Playing with the pros

Local pool player takes home prize money and an ‘unreal experience’

A local pool player recently placed within the top 20 in his division at one of the largest pool tournaments in Canada.

Truro’s Ryan Mackenzie placed 13-to-16 position in his division of the East Coast Canadian 9-Ball Open tournament in Halifax on Monday, where he competed alongside some of the sport’s best players.

“There were 248 competitors from around the world in the tournament, which included pros from England, pros from Canada and Mika Immonen, a pro from Finland,” said Mackenzie.

Competitors are broken into divisions based on their skill in pool tournaments, with divisions running from C, B, A and the best being put into the Pro division.

“I was very, very happy with my nish,” said Mackenzie.

“The B division had 58 players in it, it’s basically you against 58 of yourself, so I feel I did very well by placing where I did.”

Mackenzie’s placing won him a modest $150 prize, but that was only a bonus to the experience of competing in a tournament with so many big names.

“Being able to compete with pros from all over the world was an unreal experience,” he said.

“To me, it was equal to how a little kid would feel going to Disneyland, that’s how big it was. I will probably never be around those pros again in my life.”

This was the rst year for the tournament, but with an advertised $35,000 in prizes, it brought a lot of attention to Nova Scotia.

The tournament featured pro pool players John Morra, Alex Pagulayan and Erik Hjorleifson among others.

In the tournament, Finnish pro Immonen beat pro John Moore in the nals, walking away with over $10,000 in prize money.

While Mackenzie prepares to compete in other upcoming tournaments, he hopes to get another shot at beating his placement in next year’s 9-Ball Open.

“I won the C division last year, which is why I was competing in the B division this year,” said Mackenzie.

“I am hoping to compete in the A division next year, but it’s going to take a lot of work to get there.”

Mackenzie appreciated the backing of his sponsors who allow him to participate in tournaments like the 9-Ball Open — Lennie Walser’s Medicine Shop, John Mackenzie of Robie Street Tim Hortons and Christopher Dory.