Local team off to World Pool Championships in August

FERGUS – They went into the regional pool tournament as the underdog and came out the victor.

And so the Blame Game, a pool team that plays regularly at JJs Diner in Fergus, will be heading to Las Vegas for the World Pool Championships in August.

Still flush from the rush of winning, Janet Etherington said she can’t believe her team did so well at the regional tournament recently held in Guelph.

“We went in on a wild card,” she said in a phone interview. “The tournament is elimination play and we just kept winning. I’m floored that we won this.”

Etherington said the team has only played together for about a year.

She credits JJs Diner  owner Mike Denny for putting pool tables in the restaurant and starting a Canadian Pool Association (CPA) league in the last year or so.

Until then, she had only played beer league pool.

Her team will be playing eight ball in Vegas. There is also a nine ball tournament.

The tournament, Aug. 8 to 17, will follow an elimination format, so when you lose, you’re out, she said.

But if you win, first place prize is $30,000.

Etherington said the CPA covers hotel, flights and entry fees. Any side tournaments – and there are many of those – must be paid out of pocket.

“We’re pretty excited,” Etherington added. “I just think it’s pretty cool.”