Over the years there has been a pool rivalry between Victoria, British Colombia, Canada and Port Angeles, Washington, United States. Only 19 miles separate these two cities but that stretch of water between these two cities, called the Strait of Juan De Fuca, not only separates Victoria and Port Angeles but also separates Canada and the United States. No one knows how the pool rivalry first started or how many matches were played but It usually pitted the better players of Port Angeles against the better players from a bar or pool hall in Victoria. Rules probably depended on which venue the match was played at. There were no certified referees, no standard equipment, no media coverage. Port Angeles tended to win most of those matches. The last match played at the Loomis Tavern in Port Angeles differed because both teams decided they should invite players from outside their cities to compete. This proved to be one of the last matches in the series because Canada brought in a powerhouse team that wiped out the USA team that only brought in one outside player. All of these matches were played for money. There were women’s matches as well. In both the women’s and men’s matches as much time was devoted to consuming alcohol as playing pool. Times have changed.

Enter the current state of pool where competition is the key to playing a game that has become more than just a bar game but a game with rules, referees, standardized equipment and instructional videos and reruns of great matches. In 2024, Victoria joined Mt. View Pool League. Mt. View Pool League and its predecessors have been original members of Western BCA, the largest regional pool organization in the USA. Because Mt. View Pool League has two divisions in Port Angeles and the Wolfpack division in Victoria, it is a great time to renew the rivalry between Victoria and Port Angeles in this truly international league.

What is the Juan De Fuca Cup? The Cup is a renewal of past rivalries but with a modern twist. The match will include 6 players, 5 men and 1 woman from each city. There will be a Fargo cap (a way to rate the skill of players) to equalize the competition. The format will be similar to the Mosconi matches between Europe and the USA. The match will be streamed live with commentators. There can be up to 11 rounds of play with a win in each round getting a point. The first team to 6 points wins the match. A certified referee will oversee the match. Each team will have a captain. The match will be played at the VLounge at the Red Lion Inn in Victoria on September 6, 2025 and will start at 11 AM and end around 6 PM.

Bill Henderson, Captain Team Port Angeles, statement. “I look forward to this match. I remember the great Port Angeles players who played in previous matches with VIctoria and our team will try to live up to the examples set by them. We have a dedicated team and are anxious to show our skills.”