Trick Shot Magic & International Speed Pool Challenge September 16 – 17 At ESPN Zone Las Vegas

The premier special events in professional billiards will be hosted by ESPN Zone in Las Vegas on September 16 - 17. 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 $25,000. Bobby McGrath, the 2008 International Speed Pool Champion, will return to defend his title. Dave Pearson, the 2008 International Speed Pool Runnerup holds a Guinness Book of World Records Speed Pool listing. Luc Salvas, the 2006 International Speed Pool Champion will return to vie for the title. Jason Kane, the 2009 ACS World Speed Pool Champion secured a berth in the event with his recent win.

The winner will claim the title of International Speed Pool Champion on September 16. 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 $30,000 on September 16 - 17. Tom Rossman, the 2008 Trick Shot Magic Champion. Jamey Gray, the 2008 World Artistic Pool Champion. Andy Segal, the 2009 Masters Artistic Pool Champion. Stefano Pelinga, the 2007 World Cup of Trick Shots Champion. Eric Yow, the 2008 Masters Artistic Pool Champion. Nick Nikolaidis, the 2008 Canadian Artistic Pool Champion. Sebastian Giumelli, the 2008 South American Artistic Pool Champion. Bruce Barthelette, the 2009 Masters Artistic Pool Runnerup.

The Trick  Shot Magic winner will claim the crown on September 17. 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 nine 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 Fusion Billiards Tables, Aramith Tournament Balls, Simonis Cloth, Mueller Recreational Products, Executive Billiards Delta-13 Rack, AcCue Shot Training Device, and Silver Cup Chalk. The tournaments will be produced by Billiards International, Ltd.

Ample free parking is available at the New York - New York Hotel & Casino. The INTERNATIONAL SPEED POOL CHALLENGE Semifinals and Championship Finals will begin at 4 PM on September 16. The TRICK SHOT MAGIC Semifinals and Championship Finals will begin at 4 PM on September 17. Admission is free and those attending should plan to arrive early. For more information call: 860-379-8414.