More than 60 compete in 8-ball singles tourney

Sixty-one pool players and their friends and family gathered for the Capitol City Eight-Ball Singles Tournament Saturday on the 20 tables at Cuephoria.

Tournament shooters played by standardized rules set by the Billiard Congress of America: They had to call their shots, hit one of their own balls first and call fouls.

"And no fist fights are allowed," said George Puddington, an A-League shooter who plays for team Green Machine from Decades Bar. "It's pretty much a gentleman's game."

Puddington said he has been in Carson since before paved streets.

"His social security number is two if that tells you anything," joked No. 1 ranked A-league shooter and Green Machine teammate Roger Hovden. He started playing pool back in about 1970.

While the Eagles played their guitar intro on "Hotel California" over the juke box, Noel Wygant of the Cuemedians -- this year's Capitol City league champions -- battled the Top Dog's Pat Martin on table nine in the corner. Martin came to Carson City 25 years ago from Memphis, Tennessee.

What brought him to Carson City?

"Memphis, Tennessee," he laughed. "No, I've got a lot of family up here."

"We won four in a row," said Martin of the Top Dogs, a team based out of Ed's Dog House on Airport Road. "Actually five in a row as city champs. Then these guys came along," he said with a nod toward Wygant who laughed. Wygant, born and raised in Carson City, went on to end the two-to-two game tie by winning the fifth game.

As Martin, in a blue Ed's Dog House Sports Lounge polo shirt and jeans, left the table, Noel slammed the solid yellow one ball into a corner pocket.

"It's so much easier to sink balls when you're not playing," said Carl Wilson Jr., No. 1 ranked A league player and Cuemedian team member. He was relaxing over a bottle of Coors Light watching Martin and Wygant's games and getting ready to play.

He says he doesn't really have any special way of preparing before a game.

"I just show up and try to win."

Meanwhile over on table 5, B-league players Dan Watkins of the Eight-Balls and Mark Robbins of Javelin's Jokers were playing a heated match.

Leagues B and C were played among themselves this year for the first time, rather than having to play A league shooters.

"It's a lot better," said Robbins. "A couple of years ago we had to play A league too. We could play against them but it just wasn't fair."

He said the change has attracted more players to the tournament.

"As you can see this year the turnout is excellent for B and C."

Of course C leaguers are still struggling against stronger shooters in the B league.

"There's a reason I'm in the C league and not the B league," said Carson City native Shannon Leddy. "I can't shoot at their level."

Cuephoria bartender John Armstrong was happy with the day overall, however.

"I always love this tournament. It's one of my favorite," he said.

Capitol City Eight-Ball League board member Rory Cass, himself an A-league shooter with team Run Amuck, praised Armstrong's boss, Cuephoria owner Julie Hunter.

"Julie not only hosts these tournaments, she runs them," he said.

Highlights from Saturday's tournament will be televised on the 183rd episode of Joe's World on channel 10 of Carson Access Television at 5 p.m. on Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 p.m. next Sunday.