A Canadian team from BC has captured, for the first time ever, the top spot at a North American 8-ball open tournament.
The event, 2014 American CueSports National 8-Ball Championships, was held at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas in May.
“We didn’t think we would win—we didn’t even think we’d come close,” said Clay Gloslee, Powell River 8-Ball Pool League president. “It’s very competitive and it’s the top tournament for American CueSports.”
The team, called Magic Moments, captured the national title in the Men’s Open Team 8-Ball division.
It has players from Vancouver Island and Powell River, and were one of 68 from the United States, Mexico and Canada competing in the three-day tournament.
The BC team, registered with Canadian Cue Sport Association, consists of Gloslee, Campbell River players Jim Brown, Ron Douglas, Christie Tipper (alternate), Werner Ostwald and Courtenay’s Rob Horton.
A team consists of five players who during a match play individual games against the opponent team’s five players, said Gloslee. “It’s a race to see which team will win the best of 13 games,” he added.
In both the A-side final and the championship final the score was tied 12 to 12, so a deciding game against a team from Texas was needed to determine the champion.
“It was great—a nice win,” he said.
It was Gloslee’s first time in Vegas. “Pool’s my life,” he said. “I would have never come here if it wasn’t for this.”
Gloslee joined the Comox Valley team this spring after meeting his future teammates at a provincial tournament in Penticton.
“I was playing well at the tournament and they were short a player, so they invited me to join their team,” he said.
Gloslee and his teammates each won $750 for their win.
For more information about the Powell River 8-Ball Pool League readers can contact Gloslee at 604.483.6153.
