West LA APA Teams Make Their Mark at the 2026 Southwest 9-Ball Challenge
10/20/20263 min read
The 2026 APA Southwest Challenge was a 9-Ball team tournament held October 15-18, 2026 at the Westgate Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It used a 3-person team format with a skill level cap of 15, only one SL 7/8/9 allowed per team, and teams raced to 2 match wins with a rotating playing order.
One group included Donna, Andrew, and Jalen; the other included Rob, Doug, and Henry. The team package was approximately $666 and included rooms as well as tournament entry.
Both West LA APA teams finished in the money at the 2026 Southwest 9-Ball Challenge, delivering a notable result in a field of 250 teams. Donna, Andrew, and Jalen placed 17th and earned $540. Their finish put the trio within the top portion of the 250-team field and represented the higher placement of the two West LA teams. Rob, Doug, and Henry also secured a paid finish, placing 33rd and earning $360. Their result added a second West LA team to the money and rounded out a strong combined showing for the group. The 2026 event’s 250-team field provides useful context for the scale of the competition. Last year’s tournament drew 272 teams. Both teams earned payouts and represented West LA APA with distinction throughout a large tournament field.
The 2026 Southwest 9-Ball Challenge used a race-to-two-wins format, so teams needed to secure two wins to take each match. This structure kept individual contests relatively short and made every result consequential: a single win could shift the team’s position, while there was little time to recover from an early setback. Another defining rule was that each team’s registered shooting order remained in place throughout the tournament. Players therefore competed in the sequence their team had submitted, rather than changing the lineup order from match to match.
West LA APA players also came away with the impression that this year’s event involved more defensive play than last year’s tournament. The schedule may have presented a tougher test, or the field may have been more competitive overall; the players did not identify either possibility as a confirmed cause.
Congratulations to Elmer Rivera and Josue Lambert, first-place champions at the 2026 Southwest 9-Ball Challenge. Their performance is a wonderful achievement and a moment of pride for the players and the wider APA community. A tournament title reflects more than a strong day at the table: it represents preparation, patience, teamwork, and the ability to meet each match with focus. Rivera and Lambert brought those qualities together and earned a place at the top of the field.
Their win carries a special connection to West LA APA. Rivera and Lambert played in West LA APA 9-ball last year, and they now represent Long Beach APA. Their journey is a reminder that local leagues help build relationships and create opportunities that reach beyond a single season or team. Wherever players compete, the experience and support they gain through league play can continue to shape their progress. West LA members can celebrate their success while recognizing the dedication they have shown throughout their development.
West LA APA also has reason to be proud of both of its teams at this year’s challenge. Each team earned a cash finish, a meaningful result in a competitive event and a testament to the effort invested by every player. Reaching the payout places takes commitment from the entire roster, from steady play at the table to the encouragement teammates provide between matches. These finishes gave the West LA teams an opportunity to represent their league with distinction and bring home results worth celebrating.
Congratulations again to Rivera and Lambert on their championship, and to both West LA APA teams for earning cash finishes. Their accomplishments reflect the strength, connection, and welcoming spirit of the APA community.
The two teams representing West LA APA would like to thank their league Operator Stefani (https://www.facebook.com/westLAapapoolleague/ ; https://www.instagram.com/westlaapa/) for always looking out for her players.
