Innisfail Family Billiards is aiming to reach out to the community and support worthy local causes through some 8-ball.
The owners are planning to do so through its first-ever charity 8-ball tourney.
“We've had other tournaments but they were not charities,” said co-owner Lance Riley with a hearty laugh. “This is still in the development stage.”
Riley said he originally considered a plan for the tournament to reach out beyond the borders of the town but ultimately decided to keep it local.
“We thought we would go out to Sylvan Lake and all this stuff but it was getting too vast because we just have a little operation here, and then if we give money to a charity in Sylvan Lake it doesn't benefit Innisfail,” said Riley. “We then decided to go to a smaller tournament type of thing, really local so when we are giving out money it might go to the food bank or to the Christmas Bureau or whatever the case may be within our community.”
Riley said he would like to have registration, sign-up and kickoff for the tournament on Nov. 15.
He said he would like the tourney to run no longer than two weeks, noting some participants work shifts with different hours.
“We want to be able to accommodate them,” said Riley.
He said the plan is to have a total of 32 players, each paying a $50 registration fee to compete in a double knockout format.
“If a player wins a game you go to A side. If you lose you go to B side,” explained Riley. “If you lose the next game on B side the participant is out. When you are on A side you have to lose two games.”
He said all the profits from the tournament would be divided between the top three players. Based on the plan to have 32 players each paying the $50 registration fee, the first-place winner would receive $480, second place would get $290 while the third-place competitor would receive $190.
Riley is also hoping he can convince local businesses to come on board to sponsor the charity event. If that happens the winning pots will be even bigger.
“There could be another third to each of the winners,” he said. “Each one of those winners gets to choose the local charity of their choice as to where that money will be donated to.”
Riley emphasized that no one will make money from the event and that important local charities would get a much-needed helping hand.
“For us holding something like this it could help and support the community. As a business we like to support the community but we are not a charitable organization so I just can't give away money,” added Riley. “But we can give money to a charity, so if everybody wants to chip in it shows that all these other people who are part of our community want to help too.”
For further information on the planned tournament call Riley at 403-227-1607.
