Johnny Archer will compete in both events on February 10th |
Billiards champions from around the world will go head-to-head February 10 in the TEXAS HOLD ‘EM BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP and the SKINS BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP. The 2007 double-header event will be held at the Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, Mass.
The Third Annual SKINS BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP will be played under a format .somewhat similar to Skins in professional golf (www.skinsbilliardschampionship.com). The Scotch Doubles event will team Jeanette Lee with George Breedlove and Johnny Archer with Jennifer Barretta. The two teams will compete for a $40,000 prize purse in a 1-hour special event to be taped for telecast on ESPN.
The Second Annual TEXAS HOLD ‘EM BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP format is somewhat similar to Texas Hold ‘Em Poker (www.texasholdembilliardschampionship.com). Once each year eight champions and legends of the sport are brought together in a shootout with a pressure-cooker format for $25,000 first prize in an $80,000 prize purse. The two semifinals and the Championship match will be taped for telecast on ESPN. The winner claims one of the most coveted titles in pool – Texas Hold ‘Em Billiards Champion.
The 2007 field includes top stars of the sport. Jeanette Lee, World Games Gold Medalist. Johnny Archer, 2006 International Champion of Champions. John Schmidt, 2006 U.S. Open Champion. Rodney Morris, 2006 Pro Championships Champion. Luc Salvas, 2006 International Speed Pool Champion. Jennifer Barretta, 2006 Empress Cup Champion. Corey Deuel, Sudden Death 7-Ball Champion. George Breedlove, National Viking Tour Champion.
Basketball Hall of Fame, the Host Site, will make the 2007 events ADMISSION FREE to pool fans from around the USA and the world. The tournaments will be held on the Hall of Fame basketball court, and there will be four playing sessions in the one-day invitational spectacular. On Saturday, February 10, the SKINS BILLIARDS Scotch Doubles event will begin at 2PM. The TEXAS HOLD ‘EM semifinals will be played at 4PM and 5:30PM, and the Championship match will be played at 7PM. All matches of both events will be taped for telecast on ESPN.
SKINS BILLIARDS is considered the toughest format in the sport. A team must win three games in a row to win a Skin, with twelve games to a match. The value of the Skins increase every three games, from $1,000 a game to $6,000 a game. If a Skin is not won, then the value of that Skin is rolled over into the next Skin. If no Skins are won during the match, the two teams then play a one-game Sudden Death for the $40,000 prize purse.
TEXAS HOLD ‘EM BILLIARDS is regarded as the supreme test of skill. Four players compete against each other in a match, with sixteen games to a match, and players are required to make huge bets and often forced to go “ALL-IN.” The dollars bet per game escalates as the match progresses, and the winner of a game collects the amount bet from the other three players. Games 13 – 16 in a match require “ALL-IN” bets from all players in both semifinals and the Championship match. One player takes the title and a hefty $25,000 from the $80,000 prize purse
The trophy and the winner's check for both events will be presented by Basketball Hall of Fame and Olhausen Billiards, and Viking Cues will award a special presentation cue. The tournaments are also sponsored by Aramith Super Pro Balls, Simonis Cloth, Original Italian Slate, Liguria International, Ozone Billiards, Silver Cup Chalk, Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield Business Improvement District and the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The 2007 events will be the premier tournaments of the year. Those attending should arrive early for each tournament session since the events are Admission Free. Make plans today to attend the 2007 SKINS BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP and the TEXAS HOLD ‘EM BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP. For information call 860-379-8414 or visit the websites at www.skinsbilliardschampionship.com and www.texasholdembilliardschampionship.com.
