The Cue Ball's monthly “Win Jim's Money” tournament series!

We plan to host a monthly tournament on the second Saturday of each month from January through November. Scheduling conflicts may force us to change tournament dates.

• Handicapped 9-Ball [Maximum race to 8.]
• $200 Added money.
• $10 Entry fee.
• NO green fees!
• Limited to the first 32 players. Determination of the first 32 players is made by when The Cue Ball received the entry. In the event of a full field, any player(s) not present in time for the draw may be removed from the tournament at the discretion of the tournament director(s) in which case any entry fees paid will be refunded.
• Entrants who have participated in prior tournaments will be given an opportunity to sign up for the next tournament before it is opened up to new participants.
• Limited to residents of the mid-Willamette Valley area. Players from outside of the mid-Willamette Valley will only be allowed to participate if invited by the management of The Cue Ball.
• The player with the most tournament points at the end of the year will get a chance to play Jim Lebold for $500!

2008 Tournament Dates

• January 12
• February 9
• March 8
• April 12
• May 10
• June 14
• July 12
• August 9
• September 13
• October 11
• November 15

Download letter sized flyer in .pdf format.


Download 13 x 19 inch flyer in .pdf format.

2007 Tournament Dates

• January 13
• February 10
• March 10
• April 14
• May 12
• June 9
• July 14
• August 11
• September 8
• October 13
• November 17

2006 Tournament Dates

• January 14
• February 11
• March 11
• April 8
• May 13
• June 10
• July 8
• August 12
• September 9
• October 14
• November 18

2005 Tournament Results and Photos

• February 12
• March 19
• April 9
• May 14
• June 11
• July 9
• August 13
• September 10
• October 8
• November 19
• December 10

House Rules

1. Coin toss determines who breaks first.
2. Winner breaks.
3. Three foul rule is not in effect.
4. Fouls non involving the cue ball are not considered fouls other than player responsibility type fouls.
5. The use of jump cues and/or tips not made of leather are prohibited for jump shots. This includes, but is not limited to tips such as the Magic tip and other tips made of resins or delrin. Also excluded are leather tips which have been modified by treating them with products such as super glue.
6. A player may have at most two cues at the table.
7. A player may not change shafts for specific shots (such as breaking or jumping.)
8. Players are expected to remain seated while their opponent is at the table.
9. Seating is for players first, spectators second. Spectators are expected to not interfere with play and any way.
10. Unsportsman-like conduct (e.g., sharking, intentionally slow play, temper-tantrums, etc.) will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the tournament director(s). Arguing with the tournament director(s) will be basis for being removed from current and/or future tournaments.
11. Players are expected to make an effort on not distracting their opponent and other players.

Except when clearly contradicted by the house rules, the General Rules of Pocket Billiards from the World Pool-Billiard Association apply:

Tournament Rules

The following rules concern the play, scoring, officiating and responsibilities for tournament competition in all pocket billiard games. However, the precepts and principles of these rules are to be considered part of the games' General Rules and should be applied as appropriate to all play, whether or not a formal tournament.

1.1 PLAYER RESPONSIBILITY

It is the player's responsibility to be aware of all rules, regulations and schedules applying to competition. While tournament officials will make every reasonable effort to have such information readily available to all players as appropriate, the ultimate responsibility rests with the player. (For exceptions to this rule, see Rule 2.16.) The player has no recourse if such information is not volunteered; the responsibility for knowing the situation and/or the rules lies with the player.

1.2 ACCEPTANCE OF EQUIPMENT

Tournament players should assure themselves, prior to beginning play, that the balls and other equipment are standard and legal. Once they begin play of a match, they may no longer question the legality of the equipment in use (unless the opponent and tournament officials both agree with the objection and any available remedy proposed by the tournament officials).

1.3 USE OF EQUIPMENT

Players may not use equipment or accessory items for purposes or in a manner other than those for which the items were intended (refer to Rule 3.41 and Rule 3.42). For example, powder containers, chalk cubes, etc., may not be used to prop up a mechanical bridge (or natural hand bridge); no more than two mechanical bridges may be used at one time, nor may they be used to support anything other than the cue shaft. Extra or out-of-play balls may not be used by players to check clearances or for any other reason (except to lag for break); the triangle may be employed by players to ascertain whether a ball is in the rack when a match is not officiated and the table has not been pencil-marked around the triangle area. (Also see Rule 2.15.)

1.4 EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

Players may use chalk, powder, mechanical bridge(s) and cue(s) of their choice or design. However, tournament officials may restrict a player if he attempts action that is disruptive of either the house equipment or normal competitive conditions. As examples, a player may: be restrained from using red chalk on green cloth; be advised not to use powder in such an excessive fashion as to unduly affect the balls or table cloth; and be barred from using a cue with a noisemaking device that is clearly disruptive to other competitors. (Also see Rule 2.15.)

1.5 MARKING OF TABLES

When racking the balls, a triangle must be used. Prior to competition, each table and the triangle to be used on it shall be marked so as to ensure that the same triangle will be used throughout the tournament on the same table. An accurate and clearly visible pencil line must also be marked on the cloth: (1) around the outer edge of the triangle to ensure accurate and consistent placement to enable accurate judgement as to ball positions; (2) on the long string to enable accurate spotting of balls; and (3) on the head string to facilitate determinations of whether balls are behind the head string. The head spot, center spot and foot spot must also be determined to be accurately marked, whether with discreet penciled “plus” marks, or with standard spots if being employed. In games which do not require them, the center and head spots do not need to be marked.

1.6 ADMINISTRATIVE DISCRETION

The management of each tournament shall reserve the right to set forth rules and procedures appropriate and reasonable for the particular tournament involved, such as may regard players' dress requirements, method of receiving entry fees, refund policy of entry fees, scheduling flexibility, pairing procedures, practice procedures, etc. However, for tournaments to receive a WPA sanction, certain requirements must be met, primarily with regard to safeguarding and ensuring proper distribution of the prize fund.

1.7 LATE START

A player must be ready to begin a match within 15 minutes of the start of the match, or the opponent wins by forfeit. The starting time is considered to be the scheduled time or the time the match is announced, whichever is later.

1.8 NO PRACTICE DURING MATCH

While a match is in progress, practice is not allowed. Taking a shot that is not part of that match is a foul. (Refer to Rule 1.6)

1.9 ASSISTANCE NOT ALLOWED

While a match is in progress, players are not allowed to ask spectators for assistance in planning or executing shots. If a player asks for and receives such assistance, he loses the game. Any person, except the opponent, who offers any significant assistance to a player, verbal or non-verbal, will be removed from the area. (Refer to Rule 2.28)

1.10 FAILURE TO LEAVE THE TABLE

When a player's inning comes to an end, the player must discontinue shooting. Failure to do so is loss of game (exception in 14.1 - ruled as “deliberate foul”).

1.11 SLOW PLAY

If in the opinion of the referee a player is impeding the progress of the tournament or game with consistently slow play, the referee can warn the player and then at his discretion impose a time limit up to a maximum of 45 seconds that applies to both players between shots (that is, both players are put on a shot-clock). If the referee does impose a time limit and that limit is exceeded by a player who has received a 10 second “time” warning, a foul will be called and the incoming player is rewarded according to the rules applicable to the game being played. During a player's inning, the shot-clock starts when the previous shot ends, and runs until tip-to-ball contact begins the next shot. The time while a shot is in progress is not counted. If a player begins with cue ball in hand, the shot-clock starts when he has possession of the cue ball, and any spotting or racking is finished. If a player has not approached the shot, a warning with the announcement of “time” should be made 10 seconds prior to the time limit being reached. If a player exceeds the time limit specified for the tournament, a foul will be called and the incoming player is rewarded according to the rules applicable to the game being played. In the case of a player down over the ball at the 10 second mark prior to the time limit, no announcement is to be made and no penalty is to be imposed. In the event of a player standing up off the shot, “time” will be called at that point and normal shot clock procedure is followed. Each player may call for one extension per rack. The extension period is identical to the time limit imposed. In the event of a tie score with only one game remaining, each player may utilize two extensions. Player must insure that the referee/timekeeper is aware when an extension is called.

1.12 SUSPENDED PLAY

If a player shoots while play is suspended by the referee, he loses the game. Announcement of the suspension is considered sufficient warning. (Also see Rule 2.27)

1.13 TIME OUT

If time outs are allowed, a player is only allowed to take a time out during his/her turn at the table or between sets (if a format with sets is used). During a time out, a sign should be placed on the table by the referee, and no practice will be allowed on that table. In general, each player will be allowed one time out per match, and a maximum of five minutes per time out. When a format with sets is used, each player will be allowed one time out in the final set (in the third set if playing best-of-3, or in the fifth set if playing the best-of-5 sets). This final-set rule applies regardless of whether a player has taken a time out in an earlier set.

1.14 CONCESSION

If a player concedes, he loses the match. That is, if a player attempts to unscrew his jointed playing cue stick while the opponent is at the table and during the opponent's decisive game of a match, it will be considered a concession of the match. No warning from the referee is required in the case of a concession. (Refer to Rule 2.22)

1.15 SCORING OF FORFEITS

Matches forfeited for any reason under these rules shall not result in any scores being included in the statistics of a tournament, regardless of whether any score had been reached prior to the declaration of forfeiture. For official records, no point scores should be recorded, but rather the notations “W(F)” and “L(F)” as appropriate should be employed. (Matches lost through disqualification are considered forfeits for purposes of this rule.)

If, however, the player awarded a match through the opponent's forfeiture has posted a high run (or similar accomplishment for which an award is granted) during play of the match prior to declaration of forfeiture, that high run or other mark shall be eligible for the tournament award or prize.

1.16 PLAYING WITHOUT A REFEREE

When a referee is not available, any dispute between the two players will be resolved by the Tournament Director or an appointed substitute.

1.16.1 CUE BALL FOULS ONLY

When a referee is presiding over a match, it is a foul for a player to touch any ball (cue ball or object ball) with the cue, clothing, body, mechanical bridge or chalk, before, during or after a shot. However, when a referee is not presiding over a game, it is not a foul to accidentally touch stationary balls located between the cue ball and the shooter while in the act of shooting. If such an accident occurs, the player should allow the Tournament Director to restore the object balls to their correct positions. If the player does not allow such a restoration, and a ball set in motion as a normal part of the shot touches such an unrestored ball, or passes partly into a region originally occupied by a disturbed ball, the shot is a foul. In short, if the accident has any effect on the outcome of the shot, it is a foul. In any case, the Tournament Director must be called upon to restore the positions of the disturbed balls as soon as possible, but not during the shot. It is a foul to play another shot before the Tournament Director has restored any accidentally moved balls.

At the non-shooting player's option, the disturbed balls will be left in their new positions. In this case, the balls are considered restored, and subsequent contact on them is not a foul.

It is still a foul to make any contact with the cue ball whatsoever while it is in play, except for the normal tip-to-ball contact during a shot.

1.16.2 JUMP AND MASSE SHOT FOUL

If a match is not refereed, it will be considered a cue ball foul if during an attempt to jump, curve or masse the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered ball that is not a legal object ball, the impeding ball moves (regardless of whether it was moved by a hand, cue stick follow-through or bridge).

1.16.3 THIRD OPINION

When a shot comes up that seems likely to lead to controversy, either party may request a tournament official or a third party to judge the legality of the shot.

1.16.4 SPLIT HITS

If the cue ball strikes a legal object ball and a non-legal object ball at approximately the same instant, and it cannot be determined which ball was hit first, the judgement will go in favor of the shooter.

1.16.5 RACKING

The balls must be racked as tightly as possible, which means each ball should be touching its neighbor. Refrain from tapping object balls more than absolutely necessary; it is preferable to thoroughly brush the area of the rack to even out the cloth.

Nine Ball

5.1 OBJECT OF THE GAME

Nine-Ball is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine and a cue ball. On each shot, the first ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowest numbered ball on the table, but the balls need not be pocketed in order. If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, he remains at the table for another shot, and continues until missing, committing a foul, or winning the game by pocketing the 9-ball. After a miss, the incoming player must shoot from the position left by the previous player, but after any foul the incoming player may start with the cue ball anywhere on the table. Players are not required to call any shot. A match ends when one of the players has won the required number of games.

5.2 RACKING THE BALLS

The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the 1-ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot spot, the 9-ball in the center of the diamond, and the other balls in random order, racked as tightly as possible. The game begins with cue ball in hand behind the head string.

5.3 ORDER OF THE BREAK

Winner of the lag has the option to break. In 9-Ball the winner of each game breaks in the next unless otherwise specified by the tournament organizer. The following are common options that may be designated by tournament officials in advance:

1. Players alternate break.
2. Loser breaks.
3. Player trailing in game count breaks the next game.

5.4 LEGAL BREAK SHOT

The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other shots except:

1. The breaker must strike the1-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail.
2. If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or the requirements of the opening break are not met, it is a foul, and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.
3. If on the break shot, the breaker causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. The object ball is not respotted (exception: if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is respotted).

5.5 CONTINUING PLAY

On the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter may play a “push out.” (See Rule 5.6). If the breaker pockets one or more balls on a legal break, he continues to shoot until he misses, fouls, or wins the game. If the player misses or fouls, the other player begins an inning and shoots until missing, committing a foul, or winning. The game ends when the 9-ball is pocketed on a legal shot, or the game is forfeited for a serious infraction of the rules.

5.6 PUSH OUT

The player who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break may play a push out in an attempt to move the cue ball into a better position for the option that follows. On a push out, the cue ball is not required to contact any object ball nor any rail, but all other foul rules still apply. The player must announce the intention of playing a push out before the shot, or the shot is considered to be a normal shot. Any ball pocketed on a push out does not count and remains pocketed except the 9-ball. Following a legal push out, the incoming player is permitted to shoot from that position or to pass the shot back to the player who pushed out. A push out is not considered to be a foul as long as no rule (except Rule 5.7 and Rule 5.8) is violated. An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed. After a player scratches on the break shot, the incoming player cannot play a push out.

5.7 FOULS

When a player commits a foul, he must relinquish his run at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are respotted (exception: if a pocketed ball is the 9-ball, it is respotted). The incoming player is awarded ball in hand; prior to his first shot he may place the cue ball anywhere on the table. If a player commits several fouls on one shot, they are counted as only one foul.

5.8 BAD HIT

If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is foul.

5.9 NO RAIL

If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or any numbered ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball on is a foul.

5.10 IN HAND

When the cue ball is in hand, the player may place the cue ball anywhere on the bed of the table, except in contact with an object ball. The player may continue to adjust the position of the cue ball until shooting.

5.11 OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE

An unpocketed ball is considered to be driven off the table if it comes to rest other than on the bed of the table. It is a foul to drive an object ball off the table. The jumped object ball(s) is not respotted (exception: if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is respotted) and play continues.

5.12 JUMP AND MASSE SHOT FOUL

If a match is not refereed, it will be considered a cue ball foul if during an attempt to jump, curve or masse the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered ball, the impeding ball moves (regardless of whether it was moved by a hand, cue stick follow-through or bridge).

5.13 THREE CONSECUTIVE FOULS

If a player fouls three consecutive times on three successive shots without making an intervening legal shot, the game is lost. The three fouls must occur in one game. The warning must be given between the second and third fouls. A player's inning begins when it is legal to take a shot and ends at the end of a shot on which he misses, fouls or wins, or when he fouls between shots.

5.14 END OF GAME

On the opening break, the game is considered to have commenced once the cue ball has been struck by the cue tip. The 1-ball must be legally contacted on the break shot. The game ends at the end of a legal shot which pockets the 9-ball, or when a player forfeits the game as the result of a foul.