RED CLOUD GARRSION - Soldiers and Civilians came to Warrior Country for the Installation Management Command-Korea Nine-Ball Tournament held at the USAG-RC Community Activities Center, March 28-29.
Areas I-IV held separate tournaments in their local areas to determine who would represent them in the IMCOM-K tournament.
"The tournament went well, although there were not many of us (players) here," said Charles Butler, a qualifier from Camp Humphries. "The competition was tough because the players were very talented."
The tournament began with a briefing from Yong Ae Black, CAC manager, describing the rules and regulations from the Texas Express nine-ball rulebook. The briefing was followed by a welcome from Command Sgt. Maj. Earlene Lavender, USAG-RC Command Sgt. Maj.
The players drew playing cards to find where they would start the tournament and the games began.
The games were set up in a double elimination setting with a separate bracket for the winner's and the loser's meaning that a player had to lose at least twice before being removed from the tournament. Each game was won if the player won five individual games before their opponent. Rules were changed, however, from the Warrior Country Championship nine-ball tournament for the loser's bracket.
If a player was placed in the loser's bracket, the player had to win seven games in order to advance in the tournament.
Trophies were awarded to the players who came in first, second and third place followed by a gift card for $100, $75 and $50 for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
One of the competitors, Phillip Nusbaum, found the rules no problem when it came to playing the tournament.
Playing the game nine-ball on and off for many years, Nusbaum described the tournament as a "smooth process" and showed it by winning the IMCOM-K Nine-Ball Tournament, though not all found nine-ball as easy as Nusbaum did.
"I am very used to eight-ball and it is my game of choice," Butler said. "Nine-ball is new for me and compared to eight-ball, it is about the same as checkers and chess, though they might seem the same, each game requires a different set of strategies needed to win."
Nusbaum agreed with Butler on the vast differences in nine-ball versus eight-ball while sharing the secret to his successful performance in the tournament.
"Like many sports, the best way to win in nine-ball is having an excellent defense. In eight-ball there are so many billiards on the table making it easier for a player to almost always strike a ball in a pocket to win. In most cases for eight-ball the best player might not always be the winner. Nine-ball is completely different due to the fact there are fewer billiards on the table and there is only one objective at a time, hit the one ball, then the two ball moving all the way up to the nine-ball. This is where strategy comes into play again, because too many times has it been the case where every ball is made except the nine-ball leaving the opponent to win the game by only shooting one ball into the pocket," Nusbaum explained.
Although every player did not come out of the tournament with a trophy to bring home none complained but praised FMWR as well as the Better Opportunities for Single and Unaccompanied Soldiers program for the accommodations that were made for each player.
Competitors visiting Warrior Country from different areas were lodged in hotels off post around the Uijeongbu area and were provided hearty meals from the CAC personnel with the assistance of USAG-RC BOSS.
"The accommodations were 'fanstanding,'" said Butler. "I cannot explain whether it was fantastic or outstanding because it really was great, I never knew there was so much to do here (in Warrior Country) or in the city of Uijeongbu. I will have to come back and see more in the future."
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