US Amateur Championships

H

Hua

New member
Whats up guys, I had a question I wanted to put out to some of you that have been around the billiards scene longer than I have.

Ive been playing league for 5 years now, exclusively APA. This past summer I got an invitation in the mail to this little thing called the APA US Amateur Championships. At the time I had never heard of it, had NO CLUE what it was, so I ignored it. Well I just found out what the heck it is... missed out on a great opportunity there!

So my question is, who all gets mailed an invitation to this? I asked my buddy whos been playing about 9 years now and he had never heard of someone receiving one. I just thought it was cool to have gotten one, even if its something very commonplace and no big deal :smile:

Thanks!!
 
Hua said:
I see, thanks!
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Anybody can play in one of the U.S. Amature qualifiers held at different places around the country. You have to win that qualifier to advance to the championship round held in Tampa every year. Those that advance are usually a 7 minimum skill level and most are 8'sand 9's. A lot of the league operators that are good players usually do pretty good at the qualifiers. The defending two time champ, Brian Parks, I would assume plays at a skill level 9. It's a very fun tourney to participate in.......:thumbup:
 
Rjmoncrief said:
Anybody can play in one of the U.S. Amature qualifiers held at different places around the country. You have to win that qualifier to advance to the championship round held in Tampa every year. ...
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You don't have to win a Preliminary Round to advance. For example, the men's Preliminary Rounds were held in 2013 at about 26 or 27 locations to supply the Championship Rounds field of 128 players.
 
There are no "skill levels" in the US Amature tournament. As was mentioned, anyone can play in a qualifier, but you must win your way into the national event...you cannot 'buy' your way in. The qualifier entry, I believe, is higher for non-APA competitors. It is a heads up tournament...no handicaps. It's a mixture of 8 games of 9ball, and 5 games of 8ball. The loser of the lag picks whether to start with 8ball or 9ball. First one to 7 wins, regardless of game played. There are many skilled players that compete in Tampa, but the best players continue to rise to the top. Brian Parks is now the first 3-time winner. I did a little bit of commentating, and there were expert players playing on many of the tables. It was interesting to see champion players inadvertently making some of the same errors that lesser skilled players make...pool is a fickle game some days! LOL :D

To the OP...BTW...I've never heard of someone being "invited" to the finals of the US Amature Champioinships. Are you sure it wasn't an invite to a qualifier? I can see lots of people getting those (they have them in Tampa too)...then you still have to decide whether to pay, and play in a qualifier, and you have to win the qualifier to play in the finals in November.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Rjmoncrief said:
Anybody can play in one of the U.S. Amature qualifiers held at different places around the country. You have to win that qualifier to advance to the championship round held in Tampa every year. Those that advance are usually a 7 minimum skill level and most are 8'sand 9's. A lot of the league operators that are good players usually do pretty good at the qualifiers. The defending two time champ, Brian Parks, I would assume plays at a skill level 9. It's a very fun tourney to participate in.......:thumbup:
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Did you play in a singles qualifier for your local APA? I started getting them after I won one of these and got to play in the regionals. This is just for the singles in APA. I knew other 6's and 7's who didn't get the pamphlets. The only thing different was that I had won a local qualifier. Just a guess but that is what I thought. And the above poster is right, its just a pamphlet telling you when the US AM qualifiers are and what cities they are held in. To the OP, you should go to one. I tried it last year and it was a lot of fun. I will probably go back.
Andy
 
Scott Lee said:
I believe the "preliminary rounds" you're talking about were qualifier events, where the winners advanced to FL. The website shows the poolroom and city where each contestant qualified out of. I don't think we're disagreeing...maybe just a misinterpretation by one of us. :D

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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Scott, I just didn't want readers to think they actually had to finish 1st at one of the preliminary events to qualify for the final event in Florida. Each pool room where a preliminary (qualifying) event is held sends several players to the final event. In 2013, e.g., the 128 players at the final event in Florida qualified from 26 or 27 preliminary events (not from 128 preliminary events).
 
US Amateur

I have been invited the last three years and it started when I moved up to an APA 7/8. Anyone can submit an application and the APA will check out your speed although I don't know any gamblers that would wan to pay to play. We had about 130 players in the Austin bracket and qualified 6 for Tampa. They run it as a rotating double elimination tourney so the same guy wont knock you out. I have qualified the last two years in a row and while the "gambling" crowd here probably wouldn't agree I think making it there is an accomplishment. Most guys there wont sit you down for 3 or 4 racks in a row but there are still a lot of good players. Pool is my hobby and I play for fun and I only get out one night a week but I play sporty enough. If that describes you, getting to Tampa is a great gauge for how you play versus guys from around the country......and I will see you next year. :thumbup:
 
Thanks for all the responses!

Scot Leet, now that you say it, I believe it was an invite to just the qualifier, my mistake :p

RFranklin, I absolutely agree with you! Getting there would be one heck of a personal accomplishment. Congrats on doing so yourself!
 
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