The new flight of our Straight Pool league begins tonight, Thursday, Feb. 2! Practice at 6pm, play at 7pm. Read an overview of the league.

Now’s the time! Players of all skill levels are needed to complete our divisions! We have a number of league options at Diamond Eight:

Monday night NAPA League

A brand new night to feed your pool-playing! New division starting as soon as there is enough teams. Stop in to sign up!

Wednesday night NAPA League

Five solid teams are in and players are needed for the sixth team! Stop in or contact NAPA Leagues of Albany to sign up! This is a 3-player division; play starts at 7pm and ends around 10:30pm. Practice at 5:30pm. This is a cash league.

Thursday night Straight Pool League

Our straight pool league starts up again on Thursday February 2nd. Stop in to get more info or check out the Straight Pool league page. Play starts at 7pm. Practice at 6pm.

Once again, Chris and Ann Smith return to Diamond Eight from “across the pond” (England)!

Trans-Atlantic Challenge II

$100 added Scotch Doubles tournament
Saturday, February 4
Practice at Noon, play starts at 1pm

Download the tournament flyer for more info.

Money added by the Smiths! It will be a great time!

Friday nights at Diamond Eight are hot! We feature Karaoke with Sal every Friday night starting at 9:30pm. While you have a few (whatevers) to relax your vocal cords, you can play pool on one of our 7-foot bar-size pool tables, or choose our full-size tables to practice those extra tough shots! And if pool is not your game, there is still plenty more to do! Play foosball, darts, video games or QuickDraw, or just cozy up to the bar and watch the game on one of our many TVs.

Table time is half-price all day and all night every Monday! We open at Noon on Mondays and open until 1am! See you soon!

Diamond Eight’s annual Toys for Tots Tournament is set for Saturday, December 3. This 9-Ball Scotch Doubles tournament benefits the Albany Regional Toys for Tots program, as run by the local Marine Corps. Practice at Noon, play at 1pm!

• Doors open at Noon for practice, sign up by 12:30 pm, and play begins at 1:00 pm
• Entry Fee: $15 and a toy or $25 (per person, toy must be new & unwrapped)
• Scotch Doubles (partners alternate shots not turns)
• “Semi-Random” Draw for Partners. You can also choose a partner if deemed handicaps are fairly equal.
• Modified Single Elimination, Race to 3 (play at least two team matches). Call the 9-ball to win.
• Cash prizes, determined by number of entries

All skill levels are welcome. Everyone is invited! Free buffet with donation! Raffles and lots of fun!

Diamond Eight participated in the 2010 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, held on October 17. Thanks to our walkers: Julie, Kayla, Tracie, Stacie and her kids Nicholas and Gianna, Nicole, Linda, Angela, Christine, Ed, Eddie and Jonathan! It was a beautiful day and a fun walk! Through our raffles and other donations, we raised $420 for the effort. Big thanks to Kevin Castle, who donated his winnings back in one of the 50/50 raffles. We appreciate all your support! Check out more photos from the walk!

Ladies enjoy 1/2 price table time every Thursday from 4pm ‘til close!

Plus: Don’t miss our new and improved Happy Hour every weekday from 5 to 7pm.

The APA-sponsored U.S. Amateur pre-qualifier tournament held at Diamond Eight on Saturday, April 24th saw nine of the top players in the area compete for the $100-added prize money. Tom Acciavatti played expertly throughout the day to once again prove his dominance in the league format. Frank Rich also played strong to finish 2nd, while Scott Winchell held on to 3rd place.The event was notable for two main reasons: great practice for the upcoming U.S. Amateur Championship Preliminary Rounds, to be held nationwide September 17-19, and an introduction to the Masters league format which will start up at Diamond Eight in the Fall.

U.S. Amateur

Winners of the preliminary rounds advance to the 2010 U.S. Amateur Championship, to be held in early November at Strokers in Tampa, Florida. The Men’s Championship: is scheduled for Nov. 5-7, while the Women’s Championship will be held Nov. 6-7.

APA Masters Division

The Master format is a no handicap format, with three team players participating in each week’s matches. A fourth member can also be added to the roster. Each individual match is a race to 7, which can include up to eight games of 9-ball and five games of 8-ball. Contact APA of Albany league operator Matt MacPhail at 518-708-9567 for more information.

Good luck to all our teams headed for Las Vegas next week! In 8-ball and 9-Ball, Did You See That? (Michael Kordt, captain), and in 8-Ball, the Billiard Bandits (Christine Skawinski, captain) will compete for the National title. Cindy Dominy and Mike Yudin, who will compete in the 9-ball Scotch Doubles National Championship! Good Luck! Bring home some trophies!