The Greater Midwest PoolPlayers Association to host LOLLA-POOLOOZA July 8-14

QUINCY — The Greater Midwest PoolPlayers Association is bringing LOLLA-POOLOOZA to the Gem City. The event will be held July 8-14 at the Oakley-Lindsay Civic Center.

Hundreds of amateur pool players from North America and other areas of the world will participate in various singles and team tournaments within the seven-day event. All pool league players are invited as well as unaffiliated players. This is a unification event with room for all.

LOLLA-POOLOOZA kicks off July 8 with the Americas HeyBall Championships. This new event was secured by the Billiard Congress of America. The game is played as 8-Ball on regulation tables with rounded pockets, similar to U.S. 8-Ball but easier. The entry fee is $100, and men and women’s fields consist of 64 players each with a prize fund of $58,000 each. The total payout is $116,000 (based on 64 in each division), with last place receiving $250.

The event is open to all and entrance to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is still open. Register at www.bca-pool.com/events. For more details, call Shane Tyree or Steve Mathias at 303-243-5070.

Billiard Education Foundation 36th annual Junior Nationals Championship returns and kicks off July 8 with a banquet at 5 p.m. The junior championship is the most significant event for junior competitors on the continent. Players vie to win more than $15,000 in prizes and scholarships, plus the exclusive spot representing North America on the World stage at the upcoming September championships in New Zealand. Junior competitors may enter online at billiardeducation.org or by calling Carol Laratta at 269-519-6383.

The Midwest Amateur Pocket Billiard Championships begin at 9 a.m. July 10 with a five-day schedule:

• July 10 — Scotch Doubles, 9-Ball and Seniors 8-Ball
• July 11-12 — 8-Ball Singles (all Divisions)
• July 12 — Three-player Women and Open Mixed team divisions

Entries may be obtained from league operators. Entry forms may be found on gmpabilliards.com. To enter call 219-465-8101 or Julie Ann Mitchell 219-771-1174. This event relies on at least 50% participation of local leagues.

The North American Wheelchair Championships will be held July 9-13. Play begins each day at 9 a.m. Cash and prizes will be awarded to the top finishers.

The second annual PBIA/ACS Instructor Summit will convene on July 10 at The Atrium with participation up 50% from 2023. A meet-and-greet will be held at 7 p.m. on July 9. The public is invited to attend and mingle with the finest instructors in the billiard world.

Two-time world artistic champion Dr. Cue Tom Rossman will be onsite offering free instruction and daily artistic trick-shot shows beginning July 9.

The GMPA also is welcoming the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) Board members to their annual meeting. Shane Tyree, CEO of the BCA, along with some of the most prominent figures in the billiard community, are expected to attend.

Diveney Cues will be onsite with cue sticks, accessories and professional cue repair. Commemorative specials and giveaways will be offered throughout the event, along with a Custom Cue Stick raffle and Billiard Accessory Package auction. Spectators are welcome to attend free of charge.

The week-long billiard gala is supported by the City of Quincy BET on Q, SeeQuincy and the Oakley Lindsay Center.

For more information, visit gmpabilliards.com or indianapoolnews.com.