World Class Professional Billiards Returns To Kansas City Area: Camel Pro Billiards Series Kicks Off 1999 Season At Shooters In Olathe, KS The best professional pool players from around the world will gather for the Shooters 9-Ball Open in Olathe, KS April 7-11. The field of 96 top pros will kick off the1999 season of pro pool’s richest series with a $75,000 purse on the line. Players will also begin the chase for the $300,000 year-end bonus fund. Play begins Wednesday April 7 with matches held daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. through Saturday, April 10. The final matches will be contested Sunday April 11 at noon (third/fourth place matches), 2 p.m. (semi-final) and 4 p.m. (championship match). Last year’s winner, Buddy “The Rifleman” Hall of Seffner, FL will return to defend his title, and will face the likes of 1998 Camel Series Champion (and Player of the Year) Francisco “Django” Bustamante of Germany. Other notable players include the reigning World 9-Ball Champion, Kunihiko Takahashi of Japan; the 1997 World 9-Ball Champion, Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer of Atlanta, GA; and Steve “The Miz” Mizerak of Singer Island, FL. Hall-of-Famer Nick Varner of Owensboro, KY and Earl “The Pearl” Strickland of Greensboro, NC will be in the field, along with local favorite, David Matlock of Gardener KS. Tickets cost $10 for daily general admission, $15 for daily V.I.P. seating or $40 for full-event general admission, $50 for full-event V.I.P. seating. Shooters is located at 810 W. 56 Highway, Olathe, KS, phone: (913) 780-5740.