Quadrangle Tournament There’s nothing new about the idea of divisional tournaments: multiple tournaments labeled Master, A, B, and C, etc. And the
won by a few under-rated players who have been hiding in the weeds. And the post-tournament banter is all about favoritism
story’s often the same. The top division is small and gets a lot of the added money. The lower divisions are large and are often
or ignorance —perceived or real—in the rating assignment process.
Fargo
Midwinter Shootout March 2-4, 2012
Fargo Billiards & Gastropub 9-BALL – Starts 6:0 pm Friday 43rd
3234 Street South Fargo, North Dakota 58104 701-282-4168
8-BALL – Starts Saturday 9:30am breakfast 10:30am full-field Calcutta
Tournaments limited to first 96 and 128 paid entrants, respectively. Entry includes $10 green fee
$2,500 added 8-BALL $60 entry fee race to 5
Alternate break
$500 added 9-BALL $40 entry fee
race to 7
Winner breaks
Mail cashier’s check or money order to MIDWINTER SHOOTOUT, FARGO BILLIARDS, 3234 43RD ST. S., FARGO ND 58104. Include name, address, phone, email
Over $14,000 paid out last year Played on 35 Diamond Pro Am 7’ tables with Simonis Cloth/red circle cueballs
18 Rackem Magazine - February 2012
Contrast that with the Quadrangle 8-ball tournament held Saturday, Jan 21, at Fargo Billiards & Gastropub in Fargo ND, a tournament that had four divisions, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. None of the 134 players who paid $30 to enter knew which division they would play in until the 10 am registration cutoff. At that time, the players were ordered top to bottom by Fargo Rating. The top quarter of the field, ratings 680 to 532, became the Platinum Division. The second quarter, 531475, became the Gold Division. The third and fourth quarters, 465-381 and 377-122, became the Silver and Bronze Divisions, respectively. The $4080 prize fund ($1,400 added money plus $20 from each entry fee) was split evenly amongst the Divisions. Other giveaways included $30 gift cards to the bubble positions (lowest rated player in each of the top there divisions), and an OB playing cue ($411 retail) that went to one of the early registrants chosen at random. The four tournaments were played on 40 7’ tables. The Quadrangle is only possible because of the system of Fargo Ratings, which now includes over 1000 players whose ratings are based upon 67,000 8-ball games played amongst members of the group. After every 8-ball game played in a tournament or in league play, the winner’s rating goes up and the loser’s rating goes down, by just the right amount depending on the rating difference between the players and the number of games each has in the system.
Next up at Fargo Billiards is the $3,000 added Midwinter Shoot, March 2-4.