ICE Barcelona To Host Inaugural World Nineball Grand Prix In 2027

The new World Nineball Tour Major will see professional nine-ball staged alongside ICE Barcelona, bringing the sport to visitors from across the gaming, technology and entertainment sectors.

The World Grand Prix will feature 64 players competing in a single-elimination format across eight tables, with a total prize fund of $100,000.

World Nineball Tour Returns To Spain

The partnership between Matchroom and WorldGaming will bring the World Nineball Tour back to Spain, with the World Grand Prix taking place across all three days of the event.

The tournament will be staged outside Hall 7 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, placing the competition alongside ICE’s exhibition floor.

The organisers said the partnership reflects ICE Barcelona’s focus on the relationship between sport, betting and entertainment, with sports betting operators, suppliers and data providers among the businesses represented at the event.

Margaret Dunn, portfolio director responsible for ICE Barcelona, said:

“ICE is renowned for bringing together the leading names in gaming, creating exceptional networking opportunities and delivering memorable live experiences.

“Sport sits at the heart of today's gaming industry. Many of the companies on our show floor power sports betting, streaming and fan engagement for audiences around the world, so bringing live, world-class sport into ICE is a natural next step.

“Our audience lives and breathes sport, from the operators taking bets on it to the technology companies streaming, analysing and monetising it. Putting elite nine-ball on the show floor gives them the chance to experience the product at its source.

“Nine-ball is a fantastic fit for ICE, and we’re excited to see the energy and excitement the World Grand Prix will bring to the show floor outside Hall 7. With some of the world’s leading players competing in Barcelona, it will create a spectacular live experience for our international audience and will be a real highlight for ICE 2027.”

World Grand Prix To Feature 64 Players

Emily Frazer, CEO of Matchroom Multi Sport, said the tournament will provide an opportunity to introduce nine-ball to a new audience through the partnership with WorldGaming and ICE Barcelona.

Frazer said:

“We're incredibly excited to bring the World Nineball Tour back to Spain and launch the World Grand Prix in Barcelona, working alongside WorldGaming on what promises to be an exciting new chapter for nine-ball.

“This new event gives us a real opportunity to build something bigger and introduce nine-ball to a completely new audience through our partnership with both WorldGaming and ICE Barcelona.

“ICE is one of the biggest fixtures in the global gaming and entertainment calendar, so having the World Nineball Tour alongside it at Fira Barcelona Gran Via is a fantastic opportunity for our sport.

“With 64 players competing for a $100,000 prize fund across three days, the World Grand Prix will deliver a world-class spectacle in one of Europe's most exciting cities.”

Further details covering the player field, broadcast coverage, tournament schedule and tickets will be announced ahead of the World Grand Prix.