Match at 5:00 PM MST.

Mel and I slept in late until about 9:00 AM MST. We wandered around until we met up with the rest of the team at lunch. Everyone had arrived except Mike (9) and Aaron. Jake, Ali, Monica, Prasad (5), Dom (7) (here with Terri) and I got together around 1:00 PM MST in the main tournament room to check out the tables and get some practice in before our first match at 5:00.

A bit about the tables: They’re incredible. Lightning fast Diamonds equipped with Simonis 860, extremely responsive rails, and extremely deep, very tight pockets. The ball return includes an optical depth sensor which singles out the cue ball from the rest, eliminating the need for heavier, larger, or magnetic cue balls. I can’t speak highly enough about these tables.

Our first match at 5:00 PM MST wasn’t too tough. Our line up was Ali (2), Mike (9), Prasad (5) and Monica (4). Ali smoked her opponent, also a 2, 19 balls to 1, for a match score of 20-0. That may hurt in terms of handicap. Everyone else did quite well also, and we easily beat the other team. I can’t remember the score though… should have taken notes.

Following the match, we went to an Italian restaurant in the CC called Stivali. It was amazing. I had Shrimp Scampi, and it was some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. That it was in the CC is equally, if not more amazing (the CC, as it is, really isn’t that great). Jake and Monica, however, had a different take on it entirely. Being Vegans, they’re having a hard time finding food they’re willing to eat here. I suspect that won’t change much. There’s another Italian restaurant that a friend recommended called Batelli’s, or something like that. If it’s half as good as Stivali, it’ll be more than worth it.

Second day, and first match over. We won, which didn’t matter really… it’s a modified single elimination tournament. If we’d lost, we’d still be in it. Tomorrow however, if we lose, we’re out.