Pool tournament help

LosOsosCues

LosOsosCues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ok im in charge of a local pool tournament. We play on two bar boxes. I have been running it for about a year. I took over from someone that managed to piss off well just about every one and killed it. We strugle to get 8. Right now its a six dollar buy in and the bar is throwing in about 20 bucks. We recently had a pool hall start one up on the same night so we are going to be switching from monday to tuesday. I want some feed back on so ideas I had to draw in a bigger crowd. Im thinking of making it a $10 buy in ( other tournaments in my area charge it and have no problem) I am thinking of doing an 8 ball break and run jackpot as well as having a 8 ball break jackpot that runs during the tournament. I would select 2 people for the break and run jackpot about half way thru the tournament. From the $10 I was thinking of taking $2 for the break and run draw and for the 8 ball break that runs for all games durring the tournament I would take $1. So that $7 that goes to the pay out and $3 goes to the jackpots. What do you guys think of that. Who would have a problem with this and why? Gimme some feed back and throw some of your own ideas out there.
So if you had 16 players that would be
$160 taken in
$112 for the tournament payout
$32 for the break and run jackpot
$16 goes to the 8 ball break jackpot that runs for all tournament games


Thanks
 
The break and run will bring people in. I used to do a 9 ball break and run. Just a few things come to mind. Do you have a lot of customers that can break and run at 8 ball? Are there only 2-3? You have to make it so everyone has a chance. Guys who can't run out will stop playing because they know that they don't have a chance. Maybe use 11 balls instead of 15. Give them ball in hand after the break.

I would do the B&R after the 1st round. Draw from just the entered players. I would only have one player play.

Defiantly raise the entry to $10. Don't take anything out of the entry's. Have the bar add the $10-20 per week they do now for the break and run.

Good luck!
Bob
 
A lot of people won't play in a tournament (even a $10 tournament) unless it is handicapped. If you are not already handicapping the tourney, that would be something to consider.

Aaron
 
Tournament

I agree, a break and run pot will draw more people. When I lived in the Va. Beach area there were MANY places that had huge pots and entrants. Most places had a 10 ball break and run. You had to play in the 2 previous tournaments to be eligible to have a crack at the pot. A portion of the entry went to the 10 ball pot to get it started but after the money accumulated, all of the entry went to the payout. They sold raffle tickets for the 10 ball pot. ANYONE could buy them, even a spectator, but a player in the tournament had to shoot for it.
The money accumulates so fast that many venues had two pots each night, 10K a piece! You had to make a ball on the break to be able to shoot again. THEN, and only then did the payout start. Meaning, in a 10K pot, each ball was worth 1K, but the one you made on the break (which is the hardest in 10 ball) didn't count. Therefor you never empty the pot.
Example; you break and make the 4 ball. Now you get to shoot again until you miss and the payout starts. You make the one ball, two ball, three ball, and then miss - you've made 3K!
 
More tables.....this way the tournament can go faster and towards the end some will be open for practice/action. I know I wouldn't want to sit a tournament of 16 people for 5 hours to win $50.
 
Bugz said:
More tables.....this way the tournament can go faster and towards the end some will be open for practice/action. I know I wouldn't want to sit a tournament of 16 people for 5 hours to win $50.
Click to expand...

This is the same way I feel, some tournaments just arent worth the time to sit and wait hours just to win $50 or even $100. Alot of the mini-tournaments I go to switched to 9 ball , as 9ball games go faster and it's useually alot less argueing or questioning shots. Just do short race to 3 in the winners and one or two in the losers bracket. If you have double elimination ?
 
Bugz said:
More tables.....this way the tournament can go faster and towards the end some will be open for practice/action. I know I wouldn't want to sit a tournament of 16 people for 5 hours to win $50.
Click to expand...

I cant add more tables. Its just a local bar. I could change to 9 ball though as the post after you sugjested. I do agree that it can be painfull sitting there for hours just to play a few games of pool.
 
Tournament Race's

LosOsosCues said:
I cant add more tables. Its just a local bar. I could change to 9 ball though as the post after you sugjested. I do agree that it can be painfull sitting there for hours just to play a few games of pool.
Click to expand...



Play one game double-elimination 8-ball, 16 players will play out in 2 1/2 hrs - 3 hours with two tables and the players will all be pretty much evenly matched up, that's anyone's tournament.

The 8-ball run out sounds good too for a draw of the pot, but that usually take along time and peole get bored, you could just draw players that were in the tournament to shoot a spot shot for the cash each week, you'll be suprized at how many good players miss those shots!

Good Luck!


David Harcrow
 
$10 is a no-brainer. Gotta put in something to win something.

Instead of taking money out of the tournament pot, make the break & run pot and/or the 8 on the break pot an optional additional buy-in at $5 each.

Only the people who feel they can break & run will buy into that and those who can't will like the 8 on the break contest. You've added entertainment for everyone- which is what a good tournament is all about.

If you can, get the bar to pitch in on the side pots whenever you start up with an empty bank. Once there's a bankroll- no need to add.

Waiting until after a few rounds to draw names is a good idea. Must be present to be eligible. This encourages people to stick around and spend money in the bar- which helps the bar recoup their added money. (Your job is to make both the bar and the players happy- or at least make it mutually beneficial.) If the person picked isn't present, choose to either let the pot build up or draw another name. Just be sure to have the same policy every week.

While you're getting started and short on players, another idea would be to guarantee $100 for first with x in the field. Second place could get a $20-25 bar tab and 3rd their entry back.

Best of luck,
Beau
 
Play 9-ball, nobody really wants to play an 8-ball tournament do they? Give players a short time limit on shots so the tournament moves fast.
 
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