Maryland State One Pocket Billiards Championships to Be Held November 1st – 2nd at Side Pockets Café in Laurel, Maryland

LAUREL, MD – October 29, 2008 – Danny Green , a well-known pocket billiards player based in Silver Spring , MD , and Capone Custom Cues of Poolesville, MD are hosting the first annual Maryland State One Pocket Billiards Championships. The tournament will take place on Saturday and Sunday, November 1st and 2nd at Side Pockets Bar & Grill, 904 Fairlawn, Avenue, Laurel , MD 20707 .  The players meeting will begin at 9:30 am on Saturday with play beginning at 10:00 AM. Spectators are welcome to attend and watch some top level one-pocket players up close. There will be a $5.00 admission fee with part of the proceeds being donated to cancer research. For directions to Side Pockets, please go to: www.sidepocketsmd.com or call: 301-604-1300.
 
The Maryland State One Pocket tournament is open to both professional and amateur pocket billiards players, with a three-tiered level for entry fees as follows: $150 for professional players, $125 for A-level players, and $100 for all amateur players.  This One-Pocket tournament offers the following payouts: 1st place: $2,500; 2nd place $1,250; 3rd place $750 and other prizes up to approximately 33% of the field. Side Pockets owner, Amit Patel has generously added $2000.00 to this event (based on a full field of 64 players) and has already recovered the pool tables for optimal play.
 
The Maryland State One Pocket tournament founder, Danny Green said, “Although the general public is more familiar with 8-ball and 9-ball, many high-level pool players prefer playing One Pocket because it offers the ultimate test of strategic thinking and advanced shot-making.  Comparing One Pocket to 8-ball is like comparing chess to checkers – it's just a more advanced game.”
 
The goal of One Pocket is for each player to select one of the two pockets at the foot of the table, and be the first player to “pocket” or make 8 of the 15 balls in his or her designated pocket.  The best One Pocket players not only make balls in their own pocket, but they strategically move balls away from their opponent's designated pocket, and leave the cue ball in a position where it is difficult for an opponent to start a successful run.  Therefore, One Pocket is a slower, more deliberate game than 8-ball or 9-ball, and the ability to make bank shots and defensive shots is critical to winning in One Pocket. This game is popular among high-stakes players, because there is less luck and more strategy involved in winning a match.
 
The sponsors are hosting the Maryland State One Pocket Championships just one week after the 33rd Annual US Open 9-ball Championships, which was recently completed in Chesapeake , Virginia . In that event, Mika Immonen of Finland beat out a field of 237 of the best pool players in the world to win the $40,000 first prize.
 
Danny Green said, “We already have commitments from a few top players to attend the Maryland State One Pocket Championships including local hot shots such as Manual “The Stinger” Chau from Silver Spring , MD.   This tournament provides a great opportunity for the top local amateur pool players to compete head-to-head with some of the top level touring professional players.”
 
Mike Capone, owner of Capone Custom Cues will be serving as an official and referee at the event and will also be doing cue maintenance and repair for anyone in need.
 
For more info rmation about the tournament, please contact Danny Green via email at: dgreen6707@yahoo.com , log onto www.everything-about-pool.com, or via phone at: 202-422-3217.