The first two singles division titles were claimed Monday at the 35th BCAPL National 8-Ball Championships at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. "The Texas Tornado" Vivian Villarreal went undefeated to become the new BCAPL Women's Grand Master Champion. Villarreal defeated Canadian Junior National champion Brittany Bryant in a tight match score of 8-6. Bryant bested Li Jia from Asakita, Hiros and New Mexico's Anna Kostanian before meeting up with Villarreal. Villarreal also rolled through Jia and Melissa Little both by a score of 8-3.
Of the 27 men competing in the BCAPL Men's Grand Master singles, "The Silent Assassin" Tony Robles is that division's new champion. Robles went undefeated throughout the division. The last several matches were close. Robles sent Dan Louie from Seattle to the one loss side 9-7 in the hot seat match. In the semi finals, Louie squared off with Maryland's Shaun Wilkie who Louie previous tossed to the one loss side. This time it was Wilkie victor over Louie though 9-7.
In the finals against Robles, which was a true double elimination, Wilkie claimed the first set 9-5 after taking advantage of the numerous dry breaks by Robles. In the second set, Wilkie took the lead, 6-4 when the tables turned. Wilkie came up dry for the first time in the set allowing Robles to run that rack and the following four to take the match. The remaining singles and scotch doubles divisions will be completed today, Tuesday, May 17th.
Additionally, as always with the BCAPL National Championships there are many other festivities abound. The CSI 14.1 Challenge has been tremendously popular with seniors, women, amateur men and pro categories taking place on two 9' Diamond Pro Cut tables. The BCAPL crowd has been treated to top notch 14.1 players such as Mike Immonen, Danny Harriman and John Schmidt. Thus far in the pro category Schmidt has the highest accumulative score of 281. The top eight accumulative scores in the professional division advance to a single elimination tournament. With $20,000 on the line for any player who, in a single run matches or beat's Mosconi's high run of 526, there are many motivated players.
Tuesday night at the BCAPL nationals is also Challenge the Pros night, a fundraiser for the CSI Junior Pool Program which will distribute the funds to benefit the Billiard Education Foundation. This year's fundraiser is specifically to raise money to assist the U.S. Junior National team in 2011 to fund experienced coaches to the 2011 Junior World event in Poland and to raise money for junior pool clinics around the country.
To view the brackets and payouts for all divisions of the 35th BCAPL National 8-Ball Championships and the 3rd U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship visit the CSI CueSports Tournament System at www.ctsondemand.com
CueSports International is dedicated to creating more choices for all players. CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League and the USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events such as the U.S. Bar Table Championships, the Jay Swanson Memorial, the U.S. Open One Pocket Championship and the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. Visit www.playcsipool.com, www.playbca.com and www.playusapool.com for more information about CSI and its divisions.
