The National Pool Players Association (NPPA) is gearing up for what many analysts are hailing as the most anticipated team championship final in its modern history, after back-to-back defending champions Titans outlasted a gritty Billiard Kings side 5-3 in Monday’s semifinal clash to book their third consecutive appearance in the title decider.
What stands between the Titans and an unprecedented three-peat of NPPA crowns is arguably the most formidable outfit of the 2024 campaign: Money Team, who enter the final riding a scintillating 19-match unbeaten run and carrying all the momentum of an undefeated season that has cemented their status as the league’s breakout powerhouse. The upcoming showdown shapes up as a classic battle of eras: a established dynasty hungry to etch its name permanently into the record books against a hungry rising force desperate to dethrone the champions and claim its own first title.
Monday’s semifinal was a back-and-forth thriller that lived up to its playoff billing from the opening rack. The Billiard Kings got off to a flying start, with their star player nicknamed Demolition Man delivering a straight-rack sweep over Chapo to put the underdogs up 1-0 early. The two-time champions wasted no time responding, however: B.A.D, who fell to Henry in an earlier head-to-head matchup this season, turned the tables with a dominant straight-rack win of his own to level the score at 1-1. Next up, SES, who has built a reputation as the Titans’ most clutch playoff performer, lived up to his billing by dismantling Killer in two straight racks to push the defending champions ahead 2-1.
Never willing to fold under pressure, the Billiard Kings fought back to retake the lead. Mac-10 secured a blank win over Marzack to draw the match level again, before Sniper notched a victory over Peck to put the Kings up 3-2 — marking the second time in the night that Billiard Kings held the advantage and looked poised to close out the upset.
That is when championship pedigree showed through. With the entire season hanging in the balance, Scarface delivered one of the most impressive performances of the night, dispatching Grim in straight racks to tie the match once more. The win carried extra weight: it stopped Grim from repeating the match-winning heroics that had carried the Billiard Kings to two earlier playoff victories this postseason.
With momentum shifting firmly back in the Titans’ favor, Charbel delivered the turning point that would ultimately decide the fixture. After dropping the opening rack to Jahson, Charbel showcased ice-cold composure to rally back and take the next two consecutive racks, putting the Titans one win away from the final. That set the stage for Cue Ball Rickie, who was looking to rebound from a disappointing performance in his previous outing, to seal the deal. Rickie delivered in emphatic fashion, sweeping Metro in straight racks to lock in the decisive fifth point, securing the Titans’ spot in the final and cutting the match short before the scheduled final bout between Nalda and Tonic Man.
Monday’s win keeps the Titans’ historic quest for a third straight NPPA title alive, a goal the team publicly declared it would achieve before the season even kicked off. But standing across the table from them is a Money Team side with its own lofty ambitions. Unbeaten through 19 straight matches, Money Team has emerged as the undisputed team to beat this season, and has made clear it has no plans to let the Titans’ dynastic run continue. Its flawless campaign has been built on unwavering consistency, deep roster talent, and relentless shot-making, setting up what fans and analysts alike are already calling a dream final.
The question on every pool fan’s mind heading into the decider is simple: Will the Titans’ years of big-match experience and championship pedigree be enough to deliver the historic three-peat? Or will Money Team cap a perfect season by ending the defending champions’ reign and write its own first chapter of NPPA glory? One side will leave the final with its legacy strengthened; the other will see its title dreams dashed.
Before the main event kicks off, the Billiard Kings will face off against Cue Action in the third-place playoff starting next Monday, as both sides compete for the final spot on the season’s podium. Fans can catch every shot of the NPPA Team Championship Final live on TikTok via the account @The Cueshop_268, to watch the league’s biggest rivalry of the season unfold in real time.