I have been looking for some documented history and story behind this tournament which I believe was held in the 80's but have not been able to find any literature. Does anyone here have any information on this?
World Series Of Tavern Pool
- Thread starter bboxgrinder
- Start date
Use the search feature, there was at least one great thread about the event.
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Here is a thread that has some good info. I bought some memorabilia over the years such as the mugs, tournament posters (one signed by John Shuput), and also the complete kit on holding a qualifier. It sounded like a very good tournament, just a little before my time.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=130392&highlight=World+Series+Tavern+Pool
Reminds a little of the Canadian Club Whiskey tournament several years ago. They had a local, regional, and national rounds. Finishing in the top 2 spots in the local ($5 entry) put you into the regional. Finishing in the top 2 in the regional put you into the national tournament. I won the Kansas regional which paid a 1000.00 plus all expenses to Vegas in the national. The national was interesting. If you won the tournament it paid 5000 plus a chance to win a 1,000,000 dollars with a try to make the 8 ball on the break. 2nd won a pool table. Pretty fun tournament.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=130392&highlight=World+Series+Tavern+Pool
Reminds a little of the Canadian Club Whiskey tournament several years ago. They had a local, regional, and national rounds. Finishing in the top 2 spots in the local ($5 entry) put you into the regional. Finishing in the top 2 in the regional put you into the national tournament. I won the Kansas regional which paid a 1000.00 plus all expenses to Vegas in the national. The national was interesting. If you won the tournament it paid 5000 plus a chance to win a 1,000,000 dollars with a try to make the 8 ball on the break. 2nd won a pool table. Pretty fun tournament.
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Thanks for the replies everyone. Dardusm I sent you a pm. I thought this was quite an interesting series of events. Holding qualifiers out of taverns and rooms across the country sounds like a genious idea to get a huge feild. Of course times have changed now with the internet and tavern pool isn't like it use to be. I remember back in the late 80's / early 90's a low A / high B player like myself could own small bars on the table but now there are good players everywhere with the web and instructional info. How times have changed!
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DiamondGirl
Registered
This was my very first national event I participated in. I have 2 mugs from winning local events qualifying me to the national participation level. My first mug was from 1984, and the full name of the event was "Lite Beer {$300,000}World Serires of Tavern Pool." I have a mug for 1985 as well. Steve Mizerack and the lite beer girls were there for the amateurs to meet. I had only one pool book at the time and it was Steve Mizeracks, can't remember title, but I brought it with me in the hopes of meeting him and having it autographed. I met him in elevator and asked him to sign book I was holding and he turned me down. So as talented as he was I was never a fan because he was not a good representative, he went from hero to zero in my eyes from then on.
Hope this helps you. The reason Steve was there was because of his Miller Lite commercial in which he did his infamous trick shot.
Hope this helps you. The reason Steve was there was because of his Miller Lite commercial in which he did his infamous trick shot.
DiamondGirl
Registered
I personally won them in local qualifiers in the bay area in California. They were not offered for sale, they said regional champion on the other side of the mug, at least one of my mugs says that, I will have to recheck on the other.
To have a qualifier the bar or tavern had to have 8 players pay 10.00 each. Everyone who entered got a mug. the winner of the qualifier then could pay 25.00, would receive a jacket and go to a regional qualifier where there were 16 winners from the different tavern qualifiers. The top 2 winners from each regional qualifiers then proceeded to Las Vegas for the tournament that was held at Ceasers Palace.
Dick
You got it all right except the location it was at the MGM Grand and was my first trip to Las Vegas
one of the first couple of years it was held at caesars palace. thought it was 84 but i could be wrrrrong.
Mlwstp
I won a couple of the white mugs in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. Don't really remember the exact year. I do recall being very proud of them. I also recall a sense of a lost opportunity when the concept folded. It allowed up & coming players to compete at higher levels. I am older now & prone to bouts of nostalgia. Yes I would like to have one of them now. It was a sign of those times. A time I was fortunate enough to have lived in & participated in.
Billy Bones
I won a couple of the white mugs in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. Don't really remember the exact year. I do recall being very proud of them. I also recall a sense of a lost opportunity when the concept folded. It allowed up & coming players to compete at higher levels. I am older now & prone to bouts of nostalgia. Yes I would like to have one of them now. It was a sign of those times. A time I was fortunate enough to have lived in & participated in.
Billy Bones
They took a wide angle photo (about 150 feet long) of all the players lined up and planned to use it as a promotional item for the next years tournament but some player flipped the bird. About 350 players lined up. Oh well, sometimes we just shoot ourselves in the foot.
That was a classy tournament and Miller Lite did it right. Great setting, plenty of referees, nice venue, etc.
That was a classy tournament and Miller Lite did it right. Great setting, plenty of referees, nice venue, etc.
I know in 83 it was at Ceaser's Palace as I was there and finished 16-32. They had 72 tables set up in a L shaped room. There were 40 practice tables and 32 tournament tables.
Dick
Yes, they used some special panoramic camera. I always wondered why the picture was never used. Did they never hear of cropping, dodging and shading.
Dick