A Lowell man is $15,000 richer after a recent visit to Sin City. But his good fortune didn’t happen in the casino.

Alan Rola won the 2025 APA 8-Ball Classic Pool Championship late last month in Las Vegas.

Rola was amongst nearly 6,000 poolplayers throughout North America who attempted to qualify for the American Poolplayers Association’s (APA) 8-Ball Classic. He was one of only 883 that advanced to the national finals at the Westgate Las Vegas.

Rola competed in the Red Tier of the 8-Ball Classic and received a cash and prize package worth $15,000 and ultimate bragging rights upon returning home to his local poolroom. The 8-Ball Classic featured five individual tiers, all based on skill level.

The finals match was live-streamed and can be viewed here: 2025 APA 8-Ball Classic Red Tier (SL5) Final.

Rola is a member of the local APA League in Lowell where he plays pool regularly.

The 8-Ball Classic, held April 27-29 was part of the APA’s Poolplayer Championships which featured 15 divisions of competition, more than 6,000 total players and nearly $1 million in prize money.

The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League throughout the United States, and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada. More than 250,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9‒Ball League play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.

The APA produces three major tournaments–the APA World Pool Championships, the APA Poolplayer Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship–that, together, pay out nearly $2 Million in cash and prizes annually!

The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues, Diamond Billiard Products, Kamui Tips and PoolDawg.com.

For more information on the American Poolplayers Association, visit poolplayers.com.