QCBC 9-Ball runner-up Klaus Schroeder congratulates first-place winner Terry Haggart (holding the 9-ball).
Skip Jones and Alphie Smith
On March 2 and 3, the Quail Creek Billiards Club (QCBC) held an In-House 9-Ball Tournament. Fifteen club members, both men and women, participated.
There were a couple of “firsts” for this tournament. Terry Haggart, a longtime QC resident and QCBC member, was a first-time winner, and Skip Jones served as the tournament director for the first time.
The tournament was double elimination, a format where each player is guaranteed to play at least two matches before being eliminated. The pairings for the initial matches were randomly selected by Jones. The individual matches were handicapped by each player’s ability. This levels the playing field and gives everyone an opportunity to do well and advance through the brackets.
At the end of day one, there were three remaining players who would face off Sunday morning: Haggart, who advanced undefeated through the winner’s bracket, Klaus Schroeder, and Art Lynch who remained in the one-loss bracket.
The first match on Sunday was between Schroeder and Lynch to determine who would play Haggart. Schroeder handed Lynch his second loss, who was then eliminated and took third place.
Schroeder advanced to the finals. The second match was won by Schroeder, which handed Haggart his first loss. Since both players now had one loss, the third and final match would determine the winner of the tournament.
The final match had its share of excitement, with Schroeder barely missing what would have been the winning shot and Haggart redeeming himself and sinking the 9-ball for the victory.
An in-house tournament is played once a month and is open to all members of the QCBC. Notice is given two weeks prior to each tournament, with a sign-up sheet available in the Billiards Room. The tournaments are fun and exciting. Members are encouraged to participate or to just come and join the gallery.