VCU-alum remembered by a younger generation

By Junelynn Tran



RICHMOND, Va. -- As one of the best underground pool players in Richmond, VCU-alum Mike Tran is at the top of his game. With nine years under his belt, he has never sought to become a professional pool player, but his name still resonates from Breakpoint of VCU to Murphy's Law Billiards in Midlothian.

"When I walked in a pool hall one day, I saw some good players playing pool, and I was just kind of interested in the way they were moving the ball," Tran said. "It just looked so neat, that I decided to pick up a pool stick and try it on my own."

Tran started playing pool at VCU in 2000. In 2003, he qualified to play at the Association of College Unions International, a collegiate organization that brings together different schools to compete in extracurricular activities, such as poker, bowling, billiards and spoken word.

Tran won third place in the regional tournament that year. With only three years of experience, nerves got the best of him at the national tournament at East Carolina University.

"My first draw was the defending champion and I hardly won," Tran chuckled. "I mean, I got him on the ropes, but then he came back. I had butterflies, I couldn't win -- but overall that year, I placed ninth in the nation."

Some of Tran's friends enjoy watching him play because they see it as a learning experience. Some also find it intimidating.

New friend Christopher Le said, "Watching him play... it's just like... kind of demoralizing, actually. You're like, 'How the hell can you ever be this good?'"

Tran's advice for potential pool players is persistence and practice. Practice makes perfect and so does a positive attitude.