tournament recently, placing 96th out of more 800 in the team event, which was won by England.

And this week team captain Gary Bascome pronounced the venture a "resounding success'', adding that the future boded well for the sport locally.

"It was a great achievement for us considering the standard in Bermuda and the level we had to play while abroad,'' said Bascome, also the president of the Bermuda International Pool League. "The team reached heights that never before had been achieved.

"And this was after just having the guys together for three weeks, so we did well considering the lack of time to prepare.'' A six member contingent travelled to the gambling state of Nevada, including Bascome, Richard Foggo, Mike Zimmerman, Dennis Parsons, Brian Walker and Donald Simmons to confront more than 5,000 others from around the globe.

The team played seven matches against tough competition, which Bascome said only served to bring out the best in the local players and they were rewarded with six victories that earned them in the region of $300, the first time Bermuda had finished among the money.

"We had several outstanding performances from each of the team members. When one faltered, another was there to back them up with a win,'' said Bascome.

"As team captain I was very pleased and all I would say to you is that Bermuda was well represented.'' Individually, Foggo and Simmons stood out. Foggo placed among the money in the eight-ball competition, reaching the third round, while Simmons duplicated the feat among the nine-ball field.

Bascome said it was now time to create opportunities for the youth to get involved in the sport and to this end he was working with the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation to institute a programme for its development.

"There are so many children out there who would love to get into playing pool and I'm now going about getting things organised and structured to allow them to be taught properly and avoid the bad habits of older players,'' said Bascome. "That's what I'm looking to get into now, coaching the younger ones in something I feel can be very positive. It gives another outlet as opposed to hanging on the streets.''