Jordan Church has been at the top of his game for two decades but he’s heading to the World Championships back at square one.

The former world youth champion has left the English Pool Association and will instead be making a challenge on the International Professional Pool Association (IPA) tour.

The IPA tour is recognised as the official professional tour for blackball pool by the World Pool Association and Church will be competing in the World Championships which start at the end of the month.

Bradford is the stage for the tournament finals, with £10,000 up for grabs to the winner, thanks to backing from bookmakers Coral.

Church, 29, is entering as an amateur, after switching from the EPA where he had been ranked as high as 11th.

He said: “Because I’m a new player I have to gain my pro status and I’m back to square one.

“I’ll fancy my chances in the finals but I will be up against some good players.

“I just have to get used to some of the new rules and that’s the only thing that will hold me back. It’s a lot more aggressive but that suits me anyway.”

The Medway potter will also be taking part in the pro-am doubles, where he has teamed up with the association’s No.1 ranked player. Winners take home £2,500.

Church has been playing pool for most of his life, appearing for Kent under-18s when he was only nine and securing the youth world title in 2004 and again a year later.

England caps followed before he took a brief break from the sport in his early 20s.

Seven years ago he took over the running of the pool and snooker club in the Rainham shopping precinct and has been there ever since.

He is running a club whose own pool team – of which Church isn’t part of – won the national inter-league title in 2015 and the champion of champions event. They have recently become Kent champion of champions.

Church is hoping to now move back into the top rankings and has been given a helping hand in his pursuit thanks to the backing of Sittingbourne-based company Coral Cabin.

The marine aquatic specialists have given Church the chance to compete across the country and with tournaments coming up as far away as South Africa, he needs all the help he can get.

Church said: “Dan, the owner, is a pool player himself and it’s great that he has agreed to help me out. He’s also sponsoring some events at the club and I’m
grateful.”

The World Championships take place between January 31 and February 5 at the Bradford Hotel and Coral will be beaming some of the matches live online and in betting shops.