A handful of pool teams from Hernando County are getting ready to head to Vegas to take part in a worldwide tournament.
- 5 teams from Hernando County going to Vegas
- Competing APA World Pool Championships
- Pool teams from around the world competing too
For most, it's a fun game to play while out with friends. But for some, pool is a competitive sport.
"It starts out as a night out something to do and before you know it you have a whole second family," said Jennifer King from team Miscue Again.
Five teams from Hernando County will be traveling to Vegas to compete in the American Poolplayers Association's World Pool Championships this week. More than 1,900 teams from the United States, Canada, and Japan are competing.
Many of these teams have competed in the world tournament before but have not taken home the big prize. Team X-Cues Me finished 33rd in the world last year, and this year they're hoping to finish even higher.
"I was elated because we're going again and it's always a fun trip when we go to Vegas because we stay at least a week," said Lisa Perez, X-Cues Me Team Captain.
The APA league for Hernando, Citrus, and Sumter counties, based out of Capones in Spring Hill, has continued to grow in recent years. As a result, more teams have gotten the chance to go to Vegas.
And while everyone is getting along right now, the players say the gloves come off when it's time to compete.
"We are one big family and we have lots of fun during weekly play, but when it comes down time for tournament play we get extremely competitive and it becomes even more fun at that point," King said.
The tournament in Las Vegas starts on Thursday and continues until Aug. 20.
A total of 90 teams are part of the APA league based in Hernando County.
You can watch live footage from the tournament here.