Call Kurtis: Behind the 8-Ball

RENO, Nev. (CBS13) -- The Pacific Rim International Billiard Expo was held in Reno December 1-6, 2010. So far, only the lower tier contestants have collected any cash.

Jeff Gregory, of Stockton, won the whole thing and is trying to get the winnings for not only himself but for everyone else. Hey, bragging rights are great, but if you can't collect your cash…

We met Jeff at Hard Times Billiards, one of this local pool hall homes. He recalled his winning shot -- "I was up seven to six. This was the last shot I had to win the tournament.  I make this ball I win five grand."

He had the eye; he had the stroke, and got the win.

"Felt awesome man, you know; $5000 for first place," remembers Jeff. "Christmas time is right around the corner.  I was thinking about what I was going to do with this money I just won for my family."

But he never got the money he was promised by event organizer Tony Annigoni.

Annigoni is seen and heard in video on the internet referencing the prize winnings: "But in the meantime I'd like to get another hand for these guys.  We're gonna give them a check for $5,000 and $3,000 which goes out on Friday."

Annigoni is a well-known pool-pro. His tournaments have been around 20 years, so it came as shock to find out the top winners weren't going to leave with cash in-hand as usual.

"It was like a rumor that floated around the room, we're not getting paid cash; we're gonna have a check mailed to us, and that was real surprising."

And it was a sign of things to come. Jeff says he's talked to Annigoni seven times since winning the nine ball tournament; his check was supposed to be mailed in December.

He says at first Annigoni told him "just one more week," then "the checks are going out next week."

"And then next week turned into 30 days, and then that 30 days turned into 90 and 120 days."

That was the last time he talked to Annigoni; his next call was to us.

"What's the truth? I wanna find the truth for this."

We called Annigoni. He admitted to us what he has posted on the U.S. Pool Players Association website – he underestimated the budget for the tournament, and that resulted in a shortfall of tens of thousands of dollars.

In order to pay the players and other expenses he said he still needs to raise 18 to 19 thousand dollars -- it should take 3-4 months, or sooner. If the he and the USPPA can't raise that money he said he would pay the winnings out of his personal account.

That's little consolation to Jeff; show him the money.

"I felt taken advantage of; I felt like I'd been defrauded."

We'll stay on top of this one for Jeff to help keep him and the other players from falling behind the 8-ball.