More Than $1.2 Million Awarded at APA World Championships
Sep 9, 2016
Attendance Continues to Climb at World’s Largest Pool Tournament
LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO (Sept. 9, 2016) — The American Poolplayers Association (APA) sure knows how to throw a party. And the party was in full effect in early August for the recently rebranded APA World Pool Championships.
Record attendance? Check. The most recognizable stars in the sport of pool? Check. Live streaming of all five event finals? Check. Epic pool party? Check – times two!
Throw in more than $1.2 million in cash, front row viewing of an iconic casino implosion and 10 days of non-stop poolplaying action, and it all adds up to a party unlike any other.
For thousands of die-hard APA members, it was paradise. For APA’s staff and officials, it was business as usual, helping to make memories of a lifetime for their members.
This year’s version of the world’s largest pool tournament saw more than 12,000 players from 48 states and three countries competing on nearly 320 tables. APA members rubbed elbows with billiard celebrities like “The Black Widow” Jeanette Lee, “The Striking Viking” Ewa Laurance, Florian “Venom” Kohler, “Dr. Cue” Tom Rossman and instructor Lee Brett.
In the early hours of Tuesday, Aug. 16, many of those in attendance took in the opportunity to see the Riviera Hotel & Casino come tumbling down in a rare Vegas implosion. After 23 years of hosting APA tournaments at the now extinct “Riv,” the timing couldn’t have been more appropriate.
In the end though it was pool tournament action they came for, and it was pool tournament action they received.
In the 716-team 8-Ball World Championship, Believe the Hype of Evansville, Ind., defeated Make It Work of Harahan, La., to take home $25,000 in cash and the championship title. As Runners-Up, Make It Work received $15,000 in prize money.
Teams in the 8-Ball Championship squared-off in a modified single-elimination format that ensured each team played at least twice before elimination. All 8-Ball Division teams automatically received $350 in national qualifier money, and the top 8 teams won at least $5,000. The 8-Ball Division began play on Aug. 15 and concluded on Aug. 20.
In the 476-team 9-Ball World Championship, it was Big Tyme Misfits of Spring, Texas, defeating Bruce Monnier of Port Charlotte, Fla., in the finals. Big Tyme Misfits took home $15,000 in 1st Place prize money. As Runners-Up, Bruce Monnier received $7,000 in cash.
The 9-Ball Championship was held Aug. 11-15, with teams competing in a modified single-elimination format that ensured each team played at least twice before elimination. All national qualifiers received a minimum of $350, with the top 8 teams winning at least $2,000.
After winning their divisions in weekly APA 8-Ball and 9-Ball League play and then placing in Local Team Championships throughout the United States, Canada and Japan, teams consisting of five to eight players, qualified to compete in the 2016 APA World Championships.
In the Jack & Jill Doubles Championship, it was Smokin’ Ace of Kansas City, Mo., winning $3,500 in the finals with a victory over Plan B of Whitby, Ont. Plan B received $2,300 as Runner-Up in the 256-team event.
The finals of the Masters Championship featured We Are One of Orange County, Calif., defeating the Virginia Gentleman of Newport News, Va. We Are One took home $10,000 in 1st Place prize money, while the Virginia Gentleman received $5,000 as Runner-Up in the 256-team event.
In the finals of the Ladies 8-Ball Championship, it was KQ 2.0 of Stratford, Conn., defeating Miss Qs 607 of Oak Forest, Ill., to win $10,000 in 1st Place prize money. As Runners-Up, Miss Qs 607 received $5,000 in cash.
In addition, the APA conducted nearly round-the-clock MiniMania tournaments, which took place daily and were open to all APA members. The MiniMania tournaments offered multiple formats with 100% prize money payback that awarded nearly $260,000.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, with leagues throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. More than 250,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9‑Ball League play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.
The APA produces three major tournaments each year—the APA World Pool Championships, the APA Poolplayer Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out more than $2 Million in cash and prizes annually!
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues and PoolDawg.
For more information on the APA World Championships, visit the official APA website at www.poolplayers.com.