24Billiards' 2nd Annual Chinese 8-Ball Open Wraps Up, Community's Passion for Pool Stays Hot

Local players came together to showcase their skills at the vibrant community hub.

Waterloo, ON – July 20, 2025 – 24Billiards successfully hosted its 2nd Annual Chinese 8-Ball Open on July 19th. The tournament drew 18 players, with 16 hailing from the local community – all regulars at 24Billiards.

Despite the slightly lower-than-expected turnout of 32 players, 24Billiards, committed to its passion for community pool, decided to maintain the original prize pool to thank the players for their ongoing support. The final prize breakdown was as follows:

• Champion: $550 + 100 Membership Points
• Runner-up: $260 + 100 Membership Points
• 3rd Place: $100 + 100 Membership Points
• 4th Place: $80 + 100 Membership Points
• 5th-16th Place: 50 Membership Points

To ensure fairness and competition, organizers announced beforehand that all matches, except for the final, would be double-knockout, best of 9 frames. The final was originally slated to be best of 17 frames. After some intense play, Kenny Chen and Chaochao emerged as the top contenders, meeting in the final to battle it out for the top spots. Zhang Hao and Preet rounded out the top four, finishing in 3rd and 4th place, respectively.

Tournament Highlights:

The tournament was filled with exciting moments, as players showed off their impressive skills and love for the game of pool. Check out our official Facebook and Instagram accounts for more photos from the event! Here are some of the standout moments:

• A total of 35 frames were played, with 12 matches going to 8 frames or more, highlighting the close skill levels of the competitors and the high-quality, competitive experience.
• Kenny Chen's journey to the finals was a tough one. Of his four matches in the winner's bracket, he only won one decisively at 5-2; the other three were nail-biting 5-4 victories.
• Chaochao had an amazing comeback story. He faced a tough opponent, Paul Koeuth, in the first round, losing a close match 3-5. However, after dropping to the loser's bracket, he went on a tear, defeating Hao Quan, David Guo (last year's champ), Preet, and then avenging his earlier loss by beating Paul Koeuth in the loser's bracket final to meet Kenny Chen in the final.

• Zhang Hao had a strong run, receiving a bye in the first round and winning his next three matches. However, he ran into Kenny Chen in the fifth round, and after a hard-fought 9 frames, Kenny Chen edged him out.

• Preet also received a bye in the first round, then lost to David Guo 3-5. He then went on a winning streak in the loser's bracket, defeating Justin Tillmann, Ziyi Song, and Mike Parkins, before falling to Chaochao in his final match.

The success of this tournament reaffirms 24Billiards' brand position: Community & Expression – dedicated to being a vibrant hub where students and locals can connect, share, and show their passion for pool and mahjong. The fact that most of the players were regulars from the local area speaks volumes.

24Billiards is committed to providing an exceptional pool experience. We have 18 pro-grade tables, including Chinese 8-ball, American pool, and snooker tables. We also have 4 automatic mahjong tables to cater to different preferences. Plus, we offer an innovative self-serve system so customers can enjoy pool with ease.

Looking ahead, 24Billiards plans to revamp all of its American pool tables by the end of August and is planning its first American pool tournament in September. We hope to continue living up to our commitment to connecting with and serving the community by hosting more events and letting more locals experience the fun of pool.

Stay Updated:

Facebook: @24billiards

Instagram: @24billiard

Email: general@24billiards.com

Website: 24billiards.com

Shoot. Shuffle. Socialize. Whether you’re sinking the 8-ball, chasing a snooker century, or pulling off a winning mahjong hand—24Billiards is where Waterloo comes to cue up & tile up.

Media Contact:

Event Organizers

Email: 9677477@gmail.com

Phone: +1 519-885-1929

Address: 372 King St N, Waterloo, ON