Sudden Death Seven Ball Rules ESPN
Sudden death Seven Ball billiards was the name of a billiard tournament held annually within the United States of America that began in 2000 and ended in 2005. It was aired as a televised event by ESPN, and hence, is sometimes referred to as "ESPN Sudden Death Seven Ball". Sudden death Seven Ball billiards follows the rules of seven ball, as modified by the items in this ESPN sudden death 7 ball rules set below.
Sudden Death Seven Ball Rules (ESPN)
Sudden Death Seven ball, sometimes abbreviated to SDSB, was the most publicized and/or notable billiard or pool game involving the game of seven ball billiards. It was, however, short lived in it's televised form, with only six annual events from 2000-2005. Many speculate that ESPN executives replaced it with the International Speed Pool Tournament, which is also an ESPN cue sport event that was hosted simultaneously with the Trickshot Magic event in 2006.
Sudden Death Seven Ball Rules (ESPN)
To stage the annual Sudden Death Seven Ball tournament each year, eight "invited" notable players (chosen by ESPN staff) were chosen to compete in this single elimination event.
Every Sudden death Seven Ball match has two sets, each of which was a race-to-7. To win Sudden death Seven Ball, a player must win both sets. If there are tied sets, the players engage in a single rack sudden death to determine a winner.
If a player fails to pocket a ball, the other player is awarded ball ball-in-hand priviliges. To prevent this from happening, the player at the table must invoke a safety (by calling it). Each player may call a safety only one time per rack.
The seven-ball has to be called before being pocketed. Failing to call the 7 ball or calling a pocket other than where it was actually pocketed, results in the seven-ball being re-spotted and player at the table loses his turn. Winning by pocketing the seven-ball off the break wasn't permitted.
This special 7 ball format is one of action and offense, designed by ESPN to attract a younger television viewership. The format lends itself to close matches and quick run-outs.
Sudden Death 7 Ball Prize money distribution
The total purse of the tournament was $40,000 USD, distributed in the following ratio:
- Champion - $25,000
- Runner-up - $5,000
- Semi-finalists - $2,000 each
- Quarter-finalists - $1,500 each
ESPN Sudden Death 7 Ball Champions
- 2000 in Chicago, Illinois - Mika Immonen
- 2001 in Baltimore, Maryland - Corey Deuel
- 2002 in Baltimore, Maryland - Francisco Bustamante
- 2003 in Uncasville, Connecticut - Johnny Archer
- 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada - Corey Deuel
- 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada - Thorsten Hohmann
If anyone has any more information regarding if and where this game might still be played, please let us know using the comment form below.
Sudden Death Seven Ball Rules ESPN
If you have any questions about Sudden Death Seven Ball Rules ESPN, please post them in the pool rules forum.
Sudden Death Seven Ball Rules ESPN History
Sudden death Seven Ball was a popular televised tournament developed over a period of six years by ESPN. It has since been discontinued.
The official Sudden Death Seven Ball Rules ESPN are predominently observed in North America.
How to Play Sudden Death Seven Ball ESPN
- Title: Sudden Death Seven Ball Rules ESPN
- Author: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)
- Published: 12/30/2008 11:39:00 PM
- Last Updated: 1/9/2017 7:53:08 AM
- Last Updated By: billiardsforum
- Source: ESPN
Sudden Death Seven Ball Rules ESPN
The Sudden Death Seven Ball Rules ESPN article belongs to the Pocket Billiards Rules category. Pocket billiards is a class of cue sport game commonly referred to as pool.
Sudden Death Seven Ball Rules ESPN Comments
Fred in California from CA, United States on 6/28/2010 11:39:42 PM
The last sentence in the rules doesn't make sense since pocketing the seven-ball is the object of the game. It states:
"Also, winning by pocketing the seven-ball wasn't permitted."
Maybe what was meant is:
"Also, winning by pocketing the seven-ball [on the break shot] wasn't permitted."
billiardsforum from Halifax, NS on 1/9/2017 7:34:38 AMYou are correct. I updated the ESPN Sudden Death 7-Ball rules to reflect the correction. The change was made to make the format better and more exciting for TV.
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