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APA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FEATURE
RECORD CROWDS AND PAYOUTS
More than $1 Million in prize money awarded at 27th Annual Team Championships

LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO (September 5, 2007) — The American Poolplayers Association’s (APA) 27th Annual National Team Championships saw a record number of teams compete in this year’s 9-day extravaganza. More than 1,500 8-Ball, 9-Ball, Doubles and Masters teams made the trek to Sin City to compete, Aug. 17 – 25, for more than $1 Million in prize money.

In the 8-Ball Open Division, Have Fear of Glen Burnie, Md., defeated Bridge Street of Fairhaven, Mass., 3-2 in the finals to take home $25,000 in cash and the championship title. In addition to their 1st Place prize money, Have Fear also received a team trophy and individual team plaques.

As Runners-Up, Bridge Street received $15,000 in prize money, a team trophy and individual team plaques. Finishing in 3rd Place were the Cold Ones of Akron, Ohio, and Dominant Force of Houston, Texas; they each received $7,500 in prize money. In a four-way tie for 5th Place were Ms. Rhonda’s Pool Fools of Summit, Miss., 20th Street of Philadelphia, This is It of Jackson, Miss., and The Chosen Ones of Trenton, N.J.; each team received $5,500 for finishing tied for 5th Place.

In the finals of the Ladies 8-Ball Division, it was Refuse to Lose of Arlington, Va., defeating 8-Up of Fairfield, Ohio, 3-1 to win $10,000 in 1st Place prize money.
In addition to the prize money, Refuse to Lose also received a team trophy and individual team plaques. As Runners-Up, 8-Up received $5,000 in cash, a team trophy and individual team plaques.

Refuse to Lose advanced to the finals with a victory over the Black Widows of Dallas, Texas, in the semifinals. 8-Up defeated Miss Underestimated of Seminole, Fla., in the semifinals to advance. Both the Black Widows and Miss Underestimated each took home $2,500 for their 3rd Place finishes.

In a tie for 5th Place were Parkway Pets of Chattanooga, Tenn., Step Aside Ladies of Jackson, Miss., The Heartbreakers of Fort Wayne, Ind., and the Under Dawgs of Bristol, Pa. 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. 20 and concluded on Aug. 25. The Ladies Division of the tournament started on Aug. 17 and concluded on Aug. 19.

In Open 9-Ball National Championship action, it was The Way We Were of Trenton, N.J., beating the Lethal Weapons of Chanute, Kansas, in the finals 52-28. The Way We Were took home $15,000 of the more than $180,000 guaranteed purse. As Runner-Up, Lethal Weapons received $7,000 in cash, a team trophy and individual team plaques.

Two teams tied for 3rd Place in the Open 9-Ball division—It Is What It Is of Joliet, Ill., and Red Rooster of Philadelphia. Each team took home $3,500 in prize money.

Finishing in 5th Place were the Q-Club of Terre Haute, Ind., Blue’s Cues of Latham, N.Y., The Arena of West Monroe, La., and Wicked Stix of Houston, Texas. Each 5th Place team received $2,000 in prize money.

The Open 9-Ball National Championship was held Aug. 17-20, 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, 689 Open 8-Ball, 333 Open 9-Ball, and 44 Ladies 8-Ball teams, all consisting of five to eight players, qualified to compete in the 2007 National Team Championships.

In the Open 8-Ball Doubles Championship, it was Z’s Odd Couple of New Stanton, Pa., winning $5,000 in the finals with a victory over Cues and Crown of West Warwick, R.I. Cues and Crown received $3,000 as Runner-Up in the 256-team event.

The finals of the Masters Championship event featured Goof Troop of Monterey, Calif., defeating Billiards & Barstools of Beaverton, Oregon. Goof Troop took home $7,500 in 1st Place prize money, while Billiards & Barstools received $3,300 as Runner-Up in the 128-team event.

In the Open 9-Ball Doubles Championship, Fire n Ice of Marrero, La., defeated Fobia of Bloomington, Minn. Fire n Ice took home a 1st Place prize of $4,000 and a trophy, while the Fobia walked away with $2,000 in prize money.

Jamie Havard of Lucedale, Miss., defeated defending champion Charlie Hans of Cincinnati, Ohio, for $1,500 in the finals of the APA Wheelchair Challenge.

In addition, the APA conducted nearly 600 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 more than $200,000.
The APA National Team Championships were played on Valley Tables, complete with Valley Ultra Teflon cloth and Super Aramith billiard balls.

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, Aramith Billiard Balls, Valley Teflon Ultra Cloth by Championship and Valley Pool Tables.

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

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APA National Team Championship Fast Facts
8-Ball Open Participants: 676 teams
8-Ball Open Total Payout: $580,000
9-Ball Open Participants: 303 teams
9-Ball Open Total Payout: $182,250
8-Ball Ladies Participants: 56 teams
8-Ball Ladies Total Payout: $42,800
8-Ball Doubles Participants: 256 teams
8-Ball Doubles Total Payout: $25,600
9-Ball Doubles Participants: 128 teams
9-Ball Doubles Total Payout: $12,800
Masters Participants: 128 teams
Masters Total Payout: $19,200
Wheelchair Challenge Participants: 32 players
Wheelchair Challenge Total Payout: $3,200
MiniMania Total Payout: $201,350

Total Event Payout: $1,067,200

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