BCA/CSI HISTORY
1948
The Billiard Congress of America (BCA) was established, thanks to early support from pro players Willie Mosconi and Willie Hoppe. The objective was simple:
To organize players and promote cue sports through qualifying tournaments at the local, regional, and national levels.
The BCA celebrated champions in straight pool and 3-cushion billiards, the most popular games at the time. Organizers were determined to produce an official rulebook to standardize the sport. They involved billiard rooms, retailers, and manufacturers in meeting these promotional goals.
1961
The movie The Hustler was released and single-handedly revived the sport for a few years. It ws nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won three. Watch it here, Mosconi himself was technical director and helped actors Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason to learn and execute shots. Willie even appeared in a few scenes of the film (during the money games between Rudolph “Minnesota Fats” Wanderone and “Fast Eddie” Felson.
The Billiard Congress of America began promoting the U.S. Open 14.1 Championships in 1966, the most prestigious professional event of its time. The BCA formed a board of directors and elected officers, but had no physical headquarters. The National Sporting Goods Association kept the BCA’s files and handled day-to-day administration.
After World War II
Soldiers took up billiards at military camps, and the industry expected a tremendous surge in peacetime popularity for cue sports. But soldiers instead returned home, got married, started families, and built a suburban lives. Their focus shifted to commercialism and consumerism. Despite the best efforts of the Billiard Congress of America, the sport fell into a depression in the late 1940s and the entire 1950s. But that didn’t deter pro players. In 1954, Mosconi set a new straight pool high-run record with 526 consecutive balls pocketed. After suffering a stroke in 1956, he slowed down on his tournament appearances to recover. BCA was anchored by its official rulebook and recognition of world and national championships only via Billiard Congress of America sanctioning.
1978
The BCA established a centralized pool league system to unify independent billiard organizations around the world.
1980
Long-time U.S. Open director Robert Froeschle volunteered to set up a permanent Billiard Congress of America office in his hometown of Iowa City, Iowa. The Billiard Congress of America called Iowa City its home for many years, moving to bigger office space as the organization grew.
1982
The Billiard Congress of America board of directors created an industry trade show, at which all segments of the sport could meet. Today, the BCA Summit is the industry’s largest annual billiard and home recreation expo. In addition to exhibits, the events features business seminars for all sections of the billiards industry and social events designed to promote peer to peer relationships.
1986
The Color of Money, a sequel to The Hustler by legendary filmmaker and director Martin Scorcese, made billiards hip and trendy among young people. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning one (Paul Newman’s first “Best Actor” nod). Watch it here. Scorsese said that Jackie Gleason was presented with a draft of the script that had “Minnesota Fats” again worked into the narrative. After reading it, Gleason declined to reprise the role because he felt that the character seemed to have been added as "an afterthought." The film went on to gross $52M in theaters, domestically. The Los Angeles Times called its three main characters an "electrifying unholy trio," and praised the metaphors between hustling and pool. The film’s popularity attracted enthusiastic players of all ages back to pool halls.
2000
BCA moved its headquarters to Colorado Springs, Colorado. The association established its mission on a broader plane and shifted its vision toward achieving a united, growing, prosperous, and highly-regarded billiard industry through Billiard Congress of America leadership.
To enhance the success of our members and promote the game of billiards.
2004
The Billiard Congress of America elected to sell its league operations to Mark Griffin and Cue Sports International (CSI). It was renamed BCA Pool League (BCAPL) and its headquarters was established in Henderson, NV (a suburb of Las Vegas).
TODAY
The Billiard Congress of America has the honor of being the North American representative to the World Pool Billiard Association (WPBA). The organization is responsible for selecting players for world championships, rules, and specifications input and other timely topics paramount to the sport and its supporting industry. This position permits the Billiard Congress of America to publish the “Official Rules and Records Book, World Standardized Rules.” The Billiard Congress of America also oversees the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.
The Billiard Congress of America also operates the Professional Billiard Instructors Association. With more than 210 members, the PBIA provides on-going certification and training for its membership. The Billiard Congress of America also launched the playbetterbilliards.com website in 2012, aimed at promoting the benefits of PBIA-certified instructors. The association also promotes the website and its more than 35,000 searches for PBIA instructors.
The Billiard Congress of America provides its members with: 1. exclusive discounts and savings from leading billiard and home recreation manufacturers through the Billiard Congress of America Rewards Program; 2. Members-only access to industry research and statistics, including consumer insights, in-depth pool room operator and retailer business analytics; 3. Free Billiard Congress of America merchandise (rule books, instructional booklets, DVDs, tournament flow charts, etc.); 4. Promotion via the BCA’s consumer website, bca-pool.com; 5. Member’s-only access to an online Billiard Congress of America membership directory; 6. Access to industry and business news, via an eNewsletter; 7. Free admission for retailers and room operators to the Billiard Congress of America’s industry trade show; 8. Discounted booth space for manufacturers and distributors at the Billiard Congress of America’s industry trade show.
The BCA Pool League (BCAPL) operates through Cue Sports International (CSI) and boasts more than 750 sanctioned leagues in 8 countries with a total membership over 75,000 players. CSI has continued the BCA tradition and produced top-flight events for professionals and amateurs alike. Regional championships include Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Puerto Rico, Wyoming, and Oregon (with the last two events being located gated). The World Championships (a.k.a. BCAPL/USAPL Worlds) is one of several events at CSI Expo, which is staged annually in Las Vegas. In 2022, CSI announced a partnership with Predator that made its Predator Apex Premier League Edition 7’ the official pool table of CSI, the BCA Pool League and the USA Pool League.