Tournament Information and Rules:
World Pool Championships
PAGE 76-77-78-79-80-81
The Open Division 8-Ball and 9-Ball World Championships have specific eligibility and qualification rules, starting at the Local Level with the World Qualifiers. Areas that have an additional Tournament structure used to narrow the field for the World Qualifiers may use these same rules.
1. How To Become A Qualified Team
Teams qualify for their World Qualifier by ending the session as the High Points Finisher, winning a division title or by finishing Playoffs immediately behind a team that is already qualified. At least one team per division qualifies each session. If the division plays all three sessions in the League year, a minimum of three teams will qualify. The only way a team can qualify for the World Championships is through their performance in regular League play and the World Qualifier.
NOTE 1: APA allows Local Leagues to set different qualification requirements in order to accommodate different League sizes and structures. Be sure to check your Local Bylaws for any variances in the qualification structure and requirements.
NOTE 2: Qualification does not pass down in 4-team divisions.
2. Qualification Can Be Lost
Be familiar with all the rules in this section in order to avoid losing qualification. If you have any concerns regarding your team’s qualification, please contact your Local League Management.
3. Players Must Maintain Current Membership
If your membership is not current, you are not eligible to participate in the World Championships. If any of your teammates are not available at renewal time, consider renewing for them so they do not get dropped from the roster and become ineligible. Notify your Local League Management immediately if a player is accidentally dropped from the roster.
4. Qualified Teams Must Maintain Active Status
A team that qualified in the Summer Session must play during the following Fall and Spring Sessions in the League area in which they qualified. A team that qualified in the Fall Session must play during the subsequent Spring Session in the League area in which they qualified. Local Bylaws may impose additional requirements.
5. 50% Rule For Qualified Teams
Qualified teams that do not finish in the top half of their division in the session(s) after they qualify are subject to heavy scrutiny of their handicaps and/or potential loss of qualification at the discretion of their League Operator. Summer Session qualified teams must finish in the top half of their division in the subsequent Fall and Spring Sessions leading into the World Qualifier. Fall Session qualified teams must finish in the top half of their division in the subsequent Spring Session of the League year leading into the World Qualifier.
6. Spring Rosters Are World Qualifier Rosters
Your roster at the end of the Spring Session will be your team’s roster for the World Qualifier. Players who were on the roster when the team qualified, but are not on the roster in the Spring Session leading into the World Qualifier, are not eligible because they are no longer considered part of the team. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO
THIS RULE.
A team with only four available or eligible players on their roster will have to play in the World Qualifier with those four players. All roster changes for qualified teams must be made prior to the teams submitting their week four scoresheets during the Spring Session. All qualified team rosters are frozen at the conclusion of week four. No one may be dropped or added. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.
7. The Skill Level You Must Play With
Each player will start the World Qualifier and World Championships at their Highest Skill Level. A player’s Highest Skill Level is the highest of the following:
The skill level that the player and team believe represents the player’s best playing ability.
The player’s current APA assigned skill level.
The player’s session-ending skill level in the session in which the team qualified for the World Qualifier.
The player’s highest session-ending skill level in any session following the session in which the team qualified.
The player’s highest skill level in any APA League area in which the player currently plays.
The player’s skill level at the end of the World Qualifier in the corresponding League year.
The skill level they played at during any prior National Singles Championships, National Team Championships, Poolplayer Championships or World Pool Championships.
Minimum Championship Skill Levels: During Championship Level Events as well as at the 8-Ball Classic & 9-Ball Shootout Regional Tournaments, ladies may participate at their assigned skill level, even if that assigned skill level is lower than a SL3. All other players must participate at a skill level 3 or higher. To be eligible to participate at a skill level lower than a SL3, the player’s State/Province issued picture ID, Military ID or passport photo ID must identify her as female.
8. Number Of Scores Handicaps Must Be Based On
In order to participate in the World Championships, a player must have established their handicap before the end of the Spring Session leading into the World Qualifier, in the format in which they are advancing. An established handicap is one that is based on a minimum of 10 lifetime match scores. Matches played during regular session play, Playoffs and Tri-Annuals count toward the minimum requirement. Match scores obtained through participation in other events, prior to having an established handicap, do not count towards the minimum requirement.
9. Adding A New Player To A Qualified Team In The Spring Session
Any player being added to a qualified team in the Spring Session should have a skill level based on at least 20 scores. If the player has fewer than 20 scores, that player must be approved by the League Operator prior to being added to the roster. The player’s skill level will be subject to heavy scrutiny.
10. Number Of Times You Must Have Played With Your Team
Each player must have played at least four times with the team during the regular Spring Session (prior to Playoffs) leading into the World Qualifier. Players who played less than four matches will be ineligible. Local Bylaws may impose additional eligibility requirements.
11. Skill Levels Updated
A player’s skill level may be adjusted during any stage of the World Championships, as a result of The Equalizer®, a Tournament Director or the APA Handicap Review Committee.
12. Teams Must Retain Four Original Members
In order for a team to maintain its qualification, the team’s World Championship roster must include four original members. Original members are those who were on a team when it gained qualification to a World Qualifier.
A team that qualifies in the Summer Session must retain four original members in the subsequent Fall and Spring Sessions. Should a Summer qualified team re-qualify in the Fall, all of the individuals on its Fall Session roster will be considered original members thereafter.
A team that qualifies in the Fall Session must retain four original members in the subsequent Spring Session.
Any player on the Spring Session roster, who was on the team when it first qualified, is considered original.
An original player who does not meet the minimum matches played requirement prior to Playoffs will be ineligible, but will still be considered original.
13. Team Skill Level Limit
The 23-Rule will be enforced at all levels of the World Championships.
14. Time-Outs
Time-outs are limited to one per player, per rack, regardless of skill level. Remember:
If any member of the team suggests a time-out to the shooter, the time-out will be charged.
If the player requests a time-out, the coach may refuse it. Ineligible players cannot coach or participate in any group consensus.
15. Common Players At The World Level Of The Championships
A common player is defined as a player on more than one team. A team may have up to two players that are common with another team in the same format at the World Championships. A player may be common on up to two teams in each format at the World Championships. This means a player may qualify on up to two 8-Ball teams and two 9-Ball teams. A player who qualifies on more than two teams in any format must choose which teams they will stay on, prior to entering the World Championships.
NOTE 1: Players who are advancing to the World Championships on multiple teams should contact their League Operator for additional information about the common player guidelines.
NOTE 2: Matches will not be held up for players who are participating on multiple teams.
16. Identification Requirements
All players must present photo identification in the form of a current state-issued ID from their State or Province of residence, a Military ID, or a passport at all Championship Tournaments. Players who do not have a valid photo ID must obtain one prior to participating in
the event.
NOTE: A player who cannot provide the required form of photo ID will not be allowed to play without approval from the Tournament Director.
17. Travel Assistance Policy
The Local League awards Travel Assistance to the team(s) advancing from the World Qualifier to the World Pool Championships. The Travel Assistance paid by the Local League is not prize money and should not be considered prize money.
Travel Assistance is awarded to offset some of the expenses incurred by the team in traveling to, and participating in, the World Pool Championships. The Travel Assistance is to be split equitably among the team members traveling to the Tournament. Proof of travel arrangements may be required by Local League Management before Travel Assistance is distributed.
Teams qualified for the World Pool Championships that do not intend to travel to and participate in the Tournament are not eligible to receive Travel Assistance; in this situation, a runner-up team will become eligible to compete in the World Pool Championships and receive Travel Assistance. In addition, if one or more players on a qualified team choose not to attend the World Pool Championships, those team members may not be eligible to receive Travel Assistance and/or other awards.
18. APA Is The Highest Authority
In order to preserve the fairness and integrity of its Championships, APA reserves the right to disqualify any player(s) and/or team(s) if:
a. The certification packet submitted by the player/team appears to have been altered or contains irregularities that might give a player or team an unfair advantage.
b. Any member of the team is participating at a skill level lower than their true playing ability.
c. Any fraudulent circumstances of any nature are found to exist.
d. A player or team’s sportsmanship or conduct is deemed by APA to discredit the Tournament, the League or the sport.
The determination of whether a player is participating at a skill level below their true ability is necessarily subjective. APA is the sole judge of a player’s ability and may make such a determination in its absolute judgment and discretion.
Disqualification will result in forfeiture of all titles, awards and prize money as well as a minimum two-year suspension from the League.
APA is the highest authority concerning all Tournament rulings. Its decisions are final.