celebrating 19 years!

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The Maryland 14.1 Straight Pool Championship  began in  2005 at Bill & Billie’s Cue Club near Annapolis, Maryland with it's genesis being a love of 14.1 by some of the old time patrons. Under the guidance of Peter B. a small league was started, appropriately named  Willie Mosconi Straight Pool League of course!  The old fogies encouraged  the youngsters and after a couple of sessions the league gained a strong following. We held  the first Maryland Straight Pool Championship Aug 5-7,  2005 with an entry fee of  $60, Prize Fund $2,100.   What a cast of top locals! Peter B., Michael Frank, Andy Lincoln, Kenny Holstrom and a host of other twenty ball runners.  Actually,  that first year Jerry Slivka, Bo Newport, Eddie Deska & Ryan McCreesh were the big draws, with Ryan taking the winner’s trophy and a  whopping $780.   

Well word got out and shortly after Danny Barouty, God bless him,  brought down a gang of his NYC 14.1 pals - Ed Hodan, Steve Lipsky, and a young Zion Zvi, to steal some easy money from the Maryland boys.  And they  did.   Soon down from the Big Apple came Thorsten, Mika hot off two back to back US Open wins, exquisite Jeanette Lee and  cohorts.  Danny Harriman from far away Missouri, Grady Matthews from SC,  Warren Kiamco, Jose Parica, Corey Deuel,  Johnny Archer, and John  Schmidt on his motorcycle looking to cash, which of course they did.   Word continued to spread, “there's a pretty nice Straight Pool tournament down in  Maryland.”   And, yes, there was. Then Ivan Lee stepped up to lend the strong  and ever after loyal support of Iwan Simonis & Aramith Balls.  As all know, where would our industry and this beautiful game be today without the backing of these two century old companies.  Seriously.  Their support was key in those early years and remains even more so today in these trying times. 

 In the  ensuing years the Maryland Straight Pool Championship sought new and  stronger venues.  We settled at Thomas Dorsey’s, Midlothian, VA. Diamond  Billiards for a very successful four-year run.  No longer  based in Maryland we changed our name to the American 14.1 Straight Pool  Championship and growth continued.  Our 2018 tournament was held at Carom  Café in Queens, NY,  hosted by room owner Michael Kang, and in 2019 we moved to the late Barry  Behrman’s historic room, Q-Master Billiards in Virginia Beach managed by Gary Ornoff.  Following a Covid sabbatical, we returned with a roar in 2021 and also announced the inaugural 14.1 Women's Championship - the first such ladies event held in over 20 years! The ladies returned again in 2022 and hopefully will be back in the future.

Now in our 19th year,  the American 14.1 Straight Pool Championship has evolved into a highly regarded world class event thanks to very positive support by virtually every top player in the US and many from Asia and Europe.  Our thanks to each and every player, sponsor, and fan who has enabled our ever-increasing prize fund while maintaining a minimum  entry fee.   For the fourth consecutive year we return to Q-Master Billiards & the Norfolk area,  a long time a hot spot for top pool events & we look forward to an outstanding roster of world class players in 2023!