Brea Hosts Wheelchair Billiards Tournament

Disabled pool players will return to Diamonds Billiards in Brea on June 27 and 28 for the second annual 8-Ball Classic Wheelchair Championship Billiards Tournament.

Tournament creator Keith Lawson said playing billiards is a great activity for those who use wheelchairs. He has long promoted sports for disabled players, including rugby and skiing, and played them.

“First of all, it’s therapeutic,” he said. “Whether it’s a new injury or somebody who’s been injured a long time, they don’t realize that when they’re there for six or seven hours pushing around the table, that they’ll be tired the next day. It’s especially important for newly injured people because they haven’t been exposed very much to other people in wheelchairs.”

Lawson said pool is perfect for the disabled because the game is not overly strenuous.

“For a person who isn’t the jock type, it’s a great competitive type of sport, a mental challenge,” he said. “You can join a league and play with able-bodied people.”

Only players who use wheelchairs can play in the tournament; anyone is welcome to watch. There is a division for players with full use of their arms and a division for those with limitations on their arm use.

Each division will have 16 players. A few spots are left.

Cash and prizes will be awarded to the winners. Last year’s winner was 62 years old.

The tournament begins at 11 a.m. both days and ends in the early evening. Diamonds Billiards is at 910 E. Birch St., Suite 300, next to the Brea Mall.

Information: (714) 733-3537.