Capital Region APA Announces New Division in Glens Falls
GLENS FALLS — The Capital Region APA Pool League has announced a new nine-ball division for the upcoming season, scheduled to begin in Glens Falls this Sunday, Sept. 25.
“We want to get another format out there,” said Ryan Gilligan, League Operator of the Capital Region APA Pool League. “We do have a Wednesday division that we just started up (in Glens Falls), and that’s eight-ball. The players up there were like, ‘Hey, could we also get the nine-ball format up there as well?’”
The league plays at Downtown Social in Glens Falls at 6 p.m. on Sunday nights over a period of 12 weeks, according to a post on the league’s Facebook page.
“Our league supports local business, so the Downtown Social, they love having it there, because they’re just hanging out,” Gilligan said. “Just drinking, eating, having a good time.”
There will be 5-8 players per team, with a maximum of 5 players per team participating in a match each week. Gilligan said this means players “don’t have to give up every Sunday,” instead having the option to rotate with other team members.
The nine-ball format sees nine balls on the table, with players starting with the lowest ball. Each ball is worth 1 point, while the nine-ball itself is worth 2 points.
“Depending what your skill level is will depend on how many balls you make,” said Gilligan. “It’s a fun, social league. Anyone can play. If you’re a lesser player, you have to make less balls to win the match. If you’re a higher skill level player, you have to make more.”
Each team requires a mix of skill levels, with Gilligan saying that the league has a “team skill-level limit.”
Gilligan said that several teams have signed up for the league already, which begins this Sunday.
The first-place team in the league will automatically qualify for Tri-Annuals, while division and playoff winners will also qualify. Tri-Annuals will see these teams compete against other winners from the Capital Region, according to the league’s Facebook page.
Tri-Annual winning teams will receive a cash prize of $600, and advance to the Capital Region APA World Qualifiers in June 2023. The World Qualifiers will take place at the Albany Capital Center.
Winners at the World Qualifiers will advance to the World’s Largest Pool Tournament, held in Las Vegas in August 2023. The grand prize for the World’s Largest Pool Tournament is $30,000.
Gilligan said participation in the league has grown in recent years, emphasizing the social aspect of the league.
“After the pandemic, I feel like people are itching to get out of the house and do something new,” said Gilligan. “Our league has been growing significantly after the pandemic. We actually grew coming out of the pandemic, where we had more teams coming out than we had starting.
“It’s like a social thing, that’s what our league is. We bring people together.”
The entry fee is $50 per team, plus an annual APA membership fee of $25. To join or register a team, visit the Capital Region APA Pool League page on Facebook, or call (518) 630-5664.