Spring, to thousands of pool players, often means its time to make arrangements for their annual May trip to the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for the BCAPL National 8-Ball Championships. It is a time to sharpen those 8-ball and 7' table skills in preparation for “The Greatest Pool Tournament in the World.”
At a time when the global economy is in recession, the BCAPL strives to offer an avenue where players can compete and enjoy the sport they love without excessive costs and the opportunity to win cash back at every level. Via the BCAPL National 8-Ball Championship, the State Tournament Added Money Program (STAMP), and the production of well regarded independent events such as the Jay Swanson Memorial and the U.S Bar Table Championships CueSports International (CSI) gives approximately $200,000 to players in added money annually.
It is this love of the sport and the pool community that drives Mark Griffin and his team at CSI. For his contribution Griffin was named Man of the Year in the 13th Annual BD Awards in the February issue of Billiards Digest. In 2004 the BCA Pool League was sold to Griffin who has been in the industry for over 30 years. During his first 4 years of ownership, league membership has risen 16% between 2004 and 2008. Growth in the number of leagues around the country continues into 2009.
The mission statement for CSI is “To create and improve opportunities for all players of all abilities through fair governance and equitable policies.” This is more than just words for team CSI, it is a way of life
