UM Tournament of Champions

Each year in April, the Michigan Union Billiards Room hosts the University of Michigan Tournament of Champions (TOC). University of Michigan students can qualify for the TOC through a series of regular tournaments starting in October. The winner of the TOC receives a substantial prize ($100 or more), a gold medal, and his/her name on the "University of Michigan Pool Champion" plaque on the wall in the Billiards & Games Room.

Tentative Campus Qualifier Schedule for the 2009-2010 season (subject to change, pending Director availability):

  • 9-ball: 10/8, 10/22, 11/12, 12/3, 1/14, 2/11*, 3/11*, 4/1*
  • 8-ball: 10/13, 10/27, 11/24, 12/8, 1/19, 2/23*, 3/23*, 3/30*
  • (There are 16 qualifiers in all for the Tournament of Champions)
  • Tournament of Champions: Saturday, April 10

* Since the Region 7 ACUI tournament takes place in February 6, there is no ACUI spot for the February, March, or April campus tournaments. Winners of these tournaments will earn invitations to the 2010 University of Michigan Tournament of Champions.

Campus Qualifier Tournament Format:

  • Generally two tournaments per month, alternating between 8-ball and 9-ball.
    • 9-ball tournaments are on Thursdays
    • 8-ball tournaments are on Tuesdays
  • Single elimination. Loser breaks. BCA rules.
    • 9-ball is at least Race to 3
    • 8-ball is at least Race to 2
    • Fewer players = higher races
  • Start time is 7:00 p.m. Eligible players may practice for free starting at 6:30.
  • At least 6 players must be present and ready to play at start time, or the tournament will be canceled.
  • Registration is free. When eliminated, you may rent a table at the regular hourly rate.
  • If you win a tournament, you receive:
    • $20 Munchie Money (2nd place finishers receive a "Free Hour" card)
    • Paid entry fee for the ACUI Region 7 9-ball Tournament (travel expenses are on your own).
    • A spot in the Tournament of Champions in April 2010.
  • If you win two tournaments, you incur a one-game handicap. Win three tournaments, a two-game handicap. And so on. Everyone gets a clean slate at the start of each new semester. Everyone will be on a level playing ground for the TOC. May the best player win!
  • If the winner has already won an ACUI spot and a TOC spot, he/she will win the Munchie Money, but the ACUI and TOC spots will be awarded to the 2nd place finisher, or whoever finished highest but has not won a spot yet.
  • Tournaments are open only to University of Michigan students who are currently registered for classes.

Winners to Date

Date
Game
Winner (Munchie Money)
TOC spot
ACUI spot
10/8
9-ball
Edwin Gvalevech
Edwin
Edwin
10/13
8-ball
Curtis Sawdon
Curtis
Curtis
10/22
9-ball
Jamie Kilgore
tba
tba
10/27
8-ball
Jim Christian
Jim
Jim
11/12
9-ball
11/24
8-ball
12/3
9-ball
12/8
8-ball
1/14
9-ball
1/19
8-ball
2/11
9-ball
n/a
2/23
8-ball
n/a
3/11
9-ball
n/a
3/23
8-ball
n/a
3/30
8-ball
n/a
4/1
9-ball
n/a

 

TOC Format

  • Free practice at 12:30; draw conducted at 1:00.
  • Double elimination, race to 5.
  • Lag for first break. Winner of lag chooses 8-ball or 9-ball for first game.
  • Winner of each game chooses whether the next game will be 8-ball or 9-ball. Loser breaks regardless.
  • Tournament Director may choose to invite up to three additional players (based primarily on attendance) to fill out a field of 16.
  • The TOC will be seeded. Those who qualified first (top four) will be in separate quadrants. Others will be randomly drawn.

TOC Prizes (tentative)

  • 1st place $150 gift card or Munchie Money, medal, & name on TOC plaque
  • 2nd place $100 gift card or Munchie Money, medal
  • 3rd place $50 gift card or Munchie Money, medal
  • 4th place $25 gift card or Munchie Money, medal
  • All prizes are pending budget approval

2009 TOC results:

  • 1st place Chris Takahashi
  • 2nd place Quentin Weir
  • 3rd place Curtis Sawdon
  • 4th place Bret Kabacinski

2008 TOC results:

  • 1st place Casey Claflin
  • 2nd place Jim Christian
  • 3rd place Bret Kabacinski
  • 4th place Jamie Kilgore

 

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