Riches await the Corner Bar Mafia in Las Vegas. To grab it, all they need to do is knock off a few dozen eight-ball teams.

The group of local pool players depart for Sin City on August 20 to compete in the largest and richest amateur pool tournament in the world, the $1 million American Poolplayers Association (APA) National Team Championships.

The team, which plays at Greg’s Grub in Kimball, will face other regional winners in the APA Eight-Ball National Team Championship after winning the Western Nebraska APA Eight-Ball Team Championship held in McCook in June.

Once in Las Vegas, they will vie for $25,000 first place prize money and are guaranteed $350 as national qualifiers. Also included are a generous travel allowance, paid entry fee and complimentary lodging at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, site of the APA National Championships.

The Corner Bar Mafia consists of Christina Culek, Trish Crossman, John Fiehtner, Ricky Kizzair, David Barnes, Celena Aguiniga, Sock Saukerson and Dave Aguiniga.

Also, Jon Howton of Dix and Jessika Scheenen of Mitchell will team up and participate in the APA Eight-Ball Doubles National Championship which offers a shot at $6,500 first place prize money.

Howton and Scheenen qualified for the title event after winning the Eight-Ball Doubles Championship tournament held in February in McCook.

For the upcoming fall schedule in Kimball, the APA offers Eight-Ball on Wednesday and Nine-Ball on Sunday.  Both use the APA’s “Equalizer” Handicap and Scoring System which allows players and teams to compete nearly equally regardless of level of skill or experience.