What Are the Clash Lists?
The Clash Lists are a singles pool league — one player against one player, no teams.
How it works:
- Each List runs in sessions — a session is made up of several rounds
- Within each round, you're assigned one Clash (a head-to-head match) and play it within the round's window
- Your results earn points on the session leaderboard, with prizes paid out at the end of each session
- When a session ends, a new one begins — your Clash Rate and history carry forward
There are currently three formats:
- Clash 8-Ball List
- Clash 9-Ball List
- Clash 10-Ball List
All formats follow the same structure, rules, and philosophy.
How Clashes Are Assigned
- Clashes are assigned every 2 weeks, on Sunday
- Players typically receive one assigned Clash per window
- Repeat opponents are avoided until you have played every other active player
- Once all active players have faced each other, the rotation starts again
Example: With 30 active players, you'd face the same opponent roughly once every 29 Clash cycles.
Players coordinate when and where to play within the window. A short make-up period is allowed if needed.
The goal is variety first, flexibility second, fairness always.
Pausing Participation
Players may pause their participation at any time (vacation, work, injury, etc.).
- Paused players are not assigned Clashes and do not block others in the rotation
- If paused for more than one window (2 weeks), you are temporarily hidden from the leaderboard
- When you return, your Clash history remains intact and you reappear once active again
Pausing is encouraged when needed — it keeps the Clash List fair and moving.
How Races Work (Handicaps & Clash Rate)
Every Clash uses your Clash Rate to set a fair race between the two players.
What is Clash Rate?
Clash Rate is your personal rating. It's seeded from your Fargo rating when you join (or assigned by List Management if you don't have one), then updated after every completed Clash based on whether you outperformed or underperformed expectations.
Because it moves with your results, Clash Rate reflects how you're playing right now — not months ago. You keep a separate Clash Rate for each format (8-Ball, 9-Ball, 10-Ball).
The Race Math (two steps)
A race is calculated from both players' Clash Rates in the format being played:
Step 1 — Base race from your rating band
| Clash Rate | 9-Ball / 10-Ball base | 8-Ball base |
|---|---|---|
| Under 300 | 6 | 4 |
| 300 – 399 | 7 | 5 |
| 400 – 499 | 8 | 6 |
| 500 and up | 9 | 7 |
8-Ball races are shorter — the base is reduced by 2 (never below 2).
Step 2 — Handicap reduction for the lower-rated player
The higher-rated player races to their full base. The lower-rated player's race is reduced based on the gap between the two ratings (never below 2 games):
| Rating gap (higher − lower) | Lower player's reduction |
|---|---|
| Less than 40 | 0 |
| 40 – 79 | −1 |
| 80 – 139 | −2 |
| 140 – 199 | −3 |
| 200 and up | −4 |
Examples
8-Ball — Player A (Clash Rate 450) vs Player B (Clash Rate 350)
- Base races: A is in the 400–499 band → 8-Ball base 6. B is in the 300–399 band → 8-Ball base 5.
- Gap = 450 − 350 = 100 → reduction of 2 for the lower player.
- A (higher) races to 6. B (lower) races to 5 − 2 = 3.
- Result: first to 6 games (A) vs first to 3 games (B).
9-Ball — Player A (Clash Rate 520) vs Player B (Clash Rate 380)
- Base races: A is 500+ → 9-Ball base 9. B is in the 300–399 band → 9-Ball base 7.
- Gap = 520 − 380 = 140 → reduction of 3 for the lower player.
- A (higher) races to 9. B (lower) races to 7 − 3 = 4.
- Result: first to 9 games (A) vs first to 4 games (B).
Even matchup
When both players have a similar Clash Rate, the gap is small and there's little or no reduction — both players race to the same number. Two 450 players in 8-Ball both race to 6.
This keeps races fair, transparent, and based on how you're playing right now.
Playing & Scoring in the App
The app handles the entire Clash — from scheduling to live scoring to final result — right from your phone. No paper scoresheets, no emailing results.
Scheduling
- Coordinate when and where to play directly from the Clash — pick a date, time, and venue
- Venues come from the app's Clash Rooms — registered pool halls and bars with their tables listed
- You can even reserve a specific table at the venue for your Clash
- Once scheduled, the Clash shows on both players' dashboards with the date, time, and location
Live Scoring (Clashes)
- Start the Clash and track the score with simple tap-to-add buttons — no need to keep a paper tally
- Both players' phones stay in sync live, so either player can enter the score and the other sees it instantly
- Your list's rules are available right inside the scoring view if you need a quick reference
Achievements
- Log special shots during the match: 8-on-the-break, 9-on-the-break, and break-and-run
- Achievements feed into your player profile and earn extra lottery tickets for the session prize drawing
Submitting the Result
- When the race is won, both players confirm the final score right in the app
- Once confirmed, your Clash Rate, leaderboard points, and dues update automatically — nothing to mail in
- If something looks off, you can dispute the result before confirming, and List Management can step in
The whole match lifecycle — schedule, play, score, submit — lives inside the app.
How the Leaderboard Works
Each Clash List has its own leaderboard.
You appear on the leaderboard as soon as you complete your first Clash — there is no minimum number of matches required.
Points System
Leaderboard position is based on total points earned across your Clashes:
- 5 points — Win the Clash
- 3 points — Finish one game short of winning
- 1 point — Reach 50% of the games needed
This rewards both winning and competitive play — close losses still earn points.
Tiebreakers
If two players have the same points, the tie is broken by game percentage — the share of games you won out of the total games you needed to win across your Clashes.
Session vs. Lifetime
- The leaderboard defaults to the current session — only Clashes played this session count
- Switch to Lifetime view to see all-time rankings across every session
Every Clash you play counts — play more, climb higher.
Dues & Prizes
Dues
- Dues are set by the players on each list — not fixed by Clash
- Paid when each Clash is played — no upfront buy-ins or season fees
Dues are tied directly to participation, not membership.
How Dues Are Used
Clash takes a small management fee per Clash. The rest goes back to players through two prize pools:
- Winners Pot – Paid out to players based on Clash wins during the session
- Tournaments – Session-end tournaments where players compete for a share of the tournament prize pool
The prize structure is designed so all players — not just top players — have a real chance to earn something back.
Sessions
- Each session is usually 9 rounds, but the players on a list can set their own round count
- Prize pools accumulate throughout the session and are paid out at the end
- When a session ends, there's typically a short break (a couple of weeks) before the next one — list managers announce the start date
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a league?
Yes. The Clash Lists are a singles pool league — one-on-one matches with no teams. Play runs in sessions, with a leaderboard and prizes paid out at the end of each session.
Do I eventually play everyone?
Yes. Everyone plays everyone over time. Repeat opponents are avoided until you've played all other active players, then the rotation starts again.
How often am I expected to play?
Clashes are assigned every two weeks. When you're assigned a Clash, playing it (or making it up shortly after) is expected so others are not blocked.
What if I know I'll be unavailable?
Players may pause participation at any time. Paused players are not assigned Clashes and do not block others.
What happens to the leaderboard if I pause?
If paused for more than one Clash window, you are temporarily hidden from the leaderboard. Your recent results remain intact.
What if I don't have a Fargo rating?
Your Clash Rate is seeded from Fargo when you join. If you don't have one, List Management assigns you a temporary starting rating, which then adjusts automatically as you play and complete Clashes.
How do we know what race to play?
Your race is calculated from both players' Clash Rates in the format being played — the app shows each player's race-to on the Clash. The higher-rated player races to their full base; the lower-rated player's race is reduced based on the rating gap.
What do we submit after the Clash?
Each Clash requires a scoresheet with the race played and the final score. Clash Rates are tracked and updated automatically in the app.
Is there prize money?
Yes. Prize money is distributed at the end of each session through the Winners Pot and Tournaments. All players have a chance to earn back more than they put in.