Lolla-Poolooza Billiard Bash set to start Tuesday at Oakley-Lindsay Center

QUINCY — The Greater Midwest Pool Players Association’s Lolla-Poolooza Billiard Bash will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 25 at the Oakley-Lindsay Civic Center, 300 Civic Center Plaza. Admission is free to the public. Play begins at 9 a.m. daily. The event is presented by SeeQuincy.

The event kicks off with the Billiard Education Foundation Junior Nationals presented by the Billiard Congress of America. The five-day competition offers 8-ball, 9-ball and straight pool. The main event is 10-ball, featuring players 18 and under hailing from North America. Many of these players will proceed directly to the professional level, with the top finishers qualifying for a spot in the world championships scheduled to be held in Austria in November. 

The Midwest Pocket Billiard Championships begins Wednesday, providing opportunity for amateurs of all ages. Novice beginners to advanced players gather for friendly competition. Male/female scotch doubles teams will be featured, along with senior 55-plus 8-ball, open 9-ball and women 9-ball. 

Several divisions of men and women 8-ball singles begin Thursday. 

All are welcome Friday for three-player team competitions. Entries may be called in with walk-in registrations permitted one hour prior to each event. 

Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman will perform a trick shot show and demonstrate the ESPN shots that secured his title of World Artistic Champion.

The public is invited to meet the top teachers of the sport for game improvement and knowledge enhancement on Thursday and Friday. More than 40 professional billiard instructors will be in attendance, offering tips and mini lessons free of charge.

Diveney Custom Cues will be onsite offering professional billiard cue repair. An array of cue sticks, cases, balls, billiard supplies and accessories will be sold during the event. 

For more information, visit http://GMPAbilliards.com.

To enter into the event, call Cecil Messer at 219-465-8101 or Julie Mitchell at 219-771-174

Sponsorships and Providers:

• Professional tournament staff from the Greater Midwest Poolplayers Association
• Professional referees provided by American Cuesports Alliance
• Junior pool tables provided by Diamond Billiard Products
• Midwest Pool Table supplier of the amateur event
• Midwest Pocket Billiard Awards sponsored by See Quincy
• Full event support by the City of Quincy BET on Q, SeeQuincy and the Oakley-Lindsay Center