Carmel Achor

Eight Ball Round Robin Open Tournament

Rules

By

Joe Waldron

Last Revision  Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Introduction

The format allows for four to seven players. The round robin format allows everyone to play without having to sit and watch for long periods of time. The format uses a chess shot clock. Each player has five minutes to spend as needed. When their turn is over the time keeper presses the button that starts the opposing player’s timer. The opposition has a five second grace period to start shooting. When a total of five minutes of playing time has expired the player whose alarm is triggered loses the game. A five minute clock gives each player about 50 seconds per shot.

The clock is needed to make sure the tournament is completed in a reasonable time period. It has been found that a normal game requires about four minutes per player. The additional one minute allows for some safety play at the end of a match if the time is used wisely. With preliminary start up and shut down about one hour should be added to the tournament times shown. Players may want to arrive 30 minutes before the tournament start time to practice and get the preliminary matters completed such as assigning player numbers (see below).

Player Assignment

Players are assigned a player number with the use of a deck of cards numbered one through the highest player number. Cards are shuffled, cut, and each player receives a card that assigns their position in the Tournament. Names are entered in the appropriate row and column for each player. Scores are kept by the players. At the end of a game the losing player fills in the win and loss for both players. The winning player is the referee and is racking balls for the next game.

Table One

Tournament Score Sheet         Date ----/----/----

Enter W= Win  or L = Loss in row for each player.

Enter the number of losing player’s balls left on the table (used for tie breakers)

Table Two.  Player assignment. The first person breaks Start time __________

Bold type is end of set for one round. R2: Round two begins

Hr estimated at 7 min per game.

House Rules

1. Player should be present in the room before their game.
   1. Five minute delay of game is a forfeit of game.
2. First player number on the Player Assignment Sheet breaks. The clock starts when the referee leaves the table.
3. 8 on the break is not a win (it spots). Player keeps shooting if there is no scratch or other foul.
4. Pocket any legal ball on the break and the table is open for selection of high or low balls.
5. Call all shots (especially non-obvious shots).
   1. It is the player’s responsibility to make their intention known.
6. Each player has one, 30 second time out.
   1. Clock is paused and time is kept by the timekeeper.
   2. There is no coaching and no other time outs unless called by the referee.
7. The player is expected to tell the opponent if a ball is frozen.
   1. Player is expected to call fouls on themselves (gentleman’s rules).
8. Except as stated here TAP 8-Ball rules are used.
9. Winner of the last game is the referee for the next game.
   1. The referee may call a time out as he sees fit (clock is paused)
   2. All decisions by the referee are final. There is no appeal.
10. Winner of the last game racks for the next game.
    1. Only the Sardo rack is used for racking.
11. The loser of the last game enters scores for that game for both players on the score card.
12. The loser of the last game is the timekeeper for the next game.
    1. If the shot clock expires on player’s turn, player loses.
    2. The clock is changed when the player moves to leave the table.
    3. Player will be given a one minute warning before the clock expires.
13. Anyone can be asked to stop coaching by the referee and may be asked to leave the room for that game. No arguments if asked to leave or you are disqualified from the tournament.
14. Rules can be changed by a show of hands, simple majority (51%).
    1. Players decide to play one round or two at the players’ meeting.

Tournament Winner

The Tournament winner is the person with the highest number of games won.

Opponent Ball count is the sum of all opponents’ balls left on the table.

In case of a tie the player with the highest opponent ball count is the winner.

If there is a tie for games won and for ball count there is a one game sudden death elimination for that place: If two players are tied for first, the loser of sudden death is moved to second place, etc.

Payout for the tournament is as follows

First Place:                  57% of all money collected

Second Place:              28%

Third Place:                 14%

Any remaining funds are awarded to 1^st place.