The season-ending League 8-Ball singles tournament took place yeaterday at The Ball-In-Hand on Soi 4.  I think most would agree that it turned out to be another great event, and a fitting end to the 8-Ball for this season.  The attendance was 141, about 30 short of the record of 171.  As always, people showed up late, and we did not start the draw until 2:00 PM.  The day proceeded smoothly.  We played all day until a winner finally emerged around midnight.

BULLY'S PUB put on another great buffet, and the lines that formed when they set up made me wonder if people came for the pool or the food.  Yet another great spread, and my thanks to them.

104 door prizes were given away, as all of the bars that showed up came bearing donations to the table.  CHEFS XP donated thousands of Baht worth of food vouchers, and THAILAND FRIENDS donated 2 free memberships.

The Bangkok Pool League has a history of never having anyone repeat as a winner of either the 8-Ball or 9-Ball singles tournaments.  The tradition was once again upheld.  The last four standing were BIER(Cho Cho Bar), RUCH(Pool 13), TEE(Hillary Bar) and WAXY(Sports Academy).  Waxy beat Bier for one spot in the finals, and Tee beat Ruch for the other spot.  Ruch beat Bier for 3rd place.  In the finals, Waxy and Tee played a great match, with Waxy prevailing to take 1st Place.  Waxy now joins Boy(Corner Bar), Air(Country Road), Ohn(Corner Bar), Paul(Dubliner), Danny(Metro Bar), Steve(Metro Bar), Vee(Hillary Bar), Bee(Rack Em Up), Paul(Players), Tao(HIllary bar), and Tee(Hillary Bar) in the rare air of first place winners over the last 5 years.

In what is also becomming something of a Bangkok Pool League tradition, NICK from Popeyes/Olive Oyl once again walked away with a trophy for alcohol intake on the day.  The other winner, (name witheld by request) had to refuse the trophy because he was afraid his wife would beat him to death with it if he came home with it.  Nick has no such problem, as Ying would likely have required a detailed explaination why he did not win it.

I would like to thank all of the people that helped me make the event work so well.  LONG(Hillary Bar), as always, was indispensible, along with her crew of ALLAN, TAO and TEE.  They handled a hastily done draw with ease.  I would also like to thank NEIL(Happiness) and PEDER(Moonshine) for doing a great job as master of Ceremonies.  Thanks also to John(Pickled Liver) for some last-minute assistance to the event. As always, the Ball-In-Hand staff were up to the task of a large and thirsty crowd.

All that remains is the season-ending League 9-Ball tournament next Saturday, which will also be held at The Ball-In-Hand on soi 4.  Please try to get there early, but play will begin at 2:00.  All of the remaining door prizes will be given away.  20 Bottles of wine did not arrive in time for the 8-Ball tournament, so the league will have even more to give away.  This will be the last Bangkok Pool League event for this year, and we will take a break before starting up again after the holidays.  A firm start-up date has not as yet been decided

I hope to see everyone next week.  Come for the Competition, come for the food, or just come for the fun.