When did the Big Dance Club get started?

Good question and we're not entirely sure of the answer. It was started by "The Poolmaster" Ed Rivet sometime in the mid-1990's and all picks were sent in by email. The Poolmaster tallied results by hand and send emails during the rounds to keep everyone updated.  

It evolved over time with the second and third tie-breakers and the option to pick "with or opposite" a competitor to enhance the head-to-head competition.  Originally only the Top 3 finishers earned money. But as the Club grew, more top finishers were added to the money list, and finally the Comeback Kid award was added. 

There were a couple of years without the Big Dance Club - 2001 when the Poolmaster was awaiting the birth of a child in the middle of the tourney and the 2020 Covid disruption.

For official purposes, the 2022 tournament was designated as the official 25th Big Dance Club competition. After 25 years, The Poolmaster, for the first time, finally won the competition he started. 

•  No competitor has ever been Champion twice. In the 28 years of the Club's history, we've had 28 different first place finishers. And there are several members of the club who have been competing at least 20 years and have been Champion once. 

• There is an interesting "Beginner's Luck" phenomena in the Club where one or more first time competitors always end up in the Top 3. Several Champions have been crowned in their "Rookie" year of competition.

• The all-time top finishing Champion is shared by two competitors at 53 of 63 correct games selected. For 15+ years, Bill Kean, held the record. That was due to an unmatchable opening round where he lost the very first game on Thursday, then scorched a perfect 31 of 32 games to complete the round, never looking back. In 2025, when there were very few upsets, Hunter Sox, a first-timer in the Club, not only was Champion, he tied the all-time finish record of 53 games. Prior to 2025, only Bill Kean had broken the 49 game barrier. But 5 competitors finished with 50 or more in 2025. A fluke or a new trend? 

• Despite not ever having repeat a Champion, many competitors have finished in the Top 3 more than once.  The most prolific Top 3 finisher is Paul Long, who had a hot streak in his early years in the Club, now claiming 6 overall Top 3 finishes - 1 Championship and two 2nd place finishes and three 3rd place finishes. Another long-time competitor, Champion and multi-Top 3 finisher is Bill Peper, whose nephew Joe Peper is also a Champ and multi-Top 3 finisher.