| Blaze Pro-Am 9-Ball Tour Rules |
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World Standardized Rules: 9-Ball
(WPA World Standardized Rules reprinted with permission
by the Billiard Congress of America, all rights reserved.)
Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules,
the General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.
5.1 OBJECT OF THE GAME
Nine-Ball is played with nine object balls numbered one
through nine and a cue ball. On each shot, the first ball
the cue ball contacts must be the lowest numbered ball
on the table, but the balls need not be pocketed in order.
If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, he remains
at the table for another shot, and continues until missing,
committing a foul, or wining the game by pocketing the
9-ball. After a miss, the incoming player must shoot from
the position left by the previous player, but after any
foul the incoming player may start with the cue ball anywhere
on the table. Players are not required to call any shot.
A match ends when one of the players has won the required
number of games.
5.2 RACKING THE BALLS
The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the
1-ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot spot,
the 9-ball in the center of the diamond, and the other
balls in random order, racked as tightly as possible.
The game begins with cue ball in hand behind the head
string.
5.3 ORDER OF BREAK
Winner of the lag has the option to break. In 9-Ball,
the winner of each game breaks in the next, unless otherwise
specified by the tournament organizer. However, the Blaze
Tour has chosen to use alternate breaking. The following
are common options that may be designated by tournament
officials in advance:
(a) Players alternate break.
(b) Loser breaks.
(c) Player trailing in game count breaks the next game.
5.4 LEGAL BREAK SHOT
The rules governing the break shot are the same as for
other shots except:
1. The breaker must strike the1-ball first and either
pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to
the rail.
2. If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table,
or the requirements of the opening break are not met,
it is a foul, and the incoming player has cue ball in
hand anywhere on the table.
3. If on the break shot, the breaker causes an object
ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the incoming
player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. The
object ball is not re-spotted (exception: if the object
ball is the 9-ball, it is re-spotted).
5.5 CONTINUING PLAY
On the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter
may play a "push out." (See Rule 5.6). If the
breaker pockets one or more balls on a legal break, he
continues to shoot until he misses, fouls, or wins the
game. If the player misses or fouls, the other player
begins an inning and shoots until missing, committing
a foul, or winning. The game ends when the 9-ball is pocketed
on a legal shot, or the game is forfeited for a serious
infraction of the rules.
5.6 PUSH OUT
The player who shoots the shot immediately after a legal
break may play a push out in an attempt to move the cue
ball into a better position for the option that follows.
On a push out, the cue ball is not required to contact
any object ball nor any rail, but all other foul rules
still apply. The player must announce the intention of
playing a push out before the shot, or the shot is considered
to be a normal shot. Any ball pocketed on a push out does
not count and remains pocketed except the 9-ball. Following
a legal push out, the incoming player is permitted to
shoot from that position or to pass the shot back to the
player who pushed out. A push out is not considered to
be a foul as long as no rule (except rules 5.8 and 5.9)
is violated. An illegal push out is penalized according
to the type of foul committed. After a player scratches
on the break shot, the incoming player cannot play a push
out.
5.7 FOULS
When a player commits a foul, he must relinquish his run
at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are
re-spotted (exception: if a pocketed ball is the 9-ball,
it is re-spotted). The incoming player is awarded ball
in hand; prior to his first shot he may place the cue
ball anywhere on the table. If a player commits several
fouls on one shot, they are counted as only one foul.
5.8 BAD HIT
If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is
not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is
foul.
5.9 NO RAIL
If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue
ball or any numbered ball to a rail after the cue ball
contacts the object ball on is a foul.
5.10 IN HAND
When the cue ball is in hand, the player may place the
cue ball anywhere on the bed of the table, except in contact
with an object ball. The player may continue to adjust
the position of the cue ball until shooting.
5.11 OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE
TABLE
An un-pocketed ball is considered to be driven off the
table if it comes to rest other than on the bed of the
table. It is a foul to drive an object ball off the table.
The jumped object ball(s) is not re-spotted (exception:
if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is re-spotted) and
play continues.
5.12 JUMP AND MASSÉ SHOT FOUL
If a match is not refereed, it will be considered a cue
ball foul if during an attempt to jump, curve or massé
the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered ball,
the impeding ball moves (regardless of whether it was
moved by a hand, cue stick follow-through or bridge).
5.13 THREE CONSECUTIVE FOULS
If a player fouls three consecutive times on three successive
shots without making an intervening legal shot, the game
is lost. The three fouls must occur in one game. The warning
must be given between the second and third fouls. A player’s
inning begins when it is legal to take a shot and ends
at the end of a shot on which he misses, fouls or wins,
or when he fouls between shots.
5.14 END OF GAME
On the opening break, the game is considered to have commenced
once the cue ball has been struck by the cue tip. The
1-ball must be legally contacted on the break shot. The
game ends at the end of a legal shot which pockets the
9-ball, or when a player forfeits the game as the result
of a foul.
In addition, the Blaze Tour has adopted a Code of Conduct
to be adhered to by all players during Blaze Tour events,
as well as a set of specific tournament rules. Failure
to adhere to ALL rules of conduct may result in penalties,
which may include any or a combination of the following:
- Forfeiture of matches or games
- Disqualification from the tournament
- Tour points penalty
- Forfeiture of prize monies
- Refusal of entry into current event
- Complete suspension/banning from future Blaze events.
- No exceptions will be made
ADDITIONAL BLAZE PRO-AM 9-BALL TOUR
RULES AND CODE OF CONDUCT
The following rules are used in conjunction with the World
Standardized Rules.
1. CONCESSION OF THE 9-BALL
Under no circumstances may the non-player concede the
9-Ball, or any preceding ball. Concession of the game
before the player in play has completed the game will
result in the loss of that game, as well as the next.
This rule is not open to negotiation between opponents,
and any two players found to be allowing the concession
of the 9-ball will both be disqualified from the tournament.
2. TAKING BREAKS DURING MATCHES
Players are allowed to take no more than one break away
from the table after the match has started, unless in
the case of an emergency, or to call the tournament director
to observe a shot/make a ruling. The break may not be
longer than 10 minutes. Violation may result in loss of
the match, depending a decision by the tournament director.
3. SLOW PLAY
The Blaze Tour does not make use of a "shot
clock." However, unnecessary time-wasting is un-sportsmanlike
and any player deemed to be wasting time on purpose in
order to unsettle their opponent, may be given a warning,
and following that, a similar violation will result in
loss of the match being played. Players who, by nature,
play slowly, may be asked to speed up their game by the
tournament director.
4. KEEPING SCORE
It is each player's responsibility to register their own
score immediately after each game and prior to the next
break. Failure to do so, and an attempt to register the
score later in the match, such as during the next game,
entitles the opponent to request the tournament director
to resolve the correct score by any means necessary, including
the solicitation of spectators and/or other players. The
final decision lies in the hands of the tournament director.
5. CALLING FOULS
The non-player is responsible for calling fouls incurred
by his/her opponent at the time of, or immediately following
(before the next shot is played), a foul. Failure to do
so results in the loss of the right to call that foul.
In the event that a player calls a foul and his/her opponent
continues playing without having the foul verified by
the tournament director, the tournament director may be
called upon by the opponent to determine if a foul has
occurred.
6. REQUESTING OBSERVATION
If a player wants to have a shot observed for a possible
foul, they must inform their opponent in order to stop
them from playing the shot unobserved. If the shooter
continues to play the shot before the tournament director
is present to watch the shot, it will be an automatic
foul. The decision of the tournament director is final.
7. SIMULTANEOUS CONTACT (SPLIT HITS)
If the cueball makes contact with two balls simultaneously,
and it is not possible to clearly determine which ball
was struck first, the benefit of the doubt will go to
the shooter, and the shot shall be deemed a good hit.
8. TALKING TO SPECTATORS
It is considered unsportsmanlike behavior to talk to non-players
while your match is in progress. It is common courtesy
to let your opponent play without interference or distraction.
Under no circumstances may a player receive any information
from anyone except the tournament director. A warning
may be incurred, and upon subsequent violation, the player
may forfeit the match.
9. CELL PHONES
Player cell phones must be turned off during a match.
Players will not be allowed to make or receive phone calls
while the match is in progress. A first violation will
get a warning from the tournament director, and subsequent
violations may result in the loss of the match.
10. DRESS CODE
All players will be expected to be dressed respectably.
No sweat pants, sports shorts, torn jeans, T-shirts, or
tank tops (men), unless it is an official Falcon Cue or
Blaze 9-Ball Tour T-shirt. T-shirts my be worn underneath
a sweater. Players may be refused entry into the tournament,
and will not be allowed to play in money rounds on the
final day of the tournament if dressed inappropriately
11. SPLITTING AND SAVING
Under no circumstances will players be allowed to split
prize monies by not playing out scheduled matches, nor
will they be allowed to "save" each other percentages
of prize monies. All matches will be played out, and if
players are deemed to lose matches intentionally, both
players will be penalized to the fullest extent. This
may include forfeiting any prize monies and/or tour points.
12. GENERAL CONDUCT
Players are expected to behave like good sportspeople
during all Blaze events and tournaments, and unsportsmanlike
behavior will not be tolerated. Unsportsmanlike behavior
includes abusive language, obscene gestures, abuse/damage
of equipment/facilities, intoxication leading to any kind
of disruption, and gambling or solicitation to gamble
with an opponent in a tournament match. Offenders may
be penalized in various ways without warning, and possibly
be banned from future events. |
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Top 5 Points Leaders
Season 2009 |
Top 5 Men's Points Leaders
Season 2009
(through stop #39) |
1. Joey Testa 6570
2. Eddie Abraham 5020
3. Matt Krah 4960
4. Shaun Wilkie 4600
5. Josh Brothers 3820 |
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Top 5 Women's Points Leaders
Season 2009
(through stop #39) |
1. Erin McManus 1280
2. Caroline Pao 900
3. Denise Reeves 850
4. Sharon Ohanlon 430
5. Pam Cimarelli 250 |
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| Entry Fees |
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$100 Pro Men & Women/Open
$75 A
$60 B/C/D
$50 Juniors |
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Tour Membership Fee: $35/yr
Non Member Fee: $20/event |
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64 Player Fields
Double Elimination
Races based on field size
Finals 2 Races to 7
Alternate Breaks |
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Doors open at 10 am
Matches begin at Noon |
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