Tri-Cups

Tri-Cups (or Triannual Tournaments) are held after each session to determine which teams will represent their division in the World Pool Qualifier for the opportunity to make it to the World Pool Championship in Las Vegas in August.  Where teams place in their division and Playoff matches decide who goes to Tri-Cups.  The Playoff structure is based on the size of a division.  

Divisions with 4 to 5 teams (1 team advances)
The first place team will play a wildcard team during the Playoff week.  The winner advances to Tri-Cups.
 
Divisions with 6 to 11 teams (3 teams advance)
The first place team directly advances to Tri-Cups.  The second place team will play a wildcard team, and the third place team will play the fourth place team during the Playoff week.  The winners of those two matches advances to Tri-Cups.
 
Divisions with 12 to 16 teams (4 teams advance)
The first and second place teams directly advance to Tri-Cups.  The third place team will play a wildcard team, and the fourth place team will play the fifth place team during the Playoff week.  The winners of those two matches advance to Tri-Cups.
 
 
 
During the Tri-Cups tournament, in order to keep matches within a scheduled timeline the implementation of Sudden Death or splitting tables is necesary.  Here are some explanations of how Sudden Death works.