Top Pool Bar ups ante of billiards competition

A new and exciting billiards venue has opened its doors along Hotel Street in Garapan.

Top Pool Bar, located behind GIG Disco at the heart of the tourist district, will kick off its 8-ball and 9-ball competitions tomorrow and Monday beginning at 8:30pm.

The sports bar’s manager Zheng Jian Qing said the Sunday 8-Ball Tournament has slots for 16 players and costs $15 to participate.

The slightly higher entry fee assures winners an also bigger payday, according to Zheng. The champion of the 8-ball event is guaranteed $150, runner-up $60, and third place $30.

He also said that the 8-ball tournament would use a double-elimination round format with the topnotcher in the winners bracket advancing to the finals with a twice-to-beat advantage.

“I know that 8-ball is one of the more popular pool games on Saipan. I hope the Sunday tournament would attract as many billiards enthusiasts to Top Pool Bar,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Monday 9-Ball Challenge also has slots for 16 of Saipan’s top cue artists. Zheng said the entry is a mere $10, with the champion pocketing $100 in cash, while the second place and third place winners earn $40 and $20, respectively.

The 9-ball competition is a straight up single-elimination affair, which means one loss kicks you out of the tournament.

“While 8-ball is the more preferred game, 9-ball is also gaining in popularity,” said Zheng. “Top Pool Bar wishes to give 9-ball players a chance to strut their stuff once a week.”

Aside from the prize money, Sunday and Monday champions also go home with first place trophies courtesy of the tournaments sponsor Pacific Trading Co.

Unlike other billiard halls on Saipan, Top Pool Bar boasts of 9-1/2-by-5-foot pool tables usually found in professional tournaments.

“We have the best tables on island. All of them are brand new and we don’t use coins to operate them,” said Zheng.

He further noted that both tournaments are in a first-come, first-serve basis and entries coming after 8:30pm would not be honored.

As well as getting slots for the tournament, early birds also get a chance to practice for free on any of Top Pool Bar’s seven full-size billiard tables an hour before the competition.

For more information on Top Pool Bar’s Sunday and Monday billiards events, please call 233-6999 and look for Zheng or Velma Fleming.