Poles will be snapping and balls will be cracking in Libby tonight as the 20th annual Tom Scott Memorial Pool Tournament kicks off at three local bars.

The tournament, organized by Brian Kair and Patty Luedecke, is a casual event intended to honor the memory of their friend, Tom Scott, who was killed in an automobile crash more than 20 years ago.

“He was a good Libby boy,” Kair said of Scott. “He was an outdoors guy, loved to fish and loved to play pool.”

The tournament starts Friday evening and has divisions for both men and women. Contestants will shoot at the VFW Club, The Mint and the Pastime Lounge. The top eight men and the top four women from the early rounds will compete in the finals on Sunday.

Kair said 80 percent of the money raised from the tournament goes back to the players in the form of prizes, the rest covers most of the costs, although organizers usually end up putting in some of their own money.

In addition to being a good time, the tournament is also good for Libby’s flagging economy, drawing people from around the state and region to town for the event.

Janelle Campbell, owner of The Country Inn in Libby, said the tournament has resulted in a bit of extra business for her motel in what is usually a slower time of the year.

“We’ve booked out between a quarter and a third of our rooms for the tournament,” she said. “It’s a nice boost for the winter season.”

Paul Bunn, owner of The Venture Inn, said his motel is experiencing an upswing as well.

“We’re getting some reservations for the pool tournament,” he said.

Jim Hayes, owner and operator of A Perfect Assh cigar shop, said he ordered a large number of extra cigars in order to accommodate the jump in business he expects from the tournament.

The event kicks off Friday with a mini-tournament and full action starts at 9 a.m. Saturday. Entry fees are $25, with another $10 for green fees. While the final amount of the purse is determined by the number of participants, Kair said they’re aiming for $600 for the men’s winner and $400 for the women.