APA National Championships Feature Record Crowds and Payouts

LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO (September 4, 2008) — The American Poolplayers Association's (APA) 28th Annual National Team Championships saw a record number of teams compete in this year's 9-day extravaganza. More than 1,800 8-Ball, 9-Ball, Doubles and Masters teams made the trek to Sin City to compete, Aug. 15 – 23, for more than $1 Million in prize money.

In the 8-Ball Open Division, Westside of Kankakee, Ill., defeated Secretly Sloshed of Shreveport, La., 3-0 in the finals to take home $25,000 in cash and the championship title. In addition to their 1st Place prize money, Westside also received a team trophy and individual team plaques.

As Runners-Up, Secretly Sloshed received $15,000 in prize money, a team trophy and individual team plaques. Finishing in 3rd Place were The Untouchables of Springdel, Ohio, and Vested in Pool of Livonia, Mich.; they each received $7,500 in prize money. In a three-way tie for 5th Place were All My Rowdy Friends of Baton Rouge, La., Bobby McGee's of Cresthill, Ill., and Nothin Personal of Topeka, Kansas; each team received $5,500 for finishing tied for 5th Place.

In the finals of the Ladies 8-Ball Division, it was Clean Slates of Maple Shade, N.J., defeating New Orleans Ladies of Westwego, La., 3-0 to win $10,000 in 1st Place prize money.  In addition to the prize money, Clean Slates also received a team trophy and individual team plaques. As Runners-Up, New Orleans Ladies received $5,000 in cash, a team trophy and individual team plaques.

Clean Slates advanced to the finals with a victory over Cue Tips of Seminole, Fla., in the semifinals. New Orleans Ladies defeated Ball Busters of Howell, Mich., in the semifinals to advance. Both Cue Tips and Ball Busters each took home $2,500 for their 3rd Place finishes.

In a tie for 5th Place were Keep ‘Em Safe of Chester, W.V, Kiss It Goodbye of Houston, Texas, This Is It of Jackson, Miss., and Who Let the Babes Out of Decatur, Ill. Each 5th Place team received $1,000 in prize money.

All teams in the 8-Ball Championships squared off in a modified single elimination format that ensured each team played at least twice before elimination. All 8-Ball Open Division teams automatically received $350 in national qualifier money, and the top 8 teams won at least $5,000. In the 8-Ball Ladies Division, all teams automatically earned $350 national qualifier money, with the top 8 teams winning at least $1,000. The Open Division began play on Aug. 18 and concluded on Aug. 23. The Ladies Division of the tournament started on Aug. 16 and concluded on Aug. 19.

In Open 9-Ball National Championship action, it was Oh Shot of Gastonia, N.C., beating Frank's Team of Leominster, Mass, in the finals 52-48. Oh Shot took home $15,000 of the more than $200,000 guaranteed purse. As Runner-Up, Frank's Team received $7,000 in cash, a team trophy and individual team plaques.

Two teams tied for 3rd Place in the Open 9-Ball division. Cue Tips of Metairie, La., and Shoot ‘Em Down of Waterloo, S.C. Each team took home $3,500 in prize money.

Finishing in 5th Place were Go Ahead of Burlington, Ontario, Heavy Hitters of Nashville, Tenn., Jimmy's of Memhis, Tenn., and Welcome to Your Nightmare of Aloha, Oregon. Each 5th Place team received $2,000 in prize money.

The Open 9-Ball National Championship was held Aug. 15-18, with each team 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 and Canada, 707 Open 8-Ball, 357 Open 9-Ball, and 37 Ladies 8-Ball teams, all consisting of five to eight players, qualified to compete in the 2008 National Team Championships.

In the Open 8-Ball Doubles Championship, it was Oop's of Shreveport, La., winning $6,500 in the finals with a victory over Tim & Mitchell of North Braddock, Pa. Tim & Mitchell received $4,000 as Runner-Up in the 383-team event.

The finals of the Masters Championship event featured Goof Troop of Rosemead, Calif., defeating Detroit Connection of Oxford, Mich. Goof Troop took home $7,800 in 1st Place prize money, while Detroit Connection received $3,600 as Runner-Up in the 187-team event.

In the Open 9-Ball Doubles Championship, Sweet & Sour of Nashville, Tenn., defeated Killer B's of Halethorpe, Md.  Sweet & Sour took home a 1st Place prize of $5,500 and a trophy, while the Fobia walked away with $2,500 in prize money.

Charlie Hans of Cincinnati, Ohio, defeated Michale Little of Springfield, Va., for $2,000 in the finals of the APA Wheelchair Challenge.

In addition, the APA conducted 627 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 $200,000.

The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world's largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League throughout the United States, and as the CPA Pool League in Canada. More than 260,000 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 tournament events each year—the APA National Team Championships, the APA National Singles Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out more than $1.5 Million in cash and prizes annually!

The National Team Championships are sponsored by Cuetec Cues.

For more information on the National Team Championships, visit the official APA Web site at poolplayers.com or call 1-800-3-RACK-EM.