ELVERSON, PA — Functioning Rackaholics, an amateur pool team based in Chester County, turned a regional qualification into a top-33 finish among 833 teams at the 2026 American Poolplayers Association 8-Ball World Championship in Las Vegas this month, earning a $2,000 prize in the process.
The eight-player team, which plays out of American Legion Post 537 in Elverson, competed in seven matches during the Aug. 4-10 championship at the Westgate. Every member of the roster competed at least twice during the tournament.
The trip to Las Vegas began in Valley Forge, where Functioning Rackaholics earned its spot during Chester County’s June 12-14 regional qualifier. Two 8-ball teams and two 9-ball teams advanced from the Chester County competition to the APA world events.
Functioning Rackaholics ultimately climbed into the top 33 of a championship field representing 49 states and four countries — the United States, Canada, Singapore and Japan. The team reported that it was one of four Pennsylvania squads to reach the top 33 and that no Pennsylvania team advanced further.
Captain Paul McCabe of Morgantown led a roster combining longtime APA competitors with newer league players. Some members have competed in the amateur league for 10 to 15 years.
Tricia Brown of Terre Hill served as co-captain. The roster also included Colleen McCabe of Morgantown; Steve Brown of Terre Hill; Pam Leviere, Bill Palmer and Kyle Michaels of Honey Brook; and Troy Stoltzfus of Parkesburg.
The team previously competed out of the Long Way Home before moving its home matches to American Legion Post 537. Denise Ross serves as the APA league operator for Chester County.
APA competition uses a handicap system intended to allow amateurs with different experience and ability levels to compete against one another. In 8-ball, players receive skill ratings ranging from 2 through 7, with five players available to compete during a team match, although a match can be decided before all five play.
Functioning Rackaholics’ run ended short of the championship rounds, but its top-33 showing placed the Chester County team within roughly the top 4% of the 833-team field.
Dave Hatch Bousquet of Stratford, Connecticut, ultimately won the 8-ball championship, defeating Rackless Behavior of Delphos, Ohio, in the final. The winning team collected $30,000, while Rackless Behavior received $15,000.
Slop Shots of Prairieville, Louisiana, and Poison Outlaw of Singapore finished tied for third and received $7,500 each.
The APA’s 9-Ball World Championship followed with a field of 696 teams. Rookies Schofield of Parma Heights, Ohio, defeated Shorty’s Popcorn Crew of Baxley, Georgia, to win the title and $20,000.
For Functioning Rackaholics, the Las Vegas trip capped a progression from a Chester County league team to regional qualifier and, ultimately, one of the final 33 teams remaining in one of the APA’s largest championship fields.
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