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Cameron Cummings demonstrates intense concentration during a practice session at Rack and Break in Sulphur Springs ahead of his trip to Cyprus near Greece for the World Junior 9-Ball Championships. Staff photo by Tammy Vinson -
Cameron Cummings of Sulphur Springs
Local teen reps home at world pool championships
Cameron Cummings is a chip off the old block — well, cube, that is.
The 15-year-old, known as Ice Cube, learned to play billiards from his dad, Jamie, who goes by Ice Man, at age 6.
“I wasn’t as tall as a yard stick,” Cummings said. “I had a stool I used to reach the table.”
Cummings fell in love with the game and has been playing ever since. In July, he and his brother both competed in the Billiards Education Foundation Junior National 9-Ball Championship.
“It was an amazing experience,” Cummings said. “ I got to meet my favorite pro player, Joshua Fuller. I even got to play him and his girlfriend.”
Placing third in a national championship is impressive all by itself, and that victory has led to a huge opportunity.
Cummings, accompanied by his parents and coaches, Jamie and Wendy, and older brother, Cody, leaves Monday to join the rest of Team USA on the trip of a lifetime — the World Pool-Billiard Association World Junior 9-Ball Championships on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
The family will spend the next 31 hours in flight, arriving around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday (Cyprus time). Competition begins Thursday. Dad Jamie will be live streaming the tournament on Facebook.
Cameron is one of two Texans on Team USA. The other Texan is a 13-year-old boy from New Braunfels who will play in the 14 and under bracket.
Cameron’s brother, Cody, has set up a Go-FundMe page for the Cummings family, who is responsible for all expenses for the trip.