Regional pool challenge returns to Geelong

SOME of regional Victoria’s best eight-ball pool talent will gather in Geelong for three days starting from tomorrow (Friday, August 4).

More than 200 pool players will compete in the second annual Slate Invitational Challenge, featuring 36 teams of seven players originating from associations in Geelong, Ballarat, Mildura, Horsham, Warrnambool, Ararat, Bendigo and more.

Challenge director and co-organiser Colin Smith said the challenge returns to Slate Pool Lounge in central Geelong (owned by co-organiser Johl Younger), following its inaugural event in 2022.

“We’re stoked to have the tournament back in Geelong, there’s always a few beers to be had, and it’s always good fun,” Smith said.

“There’s a number of fierce competitive rivalries between regional areas, Warrnambool and Geelong is an example of that.

“But the main aspect of tournaments like this one, is it provides the intermediate player a chance to remain competitive against other intermediate players.

“There are many comps that elite players can take part in, but the Slate Invitational Challenge is one of only a handful of events that caters to the intermediates.”

The challenge runs over three days and will use a promotion-relegation system across four divisions with grand finals in each division to be played on Sunday evening.

Teams will compete in qualifiers tonight, six rounds of pool tomorrow and three rounds on Sunday morning to determine finals seedings, before finals commence later in the day.

“It took me about two weeks to fill out last year’s inaugural event, which is why we have a waiting list for teams to take part in the challenge,” Smith said.

“But hopefully we get a similar reception this year and spectators can enjoy the talent on offer free of charge.”

More information about the event can be found on the challenge’s Facebook page.