First leg of Guinness Black Ball Pool Competition completed

Police Officer Terry Phillips stood out from among a group of 39 pool sharks to take the EC$500 prize during the first leg of the 2017 Guinness Black Ball Pool Competition on Saturday night.

The first leg of the eight-leg competition was held at the West Side bar in Kingstown and saw pool enthusiasts going at it into the wee hours of the morning, until there were only two players left, Phillips and Rose Place resident Omaro “Wizzyman” Pollard.

Phillips, in his haste to take the first leg, knocked the white ball off the table during his first of three games, losing that game.

He was almost hit with two straight losses when Pollard scored seven of his eight balls before Phillips could score one, but Pollard scratched (scored the white ball) after he pocketed the black ball, giving that game to Phillips.

The third and final game saw Phillips beating an extremely competitive Pollard to take the money and earn himself a place in the finals where he can win EC$5,000.

Phillips, who hails from Redemption Sharpes, said that he has been playing pool for 17 years now and is glad to have won the first leg.

“I’m $500 richer, so I feel good”, said Phillips, who did not do so well in the tournament last year.

Saturday’s tournament saw a number of finalists from last year’s competition. Players included last year’s second place winner Oshea Thompson, 2015 winner Alson Barker, heavyweights Camilus Pitt, Edmund Branch, Osmond “Ozzie” St Hillaire, Marlon “Southie” John and Tex Franklyn.

The tournament continues this Friday, February 10, at Auntie Merlene’s Bar in Mesopotamia.

The third leg will be held at Nani Bellingy’s Bar (Pembroke) on Friday, February 17; fourth leg at Police Canteen (Kingstown) Friday February 24; fifth leg at South Beach (Barrouallie) Friday, March 3rd; sixth leg at Skyline Bar (Bequia) Saturday, March 11; seventh leg at Over the River Grocery (Sandy Bay), Friday, March 17; and eighth leg at Azard St Hill Bar (Troumaca) Saturday, March 25.

Rocky Punnett won the competition last year.