Let me just start off with this tidbit. I got a job a couple weeks ago, so I've been working a lot. The past couple of days, I've been here in Las Vegas for the 2013 APA National Singles Championships, for the 9-Ball Shootout.
I took NINTH in the NATION!
I lost my first match, but went on to roll over the next three or four people I played. Unfortunately, I went up to a skill level six after that, and the next match I played, I lost. I let the nerves get to me, but what can you do. For 9th, I am taking home 200 dollars, plus the 300 I received at registration. I also have various goodies, such as a championship jacket, pictures, a patch, a coin, a cue stick, and a cue case. I bought myself a couple of shirts, and have just been overall in a great mood about the whole experience.
Granted, I wound up losing my military ID somewhere on the strip. I'm going to call the various hotels and hope that someone turned it in, as I did the past couple days. Hopefully someone did.
Either way, the whole experience was great. I was really focused in my playing, I played my heart out, and for my first time being here for this, ninth out of 119 other people is not bad, AT ALL. :)
We leave tomorrow to make the drive back home, and then it'll be back to the old grind. I count myself very lucky to have been able to participate, I'm happy with the results, and maybe I'll come back next year. :)
