Who were the players in the 1991 ESPN International Challenge of Champions? It was a invitational tournament. I beleve that Mike LeBron won the tournament. Does anyone know where it was held? Thanks, Barney
1991 ESPN International Challenge of Champions
- Thread starter BarneyCalip
- Start date
I don't remember all the players, but Lebron played Buddy Hall in the finals. There is a lot of speculation that Buddy dumped to Lebron, to beat the odds that Vegas had laid out on the match. Buddy definitely missed some impossibly easy shots in that match. Vegas never offered odds again on a pool match. It was played at The Mirage.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
It was orginally advertized as the "Pro Am Celebrity Billiards Challenge", an event promoted by Billiards International. Then, Matt Braun decided to drop the amateurs players & keep the 8 pro players, who then played a single elimination, winner take all mini tournament.
It was held at the Mirage Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas.
The players were Mike Sigel, Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Jim Rempe, Allen Hopkins, David Howard, Kim Davenport & Mike LeBron.
Hall was the 8/5 favorite to win, LeBron was a 20-1 bet.
Howard beat Varner 5-0, Davenport beat Sigel 5-4, Hall beat Hopkins 5-3 & LeBron beat Rempe 5-3.
The semis were Hall beating Davenport & LeBron beating Howard.
In the finals, LeBron won an extended race to 9 by the score of 9-8.
It was held at the Mirage Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas.
The players were Mike Sigel, Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Jim Rempe, Allen Hopkins, David Howard, Kim Davenport & Mike LeBron.
Hall was the 8/5 favorite to win, LeBron was a 20-1 bet.
Howard beat Varner 5-0, Davenport beat Sigel 5-4, Hall beat Hopkins 5-3 & LeBron beat Rempe 5-3.
The semis were Hall beating Davenport & LeBron beating Howard.
In the finals, LeBron won an extended race to 9 by the score of 9-8.
This could have possibly been THE downfall of pool. Probably not, it was probably just one of the peices of the puzzle, but can you imagine how much more exciting pool could be if tournaments were up on the board in Vegas?
Thanks Scott and Terry
For some reason, I thought that Efren and Francisco played in that tournament with Mike. I was at a Filipino party after the LA Open in Burbank, which Jay ran in 1992. Efren, Francisco, Mike and I had a great time telling stories. I remeber the LA Open with Buddy Hall, Earl, Mizerak, Mataya, Massey, Bucktooth, Efren and young Francisco Bustamante. Take Care, Barney
For some reason, I thought that Efren and Francisco played in that tournament with Mike. I was at a Filipino party after the LA Open in Burbank, which Jay ran in 1992. Efren, Francisco, Mike and I had a great time telling stories. I remeber the LA Open with Buddy Hall, Earl, Mizerak, Mataya, Massey, Bucktooth, Efren and young Francisco Bustamante. Take Care, Barney
There is ZERO speculation about any of those matches being a dump, It is a FACT, as that is EXACTLY what happened and not just the finals..