Killer Thursdays: A New Weekly Pool Night in Ubud at The Melting Pot Saloon
Three lives. One shot per turn. One winner takes it all.
Looking for a pool night in Ubud with a little more excitement than your usual game of eight-ball?
Every Thursday from 8:00 PM, The Melting Pot Saloon hosts Killer Thursdays, a weekly social pool competition where players go head-to-head in a fast-moving game of survival, strategy, and the occasional lucky shot.
Whether you're a regular at the pool table, a casual player looking for something different, or a traveler hoping to meet new people in Ubud, Killer Thursdays is open to everyone.
The rules are simple enough for beginners to pick up, but there's plenty of pressure when your last life is on the line.
And with just IDR 20,000 per person, per game, there's a prize pot waiting for whoever survives until the end.
What Is Killer Pool?
Killer Pool is a multiplayer variation of pool where everyone competes individually rather than playing in teams.
Unlike traditional eight-ball pool, there are no assigned stripes or solids, and you don't have to nominate which ball or pocket you're aiming for. Any object ball on the table is fair game, including the black eight-ball.
The challenge isn't to clear your own set of balls. It's to stay alive longer than everyone else.
Each player starts with three lives and takes turns attempting to pot a ball. Make a legal pot, and you keep your lives. Miss or foul, and you lose one.
Lose all three lives, and you're eliminated from that game.
As players gradually run out of lives, the competition gets tighter until just one player remains. But there's a final twist: the last surviving player must still legally pot one final ball to claim victory.
It's a game where beginners can challenge experienced players, lucky shots can save the day, and even the most confident player can find themselves one miss away from elimination.
IDR 20K Entry — Winner Takes the Entire Prize Pot
Killer Thursdays keeps things simple.
Every player contributes IDR 20,000 to the prize pot for each game they enter, and the winner takes the entire amount collected for that game.
For example:
Players | Total Prize Pot |
5 players | IDR 100,000 |
8 players | IDR 160,000 |
10 players | IDR 200,000 |
15 players | IDR 300,000 |
The more people who join a game, the bigger the prize pot. There are no second-place or third-place payouts. Only one player walks away with the winnings.
Once a game finishes, everyone is welcome to join another. Each game has its own entry and prize pot, so you can play one round or keep coming back for more throughout the evening.
If you arrive after a game has already started, you can join the next one. There are no mid-game entries, extra-life purchases, or buybacks after elimination.
How to Play Killer Pool at The Melting Pot
Never played Killer Pool before? Don't worry. You don't need tournament experience or advanced pool skills to join.
Here's how our version works.
1. Everyone Starts With Three Lives
At the beginning of each game, every player receives three lives.
We draw numbers from a jug to determine the playing order, and the host keeps track of everyone's remaining lives throughout the game.
2. Take Your Shot and Stay Alive
After the break, players take turns making one shot each.
Successfully pot any object ball without fouling, and you keep all your remaining lives.
Miss your shot or commit a foul, and you lose one life.
Even if you pot multiple balls in a single shot, your turn ends and play moves to the next person.
3. Any Ball Counts — Even the Black
Forget the usual stripes-versus-solids rules.
You can pot any object ball, including the black eight-ball, at any point during the game.
There's no need to call your shot or nominate a pocket. If the ball goes in legally, it counts.
And yes, lucky shots are absolutely welcome!
4. Watch Out for the White Ball
Potting the white ball or sending it off the table costs you one life.
When this happens, the next player can place the white ball anywhere on the table before taking their shot.
A foul costs a maximum of one life per shot, even if more than one thing goes wrong.
5. Run Out of Lives and You're Out
Every missed shot or foul brings you one step closer to elimination.
Once you've lost all three lives, your game is over.
You can relax, watch the remaining players battle it out, and enter the next game when it begins.
6. The Last Player Must Make the Final Pot
Surviving longer than everyone else is not quite enough.
To claim the prize pot, the final remaining player must successfully and legally pot one last ball.
Miss or foul that final attempt, and the game continues under the host's final-shot procedure until a winner is decided.
Only after that winning shot does the last player standing take home the entire prize pot.
More Than Just a Pool Competition — A Social Night in Ubud
One of the best things about Killer Thursdays is that you don't need to arrive with a group.
Unlike team competitions, Killer Pool is an individual game. You can show up on your own, put your name down, and immediately become part of a group of players sharing the same table.
It's an easy way to meet fellow travelers, expats, locals, and anyone else looking for something fun to do in Ubud on a Thursday night.
And because every game is a fresh start, getting knocked out doesn't mean your evening is over.
Grab a drink, watch the remaining players, enjoy the atmosphere, and jump back in when the next game begins.
There's no need to be a professional player, and you certainly don't need to win to have a good time.
Why Join Killer Thursdays?
Easy to join: No team or playing partner required. Come alone or bring your friends.
Beginner-friendly: The rules are straightforward, and you can pot any object ball on the table.
Affordable entry: Just IDR 20,000 per person for each game.
Winner-takes-all prizes: Every entry goes into the prize pot, and the winner claims the lot.
Multiple games throughout the night: Get eliminated? There's always another chance in the next game.
A great social atmosphere: Meet new people, enjoy some friendly competition, and spend your Thursday evening at The Melting Pot Saloon.
Killer Thursdays — Event Details
Event | Killer Thursdays — Killer Pool |
Location | The Melting Pot Saloon, Ubud, Bali |
Day | Every Thursday |
Starting time | 8:00 PM (Bali time) |
Entry | IDR 20,000 per person, per game |
Winner takes the entire game's prize pot | |
Format | Individual multiplayer Killer Pool |
Experience | All skill levels welcome |
Games continue throughout the evening, with new rounds starting after previous games finish.
Whether you want to try just one game or keep playing for the rest of the night, you're welcome to join in.
Killer Thursdays Ubud — Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know how to play Killer Pool?
Not at all! Beginners are welcome, and the host can explain the rules before you start. Basic pool experience helps, but you don't need to be an expert.
How much does it cost to play?
Each game costs IDR 20,000 per person. Every player's contribution goes directly into that game's prize pot.
How much can I win?
It depends on how many players join. For example, with ten players contributing IDR 20,000 each, the winner receives IDR 200,000.
Can I join if I come alone?
Absolutely! Killer Pool is an individual competition, so you don't need a team or partner. It's also a great opportunity to meet new people in Ubud.
What happens if I lose all three lives?
You're eliminated from the current game, but you're welcome to enter the next one by paying the new game's IDR 20,000 entry.
Can I join a game that's already started?
New players join between games rather than during an ongoing game. If you arrive while everyone is playing, you can wait for the next round.
Do I need to choose stripes or solids?
No. You can legally pot any object ball, including the black eight-ball. You don't need to nominate a pocket either.
Does potting the black eight-ball win the game?
No. The black is treated like any other object ball. Potting it legally keeps you alive but doesn't automatically win the game.
What happens if all the balls are potted?
The balls are re-racked, and the next player in the established order breaks. Everyone keeps their remaining lives, and the same game continues.
When is Killer Thursdays held?
Every Thursday starting at 8:00 PM at The Melting Pot Saloon in Ubud, Bali.
Ready to Test Your Three Lives?
Think you've got what it takes to outlast everyone at the table? Or maybe you're just looking for a different way to spend your Thursday night in Ubud?
Either way, Killer Thursdays at The Melting Pot Saloon is the place to be. Bring your friends, come solo, meet some new faces, and see how long you can survive.
Every Thursday from 8:00 PM. IDR 20K per player, per game. Winner takes all. See you at the table!
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