April 10, 2023 |
Photo – Pool Tables at Platte Valley Community Center – By Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
The best pool players from across the country gathered in Saratoga to compete in a one-off tournament.
The games played out over Easter Weekend during the 13th Annual Wyoming Open Pool Tournament at the Platte Valley Community Center. Now in its 15th year, the tournament has been a staple in the PVCC’s Great Hall. Event organizer, Ed Glode, said the tournament has only missed one year since the first event was held in 2008.
The Great Hall cannot hold all of the competitors and games that are happening at one time. Pool tables spilled out into the lobby of the PVCC. This year, around 190 players took part in the 4-day event. Glode said in the two years before COVID, the tournament had the greatest number of participants at 272 people. The pandemic shut down the event in 2020, but attendance is slowly rebounding to pre-COVID numbers. Glode said the games have attracted two big names in the pool scene to Saratoga.
Rodney “Rocket” Morris is a nationally recognized player from Georgia. Morris has won over 14 major titles in his 20-year long career. Corey Deuel is from Ohio. Nicknamed “Prince of Pool,” Deuel has 18 titles to his name.
The Wyoming Open Pool Tournament has five skill classes. Glode said from Thursday to Sunday, players competed against others in their class for large cash prizes.
Glode said sponsors from around the Valley put up the prize money. The Carbon County Visitors Council helps fund the event with a grant, since it is a popular regional attraction. Glode said the Saratoga Lions Club is able to host the pool tournament every year using grant and sponsorship money.
The Wyoming Open Pool Tournament is an exhibition match. Glode said players do not have to work their way up to the games. Anyone who pays the entry fee can participate, up to the player limit of each bracket. Glode said the tournament encourages people to visit Saratoga after winter.
The 13th annual Wyoming Open Pool Tournament ended Sunday. We’ll have more information about the overall winners later in the week.
