14.1 Challenge at the Super Billiards Expo
By Charles Eames
In a time when the discipline of 14.1 continuous straight pool seems to be on the back burner of professional pool there are those that remain loyal. What started out as a simple idea thrown around by two friends over a friendly game has quickly grown to become one of the most talked about and highly anticipated events of this year’s Super Billiards Expo. Originally the brain child of Steve Kurtz this year’s Straight Pool Challenge is the first of its kind at the expo, and one we hope to continue as the years go on. Steve Kurtz is quickly becoming a name synonymous with Straight Pool and is an accomplished player in his own right playing in events like the North Jersey Straight Pool Pro Am and plans to play in qualifiers for the World Straight Pool Championships for 2010. This challenge is starting to get the attention of some very big names like John Schmidt, Thorsten Hohmann, and newly crowned Virginia State 14.1 Champion Bobby Chamberlain as well as top amateur players in and around the area.
First and foremost we would like to thank our incredible sponsors. Bob Jewett, Diamond Billiard Products, Pete Tonkin Custom Cues, and Milliken Cloth in association with Sterling Fury. Without them this event would not be the reality that it is today. They have shown us unconditional support in the planning and execution of this event and we can’t thank them enough. Also to the members of the 14.1 community whose donations have poured in from across the country we say a heartfelt thank you. They have been with us from the early stages and we look forward to seeing them at the expo during the challenge. A huge thank you also goes to InsidePOOL Magazine for maintaining a standard of excellence in the billiard and cue sports world. A wealth of knowledge can be found within its pages and it has proven to be an incredible resource both on the internet and in print.
In a time when the discipline of 14.1 continuous straight pool seems to be on the back burner of professional pool there are those that remain loyal.
The challenge will run all four days of the expo. For a twenty five dollar entry fee a player will get five attempts at the table with ball in hand and a break shot of their choosing. That player will then shoot until he or she misses or fouls thereby ending their run. The five runs will be added up to create a final total. The players with the top eight totals will be invited into an eight man single elimination tournament which will take place on Sunday. Races during this tournament will be to 100 with the final match being a race to 150 points.
We encourage everyone to play in this awesome event as we will have many raffle items up for grabs as well as other great things going on throughout the expo. Again to Steve Kurtz and his incredible idea we cannot thank you enough for breathing new life into a game that while seemed to be fading is now making a massive recovery. Events like this and many more are what are needed for a true resurgence of this discipline of champions.
