On August 10, 2023, we announced that the 2024 BCA Pool League World Championships in Las Vegas will feature the CSI Group Play format for all team divisions. That announcement can be read here. Below are additional details of how the CSI Group Play format will work specifically for BCA Pool League divisions.
TERMS
Before we get into the details, let's define a few terms:
Match - one team vs. one team
Rack - a single game of 8-ball, 9-ball or 10-ball
TERMS
Before we get into the details, let's define a few terms:
Match - one team vs. one team
Rack - a single game of 8-ball, 9-ball or 10-ball
STAGE 1 - GROUP STAGE
Each match in Stage 1 consists of 15 racks (8-Ball & 9-Ball Teams) or 9 racks (Ladies 8-Ball Teams). Each team receives one (1) point for every rack won and the team with the most points, after all 15 or 9 racks are played, wins the match. See the example below of two 5-player teams, "The Racking Crew" vs "Breaking Bad", playing an 8-ball match.
In this example, the first rack is Bob Gardner vs Jack Jenkins. The second rack is Sandy Evans vs David King. The third rack is Mark Andrews vs Tom Mann. The fourth rack is John Kline vs Henry Jones. Finally, the fifth rack is Larry Ellers vs Barry Cruz. After all five teammates play one rack, the player order of the away team changes to prevent the same players from playing each other again.
All 15 racks are played and tallied in the "SCORE" fields for each team. In this example, "The Racking Crew" scored 8 points and "Breaking Bad" scored 7 points. Although it is extremely rare, if any penalty points should be applied to each team (explained in the Player Guide), enter them in the "PENALTY PTS" fields for each team. The "FINAL SCORE" for each team is the score minus any penalty points. In this example, "The Racking Crew" wins the match by a score of 8 to 7.
Each match in Stage 1 consists of 15 racks (8-Ball & 9-Ball Teams) or 9 racks (Ladies 8-Ball Teams). Each team receives one (1) point for every rack won and the team with the most points, after all 15 or 9 racks are played, wins the match. See the example below of two 5-player teams, "The Racking Crew" vs "Breaking Bad", playing an 8-ball match.
In this example, the first rack is Bob Gardner vs Jack Jenkins. The second rack is Sandy Evans vs David King. The third rack is Mark Andrews vs Tom Mann. The fourth rack is John Kline vs Henry Jones. Finally, the fifth rack is Larry Ellers vs Barry Cruz. After all five teammates play one rack, the player order of the away team changes to prevent the same players from playing each other again.
All 15 racks are played and tallied in the "SCORE" fields for each team. In this example, "The Racking Crew" scored 8 points and "Breaking Bad" scored 7 points. Although it is extremely rare, if any penalty points should be applied to each team (explained in the Player Guide), enter them in the "PENALTY PTS" fields for each team. The "FINAL SCORE" for each team is the score minus any penalty points. In this example, "The Racking Crew" wins the match by a score of 8 to 7.
BCA Pool League World Championships - Stage 1 Score Sheet Example
Every match in Stage 1 is played and scored in this fashion. At the conclusion of Stage 1, the teams that performed the best, determined by the following criteria, in the following order, advance to Stage 2.
Stage 1 Ranking Criteria
For example, let's suppose we have the following stats and four of the below teams will advance to Stage 2. The circled teams would advance. Teams "The Racking Crew", "Running Out", and "She Chalks Too Much" have the highest match win percentage and will therefore advance to Stage 2. However, we need one more team. Teams "Pocketeers" and "The Pocket Pounders" have the same match win percentage so we go to our second ranking criteria...rack win percentage. Since "The Pocket Pounders" have a higher rack win percentage (76.00%), they advance to Stage 2.
Stage 1 Ranking Criteria
- Match win %
- Rack win %
- Strength of schedule (avg. rating of opposing teams)
- Shootout
For example, let's suppose we have the following stats and four of the below teams will advance to Stage 2. The circled teams would advance. Teams "The Racking Crew", "Running Out", and "She Chalks Too Much" have the highest match win percentage and will therefore advance to Stage 2. However, we need one more team. Teams "Pocketeers" and "The Pocket Pounders" have the same match win percentage so we go to our second ranking criteria...rack win percentage. Since "The Pocket Pounders" have a higher rack win percentage (76.00%), they advance to Stage 2.
STAGE 2 - FINAL BRACKET
Usually, teams in the top 50% (see the Player Guide), including several random wild card teams, will advance to the Stage 2 single-elimination bracket. Teams in Stage 2 are also seeded in the final bracket by their Stage 1 ranking.
Stage 2 matches will use the traditional BCA Pool League format with teams playing full race-to matches as specified in the Player Guide. Below is an example blank score sheet for 5-player team matches in Stage 2.
Usually, teams in the top 50% (see the Player Guide), including several random wild card teams, will advance to the Stage 2 single-elimination bracket. Teams in Stage 2 are also seeded in the final bracket by their Stage 1 ranking.
Stage 2 matches will use the traditional BCA Pool League format with teams playing full race-to matches as specified in the Player Guide. Below is an example blank score sheet for 5-player team matches in Stage 2.
 BCA Pool League World Championships - Stage 2 Score Sheet |  BCA Pool League World Championships - Stage 2 Score Sheet Instructions |
We hope this helps explain how the CSI Group Play format will be used in the 2024 BCA Pool League World Championships and we are thrilled to offer all teams more time at the table.
CueSports International (CSI) is an international pool league and event leader and is comprised of three divisions: CSI Leagues, CSI Events and CSI Media. CSI Leagues manages the BCA Pool League and USA Pool League; CSI Events produces numerous league and professional events around the globe and CSI Media creates live streaming and digital content. Through its vision and strategic alliances, CSI is “shaping the future of pool.” For more information about CSI or any of its divisions, visit www.playcsipool.com or find CueSports International on Facebook and Instagram.
