SPM Billiards Magazine Issue 34

Marianne’s Tournaments –An upcoming Name to Know

By Brad Swain

Ifeel blessed to experience the various pool tournaments and events for four decades. As well as partake in the different types of pool scenes throughout the country. The way that poolplayers and the pool communities are coming together and evolving is excellent to watch. Over the years, I’ve seen some pool communities that were well-run, friendly, and promoted good healthy sportsmanship. I’ve also seen a lot of scenes that were quite the opposite, but the best pool scenes are the kind in which everyone just worked together as one unit. Every Marianne’s Tournaments event I have attended has felt like one big family that loves to play pool together.

What can I say about Marianne and her pool tournaments? What comes to mind when I think of Marianne? I think of a woman that has kept the wants and needs of the players and railbirds in mind to create events to bring mutual benefits to pool players, pool room owners, local fans, and sponsors alike! I think Marianne’s strong integrity and devotion to all parties involved make her a unique commodity in the billiard scene.

When I spoke with her, she repeatedly expressed how grateful she is to have so many players placing their trust in her. Trust was earned by listening to the players and what they wanted to see in the events they would play in. The way that she puts others first has been serving her much success.

Marianne’s Tournaments team and volunteers are all about the love of pool, playing pool, healthy competition in the game, and most importantly, camaraderie– a billiards family of people that come together for one common passion: the love of pocket billiards.

“If even a single team member were missing, then Marianne’s Tournaments would have a part of itself missing because everyone at each event always has their own contributions that they uniquely provide,” stated Marianne Raulerson.

Their events are created and put together, and often, at a Marianne’s Tournament event, decisions are made by the entire tournament team, not just one individual. The events have adapted to what the players in that event want, which is a welcome thing for so many, and another reason for Marianne’s continued success and growth in the game at large. Marianne’s vision is to help others, for the players, to continue the grand tradition of pool. Pool tournaments that give back to the players and pool community. She’s not in it for the money; she’s here for the passion of the game. She wants to make it to where everyone can win synergistic type thinking. She doesn’t believe that owners must lose large sums of money to host huge events. She knows there’s a way to run her events to where everyone wins. It’s essential to Marianne that she maintains her integrity, not compromising her fundamental core values. She is very transparent in her operation of events; everything is above the table, nothing is hidden, and everyone knows the rules, format, and how the event runs.

Marianne's Tournaments

Marianne Raulerson of Marianne's Tournaments

Photo Credit Erwin Dionisio

Marianne got her start when she found herself as a single parent, she was working multiple jobs at the time, and decided to try her hand bartending at Park Avenue Billiards in Orange Park, Florida. With that position came running local weekly tournaments. A very close friend Kit Kat saw that Marianne wanted to learn how to run the tournaments properly and took her under her wing. As the tournaments grew, and with the help of Samantha Williams and MikeLear, she created a brand.

Marianne recalled the day that she witnessed local pro-Butch Croft playing the very interesting game of one pocket. “All I can say is that I had no idea that chess could be played on a pool table, but that’s exactly what it was!” Intrigued by a game that opened a new world, Marianne set out to give the players just what they wanted. Her first one pocket event in 2013 saw such names as Dennis Orcollo and Warren Kiamco. Peter Ghostine supported Marianne by making her first big money added event, the Derby Shootout in 2018, held at 9ball Heaven in Jacksonville, Fl, to give the players a warm-up for the Derby City Classic. Through the years and many tournaments, James Adams and Butch Croft encouraged Marianne to start running bigger events, and then they mentored her through the execution of putting it all together. The Derby Shoot Out has since evolved into the Southeastern Triple Crown held at Zingales Biliards in Tallahassee, Fl, every year.

Marianne was shocked to see such names as Dennis Orcollo and Warren Kiamco show up at her first major event. Still, I suppose this happens when you listen to the players, and she’s always looking out for the people that help her put the events together.

River City Open with Shane Van Boening

Photo from River City Open by Marianne’s Photographer Rodman Cleveland

At this point, Marianne has added a few significant events to her annual schedule, such as the Larry Gayle Memorial Tournament/Juniors for Larry Gayle Clinic, and The River City Open. She was also the tournament direction team that ran Omega’s Diamond Open in Aiken, SC. Most recently, she was the tournament manager at Matchroom’s US Open, working directly with Emily Frazer. Matchroom is working with her to host future events, such as the UK Open, which is substantial and highlights how big her role in billiards has become global. “Working with Matchroom Pool is a dream come true, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for all of us, Marianne’s Tournaments and Matchroom Nineball”, stated Marianne Raulerson.

All in all, Marianne has created a magical pool environment; the players love it, and if they love it, so will everyone else. It’s that simple. She gets it, really gets it: you keep the players happy, then the game thrives, and if the game thrives, it’s easier to keep the players happy. The cycle continues, adorned with pool balls being pocketed, and you hear that distinctive “click” when they hit the bottom, a reward for a shot well made.

River City Open Logo

In essence, Marianne has helped build a positive pool community, hosting top-notch events that welcome the input of the players, and Marianne is truly a gift to the pool scene and to all of us that love the game and culture.

In conclusion, Marianne Raulerson is one of the people in pool that get it and what it’s all about the game, and the players are the game, and she always listens to the players, what they want, and how they want their tournaments to run. It’s all about building a billiards community and network worldwide, just as Barry Hearn of Matchroom envisions himself as he sees the game growing.

Southeast Open 1 Pocket

Marianne is growing the game, one tournament at a time; people like her, working diligently behind the scenes, host tournaments that function like well-oiled machines. I am Brad Swain, reporting to you, the pool fans, for SPM – New York and Worldwide; Thanks for reading, and happy hitting ’em, everybody!

In June 2022, Marianne’s Tournaments held a junior’s clinic and memorial tournament for the late great Larry Gayle, who wanted to see more juniors learning to play pool at a young age. As a father of one of the kids in attendance, I have to say that I’ve never seen a better value offered to our kids than this event. For three days, the kids were trained by top pros Jeremy Jones, Jeanette Lee, and Joey Gray, and I watched over 30 kids mentored to come into their own. Precisely what the future of pool needs!

Southeastern Triple Crown

Larry Gayle Memorial Tournament

I’ve been supporting Marianne’s tournaments since day 1! About a couple of years back, she came to me with an opportunity to join her team and help referee matches. I couldn’t say no! The impact that she’s had on our community is impressive, allowing juniors to have clinics and play in tournaments! Anytime we can give back to the juniors, I am all for it. Marianne has worked hard for this opportunity, and I know she will take full advantage of it. She’s a great person and an even better friend that I’ll do anything for!” – Justin LaMont.

I find myself lucky enough to be part of the next stepping stone for this sport, part of Marianne’s Tournaments Team. I say ‘stepping stone’ simply because we’re not the next ‘big thing’ or ‘what’s in.’ Marianne’s Tournaments is changing the face of billiard events, both grassroots & professional, for good; working with Marianne and putting on an MT event lights a fire in you. The amount of time & effort she pours into her events is astonishing and makes you realize that THIS is what pool needs. Someone who researches, plans, and executes a stellar event no matter the time, tears, or heartache sacrificed. She’s managed to build a network & company that’s respected across the country. Not to mention she’s managed to do this without pulling greens fees. She does what she does out of pure love for the game and the surrounding community. I count myself extremely lucky to be counted as a member of the team today, and I’ll be here for years to come.” – Justin Rigsby Logos from some of Marianne’s Torunamnets that she runs!