The premier special events in professional billiards will be hosted by ESPN Zone in Las Vegas on October 3-4. The Semifinal matches and the Championship match of both events will be telecast by ESPN beginning in November.
International Speed Pool Challenge will feature four top players from an international roster competing for a purse of winner-take-all $50,000. Luc Salvas, the 2006 International Speed Pool Champion also holds the record for Speed Pool in regular competition. Dave Pearson, the 2006 International Speed Pool Runnerup also holds a Guinness Book of World Records Speed Pool listing. Francisco Diaz, the 2007 VNEA Speed Pool Champion also holds a host of Speed Pool records in recent years. Bobby McGrath, the 2007 BCA Speed Pool Champion also holds many Speed Pool titles in competitive events.
The winner will claim the title of International Speed Pool Champion on October 3. The game is all action and offense, with players competing against the clock to run racks in the fastest possible time. A match consists of two sets, the first set a variation of Straight Pool and the second set regulation 8-Ball. Players routinely run a rack of fifteen balls in one-minute-fifteen-seconds or less. Tied sets result in a blistering one rack Sudden Death.
Trick Shot Magic will present eight international stars of the sport contending for a purse of $50,000 on October 3-4. Mike Massey, the 2006 Trick Shot Magic Champion. Tom Rossman, the 2006 World Artistic Pool Champion. Andy Segal, the 2007 Masters Artistic Pool Champion. Nick Nikolaidis, the 2006 Masters Artistic Pool Champion. Stefano Pelinga, the 2005 Trick Shot Magic Champion. Sebastian Giumelli, the 2007 South American Trick Shot Champion. Matt MacPhail, the 2006 World Artistic Pool Ranked #3. Sal Conti, the 2006 World Artistic Pool Ranked #4.
The Trick Shot Magic winner will claim the crown and $30,000. Format for the tournament consists of twenty artistic show shots in each match. Players will execute a challenge shot of their choice, and their opponents are required to duplicate the shot or lose a point. The players alternate shots in two-man head-to-head matches, performing intricate trick shots meant to stymie their opponents. A sudden death tiebreaker to decide a match will require an eight rail bank shot onto the face of a $100 bill. In the seven year history of the event, the Championship has twice been decided by a sudden death tiebreaker.
ESPN will telecast three 1-hour programs each on Trick Shot Magic and International Speed Pool Challenge. ESPN Zone will make the events Admission Free for spectators. ESPN Zone is a 50,000-square-foot sports-themed dining and entertainment complex located at the New York New York Hotel Casino in Las Vegas (phone: 702-933-3776). The tournaments are sponsored by Connelly Billiards, Cuetec Cues, Cue & Case Sales, Aramith Super Pro Balls, Simonis Cloth, L.E.A.N.I. Slate, Ozone Billiards, Original Italian Slate, AcCue Shot Training Device and Silver Cup Chalk. The tournaments will be produced by Billiards International, Ltd.
Ample parking is available near ESPN Zone. The INTERNATIONAL SPEED POOL CHALLENGE Semifinals and Championship Finals will begin at 4 PM on October 3. The TRICK SHOT MAGIC Semifinals and Championship Finals will begin at 4 PM on October 4. Admission is free and those attending should plan to arrive early. For more information call: 860-379-8414.
