Bermuda's pool players will be out to sink the opposition when they fly the flag in an international competition in the Caribbean.

The squad are currently in training for the Bahamas Shootout which begins on October 2 and features teams from all over the Caribbean, the US and Europe.

The event is sponsored by the Valley National Eight Ball Association and Bermuda will be entering both the doubles and singles event.

Mark O'Connor, spokesman for the Bermuda International Pool League and one of the Island's leading players said: "The team is comprised of 12 of the top players in Bermuda and the tournament we are going to is an offshoot of a tournament that we go to in Las Vegas.

"It's a little bit smaller than the tournament in Vegas so we are hoping to do a little bit better. The one in Vegas has 8,000 players, this one we are looking at about 500 or 600."

The all-male team comprises of O'Connor, Mike Zimmerman, Gary Bascombe, Dennis Parsons, Wayne Adams, Dennis Eve, Dion Burgess, Chris Nelson, Joe Hayward, Ronnie Lau, Steve Bremar and Richard Foggo.

"The team was selected by the president of the Pool League, the vice-president and the treasurer on ability, skill and commitment to the league," said O'Connor.

The VNEA comprises 13 countries - the United States, Caribbean region, Bermuda, Portugal and other European nations and the shootout is purely for amateur players.

"We don't know how tough it will be because we have never played in the Bahamas tournament but if the Las Vegas event is any indication of the turnout we are going to see it's always tough - it's basically if you miss you lose," O'Connor said.

"Generally we do reasonably well considering the competition out there and the availability of tables in Bermuda."

O'Connor said the men to look out for would be himself, Zimmerman, Bascombe, Parsons and Eve.

Asked what set those names apart from the rest he said: "Foresight in the game. Pool is usually looked at as a game where you focus on the ball that you sink next.

"But once you start playing pool properly you start looking at the eight ball and work backwards, rather than towards it. As you can play you can see the whole game. As soon as the balls are broken you can see where every one goes and you know exactly how it is going to go down."

O'Connor said safety shots also played a big part.

"Playing safeties when you don't have a shot and not leaving your opponent a shot is a key, especially in tournaments. If you give your opponent a shot in a tournament like this he will run the table and you won't have another shot," he said.

In a bid to get the team in shape competitions are being held at Docksiders on Front Street every week.

"Every Monday night the team and a few of the league players are playing in a tournament at Docksiders with sign-ins at 8 p.m. It's $10 to play and first and second split the cash," O'Connor said.

"We are using that as a practice event to play among ourselves and anyone else who wants to come out and it is open to the public," he said.

"We are also having a cruise as a fundraiser on September 1, leaving Albuoys Point at 8.30 p.m. on the Longtail. It's $40 with an open bar and that is open to the public as well."

Meanwhile, O'Connor said the league were always looking for new teams.

"It's a dedicated bunch of people who keep the league going. Through events like this we hope to encourage more," he said.

"There are a couple of teams coming along next year who will boost our league to about 15. The more teams the more players and more exposure which in turn means more sponsorship."

Competition was fierce, O'Connor said.

"It's very competitive. Bragging rights on a game like pool are pretty common. On an Island like this you don't hustle anybody, everybody knows who you are."

The league tends to run every Thursday night from September until March or April.

Businesses who would like to help sponsor the team's exploits in the Caribbean can contact O'Connor at Jesse James Cruises on 296-5801.