THE INAUGURAL $1.5 million Kingston Beer/Pool Tables & Billiards Supplies Ultimate All-Island Pool Tournament (eight ball) cues off on Saturday with 34 participating bars, clubs and teams.

The five-a-side tournament has attracted teams from across the island, including 21 from the rural areas and 13 from the Corporate Area. The rural teams hail from places such as May Pen in Clarendon, Mobay Proper from St James, Negril, Westmoreland, Mandeville, Manchester, Port Antonio, Portland and St Mary, among other places.

Portmore has two teams - Cue Plus from Port Henderson Plaza and High Roller from Portmore Town Centre. Both will play in Group D of the Corporate Area Zone.

The top two teams (or clubs) from each group will advance to the playoffs. The tournament will see the introduction of an all-female team, the Devil's Angels, which will play their home matches at Hot Shots Pool Bar, 103 Constant Spring Road. Team members are Ruth Salmon (captain), Nicky Lawrence, Francine Cardoza, Marina Ramkissoon, Chyann Nichol and Grace Chingsang-Letts.

Championship trophy

The winning team will receive a whopping $200,000 in addition to the championship trophy, second $100,000 and trophy, third $50,000 and trophy and fourth $25,000. Group winners will receive $10,000 each. Entry fee is $10,000 per club, each fielding a maximum of seven players and a minimum of five.

The playoffs (eliminations) for rural teams will take pace on November 22 and 23, while those for Corporate Area teams are scheduled for November 29 and 30 at Hot Shots.

In addition to Devil's Angels, some of the more prominent Corporate Area teams include Hot Shots, Mystix 1 and 2, Indigo 1 and 2, Cue Plus, Right Shots, Mattis Sports Bar, Sweet P's Sports Bar, Doc Holiday, Head Of State 2, Hotta Shots and Auto Craze.

The Kingston Beer singles tournament, set to start early next month, will offer a first prize of $75,000, second $50,000, third $25,000 and fourth $15,000. Closing date for entries is November 23.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Anthony Ming, managing director of Pool Tables and Billiards Supplies Limited and the proprietor of Hot Shots Pool Bar, said this tournament could not have come sooner.

"It is a dream come true for me. With the sponsorship worth a whopping $1.5 million, this unique tournament will benefit both pool bars and pool players alike.

"I am looking forward to very keen competition in the weeks ahead and am proud to be associated with this tournament," said Ming.

- Orville Clarke