KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
Thirty of the world's best pro shuffleboard players are in Kansas City competing for the KC Shootout title and the $10,000 prize.
"It's not a bad day's work. It's tough to make that in a day doing anything," said Michael Taylor, who is the No. 1-ranked shuffleboard player in the world.
Taylor throws every weight knowing he's the world's best. But at the KC Shootout he has to prove it.
"It's a very strategic sport. I was blessed with good hands, but that's just a start in this," Taylor said.
The tournament started in 2002.
"I love the game. It's an addictive game, and it gets in your blood. It always leaves you knowing you could do better," said Mark Gray, the tournament's founder.
Organizers expect 200 players of all abilities will show up to play in the eight-day-long shootout tournament at Harrah's North Kansas City casino.
"Which puts it right up at the top in terms of size as one of the biggest tournaments in the world," said Will Hudson of Hudson Shuffleboards of the event.
Hudson, an organizer of the tournament, said most of the competitors started playing the game in a bar somewhere.
"But these are the types of players you don't want to come across. They don't miss. They've hustled a lot of money in their lifetime," Hudson said.
Included amongst those players is 27-time world champion Billy Mays.
"I'm an old has-been. But I'm still going to make them play to beat me," Mays said.
Mays has been playing for 57 years and said he only plays for one reason.
"I love the game," he said.
The KC Shootout runs from May 5 through 13 at Harrah's North Kansas City Casino, and anyone can play because the tournament is split into several divisions for amateurs to pros.
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