May/June 2008 - Inside Pool Magazine

Transcription

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Master Chalk.
No Doubt.
Our 88th Year
www.tweeten.us
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May/June 2008
CONTENTS
INSTRUCTION
On the Cover
InsidePOOL's 2007 Player of
the Year Shane Van Boening
swept yet another event this
year, taking down the Diamond
Open 9-Ball Professional
Players Championship, held at
the 16th Annual Super Billiards
Expo. Van Boening came out
the 13-7 winner in an extended
final match against Shaun
Wilkie, the only player to deal
"The South Dakota Kid" a loss
during the tournament.
18 Grady’s Grad School
Three Jersey Red Favorites
20 This Is Your Captain Speaking
Fortitude
22 Pro Pool Workout
For the full story, please visit
page 42.
The Smallest Possible Point
24 Tricknology
T
IN
M
The Money is in the Banks
26 Beat People With a Stick
The Myth of Topspin
28 According to Allison
Always Learning
FEATURES
40
30 First-Place Finish for Ferrell
Captures the Seminole Tour Season Opener
32
33
34
34
35
36
36
37
38
38
39
40
42
16th Annual Super Billiards Expo Surpasses All Expectations
The Cue Parade
TAP’s Poison-ous Rally in the Valley
Jeung Upsets Finals Veteran Panju
for Women’s Amateur Championship
17-Year-Old Futrell Captures Amateur Open Championship
Rodriguez Grinds Out the Seniors Championships
Adolini’s Fearless Play Wins 14 & Under Division
Barney Brings Home Another 18 & Under Trophy
Forbes and Smith Make the Most of Second Chances
Clatterbuck Captures Pro-Am
Dimick Takes Trick Shot Title
Kim in Command of Fellow Pros
Valley Forge Victory Goes to Van Boening
Runner-Up Wilkie Wins Over the Crowd
4 InsidePOOL Magazine
| May/June 2008
M
A
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THE EGYPTIANS USED TURQUOISE
IN BURIAL MASKS. YOUR OPPONENTS
MAY FIND THAT IRONIC.
ns
ip
Introducing Special Editions 16 & 17. Engineered for deadly accuracy.
In another 2,000 years, they will serve as evidence of an advanced civilization. Using natural Birdseye Maple, Ebony,
Micarta and, yes, even genuine Turquoise, J. Pechauer has crafted and hand signed just 100 each of his most stunning cues yet.
And with your choice of a 3142 or Z2 high-performance shaft, Special Editions 16 and 17 will also fulfill your most primal urge
to destroy. Rare beauty, revolutionary technology – imagine owning the treasured artifacts of tomorrow, today.
SE16
www.predatorcues.com
1.888.314.4111
SE17
CUES837 • SE 16&17 MODELS • INSIDE POOL • 8.75”X11.375” • CMYK • 1/4” BLEED
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Pool on TV
(continued on page 10)
All times are Eastern Time Zone – check local listings for changes.
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic
Luther Lassiter vs. Irving Crane
Willie Mosconi vs. Babe Cranfield
2007 EnjoyPool.com Women’s 9-Ball Championship Semifinals
1994 WPBA National 9-Ball Championships Semifinals
2007 Cuetec Cues U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship Quarterfinal #3
2007 Cuetec Cues U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship Semifinal #2
2007 Cuetec Cues U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship Finals
Willie Mosconi vs. Cowboy Jimmy Moore
Cowboy Jimmy Moore vs. Luther Lassiter
2002 Trick Shot Magic
Babe Cranfield vs. U.J. Puckett
Joey Balsis vs. Irving Crane
Luther Lassiter vs. Cicero Murphy
1983 Minnesota Fats vs. Luther Lassiter
1983 Willie Mosconi vs. Irving Crane
1983 Willie Mosconi vs. U.J. Puckett
1983 Minnesota Fats vs. Irving Crane
1983 Minnesota Fats vs. Cowboy Jimmy Moore
| May/June 2008
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Pool on TV
2004 Trick Shot Challenge Semifinal #2
1983 Cowboy Jimmy Moore vs. U.J. Puckett
2007 EnjoyPool.com Women’s 9-Ball Championship Semifinals
2007 EnjoyPool.com Women’s 9-Ball Championship Finals
1983 U.J. Puckett vs. Irving Crane
1983 Minnesota Fats vs. Jimmy Caras
U.J. Puckett vs. Minnesota Fats
Cowboy Jimmy Moore vs. Joey Balsis
U.J. Puckett vs. Babe Cranfield
2005 Trick Shot Challenge Finals
2005 Trick Shot Magic Semifinal #1
Willie Mosconi vs. Minnesota Fats
Luther Lassiter vs. Joey Balsis
U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships
U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships
1993 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships
1993 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships
1993 Pro Tour Championship Semifinal #1
| May/June 2008
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www.InsidePOOLmag.com 11
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Pool on TV
1993 Pro Tour Championship Semifinal #2
1993 Pro Tour Championship Finals
1994 PBT U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship Finals
1994 Challenge of Champions Semifinals
1994 Challenge of Champions Semifinals
1994 Challenge of Champions Finals
1983 Minnesota Fats vs. Irving Crane
1983 Minnesota Fats vs. Cowboy Jimmy Moore
1983 Minnesota Fats vs. Jimmy Caras
Willie Mosconi vs. Minnesota Fats
1995 Challenge of Champions Semifinal #1
1996 International Challenge of Champions Semifinal #1
1996 International Challenge of Champions Semifinal #2
1996 International Challenge of Champions Finals
1983 Willie Mosconi vs. Irving Crane
1983 Willie Mosconi vs. U.J. Puckett
Legends of the Fall – Hall of Fame Trick Shots
1998 Tournament of Champions Semifinal #2
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Inside
Pool on TV
1998 Tournament of Champions Finals
Cowboy Jimmy Moore vs. Luther Lassiter
1999 Tournament of Champions Finals
1999 International Challenge of Champions
Trick Shot Magic
Trick Shot Magic
WPBA San Diego Classic Semifinal #1
WPBA San Diego Classic Semifinal #2
WPBA San Diego Classic Finals
Trick Shot Magic Billiards
Sudden Death 7-Ball
Sudden Death 7-Ball
Sudden Death 7-Ball
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65-May/June-2008
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ADVERTISER DIRECTORY
To contact any of our advertisers, visit their website, send an e-mail, or give them a call.
Adam Cue Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
www.theadamcueco.com
Allen Hopkins Productions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
www.AllenHopkinsProductions.com
Allison’s World Champion Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
www.AllisonFisher.com
American Cuemakers Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
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American Poolplayers Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
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Aramith Fusion Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
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Atlas Billiard Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
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Bebob Publishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
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Billiard Aim Trainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
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Billiard Congress of America . . . . . . . . . .15, 63, Inside Back Cover
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Billiard Warehouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
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Billiards Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
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Billiards911.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
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Blue Book Publications, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
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Blue Diamond Chalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
www.bluediamondchalk.com
CaliforniaTables.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
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Chadam Innovations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
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Champion Shuffleboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
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Cheap Shot Billiards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
www.cheapshotbilliards.com
College of Pool & Billiards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
www.Cue-U.com
Cue & Case Sales, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
www.cueandcase.com
Cue Cube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
www.cuecube.com
Cue Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
www.cuedoctor.com
Cue Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
www.cuetable.com
CueStix International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45, Back Cover
www.scorpioncues.com
Definitive Synergy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
www.definitivesynergy.com
Diamond Billiard Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
www.diamondbillards.net
DLT Billiards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
www.DLTbilliards.com
DMI Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48, 49
www.dmisports.com
Escalade Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65, 69
www.escaladesports.com
Falcon Cues Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
www.falconcues.com
Franks Center, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
www.frankscenterinc.com
Grady Mathews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
www.gradymathews.com
Great American Recreation Equipment, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
www.GreatAmericanRec.com
| May/June 2008
Hampton Ridge Billiards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
www.hrbilliards.com
Hatch Billiards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
www.hatchbilliards.com
Hustlin USA Clothing Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
www.hustlinusa.com
International Cuemakers Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
www.internationalcuemakers.com
Iwan Simonis, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Front Cover
www.SimonisCloth.com
J&J America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
www.jjcue.com
Jacoby Custom Cues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
www.jacobycue.com
Jim Murnak Cue Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
www.JimMurnakCueCases.com
John W. Loftus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
[email protected]
KwikFire Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2, 3
www.kwikfireinc.com
Longoni Cues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
www.longonicues.com
McDermott Handcrafted Cues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
www.mcdermottcue.com
Merit Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
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Monk Billiard Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
www.themonk.com
Mueller Recreational Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
www.poolndarts.com
OB Cues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
www.obcues.com
Omega Billiards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
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Ozone Billiards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
www.ozonebilliards.com
Poison Billiards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
www.poisonbilliards.com
Predator Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
www.predatorcues.com
RAM Gameroom Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
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Rockwell Billiards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
www.RockwellBilliards.com
Samm’s Side Pocket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
www.SammsPocket.com
Seminole Pro Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
www.seminolesportsmanagement.com
Seybert’s Billiard Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
www.seyberts.com
Solid Citizen, Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
www.solidcitizenltd.com
Tiger Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35, 37
www.tigerproducts.com
Tom Simpson, Billiard Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
www.poolclinics.com
Tweeten Fibre Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
www.tweeten.us
VIGMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
www.vigma.com
Viking Cue Mfg., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
www.vikingcue.com
The Winning Stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
www.thewinningstroke.com
W. T. Mali & Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
www.malicloth.com
65-May/June-2008
RY
a call.
. . . . .81
. . . . .90
. . . . 89
. . . . .95
nt Cover
. . . . .79
. . . . .75
. . . . .59
. . . .84
. . .2, 3
.12, 14
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. . . . 65
. . . . .93
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.35, 37
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65-May/June-2008
I
INSTRUCTION
4/11/08
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GRADY’S GRAD SCHOOL
BY GRADY MATHEWS
Three Jersey Red Favorites
I was lucky enough to not only get to play Red many times but
also to be able to watch some of his famous matches against
Ronnie Allen and other greats. It was hard to view a Jersey
Red match without learning something. He had a flair, a certain exuberance that made a total package of everything you
would want in a mighty warrior. He also had a terrific sense of
humor.
Red was creative, courageous, patient, and incredibly talented. He certainly was one of the greatest all-around players
who ever lived. Here are three of his inventions:
This double-kiss shot in Diagram 1 is probably the most
famous and recognized one-pocket shot of all time. It was also
the highlight shot of Red’s exhibitions.
As the balls lie, cut the 1 ball thinly to the right, using two tips
of right-hand english and a fairly slow speed. The cue ball
moves the 1 ball off the rail slightly and then comes off the
side rail to double kiss the object ball into Pocket A.
This great shot is workable from different angles and distances. I recommend practicing it until you know when and
where it will work.
In Diagram 2, the 11 ball lies in an awkward position for
a bank shot, and getting shape on the 2 ball is difficult. Red’s
solution was to cut the 11 ball slightly to the left of a straightahead hit. This causes the cue ball to travel slowly to the end
rail and back out three or four inches. The idea then is for the
11 ball to kiss off the cue ball, sending it into Red’s pocket.
The cue ball then travels one rail and out for position on the 2
ball.
I’ve never used this actual shot in a high-stakes game, nor
have I seen any great one-pocket players execute it under pressure. In other words, it’s not a high enough percentage play for
me. But if it ever arises in a game situation, if the rent money
isn’t riding on it, I’d shoot it just to see if I could make it and
to honor Red’s memory.
Red liked to shoot this shot in Diagram 3 hard. He figured that if he overcut the shot, the 1 ball would go four rails
up the table, and if he contacted the ball too thickly, it might
travel four rails and end up close to Red’s pocket.
Either way, the cue ball ended up down on End Rail R. I
especially like this way of playing this shot if I’m playing on
a table that rolls off.
I hope you have enjoyed learning these Jersey Red shots.
If you notice one of these and then execute it properly, just
cast an upward glance above and maybe wink at Red. He’ll be
watching.t
Grady “The Professor” Mathews is one of pool’s most
recognized figures. His success at the table has opened doors for
him as technical advisor to movie producers, commentator on
Accu-Stats video productions, producer of billiard instructional
video tapes, and as an author. Grady has won several one-pocket
world titles and recently became the proprietor of “Grady’s”
poolroom in Lexington, SC.
| May/June 2008
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
7:33 AM
Page 19
65-May/June-2008
INSTRUCTION
4/11/08
7:34 AM
W
Page 20
THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING
BY JOHN W. LOFTUS
Fortitude
When it comes to trying to master the
game of pool, there are a plethora of mental qualities and physical skills we must
possess. We need hand-eye coordination,
the knowledge to know how to hit whitey
with the exact speed to make a shot and
get shape on the next ball, and when to be
offensive or defensive. We need a good
memory so we don’t make the same mistakes over and over, stamina so that we
can spend long periods of quality practice
Other players don’t seem to have this
problem at all. They’ll beat anyone they
can without a hint of remorse or a second
thought. That’s fortitude! It’s the determination not to break down under any circumstances and maintain the confidence
to win when given the chance no matter
who you’re playing against.
Now that we’ve identified the problem, here are some things you can do to
help if you lack this quality. The first step
Confidence is something that
affects your body, so realize
first of all that anyone can
be beaten—anyone.
time, the ability to concentrate so we’re
not distracted by outside influences, and
the intense desire not to lose. The list goes
on and on.
There’s another quality I’d like to
highlight. I’ll call it fortitude. I’ve noticed
some people have it, and others need to
learn to develop it. I associate this with the
oft-repeated phrase we’ve heard around
the pool halls: “He’s got me in the head.”
You’ve heard it. And you’ve probably
used it. It’s used when a pool player doesn’t seem to be able to beat another player
for one psychological reason or another.
Maybe this player has beaten him so often
before that he doesn’t think he can win.
Maybe it’s because he likes him too much
to beat him. Or maybe it’s because it’s a
girl he’s playing against, or something
else. Even when he knows he’s got ‘em
beat he’ll make a blunder of some sort and
give the game or the match away.
| May/June 2008
is always to recognize the problem for
what it is. You may lack the desire to win.
If so, you don’t really mind losing after
all. Or you may want to win too badly
such that adversely affects your game.
You may also be led astray by your opponent into playing at his tempo or more
aggressively than you’re used to because
he’s more aggressive. In any case, you’re
thinking about more things than you
should be. You’re thinking more about
him than the game itself. You’re thinking
about all of those times he beat you.
You’re thinking about what it might cost
you if you win. If you win, higher expectations will be placed on you by others to
do it again. If you lose, you’ll be embarrassed. Recognizing the problem is half
the battle.
How do you clear your head so you
can play the game? In talking it over with
Tom Simpson, he said, “Feelings, such as
fear or confidence, are physical. They are
body states we experience as mental
states. A posture of confidence is confidence. Rather than trying to work on feelings through your thoughts, it might be
easier and more direct to try to change
what your body is expressing.” In other
words, to change your mind, change your
body. Act confident. Feel the confidence
in your body in how you walk, how you
chalk, how you plant your feet firmly
before a shot.
Don’t let your mind focus on who
you’re playing. You could consider the
layout of the pool table like a puzzle to be
solved, even if you had no opponent. So
solve it. When you’re at the table you’re in
control. Don’t worry about your status,
either. Just concentrate on the one shot in
front of you. You’ve made it a bunch of
times before, so you know you can do it.
Now just do it. That’s the only thing you
should be focusing on. The outcome of the
game shouldn’t matter when you’re on the
shot in front of you. And take each shot
seriously. There are no easy shots in pool.
Every single shot has been missed at one
time or another. Take them all seriously
and consider them all to be hard shots—all
of them.
But above all, remember that your
opponent will beat you if he has the
chance, and he’ll do so without any
remorse. He also wants a good challenge.
That’s why he plays pool in the first place.
Give him what he wants. When you beat
him you did him a favor, for he’s learned
something. So do him a favor. Beat him!t
“Captain” John W. Loftus, of Angola,
IN, has been the captain of a number of firstplace pool teams and is presently a skill
level 7 in the APA 8-ball and a skill level 9 in
the APA 9-ball leagues. He has played on as
many as seven different pool teams a
session, including VNEA, BCA, and ACS.
John is the author of How to Be the Captain
of a Winning APA 8-Ball Team and has competed in Las Vegas three times in the APA
Nationals.
Contact
him
at
[email protected].
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
7:35 AM
Page 21
INSTRUCTION
65-May/June-2008
I
4/11/08
7:37 AM
Page 22
PRO POOL WORKOUT
BY BOB HENNING
The Smallest Possible Point
If you have read books on pool or taken
lessons from instructors, you have probably heard the phrase “focus on the
smallest possible point.” In most situations this refers to finding a precise contact point on the object ball and focusing
on it during the aiming sequence.
I’ve never been a big proponent of
this idea, as is seems unnatural to me to
focus so intently on a spot that’s off to
the side (except on straight-in shots)
from a super-straight aim line. Besides,
I can’t really see a “point” on an object
ball unless some part of the number happens to be right where I need it. I can
“visualize” a pinpoint spot on the ball,
of course, but how dependable and
begin their practice strokes. They are
guaranteeing the accuracy of the stroke so
that they don’t inadvertently apply english (and deflection) to the cue ball. They
don’t do this by imagining something
that’s not there, but by looking at what is
really there. They line up the bottom
point of the cue ball (where it sits on the
cloth) and the top point of the cue tip.
That puts them exactly on the vertical axis
of the cue ball. It also gives them a pinpoint focus and a laser-like aim line.
Let’s look again at the metaphor of
marksman and rifle that I used to demonstrate the straight aiming line in last
month’s column. The expert shooter
doesn’t just aim the barrel of his firearm
You don’t aim a curved line
at the object ball, you aim a
straight line that has been
corrected for accuracy.
accurate is an imaginary point on the
curved surface of an object ball?
Personally, I’d rather see something
that’s really there … like the relationship between the cue tip, cue ball, and
object ball. Think of the phrase “halfball hit” and you’ll know what I mean.
There is a tiny point that you can
focus on to sharpen your aim, but it’s
not on the object ball, it’s on the cue tip.
Have you ever seen one of the great
Filipino players prepare for a long, firm
draw shot? If so, you may have noticed
that they place the cue tip on the cloth at
the base of the cue ball before they
| May/June 2008
at the target. After he lines up the back
and front sights, he focuses on aiming one
single point—the front sight—at the target. In fact, the front sight on many rifles
is a single metallic bead, which is where
the phrase “taking a good bead” comes
from.
If you can see how the marksman’s
results would suffer if he only aimed the
barrel at the target, then you’ll understand
what’s happening to you if you’re only
aiming the cue stick. It’s too wide to provide a laser-like line to your target. You
need a precision front sight, and that’s the
highest point on the edge of the cue tip.
Learn to aim that point down the straight
line of aim and you’ll soon be playing
top-notch pool.
Working with this idea will also
refine your stroke. When you’re aiming
the whole cue stick, you can have
wavering in your stroke that you don’t
see because the error factor is within the
dimensions of the cue stick. When you
start aiming through the smallest possible point, these inconsistencies become
clear and you can eventually eliminate
them. The steps to do this are easy and
natural, but it will take a few weeks to
incorporate into your game.
First, learn to focus on this point of
the cue tip as you address the cue ball.
Then work on projecting it (down the
straight aim line) through the cue ball to
your aiming target. The third step is to
focus on it when you have the cue stick
pulled fully back. Then follow it
through space (in a super-straight line)
as you address the cue ball. This is
where you’ll eliminate a lot of the stroke
errors that cause you to miss certain
long shots. The last step is to put it all
together and work at it until it becomes
natural and automatic. Pretty soon
you’ll be “taking a bead” and shooting
like an expert marksman.
Good luck & good shootin’!t
Bob Henning is the author of The
Pro Book, widely considered to be the
most advanced training resource for
competitive pool players. It brings the
latest techniques of the top coaches and
trainers of all sports into pool. It is
intended for those who wish to prepare
physically, mentally, and psychologically
for pool competition. Bob is also the
author of “The Pro Book Video Series,” a
complete, on-the-table training system,
and he recently released The Advanced
Pro Book. In addition, he has authored
Cornbread Red, a biography of the
colorful Billy “Cornbread Red” Burge.
65-May/June-2008
4/14/08
5:51 PM
Page 23
65-May/June-2008
INSTRUCTION
4/14/08
4:52 PM
B
Page 24
TRICKNOLOGY
BY JASON LYNCH
The Money is in the Banks
Bob Seger plays on the jukebox, overshadowed by the occasional crack of a rack
being scattered, and the smell of smoke
permeates the air. In a local tournament I
am sitting down, ready to jump up at the
moment my opponent misses, to hit my
next shot. He looks the table over and
Because I am a trick shot artist, and sometimes you have to try a goofy shot.
Allow me to introduce myself. My name
is Jason Lynch, and I am known as “The
Michigan Kid.” I am currently ranked fourteenth in the world in trick shots, and I’m
scratching and fighting to climb up. I started
Q
X
ball is in the jaws of Pocket C. The cue ball
is in hand behind and to the right of the
headspot.
Shoot the cue ball as shown with top
left english and a firm stroke. You are
looking for about a half-ball Hard
hit on
hit the 1
A
lots the
of cue
with
ball. The top left english will
allow
high left english
ball to go long enough to pocket the 9 in
Pocket C. If you happen to collide with the
2 ball, adjust the hit on the 1 to be a little
fuller. I have seen this shot made two
ways—the first by the cue ball making the
turn before the 2 gets there and the second
by hitting the 1 ball fuller to cause the 2 to
be gone before the cue ball takes the first
and second rail. Try it for yourself and let
me know how you did.t
P
Jason Lynch grew up playing pool
in Michigan . In his early 20s he started playing in the VNEA and placed as
high as 16th in 8 ball and 9 ball. In
2005, he won the Michigan VNEA speed
pool contest. He has also pocketed
11,100 and 12,011 balls in 24 hours as
fundraisers for the American Cancer
Society¢s Relay for Life. In 2007 he had
his best finish to date, placing sixth at
the Artistic Pool U.S. Open and winning
the stroke category.
Jason is ranked 14th in the world
by the WPA. His sponsors are Shelti
Pool Tables, Seybert’s Billiard Supply,
Pechauer Cues, Dieckman Cues, OB-1
Shafts, and Leisure Elements. Visit his
website at www.michigankid.com.
plays a safety and rolls the rock between
the rail and his ball, leaving me a .25-inch
gap.
He smiles and walks away thinking
that the game is a lock. I look the shot over
and walk over and grab my jump cue, all
the while knowing his reaction. “What are
you gonna do with that?” he asks. I say in
passing that I am going to jump it. “Yeah,
right! Good luck!” As I see my last object
ball hanging in the side, I prepare to pinch
the cue ball between the tip of my cue and
the cloth. One stroke, two strokes … Did I
make it? Nope. Did I clear the ball? Yup, it
jumped about 2 feet straight up. Did I win
the game? Nope. Does it matter? Nope.
| May/June 2008
out in local tourneys and playing APA, BCA,
VNEA, and a bunch of other acronyms that
seem to include every letter in the alphabet.
After hard work and a love of the game (and
I do mean “game” because I have a lot of fun
horsing around), I am doing what I love in my
spare time.
This column will be a month-to-month
journey through the most popular trick shots,
as well as a few of my crazy creations, with a
few hints and hopefully some humor thrown
in. That being said, this month’s shot is the
very first shot in our professional program.
The set-up is pretty straight forward: the
2 ball is on the footspot, and the 1 ball is
frozen to it and in line with pocket 1. The 9
.
My Pocket
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
7:41 AM
Page 25
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65-May/June-2008
INSTRUCTION
4/11/08
7:42 AM
B
Page 26
BEAT PEOPLE WITH A STICK
BY TOM SIMPSON
The Myth of Topspin
Becoming a good player takes a long
time and a lot of trial and error. Oh yeah,
lots and lots of error. And in pool, the
smallest of errors can be costly or
humiliating. I believe a solid, clear
understanding of ball behavior can chop
many years off the brutal learning curve
of pool. So let’s get clear on a few
underlying principles and eliminate
some errors.
My experience as an instructor has
convinced me that while most of us are
working very hard at cue ball control
and position play, we aren’t quite clear
enough on what we really need to control. On every shot, we have to consider
and control three vital aspects: the angle
we’re cutting, the speed we’re hitting,
if they behaved the same way as sidespin
(english). Nope, not the same at all.
Here’s how they differ:
Sidespin persists in the cue ball.
When the cue ball arrives at an object ball
or cushion, much of the sidespin the ball
started with will still be in the ball. The
collision will wear some of the sidespin
off, and finally cloth friction will take the
rest.
Backspin wears off quickly. Since
backspin breaks the friction with the
cloth, it behaves like a brake, rapidly
slowing down the cue ball. The backspin
gets used up by the braking action. If all
the backspin gets used up before the cue
ball hits something, the cue ball will skid
briefly and then assume natural roll.
For the practical purposes
of pool-playing, there is
no such thing as topspin.
and the spin on the cue ball. Most players realize this and are doing their best
to control all three. All three matter in
producing the result of the shot.
Let’s focus on spin, and let’s take a
closer look at what topspin really is—
and what it really isn’t. Players think
about where on the back of the cue ball
they want to align their stick. Often we
try to visualize the tip offset from the
center of the cue ball as some number of
tip-widths. This is useful and practical,
as the tip is right there anyway. This is a
personal measurement, as my “two tips
of english” might be different from your
“two tips.” We think about how we want
the cue ball to behave. We make decisions about what kind of spin will pocket the ball and get the shape we seek.
Here’s the problem. Most players
unwittingly think about topspin (follow), backspin (draw), and skid (stun) as
| May/June 2008
Stun is fleeting. Stun is that brief
moment when the cue ball is skidding.
The cue ball has just been struck at center
or its backspin has just worn off.
Topspin doesn’t exist. For the practical purposes of pool-playing, there is no
such thing as topspin. I cringe when I hear
the word. I wince when I see books and
columns explaining to “hit this shot with
one tip of topspin.” Players think of follow as overspin, like peeling out with
your muscle car. Overspin means the ball
is spinning faster than it’s rolling. Doesn’t
happen.
Realistically, the best you can do is
have the cue ball start off with natural
roll, from the get-go. To do that, the bottom of your tip must hit the cue ball at the
maximum non-miscue height (figure onefourth of the way down from the top of
the ball). Hit anywhere between maximum
high and center ball and the cue ball
starts off with skid. The higher you hit it
and the harder you hit it, the farther it
will skid before natural roll begins.
There is no overspin, just skid and roll.
Natural roll produces follow. If you
want follow, the cue ball has to be
rolling when it hits the object ball. How
fast the cue ball is rolling is the biggest
factor in producing the follow effect.
This is because most of that forward
rotational energy is still in the cue ball
after it strikes another ball. You can easily see this by hitting a short, straight
follow shot at different speeds. If the cue
ball is rolling, you’ll see it stop momentarily because all of its forward energy
has been transferred into the object ball.
However, the rotational force will still
be in the cue ball, so it will spin and propel itself forward. You could say this is
overspin, but it’s not because we spun
the cue ball forward with our stick. The
“topspin” remains because the collision
with the object ball took the forward
energy out of the cue ball, leaving only
the rotational energy (forward, in this
case). It’s not how hard you hit, it’s how
fast the cue ball is rolling.
What’s it all mean? It’s not your
tip height that causes follow. What
matters, what you have to consider
and control, is what the cue ball is
doing when it hits an object ball—is it
rolling or not, and how fast is it
going? The faster your cue ball is
rolling, the faster and farther the follow
action. I don’t care whether you hit the
center of the cue ball or two tips of follow. What’s it doing when it gets where
it’s going? t
Tom Simpson is a BCA Master Instructor. A
full-time instructor with a BCA Accredited
National Billiard Academy in Columbus, Ohio, he
has worked with thousands of players. As founder
of Elephant Balls, Ltd., inventor of Practice
Balls®, developer of the Ghostball Aim Trainer®,
and Secret Aiming Systems™ Coach, Tom’s
innovations in training have helped players
dramatically improve their skills and deepen their
knowledge. Read 35 instructional articles at the
academy website: www.PoolClinics.com. Contact:
[email protected], 614-975-8337.
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
7:45 AM
Page 27
65-May/June-2008
INSTRUCTION
4/11/08
7:48 AM
T
Page 28
ACCORDING TO ALLISON
BY ALLISON FISHER
Always Learning
There is something quite divine about the
fact that despite all our learning, we never
really get to the end of full knowledge. The
goal of full knowledge always seems just
around the corner and out of our grasp.
Like in everything, there always seems to
be someone who is smarter, stronger,
faster, or more experienced. Champions
one mouth! Sometimes we just need to know
when to be quiet and take in new information.
And believe it or not, it can appear in the
most unlikely circumstances. I cannot count
how many times I learned something from
another player, even if they were relatively
inexperienced or struggling to handle the
pressure of the occasion. There was always
There is a good reason
why we have two
ears and two eyes
but only one mouth!
are constantly being replaced by other
champions, and there seems no end to how
proficient humans will become in any one
particular sports discipline. Of course, the
same applies to the game of billiards, and
so it behooves us to keep improving our
game and to recognize and embrace this
fact of life.
I know in my case—despite all my
training, experience, and knowledge of the
game—I am still learning to this day, and
like any truly competitive player I am
always leaving my ears and eyes open to
any little “nugget of gold” I can pick up
along the way. There is a good reason why
we have two ears and two eyes but only
| May/June 2008
something I picked up from them and filed
away for another day.
When observing another player, we may
get all hung up about their fundamentals—or
lack thereof—and just dismiss this player as
someone that we can not possibly learn anything from. However, this would be a huge
mistake. Every one of us has something to
offer. No two people are the same, and therefore it follows that no two people have the
same set of knowledge or experience to draw
from. Granted, some players have more valuable knowledge than others, but we all have
something to share. A wise person knows
how to extract these genuine “nuggets of
gold” from the oddest places.
Take, for example, something that
happened to me very recently. On the way
back from a tournament I went to visit my
good friend Jim, who loves pool and is a
pretty good player. I was showing him a
jump shot that came up during one of my
matches. Then Jim showed me another
way to play the shot using a different
method. I really liked the shot and practiced it at home. I didn’t realize the value
of his opinion until a month later when I
was playing on ESPN in the WPBA
National Championship final against Kelly
Fisher. Ironically, in the final game to win
the event, that same type of jump shot
came up. I had to jump over the ball a certain way, and I used the method Jim
showed me. I made the shot and achieved
perfect shape for a carom on the 2-9 to win
the tour championship and with it the
Player of the Year title. The point is that I
listened to my friend who wanted to share
something he had picked up from playing
around on his table. I had an open mind,
wanted to listen, and learned a valuable
lesson.
I encourage you to be aware at all
times and to seek out these “nuggets of
gold” in life and in billiards. Never stop
learning, for in billiards, or life in general,
without the quest to learn, our life would
be a terrible waste of humanity.t
Co-authored by Paul Rodney
Turner (BATman), inventor of the
Allison Fisher Billiard Aim Trainer
www.BilliardAimTrainer.com. Paul is
also the CEO and founder of the
Billiards
Training
Company,
www.billiardstraining.com,
which
provides free online training videos on
how to use the BAT.
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
7:51 AM
Page 29
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
7:52 AM
Page 30
First-Place Finish
for Ferrell
Captures the Seminole Tour Season Opener
by rick davis
Ferrell
Kicking off the 2008 season with a bang, the Seminole Pro Tour
opened at Stroker’s Billiards in Palm Harbor, FL, where a field of
64 players welcomed the new year. The event took place from
March 7-9, and once the chaos settled Sparky Ferrell stood above all
others and claimed the top finish.
With the tour’s operations and administration now fully in the
hands of Seminole Sports Management, the first major rebirth of the
tour in many years finally took shape. While the format of doubleelimination 10-ball is not changing, the tour has already expanded
outside the Florida borders and will reach to increase both the overall prize funds and geography of the tour.
Friday night began the event, as the players got through the
opening rounds to allow the weekend to play through consistent
timed rounds that ensured the players would not be kept late into the
night. Tour favorites Rodney Morris, Corey Deuel, Ronnie
Wiseman, and others coasted through the opening rounds; however,
a few early showdowns appeared. Long-time tour regular Adam
Wheeler defeated Louis Ulrich 7-4, and WPBA pro Monica Webb
bested John DiToro double-hill. Webb made a strong run, taking
three matches before getting drilled 8-2 by Morris in the winners’
side top eight. Another WPBA star, Helena “The Sledgehammer”
Thornfeldt, reached that round but was also sent west after a 7-5
defeat from Jason Miller.
On the bottom half of the chart Grossman was shooting like his
old self after defeating Jonathan Pinegar, recent winner of the U.S.
Bar Table 9-ball division 7-5 and then besting Wheeler by the same
margin. Nearby, a stacked portion of the chart played out as
Wiseman defeated Tony Crosby 7-6 then Donnie Mills 7-3, but
| May/June 2008
Ferrell cleaned things up by sending the trio of Steve Moore, Deuel,
and Wiseman to the left side of the chart.
With the top four on the winners’ side sorted out, eyes turned
to the one-loss side, where players scrambled to advance. Those that
fell early had a tough time recovering, as seen by Ulrich going two
and out. A few rounds later Mills, Deuel, and Pinegar all got their
walking papers. Not everyone was struggling, though, as Hunter
Lombardo blazed a trail though the one-loss side after his firstround loss. Lombardo took six matches on the one-loss side but then
fell to Wiseman 8-4 one round shy of the top eight. Moore was also
doing well, as he took a trio of wins before falling to Crosby double-hill.
As the action moved into the top eight, the final day of play had
some great match-ups. On the winners’ side Morris hammered
Miller and Ferrell did the same to Grossman, both matches going 81. Then, in the hot seat match, Ferrell bested Morris 8-6. On the oneloss side, Wiseman was looking good and eliminated Wheeler 8-4,
then Miller 8-5 to reach the quarterfinals. A WPBA showdown
played out nearby, and after Thornfeldt knocked out Webb 8-5 she
kept in gear, ousting Grossman then Wiseman, both double-hill, to
reach the semifinals. Morris proved to be too strong and eliminated
Thornfeldt 8-3 in no time on his way to a rematch against Ferrell.
A single race to 9 stood between the players and the win, and
after a slow start where the match teetered back and forth, Ferrell
finally took charge and surged ahead to the 9-6 win to claim the title
from the Seminole Tour’s 2008 opening event.t
K
Results
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Sparky Ferrell
Rodney Morris
Helena Thornfeldt
Ronnie Wiseman
5th Dave Grossman
Jason Miller
7th Adam Wheeler
Monica Webb
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
7:55 AM
Page 31
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:09 AM
Page 32
The Sterling Pavilion
featured the Fury
Experience, the Blaze
Challenge, and the new
Graphic series Sterling
cues, allowing visitors to
handle the cues, play
games, win prizes, and
match up against some of
the region's top players.
Allison Fisher, Paul Turner,
and Kristi Carter were
hanging out at Fisher's
booth, greeting fans and
giving autographs.
The 2008 Super Billiards Expo descended upon the Valley Forge
Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA, bring more events, more
action, and a larger crowd than ever as their sixteenth annual event
got rolling over the March 13-16 span. The Expo offered something
for everyone from ‘round-the-clock action to a series of tournaments
to the newest and best products from around the world.
On the tournament front, events were held for professionals
and amateurs, including some miscellaneous events that drew in
1,564 total entries. The Diamond Open 9-Ball Professional Players
Championship brought out some of the best action available to fight
for the top-place $10,000 prize. Also, for the first time, a professional ladies’ event was featured, which ran entirely in one night.
Amateur action abounded with separate events for seniors, ladies,
and two junior events, as well as the main amateur open. Crossing
over the pros and amateurs, the pro-am event gave a chance for
players to mix things up, while the annual Artistic Pool Masters
Championship showed off the skill and talent of the best trick shot
players around. Rounding out the action was the TAP League’s
Rally in the Valley, which brought in hordes of league players
together for both singles and team competition. And if all those
events didn’t keep the attendees busy, there were daily mini tournaments, and the venue was kept open 24-7 for “Midnight Pool
Room” play.
Putting the “Expo” in Super Billiards Expo, 114 exhibitors
offered the widest assortment of billiards products around. Sponsors
of the show such as Mueller Recreational Products spanned the
T
| May/June 2008
Recently signed to
Team KwikFire,
10-year-old Taylor
Reynolds shakes
hands with pro player
Mika Immonen after
the Finn squeaked by
with a victory in their
challenge match.
space of five booths and seemingly brought along their entire catalog of products. If you were looking for a table, Diamond had floor
models to examine and plenty of information and staff on hand.
Iwan Simonis showcased their line of products, including what most
players argue to be the best cloth around. Those that were more
interested in cues than pool tables were in heaven, as the largest
assortment of cues and cue dealers and makers assembled. The
American Cuemakers Association and the International Cuemakers
Association were in full force for their annual meetings by night and
showings of their newest creations by day. Production cue companies like Predator and Viking Cues showed their full line of products, offering models to try out, while custom cue makers like
Jacoby Custom Cues showed a plethora of one-of-a-kind items.
Dave Jacoby of Jacoby Cues served double duty this year as his
newly appointed title of President of the ACA kept him on his toes,
in addition to appearing at his own booth, which has been a staple
at the Expo since its inception.
Fans of pool and billiards were like a kid in a candy store as
they went from playing a challenge match at the Predator booth to
sitting down and talking with John Schmidt at the OB Cues booth.
Devotees were just as likely to bump into a top touring pro like
Johnny Archer or Rodney Morris as they were to find a friend from
a local pool room or executive from your favorite supplier or products company. Once again, the Super Billiards Expo did not disappoint, providing attendees with the biggest and best selection from
the game of pool.t
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:11 AM
Page 33
The Cue Parade
by Fred A gnir
If there was ever a time to buy a new cue,
the time is now. And if you were one of
the thousands who made the annual trek
to the Super Billiards Expo at the Valley
Forge Convention Center in King of
Prussia, PA, you’d know why. If you didn’t make it this year, you’ve got another
year’s wait.
For the largest consumer tradeshow
in the pool and billiard industry, the
Expo’s reputation has turned it into the
largest consumer cue show as much as
anything else. As expected, the cue vendors represented a complete array of
products ranging from the simple to the
simply magnificent. The cues continued
to amaze and astonish, showing no end to
their makers’ creativity and imagination.
The cue dealers were once again in
full force, including voluminous dealer
Cue Addicts, fancy cue broker
Cornerstone Custom Cues, and classic
cue merchants HighEndCues.com and
Pool Table Magic. Westerncue.com again
brought a wide arrangement of West
Coast flare, including cues from
Californians Ed Prewitt and Kent Davis,
while New 2 You Q’s and On The Hill
Cue Sales shared booth space bringing an
assortment of cues from across the
country.
The International Cuemakers
Association (ICA) dominated the space in
the lower level of the convention center
with several cue maker booths, most of
which are now perennial exhibitors. At
the heart of the show’s upper level, the
American Cuemakers Association (ACA)
had over two dozen vendors, including
the 2008 ACA Cue Maker of the Year,
Jerry McWorter, as well as the 2008 ACA
People’s Choice Award winner, Jacoby
Cues. McWorter was given the inaugural
award during the Expo after being voted
as the winner a few months earlier by his
peers in the ACA. Jacoby Cues and cue
designer Brandon Jacoby won the inaugural People’s Choice Award, an award that
was voted on at the Expo by the general
public at the special People’s Choice
Award Booth sponsored by the ACA.
Aside from cue makers belonging to
these two leading cue associations, a
number of other cue makers graced the
halls with their products. Renowned cue
makers such as Richard and Rick
Phillippi, Bill Dominiak, and Mark Bear
were once again present at this highly
successful event, as were over a dozen
other returning exhibitors.
Several well-known cue makers
such as Dennis Searing, Ron Haley, and
Barry Szamboti, whose breath-taking
works were available at various dealer
booths, were roaming the halls and fielding questions, creating a mild buzz among
their fans. Additionally, the attendance of
Tony Sciannella and Black Boar Cues
created a rush of excitement and anticipation of their own at his booth. Sciannella
did not disappoint, showcasing spectacular artistry featuring Black Boar’s trademark ebony, ivory, maple, and silver.
If there were an award for the Most
Awe-Inspiring Display, it would have
undoubtedly gone to Samsara Cues.
Continuing to push well past the envelope
of design and imagery, Dave Doucette
and Jim Stadum have created a unique set
of cues: The Ultimate Chess and Pool Cue
Set. Inspired by the game of chess, each
cue depicts a different chess piece. The
black set is made from ebony and ivory,
while the white set features tulipwood
with ivory. Additionally, Doucette
designed and built a magnificent matching custom chess set complete with board
and pieces housing the ensemble in a
padauk and curly maple cabinet.
In all, consumers had their pick of
some of the most beautiful cues available
at the show. But if a less extravagant look
was needed, most of the cue makers and
dealers also displayed more modest cues,
catering to the players looking for playability and feel in a simpler cue. For those
not looking for a one-of-a-kind cue, the
generally lower-priced, high-volume
leaders Viking Cue Manufacturing, the
official cue sponsor for the Super
Billiards Expo this year, and Joss Cues
ensured that every player with every possible taste had a selection available for
them.
So, if you’re looking to purchase a
cue, now is the time. And if you wanted a
chance to see as many cues from various
cue makers in the widest range of price
and styles all under one roof, the Super
Billiards Expo was the place to go.
Unfortunately, it only happens once a
year. But fortunately, chances are high
that at next year’s show, the cues and their
makers will continue to amaze and astonish the players, regardless of what their
needs might be.t
The Ultimate Chess and Pool Cue Set by
Samsara Cues.
Jerry McWorter was named the 2008 ACA
Cue Maker of the Year.
Butt sleeves of assorted Carolina Cues.
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:14 AM
Page 34
TAP’ s Poison-ous
Ra lly in the Va lley
by Rick Davis
This year’s Super Billiards Expo was once again
host to the TAP League’s “Rally in the Valley”
that brought together TAP players from across
the country to compete in team and individual
competitions. Playing from March 13-16 and
utilizing nearly one hundred 7-foot Diamond
tables, the team competition had 132 entries,
while over 200 players entered the handicapped
singles events.
In the team competition all teams started in
groups of four for round robin play, in which
each team played all others in their group once.
At that point the top 64 teams with the most
match points moved to the Championship
board, while other teams were moved to the
Best of the Rest board. These two boards continued playing best of 5 matches in single-elimination play.
On the Championship board it was “KJ’s
Morning Show” who hammered their way
through the field, quickly finding their way to
the semifinals, where they eliminated “Terry’s
All-Stars” then ousted “Andy’s Hot Spot” in the
finals to take the Championship Team title.
Capturing the other team event was “Ye Old
Inn” who skipped their way through their early
opponents then knocked out “Bounty Hunters”
in the finals to take down their prize.
Players competing in singles action played
in a similar format that began with players sorted into boards of similar rankings with Skill
Level (SL) 2’s and 3’s together, then SL 4’s, 5’s,
6’s, and 7’s on their own charts. Singles play
began with four-player round robin action, giving players the chance to play at least three
matches, then moved the top players from each
group into a single-elimination championship
chart.
On the SL 2/3 chart Sarah Shimns (SL3)
defeated Lynn Wells in the finals to claim one of
the early singles titles of the event. Nearby, on
the SL4 chart, Phil Elhert ousted Tung Pham in
the finals, while Rob Capan eliminated Eric
Smartnick in the SL5 finals to pick up a title of
his own. Leaving the two highest-ranked charts,
Redgie Cutler took the SL5 title from Scott
Kessler in the finals, and Mike McClain bested
Paul Duell in the SL7 finals.
In addition to the countless team and singles action, the TAP league also offered mini
events each day, making the five days of the
Expo exciting and filled with action for all of
the league players in attendance. Along with the
cash payout that the winners received, all the
winners from the team and singles charts each
received a new Poison cue, and the TAP league
would like to thank them for their support.t
| May/June 2008
Super Billiards Expo
Swells to Bursting Point
The amateur category at the Super Billiards Expo has grown every year. This
year, amateur events busted its seams; all five events sold out. The packed tournament contended with a bottleneck on available match tables challenging the
time constraints for a timely completion for the 4 p.m. awards ceremony on
Sunday afternoon. “We do have some ideas for next year to extend the amount of
tables that we’re using for our amateur event. That would enable us to grow the
fields a little bit, because we had to turn away a lot of people, and that’s not something we like to do,” assured tournament co-owner and producer Dawn Hopkins.
The Expo began as Allen Hopkins’ idea of “something for the players,” reminisced Dawn. The production now requires a staff of 60 to man, with 8 behind
the tournament desk for the amateur event. All amateur events were single-elimination, best two out of three sets, alternate-break format. Play began at 10 a.m.
Thursday and rolled along for the next four days.
Jeung Upsets Fina ls Veteran Panju
for Women’ s Amateur Champion ship
by Mike Fieldhammer
With all five amateur division finals matches kicking off around the same time on
Sunday, Bo Ra Jeung captured the first title of the day. The soft-spoken Korean,
currently residing in New York, battled through the 128-player field to meet up
with finals connoisseur, Zinnie Panju from Allentown, PA.
Panju made a return appearance after skipping last year because of the snow
storm. Her previous two visits yielded a win and a runner-up title. Another player
familiar with the final-four spots was Renee Havel, who captured her third consecutive third-place finish. Malea Haacke also tied for third for the second time
since 2006.
In the final match, Panju and Jeung struggled with racking the balls tightly.
“The balls were dirty,” Jueng explained later. Both women played steady, splitting
the first and second sets 4-0, 4-0. Jeung took the first set then sat down for most
of the second set while Panju showed her stuff.
The third set turned into a nail-biter. At three games each, Jeung missed a
touchy 2-9 combination and left Panju a similarly tricky combo for the win. The
cue ball was close to the 2 ball with an extreme back-cut on the 9 ball. After much
consideration, Panju went for it. The 2 missed the 9 but banked down table. Now
Jeung was faced with a long, dicey opening shot, with the cue ball almost in the
jaws. She gunned it in and polished off the remaining seven balls to take the set
and match.
“I want to thank my dad,” a still very proud Panju said. Having experienced
this victory after only living in the U.S. for a year, Jeung shared, “I’m very happy.”
Her uncle and coach Shin Young Park smiled by her side, obviously happy also.t
Bo Ra Jeung
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:15 AM
Page 35
17-Year-old Futrell Captures
Amateur Open Players Champion ship
by Mike Fieldhammer
Chris Futrell
This year, 768 players were placed into a vast 1,024-player, single-elimination
chart with match times and table numbers awaiting the road to the finals.
Winners of each of the 32 charts advanced to the finals board, although prize
money started at a generous position of 256th place. A prize fund of approximately $40,000 allots five dimes to the winner.
Late-comers and procrastinators who neglected sending the $75 entry
early took their chances on the stand-by list. Alternates numbered more than 60,
showing a high interest level among pool players to take their shot at the big
cash. Format for the crap shoot is a best of three sets, race to 5, bar table 9-ball.
Over 120 Diamond 7-foot Smart Tables on two floors of the convention center
awaited the melee. Tournament promoters Alan and Dawn Hopkins employed
a competent staff headed by Nadine and Jerry Mazzola.
Eight players limped into Sunday. Tom D’Alfonso was the last to join the
other seven finalists after a late-night clash with Michael Fuller. Fuller, a recent
Viking Tour winner and seventh-place finisher at the Derby City Classic, went
ahead of D’Alfonso 4-1 in the first and second sets Saturday night. Fuller won
the first set after it went 4-all but couldn’t hold onto the second set. D’Alfonso
sent Fuller packing in the third set 5-2. In the final game, D’Alfonso shot an
unsuccessful flyer 3-9 combination to try to close out the set and lucked in the
6 ball, which led to a run-out.
The other half of the finals chart featured 17-year-old Christopher Futrell
moving past Dave Krenzel and Bucky Souvanthong to reach the finals against
D’Alfonso. Futrell, trying to make the most of the road trip with his mother,
also competed in the 18-and-under junior division. He voluntarily forfeited his
match there because of schedule conflicts.
The Amateur Open finals featured Futrell versus D’Alfonso in a three-set
showdown. D’Alfonso and Futrell split the first two sets. D’Alfonso drew first
blood, winning the first set 5-1. Futrell dug in to take the second set 5-4. With
Futrell ahead in the decisive third set 3-2, Futrell showed surprising composure.
He broke and then ran out a difficult rack. D’Alfonso responded with a 9 on the
break in the very next game to bring the score to 4-3.
The next game lasted several innings. Both players executed safeties and
kicks until Futrell faced an off angle 3-9 combination. The 9 ball missed its
intended corner, but the 3 ball dropped nicely in the other. Futrell had paused
for a moment—he was apparently hooked on the 4 ball. Then he watched the 9
drop in the side after banking two rails. “I think I had a shot on the four anyway,” he mused. Futrell’s successes in Valley Forge this year gained him quite
a status leap. He has captured the 14 & Under title twice now. Futrell, at age 17,
is the youngest Amateur Open champion in the Super Billiards Expo history.
Futrell mentioned his plans for the prize money: “I’m going to use part of the
prize money to pay for my car and put the rest in the bank, I guess.”t
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:16 AM
Page 36
TAP Re sult s
Tony Rodriguez
Championship
Board Results:
1st KJ’s Morning Show
2nd Andy’s Hot Spo
3rd 8-Ballers
Terry’s All-Stars
Best of the Rest
Board Results:
1st Ye Old Inn
2nd Bounty Hunters
3rd Susquehanna Dreamers
Uncle Jims
SL 4 Results:
1st Phil Elhert
2nd Tung Pham
SL 7 Results:
1st Mike McClain
2nd Paul Duell
SL 2-3 Results:
1st Sarah Shimns
2nd Lynn Wells
Rodriguez Grinds out
the Seniors’ Champion ship
by Mike Fieldhammer
Similar to the 18 & Under juniors’ event, the two survivors from the field of
352 were also long-time buddies, but of about 25 years in this case. Both living
in New York City, Tony “Franco” Rodriguez and Dennis Bolella met up after
eliminating Nat Green and Carmen Lombardo, who both tied for third place.
It was a two-set final match that went 5-3, 5-3 in Rodriguez’s favor.
Bolella had a chance to turn things around in the second set at 4-3. That is, until
he found himself jacked up on the 3 ball and miscued to relinquish the match.
Bolella was disappointed with the outcome but still felt pleased with his overall performance throughout the tournament. Bolella’s solid game captured a
repeat runner-up title. Rodriguez attributed his finals appearance to steady
defensive play throughout the event.
Originally from Puerto Rico, the very proud and emotional Rodriguez said
he’d only slept two hours the night before. He acknowledged the lack of rest
took a toll on his confidence as well as causing some jumpiness. He admitted
that he’s “lost something with age” but added, “Negative thoughts take away
your power. To lose is easy, but to win is harder.” A well-spoken reflection on
a well-deserved victory for Rodriguez. “This is my first one [title], the biggest
one,” he proudly explained, embracing his 10-year-old son, Ray, who had also
competed in the 14 & Under juniors’ event.t
SL 6 Results:
1st Redgie Cutler
2nd Scott Kessler
SL 5 Results:
1st Rob Capan
2nd Eric Smartnick
Amateur Open Re sult s
1st Chris Futrell
2nd Tom D’Alfonso
3rd Shayne Winters
Bucky Souvanthong
5th Danny Barnes
Ben Zimmer
Ivaylo Petrov
Dave Krenzel
9th
Kenneth Brisbon
Brady Jones
Floyd Barger
Raphael Houde
Michael Fuller
Ron Franks, Jr.
Mark Ritter
Adam Behnke
Wom en’ s Amateur Open
Re sult s
1st Bo Ra Jeung
2nd Zinnie Panju
3rd Renee Havel
Malea Haacke
1st Tony Rodriguez
2nd Dennis Bolella
3rd Nat Green
Carmen Lombardo
Sen ior’ s Champion ship
Re sult s
A dolini’ s Fearless Play
Win s 14 & Under Division
by Mike Fieldhammer
An energetic final match capped off the 14 & Under division. Tyler Adolini
captured the title over Jackson Jeffreys with a run-out after the break as if
the building were on fire. The 14-year-old Adolini, from Waynesboro, PA,
captured the match in two sets, 5-2 and 5-2, in record-breaking time. After
shaking hands with Jeffreys, Adolini held two fingers up toward his father,
saying, “That’s two smoothies you owe me!”
Jeffreys’ opportunities to win games in the second set were limited to
two short-rack wins. They were not enough to withstand Adolini’s barrage.
He broke and ran the challenging last rack, leaving an extreme back-cut on
the 8 ball and a long 9 ball that he sank without hesitation, despite being
the match ball. “I played really good. I really try and I shoot my hardest,”
explained Adolini after the match. When asked about his secret to playing
so fast he responded, “I just try to get out and not to be nervous.”
At 14 years of age, Adolini will take a shot at the 18 & under event
next year. Cory Creamer and Briana Miller tied for third place in the original 58-player field of 14-and-under competitors.t
| May/June 2008
Briana Miller, Jackson Jeffreys,
Tyler Adolini, Cory Creamer
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:18 AM
Page 37
Introducing!
T H E
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S H A F T S
Matt Daspin, Adam Tanner,
Richard Barney, Trey Sprye
Barney Bring s Home
Another 18 & Under Trophy
by Mike Fieldhammer
X
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u
Two former champions fought their way through the field of 70
players to the finals in the 18 & Under division. Valley Forge veteran at 16 years old, Richard Barney met up with his friend, 15-yearold Adam Tanner. Barney won the 14 & Under two years ago and
won this division last year. Tanner also had a chance to repeat. He
landed the 14 & Under title last year and was eager for the chance
to do what Barney had done—win both junior divisions in back-toback years.
Barney, from Hagerstown, MD, and Tanner, from Port Byron,
NY, were hoping to meet up in the finals. In the single-elimination
format, they were very fortunate to end up in different brackets as to
not draw each other sooner. The two met years ago at another juniors’ event. “We keep in touch over the Internet,” offered Barney
regarding their continued friendship.
The race to 4 was extended to a race to 5 in the finals. Barney
held on to take the first set 5-4 after Tanner made a charge from
behind. The second set wasn’t as close, with Barney taking the title
5-1. “I almost made the nine on the break in the last game. The two
ball lined up almost perfect,” Barney later commented on his final
game. He had hesitated after he sank the 2-9 combination, wondering if this game finished off the match. Upon concluding the answer,
he strode to shake his friend's hand.
Barney can try to win the juniors’ division another two times
before his age will prohibit playing in it. Trey Sprye and Matt
Daspin also delivered strong performances to finish tied for third
place.t
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Booth # 114, 115 & 116
For more information, please call toll free (800) 584 - 4375
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14 & Un d er Re sult s
1st Tyler Adolini
2nd Jackson Jeffreys
3rd Cory Creamer
Briana Miller
18 & Un d er Re sult s
1st Richard Barney
2nd Adam Tanner
3rd Trey Sprye
Matt Daspin
©Tiger Products 2008
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:20 AM
Page 38
Forbes and Smith Make the Most
of Sec ond Chanc es
by Rick Davis
The Super Billiard Expo offered its usual pair of second-chance events,
allowing anyone who had been eliminated from any event the opportunity to play in a final scramble. The open division had a full 128-player
field for the single-elimination action and was taken down by Dave
Forbes III, while the women’s board had 24 entries that were owned by
Kim Smith.
Starting the action off, Mike Gasper began in high gear as he leaped
from match to match, controlling one of the brackets. Gasper lunged
towards the quarterfinal round after defeating five opponents to face
Rich Reheard, who shut down the other half of the chart. In the second
bracket, it was Forbes and Houston Rodriguez who met in the quarterfinals, laying waste to the other opponents. With the finals in sight, Forbes
eliminated Rodriguez, while Gasper knocked out Reheard to set up the
final showdown.
After starting as an even battle, Forbes managed to take a lead and
didn’t look back as he propelled himself to victory, winning the match
and becoming champion of the Expo’s Second Chance Scramble.
In the women’s division, 24 competitors threw their hat in the ring,
but it was Kim Smith who dominated the field. The event’s format was
a single race to 4, making each match short and exciting, as nearly any
mistake could cost someone their match. Playing on a 32-player chart,
the opening round had 8 byes, although Smith did not draw one. Starting
off her eventual path to the finals, Smith ousted a trio of opponents to
reach the top four and play on the final day. Nearby, Nicole Nester
enjoyed a break in the opening round with a bye but then ousted a pair
of players to face Smith in the quarterfinal round. Completing the final
day’s pairings, Denise Reeve and Sandy Patrino made their way to their
meeting in the final four, as Patrino eliminated three opponents, while
Reeve only knocked out two thanks to an unusual second-round forfeit.
From there it was a short jump to the finals as Smith knocked out
Nester and Patrino ousted Reeve. Then, with only one match remaining,
Smith completed her run of the board, eliminating her final opponent to
claim the title.t
Clatterbuck Captures Pro-Am
by Rick Davis
The Pro-Am Bar Table Challenge at this year’s Super Billiards Expo
once again offered a full field of players that included locals, touring
pros, and regional all-stars alike. After two days of lightning-paced
rounds it came down to top Northeast regional player and star of the
Tiger Pool Tour Matt Clatterbuck, who eliminated a quartet of top
pros to walk away with the event.
Limited to 32 players, the single-elimination event was do or die
for the competitors who battled it out on the 7-foot Diamond tables.
As if the tables were glass, all players gave the 9-ball racks a supersonic blast that often pocketed two or more balls, but to even out the
action, an alternate-break format was used.
First-round pairings had a couple of spotlight matches, where
Robb Saez faced and eliminated Shin Park, while Canadian Tyler
Edey ousted Steve Moore. Favorites like Dennis Hatch and Ronnie
Wiseman coasted through to the second round, while top regional
players Ryan McCreesh, Joey Testa, and Clatterbuck followed suit. A
final surprise in the opening round was that there were four forfeits,
| May/June 2008
giving Mike Fieldhammer, Redgie Cutler, Louis Vickio, and Richie
Richeson a free ride.
Then, with half the field eliminated, the remaining 16 players
dissolved into 4 who would return for play during the event’s final
day. Edey ousted top Blaze Tour player Matt Krah as he coasted to the
top four, while Wiseman and McCreesh each encountered little resistance on their way as well. House pro at Blue Fox Billiards in
Winchester, VA, Clatterbuck had an incredibly difficult path. After
facing Hatch and coming out on top, Clatterbuck then ousted Saez to
make the final four.
With the last two rounds starting on the final day of play, it
seemed like someone put the parking brake on compared to the previous day’s high-speed play. Wiseman grinded past McCreesh in the
semifinals, just shy of the two-hour mark, while Clatterbuck edged
out Edey in a match that seemed more frustrating for the spectators
than the players. With the Expo drawing to a close, a standing-roomonly crowd gathered to observe the last bit of action; however, the
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:25 AM
Page 39
Dimick Takes Trick Shot Title
Matt Clatterbuck
alternating-break format did not allow either player a
lead, and with a seat in the finals on the line, players took
time to examine every rack and to take every break
allowed by the refs. Finally Clatterbuck managed to take
the match with a combination of superior play and perhaps a bit more immunity to the slow pace.
The finals offered an interesting and unexpected
matchup as top pro Wiseman faced Clatterbuck, and after
a couple of racks, a referee was brought in to rack. After
two solid days of play the racking area had become a mine
field of divots, keeping the match at a tortoise’s pace as
racks were inspected by both players and often re-racked
at least once. Amidst the racking situation, what started as
a close match quickly became Clatterbuck taking
Wiseman to school. Clatterbuck shot very well, taking
games from his breaks as well as Wiseman’s, and for
whatever reason Wiseman could not get in gear. As quickly as the racking condition permitted, Clatterbuck took
down the match 11-4 to become the 2008 Pro-Am Bar
Table Challenge Champion. Afterward, Clatterbuck commented, “I played great, but my opponents were great,
too. I’m proud of myself. As a working guy playing with
the pros, you really have to gear up to play with them, and
it’s a huge challenge that brought the best out in me.
Things went my way all day, though, and I felt like I was
going to win, because every time something came close it
went my way.” t
Open Se c on d Chanc e Re sult s
1st Dave Forbes III
2nd Mike Gasper
3rd Houston Rodriguez
Rich Reheard
5th Trey Jankowski
David Havel
Lonnie Price, Jr.
Adel Alcazer
Wom en’ s Se c on d Chanc e Re sult s
1st Kim Smith
2nd Sandy Patrino
3rd Denise Reeve
Nicole Nester
Pro-Am Bar Table Re sult s
1st Matt Clatterbuck
2nd Ronnie Wiseman
3rd Tyler Edey
Ryan McCreesh
5th Jonathan Hernandez
Robb Saez
Justin Muller
Richie Richeson
by Rick Davis
Celebrating its fifth year at the Super Billiards Expo, the Artistic Pool
Masters Championship entertained spectators and pitted the top trick shot
players against each other through a complex yet comprehensive program.
Beginning the first day of the Expo, the event held two 5-hour sessions
each day until Mark Dimick came through in the finals to claim the
impressive win over the grueling schedule.
The events 29 players began with group play through 8 disciplines.
The players each took turns at a series of shots attempting to accumulate
points in order to advance to the next round where single-elimination play
continued the event. The disciplines were Trick & Fancy, Prop & Novelty,
Draw, Follow, Bank & Kick, Stroke, Jump, and Massé. Shots each had an
assigned point value, with a maximum of 10 points, and each player had
3 attempts where each
attempt was worth one
less point.
Starting the disciplines off, Sebastian
Giumelli won both the
Trick & Fancy and Prop
& Novelty divisions.
Dave Nangle took the
Draw field, while Paul
Danno mastered the
Follow discipline. The
Bank & Kick section had
a tie between Nick
Nikolaidis and Eric Yow,
while Tom Rossman
cleaned up the Stroke
category. Jamie Gray
mastered the Massé division, and for the first
time ever, Andy Segal
took the Jump discipline
with a perfect score.
Next, the top 12 players moved into singleMark Dimick
elimination play where
they took turns choosing
a shot that would then be
attempted by their opponent using the same scoring and point system. On
the top half of the chart Segal and Yow blazed through the chart to the
semifinals. After each received a first-round bye, Segal eliminated Mike
Massey and Yow knocked out Bruce Bathelette. Nearby, Mark Dimick and
Gianelle were destined for their own semifinal showdown after they ousted Nikolaidis and Rossman, respectively.
As the final day of play began, Yow eliminated the favorite, Segal,
while Dimick continued to offer top-notch play and reached the finals as
well. With the finals rolling and the Expo coming to a close, the event
quickly became filled beyond capacity as a new trick shot winner was to
be crowned. Coming down to the final shot, it was Dimick’s choice, and
he had to execute a shot or be eliminated. His completion on the first
attempt was met with a roar from the crowd as Yow’s head fell into his
hands. Yow had three attempts—the first two could have won the event,
and the third forced a playoff tiebreaker. His first shot went totally wide,
and his second just feathered the object ball. Yow lined up his final chance,
but when he came up short again, Dimick rose as the new champion of the
event after an incredibly hard road.t
65-May/June-2008
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5:46 PM
Page 40
Artistic Po ol Re sult s
1st Mark Dimick
2nd Eric Yow
3rd Andy Segal
Sebastian Giumelli
5th Tom Rossman
Nick Nikolaidis
Bruce Barthelette
Mike Massey
Ga Young Kim
she opened with a 4-1 lead. Kim then extended that to a 5-2
lead, and that proved to be it for Fisher, who did not win
another rack. At the other end of the arena, Kelly Fisher put
on her own show as she started with a 5-0 lead, thanks in part
to Carter choking on a 7 ball after winning an impressive
safety battle. Carter managed to claim a rack after that, but
otherwise it was the Fisher show that put Carter down to the
tune of a 9-1 final score.
Just as fast as it began, the final match formed just as
quickly with Kelly Fisher facing Kim. Starting the match,
Kim got off to an early 3-0 lead after a pair of uncharacteristic misses by Fisher, along with a scratch in another rack.
Fisher countered with a break and run and then began a safety battle that brought the score to 3-2 in favor of Kim. Both
players dug in at that point, playing chess with the balls as
they positioned themselves around the table. Kim, it seemed,
found a way out each time and slowly extended her lead to
6-3.
The next rack continued the safety exchange, but after
Kim found another way out, she missed the 9 ball to allow
Fisher back on the board and close the deficit to 6-4. At that
point Kim had had enough and opened things up. Electing
not to take a safe route, Kim kicked two rails to pocket the 7
ball, sending the cue ball dangerously close to a scratch, and
cleaning up that rack and the next to reach the hill 8-4. With
the end in sight, Kim played yet another near-perfect safety,
and when Fisher went wide on a kick to give Kim ball in
hand, she leaped at the finish line, clearing the rack for the 94 win and claiming top finish at the event.t
A
All
in t
fan
help
larg
orig
au
You
A
Pro Wom en ’ s Re sult s
1st Ga Young Kim
2nd Kelly Fisher
3rd Allison Fisher
Kristi Carter
Kim in Command
of Fellow Pros
TABLE
FO
AL
by Rick Davis
The 2008 Super Billiards Expo added a women’s event to the pro
lineup, delighting the fans and further expanding the Expo, which
grows every year. The Women’s Professional Shootout brought in
eight players for a single-elimination event that was kept in a stranglehold by Ga Young Kim, who sauntered away with the event.
Taking place in the same arena as the Diamond Open 9-Ball
Professional Players Championship, the event was entirely run in
one night, utilizing the 9-foot Diamonds that were not in use by the
remaining players in the men’s event. The format was a race to 9
with alternating break so that all players had an equal chance at
staying in the action. In the opening round Kim ousted Laura
Smith, a fellow WPBA player, while Kristi Carter eliminated Val
Finnie. The other two matches were controlled by the Fishers: The
top-ranked WPBA player and certainly the early favorite, Allison
Fisher, knocked out Megan Minerich, while Kelly Fisher did away
with Morgan Steinman.
Already down to the semifinal round the action was fast and
furious as both matches were totally lopsided. On one side of the
arena Kim faced Allison Fisher and totally blew away the odds as
| May/June 2008
Sin
Plu
65-May/June-2008
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L
L
4/14/08
E
N
5:48 PM
H
Page 41
O
P
K
I
N
S
P
R
O
D
U
C
T
I
O
N
S
Allen & Dawn Hopkins would like to thank everyone for their participation
in the 2008 Super Billiards Expo. Due to the support of the players, the
fans, and the Industry - the show was an overwhelming success. With the
help of our wonderful staff, the Super Billiards Expo continues to be the
largest and most exciting consumer oriented show in the industry. Our
original formula of allowing players and fans to compete and mingle with top industry insiders creates
a unique and exciting environment. Thank you for your continued support.
You are the reason the show exists... we produce the show for you, the player and the fan.
And now, Allen Hopkins Productions is proud to introduce our newest event...
Valley Forge
TABLES OPEN
FOR PLAY
ALL NITE
June 6-8, 2008
PLAYED ON
Va l l e y F or g e C on v en t i on C en t er
K i ng of P r u s si a , PA
BARBOX TABLES
Open to all Players - Free to come watch
Womens Division
Mens Division
Starts: 7pm Friday Evening
C all Pocket 8-Ball, Race to 8
Starts: 10a m Saturday Morning
Single Elim • Limited to 256 players • $75 Entry
Single Elim • Limited to 64 players • $50 Entry
Juniors: 2 Divisions
14 & Under
19 & Under
Starts: 12 noon Saturday
Single Elim • Limited to 64 players/Division • $10 Entry
Plus: Play in Qualifiers for the inaugural Allen Hopkins $1,000,000 9-Ball Shootout!
Deadline for entries: May 30
Fields do fill up, so send your entry in early!
To enter an event: Send your name, address, phone number, email, and entry fee to:
Allen Hopkins Productions • PO Box 325 • Absecon, NJ 08201
Be sure to specify your event division.
Need a hotel? Try the Scanticon or the Radisson (Both connected to Convention Center)
Call (888)267-1500 and mention “Hopkins Valley Forge 8-Ball” for group rates
For entry forms and more information about this and other events, visit our website!
www.AllenHopkinsProductions.com
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:35 AM
Page 42
Archer, and Dennis Hatch; worldwide stars like Ralf
Souquet, Mika Immonen, and Thorsten Hohmann; and
fierce American players like Steve Moore, Mike Davis,
Charlie Bryant, Tony Robles, Louis Ulrich, Larry Nevel,
and last year’s runner-up, Ronnie Wiseman.
How Does the Other Guy Look?
by Sally P. Timko
Everything should have started off according to plan,
but in the first round of Thursday’s play, consternation
ensued when Italian champion Fabio Petroni and Gabe
Owen matched up. Bursting with pent-up frustration and
down 6-2 with Owen down on the 9 ball, Petroni elected to
take out his frustration on the Diamond table and inexplicably head-butted it. He caught the corner of the table, stood
up, reeled, and then fell to the ground. The paramedics were
called, and a profusely bleeding Petroni was taken to the
hospital, never to return to the event. “I was just shocked,
just like everybody else was,” explained Owen in an interview afterward. “I’d never seen anybody do that to themselves before, let alone in a pool tournament.”
Other casualties of war included former world champion Thorsten “The Hitman” Hohmann going two-and-out,
first with a hill-hill loss to Danny Basavich and then a defeat
by John Schmidt. Another surprise was a first-round forfeit
from past champ Hatch, who made it in time for his secondround match and ultimately did well enough to end up in a
seventeenth-place tie.
Defending champion Corey Deuel also had a lackluster
showing: He bested Frank Alvarez in the first round handily enough 10-1 but then fell down against another former
winner of this event, Shawn Putnam. In the one-loss side he
was ineffectual, winning one match before being sent home
by Rodney Morris 10-2.
Shane Van Boening
Shaun Wilkie
Hold the phone! Shane Van Boening has
snapped off another major tournament?
That’s right—the South Dakota killer rolled right through the 64-player field at
the Diamond Open 9-Ball Professional Players Championship, only losing one
match before heading to the finals and wreaking havoc on Shaun Wilkie. The
tournament was the crowning glory of Allen Hopkins’ 16th Annual Super
Billiards Expo, where the world’s finest vied for their piece of the $10,000 firstplace prize.
With the inimitable Frank Del Pizzo presiding, the tournament began
Thursday, March 13. Make no mistake, folks, Del Pizzo runs a tight ship. No cell
phones, no cameras, no pagers, and don’t even think about walking down the
aisle to your seat in the middle of an inning. Del Pizzo gave the crowd a general
warning at the start, and woe to anyone who strayed from the rules. Del Pizzo
takes his job—and the game—seriously. It’s a beautiful thing.
The format for the pro event this year was race to 10, double elimination,
break from the box, alternating break. Despite the loaded brackets, there were not
a great many international players, and the field included no Filipinos, which was
an anomaly. Regardless of that fact, it was a tough group that included favorites
such as defending champion Corey Deuel; past winners Shawn Putnam, Johnny
| May/June 2008
Get Some of That
Eventually the brackets sorted themselves out, leaving
several pleasant surprises in the winner’s-side final eight,
including Adam “GQ” Smith, Louis Ulrich, and Wilkie.
Wilkie’s story is a compelling one. He survived stomach
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:40 AM
Page 43
Mika Immonen
broke the last rack but fouled on his first shot.
With ball in hand, Wilkie dished up for the
10-9 win.
Tony Crosby
If It Weren’t for Bad Luck …
cancer as an infant to be taught by his grandfather, John Wilkie Senior, the basics of the
game. Today he is the Tiger Pool Tour’s number-one player (they sponsored him in this
event) and a fearsome force all over the
Northeast. His nickname, “Get Some,” he
gave himself and has tattooed on his body.
“When I was younger, I used to do really crazy
shots, just jacked-up shots, and when I made it,
I’d be like, ‘Get some of that shot!’ you
know?”
Wilkie seemed to effortlessly propel himself forward in this event despite a series of
tough opponents that included Steve Moore—
Wilkie won their hill-hill match by dropping
the 9 ball on the break—and Owen to end up
facing Ulrich in the final eight, whom he
defeated 10-6. His final hurdle before the winners’-side finals was Tony Robles, another
toughie. The score was 7-all when Wilkie
caught fire, winning the next three racks in a
row to move on to the hot seat match.
And meeting him there was, of course,
Van Boening. After trouncing players such as
Randy Labonte and Wiseman to come out on
the good side of a double-hill match with
Immonen to face Tony Crosby in the winners’side final four. Van Boening took hold of the
lead early on and didn’t relinquish it. Up 9-4,
Van Boening allowed Crosby only two more
racks before sending him to the west side.
There was ever only a two-game difference in the score of the hot seat match, and
though Van Boening held the lead throughout,
Wilkie kept his composure and didn’t rattle.
Both players exhibited excellent defensive
play. With the score at 8 apiece, Van Boening
broke and ran out to reach the hill, but he
fouled in the next rack, and Wilkie was able to
make it a double-hill match. Van Boening
The elimination rounds Saturday were
brutal, leaving all but two players to return the
final day to fight for fourth place. “Rocket”
Rodney Morris, promoting his new vitamin
drink, “Extreme Focus,” started off his day by
ousting Luc Salvas, then Mike Dechaine, then
Ulrich. A lengthy 10-8 battle with former
champ Shawn Putnam saw the Hawaiian move
on to a slightly quicker match against Crosby,
whom he defeated 10-4.
Morris had to meet Finland’s “Iceman” in
the quarterfinals, whom had spent an equally
wearying day. After being dealt his first loss by
Van Boening hill-hill, Immonen tore through
the one-loss side, eliminating John Morra,
Smith, and then Robles.
The two started off laughing and joking
about the problems both had racking, which
led to Del Pizzo taking over for them. But pretty soon Immonen wore a grim look, for it was
apparent that Sunday was not his day. Multiple
errors on Immonen’s behalf saw Morris gain a
5-1 and then a 7-2 lead. At that point,
Immonen caught a gear and began forging a
comeback, but not in time to catch up, for
Morris skated by with a 10-7 win.
But it was a different Morris who showed
up at the semifinals, for—much like Immonen
discovered in the quarterfinals—nothing he
did seemed to come out right. Tied 3-all, the
score flew up in Van Boening’s favor after a
foul and then a scratch on the break by Morris,
followed by Van Boening dropping the 9 ball
on the break. Several more dicey decisions on
behalf of Morris put Van Boening en route to
the finals with a 10-3 win.
attempt to get position on the 9 and missed. In
the final rack, despite having one inning at the
table, Wilkie was unable to stop the onslaught,
and Van Boening took home another title with
a 13-7 victory.
A truly elated Wilkie recounted, “I tried
my best, and you know, Shane’s a great player, he’s number one in the world right now—
like I said, he’s tough to beat. He’s winning
everything.” He added, “It was a tough draw,
and I’m really happy to be in second place. I
grew up playing in the juniors here when I was
younger, and to be here in this arena and finish
in second is awesome.”
Van Boening, who admitted he’s not sure
if he has room for the gorgeous cut-glass trophy he earned, was more reserved. “I played
good. I could do a little better, but I’m playing
good.” Which might just be the understatement of the year.t
He Could’ve Done Better… But He Still Won
Before the finals, Del Pizzo, who is a professional comedian, kept the crowd rocking
with his stand-up patter and also thanked the
event sponsors: Diamond Billiard Products;
Viking Cue Manufacturing; Mueller
Recreational Products; Iwan Simonis, Inc.;
Run Out Sportswear; and Blue Diamond
Chalk.
In the extended race-to-13 finals, Wilkie,
who seemed to have a large fan base in the
crowd, being from nearby Haver De Grace,
MD, grabbed hold of the lead and brought the
score to 4-1. The scales tipped the other way,
though, and Van Boening clawed back to make
it 4-all and then surpass his opponent, winning
another four racks in a row. They traded the
next few games, bringing the score to 11-7 Van
Boening, and then Van Boening reached the
hill when Wilkie slammed the 8 ball in an
Results
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Shane Van Boening
Shaun Wilkie
Rodney Morris
Mika Immonen
Tony Crosby
Tony Robles
7th
Adam Smith
Shawn Putnam
9th
Louis Ulrich
Johnny Archer
John Morra
Gabe Owen
13th Mike Dechaine
Ronnie Wiseman
Steve Moore
Charlie Williams
$10,000
$6,000
$5,000
$4,000
$3,000
$2,000
$1,500
$1,250
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:42 AM
Page 44
What’s
New!
What’sNew!
Hatch Billiards Tables
Playing pool is an art. So why not play on a table that is a
work of art? Howard Hatch, a pool player and award-winning furniture designer, has created a line of handcrafted
pool tables, billiards furniture, and accessories for the discriminating pool player. Each Hatch Billiards table—made
one at a time at the furniture maker’s Conway, NH, workshop—is created from carefully selected woods that are
meticulously hand-carved and styled with inlays of wood
veneer, mother-of-pearl, and metals. Tables start at $18,000;
custom designs are available. Please visit Hatch Billiards
online at www.HatchBilliards.com, or call 603-447-8486.
Toledo Series
Ram Gameroom’s Toledo series features three
light amber fleck glass shades set on a stylish
60-inch bar in bronze finish. For their full collection of lights, gameroom accessories, and
more, please log onto www.ramgameroom.com,
or call 888-876-2931 (dealers only, please).
| May/June 2008
Outlaw
The new Outlaw cues, exclusively available
through CueStix International, Inc., are unlike
any other pool cue in the world. They feature
tattoo designs inspired by the Old West and are
branded with a blowtorch and finished with a
saddle leather wrap. Dealer opportunities are
available. Cowboys welcome. Please call
800-645-9803, or visit www.cuestix.com.
Elforyn Ivory Substitute
Atlas Billiard Supplies announced that they are now the official
American master distributor of Elforyn, a high-grade ivory substitute material with a high mineral content. It can be processed
like natural ivory—carved, turned, milled, etc. It glues well with
cyanoacrylate and epoxy glues and can take a clear-coat finish.
Elforyn is chalk-resistant, thermo-formable, chips while
machining, and can be polished to a beautiful luster if desired. It
reproduces all the typical characteristics of ivory with a natural
ivory grain structure and is fluorescent under a black light.
Dealers and distributors are welcome to contact Atlas Billiard
Supplies at 800-CUE-STIK or www.cuestik.com for wholesale
pricing.
Shawn Putnam Signature Series SHP1
One of two limited edition cues of which 100 each will
be produced, this Shawn Putnam Signature Series SHP1
is new from Tiger Products. Each cue comes with a Tiger
“X” Ultra Shaft, a Sniper cue tip, and a bull leather wrap.
It also features a cocobolo forearm and butt sleeve with
12 floating holly spears with turquoise inlay. To order,
please contact Tiger Products at 800-5-TIGER-5, or visit
www.tigerproducts.com.
65-May/June-2008
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65-May/June-2008
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Aramith Fusion Table
When it comes to family home entertainment, the Fusion
table has exactly what it needs to create those unique,
memorable moments to share with friends and family. By
integrating a quality pool table and a game table into a
dining table, the Fusion concept is unique in the fact that it
adds multi-functionality to the dining room. For more
information, please log onto www.fusiontables.com.
Master Class Custom Pool Cues
Handcrafted by Dan DeCola, Master Class custom pool cues
are made from high-end materials including ebony, genuine
ivory, birdseye maple, and walnut burl. The five cues pictured
here feature ivory joints, ivory butt caps, ivory inlays, ivory
ferrules, and leather or lizard wraps. Each cue comes with
two shafts. Master Class Custom Cues are available
exclusively by BilliardWarehouse.com. Contact Greg at The
Billiard Warehouse, Inc. at 888-809-7665, or visit
www.billiardwarehouse.com.
What’sNew!
Black Canyon Darts
CueStix International, Inc. proudly introduces its latest brand,
Black Canyon Darts. A wide variety of steel and soft tip darts,
bristle boards, cabinets, and accessories are now available for
same-day delivery. Wholesale and quantity pricing for qualified
retail dealers. To order, please call 800-645-9803, or visit
www.cuestix.com.
Winning Stroke Polo
The Winning Stroke’s polo line is made of 100%
cotton and is embroidered on the left chest with the
Winning Stroke logo. The back of the polo sports
the website address of the Winning Stroke. Log onto
www.thewinningstroke.com to get the new polo for
$24.95. Available sizes: medium, large, extra-large.
| May/June 2008
Lucky Cue Line
McDermott is raising the standards and raising eyebrows with the introduction of its new Lucky Cue line. With 16 cues all under $100, the
Lucky Cue line features premium leather tips, stainless steel butt plates
and joints, and 3/8-10 wood-to-wood joints. Lucky Cues carry all of the
legendary qualities of McDermott’s past, yet they are like no McDermott
that has come before. To see the full line, please visit
www.mcdermottcue.com, or call 800-666-2283 for more information.
Stop by Booth #1023 at the BCA Trade Show.
65-May/June-2008
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8:52 AM
Page 47
What’sNew!
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
8:56 AM
Page 48
KwikFire KFLTD#1
The latest edition to the KwikFire cue line is the KFLTD#1, of
which only 20 will be made. This cue features six points of
cocobolo—three short and three high—with red, white, and blue
veneers. Contained in the butt sleeve are three mitered veneer
boxes inlayed with ebony and two reversed ivory spears. In
total, 15 ivory inlays adorn this cue, which is brought together
with a striking black lizard belly wrap. Four distinctive
KwikFire signature rings complete this cue, which retails for
$1495. For further information, please contact
www.kwikfireinc.com, or call 888-418-3483.
Minnesota Fats Westmont™
Minnesota Fats® excels at high quality, easy-to-install billiard
tables. The regulation 7-foot Westmont, with contemporary
styling and the combination of a medium cherry finish and
midnight blue wool blend cloth, exemplifies this point. A 1inch Slate-Core™ play bed with wide rails and enclosed
pockets make this durable table look good in either living
room or gameroom environments. Please contact DMI Sports
at 800-423-3220 for details on the Westmont or other
Minnesota Fats billiard tables.
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
9:01 AM
Page 49
What’sNew!
KwikFire KFLTD #2
The second addition to the KwikFire limited-edition line is the
KFLTD#2, of which only 20 cues will be made. The curly
maple forearm possesses four points of ebony framed with
three veneers of red, white, and blue. This design is perfectly
mirrored with reverse points in the butt sleeve. Ivory tiffany
diamonds and silver dots adorn this cue, 24 in total. A black
leather wrap and four KwikFire signature rings finish off this
cue, which retails for $1350. For further information, please
contact www.kwikfireinc.com, or call 888-418-3483.
Stars and Stripes Balls
Solid Citizen has launched a new, high-quality product matching up to professional specifications. These unique and patriotic
pool balls use the elements of the American flag to identify the
two groups in a set of 15 balls. “Stripes” and “solids” become
“stars” and “stripes.” Solid Citizen have also committed to a $5
donation to U.S. VETS for every set of their flag balls sold.
These pool balls are available now at
www.solidcitizenltd.com/products.php.
65-May/June-2008
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2:47 PM
Page 50
Premium Maple Triangle
Complete your gameroom with Mueller Recreational
Products’ Premium Maple Triangle. This rack has interlocking
finger joints at the corner and 7/8”-thick wall, making it their
sturdiest triangle yet. The available stain choices have been
matched with the industry’s four top-selling pool table stains:
American maple, traditional mahogany, traditional pecan, and
traditional cherry. To order, please contact Mueller
Recreational Products at 800-627-8888, or log onto
www.poolndarts.com.
Advanced Cue Line by Michael Morgan
Designed by Michael Morgan, the Advanced Cue Line is new
from The Adam Cue Company. All of the cues have linen
joints, and three models have fully spliced colorful veneers.
The introductory retail price begins at just $200. For
purchasing information, please contact an Adam dealer near
you, visit www.adamcueco.com, or call The Adam Cue
Company direct at 516-799-6600.
What’sNew!
New Hustlin USA Items
Hustlin USA is the busiest they have been in the history of the
company. They are now operating internationally as the
worldwide leader in billiards apparel. The newest items in the
Hustlin USA line are the Hustlin Imported, Sexy, Major League
Hustlin, Lucky 7, and Manufacturing tee shirts. All Hustlin
USA tee shirts are made with 100% preshrunk cotton and are
priced at $25. In addition, the new Hustlin USA dry fit mesh
polo, priced at $40, is extremely comfortable and great for
tournament play. To purchase, log onto www.hustlinusa.com, or
call Hustlin USA direct at 916-560-0008. Dealers are always
welcome.
Expression Cases
Most cue cases today are a reflection of the person who
carries it, whether the case is simple or complicated,
cheap or expensive. Jim Murnak’s new Expression line
gives his customers an opportunity to use the case to
express their personality as well as show how they feel
about themselves. “Sometimes the most interesting cases
I make are a product of someone’s imagination. It is
something that is important to them and their lives,” said
Jim Murnak. For more information, please call Jim at
800-443-3478, or visit his website at
www.jimmurnakcuecases.com.
| May/June 2008
Jacoby Custom Cues
This is one of the new and unique designs made by Jacoby
Custom Cues. Jacoby regularly displays this and other current
works in the “New Cue Designs” section at
www.jacobycue.com. For more information, please visit
www.jacobycue.com or call 800-461-6066.
65-May/June-2008
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65-May/June-2008
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What’sNew!
SE 16 &17
With only 100 of each in existence, these new Predator
Special Edition cues were meticulously crafted by J.
Pechauer with birdseye maple, ebony, Micarta inlays, and
genuine turquoise with an Everest tip. They were then
numbered to ensure their collector’s status. The suggested
retail price is $1,695. For more information, please log
onto Predator’s website at www.predatorcues.com.
Arsenal Cues
The Blue Ghost and Slayer models from the Arsenal cue
line are shining examples of how performance,
craftsmanship, and style exist together to set these cues
apart. All Arsenal cues feature Uni-Loc joints, Tiger
Everest tips, hand-selected exotic wood, and intricate
inlays, along with a three-year warranty—which is
upgradeable to lifetime—that includes warpage. See
these cues at the BCA Expo June 12-14, visit Hampton
Ridge Billiards on the Internet at www.hrbilliards.com,
or call 800-845-0850.
| May/June 2008
Banks That Don’t Go—But Do!
After 50 years of competing against the best bankers and
one-pocket players in the world, Freddy “The Beard”
Bentivegna is revealing the secrets that made him one of the
toughest competitors in the game. A fearless high-stakes
money player taking on all comers, “The Beard” was inducted
into the Bank Pool Hall of Fame in 2005. This two-volume set
exposes the most closely guarded secrets in bank pool and is
available at Seybert’s Billiard Supply. To order, please log
onto www.seyberts.com, or call 877-314-2837.
Tip Maintenance Tools
Frank’s Center, Inc. now offers all of the new Cuetec cue tip
maintenance tools. The Bowtie 3-in-1 tip tool features a tip
aerator, scuffer, and shaper and retails for $16.95. The pocket
chalker and tip pick retails for $16.95, and the scuffer retails for
$15.95. For ordering information, please call Frank’s Center,
Inc. at 800-600-9190, or log onto www.frankscenterinc.com.
It’s George
The “It’s George” leather cases are handmade by Mike Roberts in the
U.S., and each and every “It’s George” case is handcrafted using the
finest materials available. Now available through Omega Billiards
Supplies, the second generation of “It’s George” leather cases features the
most exotic, best-quality leathers. Limited dealership opportunities are
available. Please contact Omega Billiards at 800-969-6634 for more
information.
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FSP Splice Series
Falcon Cues is proud to introduce their new FSP Splice series cues
to those who appreciate traditional design and craftsmanship. In
this series, Falcon took exotic woods such as curly maple, tulipwood, walnut, hollywood, bacote, and snakewood from around the
world and spliced it with African black ebony to create clean yet
traditional looks. The FSP Series features a radial pin system,
Triangle tip, Canadian maple shaft, and Falcon’s famous doublepressed genuine Irish linen wrap. For more information, please
contact Falcon’s U.S. distributor J&J America at 562-229-9688.
Arsenic Case
Want to keep that sleek, old-skool design looking brand
new? The lightweight Arsenic case provides first-class
storage and transport. The suggested retail price is $195.
More information is available on the Poison website at
www.poisonbilliards.com.
What’sNew!
PS6
Longoni, the oldest pool cue maker in Europe, is proud to introduce the
PS6 line into the U.S. These seven models were designed and handmade in Italy and were developed for professional players, thanks to the
collaboration with champions such as Niels Feijen. This line is
constructed of solid birdseye maple and features inlays in wood or
mother-of-pearl, with a hornbeam core to improve strength and weight
distribution. The grips available are Irish linen, Italian original leather,
or lacquer. These cues range in price from $400 to $1,600. Details and
purchasing information can be found at www.logonicues.com.
54
Vincitore Pro Cue Cases
With high-quality materials, tubes with
fine lining, two pouches, carrying handles, and a shoulder strap included, these
Vincitore cases by J&J America hold
two cues and four shafts. The suggested
retail price starts at $120. To order,
please call J&J America at 562-2299688, or check out their website at
www.jjcue.com.
| May/June 2008
Players HydroGel®
For the first time ever, Players offers technology available in an affordable price range with
HydroGel®. With the lowest density of any material, Players has combined HydroGel
Contouring System® with HX Low Deflection Technology®. HCS™ reacts on ball impact,
uniformly distributing shock and displacing energy, which effectively eliminates vibration.
This patent-pending dual-density silicone wrap molds to your hand, providing comfort every
time, and immediately returns to its original shape after it is released. For ordering information, please call Cue & Case Sales, Inc. at 800-835-7665, or log onto www.cueandcase.com.
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BY FRED AGNIR
CUE MAKER’S CORNER
Pete Ohman—Omen Cues
Choosing Paths
A career can often be broken down into two parts: a goal and
a path. For most people, they determine a goal and choose a
path to meet that goal. For others, they take a path first that
eventually leads them to a career that may help to define their
final goal. For Florida’s Pete Ohman, his career path is very
much the latter. The choices he made in his life have led to him
being one the most successful cue makers in the world.
Born in Washington, D.C., in 1951, Pete Ohman grew up in
Oxen Hill, MD, along with his two sisters. His mother was a
stay-at-home mom, while his father was an engineer for the
Naval Research Lab. Pete left for Melbourne, FL, in 1969 to
attend the Florida Institute of Technology. He continues to live
in Melbourne, FL, with his wife Diane. The couple has a 26year-old son, Sean.
Pete started playing pool when he was 12 years old, immediately falling in love with the game. As a teenager, he played in
several local old-school pool halls in the District filled with
rough stories and rough characters. In college he spent much of
his time in the recreation room, mostly practicing by himself.
After college he continued to play and challenge himself,
becoming an accomplished player and winning state championships.
His first cue was a Rambow-style Joss cue. The style known
for having the “Hoppe butt” features a thin ivory ring near the
end of the butt sleeve and no rubber bumper. “I was so enamored
with that cue that I still make a lot of that style,” expressed
Ohman.
B
Taking
the First Exit
Pete graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology
with a degree in environmental biology. But he never worked a
day in that discipline. Instead, he purchased a local pool hall
with a partner in 1975. “I wanted to stay in Florida. I had gotten
sand in my shoes and never went home,” said Ohman. “I was
already well known in the pool hall as one of the better players.
When the pool hall came up for sale, I decided to buy half of it.”
A repair lathe came as part of the package with the pool
hall. The lathe was set up to replace tips and ferrules as well as
some basic shaft repairs. Pete’s partner didn’t have any interest
in the repair business, so Pete took the lathe home and set it up
in his garage. The choice paid immediate dividends, as there was
plenty of repair business from the poolroom as well as from the
other pool halls in the area. Even today, Pete continues to do
repair work, usually spending several hours on repairs daily.
| May/June 2008
His friend David Bodenheimer provided the inspiration to transition
from repair work to cue-building. Pete describes David as a creative
thinker with a high degree of technical knowledge who was able to envision and imagine what was needed for making cues. He is also computer literate and can write software for numerical controlled equipment.
David believed in Pete and supported him as a pool player and as a fledgling cue builder. “He is very integral in [the growth of my business],
though he can’t make a pool stick,” said Pete. “He’s not wired that way.
He loves the challenge of using his brain to solve problems and to
improve the equipment and machinery in my cue-making.”
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The
Next Turn
“We started buying equipment here and there, just
messing around,” continued Ohman. “We started buying
cue parts from the Prather Cue Company.” But Pete felt that
was like cheating and soon wanted to do more than just
assemble cues. He began purchasing more equipment in a
process that morphed into his truly going down the road of
becoming a cue maker. He named his business Omen Cues,
a direct play on the sound of his name.
Bodenheimer also began devising and designing other
equipment with the thoughts of improving on the known
cue-building processes. He and Pete then built that specialty equipment. This included the one-of-a-kind computer
controlled system that Pete currently uses to cut the Vgrooves for his half-spliced forearms, as well as inlay equipment and tapering machines. Bodenheimer continues to
envision improvements on the methods that Ohman uses
today.
In addition to David Bodenheimer, Pete Ohman credits
much of the development of his craftsmanship from the help
of fellow Floridian cue maker Dennis Searing. “I’m privileged to be one of the people who can go to him with a problem,” said Pete. “He’ll just drop what he’s doing to help me.
He’s been like that with me forever.” Pete has adapted several of his processes based on what Searing has showed him.
“I want to put cues in people’s hands. I want to make
my customers happy,” explained Ohman. “I make the whole
experience of buying a cue fun for the guy who orders it.
My philosophy is that if I can make them happy during the
build of the cue, they’ll be happy with the cue when they
receive it. So it’s a double reward.” Because much of his
business is through the Internet and through his website,
Pete puts a great amount of effort in keeping the communication channels open with his customers via e-mail,
responding to e-mails several times a day. He prides himself
in being very customer-oriented. That customer-first mentality has resulted in global success spanning from the
Americas, Europe, and Asia.
One of his favorite projects was for his friend Steve
“Voodoo Daddy” Ferraro. Dave and Pete designed a unique
voodoo-themed cue, complete with inlays of voodoo dolls.
“Some of my greatest pleasures include taking a customer’s
personal designs, thoughts, and personalities, then building
it into a cue suited just for him. I enjoy working and communicating with him during the build and then delivering
the cue to that customer who then responds with nothing but
positive feedback,” said Ohman. “It’s the positive feedback
that keeps me going.”
“My cues are ‘alive.’ I use that word often when
describing my cues,” he said. “I make my cues friendly to
players. I find out my customer’s skill level and I try to
make my cues fit the customer.” He credits his playing ability and knowledge in guiding the direction of the parameters
of his cue, understanding that players of professional caliber
have different cue requirements compared to beginner and
intermediate players.
“Everybody who makes custom cues makes great cues,
but in the market today, details are going to make the
biggest differences,” stressed Ohman. “I set my standards
higher and higher every year because the custom market is
very oriented towards perfection. Even if the cue is going to
play great, a cosmetic flaw will floor a customer.”
Omen cue made for
Steve “Voodoo Daddy” Ferraro
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Staying on
theIn 1999
Path
Pete was diagnosed with
leukemia. “I dealt with that until 2003 and
was sick most of the time because of the
medicine,” shared Ohman. “But I beat it. I
was still working that entire time, saying to
myself, ‘I’m not done yet.’” He continues
to take an expensive magic pill every day, a
pill that could probably give him a 30-year
life extension.
“I don’t think pool is ever going to
become a sport that people don’t want to
play,” said Ohman. “I think there is room
for new cue makers, but if they’re going to
do it, they have to go all out. There’s no
future in making a cue [if the cue maker]
isn’t paying attention to detail.”
The man who grew up loving pool
took an abrupt path off his chosen field of
environmental biology and has never
looked back. As a pool hall owner, he took
yet another direction change towards making Omen cues full time. With the help of
his gifted friend David Bodenheimer, the
guidance of cue maker extraordinaire
Dennis Searing, and his never-ending drive
to make his customers happy, Pete Ohman
has achieved tremendous global success as
one of the world’s top cue makers.t
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Just outside of Toronto, Ontario, sits a 35,000-square-foot
building that is home to some of the top billiard and gameroom
products and accessories. Known today as Ram Gameroom
Products, when it began in 1983, things were quite different at
the company.
Named after the three founding partners—Rob, Andre,
and Monty—RAM was established as a full residential lighting importer and manufacturer. The three had been friends and
co-workers for a lighting company but decided to team up and
branch out on their own, and the result was a rousing success.
They soon sold billiards lights to billiard retailers and created
a billiard division of the company dealing mostly in lights.
“In 2005 we sold the residential lighting division, which
is the living room, bedroom, kitchen, and hallway stuff to one
of our suppliers overseas and we retained the billiard division,” said Monty Kuntz, president of RAM Gameroom
Products, who, along with Andre St. John, is still an owner of
the company. “We continued on and expanded the billiard side
of the business and kept it because it was enjoyable to work in
the billiard field. The lighting was very stressful industry, and
I figured I had the opportunity to keep part of the business and
put all my energies into the market I liked.”
Today they offer a variety of great billiard items such as
shadow boxes, glass shades, wall racks, and cue stands.
The company expanded the lighting line substantially
over the years, and once they became enriched completely in
J
| May/June 2008
the billiards side of things, they also got into gameroom décor.
“The décor involves a lot of wall art, neon clocks, what
we call crazy characters for cue racks, and we sell products
that are decorative and can go into the gameroom,” Kuntz said.
“I enjoy getting involved in sales, design, and sourcing new
products.”
RAM Gameroom Products currently has around 250 dealers in the United States, and they also sell on direct container
basis to Mexico, Europe, Costa Rica, and Russia.
Kuntz admits that like most people involved with billiards
these days, the business has slowed lately, but RAM has taken
steps to ensure that they stay on top.
“We always keep our eyes open for products we can take
to our customer base,” he said. “We spend a lot of time and
effort to develop dealers and relationships, and it’s our goal to
come up with new products and new ideas which can sell
through our current base.”
To prove his point, Kuntz talked about some of the 60+
items that they will be showcasing this June in Charlotte at this
year’s International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo.
“We are diversifying. We are also getting into a line of
tables with matching poker tables, stadium chairs, bar chairs, a
full line of wooden gameroom furniture, and pool tables,” he
said. “We also have a patent pending on a two-piece table
[called Easyship]. Every pool table that’s sold is about seven
and a half feet long. We took a table and literally cut it in half,
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and we will be featuring that in Charlotte. The logistics as far
as shipping is concerned is fabulous.”
Other items that RAM will feature come from their topselling stained glass, glass shades, cue stands, and wall décor
lines, to name a few.
For RAM, diversification is key, and Kuntz knows that
for the business to remain successful, they constantly need to
keep their eye out for new ventures. That’s one of the reasons
they added some outdoor décor to their product line in recent
years, which now accounts for 25-30 percent of their business.
“We’re always looking for new products, not only in the
billiards industry,” he said. “We also do a lot of outdoor wall
décor. We branched into that and have about four hundred
dealers in that division. We were doing so well with our
gameroom décor and we figured we have the ability to
design, why not go outside? Many of the pool and spa companies carry billiards, but now in the off-season, we are giving them something to carry in the other seasons. We’re still
relatively strong in spring and summer, not just fall.”
Since dealers carry all the products, the Internet has not
really been a friend to RAM, like it has to some other billiard
companies in recent years.
“The Internet has grabbed a lot of the traditional retail
business and watered things down,” Kuntz said. “The Internet
has so many players with so many different products, it has
made business tougher to get to the end user. It has split up
the business and divided it. It tends to be tougher to focus on
your market and where your market goes.”
That’s why Kuntz stresses the importance of diversifying and being aware of everything that is being offered and
where. The company began by manufacturing everything inhouse but over the years has found better and cheaper ways
to manufacture in places like Mexico, the Philippines, China,
and now Vietnam. That lets the company pass the value on to
their customers.
“My favorite thing about this industry is meeting such
great people and fun people,” Kuntz said. “Generally, the
people involved in billiards are nice, honest, and easygoing,
so dealing with the people themselves has been great.”
As for the future of RAM, Kuntz is excited about what
is ahead, especially with the new products coming out in
2008.
“I think it’s going to be fabulous,” he said. “We keep
moving ahead, and we’re pretty excited about what’s ahead to
be shown in Charlotte.”
With his 23-year-old son now involved in the company
in sales, Kuntz believes that RAM will be a family business
for a long time to come.
So even though the company has said so long to their
residential lighting division, they continue to shine bright in
the billiards industry.t
65-May/June-2008
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byKenShuman
HereComestheJudge
R
Remember that old expression “Here
comes the judge?” Well, almost every time
you call a referee to your match, here comes
the judge.
A referee is supposed to be a judge.
What do judges do? They make judgment
calls. Judgment calls represent the most
common situation a professional referee
faces. At least three out of every four times
we go to the table it’s to make a judgment
call. Our training courses devote a significant portion of class time to developing the
skills we need to do this. We learn tools
which help us acquire good referee judgment. It’s challenging and rewarding.
stroke. But a referee’s fundamentals
include things like assessing the situation,
gathering, clarifying and confirming information, observing the layout, checking the
surroundings, and being in the best position
to make the call. Once that checklist is
complete, we’re in pretty good shape to
simply use our judgment of what we
observe.
So exactly what is a judgment call?
Judgment calls are simply that—a
determination based upon a referee’s professional opinion of what they observed. It
doesn’t matter if it happens on or off the
table. It’s still a matter of judgment. Just
Having good judgment is only half the
battle, though. We must also learn how to
use our good judgment. No, they’re not the
same thing. For example, calling a close hit
requires having good judgment of the reaction of the balls. Deciding how to penalize
a player for an unsportsmanlike act requires
using good referee judgment. (We’ll save
the whole unsportsmanlike conduct discussion for another day.)
Professional referees make sound
judgment calls because they are prepared.
They rely upon their basic fundamentals,
just like players do for a reliable stance and
like a courtroom judge has the final say in
legal matters, referees are the final authority in judgment matters. And no, you can’t
say “I object” like a lawyer does in court.
Our rules specify that players cannot
protest a referee’s judgment call. It would
cause an endless debate, delay the match,
and distract others.
The most common of all judgment
calls is the “good hit/foul” call. This is
when the referee decides if the cue ball hit
a legal object ball first. How the referee is
able to decide what happens, or use their
judgment, is a topic I’ll be covering in a
Judgmentcalls are
simplythat—adetermination
basedupon areferee’s
professional opinion
ofwhat they observed.
| May/June 2008
later article. Calling a close hit is not as
simple as you may think.
Another common judgment call is the
dreaded “double hit.” Nobody likes this
one. The cue ball is about a quarter inch or
so from the object ball and you have to jack
up to shoot at it. Or, even worse, there are
two or three other object balls really close
by. Being in the best position on this type
of shot can be tricky. Although we may
look for the tangent line and other landmarks to help gauge the outcome, we don’t
always know the kind of stroke the player is
about to use.
Cueing differently can effect the reaction of the balls, and being in the right position on this shot is critical to judging that
reaction. Although technically we’re looking for the double hit—the act of the cue tip
striking the cue ball more than once on the
stroke—in almost all cases we never really
see that happen. Nobody has eyes that
good. Our judgment depends on how the
balls react after contact. That’s not to say
we don’t actually see some double hits
occur, but in those cases the foul is usually
obvious.
How do we make a judgment call after
the fact? If an incident has already happened, referees will gather information
from any source they think will help them
make a fair and accurate decision. This
includes players, spectators, other officials,
and, in some cases, video replay. We’ll use
that information to help make our judgment
call.
Now you know a little more about referee judgment calls. I hope this insight
helped. And don’t forget to maintain order
on the table or—here comes the judge!t
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On Board With the BCA
I
by Rob Johnson, BCA Executive Director
Discover the
Business of Billiards
at the 2008 BCA Expo
I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about the crummy economy. However, if you’re like most
businesses in North America, I’m betting that
you’re looking for ways to weather the storm.
Recognizing there’s a ton of solid marketing
advice being offered on the Web, in magazines
and newspapers, and on television, I’d also
recommend that you attend the Business of
Billiards Seminar Series during the 2008
International Billiard & Home Recreation
Expo, June 12-14, in Charlotte, NC, for business advice.
During these unique sessions, you’ll get a
mix of the tools necessary to improve your
business, bolster sales, and empower growth in
a tight economy. Following is an overview of
the seminars we’ve developed for the 2008
BCA Expo:
What a Ride: Life, Family, Community and the Race
Track
BCA Keynote: Kyle Petty, CEO, Petty Enterprises
Growing up in racing is always an advantage if you want to win in NASCAR Sprint
Cup competition, but when you grow up in
Level Cross, NC, and your father is casually
referred to as "The King,” the expectations for
your career jump tremendously. Petty was able
to productively use his family business and
take advantage of his incredible driving talents
and people skills to build a winning driving
resume and rebuild a racing business that has
been the most successful in the history of
motorsports. A leader in the sport that epitomizes skill, preparation, and handling the
unexpected, Petty will explore the ideals that
have made three generations of the Petty family legendary competitors.
Quantifying and Capitalizing on Consumer Opinion
Josh Maxwell, Director of Research, Ellison Research
In today’s tight market, differentiating
your business is critical. Consumer perception
provides the foundation that enables your company to stand apart. Knowing what people
think of the market, the products, and their
buying patterns can impact your company’s
success. Consumer trends and perception are
also the most difficult criteria to obtain. During
the session, Maxwell will present exclusive
research about the consumer for the home
entertainment industry. His expertise will provide unique opportunities to help you stand
apart from the competition.
| May/June 2008
Your Customer is More Sophisticated: Are You?
Jeff Grant, Principal, TRIO Display
As customers have become both price and
product savvy, retailers have had to raise their
level of sophistication just to keep pace.
During the session, Grant will deliver dynamic tools for retail merchandising, product presentation, and interactive media. Details include
how to draw customers through signage and
window displays, insider information on how
to save thousands of dollars on your store displays and fixtures, designing store lighting for
maximum impact and increased sales, and
merchandising and display techniques that will
keep customers in your store—and keep them
buying.
Internet Marketing: Easier Than You Think
Beth Krodel, Founding Partner, Insight
Designs Web Solutions
More than 215 million Americans use the
Internet every week. They look for restaurants,
movies, pool halls, and stores. The next-generation customer is probably looking for you on
the Web. Is your company out there? The
opportunities are limitless, but you may wonder if it’s too big, too expensive and too complicated to manage. Or perhaps your company
is already using the Web for marketing and
you’re looking for ways to expand on that. In
this session, Krodel will offer solutions to
these challenges, as well as tips to make your
website a place that customers come back to
again and again. In addition, this session will
feature how to make the most of the BCA’s
new consumer website, GenerationPool.com.
Position Your Billiard Hall for the Future
Dr. Steven Olson, Owner, The Parlor Billiards &
Spirits
Pool players of tomorrow are demanding
more for their time and money. It’s not just
about billiards anymore. It’s also about
ambiance, entertainment, service, group
events, the right mix of food and beverage
options, and more. To bring in this new customer demographic, you may need to re-define
your billiard hall—an overwhelming prospect.
Dr. Steven Olson, owner of The Parlor
Billiards & Spirits, has taken a bold approach.
His creation is a successful venue for this upand-coming generation of pool players. This
session will definitely provide some ideas to
help you “change it up” and position your hall
for the future.
continued on page 88
65-May/June-2008
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ables
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mg
premiu
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coming
—
Escalade® Sports 817 Maxwell Ave. Evansville, Indiana 47711 Phone: 866-556-2758 [email protected] ©2008 Escalade® Sports All rights reserved.
65-May/June-2008
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NEWS
INDUSTRY
KwikFire cues proudly
Brooklyn’s Skyline Billiards
announces sponsorship
Teams Up with Liz Ford
WPBA pro Liz Ford is
of two aspiring young pros
“We all need to support and promote young players—
these guys are the future of pool,” said KwikFire President
Kelly Fisher.
They will join Team KwikFire, alongside Gerda
Hofstatter, Kim Shaw , Val Finnie, Morgan Steinman, Tiffany
Nelson, and Kelly Fisher.
The talented young players are 13-year-old Jonathan
Castillo from New Jersey and 10-year-old Taylor Reynolds
from Maine, who is coincidentally playing on the same table
Tiffany Nelson practiced on in her youth. Watch out,
Tiffany!
Sportcraft, Ltd. Acquires AMF Brand
for Billiards and Game Tables
Sportcraft, Ltd. has acquired the exclusive right to license the AMF brand, along
with additional trademarks associated with
AMF in connection with billiard tables, foosball tables, table soccer, Turbo Hockey, and
other home recreation products.
Sportcraft acquired the perpetual license
to market the AMF brand from AMF Bowling
Worldwide, Inc. AMF entered the billiards
industry in 1993 with the acquisition of
PlayMaster Company and quickly became a
leader in the slate billiard table industry.
“AMF is among the great consumer
brands in the sporting goods industry,” stated
Mike Nally, president and CEO of Sportcraft.
“AMF will play a critical role in our brand
strategy, and we look forward to revitalizing
its presence in the marketplace.”
“AMF is very excited about the relationship with Sportcraft,” said John Walker, the
| May/June 2008
pleased to announce that
Skyline Billiards of Brooklyn,
NY, is her newest sponsor. A
frequent player at Skyline,
Ford is excited to work with
owners Rob Pole Jr. and
Sammy Wu to promote the
room during her 2008 tournament season. Ford, currently
ranked 34th on the WPBA, is
in Taipei, Taiwan, this week
representing the U.S. at the
WPA Women’s World 9-Ball
Championships.
Located in the Gravesend
section of Brooklyn, NY near
Coney
Island,
Skyline
Billiards is a full-service pool
room featuring 16 Brunswick
Gold Crown tables, a
Chevillote heated billiard
table, and an Internet café. For
more information about
Skyline
Billiards,
visit
http://www.skylinebilliards.com.
For more information about
Liz Ford, visit http://www.lizford.net.
InsidePool
CEO of the QubicaAMF bowling products
company. “Their market dominance and
commitment to product quality is very com- M A G A Z I N E
patible with AMF’s objectives.”
Sportcraft, a privately held company, is a
market leader in indoor/outdoor sports products such as table games, billiard equipment,
table tennis equipment, darts, dartboards,
lawn games, volleyball sets, badminton sets,
and fitness equipment. It has distribution
facilities in New Jersey, California, Illinois,
and Canada. The company has a long heritage of success in supplying families with
high-quality home recreational products for
over 85 years.
AMF will introduce the new billiard
tables along with an extensive and complete
line-up of table games and accessories at the Subscribe today
2008 BCA International Billiard & Home 1.866.961.7665 ext. 235
Recreation Expo in June.
&
InsidePoolmag.com
get
inside!
65-May/June-2008
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Places to Play | Places to Buy
Diamond Billiards, LLC
Richmond,VA
Diamond Billiards is the newest billiards establishment in the Richmond, VA, area, having just opened for
business March 10, 2008. The vision for this establishment was that of David W. Donovan, whose years of
planning finally paid off with a beautiful, upscale billiards room. The room, which encompasses approximately 6,000 square feet, has fourteen 9-foot tables, a full
bar, and a restaurant, as well as a pro shop where pool
tables and accessories are sold.
Diamond Billiards was designed by pool players for
pool players. The walls are decorated with pictures of the
old pool masters and poolrooms, along with autographed
photos of current professional pool players. One of the
interesting features of the establishment is the Ozone air
purification system. This system tremendously improves
the smoking environment. This poolroom is also wheelchair accessible.
The goal of Cindy and Thomas C. Dorsey, the owners of Diamond Billiards, LLC, is to provide a high-quality recreational atmosphere for people of all ages. The
next time you’re in the area, stop by or give them at call
at 804-794-8787.
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T
PlayeroftheMonth
George Leverett
The APA Player of the Month is George Leverett of the Dallas
area APA. He has been a part of the Dallas APA almost since its
beginning. George proudly holds a membership number of
1,500 of approximately 6,000. But he’s been much more than
just an active member. George has served the league as team
captain on many teams, both 8- and 9-ball, over the years. He
has served as a division and area representative and has also been
a member of the Board of Governors. George and his wonderful wife, Paula, have presided over many singles qualifier boards,
local tournaments, and city championships. Above all, he has
been a favorite friend to APA members throughout Dallas.
“George is famous for his good sportsmanship and fair play.
Many times he has helped resolve disputes between players and
teams. George knows the rules and makes the right call. When
he puts his arm around you and faces you with that big smile, you
know you’ve been treated fairly and respectfully,” said Northeast
Dallas League Operator Nikki Brown.
George loves the game of pool and is a student of the game.
He’s a tactical player that knows the strategies. But more than
just wanting to win, George brings the fun to the game of pool,
to his team, and to his league. He makes playing in the APA
league fun. Win or lose, no one has more fun doing it. George
has been—and continues to be—a great example of what the
APA leagues are all about!
| May/June 2008
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RegionalRoundup
norTHEAST
EASY WIN FOR WONG
TRI-STATE TOUR / ASTORIA QUEENS, NY
by Rick Davis
The Tri-State Tour visited Break, Bar and Billiards in
Astoria Queens, NY, March 1 for an exciting day of pool.
The B-D handicapped 9-ball event was owned by Kelly
Wong, who bested the 28-player field to claim the title after
recovering from a late defeat.
On the winners’ side it was Wong and Duane Toney in
the hot seat match, although it seemed Wong could not shift
into gear as Toney shut him out 6-0. Over on the one-loss
side it was a fast and furious race as the players surged
towards the later rounds. In the top eight Dave Shlemperis
ousted Mike Harrington 6-4 and Brian Cap 7-2 to reach the
quarterfinals, while Tony Eglesias eliminated D’Jamison
Jenson 8-5 and Gary Murgia 7-4 to keep pace with
Shlemperis and meet him in the quarterfinal round.
With the field down to the top 4 Eglesias slipped past
Shlemperis 7-5 in the quarterfinals but was shut down in the
semifinals by Wong, who bested him 7-5. At the final match
of the event, Wong bolted out to an early 5-2 lead. He
extended it to 6-3 and then 7-4 as Toney started to creep
back and brought the score to 8-7, where Wong managed a
timely escape to take the match 9-7 and claim the event win.
PARK PREEMINENT ON TRI-STATE TOUR
TRI-STATE TOUR / QUEENS, NY
by Rick Davis
Shin Park bested a 32-player field at Master Billiards in Queens,
NY, during the March 8 edition of the Tri-State Tour. The doubleelimination 9-ball event was the tour’s first open class event in several months, and it brought in plenty of excitement.
Late action on the winners’ side had Jorge Rodriguez slip past
Manuel Chau 7-6 to reach the hot seat match, while Park bested Tim
Edmonds 7-3 in the same round. The peak of the winners’ side was
over in a flash as Park drilled Rodriguez 7-1 to control the bracket.
On the one-loss side Scott Simonetti was making a comeback
after shutting out Paul Raval 7-0 then eliminating Edmonds 7-3 to
reach the quarterfinals. Chau also began creeping through the
remaining rounds, and once he ousted tour regular Mark Vidal 7-5 he
was back in gear. Chau knocked out Simonetti 7-3 in the quarterfinals then eliminated Rodriguez 7-6 in the semifinals, getting revenge
from his earlier defeat.
In the last match of the day Chau faced the waiting Park in the
finals, where both players showed their fatigue. Each player opened
with a three-game streak for an early 3-all tie, but then Park blasted
it open with five straight racks for an 8-3 lead. Chau got back into the
race, bringing the score to 8-7, but a dry break left Park to run out for
the 9-7 win.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Kelly Wong
Duane Toney
Tony Eglesias
Dave Shlemperis
5th Brian Cap
Gary Murgia
7th Mike Harrington
D’Jamison Jensen
PARK SCORES PERFECT PERFORMANCE
PREDATOR 9-BALL TOUR / NEW YORK CITY, NY
Caroline Pao, William Finnegan, Shin Park, Tony Robles, Karl Yusuf-Khan
by Jerry Tarantola
The Predator 9-Ball Tour’s fourth stop of the season drew a
record 84 players to the heart of New York City the weekend of
March 22-23. Soho Billiards played hosted to the event, which
brought out new faces and the usual stand-out players, including
Tony Robles, Shin Park, George Sansouci, and Jeremy Sossei,
but Shin Park was the only player left standing at the end of it
all.
Frankie Hernendez came close to repeating back-to-back
Predator Tour wins as he and Park were the two undefeated players of the winners’ bracket. The two battled it out for the hot
seat, and Park came out undefeated, sending Hernandez to the
one-loss side.
| May/June 2008
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Shin Park
Manuel Chau
Jorge Rodriguez
Scott Simonetti
5th Tim Edmonds
Mark Vidal
7th Paul Raval
Mark Bantovick
Robles was sent to the west side late Saturday night in a
grueling match against Hernendez on the first day. However,
that loss fueled Robles Sunday as his momentum gained him six
consecutive wins, defeating Sansouci 9-1, Eddie Vazquez 9-2,
Chuck Altomare 9-2, and Jorge Rodriguez 9-6 to face off against
Hernendez again. In the battle of two of the state’s greatest players, Robles proved unstoppable, convincingly defeating
Hernandez 9-3.
In the finals, Park took an early 3-0 lead, but Robles fought
back to even the score. Throughout the match, Park’s break was
consistently effective, while Robles struggled to keep the cue
ball on the table, scratching five times. The battle continued all
the way to 8-8. A missed 7 ball by Robles allowed Park to gain
a 10-8 lead, but Park surprisingly missed an easy 4 ball to give
Robles an opportunity to close the gap. Robles managed to grab
only one more rack before Park made it across the finish line to
capture the fourth stop of the Predator Tour 11-9.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Shin Park
Tony Robles
Frankie Hernandez
Jorge Rodriguez
Chuck Altomare
Jeremy Sossei
7th Eddie Vazquez
Joe Pierce
9th Caroline Pao
George Sansouci
Mike Fingers
Mike Wong
65-May/June-2008
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I
N
Page 73
T
R
O
D
U
C
I
N
G
A NEW DIMENSION TO YOUR DINING ROOM
877.258.1963
www.fusiontables.com
65-May/June-2008
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C T. D E . M A . M D . M E . N H . N J . N Y. O H . PA . R I . V T.
norTHEAST
SOUVANTHONG SCORES ON JOSS TOUR
JOSS NORTHEAST 9-BALL TOUR / ROCHESTER, NY
by Rick Davis
Bucky Souvanthong topped the 37-player field at the
March 29-30 stop of the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour. The event
was hosted by Classic Billiards in Rochester, NY, and offered
some of the best 9-ball action around for the weekend.
Late on the winners’ side Dan Heidrich sent Jason “The
Dark Horse” Kirkwood west 9-6 but then fell to Souvanthong 97 in the hot seat match. On the one-loss side Ron Casanzio was
working on a comeback, eliminating Jim Behringer 9-4 to reach
the quarterfinal round. Kirkwood was also still fighting, and
after ousting Pat Howey 9-5, he knocked out Casanzio 9-4. In
the quarterfinals Kirkwood went on to get revenge against
Heidrich, whom he eliminated with a 9-5 score.
In the final the true double-elimination format made it an
interesting fight, and after Kirkwood owned the opening set 9-3
it looked to be anyone’s game. With the last set running, neither
player could get an edge and finally, with the match at 8-all,
both players had the opportunity to close out the set. After each
had failed to claim it Souvanthong managed to capture the final
rack for the 9-8 win.
LUETHI LASSOS THE WIN
TRI-STATE TOUR / EDISON, NJ
by Rick Davis
The Tri-State Tour pulled into The Sand Castle in Edison, NJ,
where Chris Luethi bested the 45-player field during the March 29
event to take home the title. This event was a B-D handicapped 9ball event, and its double-elimination format made for some great
action.
On the winners’ side Michael Seas defeated Angelo Quadara
7-3, while Luethi bested Jason Egeln 6-5. Then, in the hot seat
match set, Luethi edged out Seas 6-5 to claim the king of the hill
seat. Over on the one-loss side Ben Sadowski ousted Brian Cap 72 but then fell to Egeln 6-2, who then reached the plateau of the
quarterfinal match. On the other side of the chart Sal Lanuto eliminated Bogie Udejczyk 7-5 but was then uprooted by Quadara 7-5
on his way through the chart. Quadara flew through the quarterfinals, drilling Egeln 7-3 there and then knocked out Seas 7-4 in the
semifinals.
With the event coming to a close, Luethi faced Quadara in the
finals, and after the match tipped back and forth, Luethi managed
to finish ahead by a nose, earning the event title with the 7-6 win in
the finals.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Bucky Souvanthong
Jason Kirkwood
Dan Heidrich
Ron Casanzio
RESULTS
5th Jim Behringer
Pat Howey
7th Dan Smith
Chris Orme
CHAU AND NG CONQUER ALL COMERS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Chris Luethi
Angelo Quadara
Michael Seas
Jason Egeln
5th Sal Lanuto
Ben Sadowski
7th Bogie Udejczyk
Brian Cap
TIGER POOL TOUR / WINCHESTER, VA
by Andy Lincoln
The Tiger Tour headed West March
29-30 to Winchester, VA, and found a
fantastic new room by the name of Blue
Fox Billiards. The room has been open
for less than a month, but already the
weekend crowds kept the place packed.
The tour brought in an additional 63
open division entrants and 13 ladies to
claim their stake in the $2,000 added
money, with Manuel Chau and Ming Ng
winning their respective divisions.
Chau, the 2007 year-end final winner, took on Matt Clatterbuck, the new
house pro of Blue Fox Billiards, in the
second round. These two rivals fought it
out, with Chau winning this one 9-8.
Ryan McCreesh and Brandon Shuff both
looked strong, advancing over their first
three opponents to reach Sunday.
The winners’-side semifinals were
uneventful with McCreesh defeating
Moore and Chau overcoming Shuff. The
hot seat match stayed close, but it was
McCreesh taking the 9-6 win over Chau.
In the elimination bracket, Moore and
Shuff battled it out before each made a
mistake at 6-all. Shuff walked away with
| May/June 2008
the fortunate victory, placing Moore into
the fourth-place spot. Chau jumped out
6-1 on Shuff but stalled out. Shuff came
all the way back to 6-6 before an unlikely scratch on the break ended his tournament. The single-set final race to 11
stayed close most of the way, with
McCreesh enjoying the upper hand.
Chau closed in at the end and won 11-9.
Thirteen lucky ladies showed up
Sunday for the women’s event. Ng, who
won the previous tour stop, started her
day with a tough matchup with WPBA
pro Megan Minerich, where Ng came
out on top 7-5. Ng and My-Hanh Lac
reached the hot seat match with comfortable wins over Ji-Hyun Park and Nicole
Vincent, respectively. This match turned
out to be one-sided, with Lac easily
defeating Ng 7-2.
The elimination bracket held few
surprises as Park took the fourth spot at
the hands of Minerich. Ng and Minerich
had a close one with Ng coming out on
top again 5-4. The single-set final race to
9 with Lac was much different than the
previous meeting. Ng won this one with
no problems 9-4
Ming Ng
Manuel Chau
OPEN RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Manuel Chau
Ryan McCreesh
Brandon Shuff
Eric Moore
Matt Clatterbuck
Paul Adolini
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Ming Ng
My-Hanh Lac
Megan Minerich
Ji-Hyun Park
7th Shaun Wilkie
Kevin West
9th Larry Kressel
Steve Fleming
Alan Duty
Dale Kokoski
OPEN RESULTS
5th Nicole Vincent
Tonya Schetrompf
7th Judie Wilson
Cheryl Squire
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C T. D E . M A . M D . M E . N H . N J . N Y. O H . PA . R I . V T.
norTHEAST
UPCOMINGTOURNAMENTSNORTHEAST
Date
Tournament
Venue
City, ST
Contact
$ Added
Eligibility
5/3-4
Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour
Snookers Café and Billiards
Providence, RI
401-351-7665
$2,000
Open
5/3-4
Tiger Pool Tour
Orange Ball Billiards
Rockville, MD
301-309-6440
$2,000
Open
5/17-18
Viking Cue Open 9-Ball Tour
Michael’s Billiards
Fairfield, OH
513-860-0044
$2,000
Open
5/18
Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tour
Michael’s Billiards
Fairfield, OH
513-860-0044
$500
Amateurs
5/31-6/1 Predator 9-Ball Tour
Comet Billiards
Parsippany, NJ
973-334-7429
$1,000
Open
6/7-8
Predator 9-Ball Tour
Raxx Pool Room
West Hempstead, NY 516-538-9896
$1,000
Open
6/14-15
Master Billiards
Sunnyside, NY
718-706-7689
$1,000
Open
6/21-22
Rack ‘n Roll Billiards
Stamford, CT
203-327-9911
$1,000
Open
6/21-22
Tiger Pool Tour
Hagerstown Billiards
Hagerstown, MD
301-791-1355
$1,500
Open
6/21-22
J. Pechauer NorthEast Women’s Tour Comet Billiards
Parsippany, NJ
973-334-7429
$1,500 + qual. Ladies
7/12-13
NJ State 9-Ball Championships
Prime Time Sports Bar and Café South Amboy, NJ
732-721-6555
$4,000 + qual. Ladies
7/26-27
Master Billiards
Sunnyside, NY
718-706-7689
$1,000
Open
8/2-3
Comet Billiards
Parsippany, NJ
973-334-7429
$1,000
Open
8/14-17
Turning Stone Classic XI 9-Ball Open Turning Stone Casino
Verona, NY
518-356-7163
$25,000
Open
$3,000
Open
10/11-12 Predator 9-Ball Tour
Raxx Pool Room
West Hempstead, NY 516-538-9896
65-May/June-2008
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65-May/June-2008
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RegionalRoundup
SOUTHEAST
NEVEL UNSTOPPABLE
GREAT SOUTHERN BILLIARD TOUR
GOOSE CREEK, SC
STEINKE AND BARNES SCORE TOP FINISHES
PECHAUER ALL-AMERICAN TOUR / NORFOLK, VA
Vernon Steinke, Jack Davis
Toni Barnes, Connie Eddins
by InsidePOOL Staff
Larry Nevel
by Rick Davis
The Great Southern Billiards Tour hit
Weekends Pub in Goose Creek, SC for the
Charleston Classic III. The 45-player field brought
great action over the March 7-9 weekend, but once
again Larry “The Truth” Nevel could not be
stopped.
The final day of play brought back the top 16
players, where Jared McGee bested Richard West
then Donnie Seagraves, both 9-6, to reach the hot
seat match. On the other end of the chart Nevel
drilled Marty Opyd and Christy Norris 9-1 then
breezed through McGee 9-3.
On the one-loss side Phillip Britt was coming
back from an early loss, and after eliminating
David Crocker 9-4 and Seagraves 9-7, who had
dealt him his early defeat, Britt found himself in
the quarterfinals. John Stallings was also creeping
forward and ousted Dave Cook and Norris to face
off with Britt. With the end of the line in sight Britt
wasted no time and bolted through the next two
matches, eliminating Stallings in the quarterfinals
and McGee in the semifinals, both matches going
9-5.
Nevel then got off his throne to play the
incoming Britt, who shocked everyone by opening
with a 7-pack. Although Nevel played hard, he
could not come back and left Britt to take then set
9-5. In the final set Nevel gave Britt more attention
and played several phenomenal safeties and came
with a handful of amazing shots. While Britt managed to chalk up three games for himself, Nevel
kept a lead the whole time with a trio and break and
runs plus a 9 on the snap, which helped propel him
to his 9-3 win to claim the match.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Larry Nevel
Phillip Britt
Jared McGee
John Stallings
5th Christy Norris
Donnie Seagraves
7th Dave Cook
David Crocker
| May/June 2008
The March 8 stop of the Pechauer
All-American Tour was hosted by Flipper
McCoy’s in Norfolk, VA. The $2,000added event drew 55 players in separate
men’s and women’s divisions in a doubleelimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar
boxes, with the winners being Vernon
Steinke and Toni Barnes, respectively.
In the 35-player, $1,500-added
men’s division, local player Vernon
Steinke sailed undefeated to the finals.
In the hot seat match, Steinke dominated
Jack Davis 7-1. Earlier, in the A-bracket
semifinals, Steinke also blitzed Joe Wood
7-1, while Davis comfortably handled
Larry Kressel 7-3. In the B-side final
eight, Dave Perry ousted Bill Mason 5-2,
while John Hughes knocked out Chris
Adams 5-3. The B-side quarterfinals
featured Kressel crushing Hughes 5-0 and
Perry taking care of Wood at fifth place.
In the B-side semifinals Kressel eliminat-
ed Perry at fourth place 5-3, but Kressel’s
run was ended by Davis, who bested him
5-4. Davis had to defeat Steinke two sets
for the crown, but Steinke held Davis off
in the first set by a 7-6 margin for the title.
In the 20-player, $500-added
women’s division, Toni Barnes remained
undefeated to the finals, eclipsing Ann
Bellamy in the A-side finals 4-3. In the
previous A-side round, Barnes eased past
Connie Eddins 4-0, and Bellamy upped
Rebecca Sears 4-2. In the B-side round
of eight, Barbara Yeager took out Alena
Joyce 4-1, and Luz Selbe ousted Susie
Losh 4-2. In the B-side quarterfinals,
Barbara Yeager eliminated Rebecca Sears
at fifth place, while Selbe tied Sears
because of her 4-0 loss to Connie Eddins.
Eddins built up more momentum by eliminating Yeager at fourth place 4-3 and
Bellamy at third place 4-3. In the finals,
Barnes made short work of Eddins by a 41 margin for the crown.
MEN’S RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Vernon Steinke
Jack Davis
Larry Kressel
Dave Perry
5th John Hughes
Joe Wood
7th Chris Adams
Bill Mason
InsidePool
WOMEN’S RESULTS
1st Toni Barnes
2nd Connie Eddins
3rd Ann Bellamy
&
4th Barbara Yeager
5th Rebecca Sears
Luz Selbe
InsidePoolmag.com
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A
G
A
Z
get inside!
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E
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65-May/June-2008
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65-May/June-2008
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A L . F L . G A . K Y. M S . N C . S C . T N . VA . W V
SOUTHEAST
USSERY PUTS DOWN PARK
JACOBY CUSTOM CUES CAROLINA TOUR / WINSTON-SALEM, NC
by Rock City Promotions
Break Time Billiards in Winston-Salem, NC, hosted the
March 8-9 stop of the Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour.
A field of 42 players came out for the $1,000 guaranteed
added main event, where B.J. Ussery held off Ron Park in
the final match.
To kick things off, an early bird tournament was held
Friday night, in which Mike Davis defeated Mike Maurer 74 in the final match. In the junior tournament Sunday,
Marcus Pendley defeated his younger brother Adam
Pendley 7-4 in the final match. Also on Sunday, a second
chance tournament was won by Peaches Fuller, who defeated Ed Killough 7-5.
In the main event, Park drew a bye and made his way
to the hot seat by defeating Tim Morton 7-2, Marcus
Pendley 7-4, Andy Hutchens 7-2, Robert Ray 7-4, and
Michael Fuller 7-4. Meanwhile, Ussery also drew a bye and
struggled to defeat Charles McClung 7-4, Jeff Abernathy 75, and Killough 7-6. After being sent to the one-loss side by
Michael Fuller 7-2, Ussery held off Abernathy for a second
time and by the same score as before. A win over Brian
White 7-4 set up a rematch with Fuller. This time it was
Ussery who came out on top 7-3 and moved on to meet Park
in the final. The lopsided final match saw the players trade
the first few racks, but then Ussery pressed on to win five
games in a row to take the win 9-3.
MILLS AND MARTIN MAKE THEIR MARK
VIKING CUE 9-BALL TOUR / CAPE CORAL, FL
Chad Vilmont, Donnie Mills, Diamond Billiards waitresses
by InsidePOOL Staff
The Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour returned to Diamond Billiards
Sports Bar and Grill in Cape Coral, FL, March 15-16 for a double
event. A grand total of 99 players showed up to vie for the $5,110
prize fund, with Donnie Mills and Ronnie Martin walking away
with top honors in the open and amateur divisions, respectively.
Mills swept through the bottom half of the bracket undefeated,
besting Todd Vail 9-1, Dale Howland 9-2, Glen Olson 9-5, Nathan
Rose 9-6, Anthony Meglino 9-2, and Chad Vilmont 9-2. Mills faced
| May/June 2008
Doug Ennis, Ron Park, B.J. Ussery, Frank Tullos
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
B.J. Ussery
Ron Park
Michael Fuller
Brian White
Jeff Abernathy
Robert Ray
7th Cary Dunn
Adam Pendley
9th Mike Maurer
Mike Davis
Ed Killough
Andy Hutchens
Vilmont again in the finals, where Vilmont lost a lead of 5-2 to be
overcome by Mills 9-6.
Runner-up Vilmont started in the top half of the bracket, where
he went undefeated to the hot seat match, winning over Ted Lepak
9-5, Jim Herron 9-6, Dave Ross 9-2, Neil Young 9-4, and Troy
Frank 9-8 before he lost to Mills in the hot seat match. On the oneloss side he ousted Frank 9-5 in the semifinals before facing off
against Mills again.
In the amateur division, Martin faced down Elisha Mullen 5-3,
Ron Gravel 5-1, Shelly Harrison 5-2, Wayne Agnew 5-2, and Ken
Coulter 5-2. Martin was sent to the one-loss side by Ted Lepak 5-2,
where he faced Paul Bramwell in the semifinals, winning the set 53 and returning to face Lepak again the finals, where he doubledipped Lepak 5-0, 5-2 to win.
Lepak worked his way through the bottom half of the bracket,
sending anyone in his way to the left side of the chart, starting with
Tom Johnson 5-1, Bob Herrera 5-1, Johnny Cole 5-4, Jake Cox 5-4,
James Oswalt 5-3, and Martin 5-2 before meeting Lepak in the
finals.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Donnie Mills
Chad Vilmont
Troy Frank
Jason Richko
5th Anthony Megino
Jason Miller
7th Neil Young
Dave Ross
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SOUTHEAST
WEBB CLAIMS SEASON OPENER
LADIES SPIRIT TOUR / HOLIDAY, FL
ROBERTS RAKES IN BANKS WIN
9-BALL BANKS TOURNAMENT / LOUISVILLE, KY
by Tom Fryer
Monica Webb
by R. Case
The Ladies Spirit Tour season opener
brought out 34 women to Hammer Heads
Billiard Lounge in Holiday, FL, March 15-16.
Owners of Hammer Heads, Dan and Nora
LaVoie, added $1,200 to the event, bringing the
total purse to $3150, plus the qualifier spot for
the WPBA Great Lakes Classic. The event drew
WPBA pros Monica Webb, Helena Thornfeldt,
Tiffany Nelson, Tracie Hines, and Debbie
Schjodt, with Webb capturing the first-place
prize.
On the second day of the event, the final 12
returned to battle it out for the $720 first place
money and the qualifier spot. Emily Wilmoth
sent pro Debbie Schjodt home but couldn’t continue the winning streak against pro Tiffany
Nelson. By making her way past Denise
Khidirian and Autumn Duncan, upcoming star
Michell Monk secured her claim to the paid
entry for the WPBA Great Lakes Classic. After
defeating Stephanie Mitchell in a double-hill
game, she was the last amateur standing against
the pros, but she could not collect her game
against Nelson, while Thornfeldt and Webb battled for the hot seat match.
After sending Thornfeldt to play Nelson for
third, Webb waited patiently undefeated. It was
Nelson who wanted the challenge of the match
with Webb for first place. In a true double-elimination format, Nelson had her sights on beating
Webb twice. The first match was a test of
patience with safety plays, but Nelson won that
match with a score of 7-5. The second match,
however, would not prove as easy for Nelson, as
Webb claimed the season opener with a score of
7-2.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Monica Webb
Tiffany Nelson
Helena Thornfeldt
Michell Monk
Stephanie Mitchell
Amy Poulter
7th Autumn Duncan
Emily Wilmoth
9th Leslee Davis-Blaikie
Tracie Hines
Denise Khidirian
Debbie Schjodt
| May/June 2008
The 9-ball banks tournament at
Bank Shot Billiards in downtown
Louisville, KY, March 15-16, was a
huge success, but no one was more successful than winner Bryan Roberts.
Once again promoter extraordinaire,
bank pool Hall of Famer Truman
Hogue, filled his field with 64 $40
entries playing races to 3 on 10
Diamond 9-footers. Owners Vogen,
Brian, and Brad Phillips added the $10
greens fee portion of the entry fees back
into the prize fund and provided free
practice time until 6:00 PM each day.
Play on Saturday continued until
only 16 players remained for Sunday’s
finale. The winner’s-side semis were
highly anticipated but rather shortlived. Bryan Roberts sent Ron “Blood”
Grant left 3-0. Gerald Reichle did the
same to Kenny Weatherly 3-0.
Most of the last group were
Louisvillians, but as the action heated
up, it was Elizabeth, KY’s Duke Laha
coming back to eliminate Kevin
Nichols 3-2. At the same time, Butch
Wolf of Florence, KY continued a long
run through the left side with a similar
rebound from 1-2 to send “Crazy Dale”
Kinnimonth to the sidelines 3-2.
Kenny Weatherly was waiting for
Laha but was left in a fifth-place tie
when Laha handled him 3-0. Ron Grant
is a bank shot regular and was geared
up for this event, but again Wolf
escaped a 1-2 hole to leave Blood in a
strong fifth place.
The winners’ final paired Bryan
Roberts, who had yet to see a match go
to the hill, against Gerald Reichle,
whose Saturday had been more perilous. Reichle used a forfeit, a comeback from 2-2, 0-4, and another comeback from 2-2, 1-4 to survive undefeated. But Roberts prevailed 3-1 with the
key shot being a three-railer into the
side.
Laha and Wolf then squared off,
and Wolf finally wound up on the
wrong side of a 3-2 and settled for
fourth. Laha then matched up with
Reichle in the match of the tournament.
It went down to the last ball with both
men on the hill before Laha advanced to
the finals on a long straight-back bank.
Gerald banked $400 for third plus an
extra $100 for the high run (8 banks) of
the tournament.
As Hogue’s events always are, it
was true double-elimination in the final.
So Laha, who played nothing from age
10 to age 16 but a full-rack bank version where whoever pockets the 1 and 9
are partners, would have to beat
Roberts twice. It was not to be. Roberts
used a three-ball run and a four-ball run
to take control, and left he left Laha
with second place and $750 by a 3-0
count. It must be said that the best man
won, as Bryan only lost three racks in
the whole tournament and won $1,200.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Bryan Roberts 5th “Blood” Grant
Duke Laha
Kenny Weatherly
Gerald Reichle 7th “Crazy Dale” Kinnimonth
Butch Wolf
Kevin Nichols
YourLine Up
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shot
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CUETABLE.com
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65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
12:05 PM
Page 83
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
12:07 PM
Page 84
SOUTHEAST
YOUNG CAPTURES COOKEVILLE CLASSIC
GREAT SOUTHERN BILLIARD TOUR / COOKEVILLE, TN
by InsidePOOL Staff
The Great Southern Billiard Tour rolled into Cookeville, TN,
the weekend of March 29-30, for their Cookeville Classic event.
Hosted by The Cue, this event was won by Billy Young, who triumphed in a one-set finals over Larry Nevel.
The action ultimately wound down to the final eight players,
with Young triumphing over Dave Crockett 9-3 and Shannon “The
Cannon” Daulton sending Nevel to the one-loss side in a hill-hill
thriller. Clashing in the winners’-side finals, Young dealt Daulton
his first loss to earn the hot seat. On the west side of the chart, Russ
Edwards eliminated Randy Vaughn and Sparky Ferrell ousted
Larry Price, both double-hill nail-biters.
Ferrell went on to survive another hill-hill match against
Crockett but then fell down in the semifinals against Nevel, who
sent him packing 9-4. Before that, Nevel had ousted Edwards 9-3.
In the finals, Nevel held a 6-3 advantage over Young but broke and
scratched. Young proceeded to break and run out the next four
racks in a row to make it 7-6. He missed a ball but hooked Nevel,
who kicked at it but left Young a shot. Young grabbed that rack and
ran out the next two racks as well for the win.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Billy Young
Larry Nevel
Shannon Daulton
Sparky Ferrell
5th Russ Edwards
Dave Crockett
7th Randy Vaughn
Larry Price
UPCOMINGTOURNAMENTSSOUTHEAST
Date
5/4
5/10-11
5/10-11
5/11
5/16-18
5/17-18
5/17-18
5/24-25
5/25
5/31-6/1
5/31-6/1
6/6-8
6/7-8
6/7-8
6/7-8
6/8
6/8
6-8-12
6/14-15
6/15
6/20-22
6/21-22
6/21-22
6/28-29
Tournament
KBP Amateur 9-Ball Tour
J. Pechauer Southeast Open Tour
Seminole Pro Tour
Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour
Great Southern Billiard Tour
Tiger Pool Tour
GenerationPool.com 9-Ball Stage 1
Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour
KBP Amateur 9-Ball Tour
GenerationPool.com 9-Ball Stage 2
Seminole Pro Tour
Ladies Spirit Tour
| May/June 2008
Venue
City, ST
Stroker’s Billiards
Palm Harbor, FL
The Art of Billiards
Gainesville, FL
Weekends Pub & Sports Bar Goose Creek, SC
Weekends Pub & Sports Bar Goose Creek, SC
Hammer Heads Billiards
Holiday, FL
Sharks-N-Shooters
Rocky Mount, NC
Breakers Sports Bar & Grille Knoxville, TN
Side Pocket Cue Club & Grill Marietta, GA
Side Pocket Cue Club & Grill Marietta, GA
Palace Billiards
Greenville, SC
Diamond Billiards
Richmond, VA
Smokin’ Cue
Charlotte, NC
Babineau’s Billiards
Raleigh, NC
Diamond Billiard Club
Chattanooga, TN
Burrkat’s Billiards
Monroe, NC
Burrkat’s Billiards
Monroe, NC
TJ’s Billiards
New Port Richey, FL
Charlotte Convention Center Charlotte, NC
Mr. Cues 2
Atlanta, GA
Mr. Cues 2
Atlanta, GA
Diamond Billiards
Cape Coral, FL
Shooters
Greensboro, NC
Hammer Heads Billiard Lounge Holiday, FL
Randolph’s Billiards
Hickory, NC
Contact
727-786-6683
352-225-3535
843-553-5550
843-553-5550
954-364-5201
252-937-8882
865-688-6475
770-425-1101
770-425-1101
864-234-0428
804-556-6775
615-859-9722
919-467-5411
423-877-5882
704-226-9650
704-226-9650
727-863-0023
615-859-9722
770-454-7665
770-454-7665
954-364-5201
336-852-1448
727-939-9494
828-326-7005
$ Added
$500
$1,000
$2,000
$500
$4,000
$1,000
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$1,500
$2,000
N/A
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$500
$500
N/A
$2,000
$500
$4,000
$1,500
$1,000
$1,500
Eligibility
Amateurs
Open
Open
Amateurs
Open
Open
Open
Open
Amateurs
Open
Open
WPBA members
Open
Open
Open
Amateurs
Amateurs
WPBA members
Open
Amateurs
Open
Open
Ladies
Open
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
12:10 PM
Page 85
65-May/June-2008
4/14/08
5:04 PM
Page 86
RegionalRoundup
central
VICTORY GOES TO VILMONT
PECHAUER ALL-AMERICAN TOUR / CLINTON, IA
by InsidePOOL Staff
Chad Vilmont took an undefeated journey at the
March 1 stop of the Pechauer All-American Tour to
claim first place. Hosted by Legend’s Sports Bar in
Clinton, IA, this $500-added event drew 42 players in a
double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes.
Vilmont, a local player, dominated Brad Thompson
7-2 after previously overcoming Jason Totten 7-2 in the
A-side semifinals while Thompson clipped Josh
Johnson 4-6. In the B-side last eight, Rich Bideaux and
Ron Pluym eliminated at seventh place Rich Blauer 5-0
and Frank DeCastecker 5-2, respectively.
Johnson ousted Pluym 7-4 and Totten eliminated
Bideaux 4-4, sending them both home with fifth place.
In the quarterfinals, Johnson ousted Totten by a score of
7-0. The B-side finals featured Johnson stopping
Thompson at third place 7-3. The final match featured
the undefeated Vilmont versus Johnson, and Vilmont
made short work of Johnson in the first set to claim the
title 7-3.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Chad Vilmont
Josh Johnson
Brad Thompson
Jason Totten
Ron Pluym
Rich Bideaux
7th Rich Blauer
Frank DeCastecker
9th Jessen Numer
Don Branson
Don Thompson
Mike Herrera
BOWMAN DOUBLE-DIPS NELSON
PECHAUER ALL-AMERICAN TOUR / DAVENPORT, IA
by InsidePOOL Staff
Jesse Bowman ran away with the March 22 stop of
the Pechauer All-American Tour by twice besting Mark
Nelson in the final set. Hosted by Miller Time Billiards
in Davenport, IA, this $500-added event drew 34 players in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar
boxes.
Nelson went undefeated to the finals. In the hot
seat match, Nelson slipped past Steve Parlow 6-5.
Earlier, in the A-bracket semifinals, Nelson outpointed
Jim LaFavre 6-4, while Parlow dominated Shawn
Sommers 6-2. In the B-side round of eight, Bowman
recovered from an early round loss to eliminate Rodney
Flenoi 8-4, while Rich Bideaux clipped Eric Ward 6-4.
In the quarterfinals, Bideaux white-washed
Sommers 6-0, while Bowman put a hurt on LaFavre by
an 8-1 margin. Bowman ended Bideaux’s run at fourth
place by an 8-4 margin, and he continued his hot streak
in the B-side finals by ousting Parlow 8-0. The finals
featured Nelson versus Bowman, with Bowman having
to win two sets to claim the title. And that is exactly
what Bowman did by turning back Nelson 8-4, 8-1 for
the title.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Jesse Bowman
Mark Nelson
Steve Parlow
Rich Bideaux
5th Jim LaFavre
Shawn Sommers
7th Rodney Flenoi
Eric Ward
| May/June 2008
OLINGER AND STONE ROLL INTO FIRST
VIKING CUE 9-BALL TOUR / FAIRFIELD, OH
by InsidePOOL Staff
The Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour
rolled into Fairfield, OH, for its
March 1-2 stop, where Ryan Stone
and Alex Olinger took top honors in
the open and amateur divisions,
respectively. Michael’s Billiards hosted the event, which brought a total of
81 participants.
Local favorite Stone, who is
from Dayton, and began playing pool
at the age of 9, is only 21 years old.
He has won two Viking Cue 9-Ball
amateur events, and this win makes
his first open division win. Stone
made his way through the top half of
the bracket undefeated, sending to the
left side of the chart Chase Timmer
9-5, Cody Myers 9-4, Travis Stamper
9-8, Frank Ruby 9-1, Mark Slye Jr.
9-6, Joe Brown 9-3, and then Ruby
again 9-5 to take the win.
Ruby drew a bye in round one
and then defeated Ron Scalzitti 9-7
and Kelly Cottongin 9-4 before being
sent to the one-loss side by Stone 91. He made his way back to the finals
after defeating Steven Dillion 7-3,
Bill Lott 9-2, Shannon Murphy 9-4,
Stamper 9-7, and Brown 9-7 before
facing Stone in the finals.
Olinger, another local favorite,
made his trek to the finals undefeated
through the bottom half of the brackets, besting John Riddell 7-6, Dave
Woods 7-5, Johnny Ferreri 7-4,
Charlie Hans 7-5, Tony McCray 7-5,
and in set one of the finals he defeated Charlie Hans again 7-1 to take first
place.
Second place was won by Hans,
who also began in the bottom half of
the bracket by defeating Chris
Hutchinson 7-5, Tim Wainscott 7-5,
and Ed Hancock 7-6 before being sent
to the one-loss side by Olinger 7-5.
There he defeated Lucas Hawkins 51, Gary Romine 5-2, and McCray 5-4
before facing Olinger in the finals.
Ryan Stone
Charlie Hans, Alex Olinger
OPEN RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Ryan Stone
Frank Ruby
Joe Brown
Travis Stamper
Shannon Murphy
Mark Slye Jr.
7th Bill Lott
Jason Miller
AMATEUR RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Alex Olinger
Charlie Hans
Tony McCray
Gary Romine
Johnny Ferrier
Lucas Hawkins
65-May/June-2008
4/14/08
12:52 PM
Page 87
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65-May/June-2008
4/14/08
12:43 PM
Page 88
On Board With the BCA
central
by Rob Johnson, BCA Executive Director
Discover the
Business of Billiards
at the 2008 BCA Expo
(continued from page 64)
Charity, Promotions & the Bottom
Line
Pete Webb, Principal, Webb PR
When times are tough, it’s even
more important to develop lowcost, high-impact charity and promotional strategies to boost your
business. Let Webb show you how
strategically aligning your company
with charitable organizations can
help to enhance your bottom line, as
well as provide a much-needed benefit to a charitable organization.
UPCOMINGTOURNAMENTSCENTRAL
RUN
Date
5/3-4
5/4
5/3-4
6/14-15
6/25-29
7/12-13
7/30-8-3
8/9-10
Tournament
Fast Eddie’s Olhausen 9-Ball Tour
WPBA Great Lakes Classic
WPBA U.S. Open
Venue
City, ST
Magoo’s Restaurant & Billiards Tulsa, OK
Magoo’s Restaurant & Billiards Tulsa, OK
Fast Eddie’s Billiards
San Antonio, TX
College Station, TX
Blue Chip Casino
Michigan City, IN
Austin, TX
Riverwind Casino
Norman, OK
Amarillo, TX
Contact
918-663-3364
918-663-3364
210-367-4761
210-367-4761
615-859-9722
210-367-4761
615-859-9722
210-367-4761
Additional information regarding
the Expo, including exhibitor and
attendee registration details, seminar specifics, and a complete list of
exhibiting companies can be found
online at www.bcaexpo.com.
Register today! Be sure to visit the
site often for the latest and greatest
updates.
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$2,000
$500
$2,100
$2,100
N/A
$2,100
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Open
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WPBA members
Open
WPBA members
Open
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&
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InsidePoolmag.com
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| May/June 2008
ext. 235
65-May/June-2008
4/15/08
4:04 PM
Page 89
WV
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65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
12:22 PM
Page 90
RegionalRoundup
western
PINEGAR TAKES OVERALL; OTHERS MAKE A MARK
U.S. BAR TABLE CHAMPIONSHIP / RENO, NV
by Rick Davis
The 15th Annual U.S. Bar Table Championship hit the Sands
Regency Hotel and Casino February 25 through March 2, and a flurry of players competed in 8-, 9-, and 10-ball events for their share of
the $25,000-added prize fund. Over the course of the week each event
featured three days of play in a double-elimination, alternating-break
format on 7-foot Diamond tables with pro-cut pockets and
Tournament Blue Simonis 860 Cloth.
Starting the week out, the newly added 10-ball division got the
event rolling as the 85-player field began to face off. Top pros and
favorites like Shane Van Boening, Gabe Owen, Jose Parica, and
Steve Moore had the eyes of the crowd early on, but before long the
list of favorites began to shift. Moore took a tough loss from
Canada’s Tyler Edey, while Parica made his way out early after getting the axe from Owen. Not everyone had the short end of the stick,
though, as Van Boening quickly found his way into the hot seat match
where he faced Edwin Montal, who had defeated Owen and made a
great showing amidst the competition in attendance. Van Boening
knocked away Montal, who then eliminated Luat in the semifinals
before returning to Van Boening again. The same result came up, as
Van Boening defeated Montal to claim the opening division.
Next out of the gate was the 9-ball event, which drew in 111
players. After a few early rounds it was clear who the opponent to
beat would be, as Jonathan Pinegar became the streak that flashed
through the bracket. Starting by defeating Parica and Luat and ending with a win over Moore, Pinegar had seven powerhouse wins
before landing in the hot seat match. Still alive on the winners’ side
was Van Boening, who, after taking the 10-ball division, was a sure
favorite until local California player Larry Wilson shocked everyone
by sending Van Boening west. After laying waste to a string of pros,
Pinegar ousted John Morra in the hot seat match then waited for the
one-loss side to resolve itself.
Already forming the top handful of players on the one-loss side,
Van Boening, Owen, Moore, and Luat each took command of a section of the chart before finally clashing, where Owen eliminated Van
Boening and Luat knocked out Moore. Oscar Dominguez snuck
through and ousted Moore but was then defeated by Owen in the
quarterfinals. Owen then went on the eliminate Morra in the semifinals and earn a final crack at the title. In the finals Pinegar opened hot
with a 4-0 lead, but once Owen got in stroke the match quickly
reached 7-all. Before much longer Owen sealed the match 9-7. With
only one set remaining Pinegar once again opened with a 4-0 lead,
and after an untimely scratch on the break by Owen, Pinegar jumped
on a lead and took the match 9-6.
The third and final division of the week brought in over 140
players with all of the favorites from the early events looking to mark
their territory. Early on Van Boening took a surprisingly early exit
after getting defeated by Adam Behnke and Tinsley Johnson. Moore
became the next prominent player to fall after being defeated by
Parica and then eliminated by Wilson, who was doing very well once
again amidst the top pros. On the winners’ side Parica kept a chokehold on the chart, finally besting Mitch Ellerman in the hot seat
match to become king of the hill.
Meanwhile, on the one-loss side, eyes quickly shifted to the
quarterfinal match, which became the decision match for the overall
champion. While Van Boening had a lead through the week, his early
departure in the final event made it mathematically impossible for
him to take the title once Owen and Pinegar got to that point. While
Pinegar had won the 9-ball division, Owen’s fourth- and secondplace finishes gave him a 5-point lead; however, it made little difference to Pinegar, who came through as underdog again and ousted
| May/June 2008
Owen from the quarterfinal round. In the semifinals Pinegar opened
with another 4-0 lead, and it seemed like he was on his way until
Ellerman tied the score and broke and ran the final rack to steal the
match and eliminate Pinegar. With the finals set, Ellerman’s fortune
seemed destined to take him through when Parica gave him ball in
hand at double-hill, giving away the first set and then repeating the
process in a similar fashion, letting Ellerman skip out from the final
set, once again at double-hill, to claim the 8-ball title.
10-BALL RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Shane Van Boening
Edwin Montal
Rodolfo Luat
Gabe Owen
Adam Behnke
Scott Frost
7th Tyler Edey
Glenn Atwell
9th Vince Tedesco
Frank Nordmann
Billy Winters
Cliff Joyner
13th Stan Tourangeau
Johnathan Pinegar
Justin Bergman
John Morra
9-BALL RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Johnathan Pinegar
Gabe Owen
John Morra
Oscar Dominguez
Rodolfo Luat
Adam Smith
7th Steve Moore
Shane Van Boening
9th Arland White
Jeff Heath
Chris MacDonald
Larry Wilson
13th Austin Murphy
Glenn Atwell
Justin Bergman
Alex Kopel
8-BALL RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Mitch Ellerman
Jose Parica
Johnathan Pinegar
Gabe Owen
Adam Behnke
Darrold Crain
7th Cliff Joyner
Glenn Atwell
9th Geoffery Somer
Damian Alishan
Ike Runnels
Marshall Williams
OVERALL RESULTS
1st Johnathan Pinegar
2nd Gabe Owen
3rd Shane Van Boening
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
12:24 PM
Page 91
western
ONOMURA ON TOP
RODRIQUEZ TAKES A WIN IN TUCSON
PECHAUER ALL-AMERICAN TOUR
LAS VEGAS, NV
PECHAUER ALL-AMERICAN TOUR / TUCSON, AZ
Gary Onomura took the top spot on the
March 1 stop of the Pechauer All-American Tour.
Hosted by Las Vegas Cue Club in Las Vegas, NV,
this $500-added event drew 19 players in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes.
Past champion Onomura again took the
undefeated path to the finals. In the A-side finals,
Onomura slipped by Rick White 5-3. Earlier, in
the A-bracket semifinals, Onomura defeated Fred
Delacruz 5-1, while White outpointed Fred Boggs
5-4.
In the B-side, Jimmy Moore and Boggs eliminated at fifth place Fred Delacruz and Henry
Nogiec 5-3 and 5-4, respectively. In the quarterfinals, Moore ousted Boggs at fourth place by a
score of 5-4. The semifinals showcased White
being eliminated by Moore 5-3. The tourney
finals featured undefeated Onomura versus
streaking Moore, but Onomura was up to the task,
winning the title 5-3 in the first set.
by InsidePOOL Staff
by InsidePOOL Staff
The March 29 stop of the Pechauer
All-American Tour saw Ramon
Rodriquez triumph in the final match
over Angel Martinez, taking first place.
This $1,000-added event, hosted by
Main Street Billiards in Tucson, AZ,
drew 46 players in a double-elimination
9-ball format on 9-foot Gold Crowns.
Rodriquez moved unscathed to the
finals.
In the hot seat match,
Rodriquez’s powerful break dominated
Martinez by a 9-1 score. In the Abracket semifinals earlier on, Rodriquez
outpointed Rudy Alameda 9-7, while
Martinez outgunned Frank Wright by
the same 9-7 margin.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Gary Onomura
Jimmy White
Rick White
Fred Boggs
RESULTS
5th Fred Delacruz
Henry Nogiec
7th Ron Allen
Chris Sheehan
HADDAD HITS A HOME RUN
PECHAUER ALL-AMERICAN TOUR / LAKEWOOD, CO
by InsidePOOL Staff
Mark Haddad soared to first place at the March 22 stop of the
Pechauer All-American Tour. Hosted by Greenfields Pool and Sports
Bar in Lakewood, CO, the $1,000-added event drew the maximum 48
players in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes.
In the hot seat match, Haddad outscored Sam Cordova 5-1.
Earlier, in the A-bracket semifinals, Haddad defeated Jeremy
Fournier 5-4, while Cordova topped off Bill Skinner 5-3. The Abracket quarterfinals included Cordova dropping Dino Devoe 5-1,
Skinner dominating John Duran 5-1, Haddad besting Noe Gonzalez
5-3, and Fournier eclipsing Ronnie Chavez 5-2.
In the B-side final eight, Chavez clipped Chuey Rivera 5-4, and
Dave Gomez ousted Devoe 5-1. In the quarterfinals, Chavez and
Gomez continued their winning ways by eliminating Skinner 5-4 and
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Ramon Rodriquez
Angel Martinez
Rudy Alameda
Frank Wright
Tournament
Pechauer All-American Tour
Arizona Women’s Billiard Tour
World Pool Masters
Predator Int’l 10-Ball Championship
ACS National Championships
Venue
Antique Billiard Museum
Alexander’s Bar & Grill
Riviera Hotel & Casino
Kolby’s Corner Pocket Billiards
Pockets
Kolby’s Corner Pocket Billiards
5th Zeb Crawford
Dave Collins
7th Chris Paradowski
Al Gaudett
Fournier 5-0, respectively. The semifinals saw Gomez clip Chavez 54, but the B-side finals ended Gomez’s run at the hands of Cordova
by a 5-1 margin. The finals featured Cordova versus Haddad, with
Cordova having to win two sets to claim the title. But Haddad was
determined to remain undefeated, as he comfortably won the first set
5-2 for the title.
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Mark Haddad
Sammy Cordova
Dave Gomez
Ronnie Chavez
Bill Skinner
Jeremy Fournier
UPCOMINGTOURNAMENTSWESTERN
Date
5/3-4
5/3-4
5/9-11
5/12-17
6/7-14
7/19-20
8/30-31
9/27-28
On the B-side, Zeb Crawford and
Dave Collins tied at fifth place via losses to Alameda and Wright, respectively.
Alameda overwhelmed Wright in the Bside semis to end his march at fourth
place by a 7-1 margin. The B-side
finals saw Alameda take a 4-0 lead, only
to have Martinez record 7 straight games
in his column to stop Alameda at third
place 7-4. The single race-to-11 finals
featured great play and many outstanding run-outs, but as with the hot seat
match, Rodriquez prevailed 11-6 over
Martinez for the crown.
City, ST
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602-973-1638
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800-634-6753
Las Vegas, NV
407-782-4978
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888-662-1705
Tempe, AZ
480-829-7344
Tucson, AZ
520-571-9421
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7th Dino Deveo
Chuey Rivera
9th John Duran
Greg Wey
Greg Romero
Noe Gonzalez
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65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
12:26 PM
Page 92
RegionalRoundup
World
KLATT CAPTURES HILL-HILL VICTORY
CANADIAN 9-BALL TOUR / KELOWNA, B.C.
by InsidePOOL Staff
Jason Klatt topped the 80-player
field that appeared at Breakers
Billiards and Bistro in Kelowna,
B.C., the weekend of March 7-9 for
the Canadian 9-Ball Tour’s fifth
event. This event, with its hefty
$10,000-added prize fund, was presented by Indigo and Chapters bookstores and Cineplex Entertainment.
After two days of play, the field
was whittled down to its final four.
Fighting for the hot seat, Klatt held a
strong 7-2 lead over Ryan Solleveld.
However, Solleveld wasn’t about to
give up and managed to bring the
score to double-hill. A break and runout was the deciding factor that put
Solleveld in the hot seat while sending Klatt to the west side of the chart.
The quarterfinal match between
Adam Smith and Edwin Montal was
also a tight one. They split the first
six racks, but then Montal gained a
three-rack advantage to go up 6-3.
He then took the hill and broke and
cleared the final rack to advance to
the semis. Matched up against Klatt,
Montal raced to a 4-0 lead. Klatt had
other ideas, though, and not only did
he tie with Montal, he also won the
next four racks to take a commanding
8-4 lead. Montal was able to grab two
more games, but he came up dry on
the break in the fifteenth game, and
Klatt dished up for the 9-6 win.
The finals, a race to 11, saw
Klatt and Solleveld scrap for every
rack. Solleveld trailed throughout but
managed to stay within a few games
of Klatt, who reached the hill first
with a run-out. Solleveld joined him
on the hill with a gutsy clearance,
making it another double-hill nailbiter. Klatt failed to kick out of a
safety, but Solleveld was unable to
clear the remaining balls, giving
Klatt the 11-10 win.
BELANGER BRINGS STORM TO ONTARIO
Jason Klatt
RESULTS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Jason Klatt
Ryan Solleveld
Edwin Montal
Adam Smith
Nick Kruger
Louis Fazekas
7th Paul Potier
Brian Butler
9th Alain Boutin
Stan Tourangeau
Bill Thompson
John Horsfall
13th Claire Gauthier
PJ Massicote
Ray Carter
Shannon Ducharme
TIGER CANADIAN WOMEN’S POOL TOUR / BARRIE, ON
by InsidePOOL Staff
The Tiger Canadian Women’s Pool Tour kicked off
the season’s first stop at Dunlop Billiards in Barrie,
ON. Despite the harsh winter storm that March 8-9
weekend, 17 players still traveled to Barrie with their
eyes on the $1,000-added money, and after two days of
solid playing, Denise “Da Bomb” Belanger swept the
field undefeated, claiming the top position.
Belanger, just back in the pool scene, breezed
through her first three opponents and then drilled Tina
Meraglio 7-2 in the hot seat match. In the one-loss
bracket, the field grew smaller as Naomi Williams
defeated Leanne Amable 7-2 and Darlene Gardiner 7-2,
who had defeated Maureen Seto 7-2 in the quarterfinals.
In the B-side final, Meraglio matched up against
Williams. On fire, Meraglio quickly jumped to a 4-1
lead. Williams didn’t back down and knotted the score
at 4 apiece, but Meraglio retaliated, employing patience
and strategy to take the next three racks to win 7-4.
In the finals, Meraglio led 4-1 over Belanger, who
struggled through some key shots that cost her. She got
back in the game, though, with run-outs and safety play,
bringing the score to 6-4 in her favor. In the last rack,
Meraglio played an excellent safety, but Belanger went
big with the shot and cut the 8 ball in the corner pocket, leaving her perfect shape for an easy 9 ball.
| May/June 2008
Tina Meraglio, Denise Belanger
RESULTS
1st Denise Belanger
2nd Tina Meraglio
3rd Naomi Williams
4th Darlene Gardiner
5th Leanne Amable
Maureen Seto
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
12:28 PM
Page 93
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
12:29 PM
Page 94
Player
RegionalRoundup
Jeremy Sossei
Month
of the
by Rick Davis
Jeremy Sossei
Jeremy Sossei has slowly and quietly increased his tournament
presence over the past year, and when he made a decent splash over
the early part of 2008, other players began to notice. At the Turning
Stone Classic in Verona, NY, Sossei bested top pro Ronnie
Wiseman and others before ultimately coming in second place to
Johnny Archer, which stunned many. Meanwhile, the quiet and
friendly Sossei simply stated, “I need to be in the heat. That’s how
you get better.”
Sossei is rarely without a smile and is overwhelmingly friendly to anyone around him. Born in Danbury, CT, and then growing
up in Bethlehem, CT, the 28-year-old Sossei fondly recalled his
past. “It was my thirteenth birthday, and my brother and I were
going to go bowling, but somehow he convinced me to go to the
| May/June 2008
local poolroom. I didn’t want to go, of course—I wanted to go
somewhere with video games. Once we got there, however, that
was it. I started going more and more and before long became very
good friends with the owner. From then until I was about eighteen
I played all the time, and then until just recently I took a break. I
always played a little but just didn’t stick with it. Then, about two
years ago, I got back into it after having little else to do.”
In the last two years Sossei has racked up numerous top finishes throughout the Northeast, including a Joss Tour stop win and
multiple finishes in the money on the Joss and Tri-State Tours,
among others. Sossei plays full time, although he admits it’s difficult. “I’d like to play all the big tournaments, but financially it’s
hard to travel to Florida or the West Coast.” Like all players, Sossei
is on the hunt for a sponsor and was recently presented with a new
cue by Predator Cues, which he greatly appreciated.
Completing his break from the standard mold, Sossei stays
limited in his preferred games and practice. “The only games I play
are the rotational games, like nine- or ten-ball. I play a little eightball but little else. I like the games where you can shoot.” With such
a clear view of the games he wants to play, his plan for practice is
just as clear cut. He explained, “All I do lately is play the ten-ball
ghost. It frustrates me more than any tournament or gambling ever
has. That’s what you have to do to get better: work on things that
you can’t do or that upset you. When I was younger I shot drills all
the time, but now I have the basics and need to move on.”
Certainly then, Sossei’s appearance on the tournament circuit
is on an upswing as he begins to expand his horizons and reach for
more wins and stiffer competition. After his run at Turning Stone he
is sure to swoop through more events in the coming year.
65-May/June-2008
4/14/08
12:39 PM
Page 95
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Think that was funny? How about the rest of the book. Find it at:
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Check it out! www.SammsPocket.com
Entries can be submitted in two ways. By mail, entries must be postmarked by June 23. E-mails through
www.insidepoolmag.com must be submitted no later than midnight June 30. We will contact the winner by phone and
announce it on our website. The winner receives a Viking cue with a retail value of $300-$400 and a one-year subscription
to InsidePOOL Magazine.
WIN A VIKING CUE!
65-May/June-2008
4/11/08
12:35 PM
Page 96
LAST MONTH’S
WINNER
“Belinda, I really don’t see how this is
going to improve my game but, okay.
So I put the super glue on my cell
phone and my finger. Now you want
me to do what with my finger?”
Rich Friedland of IL
To enter the contest,
log onto www.insidepoolmag.com.
| May/June 2008
>>
0508_Cover
4/18/08
12:13 PM
Page 3
0508_Cover
4/12/08
1:24 AM
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May/June 2008 - Inside Pool Magazine

Transcription

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