First Nations pool players meet at world championship tournament in Las Vegas

Two First Nations men from the Maritimes chanced to meet among thousands of players in Las Vegas for the 2024 BCA Pool World Championships.

Wekatesk Augustine said he was on his way to get some food when someone spotted his last name on his shirt and asked where he was from. Augustine is a common Mi'kmaw name in Atlantic Canada and he happens to be from Eskasoni First Nation, about 270 kilometres east of Halifax.

The man asking was Hunter Polchies, a Wolastoqew player from Welamukotuk (Oromocto First Nation) near Fredericton.

"I said I used to live in Oromocto when I was a kid," said Augustine, 34. 

He knew some of Polchies's teammates from other tournaments but was excited to see another First Nations man passionate about pool. He said he first picked up a pool stick after seeing his mother bank some corner pockets. 

Augustine said he's met other Indigenous people from all over the world at the Las Vegas tournament. 

Polchies said he was introduced to pool by his family, too. His grandfather had a pool table and he watched his godfather, his dad and his uncles play for hours.

"They're good players, so just seeing them play just made me think of the chances and develop the passion," said Polchies, 21. 

He started playing when he was seven. He tried other sports but picked pool back up in the last few years.

Now he practises close to 40 hours a week and came to Las Vegas after his five-man team won the local league in Fredericton.

Both men are competing in a team tournament that determines a winner Saturday. Augustine also competed in the singles eight ball gold division, the singles nine ball gold division and the scotch doubles. 

Both men say their favourite part is watching the professional players compete live and Polchies even got to meet Canadian pro player Alex Paqulayan.

"Five years ago if someone told me that I'm going to be playing the world championship. I'd laugh at them," said Polchies.

Augustine said he's looking forward to a pool tournament in Newfoundland and is developing a youth pool league in Eskasoni.