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With 140 participating bars, the American Poolplayers Association is creating a thriving pool community throughout the city.

Sunil “Sunny” Patel faced off against last year’s second-place finisher in the American Poolplayers Association wheelchair division during an exhibition match that doubled as a fundraiser.

CHICAGO — Surge Pool Hall in Logan Square has a quiet bustle to it on Wednesday nights, when six of Chicago’s American Poolplayers Association teams gather for their weekly league nights. The back walls of the pool hall, 3716 W. Fullerton Ave., are lined with players grasping their customized cue bags or slipping on their billiards gloves. Some sip Modelos or snack on onion rings — but every player’s eyes are locked on the Diamond-brand pool tables. There are no loud noises, as the music is kept to a low hum. Flash photography is strictly prohibited. Chats between players are mostly limited to “nice game” or “good shot.” Javier Hernandez, the team captain of Surge’s in-house team, the Surgeons, steps in occasionally to offer coaching to his teammates, suggesting a smart shot or how to keep up the player’s defense. With 140 teams in the Chicago area, Surge is just one of the venues that host league nights — from Homer’s, 4518 S. McDowell Ave. in Back of the Yards, to Cali’s Corner, 2800 W. Touhy Ave. in West Ridge. On slower weeknights, Chicago’s pool teams gather for weekly meetups and matches. The goal is to accumulate enough points to head to an annual nationwide tournament in Las Vegas. Ross Schaefer, operator of Chicago’s Central American Poolplayers Association, said Chicago “has a long reputation of being a big pool city,” referencing Martin Scorsese’s 1986 movie “The Color of Money,” a pool-based drama that was filmed in Chicago. Schaefer started playing competitive pool in his 20s, when his first apartment in Chicago was above a pub in River North that had a pool table. After spending years playing with the City Pool Hall team — which still has Wednesday league nights — Schaefer decided to make his “fun passion” a full-time career when he bought the Chicago Central American Poolplayers Association franchise in 2012. Schaefer builds relationships with bars, plays “matchmaker” with shooters to form teams and continues to grow the Chicago franchise. There are now 140 teams, like the Surgeons at Surge Pool Hall. Jose Ferrer, from Bucktown, arranges the balls in the triangle before one of his games on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Surge Billiards in Logan Square. Every Wednesday is league night at Surge Billiards in Logan Square. Credit: Anastasia Busby for Block Club Chicago Hernandez, team captain of the Surgeons, said pool is a part of his weekly routine and has been for over 16 years — starting as a teenager on his native South Side. “It’s like going to church,” Hernandez said. Hernandez said competitive pool draws people from all walks of life. He’s played with teachers, salespeople and doctors — and their backgrounds don’t matter once it’s time to play. “We don’t even talk about what they do. We talk about pool — we talk about the game itself, strategy,” Hernandez said. That doesn’t mean the players don’t form connections. Hernandez and Schaefer said their time on pool teams has helped build close friendships and a sense of community. “It’s playing pool, yeah, but it’s getting locked into a community of like-minded people who maybe don’t just want to sit on their couch on a Tuesday night. They want to socialize and they want to get out and have a cool routine,” Schaefer said. Javier Hernandez congratulates his teammate Jose Ferrer on winning one of his games on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Surge Billiards in Logan Square. Ferrer joined the team about four weeks ago. Credit: Anastasia Busby for Block Club Chicago Schaefer said he’s had teammates who met playing pool and became best friends and knows couples who got married after meeting through teams. Hernandez said that pool helps him meet people and discover spots on the North and South sides. But Chicago is also a top pool city with fierce competition, with all teams hoping to make it to the APA World Championships in Vegas, Hernandez said. “I personally like to play from a competitive type of perspective,” said Victor Flores, captain of the No Gooders at Black Sheep, 2535 W. Peterson Ave. in West Ridge. “A lot of it is supposed to be fun, but I like the competitive nature of it. … It makes it a unique thing to do.” Flores started playing pool out of Ten Cat Tavern, 3931 N. Ashland Ave. in Wrigleyville, after moving to Chicago from Harlem. One night he needed to withdraw cash from an ATM and went into the bar, he said. Flores said he was in awe of the players at Ten Cat and enamored by the “intense competition” and the “two beautiful pool tables.” “Truth be told, I watched for probably two or three hours that first day,” Flores said. “I was just in awe of these guys playing pool at such a high level at a bar, having fun, but also beating the crap out of each other.” Even though many players have been shooting with the American Poolplayers Association for over a decade, there’s been an uptick in younger players wanting to join the pool community, Flores said. “We have a lot of younger players on our team,” Flores said. “At 25, I wasn’t in the bar learning how to play the game and giving it so much dedication. I’m surprised at how young some of the individuals are who are joining the APA.” But that’s exactly what Schaefer wants for his franchise — to curate an inclusive environment where players of all ages feel welcomed, and the rules of proper sportsmanship are enforced, he said. “I try to make sure that it’s inclusive and that people are cool,” Schaefer said. “The important thing is that players treat other people with respect and remember that it is a privilege to be a part of the team.” As Schaefer continues to grow the association in Chicago, more players are discovering the competitive billiards community and what comes along with it. “Maybe you do meet the love of your life playing pool,” Schaefer said. If you’re interested in checking out the official Chicago pool scene, the American Poolplayers Association website has a map of locations and a monthly calendar of league games. More info here. * * * **Support Local News!** **Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, **an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Already subscribe? **Click here to gift a subscription** , or you can**support Block Club with atax-deductible donation.** **Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:** Listen OnApple PodcastsListen OnSpotify Pat Tomasulo Wants You To Laugh Your Face Off Episode play icon Pat Tomasulo Wants You To Laugh Your Face Off Episode play icon Colonoscopies Aren’t THAT Bad — But They’re More Important Than Ever Episode play icon An AI School With No Teachers Coming To Chicago This Fall Episode play icon After Chuy’s Controversial Exit, A New Era Of Latino Leadership Begins Episode play icon Do You Feel Safe On The CTA? Riders React To Boost In Police On Trains Load More Search Results placeholder Previous Episode Show Episodes List Next Episode Show Podcast Information

With 140 participating bars, the American Poolplayers Association is creating a thriving pool community throughout the city.

With 140 participating bars, the American Poolplayers Association is creating a thriving pool community throughout the city.

I first met Jordan Blit  several years ago - he's a kick-ass pool player in APA League (American Poolplayers Association) .  Those of you who know me probably know that I enjoy playing pool and...

With 140 participating bars, the American Poolplayers Association is creating a thriving pool community throughout the city.

Local news, tourism, rentals, hiking, waynesville, maggie valley, lake junaluska, asheville, north carolina, sylva, dillsboro, cullowhee, bryson city, nantahala

Local news, tourism, rentals, hiking, waynesville, maggie valley, lake junaluska, asheville, north carolina, sylva, dillsboro, cullowhee, bryson city, nantahala

- Advertisement -Nathan Sena, a Middletown resident, has clinched the 2025 APA 8-Ball Classic Pool Championship in Las Vegas, walking away with a $15,000 prize package. Sena beat out nearly 6,000 competitors from across North America to win the Orange Tier of the championship. The tournament, part of the American Poolplayers Association’s (APA) Poolplayer Championships, […]

With 140 participating bars, the American Poolplayers Association is creating a thriving pool community throughout the city.

Sunil “Sunny” Patel faced off against last year’s second-place finisher in the American Poolplayers Association wheelchair division during an exhibition match that doubled as a fundraiser.