8-Ball Tourn. Taichung - $10,000 1st! Everyone Welcome

[Avrom]

We are currently putting together a doubles (partners) 8-ball tournament to be held either the 3rd or 4th weekend of May in Taichung at a very upscale billiards room.

The tournament will be double-elimination format with a MINIMUM first prize of $10,000 NT. There will be great music, good food, cheap drinks and draws for cues and cases throughout the event, as well as free entry to a couple of discos/pubs, a cool tournament t-shirt, Sunday breakfast @ the venue, and a bunch of freebie giveaways and other cool stuff.

The date/details will be finalized in the immediate future - watch the thread for updates.
In the meantime, we'd like to guage how much interest there is out there...
For example, are there enough women to warrant an additional mixed-doubles draw? Or would the ladies prefer to play in the open draw with the rest of the sharks?

Don't let lack of a partner hold you back - we'll be pairing up loose singles prior to the draw.

Comments, questions, suggestions, etc. may be directed to
bluesandcues@gmail.com
<a href="mailto:bluesandcues@gmail.com">

[MJB]

Address? Time and directions to the venue, entry fees, etc..

I'll be there

[ratlung]

I might be interested too, just also need some details as MJB suggested. If I get around to practise a little more, I might come.

[MJB]

After receiving a PM from Avron, I'm pretty stoked about the venue. But I think it's going to attract some heavy duty local players.

There are world class players in nearly every pool hall in Taiwan, and if these guys show up we'll be there for entertainment value only.

The last tournament I played in locally I came in Third place. First prize was 20,000NT. I picked up a pool cue and 2,000NT. In the Semi Final I was playing well, and got my ass waxed by a 17 year old high school kid that ran out 5 racks of 9-ball before I even got to the table, and then hooked me on a brilliant safety. I kicked 3 rails and got a safety back. He then pulled out his jump cue, hopped two balls, drew back 8 feet for position and ran out.

That was my only shot in the match in a race to 9 games.

Just wanted to give you a feel for the quality of play that a tournament of this caliber could attract.

He's looking at a 1,000NT entry fee...Which will include a buffet and some other goodies.

We will enjoy a slight advantage with the doubles 8-ball layout. I hope they'll do alternating shots (your partner takes a shot, and then you play the next one etc...). It's a very fast paced and interesting game, but one you'll have to know your partners strengths and weaknesses well.

I'm excited about this...My plan is to drive down Saturday and see what the tables are like...Type of cloth, ball speed etc.

Hope more people are interested, but am curious to hear what the local competition will be like. Guys that play 7-8 hours a day will be unstoppable.

Time for a new cue

[TainanCowboy]

Whats the buy-in and is "parnters" mandatory?

[ratlung]

Sounds like out of my league then, especially with my lack of practise. I once placed second in the youth tournament of our club, but that was a couple of years ago. And the trophy has collected dust and rust since then.

Oh well, maybe spectators can get in cheaper.

[Avrom]

Hi folks. Glad to see there is some interest. You need not worry too much, I think, about the local pros. All the promo materials are in English, and posted in largely expat venues. While we are certainly NOT barring any Taiwanese players from jumping in, neither are we promoting or recruiting. This is conceived as a FUN excuse for mostly expat folks to get together, shoot some pool, and (if one is so inclined) drink some tasty beverages.

It had been suggested that we require a foreign passport for entry, but then Joe Blow can't get in with his Taiwanese girlfriend as a partner, and that's not cool...so we'll play it by ear and see what happens. If that 16-year-old from Kaoshung (Gaoxiong) shows up with his practice partner...well...you remember what happened to Paul Newman in the Hustler....

I am leaning to a scotch doubles format (alternating shots as between partners) to prevent one dominant player from running out any single rack, keep everyone involved in each rack, and (hopefully) ensure more fun for all.
At least for the first tournament, there is not going to be a singles draw.
Due to the numbers involved (both in terms of players and tables available for tournament use, among other factors) doing a singles AND a doubles draw is a bit of a logistical mountain. Perhaps next time, if THIS ONE goes well and there is sufficient interest. It just seems to me that a doubles tournament will draw more bodies and be more enjoyable as a social event.
There are other (ie. non-tournament) tables at the venue (and a reg. snooker table!). Any of you fellas who are hot to shoot one-on-one will have plenty of opportunity. Perhaps we'll commandeer an extra couple of tables and keep rotating games of follow, poker pool and money ball going.

Details to follow as they become available. Maps, hotels, clubs, times, dates, fees...all that stuff is coming soon. Questions, comments, input, suggestions, bribes for a good seeding in the draw...all welcome.
Email bluesandcues@gmail.com

Cheers

[MJB]

It all sounds good..My partner is an English snooker player who'll be quite excited to hear about having a proper 6x12 on location. We only have one snooker table in all of Taoyuan county, and it's crap.

I don't think it's right to exclude people of any nationality, and it seems you've hit the perfect compromise...To promote in English and not turn anyone away.

By the way, is that pool hall owned by Chen Juin Shong? He's an old friend, and possibly one of the greatest players Taiwan has ever produced.

Looking forward to it

[Avrom]

We are beginning to generate some interest from both players and sponsors. It looks like things are coming together, although it would be great to have some folks semi-commit to playing (by emailing bluesandcues@gmail.com and saying, "I would like to play!").

If you wanna jump in, send a note. If you know anyone who enjoys playing pool, mention it to them...have them get in touch. Logistically speaking (which I try to avoid whenever possible), it's MUCH easier to pull this together if I know how many might be / probably will come down to play.

Particularly in terms of acquiring FREEBIES for the players...drinks, food, gimmes, etc., if I can tell them, "X people have commited to playing," the sponsors are more forthcoming with more and better stuff for us.

This tournament is first and foremost a social gathering. I want everyone who comes, regardless of skill level at pool, to have a great time with lots to do, lots to drink, and lots of good folks about. Secondly, although just as important, I want the pool tournament to run smoothly so that all players enjoy their games. We're putting A LOT of effort into both of these elements, so everyone who comes will be glad they did.

At the moment, we are trying to determine whether to run it with a $500NT or $1000NT entry fee. The difference is in the amount of stuff we'll be able to provide to the players.
A smaller entry fee means that the prize pool will be smaller and more shallow, fewer free drinks, no free food, fewer freebies from local bars and restaurants, no tournament tee-shirt....
A bigger entry fee means a larger and deeper prize pool, some free drinks for everyone, breakfast Sunday morning at the venue for all players (a nice element given that most of us will be out in the clubs til the wee hours anyway), some free drinks at various bars around town, a NICE tournament tee-shirt for all players, etc....
I would greatly appreciate your input in this regard (or any other regard),
and also very much appreciate if you would help spread the word, create some buzz, commit to playing...talk to your pool playing friends.

Oh yeah...we want the girls to come out and play, too. There will be a prize for the highest finishing team with a girl, which will be distinct from the winners (1st, 2nd, etc.). So, if you show up with the 5th ranked female 9-ball player from Taiwan as your partner and take the tournament, you don't win that prize. Like I said, we're trying to spread the prizes and the fun as far as we can.

Each player will recieve the PLAYER PACKAGE at the time of the draw, which will include coupons for the free drinks, discounts at pubs, clubs and restaurants about town, discount table time at the venue (for non-tournament play...match play is free), the t-shirt (if we can manage that)...a whole buncha cool stuff. More or less, depending on the general consensus of the interested players.

$500 - pool and no free drinks
$1000 - pool, free drinks, free food, tee-shirt. It really IS a good deal.

So. That's it for now. I'm looking to hear back from anyone who's even slightly interested so we can put together a mailing list. Hope to hear from lots of you soon.

bluesandcues@gmail.com

Rack 'em!
Avi

[Avrom]

Here be more details:

Date: May 27 (Saturday). Draw at NOON. Players MUST be registered and paid by the time of the draw. Final rounds on Sunday.

NOTE: There's a limit of 64 teams (128 players maximum). We have enough tables to run a big tournament, and we're hoping lots of people show up to play. However, if we wind up with small numbers, we will either (a) run the tournament with smaller prizes, or (b) cancel the bugger... So send an email to bluesandcues@gmail.com and indicate your intention to jump in. That will really help us sort things out, which will make for a better event and more fun for everyone.

Entry Fee: $500NT per player includes all table time for match play, entry into draws for cues and cases, cheap drinks and snacks at the venue, lots of really great discounts and freebies at pubs & clubs around town. Looks like we'll have about a dozen or so free drinks around town, good deals on seriously great food. No t-shirt or buffet breakfast...maybe next time.

Accomodations: We're presently sorting out a good deal for out-of-town players at an affordable, reasonable, close-to-the-venue hotel. We'll also provide contact info for an upscale joint or two, and hostel level flops, but the special deal for players only applies to the one place. Will post it here when it's confirmed.

All you need to do is bring some cash and show up. We're arranging everything else on your behalf.

That's all for now. More info to come. Questions, comments, suggestions, and registration all by emailing bluesandcues@gmail.com.

Rack'em.
Avi