Gameroom hosts semester-long billiards tournament
Students compete to win the honor of best pool player at UMBC in The Gameroom’s spring billiards tournament.
The Gameroom is hardly a typical pool hall. Thanks to The Commons’ many windows, the room is bright and airy and the pool tables are flanked by gaming consoles and ping pong tables. Instead of smoke and the scent of stale beer, the buttery smell of free popcorn floats around the room.
For students who want to have a game of billiards without getting in a fight or being hustled, The Gameroom is an affordable and accessible place to play. It’s open pretty much any time you could want it and its amusements are either cheap or free.
This spring, students will have the chance to vie for the top spot on the leaderboard as participants in a semester-long billiards tournament.
For casual players, a game of pool can be a fun diversion, in which everyone chalks the cues just for fun, and balls hop off the table after a poor shot. More serious and skilled students, however, are encouraged to enter the tournament and attempt to prove themselves the best on campus.
You can’t just walk in and challenge the current leader, though. The set procedures, explained by junior information systems major and Gameroom staff member Sean Horne, make sure that the tournament will run smoothly.
“Players who want to get onto the leader board must sign up,” said Horne. After that they will receive information about the challenged player’s availability to set up a match.
In the spirit of the competition, challengers will have to struggle to work their way up through the ranks. “If you’re number 10, you can only challenge number 9, then you work your way up from there,” Horne explained. The leaderboard reflects the current top ten players at any given point in the tournament.
Interested students will want to get ranked as fast as possible before the competition ramps up. “It is a first come first serve basis for anyone who wants to challenge the number 10 spot opponent,” said Horne, “sign in as quick as possible or you will have to wait your turn.”
The challengers will be responsible for paying The Gameroom’s fees, while the challenged play each match for free once they are ranked.
Horne was brimming with reasons why students should participate. “One, it’s fun,” he started, “two, there are tons of people to socialize with if you are having a hard time normally. Three, a great chance to make new friends.”
And finally, Horne stated, “four, you win prizes.” The top ranked player will receive a prize to be determined at the end of the tournament, around May 13.
So, if you consider yourself a good player, then consider challenging and getting yourself on the leaderboard. Even if you’re not, stop by The Gameroom for a game or two. Hustlers not welcome.
