Inaugural Southwest Amateur Tournament a Winner
Southwest Amateur Tournament / Harker Heights, TX

by InsidePOOL Staff
A new format was introduced at the inaugural Southwest Amateur Tournament (SWAT) at the E-Center in Harker Heights, TX, Feb 8-10. The converted grocery store, which now normally hosts rock concerts, was the perfect venue to host a triple-elimination billiards event. Most everyone, especially those who battled through that newly introduced third bracket, appreciated the opportunity of the extra round of play.

As is the goal of all BCA pool League sanctioned events, the playing conditions were second to none. Consistency counts, so the Simonis 860 tournament blue cloth, the Diamond 7-foot Smart Tables with tight, pro-cut 4-1/2-inch pockets, and red circle cue balls with Super Aramith Pro balls were much appreciated by all who competed.
The men’s singles solicited 66 entrants, the women’s singles garnered 22, and the Scotch doubles, though double elimination, drew 20 couples.
In the men’s singles event, Chris White remained undefeated, while Billy Sharp bested Jeff Sorrell in the one-loss bracket. This forced a rematch, which resulted in Sharp going against White for the title. Sharp couldn’t overpower the confident White and finished second. Jeff Sorrell of the Dallas Southwest 8-ball League placed third. Larry Nicholson, also from SWEL, celebrated fourth.

Rebecca Goodnight, from the Houston 8-ball League, got through the winners’ bracket without a blemish. Melinda Bailey, a Southwest 8-ball League member, rallied thru the one-loss bracket. In the women’s second-loss bracket, Michelle Yim defeated Austin APPLE league’s Kim Pierce, who garnered fourth place.
The win took Yim to the semifinals, where Melinda Bailey got the better of Yim and earned the right to a shot at Goodnight. Thanks to the triple-elimination format, Bailey had to best Goodnight three times for the championship, while Goodnight needed only two wins. Undeterred, Bailey snatched the next three matches and the first SWAT tournament title of the year.
Scotch doubles winners Chris White and Michelle Yim hailed from Houston 8-ball League. Their competitors in the finals, Don Baker and Snowy Belt, play out of SWEL in Dallas.

BCA National 8-ball Championships to host World pool Masters

BCA National 8-ball Championships to host Matchroom’s World pool Masters at the Riviera, Las Vegas, May 9-11, 2008

Reigning WPA World 9-ball Champion Daryl Peach (ENG); Player of the Year, and BCA pool League representative, Shane Van Boening (USA); 18 year old phenomenon, and 2007 World Junior Champion, Ko Pin Ye (TPE); 2003 World pool Masters Champion Tony Drago (ENG); 2001 WPA World 9-ball Champion Mika Immonen (FIN), and multiple UPA tour winner Rodney Morris (USA) have all agreed to compete in the 2008 World pool Masters at the Riviera Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, May 9-11, 2008.

Matchroom’s Luke Riches reports, The invite list is taking shape but, through our agreement with the WPA, we take the top four ranked players on the Euro Tour after their next event which finishes on the 24th of this month.

16 internationally ranked players will compete for the coveted title of World pool Master. Europe, Asia, and America will be represented in the all or nothing, nerve racking, single elimination event.

5 time Masters Champion Ralf Souquet (GER), 2005 World pool Masters Champion Francisco Bustamante (PHI), 2004 WPA World 9-ball Champion Alex Pagulayan (PHI) and 2007 Diamond Derby City Classic 9-ball Champion Niels Feijen (NED) have yet to confirm their invitation.

BCAPL’s Mark Griffin acknowledges, Our players love professional action. This is the first time the Masters has been held on U.S. soil. We are honored Matchroom has chosen us. It’s been a tradition to entertain the thousands of BCA pool League members who travel the globe to compete in our National 8-ball Championships. This year will be no different.

As always, the World pool Masters will be televised throughout the world. The BCAPL, in conjunction with the Riviera, is working on a seating plan that will accommodate a few hundred spectators. Tickets will be made available in March on the Playbca.com website, and if any are left, at the Championships. Stay tuned.

2008 WIBCA Singles

The cold, snow and slippery roads couldn’t keep the 910 BCA pool League members from the WIBCA Singles event at the Olympia Resort Conference Center in Oconomowoc WI, January 24-27, 2008. The 14 different events, plus $5,000 added money, a payback of $43,360, and 12% growth over last year made this the biggest tournament yet.

It all started with 9-ball on Thursday evening and finished with Seniors 8-ball Sunday night. For a complete list of results please go to WWW.WISCONSINBCA.COM (http://www.WISCONSINBCA.COM). The WIBCA Board would like to thank Dr pool (Dean Roeseler) and everyone on his staff, including the knowledgeable refs, for running another great event. This year a new Senior event was added and our congratulations to Gary Bowe as the inaugural champion.

And where would we be without our vendors; Dave and Brandon Jacoby from Jacoby Custom Cues offered cue repair and sales, Mike and Diane from Jackson Cues displayed their cues and accessories, Scott from Ultimate Apparel for the very cool shirts, and Wes and Joe from Wild Eyes Creation for their snappy cue holders.

Rick Eckert, the owner of Olympia Resort Conference Center, had his staff provide service with a personal touch that truly complemented our event. It was a pleasure to work with them and we look forward to seeing them again next year.

Don’t forget the WIBCA TEAM event at the Radisson Hotel Conference Center Green Bay Green Bay, WI. Scotch Doubles starts Thursday evening, February 28, 2008, followed by the Teams on Friday evening, February 29. Entry deadline, without a late fee, is February 6. If you need entry forms for either event please download at http://www.wisconsinbca.com/2007-2008/entry_forms/2007-2008_entry_forms.htm (http://www.wisconsinbca.com/2007-2008/entry_forms/2007-2008_entry_forms.htm)

Once again, on behalf of the WIBCA Board, thanks to all the competitors who played their hearts out and for their contribution to our growth.

Qlympics Gives billiard Players a Chance of a Lifetime to Score Big
If you’re a tournament billiard player, this is your chance to score at Qlympics. Due to scheduling conflicts with the WPA World pool Championship, the registration for the U.S. Open events has been light–all the top champions are in Manila. That means every player’s chances of winning have just dramatically increased.

Playbca.com will guarantee $20,000 added. With full fields, the added will climb to $64,000 and push the prize fund to $176,000.

In other words, Get Your Butt There

U.S. Open Tournaments:

Double elimination on 9 foot Diamond Smart Tables.

Play in one, or all, of the following events. You don’t have to be a BCA pool LEAGUE member!

U.S. Open One Pocket Championship
Monday afternoon, Nov 5-9 •128 max. $235, includes all fees.

U.S. Open Bank pool Championship • Full rack
Monday morning, Nov 5-9 • 128 max. $235, includes all fees.

U.S. Open 14.1 Straight pool Championship
Monday morning, Nov 12-16 • 128 max. $235, includes all fees.

U.S. Open 10 ball Championship
Monday afternoon, Nov 12-16 • 256 max. $235, includes reg. fee.

Qlympics is an open event in a “player friendly” venue with a 24/7 action room and late night food and drink. And, like all playbca.com events, there will be plenty of warm-up and nightly mini tournaments.

The Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, Louisville, Kentucky

Please make your reservations at the Clarion. Call (502) 491-4830 and mention “Qlympics.”

Qlympics BCAPL Big table Championships

The BCA pool League invites you to Three Weeks of pool Bliss when the Qlympics come to the Clarion Hotel Louisville, KY, November 1-18. The Qlympics is a guaranteed $10,000-added event and may be as much as $30,000 added, based on full fields.
All you need to play is one weekend – although the total Qlympics experience is 3 weeks of pool bliss. The BCA pool League invites you to compete in any, or all, of the following events. You can participate in any or all of the following events:
November 1: Mini tournaments start
November 2-3: Scotch Doubles
November 3-4: 8-ball Singles
November 10-11: 8-ball Teams
November 17-18: Juniors 8- and 9-ball
November 17-18: Qlympics Regional 8-ball Teams and Singles (double-elimination format on 7-foot Diamond tables)
As this the first year for Qlympics, we expect smaller fields. Any good 9-foot player should want to enter—smaller fields means that your odds are greater to win money and titles.
The deadline for early bird entries is October 6. All entries must be postmarked or faxed by that date. Late fees begin October 7.
For more information and for entry forms, visit playbca.com.
You can also see the pros as they compete in Qlympics U.S. Open events during the same Three Weeks of pool Bliss. There are 24/7 action rooms with late-night food and drink. What more enticement do you need?
Get Your Butt There