Preparations underway for of this weekend’s, ‘Andy Mercer’ 9-Ball!

March 22nd, 23rd & 24th

Las Vegas, Nevada

Always a packed house! Always a cast of characters! 

One of the most prestigious independent events for any professional player to chalk up, is the ‘Andy Mercer Memorial 9-Ball Tournament’. Aptly named, “The Rum Runner”, which takes in the southeast corner of Las Vegas at the Rum Runner Lounge on Tropicana Ave, this 64 player field is an event which consistently hosts a tapestry of the best pool players in recorded history. Past winner’s include, the late Danny Medina (’93 & 2000), Jose Parica (’98), Warren Kiamko, Jim Blakeman (’94, ’04 & ’05), Ismael ‘Morro’ Paez (’99, ’06 & ’07), Joe Alvarez (’94), Ernesto Dominguez (’10) and some of the younger greats of our time like Shane VanBoening (’09, ’11 & ’12) and Brian Parks (’08).  

Jim Blakeman: The finishing touches on Rum Runner tables.

 Since 1991, Andy Mercer’s memory has been celebrated by what seems to be an ‘inner circle’ of top players who visit year after year.  “The Rum Runner has been attended by almost half of its field since it began 23 years ago.”, says 3 time Rum Runner winner, Jim Blakeman. “It has become a reunion of players and friends… A truly special event.” 

Free Live Stream! 

This year, the venue’s owner Geno Hill has given permission to allow the event to be live-streamed by Daniel Busch and Point Of View Pool, which will be made available for the public to view for free on www.povpool.com. It will be a 3 day stream, which could possibly run 24 hours a day from POV Pool’s Ustream Channel and includes a ‘chat’ function for viewers to interact with commentators. 

Sponsored by Kamui Tips and The Orange County American Pool Player’s Association, the live stream will provide coverage of all matches on Table #1 of the Rum Runner’s four tournament tables and start everyday at 12pm.

Real-time player statistics and performance analysis will also be provided by Pool-Trax and it’s owner, Donn Espinoza.  

We Miss You, Andy Mercer!

Andy Mercer was a longtime pool player and enthusiast, who emerged in the public eye in the early 70’s after forming the ‘South Nevada 9-Ball Tavern’s Association’, which then came under control by Jim Blakeman and wife Lorraine, shortly after Andy’s passing from a heart attack at the age of 59. His longtime friend and Rum Runner owner, Geno Hill, started the Andy Mercer Memorial 9-Ball Tournament in 1991.

This Year’s Official Field 

1. Debra Aarens
2. Ron Allen
3. Darren Appleton
4. Ken ‘Sarge’ Aylesworth
5. Ramin Bakhtiari
6. Butch Barba
7. Jeff Bartola
8. Jim Blakeman
9. Freddy Boggs
10. Roger Bordley
11. Don Branson
12. Lee Brett
13. Ace Brown
14. Sal Butera
15. Thomas Butler
16. Jim Carmona
17. Bernardo ‘King Kong’ Chavez
18. Joey Chin
19. James Ray Davis, Jr. 
20. Ernesto Dominguez
21. Oscar Dominguez
22. Max Eberle
23. Josh Edgars
24. Mitch Ellerman
25. Mark Estes
26. Tyler Fleishman
27. Jose Garcia
28. Walter Glass
29. Dave Gomez 
30. Greg Harada
31. James Harling
32. Jay Hlavacheck
33. Brad Huffman
34. Dave Hughes
35. Ernie Jacinto
36. Edgar Jackson
37. Curtis Johnson
38. Tres Kane
39. Johnny Kang
40. Randy Kulkla
41. John Kutcher
42. John Lalo
43. Sean Lane
44. Al Lawrence
45. Don McClelland
46. Brian Miller
47. Stevie Moore
48. Rodney Morris
49. Terry Osborne
50. Ismael ‘Morro’ Paez
51. Brian Parks
52. Alex Pernas
53. Rocky Phipps
54. Dick Rice
55. Troy Ridder
56. Adam Roberts
57. Jayson Shaw
58. Ray Skenandore
59. Phil Tatum
60. Chris Thomas
61. Josh Ulrich
62. Shane VanBoening
63. Carl Wilson

Previous Winner’s Include

For more information and forums on this:

Visit Vegas Billiards Buzz! 

AZ Billiards Forums

POV Pool would like to thank, Geno Hill and Rum Runner Staff, Kamui Tips, The Orange County APA, GoPlayPool, Max Eberle’s Pro Pool Academy, Pool-Trax, The Live Stream News Group, Inside Pool Magazine, AZ Billiards and Amy Encinias of Vegas Billiards Buzz!

Winner’s History