We want to provide clear and complete information regarding a situation that many of you have heard about.

As many of you are aware, a new league has entered the area, and two of our current players have stepped into roles as League Operators within that organization.

When a player moves into an operational role in a competing league, it creates a conflict of interest that has to be addressed. It’s common practice in the league industry to address this by limiting participation in competing leagues. We hold ourselves to that same standard and do not participate as players in other leagues while operating this one.

With that said, situations like this are not always handled by formula alone. Timing, team impact, and fairness to the surrounding players all mattered. Because of where this announcement fell within our session and qualification structure, we chose to approach the situation with flexibility and with the players and teams around them in mind.

At the time of their announcement, we allowed them to continue participating in the opportunities they had already earned or committed to. This included finishing out the remaining weeks of the session with their teams, participating in the Doubles Qualifier, and honoring a Masters Vegas trip that had already been secured.

At the same time, due to the conflict of interest, we determined that ongoing weekly participation was no longer appropriate come the new league year. In other words, they were permitted to finish what was already in motion, but would not continue with weekly league play in the Summer session. The final consideration was the upcoming World Qualifiers.

The 8-Ball and 9-Ball teams they are on have qualified for the World Qualifiers. Under our local bylaws, players are required to be active in the Summer Session in order to participate. That is a local bylaw approved through APA, not a National rule. Given the circumstances, we were prepared to waive that requirement and allow them to compete with their teams in the World Qualifiers so the teams would not be placed at a disadvantage. Our priority in that decision was to preserve a fair opportunity for the other players on those teams who worked to earn those spots.

To be equally clear about what has not happened:

• They have not been suspended
• They have not been stripped of earned opportunities
• The Masters Vegas trip was not taken away
• Their teams have not been disqualified from World Qualifiers

Any decisions regarding forfeiting matches, stepping away from teams, or not participating in upcoming events are personal decisions made by those individuals, and may directly impact the teams around them—not actions taken by our office.

We understand that rumors can travel quickly, and when information is incomplete, it’s easy for narratives to form that don’t reflect the full picture. That’s why we believe it’s important to speak directly to all of you.

We know how challenging it is to turn a passion into a business, and we have a great deal of respect for anyone willing to take on that challenge. We sincerely wish them the best in their new venture.

Our decisions are not made lightly. They are made with consideration for fairness, consistency, and the long-term health of the league as a whole. Just as importantly, they are made with respect for the players who invest their time, energy, and passion into this community every week.

We will always choose the path that protects that.

If you ever have questions, concerns, or want clarity, we encourage you to come directly to us. We are here, we are accessible, and we care deeply about the experience you have in this league.

Thank you for being part of what makes this community so strong.

— Jacksonville APA