Gold Rush Billiards in Yuba City offers a third space | News

Powell said that they met about seven years ago at an eight-ball line tournament that the business holds on Monday nights. 

“If you win, you move up a table, and if you lose, you go down a table,” Smith explained about the tournament’s style. “Basically, at the end of the night, the players who have won the most games get the most money. So it’s a buy-in tournament.” 

Both Powell and Smith have won before. 

“There’s an addictive element to pool,” Smith said. “When you make a ball, you actually get an endorphin reward.” 

Smith said that there’s such a gratifying sensation. 

“And you get an adrenaline rush when you pocket balls,” Smith said. “But it’s a healthy addiction; it’s something that’s healthy. It’s creative. There’s geometry and math involved – it’s physical and mental.” 

There is also a psychological component, Smith said. 

“If you lose your cool, you lose your composure at any time. This game punishes you when you tighten your muscles up,” Smith said.

Despite the earnest efforts of both men, Smith admits that Powell is the better player. Powell has been playing for decades. 

“It’s just fun to play pool with your friends,” Powell said.

The pair agreed that they like going to Gold Rush Billiards because it has nice equipment, it’s clean, the location is good, and the people are friendly. 

All the regulars are just a huge group of friends who come to Gold Rush Billiards to unwind, Raj Kang, a co-owner of the business, said. Kang originally started off as a customer of the business along with his cousin. 

“We came as soon as it opened because, I mean, there’s not a whole lot to do in town,” Kang said. “As we were eating and drinking and playing and stuff like that, we would just talk about what we would do if we owned this place. Because it wasn’t the greatest service, or the beer was a little warm, but we put up with it because it was fun inside.” 

Kang took over with his cousin in 2019. Kang said they added more TVs, upgraded the offered menu, switched beer systems and expanded to a new room. 

Surprisingly, Kang and his cousin were both bad at pool, but they learned to like it quickly.

While it can be intimidating to be new at something, Kang said that the vibe in the pool hall is mellow.

The goal for the business is to be a place for the community and a staple of the town.

“I don’t want to be another statistic of a loss,” Kang said. “It’s up to our community to keep us alive.” 

In turn, Kang said, as they get busier, they’ll be able to offer lower pricing and more events. 

Gold Rush Billiards is located at 960 Gray Ave. in Yuba City.