-Final | £250 |
| Quarter-Final | £125 |
| Last 16 | £75 |
| Last 24 (if req.) | £35 |
| High Break | £50 |