Turnquest reaches the round of 32 in Vegas

On a short break from school, and no longer a junior, Bahamian Dakarai Turnquest is in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he had an opportunity to defend his world title at the 2025 Billiard Congress of America (BCA) Pool League World Championships. The championships, ongoing from February 19 to March 1, are being held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Competing in the Platinum Division of the men’s nine-ball singles as an 18 year old, Turnquest reached the round of 32 before falling to American Vimael Montes Rivera in a hill-hill match.

Turnquest lost that match, 6-5. He then went in the loser’s bracket and won two more matches before falling to American Kevin Mullins in another hill-hill match, losing 6-5 again. “Right now, it just feels good to be back in competition,” said Turnquest.



“I’m just excited that I had an opportunity to defend my title in the nine-ball competition. I feel pretty good, just out there practicing and looking forward to the eight-ball competition.” In total, there were 96 competitors in the nine-ball championship.

Competition in eight-ball singles will commence on Saturday. In the meantime, Turnquest is playing Eight-Ball Scotch Doubles Platinum with Adam Wells from Long Island. They are among 67 teams and have already won their first match, 4-2, over the American team of Matt Krieger and Bernie Elvendahl.

Overall, there are about 20 Bahamians taking part in the global championships. Turnquest, who hails from Deadman’s Cay, Long Island, said he feels confident going into the eight-ball singles competition on Saturday. “I’ve been practicing my break and it’s going pretty good.

The doubles competition is preparing me for eight-ball,” he said. “Nine-ball is a fluctuating game, there are usually a lot of lead switches. I made a few errors and that cost me, but the games were pretty close.

They could have gone either way. I just wanted to have a chance to defend my title. That meant a lot to me — to be here and compete and represent The Bahamas as well as I can.

My family and supporters were enthusiastic and wanted me to compete. I just want to thank God for allowing me to perform, all my family and friends, and everyone who continues to support me. It means a lot.

I enjoy competing at a high level and also doing well in college. I love the game and I love competing.” Turnquest is in his freshman year at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, studying actuarial science.

He achieved a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) in his first semester and was named to the president’s list. “It’s been great so far (in college).

I made a lot of friends and I was able to get an executive council role in a business fraternity. It’s pretty cold but I’m getting used to it. The food could be better, but I’m managing.

Being from The Bahamas, nothing compares to Bahamian food, but I’m managing as best as I can,” said Turnquest. The young Bahamian pool shark said he’s grateful to sponsors who have come on board to assist him, including the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Ellis and Ingrid Major from Long Island, and Pretty Young — an American from Dallas, Texas, who was moved by Turnquest’s story and competitive spirit. The BCA is the governing body for cue sports in the United States and Canada and a regional member organization of the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) — the international governing body for pool (pocket billiards).

.