My name is Paul Bramwell. I am the founder and visionary of the CPPT.  I have played pool all over the country for over 30 years.  Between 1980 and 1987, I won over 45 tournaments in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma, competing with such notable players as Belinda Calhoun, Gilbert Martinez, Steve Manicci, Brian Atchley, Dick Lane, James Davis, Bob Vanover, Gabby Hayes, Grady Mathews, Earl Strickland, Jack "Jersey Red" Breit, Dallas West, Nick Varner, Mike Sigel, Buddy Hall, and Hawaiian Brian.

I took a 16 year career/family break, relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1992, and picked up my sticks again in 2003.  I routinely placed in tournaments at California Billiards, Shoreline Billiards, Crown Billiards, Hollywood Billiards, Family Billiards, Campbell Billiards and Bay Billiards.  In 2005, I was a member of the team from Crown Billiards that placed 5th in the open mixed team event at the BCA in Las Vegas.  While playing in Florida and New York City for the past five years, I have noticed vast differences in tournament structure and pool player attitude between there and here. Both Florida and New York City have half the number of amateur pool players as California, yet all of them are extremely competitive. Do you know why? Because those tours require players to step up or shut up. There is no handicap system that lets players slide by and rewards mediocrity and a few good rolls. You might be good, but you have to be better to win.

In New York, pros such as Tony Robles, Mika Immonen, Francisco Bustamante, Liz Ford, Jennifer Baretta, George SanSouci, Frankie Hernandez, Rob Saez, Sarah Rousey, Xioting Pan, Caroline Pao, Eddie Abraham, Mark Vidal and others regularly compete in area tournaments.  A one-on-one lesson with any of these pros would cost at least $150.00 an hour.  The price to watch, learn from and play against one of these pros in a tournament?  Membership and entry fees – that’s it!  I want California players to have that same opportunity. Anyone who loves the sport understands how vital it is to nurture and develop players to keep the sport alive, and part of the CPPT’s goal is to expand the opportunities for pros and amateurs to interact with each other on the same level.

LouAnne Laflamme is the Tour’s co-founder and handles all things administrative. LouAnne has played pool for 18 years, primarily 8 ball leagues in Concord, San Ramon and Livermore California, but also in the Women’s West Coast 9-ball Tour.

We have worked hard to fine tune the details and to get everyone excited about the Tour.  Local players embracing our concept and promoting the Tour include Paul Juarez, Amar Kang, Jeff Gregory, Bonnie Plowman, Heather Pulford, Mary Rakin, Marshall Williams, Jason Williams, Mark Thomas , and of course Max Eberle .