Year
after year the BCA National 8-Ball Championships is touted as “The
Greatest Pool Tournament in the World!” and for good reason.
The
BCA National 8-Ball Championships is the longest running, amateur
tournament presented by a national pool league. The first championships
were staged at the Dayton Convention Center in Ohio in 1977. The
tournament's growth has required larger and larger venues and, today,
The Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, provides over 100,000 feet
of ballroom and meeting space. Pavilions overflow with an ocean of Tour
Blue Simonis Cloth, dotted with Super Aramith Pro balls on Diamond
“Smart Tables.” The hotel's room quota quickly sold out to ardent pool
fans, and their families, 60 days before the event.
Predator has joined forces as a Platinum Sponsor and added a selection of their POISON CUES as prizes for the amateur players.
The
billiard industry recognizes the BCA National 8-Ball Championships as
the place to be in the month of May. No other tournament unites more
amateurs, professionals, league operators, referees, vendors, and
spectators in a shared experience that commands the title of “The
Greatest Pool Tournament in the World!”
This year, the playbca.com production surpassed member's wildest dreams.
More
than 7100 players, from 17 countries, competed in 20+ events in the
hunt for well over $760,000 in prize money. And, if that's not enough,
the BCA Pool League members, men and women alike, love pro pool. Hence,
the long-standing tradition of bringing the world's elite players to
Las Vegas. This year, BCA National 8-Ball Championships hosted the
biggest field of back to back pro action in its history.
Matchroom
Sports delivered its World Pool Masters tournament. Dragon Promotions,
in association Seybert Billiard Supply, Diamond Billiard Products and
Playbca.com, relocated the Predator 10-Ball Championships, and The
Action Report, sponsored by OB Cues, drew record crowds with their big
money, one-on-one, TAR Pit marathons.
The
league, also, offers pros a place to play. Says CEO Mark Griffin, "You
can't get so good in our league that you don't have a place to play.
Your membership doesn't outgrow your skill."
So,
it was no surprise when WPBA champion Kelly Fisher won the Women's
Grand Master Singles, or that Diamond Derby City Classic winner Jason
Kirkwood is the 2008 Men's Grand Master, but what about Noel Campos?
Noel, from Modesto, California, won the Women's Open Singles, and
$6000…from a wheel chair… and, she's legally blind!
Gary
Abood from West Monroe, LA got 2nd in the 8-Ball Men's Grand Master
Singles and 7th on the 9-Ball Challenge. Look out for Gary, he was last
seen in the other LA - Los Angeles - matching up with Efren!
Griffin's
new bride, Sunny, showed joy as she captured the Women's Player Member
Singles title. Had Sunny gotten a few pointers from her new hubby?
Before he took reins of the league, Mark actually had time to hit a few
competitive balls himself and had achieved Master status in the BCAPL
system.
Mike
Williams and Susan Williams Chandler overpowered Mary Rakin & Colin
Mazaikain in the Open Scotch Doubles. Mary, surely, had one of the most
memorable days of her life; she had also secured second against Noel in
the Women's Open Singles.
Randy
Goettlicher, who had been freely educating league members at the
Cue-Tech Pool School all week, finished runner up against Don Harp in
the Super Senior Singles. Randy, obviously, practiced what he preached.
Chad Vilmont from Clinton, IA and Jessica Frideres from Fort Dodge, IA captured the 8-Ball Master Scotch Doubles title.
Holly
Robinson, a resident of Concord, CA is the 8-Ball Women's Senior
Singles champion and Iris Ranola, from Zamboanga City in the
Philippines, is the 8-Ball Women's Master Singles champion.
Susan & Mike Williams from Chandler, AZ slam dunked the 8-Ball Open Scotch Doubles.
Hustlin
from Lyon, MI is the 8-Ball Mixed Open Team title holder, Never
Mistresses, Milwaukee, WI, the 8-Ball Women's Open Team, and Metro from
Blaine, MN is the 8-Ball Mixed Master Team.
Men's
Open Singles titlist Danny Barnes pocketed $11,000, while Sam Kirby
got$8,000, and Shayne Morrow $6,000. Hey, that's $25,000 right there,
and more than most Pro events. Who says pool doesn't pay?
Canada's Tyler Edie exacted revenge on being last year's runner-up as he won the BCA Pool League 9-Ball Challenge. Demi Jelatis from Brooklyn Park, MN took second.
Laura
Smith corralled Efren, Bustey, Mexico's Rafael Martinez, Allison,
Gerda, and a slew of other pool celebs at The Billiard Education
Foundation's annual Challenge of the Stars. Members had too much fun as
the fundraiser lasted into the wee small hours.
Dr. Cue, Tom Rossman, served as instructor, entertainer, and judge of the 16th Annual BCAPL National Artistic Pool Championship.
Standing room only crowds swelled into the lobby as Members got to
compete against other members as Tom held court. Jason Kane, from New
York City, outtricked Los Angelesian Josh Ulrich in the finals.
The Speed Break contest was nailed at 32.7 mph by Jared Bailey.
These are just a few of the more memorable moments. Space limits us. Please visit playbca.com and check the results of the more than 3,000 members who cashed in this year's 32nd BCA National 8-Ball Championships.
You're bound to know, at least, one person. And next time you see them,
ask “What's the greatest pool tournament in the world?”
