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Wyoming Open offers a chance to play, observe pool professionals from around the world

In what has been an expanding weekend, pool enthusiasts from the region and around the world will converge on Saratoga to play pool in what has been called by organizers, "the most popular pool event in the Rocky Mountain States."

The period ranging from Thursday, April 5 to Sunday, April 8 will give pool players ranging from novices to professionals a chance at pots which have had $11,000 added to the entry-fee winnings total.

The added money has been weighted according to class with $5,000 added to the Master's division all the way down to $400 added to the Sportsman classification.

Filled Quickly

Last year's Open filled out the available spots six weeks before the event. Event organizer and Saratoga mayor Ed Glode says the event had all the available spots filled in about the same time frame this year-even with 22 additional player slots added to this year's tourney.

A growing event

The 11th annual Wyoming Open pool tournament has again expanded. This year the 11-event tournament will use 48 tables across Saratoga and has grown from 250 players to 272.

This year's version of the popular pool tournament will feature a new juniors contest for players under 18 years of age, a Pro-Am event that matches professionals with amateurs in a blind draw scotch doubles event that allows coaching, a new women's expert division to go along with the women's classic division, and several other events including Saratoga, a game created by Saratoga mayor Ed Glode.

While the Wyoming Open has grown over the years, Glode noted that the only limitation to further growth is the number of hotel rooms available saying that all available rooms in Saratoga were booked for the weekend.

Glode did say he was proud of the fact that every local business with a pool table would be included in this year's Wyoming Open.

Stars and Pros

The 2018 Open will feature pool professionals like Corey Deuel, who was the first player to sweep all three Wyoming Open pro events, Shane VanBoening, who is ranked No. 1 in America, Rodney Morris, seven-time Wyoming Open Champion and Mike Massey, legendary trick shot champion.

Other notable professionals scheduled to attend are Johnny Archer, Marc Vidal and Charlie Williams.

Johnny Archer, Mike Massey and Rodney Morris have all been inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.

Seen and Attended

The Wyoming Open, which is sponsored by Dragon Promotions and produced in cooperation with the Carbon County Visitors Council, has drawn over 500 attendees from around the region in the past and the free livestream available at www.OnTheRailTV.com has garnered 70,000 distinct viewers.

And More

In addition to the regularly scheduled events during the Wyoming Open proper, Shane VanBoening Corey Deuel and Mike Massey will be participating in exhibitions planned for Wednesday, April 4 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Duke's Bar and Grill.

Also, on Monday, April 9 Mike Massey, 17-time Trick Shot Champion, will be demonstrating trick shots for the local pool league's season ending party which will begin at 6 p.m. at Dukes Bar and Grill.

 

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