LW Pool Club Pool-a-thon players tie for fi rst place

The LW Pool Club held its second annual pool-a-thon on May 24. Twelve of the best pool players in Leisure World played nine games of pool in five different formats to determine who was the best all-around pool player.

Each person played two games of eight-ball, two games of nine-ball, two games of straight pool, two games of one pocket and one game of bank pool. Eight-ball is the most commonly played game in Leisure World, and nine-ball is played in league and monthly events, so everyone was familiar with those games. Some players compete in the annual straight pool tournament, but one pocket and bank pool are games professional players regularly compete in and are rarely played in Leisure World. So for most players, one pocket and bank pool was a learning experience.

There was concern that the one pocket and bank pool games would cause the tournament to run too long, so only nine balls in one pocket were used, instead of 15, so it only took five balls in their corner pocket to win. In the bank pool game, it was a game of only three banks to win instead of five, which worked out really well. Different games require different skills and playing one pocket and bank pool makes a player better at eight-ball and nine-ball.

Earick Ward and Dave Silva ended up in a tie for first place with eight wins and one loss. Ren Villenueva took third place with seven wins and two losses. Linda Patton won one of her nine-ball games by making the nine ball on the break. Her opponent never got a shot.

—Dave Silva

Earick Ward (l) and Dave Silva tied for fi rst place.