A Marrero resident recently won $15,000 during a trip to Las Vegas, though not at a casino. The lucky win happened in a pool tournament.
Travis Shipley won the 2026 APA 8-Ball Classic Championship late last month in Las Vegas.
Shipley was one of nearly 6,000 pool players from North America who attempted to qualify for the American players Association (APA) 8-Ball Classic. He advanced to the national finals at the Westgate Las Vegas, joining 770 finalists.
Shipley competed in the Red Tier of the 8-Ball Classic and received a cash and prize package valued at $15,000. The 8-Ball Classic included five tiers where outstanding pool performances were celebrated.
The finals match was live-streamed and is available to view: 2026 APA 8-Ball Classic Red Tier (SL 5) Final. Remarkably, pool was the main highlight of the event.
Shipley’s Pedigree
Shipley is an active member of the local APA League in Marrero. The 8-Ball Classic, held April 26-28, was part of the APA Championships, which featured 15 divisions, more than 6,000 players, and nearly $1 million in prize money, much of which came from pool competitions.
APA League Facts
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri, sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League in the United States and the Canadian Pool League in Canada. More than 275,000 members compete weekly in 8-Ball and 9-Ball league play, which are both popular pool games.
The APA is recognized as the governing body of amateur pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats, and handicap systems for amateur billiards. Its major tournaments—the APA World Pool Championships, the APA Poolplayer Championships, and the U.S. Amateur Championship—collectively award nearly $2 million in cash and prizes each year, making pool an exciting pursuit for many.
Eric Butler is a Contributor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on Instagram and X via @ReportandOpine
