Pat Fleming: Producer and BCA Hall of Fame Member
A lifelong lover of the game, Pat competed in tournaments against the best in the world on his way to the top of the 1981 World Straight Pool Championships in New York City. He was undefeated going into the semi-finals match however, there was a greater plan for him beyond just playing the game! After a hard-fought match, he fell short of the title, took his meager $3,000 winnings and bought himself a computer.
Revolutionizing Billiards with Data and Video
With his analytical mind, Pat saw an opportunity beyond the table. He felt that by tracking player performance and match data, he would someday, somehow, be able to establish a player’s true value. Seeing a gap in the sport’s ability to measure performance accurately, he turned his passion for analysis into action. In 1983, he launched Accu-Stats, a pioneering effort to bring statistical precision to billiards.
A few years later, he revolutionized the sport by filming matches at major events, launching Accu-Stats Video Productions. He’s taped and made available to the public thousands of matches since that time. His dedication to data tracking and performance analysis ultimately led to the creation of the Total Performance Averages (TPA), a groundbreaking system now recognized worldwide as the standard for evaluating player performance.
Hall of Fame Recognition
A World-Class Tournament Director
Beyond analytics and broadcasting, Pat was also considered the best tournament director in the nation by many. Throughout his career, he has directed a multitude of events, including many world championships. His journey with the U.S. Open began in the 1980s under Barry Behrman’s leadership. After Barry’s passing in 2016, Pat took over, renaming the U.S. Open to the International Open to reflect the event’s diverse international player base.
The International Open: A Premier Billiards Event
The event has continued to grow and has moved from Norfolk, VA to the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort in Saint Augustine, FL. Today, it features top-tier competition in:
- 9-Ball (both pro & semi-pro)
- 10-ball (on a 10’ table)
- Straight pool (aka 14.1)
- One-Pocket
Recognized as one of the most prestigious billiard competitions in the world, the International Open brings together the best players in the world across multiple disciplines, all under one roof, in a truly professional setting.
