Welcome to Minnesota's own straight pool league.

January 22, 2009
Why a straight pool association and league? As I try and make this organization a reality, I wonder that myself. I discovered the game several years ago, and very soon after was intrigued by it. It's not the fast action, quick paced game of 8 or 9 ball, which is what most pool league tournaments are. This is a game of skill, precision, and knowledge of the game. There is no hard break in which luck plays so much a factor. Even the break shots are controlled and set up in 14.1.

So, again, why make a league for it? When I started frequenting pool halls in the northern metro, I would maybe see players in a straight pool match once every week or so. Now, I see it quite a bit more than that, maybe because that's the only game I will play 90% of the time. My goal with this association is to try and bring pool's premier game back to the Twin Cities. Bar box 8-ball and 9-ball seem to be dominating the competitive scene in the Minnesota as far as pocket billiard tourneys and leagues are concerned. Hopefully, this league provides a format in which players can learn the intricacies of the game, pass on knowledge, socialize with other straight pool players, and play 14.1 in a respectful environment (all on a traditional nine foot table in good working condition).

The MNSPA was founded in 2007, after a year of complaining to everyone that would listen, that there was nowhere to participate in organized 14.1 competition in the Twin Cities area (unless you happened to work at 3M). In addition, we are looking at expanding our reach to the "other" cue games of one pocket, 3-cushion, and snooker.

The MNSPA offers several divisions to compete in. There will be multiple divisions at three locations:
* Mondays & Thursdays - 7:00PM - Jimmy's Pro Billiards in Columbia Heights, MN
* Saturdays- 1:00PM - Two Stooges Bar & Grill in Fridley, MN
* Sundays - 7:00PM - Shooter's Billiard Club in Burnsville, MN

The MNSPA is sponsoring 5 separate divisions, each tailored to a specific type of player.

* Flight 1 - Intermediate/Advanced - Mondays @ Jimmy's - For players who have the ability to string multiple racks together, with an occasional high run from the 10's to the 40's. MNSPA Handicapping. $65
* Flight 2 - 14and1 Open - Saturday's @ Two Stooges - Open division for all, provides 14and1.com sanctioning and handicap system. $75 includes 14and1 sanctioning fee.
* Flight 3 - Beginners - Mondays @ Jimmy's - For the player whose high run is between 5-15 and great for learning the game. MNSPA Handicapping. $50
* Flight 4 - Masters - Thursdays @ Jimmy's - Mostly non-handicapped league. All players welcome. Matches will be to 75, 100, or 125. $65
* Drop in league - Sundays @ Shooters - Please visit Dennis Green's website for more details geocities.com/digital_952.

MNSPL details:

* Handicapped play using a custom MNSPA system and the 14and1.com system.
* BCA World Standardized Rules, cue fouls only
* One match scheduled per week.
* Green fees are your responsibility (Stooges - $8.50 day special, Jimmy's - $10 night special).
* League fees are due on the first week of play (if you have difficulty paying in full, please contact me to work something out).
* No other weekly fees beyond table time.
* We accept credit cards & PayPal for registrations.
* 14and1.com sanctioning available on Saturdays.
* This is a singles league, there are no alternates.
* If you are going to miss a match, at least 24 hours notice must be given to your opponent.
* Keep track of your high runs, there will be a high run prize at the end of the season.
* League fees to be awarded back as prizes (minus the operating costs of the MNSPA).
* Eligibile for Minnesota Straight Pool Association pool clinics, instruction, tournaments, and table time specials.

Changes from previous MNSPA seasons:

* 14and1.com sanctioning. The top two players from each division are eligible for entry to the yearly national tournament in Atlantic City.
* Returning to the old MNSPA handicapping system for 3 of the divisions.
* Prizes will be awarded for the flight high run, and will pay out to the top 2 or 3 places (depending upon the number of players).
* Lowered the price on the beginner's and 14and1.com divisions.
* Reorganized all divisions and added a Master level bracket.

Several Straight Pool Associations have switched to 14and1.com for a national SPL format. For more information about 14and1.com, including the national tournament, please visit their website.

I'm not doing this to make money, but to spread the game of straight pool and increase sportsmanship and excellence in the billiard community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

I would like to take the time to thank Rich Anderson, Avsar Aras, Jimmy Wetch, Dennis Green, Kevin Vidal, Demetrius Jelatis, Mike Fieldhammer, Bob Jewett, David "Blackjack" Sapolis, operators of other leagues, and my fellow 14.1 players for their assistance with the MNSPA!

To register online, please click here


About Matt Lind, founder of the Minnesota Straight Pool Association:

Ever seen a man of a larger stature, with long dark curly hair and "snooker" glasses, speaking with an Iron Ranger accent, playing a game of straight pool in the northern metro? That's probably me. I began playing pool seriously shortly after becoming a Minneapolis "smoking ban refugee" to Anoka County in late 2005. When I'm not playing pool, I'm either working at CCNow, playing 3-cushion at the MN Billiards Club, curling at the SPCC, drumming for my band Stress Position, attempting to converse in Turkish & Finnish, or wasting time on my Myspace account.

Yes, I know straight pool has a safety break.
yes I know this is an 8-ball break...on a dreadful bar box no less.