About 2,000 players from across the state converged for the five-day event that began Wednesday at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center downtown. The convention center was crammed upstairs and down with 140 tournament pool tables.
“I don’t think you can get much more than 140 tables in here,” said Reggie Horak, vice president of Automatic Amusements in Waterloo. Players ranged from experienced to first-time attendees.
Ahlgren brought a first-time tournament player with him this year — his 29-year-old son, Nathan Ahlgren. Nathan Ahlgren won his first individual match Thursday and is on his father’s team.
“He’s holding his own, so to speak,” the elder Ahlgren said.
The senior Ahlgren has been playing pool for more than 30 years, and his son has put in some serious practice time as well. Nathan has playing since he was 15.
“I’ll shoot for hours and hours,” Nathan Ahlgren said. “It’s fun.”
He has the opportunity, his father said.
“He walks out of his bedroom, and my pool table is right outside,” he said.
Nathan Ahlgren came to the tournament for some of the same reasons as his father.
“Mostly to see how I do against so many people,” he said. “You don’t get an opportunity like this too often.”
The top players and teams in each game category — and different skill levels — have a chance at more than $122,000 in prize money.
In most categories, the top four finishers win money.
Read more --> Pool Tournament in Waterloo's Pocket [Retrieved 16 March 2016]
Thank you to Dana Bufalo for sharing this article with me.
“I don’t think you can get much more than 140 tables in here,” said Reggie Horak, vice president of Automatic Amusements in Waterloo. Players ranged from experienced to first-time attendees.
Ahlgren brought a first-time tournament player with him this year — his 29-year-old son, Nathan Ahlgren. Nathan Ahlgren won his first individual match Thursday and is on his father’s team.
“He’s holding his own, so to speak,” the elder Ahlgren said.
The senior Ahlgren has been playing pool for more than 30 years, and his son has put in some serious practice time as well. Nathan has playing since he was 15.
“I’ll shoot for hours and hours,” Nathan Ahlgren said. “It’s fun.”
He has the opportunity, his father said.
“He walks out of his bedroom, and my pool table is right outside,” he said.
Nathan Ahlgren came to the tournament for some of the same reasons as his father.
“Mostly to see how I do against so many people,” he said. “You don’t get an opportunity like this too often.”
The top players and teams in each game category — and different skill levels — have a chance at more than $122,000 in prize money.
In most categories, the top four finishers win money.
Read more --> Pool Tournament in Waterloo's Pocket [Retrieved 16 March 2016]
Thank you to Dana Bufalo for sharing this article with me.
