Points - The Sport of Billiards

By Albert Charbonneau

Ireleased Points a year ago & look how far we’ve gone already! SPM Magazine picked up my story at the very beginning of my journey in issue #32. Thanks to them, you all have a chance to follow me along this quest I’m on to bring billiards back to its roots & back to mainstream television here in the U.S. This is true history in the making. Thank you, Garret Troop & Kat Day.

Points is now a year old & it’s time to take The New Age of Billiards to the next level. Welcome to “POINTS -THE SPORT OF BILLIARDS”

My goal has always been to help ensure that the game of billiards lives on for many generations to come. However, today billiards must compete with a far more complicated & technologically advanced society. There are already so many options for the next generation to choose from as activities & careers before they even think about being a Professional Billiards Player or ever trying the game. I have a plan to change that & so much more.

My plan will legitimize the sport & our athletes will have real corporate sponsorships & be compensated as they always should have been. We have the only so-called Professional athletes that work their entire lives perfecting their craft for almost zero compensation for that lifetime of dedication. All for our entertainment.

It’s time we change that. Don’t you think? I want the next generation to want to play & if we show them a way that they truly can be successful, they will want to try. That alone is our success.

Excitement & keeping the audience genuinely entertained must become our priority. Building a larger fan base means we have the best potential for continuing to bring in new players & build billiards into the sport we all want it to be.

Billiards players of the past had it pretty good. It was like the Golden Age back then & the professional players all had real personalities. Minnesota Fats was the King of Sharking & everyone worshiped him. Today’s players are missing this attribute & in my opinion, it needs to be returned to the game. We want attitude & real emotions on full display from our heroes of the clothed slate.

Without going too much into the technical details about how I will bring all of this together, let’s talk about the sport & how it will work. I modeled the sport after a very successful sports business, MMA. They hold Fights with title implications three weeks out of a month & PPV events once a month. Points will have the same formula except three weeks out of the month, we will hold #1 contender tournaments & our once-a-month PPV events will be guaranteed title matches!

Points will have seven different divisions or weight classes, with each champion having to defend their title twice a year. Below is the list of the seven different divisions. They are double-named for two reasons. First is the big, bold numbers signifying how many balls & shots you play with & the weight class name is to signify my bond with martial arts.

1. 15/16

Heavyweight

2. 10/11

Light Heavyweight

3. 9/10

Middle Weight

4. 7/8

Welter Weight

5. 5/6

Light Weight

6. 3/4

Feather Weight

7. 1/2

Bantam Weight

Before any of you squawk & heckle at the notion of only using one ball as a division, I want you to realize that division is reserved for a very special bread of player. One that feels like no amount of pressure can phase them. The Bantam Weight division takes a certain kind of person to really be able to compete. Imagine, for just a minute, you are walking out to the TV table. The One Ball is on the spot & the Cue Ball is waiting for you in the kitchen.

The crowd erupts as you raise your cue in the air like a gallant knight stepping onto the battlefield... It’s just YOU out there... YOU & just two shots to make as many points as you can for the chance to win the

World Points Bantam Weight Title! Talk about PRESSURE!

That’s more pressure than even I am willing to attempt, but you know what... There WILL be players willing to make that walk & they will command respect. If you wear a 1/2 Patch, people will move out of your way! YOU are not just Points players; you are our bravest warriors & I bow.

All of this will take time, but I will not stop, for I see a better future for generations to come. Billiards needs a much bigger audience to ensure the game lives on. It belongs in schools If we are going to keep those institutions, then the sport should be offered just like little league or kids’ football or any other sport. Just imagine what two generations of Points players would look like.

In closing, I want you all to know that my passion for this game we all love so dearly runs through me like water flowing over Niagara. I understand how we have all grown up with the exact same games & that trying something new could mean we play those cherished games a bit less, but without growth, we are doomed. Without a real change, billiards could be gone within just two generations. Points breathe new life into the entire industry & our billiards family will have Great, Great Grandchildren who can live a life of a TRUE professional athlete!

Until next time...

Albert Charbonneau - Inventor - Author