Defending champion Mika Immonen of Finland will lead the charge of 128 players, representing more than 40 countries, when the Group Stage of the Hasseroder World Pool Championship begins Saturday, July 13, at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales. Immonen, who defeated Germany's Ralf Souquet last July to garner the $65,000 top prize in the $300,000 event, will start the Group Stage as the No.1 seed. The Group Stage of the Matchroom Sport-produced tournament features 16 groups of eight players in round-robin race-to-five, alternating break format.

The top four finishers in each group will advance to the 64-player single-elimination knock-out rounds. Races in the rounds of 64 and 32 will be to nine; races in the rounds of 16, eight and the semifinals will be to 11; the title match will be a race to 17. All action in the knockout stages will be winner-breaks.

BilliardsDigest.com will offer first-hand coverage beginning with Saturday's opening rounds and concluding with the grand finale, Sunday, July 21.