APA World 8-Ball Champions K-9 of Kansas City, MO
Nearly $1.3 Million Awarded at World’s Largest Pool Tournament
Vegas has long been a hot-bed for some of the most famous names in entertainment. Names like Sinatra, Elvis, Celine, Britney.
But in August, it was APA members, from all walks of life, taking center stage in Sin City. An estimated 18,000 people from across the globe came to Las Vegas to compete on amateur pool’s biggest stage at the APA World Pool Championships. This year’s poolplaying-paradise offered nearly $1.3 Million in cash to top finishers.
Finalists battled their hearts out in six different championship events that were live streamed in a completely redesigned PoolDawg Championship Arena.
In addition to 10 days of nearly round-the-clock tournament excitement, APA members had the chance to rub elbows with the likes of “The Black Widow” Jeanette Lee, Internet Trick Shot Sensation Florian “Venom” Kohler and billiard Hall of Famer “Dr. Cue” Tom Rossman. Other pro players spotted at the APA World Championships included Mosconi Cup MVP Skyler Woodward and Team USA teammates Shane Van Boening, Billy Thorpe and Corey Deuel.
Competitors capped off the experience of a lifetime with APA’s always epic poolside bash at the Westgate Pool overlooking the Vegas strip.
In the 720-team 8-Ball World Championship, K-9 of Kansas City, Mo., defeated No Excuses of Hickory, N.C., in a nail-biter to take home $25,000 in cash and the championship title. As Runners-Up, No Excuses received $15,000 in prize money. The 8-Ball World Championship can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xH1d5OwD1E.
Teams in the 8-Ball Championship squared-off in a modified single-elimination format that ensured each team played at least twice before elimination. All 8-Ball Division teams automatically received $350 in national qualifier money, and the top 8 teams won at least $5,000. The 8-Ball Division began play on Aug. 8 and concluded on Aug. 13.
In the 520-team 9-Ball World Championship, it was Seven and a Timmaaay of Hiram, Ga., defeating Burn It Down of Joilet, Ill., in the finals. Seven and a Timmaaay took home $15,000 in 1st Place prize money. As Runners-Up, Burn It Down received $7,000 in cash. The 9-Ball World Championship can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvXcr1LGKcQ.
The 9-Ball Championship was held Aug. 13-17, with each team competing in a modified single-elimination format that ensured each team played at least twice before elimination. All national qualifiers received a minimum of $350, with the top 8 teams winning at least $2,000.
After winning their divisions in weekly APA 8-Ball and 9-Ball League play and then placing in World Qualifiers throughout the United States, Canada and Japan, teams consisting of five to eight players qualified to compete in the 2019 APA World Championships.
In the Team Captains Championship that included 375 teams, Suspect & Bad Decisions of Shreveport, La., defeated Make It Happen Cap’N of Fort Worth, Texas to take home $10,000 in prize money. As Runners-up, Make It Happen Cap’N took home $5,000. The Team Captains Championship can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PplUtpyup44.
The finals of the Masters Championship featured reigning champions Hugh & the Hustlers of Wallingford, Conn., successfully defending their title against Who’s Who of Saginaw, Mich. Hugh & the Hustlers took home $10,000 in 1st Place prize money, while Who’s Who received $5,000 as Runner-Up in the 256-team event. The Masters Championship can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPFyuXmKHjo.
In the finals of the 256-team Ladies 8-Ball Championship, it was Apocalypsticks of Chicago, Ill., defeating Femmes Fatales of Commack, N.Y., to win $10,000 in 1st Place prize money. As Runners-Up, Femmes Fatales received $5,000 in cash. The Ladies 8-Ball Championship can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g9TK0W5r0o.
In the Jack & Jill Doubles Championship, which also included 256 teams, it was Double Trouble of Poconos, Penn., winning $3,500 in the finals with a victory over Lucky Slice of Miami, Fla. Lucky Slice received $2,300 as Runner-Up. The finals of the Jack & Jill Doubles Championship can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZfoRbvScA0.
In addition, the APA conducted nearly round-the-clock MiniMania tournaments, which took place daily and were open to all APA members. The MiniMania tournaments offered multiple formats with 100% prize money payback that awarded nearly $260,000.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, with leagues throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. Nearly 250,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9‑Ball League play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.
The APA produces four major tournaments each year—the APA World Pool Championships, the APA Poolplayer Championships, the APA Junior Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out nearly $2 Million in cash and prizes annually with an additional $20+ million awarded locally in travel, prizes, player benefits and cash!
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues, PoolDawg and Valley-Dynamo.
For more information on the APA World Pool Championships, visit the official APA website at www.poolplayers.com.
