Troy “Big Dawg” Watson of Friendly, West Virginia brought home championship gold this week, capturing the prestigious CSI (Cue Sports International) Michigan State 10-Ball title at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.

Representing The League Room, a pool hall in Parkersburg, Watson battled through two intense days of competition, held on September 16 and 17, to claim the crown in the 10-Ball Signals Division.

The tournament began with a double-elimination bracket featuring 70 of the region’s top players, each vying for the 2025 title of Mr. or Mrs. Michigan State. Day one saw fierce competition, as contenders were whittled down to the top 16, eight from the winners’ bracket and eight from the losers’ bracket, who advanced to a final single-elimination showdown on day two.

With two-hour intervals between matches, Day 1 began with Troy receiving a first-round bye before defeating three opponents in back-to-back matches. He continued his winning streak on Day 2 where he faced four more opponents and defeated all four.

Troy went undefeated through both brackets to secure his Mr. Michigan State title.

Cue Sports International used the USA Pool League scoring system powered by FargoRate. Each match consisted of a single set, where players raced to their designated number based on their rank. Using a ball-count point scoring format, the winner of each rack received 14 points, while the loser received 1 point for each ball legally pocketed during that rack.

The 10-Ball format is similar to 9-Ball but it’s considered more competitive, demanding greater skill and less luck. The balls are pocketed in numerical order (1-10). Unlike 9-Ball, every shot in 10-Ball must be called. Additionally, a three-foul rule is in effect.

Previously, in February 2024, Troy placed 46th out of 388 competitors during a three-day event in Las Vegas, Nevada (9-Ball Division).

Michigan marked Troy’s second attempt at earning a 10-Ball State Champion title. In October 2024, he placed 3rd out of 60 players at the CSI Ohio State Championship in Wilmington, Ohio.

As a teenager, Troy began playing pool for fun with his father, uncle, and brother. He fondly recalls spending many memorable weekends at Tyler County’s historical landmark “The Jug,” sharing stories with its late owner Gladys (Fletcher) Gregg.

After becoming an adult, Troy and his father continued their shared passion by competing in local bar tournaments. During this time, he met Chris Wilson, owner of TLR, where he began playing in his first real pool hall.

After his father’s passing, Troy began taking the game much more seriously. Chris Wilson and the TLR team took him under their wings, showing him the next level of competition. Fueled with the never-ending want to be better, and surrounded by players willing to share their knowledge, Troy seized the opportunity.

He continuously travels to compete against and learn from the best players West Virginia has to offer, dedicating himself to mastering consistency, fundamentals, and precision.

Following his victory, Troy wrote on Facebook: “This one’s for my dad, my wife, my friends, my small town of TYCO, and last but not least, my friends and family from my favorite pool hall, TLR!!!!!!” said Troy.

“As his wife, I have never seen anyone show so much dedication, discipline, and ambition toward their dreams. The growth he has shown this past year is truly inspiring, and I cannot wait to see where he goes next,” said Alexandra Watson, devoted wife of Troy.

With the win, Troy “Big Dawg” Watson not only adds another title to his name but also brings recognition to West Virginia’s competitive billiards scene.