April 2013 Inside POOL Magazine

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April 2013 Volume XIII, Issue 4 USA $3.95 Can $5.95

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6 Beat People With a Stick Throw Out the Throw 8 Pro Pool Workout Long Rail Roll Up 10 Ten Steps to Pool Success Step Seven: Pattern Play 202 12 Intermediate Objectives Mastering a Controlled Draw Shot 14 Angles as a Second Language Lady Luck?

16 Orcollo Rules Heady 17th Swanee Roster 18 Pool Players Run to Reno 20th U.S. Bar Table Championships Crown Six Winners 22 Out of Her Comfort Zone Emily Duddy’s Setup for Success

On the Cover: California girl Emily Duddy talks about how her dedication and drive have taken her from one coast to another and her game to the next level.

For the full story, please visit page 22.

Cover picture courtesy of Rick Shellhouse 2 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

Publisher JR Calvert publisher@insidepoolmag.com Editor Sally P. Timko editor@insidepoolmag.com Graphic Artists Laura Luzier art@insidepoolmag.com Allen Hopkins Jr. Editorial Assistant Lea Andrews Advertising Sales Director Bill Perry sales@insidepoolmag.com Technical Consultant Tom Simpson Staff Videographer Alvin Nelson Feature Photo Credits Bob Beaulieau, JR Calvert, Andy Chen, Ashi Fachler, Rick Shellhouse E-mail info@insidepoolmag.com Website www.insidepoolmag.com Instructional Staff Johnny Archer, Anthony Beeler, Shannon Daulton, Mark Finkelstein, Bob Henning, Allan Sand, Tom Simpson Contributing Writers Freddie Agnir, Alison M. Fischer, Ken Shuman Toll Free 888-428-7665 Administrative Offices PO Box 972, Kittanning, PA 16201

4 Advertiser Directory 36 APA Player of the Month

38 Northeast 42 Southeast 43 Central 47 Western

28 What’s New 30 Cue Maker’s Corner Mike Capone – Facing the Challenges 33 Industry News 46 SudoCue Puzzle 47 Word Puzzle Know What I Mean, Jelly Bean?

InsidePOOL Magazine Volume XIII, Issue 4 (ISSN15473511) is published monthly except June and August by Spheragon Publishing, PO Box 972, Kittanning, PA 16201. Single copy price: $3.95 in U.S.A., $5.95 in Canada. Subscription prices: $19.99/yr in the U.S.A., $28/yr in Canada, $39/yr international. Periodicals postage at Kittanning, PA, and additional mailing offices. Submissions of manuscripts, illustrations, and/or photographs must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The publisher assumed no responsibility for unsolicited material.

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POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: InsidePOOL Magazine, PO Box 972, Kittanning, PA 16201. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. April 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 3

Advertiser Directory

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Allan P. Sand www.billiardgods.com

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American Cuemakers Association www.cuemakers.org

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American Poolplayers Association www.poolplayers.com

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Anthony Beeler, Maximize Your Potential

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Atlas Billiard Supplies www.cuestik.com

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Inside Back Cover

Mark Finkelstein, Pool Ramblings www.mcnallyjackson.com

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McDermott Handcrafted Cues www.mcdermottcue.com

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Classified Ads

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Tom Simpson, Billiard Instruction www.poolclinics.com

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Inside Front Cover

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Throw Out the Throw T

another ball, the friction between the balls increases dramatically.

The cue ball tries to climb the object ball and throw undercuts the ball. An ugly miss. Clean your ball.

hrow: friend or foe? While throw is the likely culprit in most misses by amateurs, it also makes a lot of shots and position plays possible. Friend and foe.

•

To the extent you’re clear on how it works, you can make appropriate aim adjustments to compensate for the throw effects. You can also take advantage of the effects to accomplish shots and position results in a variety of ways. The problem? The rules of throw are science. Putting it all together successfully at the table is art. It’s the well-imagined execution of your personal dance with all the elements of the shot. It’s creative and personal. And there’s the rub (pun intended).

Roll your cue ball: This is the biggest tip, for several reasons.

Foremost is the fact that a rolling cue ball throws less (collisioninduced throw) than a skidding ball and is easier to control. Also worth knowing is that a backspinning ball actually throws the object ball even less than roll, but backspin is much harder to control.

Skid (stun) throws the most. And consider the fact that a rolling ball does not curve. The sooner your cue ball is in full natural roll, the straighter it’s going. Draw and stun are both skidding shots, meaning that if you hit anything but dead perfect on the vertical axis of the cue ball, your ball can curve. Roll your ball.

•

The rules of throw are science. Putting it all together successfully at the table is art.

Gearing english: So-called “gearing english” is the perfect amount of outside english to effectively cancel out the effects of collision-induced throw. In other words, we’re using spin-induced throw to neutralize the collision-induced throw. Very difficult to be accurate, but the concept is certainly valid and useful. The more general point here is that a little outside english can help in some cases. When the CB and OB are fairly close together, squirt and swerve become negligible, and this type of shot is quite reasonable. Know your skills.

•

Bias your tip: Some players try to set up their shots with their tip a hair to one side or the other of the vertical axis. Their reasoning is that they want to know, if they err, which side it will be. A little bit of “helping english” (outside) can take some of the throw out of the shot.

•

Speed: It’s a tradeoff. The softer you shoot, the more throw. The harder you shoot, the smaller the pocket becomes and the farther the cue ball travels. It’s your call.

•

Cheat the pocket: This is a different way of taking the throw out.

Aim to cut the ball toward the far side of the pocket, rather than the center. This doesn’t reduce throw, but it is a way to allow for it.

This article assumes you have a basic understanding of throw.

You should be clear that it’s a friction effect between colliding balls.

It causes object balls to leave the moment of impact on a slightly different track than would be expected by those who assume “ghostball” is the full truth of ball behavior. You should understand there are two flavors of throw—collision-induced and spin-induced—and have a pretty good grasp of how it all works.

‘ ’

When we are making adjustments for throw in order to sink a ball, there is much to consider. If we don’t properly consider all the factors, there’s a good chance of missing the shot. Throw as foe.

Great players, especially in games like straight pool, take every opportunity to “take the throw out of the shot.” What does that mean?

Shot-making is much easier when throw is reduced or eliminated. The object ball path is much more precisely predictable. This means fewer misses. Less risk. Fewer bad surprises.

Taking the throw out of a shot means eliminating or reducing the friction effects. The object ball goes where it would go based on the ghostball principle—down the line of centers of the cue ball and object ball at impact. No guessing. So let’s look at a few ways to git’r done.

•

Clean the balls: The cleaner, shinier, and slipperier the balls are, the less friction between them. Some top straight pool players wax their ball set prior to trying for high runs. Less friction, less throw, more accuracy and consistency. Polish your ball set and reduce throw.

•

Clean your cue ball: Every time you get the opportunity to touch the cue ball (new game, scratch, ball in hand, etc.), give it a wipe.

You’ll see chalk marks on the ball. If one of those chalk marks Beeler a certifiedpoint level 3when instructor theball smacks happens toAnthony become theis contact theforcue

Anthony Beeler

American CueSports Alliance and also the founder of Maximize Your Potential Billiards Academy, located in 6 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013 Beeler is also a fully licensed Bradfordsville, Kentucky.

Kentucky educator, having received his bachelor’s degree

Throw out the throw when you can. Make more shots. Run more balls. Truth is stranger than friction.

Tom Simpson Tom Simpson is a Master Instructor in the PBIA & ACS Instructor Programs, and a professor at Billiard University. He delivers his acclaimed 3-Day Weekend Intensive in 12 cities nationwide. As inventor of Elephant Practice Balls®, the Stroke Groover™, and the Ghostball Aim Trainer®, and Authorized Instructor for Secret Aiming Systems™, Tom’s innovations in training have helped thousands of players. Listen to an audio description of the Intensive, and read 35 instructional articles at NationalBilliardAcademy.com. 20 years: 3000 happy players, 150 instructors, 125 instructional articles. Contact: Tom@PoolClinics.com, 614-975-8337.

Long Rail Roll Up A

s mentioned in my last two columns, the most common safety in pocket billiards is a cue ball trap. In this category of safeties, you are usually controlling only the cue ball—doing what you need to do to stick it behind a convenient blocker ball. The deadliest lock-up version of this is a stop shot trap where you simply stop the cue ball and have it hidden. After contact with the object ball, you don’t have to move it at all!

For many players, however, a rolling cue ball trap is easier to execute. In this version of a cue ball trap, no backspin or slide is required. All you have to do is roll the cue ball toward the object ball and, after contact, toward your chosen blocker ball. What is required, however, is knowing the different paths a rolling cue ball will take after different hits off the object ball. After that, perfect execution is simply a matter of judging the speed so that the cue ball rolls to a stop just as it contacts the second ball.

Anthony Beeler

In the illustrated 9-ball example, the active ball is the 3 and its passage to the upper corner is blocked by the edge of the 7 ball. The route to the lower corner is blocked by the 5. The only open shot is the thin cut to the far side pocket, which is a risky gamble at best. Even if the 3 drops, you will be sending the cue ball flying around the table and moving at least some of the other balls that are currently out in the open. You would be exercising a very low-percentage “solution” that is practically guaranteed to create even more table problems.

Yet the 5 and 8 balls represent a sizable barrier to hide behind, and the illustrated path of the 3 ball to the end rail is perfect to convert this situation to a Long Rail Roll Up. The proper hit on the 3 will take the cue ball to the rail and back out and toward the 5, and the correct speed will leave it frozen on the 5. Going to the rail first helps to control the speed, especially if you kill it off the Tom Simpson rail with a little bit of left english. You definitely don’t Tom Simpson is a Master Instructor in the PBIA & want to bump the 5 too hard and leave the cue ball out ACS Instructor Programs, and a professor at Billiard in the open! To practice a second variation, move the University. He delivers his acclaimed 3-Day Weekend 3 ball to Point X. There you’ll to cueAsthe cue ball a Intensive in 12have cities nationwide. inventor of Elephant Practice Balls®, the Stroke to Groover™, and the Ghostball little lower to force the proper angle the rail.

9

Anthony Beeler is a certified level 3 instructor for the American CueSports Alliance and also the founder of Maximize Your Potential Billiards Academy, located in Bradfordsville, Kentucky. Beeler is also a fully licensed Kentucky educator, having received his bachelor’s degree x at Campbellsville University and his master’s degree in education leadership at Eastern Second Kentucky University. Throughout his pool-playing career Anthony has won over 300 variation tournaments and defeated numerous professional players in tournament competition.

Aim Trainer®, and Authorized Instructor for Secret Aiming Systems™, Tom’s innovations in training have helped Goodofluck shootin’! thousands players.and Listengood to an audio description of the Intensive, and read 35 instructional articles at NationalBilliardAcademy.com. 20 years: 3000 happy players, 150 instructors, 125 instructional articles. Contact: Tom@PoolClinics.com, 614-975-8337.

4

7

8

3

5

The featured safety in this column is the Long Rail Roll Up. This is a beautiful safety that is often available when there are no other feasible shot options. Usually the object ball is close to the side rail and positioned Shuman so that the sideKen pockets are out of play. In addition, the available shots to the corners are blocked by other Ken Shuman of Sacramento, CA, is one of the country’s balls. All that’s left a bank shot premieris tournament directors.orHeaissafety. an accomplished professional referee and is considered an expert on the

8 InsidePOOL Magazine rules◊ofApril play.2013 Ken has officiated at World Championship

events in the USA and the Philippines. He directs some of

Bob Henning 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 also released The Advanced Pro Book and The Stroke Zone: The Pool Player’s Guide to Dead Stroke. In addition, he has authored Cornbread Red, a biography of the colorful Billy Burge. Bob recently released a new book titled Pro Safeties: The TOP 100 Safety Shots in Pool.

Robert LeBlanc

>

Instruction

< by Mark Finkelstein

Step Seven: Pattern Play 202 L ast month we looked at the basics of good pattern play. This month let’s extend this concept to add to our arsenal of tools to solve the puzzle each rack presents us.

1

The first idea to look at is elastic triangles. Sometimes we don’t have a simple triangle, but by moving the cue ball forward or back, we can keep in line and continue an easy stop-ball run-out.

B A

Anthony Beeler Anthony Beeler is a certified level 3 instructor for the American CueSports Alliance and also the founder of Maximize Your Potential Billiards Academy,zone locatedis one in position zone becomes. Using the long stretch of the position Bradfordsville, Kentucky.

Beeler is also a fully licensed of the secrets to connecting triangles and playing good position.

Kentucky educator, having received his bachelor’s degree atLet’s Campbellsville his master’s degree education leadership at Eastern

look at aUniversity rack of and 9-ball and see howinthese concepts apply.

Kentucky University. Throughout his pool-playing career Anthony has won over 300 tournaments and defeated numerous professional players in tournament competition.

1

2

3

4

Look at Diagram 1. Notice that if we roll the cue ball forward two diamonds, we are in line with the 2 ball for a simple stop-shot pattern to the 4 ball. Being able to roll the cue ball forward the exact amount is what separates the good players from the rest.

What I want you to see is that getting straight on the 2 gives you a simple pattern; however, if you just stop the cue ball after pocketing the 1 ball in the side, then you have to swing one or two rails around to get on the 3. Most likely you will not get straight on the 3 and will have to do some more work to get on the 4. Unfortunately, the more work you have to do in pool, the easier it is to get out of line and miss.

Next let’s look at position zones. This is a key concept for getting the correct angle on a ball or getting straight on a ball to get into another triangle.

1

3

A 5

C

4

2

B

6

Here we have two triangles that make taking these balls off easy. The trick is how to connect the triangles. If we make a stop shot on the 1 and 2, we have a perfect angle from the 3 to go one rail and come down the line toward the 4. Coming down this line gives us a big margin for speed control. If our cue ball stops anywhere along this line towards the 4, we are in line for the next triangle to the 5 and 6.

In the next diagram, let’s take a closer look at this idea of position zones. Look at the path the cue ball is taking toward the 1 ball. No matter where the cue ball stops on this track line, we will have a straight shot on the 1. However, if we come across this triangle, notice how small our A-B 10 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

5

4

D

3

C

9

A

7

1

2

B

Ken Shuman 6

8

Ken Shuman of Sacramento, CA, is one of the country’s premier tournament directors. He is an accomplished

After we draw back a little on the 1, we are straight in on the 2 and professional referee and is considered an expert on the then the 3 ball. If we stop the cue ball on the 3, we have the perfect angle rules ofdown play. Ken officiated Championship on the 4 to swing two rails and come thehas line for theat5.World Keeping this events in the USA and the Philippines.

He directs angle gets us in to the next triangle, which is elastic. We pocket the 5, some get of the enough major tournaments, including Derby straight on the 6, and roll forward to be straight onthe the 7. City Classic, the U.S. Bar Table Championship, CSI’s National the U.S. off Openthe 9-Ball

From the 7 we stop for theChampionship 8 and thenSeries, roll forward rail Championdown the position line toward the 9. The I see10-Ball is bumping into the 8 ships,only anddanger the U.S. Open Championship.

Contact as we come at the 5, but with care weshucue@yahoo.com. can avoid that.

Ken at

Using position zones, elastic triangles, and connecting triangles give us a process to take the balls off the table in the easiest way possible. Next month we will look at some common position routes that will help you navigate around the table.

Mark Finkelstein Mark Finkelstein is an ACS and PBIA Master Instructor, accomplished player, instructional columnist for NYCGRIND, and author of the book PoolRamblings, available at McNallyJackson.com. Mark has been involved in pool and billiards for almost 60 years and is available for lessons or events at Slate Plus or Eastside Billiards in New York City. Visit McNallyJackson.com for more information.

>

Instruction Tom Simpson Sand < by Allan

Tom Simpson is a Master Instructor in the PBIA & ACS Instructor Programs, and a professor at Billiard University. He delivers his acclaimed 3-Day Weekend Intensive in 12 cities nationwide. As inventor of Elephant Practice Balls®, the Stroke Groover™, and the Ghostball Aim Trainer®, and Authorized Instructor for Secret Aiming Progressive Draw Exercise Systems™, Tom’s innovations in training have helped thousands players. Listen to an audio description of the Intensive, and read 1. Set up a of straight-in shot with a one-diamond separation be- 35 instructional articles at NationalBilliardAcademy.com.

20 years: 3000 happy players, tween the object ball and cue ball. Use paper reinforcement150 instructors, 125 instructional articles. Contact: Tom@PoolClinics.com, 614-975-8337. rings to mark the locations.

Mastering a Controlled Draw Shot D

Anthony Beeler

o you watch other players effortlessly draw the cue ball amazing distances or, with carefully controlled slow rolls, maneuver to perfect position? Are you filled with envy and carefully Anthony Beeler is a certified level 3 instructor for the concealed jealousy over that skill? Well, be envious no longer. This American CueSports Alliance and also the founder of article will provide the necessary details and effort that will put Maximize Your Potential Billiards Academy, located in you on the path to achieving effective draw control.

Bradfordsville, Kentucky. Beeler is also a fully licensed Kentucky educator, having received his bachelor’s degree

You want toand behisable to degree pull the cue ball backatwithout at Campbellsville University master’s in education leadership Eastern conscious thought or long, drawn-out personal calculations.

Kentucky University. Throughout his pool-playing career Anthony has won over 300 With these instructions, you will be able toinlook at a competition. shot and say, “I tournaments and defeated numerous professional players tournament want to draw this back one diamond.” From your toolbox of trusted shots, you will know the exact bridge height and stick speed to achieve it.

Be warned now before you begin this process: You must focus only on how to learn this set of skills. Set aside all other skillimprovement practicing. To achieve this lifelong skill, expect to spend at least 20 hours of focused practice time. If you put the time in, you will achieve trustworthy results.

Ken Shuman

‘ ’

Not surprisingly, the secret is actually in the precise placeShuman CA, is one of the country’s ment of the cue tip on theKencue ballofatSacramento, a controlled speed. premier tournament directors. He is an accomplished professional referee and is considered an expert on the rules of play. Ken has officiated at World Championship events in the USA and the Philippines. He directs some of the major tournaments, including the Derby City Classic, the U.S. Bar Table Championship, CSI’s National Championship Series, the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, and the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. Contact Ken at shucue@yahoo.com.

If you put the time in, you will achieve trustworthy results.

Basic Starting Conditions • Make sure that your cue tip has the consistent roundness known as the nickel curve (U.S. 5-cent coin). You should be able to match the cue tip curve to the nickel’s silhouette. The tip should be able to hold chalk when it is applied. If it cakes on and easily falls off, rough up the surface with a cue tip tool or a bit of sandpaper.

Mark Finkelstein

2.

Shoot the shot using the same stick speed until you can deadstop the cue ball five times in a row. Make any necessary adjustments to your stance and stroke to achieve this and then use those adjustments for all future shots.

Bob Henning

3.

4.

5.

Set the contact point of the tip istothethe cueof ball atBook, exactly Bobcue Henning author The Pro widely a half-tip below center.considered With the stick speed, repeat thefor to besame the most advanced training resource shot and observe the draw distance. competitive pool players. It brings the latest techniques of the top coaches and trainers of all sports into pool. It is WARNING: Advance ONLY youwho have draw intendedwhen for those wisha toconstant prepare physically, (five exact results in five attempts).

Yes, this is boring, but critimentally, and psychologically for pool competition.

Bob is cal to your ownership. also the author of “The Pro Book Video Series,” a complete, on-the-table training system, and he also released The Advanced Pro Book Drop contact another half-tip (change heightheof and the The Stroke Zone:point The Pool Player’s Guide to Dead Stroke. the In addition, has your bridge hand) ona biography the 6 o’clock line. Billy With theBob same speed, authored Cornbread Red, of the colorful Burge. recently released repeat the titled shotPro five timesTheand the draw a new book Safeties: TOP observe 100 Safety Shots in Pool.distance.

Drop the contact point another half tip (1 ½ tips from cue ball center) on the 6 o’clock line. With the same speed, repeat the shot five times and observe the draw distance.

Robert LeBlanc

6.

Repeat the process with a slightly higher stick speed until you Robertfive “Cotton” LeBlanc isspeeds. a well-known pool player can get consistent results with different and was a roadman for almost 40 years, traveling the country playing virtually all of distance, the pool legends and When you own the speeds at the one-diamond repeat champions—and making friends with them.

Highly the exercise at the one-and-a-half-diamond distance. Then work skilled himself, he is the author of the best-selling book at the two-, two-and-a-half-, and, three-diamond distances.

Confessions of a Pool Hustler, which chronicles his life stories the road.

If you only work at this and for hundreds an hourofor two,about youbeing canonsettle forVisit thehis website at www.confessionsofapoolhustler.com. slight improvements. But if you want true ball control, put in the full 20 hours it will take. You will be the envy of everyone who watches you pull off this amazing control. Railbirds will throng to watch your perfect draws.

Bob Henning Allan Sand Bob Henning is the author of The Pro Book, widely

•

Do not inattentively grind the cue tip into the chalk cube as Mark Finkelstein is an ACS and the PBIA cue MastertipInstructor, you survey the table.

You must drop down to chin instructional columnist level and lookaccomplished at it. With player, chalk cube in hand, strokefor the cube and of author thetip. book PoolRamblings, edges acrossNYCGRIND, the surface the of cue Watch as you do it so at McNallyJackson.com.

Mark has been the cue tip is available always well covered. involved in pool and billiards for almost 60 years and is available lessons or events Plusto or the Eastside Billiards New York City.

Visit follow • for Keep the stick atasSlate level table as in possible.

Always McNallyJackson.com for more information. through a distance that equals the distance between your bridge and the cue ball.

Note: Make sure your stick is as parallel to the floor as possible.

Make sure you have a firm closed bridge. Make sure you have a true back-and-forth stroke. To adjust the cue tip height in relation to the cue ball, lower the bridge hand. Do NOT raise the cue butt.

12 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

considered to be the most advanced training resource for competitive players.

It brings the qualified latest Allan Sandpool is a pocket billiards instructor, by the Professional Billiards Instructor techniques of the top coaches and Association trainers of(PBIA) all and American (ACS). for He teaches players sports into pool.CueItSports is intended those who wishhow to to becomephysically, “intelligentmentally, shooters”and andpsychologically how to think before prepare for shooting. He has played the green game for more than 50 pool competition. Bob is also the author of “The Pro years and now resides in Santa Clara, CA, where he keeps Book Video Series,” a complete, on-the-table training system, and he also released his skills sharpened on a double-shimmed 5x10 Saunier TheandAdvanced Pro Book and The Stroke Zone: The books Pool Player’ Deadand Wilhelm 1938 table. Sands has authored seven on hows Guide to playtobetter Stroke.

In addition, he has authored Cornbread Red, a biography of the colorful smarter pool, including Art of War Versus the Art of Pool, Psychology of GamesmanBilly Burge. ship, and Safety Toolbox. For more information and details, please visit www.billiardgods.com.

>

Instruction

< by Anthony Beeler

Lady Luck?

A

chilly breeze and the sputter of snowflakes marked a cold February afternoon a few years ago for Robert Walker’s monthly 9-ball tournament at The Billiard Café. It was a small, old-time poolroom nestled in the heart of Lancaster, Kentucky’s, city square.

Even though the poolroom was small, local talent was big. Players like Mike Patton, Landon Shuffett, Mike Blevins, and Robert Frost lined the room. They were all regulars in quest of the monthly title. Just before the players’ meeting I was sitting at the bar, eating my lunch, when I felt a gust of wind hit me as the front door opened. To my surprise, in walked “The Cincinnati Kid.”

After making his appearance, Shannon Murphy calmly paid his entry fee and prepared for battle. He was on fire right out of the gate, whitewashing one player after another. It was clear that if anyone were going to beat Shannon, it was going to take more than Lady Luck.

When the smoke cleared, two players were left standing in the finals: Shannon and I. The match seesawed back and forth. When the score reached 4-3 and I was barely ahead, I missed a ball and gave Shannon an opportunity to play safe. When I returned to the table I faced the layout below and had a tough decision to make.

1.0

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

5.0

4.5

5 7

10

6

8

1

20

2

30

3 9

I was left with kick shot on the 5 ball. The first thing that came to mind was that the 6 and 7 could be used as potential blockers in playing a return safe. The problem was that to execute the shot I had to hit a precise point on the long rail.

14 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

After carefully contemplating what to do, I decided to break out the Sid System, which was developed by threecushion player Sid Banner. The Sid System is a precise deadball, one-rail kicking system, meaning the cue ball is hit one tip above center with medium speed.

The diamonds on the long rail are numbered starting at 1, then 2, and then increase by ½ for each additional diamond. You’ll note that for this system the contact point on the long rail is adjacent to the diamond on the rail, not through the diamond as is the case for several kicking systems.

Here I wanted the cue ball to contact the rail adjacent to Point 2.5. The plan was for the cue ball to hit the rail and then the 5 ball, hopefully hiding the cue ball behind the 6 and 7 and ending at Cue Ball Position A.

To calculate the shot I had to determine the cue ball starting point. Since I was shooting two diamonds from the corner (Diamond 2), I used that as my cue ball position number. I then multiplied the cue ball number (2) by the long rail contact point number (2.5), and got 5, which was my aim point on the end rail. The aim points on the end rail are numbered from the corner diamond by tens, so 5 would be half of a diamond from the corner diamond. The corner diamond (zero) begins at the rubber tip of the long rail.

I shot through 5 and laid the shot down perfectly. You couldn’t have drawn it any better with a pencil. Shannon fouled upon returning to the table, leaving me ball in hand with an easy run-out for the tournament win.

Bob Henning

Looking back, several people probably thought I made a lucky shot to win that day, but I’ll always know that it took more than luck to win Bob that game. fact, that Henning is theIn author of The Pro day Book, my widelyluck was self-generated using a system named Sid. considered to be the most advanced training resource

Anthony Beeler

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 Anthony Beeler is a certified level 3 instructor for the prepare physically, mentally, and psychologically for American CueSports Alliance and also the founder of pool competition.

Bob is also the author of “The Pro Maximize Your Potential Billiards Academy, located in Book Video Series,” a complete, on-the-table training he also released Bradfordsville, Kentucky. system, Beelerand is also a fully licensed The Advanced Pro Book andKentucky The Stroke Zone: The Pool Player’ s Guide to educator, having received his bachelor’sDead degree Stroke.

In addition,University he has authored Cornbread Red, a biography of the colorful at Campbellsville and his master’s degree in education leadership at Eastern Kentucky Billy Burge. University. Throughout his pool-playing career Anthony has won over 300

tournaments and defeated numerous professional players in tournament competition.

by InsidePOOL Staff photo courtesy of Ashi Fachler

T

he western U.S. pool season started full swing in style with the completion of the 17th Jay Swanson Memorial 9-Ball Tournament when Dennis Orcollo triumphed over Jayson Shaw in the finals for top honors. “The Swanee” is produced

by CueSports International (CSI) and was held at Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, CA, February 23-24.

The full 192-field ushered into the poolroom early Saturday morning to face one of the most regarded and grueling two-day 9-ball events in the country. With a total purse of $15,520 up for grabs and the strongest field in the event’s 17-year history, it was tough action for the railbirds. With such names in the field as recent two-time consecutive winner Alex Pagulayan; Shane Van Boening, the undisputed top U.S. player for the past several years; and multiple world champions such as Darren Appleton, Francisco Bustamante, Orcollo, and Ronnie Alcano, the top spot could have gone to any player.

Not to be ruled out were rock-solid top California players such as Oscar Dominguez, Ernesto Dominguez, and Louis Ulrich, to name a few who have the arsenal in their playing repertoire to take on their international counterparts.

Winning the Swanee always comes down to several factors, as all premier tournaments do: skill, a strong mental game, perseverance, a dash of occasional luck, and—in this particular event—stamina.

When the dust settled it was Orcollo who was crowned champion late Sunday night, pocketing the $3,000 first-place prize by defeating Scotland’s Shaw in the final match. In addition to winning the Swanson Memorial, a few additional highlights of Orcollo’s professional career include winning the 2012 U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship, the 2011 Derby City Classic 9-Ball division, the 2011 WPA World 8-Ball Championship, and the 2010 World Pool Masters.

16 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

Results: 1st Dennis Orcollo $3,000 2nd Jayson Shaw $1,500 3rd Rodney Morris $1,000 4th Ernesto Dominguez $750 5th Shane Van Boening $535

John Morra 7th Brian Butler $400

Manny Chau 9th Brian Parks $300

Santos Sambajon Jr.

Francisco Bustamante

Ramin Bahkriari 13th Ronnie Alcano $200

Darren Appleton

Louis Ulrich

Alex Pagulayan 17th James McGoo $175

Manuel Herrera

Greg Harada

Chris Fitzgerald

Jeremy Jones

Dave Hemmah

Jeff Beckley

Jerry Matchin 25th Chris Fangre $150

Jordan Skandlan

Warren Kiamco

Victor Ignatio

Ariel Garrido

Jose Parica

Frank Almanza

Sal Butera

33rd Chino Reyes

Arthur Garcia

James Milazo

Max Eberle

Keith O’Donnell

Dave Martineau

Stevie Moore

Ike Runnels

Oscar Dominguez

Jaden Brock

Chuck Evans

Stacy Novack

Patrick Kim

Beau Runningen

Danny Gokhul

Jon Giles 49th Butch Barba

Dane Elmstedt

Al Lawrence

Ryan Buist

Daniel Busch

Sean Lane

Mark Barba

Mike Laos

Kelii Chuberko

Wayne Pullen

Mike Longmire

Henry Brodt

Dan Boone

Terry Tom

Dwayne Guillory

Reid Fleming

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www.bankshotcalculator.com March 2013 â&#x2014;&#x160; InsidePOOLmag.com 19

20th U.S. Bar Table Championships Crown Six Winners

by InsidePOOL Staff photos courtesy of Bob Beaulieau and Andy Chen

eno, Nevada, became pool central in the U.S. February 25-March 3, when players from all over the world, both amateur and professional, descended upon the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino to test their 7-foot table skills at the 20th U.S. Bar Table Championships.

The popular week-long event was produced by CueSports International (CSI) and sponsored by the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. The tournament featured six divisions, all played on 7-foot Diamond tables. Players who entered all three of their respective divisions became eligible to be awarded points based on their finishes toward a bonus payout, with the top three men and the top two women with the highest overall points receiving bonuses.

Orcollo and Bryant Boast 10-Ball Titles

The first two and a half days were dedicated to the 10-ball competition. In the men’s 10-ball division, 118 players competed for their piece of the $17,300 purse.

Though he sustained a fifth-round 7-4 loss to Stevie Moore, Dennis Ocollo, hot off his win at the 17th Jay Swanson Memorial 9-Ball Tournament, plowed through his remaining opponents on the one-loss bracket. In a rematch of the Swanson finals, he took down Jayson Shaw 7-5 and then whitewashed Shane Van Boening to reach the quarterfinals.

Corey Deuel had gone undefeated through the field to come out the winner of a double-hill match against “Rocket” Rodney Morris 7-6. After eking out a hill-hill victory over fellow countryman Ronnie Alcano 7-6, Orcollo sent Morris home in third place 7-4 to reach Deuel in the double-elimination finals.

Winning both sets 7-2, Orcollo claimed the 10-ball title and $4,550 in prize money.

Brittany Bryant

Although relatively new to the event, the women’s divisions also saw growth this year. In 2010 CSI added a separate women’s 8-ball division to the USBTC. Bolstered by how well that division was received, CSI added a separate women’s division in all three games the following year.

18 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

Dennis Orcollo

Women’s 10-Ball Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

Brittany Bryant Vivian Villarreal Melissa Little Mary Rakin Leslie Bernardi Jessica Frideres Brooke Thomason Suzanne Smith

$875 $500 $300 $175 $125 $100

Van Boening and Wagner Nab 9-Ball Wins

With the 10-ball competition completed, 144 men and 35 women switched gears to start play in the 9-ball divisions. With a literal who’s who of participants in the event, this year’s competition was stiffer than ever.

This year the women’s 10-ball division saw 26 entrants with a division payout of $2,300. Canadian Brittany Bryant, who has been a dominant force in women’s pool in North America since she was barely a teen, went undefeated through the winners’ bracket, besting Melissa Little 5-4 to take the hot seat.

Sent to the west side, Little was then eliminated in third place by Vivian “The Texas Tornado” Villarreal 5-1. Villareal, who had suffered an early loss to Mary Rakin 5-4, returned to the A-side to challenge Bryant in the finals. She took the first set 5-2, but Bryant rallied to rout Villareal in the second 5-1 to take the $875 first-place prize.

Men’s 10-Ball Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

9th

13th

17th

Dennis Orcollo Corey Deuel Rodney Morris Ronnie Alcano Shane Van Boening Stevie Moore Thorsten Hohmann Jayson Shaw Mark Haddad Jeff Buckley Francisco Bustamante Stan Tourangeau Brian Begay John Morra Mitch Ellerman Jeremy Jones Jason Klatt Christopher MacDonald Tim Larson Rory Hendrickson Mark Tafoya Oscar Dominguez Jose Parica Darren Appleton

$4,550 $2,600 $1,800 $1,200 $750 $475 $300

$225

$175

Shane Van Boening

In the men’s 9-ball division, it was all about Shane Van Boening. “The South Dakota Kid,” who has dominated U.S. men’s professional pool for half a decade, is accustomed to being in the top three in most, if not all, events he enters. However, he started the week a little slow, but still respectively, with a fifth-place finish in the 10-ball.

It was evident in the 9-ball that Van Boening had his groove back, cutting through the pack like a hot knife through butter to reach the hot seat match against Orcollo, where he was able to win by a narrow 9-7 margin.

Sent west, Orcollo was faced with Morris, who was fresh off a 9-4 win over Darren Appleton in the quarterfinals. It was another close match, with Orcollo coming out the 9-7 victor. In the finals Orcollo met back up with Van Boening, hoping to win two divisions in a row. Though he won the first set 9-7, Van Boening returned the favor and claimed the second set by the same score of 9-7.

In the women’s 9-ball division, Rebecca Wagner showed her prowess for a second year in a row. While not a full-time professional player,

Wagner has built an impressive pool résumé over the past several years, including first place in the 2012 USBTC Women’s 9-Ball and 10-Ball divisions, the 2010 WPBA Amateur Nationals, and the 2006 Women’s Master Singles 8-Ball at the BCAPL National Championships.

Wagner made short order of her opponents throughout the race-to-7, double-elimination division. She only allowed Villareal one rack in the hot seat match, sending her west 7-1. In the semifinals, Villareal scored a grudge win over Bryant 7-3 to return to Wagner in the finals. But there, too, Wagner seemed to have the upper hand, taking the win 7-4.

Rebecca Wagner

Men’s 9-Ball Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

9th

13th

17th

Shane Van Boening Dennis Orcollo Rodney Morris Darren Appleton Thorsten Hohmann John Morra Ramesh Gokhul Corey Deuel Rafael Martinez Chavez Oscar Dominguez Jamie Pluta Jose Parica Ike Runnels Jr. Ronnie Alcano Wade Thompson Stevie Moore Ernesto Dominguez David Styers Mark Tafoya Jason Klatt Manny Chau Duran Christopher MacDonald Glenn Atwell Shane McMinn

$4,700 $2,800 $1,600 $1,000 $650 $500 $375

$275

$200

April 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 19

Thorsten Hohmann Jessica Frideres

Women’s 9-Ball Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

9th

Rebecca Wagner Vivian Villarreal Brittany Bryant Melissa Little Mary Rakin Cindy Sliva Susan Williams Stephanie Goens Andrea Wilson Christy Hawley Betsy Sundholm Trish Vermule

$900 $525 $325 $220 $140 $100 $75

Klatt and Frideres Capture 8-Ball Crowns

In the hotly contested men’s 8-ball group, which was a race to 5 and double elimination, every break, safety, and roll counted.

With 205 players striving for a chunk of that division’s $20,800 prize fund and a board swarming with current and former national and world champions, who would come out on the final board was anyone’s guess.

Longtime Canadian professional Jason Klatt was in dead stoke during the men’s 8-ball event, mowing down his opponents with relative ease to arrive in the hot seat via a 5-0 routing of many-time straight pool champion Thorsten Hohmann.

But Klatt proved too determined inthe finals and won over Hohmann 5-3.

Vivian Villarreal, with the two women splitting the bonuses equally ($375 each).

There were 55 players in the women’s 8-ball division, which was the largest field to date since the separate women’s divisions were added in 2010. Wagner came close to earning two titles this year but was thwarted by Jessica Frideres, who sent her to the west side with a 4-2 hot seat victory.

Men’s 9-Ball Results:

Villareal ended up relegated to a fourthplace finish in this division after Rakin won their quarterfinal match 4-0. In turn, Wagner sent Rakin home in third 4-3, earning a rematch with Frideres. Wagner took the first set of the finals 4-1 but succumbed in the second 4-2, with Frideres taking the title.

To earn a rematch, Hohmann first had to get through Francisco Bustamante, recent AllAround Champion at the 2013 Derby City Classic.

Bustamante was just off a 5-3 win over Ernesto Dominguez and put up a great fight, but Hohmann eked out the hill-hill win.

Jason Klatt 20 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

In the week-long bonus point and award competition the top three men were Dennis Orcollo ($3,000), Shane Van Boening ($1,000), and Rodney Morris ($500). The women’s bonus points were a tie between R e becca Wagner and

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

9th

13th

Jason Klatt Thorsten Hohmann Francisco Bustamante Ernesto Dominguez Christopher MacDonald Rodney Morris Darren Appleton Oscar Dominguez Shane Van Boening Larry Nevel Jr. Dennis Orcollo Warren Kiamco John Morra Mark Haddad Jerry Matchin Ronnie Alcano

Women’s 9-Ball Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

9th

Jessica Frideres Rebecca Wagner Mary Rakin Vivian Villarreal Leandrea Gaff Brittany Bryant Leslie Bernardi Jennifer Alexander Cindy Sliva Sara Miller Mary Ann Starkey Diane Krause

$6,000 $3,500 $2,200 $1,500 $1,000 $650 $450

$300

$1,175 $675 $450 $300 $200 $125 $75

Comfort OUT OF HER

ZONE

T

he intensity of a born competitor is something that cannot be easily faked, and it is an emotion WPBA pro Emily Duddy exudes in the midst of tournament action. That fervor and love for competition have helped propel the 29-year-old Pasadena, California, native to become one of the top rising stars in women’s professional billiards today.

With the dedication and drive to take her game to the highest level, Emily Duddy has coursed a path that led her from local tournaments in California to one of the nation’s toughest pool scenes—New York City, and into the arena of international competition.

Emily’s roots in pool began at the age of 8 when her father began teaching her the game at the Hollywood American Legion. She also learned a lot from many of the military veterans who played pool there, whom, by the time she was 14, she was able to beat.

Growing up, pool was just one of Emily’s competitive interests, for she was also involved in a variety of other sports, including softball, gymnastics, and basketball. Her parents encouraged her involvement in competition and instilled in her that there was nothing she wasn’t capable of doing, including competing against the guys.

22 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

This attitude carried over into Emily’s pool game. Pool moved to the forefront in her life when she began her college career at University of California, Santa Cruz, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Before she began college, Emily played in local recreational 8-ball tournaments, but as a college freshman she discovered that more serious avenues were available.

“Once I realized there was a competitive scene, I really got hooked on the game,” Emily explained.

Emily began playing in the women’s tournaments around California and then branched out to other areas, including Florida for the Ladies’ Spirit Tour and tournaments in the Northeast. However, she was no longer being challenged by competing where she was in California and recognized the need to relocate to an area where competition was tougher in order to help her game evolve.

Emily Duddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Setup for SUCCESS

by Alison M. Fischer, NYCgrind.com

Like for many newcomers to New York, Emily had to fight through the challenges of getting her feet on the ground in the city, working multiple jobs and figuring out where she fit in. She joined the J. Pechauer Northeast Tour (JPNEWT), one of the nation’s toughest WPBA women’s qualifier tours, where she was ranked seventh at the end of her first full season in 2008. In 2009 Emily began to gain national notoriety when she and her team “Kiss of Death” won the BCAPL National Team Championship in the women’s open division.

Besides competing in women’s event, Emily also plays regularly on the Tri-State Tour and the Predator Pro/Am Tour, pitting herself against many of the top players in the New York area, which she says has taught her one of her biggest lessons since moving to NYC.

“Coming to New York has really taught me that competing with the best helps you become the best. I made the move to compete on the strongest women’s tour in the country because I knew once I made it on the pro tour, I would be more prepared,” said Emily. “Playing some of the top pros during my years on the JPNEWT helped exponentially. I also made Amsterdam Billiard Club my home, where the list of top players speaks for itself. Every day I continue to learn more and be pushed by the caliber of talent at Amsterdam and in the New York area.”

“I realized that the pool scene in California wasn’t as competitive as I needed it to be to take my game to the next level. Without taking myself out of my comfort zone and putting myself in a place where I would be at the bottom again in terms of skill level, I would never get to the next step in my game,” said Emily.

After two visits to New York City and making some contacts in the pool community there, she decided in 2007 that it was the place to be to step up her game. NYC’s thriving scene, which offered a variety of highly competitive local tournaments, as well as regional tours and touring pros, were major factors in this decision.

In 2010 Emily earned a spot on the WPBA pro tour, and at the end of her first season, she was named Rookie of the Year. Over the course of the last few years, Emily has continued her work to improve her game and trains regularly with her coach, Stu Mattana.

From her initial rank of #43 in 2010, she rose over twenty spots to her current ranking of #20.

Once I realized there was a

One of the traits that has been a mark of Emily’s success has been her positive outlook on her game and her ability.

Her confident demeanor and eagerness to put herself into challenging situations have been indicators of her willingness to take charge of her own destiny.

scene, I really got hooked on the game.

“Success is inevitable for those who work hard and never give up, and in my opinion, the most important measure of success is decided by the competitor,” said Emily. “My ultimate plan, with every new challenge in my life, is to take it head on without fear

competitive

24 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

Success

is inevitable for those who work hard and never give up.

“The next step is to play hard every shot, give my soul into every match, and let my passion for playing pool shine whenever I am at the table.”

In 2013 Emily will continue on her journey, competing in many of the top pro events in the nation. In addition to seeing her in the WPBA tour events, fans will be able to watch her compete in the Diamond Women’s Pro 9-Ball event at the Super Billiards Expo in Edison, NJ, this month, along with the Ultimate 10-Ball Championships coming up in June in Tunica, MS, and many other events.

and to always find success and areas for improvement in any result.”

In March Emily entered into her second international pro tournament, the 2013 Amway Cup World Championships in Taiwan, which had been one of her longtime goals. Following her first experience with international competition in 2011 at the Women’s World 10-Ball Championships, she decided to put in another year of work and training before entering her next event.

“During 2012 I worked with my coach, Stu Mattana, to strengthen my weaknesses and was able to increase my ranking on the WPBA. Now I am in a good position to receive invitations to most international

events in the future. I believe every international event will push me to my limit and therefore will help me learn more, become a stronger competitor and a more well-rounded person.”

Going up against the toughest players in the world, including the defending Amway Cup champion Chieh-Yu Chou, Emily was able to take away some valuable lessons 26 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

from her experience in the Amway Cup, as well as claim her first match win in a world championship against Norway’s Ine Helvik. She has acknowledged her limitations, coming in as a relative newcomer to world-caliber competition, but she also focuses on her ability to improve.

“I realize that I am at the beginning of my international career. I plan to hold no expectations on my performance or results for years to come. My goal is now to give it my all every rack and to be a sponge every moment. I will focus solely on improving,” she averred in a posting about her experience in Taiwan.

Emily also described her approach to going into high-level matches.

Emily’s ambition to succeed in the game and promote the sport of pool in a positive manner have made her part of the greater trend of the many young women who are driven to make a name for themselves in the world of competitive pool. For players who want to achieve greater goals in their game, or other aspects of life, Emily has shared some ideas on how to get to the next level. “The biggest advice I can give others looking to achieve something, or to just change their lives for the better, is take yourself out of your comfort zone. You can never improve without hard work and taking risks. It might be hard at first, but don’t quit until something becomes unhealthy.

You can always push yourself more, and every time you surprise yourself, your motivation will grow.”

To learn more about Emily and follow her tournament progression, visit her website, EmilyDuddy.com.

The next step is to play hard every shot, give my soul into every match, and let my

passion for playing pool shine whenever I am at the table.

Photos: Rick Shellhouse, www.rickshellhouse.com Makeup by Behind the Masque, www.behindthemasque.com Photo Assistant Jason Etzel Lighting by Dynalite

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28 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

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April 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 29

Mike Capone–

Facing the Challenges

by Freddie Agnir

B

ecause of the pool boon from the movie The Color of Money, not only did the number of players increase, but so, too, did the number of cue builders. In the brief years between the start of the boon and the real explosion of the Internet Information Age, new cuemakers still had to learn their craft the old-fashioned way: by themselves. In other words, a new wave of “old school” cuemakers developed.

At the forefront of this wave, New Jersey’s Mike Capone has led the challenge for the new younger generation of old-school cuemakers.

Born in Trenton, NJ, in 1971, Mike Capone is the son of a mechanical draftsman. He and his family now reside in Poolesville, MD, where he now owns Capone Custom Cues. Mike attended Rutgers University, studying mechanical engineering in the early ‘90s. During the summers in college, Capone worked at his cousin’s pool hall, Rack ‘em Up Billiards in Hamilton.

30 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

For repairs at the pool hall, they sent cues to Palmer Billiards. However, Palmer only took repairs in on the first and fifteenth of the month. If a shaft needed a ferrule on the third of the month, Palmer Billiards wouldn’t look at it until the fifteenth. His father had tools, machinery, and fabrication equipment that was readily available. One of the machines was a small Atlas lathe that never really got much use. Deciding to make use of that lathe, Mike started doing the repairs himself, learning by examining the broken cues and reverse engineering from there.

I bought that machine and I was going to figure out how to build a cue with it.

Because the small lathe could only be used for repairs like tips and ferrules, Mike bought a Clausing lathe in order to do larger repairs like broken butt caps and joint work. Though he didn’t realize it, many experienced cuemakers at the time considered the Clausing lathe the most popular precision lathe with which to build cues.

He obtained it by sheer luck. Because of the expense of the lathe, people around Mike considered the purchase extravagant unless he was planning to actually build cues.

“I took it as a little bit of challenge,” said Mike half-jokingly. “I bought that machine and I was going to figure out how to build a cue with it.”

Mike built remote-controlled planes growing up and worked for a contractor during the summers while in college. With that background, as well as growing up with all of his father’s tools and machines at his disposal, Capone had been taking things apart and putting them back together his whole life. “I figured I could do the same with a cue,” he stated.

In 1993 he began fitting the Clausing lathe to make cues. Information wasn’t readily available like today, and companies like Prather and Atlas were the sole suppliers of cue parts. Mike made his first cue using Camatillo, a wood rarely—if ever— used in cues. “It was too skinny!” recalled Capone. “And it was a train wreck, really. But it worked.”

cues with the pantograph, he quickly realized he needed a more efficient method. A visit to Dale Perry’s cue shop in 1998—the first Mike had ever been in other than his own—resulted in Perry teaching him how to inlay cues using CNC technology. Dale also taught Capone the various tricks to editing CNC G-code. The two have remained friends ever since.

Challenging Tradition

Consistent with his personality and philosophy in forward thinking, Mike challenged himself to build cues that were not considered traditional. Since he grew up in the part of the country known for traditional cues, four-point maple with ebony or rosewood cues dominated the area. Instead, Mike went to six-pointed cues using forearm woods of ebony or cocobolo, for example, rather than maple. Purpleheart was as inexpensive and as readily available as maple, yet cuemakers were not using it as much in the Northeast. Capone welcomed the wood into his work. In fact, he used purpleheart as his handle wood for many years. courtesy of Dick Abbott

Up to the Challenge

He purchased half a dozen four-point blanks from Prather and eventually figured out how to build them himself with the equipment he had on hand. He had a friend who owned an auto body shop that he used to develop his finishing process.

As he learned and honed his craft, he understood the need to get more efficient, so he built up other equipment to do specific processes. In addition to lathes and fixtures, he added a Gorton pantograph for inlays. However, after inlaying less than ten

April 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 31

Bucking the Northeast tradition of piloted joints with polished stainless steel collars, Capone went to flat-faced wood-towood joints, immediately feeling that they were not only simpler but that they were the future for cue stick construction. He also started using the radial pin exclusively in his cues much earlier than most cuemakers. That joint combination has since become one of the most popular designs today. And although he currently does use silver and brass rings today, Capone stayed away from using metal in his cues in his early years thinking that by not using metal, his cues developed a unique look.

courtesy of Dick Abbott

When he graduated from Rutgers he never thought of going to work for anyone else. Instead Mike Capone evolved into a full-time cuemaker, making him the young-

est full-time professional cue builder ever to build his business from the ground up.

He had built around fifty cues in 1994, and by 2000 the number increased to over one hundred per year as the wave for cue buying surged. The Asian market thrived, and Capone sold everything he made.

Brad Simpson, the author of The Blue Book of Pool Cues, contacted Mike Capone

Consistent with his personality and philosophy in forward thinking, Mike challenged himself to build cues that were not considered traditional. in the early ‘90s. Brad put Mike’s bio into the initial publication in 1994, making Mike one of the few to be showcased in all editions of the book. From that point on Capone’s notoriety as a cuemaker spread globally to cue buyers and collectors.

Although his cue construction and playability excelled, the cue-buying public, especially the new Japanese market, seemed to care more for the looks than the precision work he put into building them. The construction and construction effort did not seem to be as important as it may be today. “People use to look at three things when buying a cue,” Capone explained. “The wrap had to be flush with the cue, the cue had to be flush when screwed together, and the cue had to shine! If I did those three things, someone would buy it!”

Challenge of Acceptance

As a challenge and goal, Capone aspired to join the American Cuemakers Association (ACA), as the association included the elite group of well-known established cue craftsmen. Mike contacted cuemaker Jim Buss, who told Mike to show his cue to the members at Allen Hopkins’ Super Billiards Expo. At the 1996 Expo, Buss looked at one of his cues and immediately informed Mike that it would easily meet and

exceed the criteria the ACA required. The cue passed through the hands of the likes of Thomas Wayne, Rick Chudy, Mike Bender, and Dale Perry.

The ACA accepted Capone into their fold, making him not only the youngest but also the first member who wasn’t an established cuemaker before the association formed in 1992. Since joining the ACA, Mike can be seen annually displaying cues and representing the association at the Super Billiards Expo, as well as the Derby City Classic and the U.S. Open. Today Mike Capone serves on the board of directors of the ACA.

Fueled by challenges and goals, Capone’s determination and willingness to buck tradition has made him a model for others to emulate. He is a pioneer in the non-traditional six-point exotic wood forearm, flat-face look in the Northeast states, a look that has now become quite common.

With the recent resurgence of the Asian market, especially in mainland China and Taiwan, Capone continues to build strong numbers every year. His respected tenure during the recent rapid growth in the number of new cuemakers, despite his relative youth, has earned Mike Capone’s place as part of the old guard of established and recognized cuemakers.

Freddie Agnir

A mechanical engineer by trade, Freddie Agnir from Treasure Island, FL, has been playing pool for over 30 years and has several league and amateur state titles to his credit in singles, partners, and team competition. He is a former New Hampshire State Amateur 8-ball champion.

32 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

ACA to Crown Three Cuemakers

create unique and mesmerizing designs in their cues.

Dave’s experience as a master cabinet maker, machinist, and design engineer allows Samsara to custom build most of their machinery. Jim’s business sense and drive for perfection combined with Dave’s experience have allowed Samsara Cues to win many awards throughout the years. They are one of only a handful of cue makers to have a cue permanently on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. The second award to be presented is the “People’s Choice Award,” which acknowledges the public’s choice of their favorite cue on display at the ACA booth at this year’s Expo. Every ACA member can display one cue that they have built for this show. Attendees at the show can then cast their votes for their favorite cue. The cue maker whose cue receives the most votes will be recognized with the People’s Choice Award. Last year’s winner of this award was Pete Tonkin of Tonkin Custom Cues.

Jerry Pechauer, Joe Pechauer

The American Cuemakers Association (ACA) is proud to present three special awards at this year’s annual banquet at the Allen Hopkins’ Super Billiards Expo. The ACA was formed in 1992 to educate the public on and promote the American-made cue, as well as establish a standard of excellence in the art of cue-making.

The first award is for the “Cuemaker of the Year.”

This award was begun in 2008 to recognize an ACA member who has provided a top-quality product in an ethical, honorable, and professional manner through the years. The 2013 ACA Cuemaker of the Year award goes to Jim Stadum and Dave Doucette of Samsara Cues. Offering a wide variety of styles and price ranges, Samsara Cues specializes in high-quality cues that are unique in design and performance. A large share of their clientele is the individual cue collector.

When Jim Stadum and Dave Doucette formed Samsara Cues in 1991, they strove to combine modern technology with and ancient technique known as Intarsia to

The third and last award to be presented is the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award.” This marks only the second time in the history of the ACA that this award has been presented. The first went to Gordon Hart of Viking Cues in 1994. The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award is Jerry Pechauer of J. Pechauer Custom Cues. This year marks the 50-year anniversary of J. Pechauer Custom Cues. In 1963, Jerry’s son, Joe, was born, and Jerry Pechauer built his first cue while doing cue repair as a sideline while holding a full-time job.

In 1989 Jerry and Joe displayed at their first Billiard Congress of America Trade Show. Here they established contacts with the European billiard market, which led to their cues being sold throughout Europe as well as in America. In 1993 they completed a new, atmospherecontrolled, state-of-the-art facility that allows J. Pechauer Custom Cues to be made 100% in-house.

In 2007 Joe took over as president of the company while Jerry continues offering support and expertise.

From a dealer base of 58 dealers in 1993 to over 400 around the world in 2013, today J. Pechauer Custom Cues is one the top brands in the billiard industry.

Pictures of the award winners and the People’s Choice cue will be posted after the presentations on the ACA website at www.cuemakers.org.

April 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 33

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>Player of the Month

Perry Wood

There are people who have been members of the APA of Greater New Orleans (NOLA) for more than 20 years. Over those years, there’s been a sense of camaraderie established throughout the league. Members have truly become part of an extended family. Perry Wood of Marrero, LA, epitomizes what the NOLA APA is all about.

“Perry began playing in our league in the summer of 2005 along with his brother, Bruce Gomez, who began playing in the spring of 1990,” NOLA APA League Operator Stacy Daussat said. “Since that time Perry has touched the hearts of everyone he has come into contact with while playing pool in the APA.”

Perry is always known to have a smile on his face. He can be counted on to help with any tournament needs his league operators may have, whether it’s ensuring the bar hosting a tournament is stocked, taking out trash, cleaning tables, or assisting referees.

In October 2012, Perry was diagnosed with bladder cancer. NOLA APA immediately went into “family mode” and started thinking about what they could do to help. One of their host locations, The Big Easy, owned by APA member Jesse Murphy, offered to host a benefit tournament to help with Perry’s future financial burden. The tournament was held November 10, 2012, and the turnout was huge! Some came to play, others came to shoot with Perry, and many even stopped by just to drop off a monetary donation.

“At the end of the night we had a mock tournament that ended up with Perry playing his brother, Bruce, for the championship and a trophy,” NOLA APA League Operator Darin Daussat said. “When Perry won the trophy he was so happy, and I do not think there was a dry eye in the bar.”

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36 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

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Sossei slew Paul Enslin on the west side, relegating him to a seventh-place finishing, while Dave Grau tied with Enslin after his match with Jason Michas ended 9-6. Michas went on to take out D’Alfonso at fifth place 9-6, and Sossei sent home Smolen 9-5. In the ensuing quarterfinal match, Sossei made quick work of Michas 9-3.

Ackerman and Bubet Split Tri-State Title Tri-State Tour / Clifton, NJ

by InsidePOOL Staff

Greg Ackerman, Kyle Bubet, Chris Kelly

Greg Ackerman and Kyle Bubet chose to split first place on the Tri-State Tour’s February 16 stop. The $750-added tournament was hosted by Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ, and attracted a field of 46 A-D players.

Bubet took the winners’ side by storm, besting Ackerman in the final four 6-2 to reach the hot seat match. His opponent there was Chris Kelly, who had just sent Steve Mocarski to the one-loss side 7-5. It was a hill-hill nail-biter, with Bubet eking out the 7-6 win.

Ackerman made short work of Tony Ignomirello on the west side, sending him home in fifth place with a 6-3 win. Tying with Ignomirello was Mocarski, who was quickly eliminated by Jimmy Rivera 7-4. Ackerman went on to relegate Rivera to fourth place 7-5 and advance to the semifinals.

A one-rack sudden-death victory over Kelly ushered Ackerman to the finals with Bubet. Because of the lateness of the hour, the players decided to split first-place honors.

Results: 1st

3rd 4th 5th

7th

Kyle Bubet Greg Ackerman Chris Kelly Jimmy Rivera Steve Mocarski Tony Ignomirello Scott Simonetti Ada Lio

$625 $310 $190 $120 $90

Sossei Slays Joss Field Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour / Amsterdam, NY

by InsidePOOL Staff

A tight 9-7 win over Oliveira in the semifinals put Sossei in the double-elimination final match against the undefeated Casanzio.

Unfazed, Sossei took the first set of the match 9-2 and then followed that up with another strong 9-3 victory to claim first place.

In the $500-added second chance event, Brent Boemmels went unchallenged through the 22-player field to win the final match 3-0 over Dan Results: Menzies. Boemmels 1st Jeremy Sossei $1,100 took home $350 for 2nd Ron Casanzio $750 first, while Menzies 3rd Nelson Oliveira $550 earned $240 for his 4th Jason Michas $450 runner-up finish. Cory 5th Tom D’Alfonso $325 Payne took home

Jeff Smolen $150 for third, and 7th Paul Enslin $200 Norm Vernon won

Dave Grau $100 for fourth. Ange9th Kevin Ketz $100 lo Hilton and Bill Cote

Matt Tetreault each won $50 for fifth

Marco Kam place.

Mark Creamer

Rivera Topples Davladze for Tri-State Title Tri-State Tour / Bayside, NY

by InsidePOOL Staff

Jimmy Rivera took the brutal bracket through to the winner’s circle at the February 24 stop on the Tri-State Tour, upending Koka Davladze in the finals for the win. Yakov Bekkelman, Jimmy Rivera, Koka Davladze The $1,000-added stop was hosted by Cue Bar in Bayside, NY, and drew a field of 38 A-D players.

Fighting back from an early loss, Jeremy Sossei shot through the one-loss side to double-dip Ron Casanzio in the finals of the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour to take the title. The February 22-23 tournament’s $1,500-added purse attracted a field of 49 to Sharp Shooters Billiards and Sports Pub in Amsterdam, NY.

Going through undefeated, Davladze defeated Stewart Warnock in the winners’ side final four in a hill-hill match, as Yakov Bekkelman bested Jimmy Martinez 6-3 in the lower bracket. In a narrow hot seat victory, Davladze came out ahead of Bekkelman 6-3.

Casanzio took care of the right side of the bracket, winning a hill-hill match over Jeff Smolen to reach the hot seat match. Meeting him there was Nelson Oliveira, who had just dealt Tom D’Alfonso his first loss 9-6. There was no contest in this round, as Casanzio claimed the match 9-3, sending Oliveira west.

After his third-round defeat at the hands of Warnock, Rivera went on a tear, eliminating Rhio Anne Flores in seventh place 7-5 and then wreaking revenge on Warnock 7-2. Tying with Warnock in fifth place was Martinez, trounced by Ramon Feliciano 6-1. Rivera then dispatched Feliciano in fourth place with a 7-5 quarterfinal victory.

Bekkelman awaited Rivera in the semifinal match, and though he put up a good fight it was Rivera who came through with the 8-5 victory. With Rivera on a roll, Davladze was no match for him in the finals, and Rivera took the title 9-5.

38 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

Jimmy Rivera Koka Davladze Yakov Bekkelman Ramon Feliciano Stewart Warnock Jimmy Martinez Rhio Anne Flores Luis Jimenez

$700 $450 $280 $170 $110 $80

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Yolcu Defeats Diaz for Tri-State Title Tri-State Tour / Brooklyn, NY

by InsidePOOL Staff

Emit Yolcu went unscathed through the field that gathered for the March 2 installment of the Tri-State Tour to fend off efforts from Keith Diaz in the final match, winKeith Diaz, Emit Yolcu, Jamie Polito ning first place. The $1,250-added stop hosted 36 C-D players at Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY.

Yolcu convincingly won 6-4 over Nicholas Chan in the winners’ side final four to reach the hot seat match. That was where he first faced off against Diaz, who had just delivered a first loss to Jay Chiu 7-4.

It was a close match, but Yolcu clinched it 6-4 to remain undefeated, while Diaz went west.

From the one-loss side, Chan eliminated Brendon Holluck in a hill-hill match 6-5, as Chiu ended up going home in the same spot as Holluck after being ousted by Jamie Polito 7-6. Polito continued his hot hand, sending Chan home in the fourth-place spot with a 6-3 victory.

Itching for a rematch with Yolcu, Diaz steamrolled through Polito in the semifinals 6-1. His momentum carried over into the finals, where he took Results: an early lead against 1st Emit Yolcu $700 Yolcu. However, after 2nd Keith Diaz $430 the hill-hill battle was 3rd Jamie Polito $270 over, it was Yolcu who 4th Nicholas Chan $160 took the win 8-7.

5th Brendon Holluck $100

Jay Chiu 7th Paulo Valverde $70

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Dechaine Fends off Sossei for Joss Win Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour / Providence, RI

by InsidePOOL Staff

Mike Dechaine blazed through the field at the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour’s March 2-3 stop, escaping a strong challenge from Jeremy Sossei to take the title in the double-elimination fi- Mike Dechaine nals. The $2,500-added stop hosted 67 players at Snookers Billiards Sports Bar and Grill in Providence, RI.

In the winners’ side final four Dechaine faced down Joe Dupuis 9-4, while Sossei, who won the Joss event the week prior, dealt Joe Tucker his first loss 9-7. Dechaine and Sossei fought tooth and nail for the hot seat, with Dechaine ultimately eking out a 9-8 victory.

40 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

Tom D’Alfonso scored a 9-4 win over Karen Corr on the oneloss side, sending her home in seventh place, while Nelson Oliveira tied with Corr after his match with Phil Davis ended 9-7. Tucker then ousted D’Alfonso in fifth place 9-6, and Dupuis deposited Davis in fifth place as well 9-4.

Dupuis went on to relegate Tucker to a fourth-place finish 9-6 but was himself eliminated in the next round 9-2 by Sossei, who wanted a rematch with Dechaine. In the double-elimination finals, Sossei won the first set 9-8 to force a second, but Dechaine was able to pull off a 9-4 victory to win the title.

Twenty-two players participated in the $500-added second chance event. Paul Dryden bested Doug Brown in the finals and collected $340 for first, while Dryden earned $240 for second. Francisco Cabral took $160 for third, and Bill Cote won $100 for fourth.

In fifth place, Jon Borglund and Cory Payne each earned $50.

Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

9th

Mike Dechaine Jeremy Sossei Joe Dupuis Joe Tucker Tom D’Alfonso Phil Davis Karen Corr Nelson Oliveira Matt Tetrault Tom McGonagle Colin Mahoney Ray McNamara

$1,350 $950 $750 $600 $450 $325 $200

Ackerman and Feliz Split Tri-State Win Tri-State Tour / East Rutherford, NJ

by InsidePOOL Staff

Greg Ackerman and Yomaylin Feliz opted to split the title at the March 9 installment of the Tri-State Tour. The $1,000-added stop drew a full field of 64 to Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ.

Ackerman and Feliz did match up once during the event in the hot seat match after scoring wins over Ben Castaneros 6-3 and Bryan Jeziorski 7-3, respectively. It was Ackerman who took the ensuing victory 7-4, sending Feliz to the west side of the chart.

Jeziorski was sent home in fifth place by John Trobiano 7-2, while Castaneros cast out Ambi Estevez in the same spot 6-4. In the next round, Trobiano Results: trumped Castane1st Greg Ackerman $625 ros 7-2, sending him

Yomaylin Feliz home in fourth.

3rd John Trobiano $260 4th Ben Castaneros $180

Trobiano went 5th Ambi Estevez $90 on to challenge Feliz

Bryan Jeziorski in the semifinals, and 7th Ricardo Mejia $70 they fought until Fe Eddie Perez liz came out the 7-6 9th Jimmy Rivera $50 winner. In the finals,

Geoffrey Bauer Ackerman and Fe Kyle Bubet liz chose to split top

Gregory Costanza honors.

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April 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 41

Frady Faces Down Marietta Field Great Southern Billiard Tour / Marietta, GA

by InsidePOOL Staff

Aaron Frady edged past Jeff Jordan in a hill-hill final match to take first place and the lion’s share of the prize money at the FebruShannon Daulton, Aaron Frady, Jeff Jordan, ary 16-17 stop on the Johnny Archer Great Southern Billiard Tour. The $1,000-added tournament was hosted by Johnny Archer’s Marietta Billiard Club in Marietta, GA, and attracted a field of 61 amateur players.

ower in the same slot 9-4. Jordan advanced to face off against Miller in the quarterfinal match and sent him home in fourth place 7-4.

Middlebrook put up a good fight against Jordan in the semifinals but fell in third place 7-5. In the single-set final match, the undefeated Frady and Jordan fought to double-hill before Frady claimed the final game and the title 7-6.

Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

9th

Aaron Frady Jeff Jordan Jesse Middlebrook Tim Miller Randy Jordan Justin Hightower Tommy Najar Mike Byars Bernardo Chavez Danny Greer Jason Labonte Rodney Grizzle

$700 $500 $300 $200 $150 $100 $50

In the winners’ side final four, Frady went up against Tim Miller and won by a narrow 7-7 margin, while in the other bracket Jesse Middlebrook whizzed through his match with Jeff Jordan 9-2.

Frady had few troubles in the next round with Middlebrook, claiming the hot seat 7-1.

Moving through the one-loss side of the charts, Jeff Jordan eliminated Randy Jordan in fifth place 7-5, as Miller ousted Justin Hight-

Askins Shoots Down Lewis for Great Southern Title Great Southern Billiard Tour / Myrtle Beach, SC

by InsidePOOL Staff

Gatlin Askins aced the first stop in March on the Great Southern Billiard Tour, going undefeated to take top honors over Scott Lewis in the fiShannon Daulton, Gatlin Askins, Scott Lewis, nals. The $1,000-addBent Hudgens ed amateur stop drew a field of 39 to Shore Thing Billiards in Myrtle Beach, SC.

In the winners’ side final four, Askins bested Phillip Britt 9-5 to advance to the hot seat match. His opponent there was B. J. Hucks, who had just dealt Mike Slaughter his first loss in a hill-hill battle.

Askins and Hucks fought a bitter battle, with Askins remaining unscathed 7-6, while Hucks went to the one-loss side.

From the west side, Lewis was making his move, eliminating Wendell Thompkins in seventh place 9-7 and then Slaughter in fifth after a double-hill match. Tying with Slaughter was Mike Johnson, who was ousted by Britt 9-3. Lewis went on to trounce Britt in the quarterfinal match 9-1, sending him home in fourth place.

Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

42 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

Gatlin Askins Scott Lewis B. J. Hucks Phillip Britt Mike Slaughter Mike Johnson Wendell Thompkins Younger Chapman

$700 $400 $300 $200 $100 $60

Riding on his momentum, Lewis advanced to the semifinals and won over Hucks with a convincing 9-3 score. But in the finals, Askins remained an immovable force, taking the title 8-7.

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Rudder Proves Deadly on PxP Tour Poison by Predator Tour / Houston, TX

by InsidePOOL Staff photo courtesy of Michael Moon Photography

Kindl Cashes on Pure X Tour Pure X Cues All-American Tour / Cedar Rapids, IA

by InsidePOOL Staff

Tim Kindl came through the winners’ side unchallenged to take top honors at the February 16 installment of the Pure X Cues All-American Tour. The $500-added 9-ball handicapped tournament drew 23 players to 2nd Avenue Corner Pocket in Cedar Rapids, IA.

On the winners’ side, the hot seat match was set up by Scott Kitto outpointing Cody Mason, while Tim Kindl took down Craig Rice. In the A-side finals, the spot proved too much for Kitto, and Kindl emerged as the only undefeated player.

On the west side, Mike Peiffer and Mason tied for fifth place to the cues of Rice and Scott Hargens, respectively. Hargens then eliminated Rice at fourth place, earning a semifinal spot. There he dispatched Kitto and Results: took a place in the fi1st Tim Kindl $425 nals. In the match for 2nd Scott Hargens $250 the title, Kindl again 3rd Scott Kitto $150 took advantage of the 4th Craig Rice $100 spot to defeat Har5th Mike Peiffer $75 gens for the crown.

Cody Mason

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Chase Rudder annihilated a talented field of 43 players at this year’s first Poison by Predator Tour’s 8-ball event February 23. The impressive Rudder hit each of his first Chase Rudder five opponents with three-packs in races to 4 until he met up with former National BCA 8-Ball champion Mike Alonzo in the finals. The event, hosted by Bogies Billiards in Houston, TX, yielded a $3,200 purse with a field that produced few upsets.

The hot seat match narrowed down to Dallas’ own Rudder and local Houston favorite Raul Escobedo. Just one round prior, Rudder had bested Alonzo 4-1, and Escobedo had squeezed by the formidable Will Felder 4-3. Rudder wasted little time with Escobedo, dealing him a 4-1 loss.

After a fourth-round loss to Alonzo, Lone Star Tour champ Andy Jethwa fought his way back to a fifth-place finish after a 3-0 loss to Felder. Newcomer David Taylor sent Sonny Bosshamer west 4-0, where he won four consecutive matches until Alonzo dealt him a final blow. This pitted Alonzo and Felder in a final four stand-off.

Alonzo eliminated Felder in fourth place 3-2 to advance to the semifinals against Escobedo. The competitors fought for every shot, but it was Alonzo who emerged victorious, winning the hill game. In the finals against Rudder, Alonzo came out firing for revenge, winning the first set 4-2. In the second set,

Alonzo hadn’t risen from his seat in two consecutive games as Rudder broke huge for a third time. Rudder pocketed a ball on the break and made quick work of the last rack to win the event 4-0.

Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

Chase Rudder Mike Alonzo Raul Escobedo Will Felder Sonny Bosshamer Andy Jethwa Sonny Demetro Brian Rosenbaum

$630 $450 $270 $180 $90 $40

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Gutierrez Undefeated at Second Omega Tour Stop Omega Billiard Tour / Richardson, TX

by InsidePOOL Staff

Over the past decade David Gutierrez has consistently been among the top five finishers in many of the events in which he’s participated. Gutierrez appeared to make up David Gutierrez for some lost time the weekend of February 23-24 when he went undefeated to claim the event victory on the newly inaugurated Omega Billiard Tour’s second stop of its 2013 season. The $1,000-added event drew 64 entrants to The Billiard Den in Richardson, TX.

Gutierrez prevailed in two tough double-hill matches Saturday, and his path went a little smoother Sunday, concluding with a 27-7 record over his final three matches. In the first of those three, among the winners’ side final four, he defeated Amos Bush 9-1, as Coy Lee Nicholson was busy sending Douglas Pitts west 9-5 in the other winners’ side semifinal. In the next round Gutierrez sent Nicholson to the semifinals with a 9-3 win and waited in the hot seat.

Alberto Nieto made it back to the finals, but the more compelling loss-side story concerned Jeff Georges. Georges had been dispatched to the loss side by Nieto in the opening round of play and fought back through nine matches to meet Nieto a second time in the quarterfinals. With six wins behind him, Georges defeated Bobby Diggs and Steve Raynes, both 7-2, to pick up Bush. Nieto, sent to the west side by Bush from among the winners’ side final eight, got by Greg Sandifer and Brian Anderson to pick up Pitts.

Krugz Pool Hall in Muscatine, IA.

The A-side action ended with Le outpointing Dave Connolly and Rusty Clester joining Le in the hot seat match with a win over Fred Peiffer. The A-side finals went to Le over Rusty Clester, Tony Le, Gary Gafeller Clester.

On the B-side, Oscar Perales Jr. and Dustin Krueger tied for seventh place via losses to Gafeller and Jim Tipps, respectively. Tipps and Gafeller continued winning in the next round to dispatch Connolly and Peiffer, respectively, at fifth place. Gafeller then ended Tipp’s run at fourth place.

The B-side finals ended with Gafeller outscoring Clester. In the finals between Le and Gafeller, the match ended in one set on the hill 4-4, as Le ended Gafeller’s run with a victory for the crown.

Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

Tony Le Gary Gafeller Rusty Clester Jim Tipps Dave Connolly Fred Peiffer Dustin Krueger Oscar Perales Jr.

$500 $350 $175 $100 $70 $40

The quarterfinal rematch between Georges and Nieto was set up with a double-hill win by Nieto over Pitts and a 7-2 victory

by Georges over Bush. Nieto ended Georges’ impressive nine-win streak with a 6-3 victory and then downed Nicholson in the semifinals by the same score.

Gutierrez, in turn, ended Nieto’s fivematch winning streak.

He won the first of what could have been two sets 9-3 to claim the event title and stand in a Texas tour winning circle for the first time in a long while. In addition to the $560 first-place prize, Gutierrez’ victory earned him a Lucasi Hybrid Custom Cue valued at $380.

Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

7th

9th

David Gutierrez Alberto Nieto Coy Lee Nicholson Jeff Georges Douglas Pitts Amos Bush Brian Anderson Steve Raynes Greg Sandifer Anthony Shea Bobby Diggs

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Le Pursues Pure X Crown Pure X Cues All-American Tour / Cedar Rapids, IA

by InsidePOOL Staff

Tony Le cut through the 34-player field at the March 2 stop on the Pure X Cues All-American Tour, toppling Gary Gafeller in the finals for the win. The $500-added 8-ball handicapped tournament was hosted by April 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 45

Hovick Hangs Tough for Pure X Win Pure X Cues All-American Tour / Wausau, WI

The road to the finals for local player Naretto was not an easy one. In his bid for the title he had to face his friend Martin Zavala Sr. in the hot seat match, which Naretto won 6-3.

Rob Hovick fended off Duncan Kaufman in the finals of the March 9 stop on the Pure X Cues All-American Duncan Kaufman, Ron Hovick, Cory Scheiderer Tour to claim first place. The $500-added 8-ball tournament drew 27 players to Dale’s Weston Lanes in Wausau, WI.

The A-side bracket of action concluded with Hovick clipping defending champion John Kotnik 5-4 in the semifinals, where Kaufman also outpointed John Lewis 5-2. Hovick then took the hot seat with a 5-3 decision over Kaufman.

On the B-side Jason Kasprzycki and Jon Kent tied for seventh place at the hands of Cory Scheiderer 5-1 and Ed Livingston 5-2, respectively.

In the next round Livingston fell to Kotnik by a 5-2 margin, while Lewis was whitewashed by Scheiderer 5-0. Scheiderer then dropped Kotnik to fourth place by a 5-3 margin.

On the west side of the chart, Mike Dunklin defeated Michael Verkruyse 5-1, and Dustin Wilgus eliminated Bob Nodine 5-0. In the following quarterfinal match, Wilgus took the upper hand and ousted Dunklin 5-3 and then advanced to the semifinals, where he went double-hill with Zavala and won 5-4.

by InsidePOOL Staff

In the semifinals Kaufman ended Scheiderer’s hot run with a 5-1 victory. The final match almost went the distance, as Kaufman edged undefeated Hovick 5-4 Results: in the first set, forcing a 1st Rob Hovick $390 deciding set. But Hov2nd Duncan Kaufman $260 ick regained his edge 3rd Cory Scheiderer $175 and outlasted Kaufman 4th John Kotnik $110 5-3 to claim the title.

5th Ed Livingston $70

John Lewis 7th Jason Kasprzycki $50

Jon Kent

Naretto Nabs Pure X Victory Pure X Cues All-American Tour / Chenoa, IL

by InsidePOOL Staff

Eric Naretto, Dustin Wilgus

Eric Naretto claimed his first ever win on the Pure X Cues All-American Tour, besting Dustin Wilgus in a hillhill final match to take the title. The $500-added 8-ball tournament drew a strong 27-player field to Finish Line in Chenoa, IL, March 9.

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46 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ April 2013

Wilgus now had a second chance at at Naretto, who had defeated Wilgus in the first round. Naretto jumped out early, but the fight was not over. Wilgus battled back from the early deficit to make the match hill-hill. Naretto was not to be denied his first tour stop win and won the Results: deciding game in the 1st Eric Naretto $375 first set, ending Wil2nd Dustin Wilgus $275 gus’ run at the final 3rd Martin Zavala Sr. $175 score of 6-5 and col4th Mike Dunklin $100 lecting the title.

5th Bob Nodine $50

Michael Verkruyse

Vilmont Scores Another Victory Pure X Cues All-American Tour / Clinton, IA

by InsidePOOL Staff

Midwest powerhouse Chad Vilmont earned another title on the Pure X Cues All-American Tour, defeating Alan Birkett in the finals of their March 9 stop. The $500-added 8-ball handicapped tournament drew 12 players to Legend’s Sports Bar in Clinton, IA.

On the winners’ side, Vilmont whitewashed Jim Baker 8-0 in the final four, just as Birkett was putting away Ray Fredericksen 6-1 in the same round. The A-side finals went Vilmont’s way, as he outpointed Birkett 8-4 to gain the hot seat.

On the west side of the chart, once-defeated Keith Helfrich eliminated Steve Parlow at fourth place by a 6-1 margin. But in the B-side finals, Helfrich fell to third place on the hill to Birkett 5-6.

The tournament finals proved exciting, as Birkett handed Vilmont his first loss in the first Results: set 6-6. But Vilmont 1st Chad Vilmont $340 gathered his mo2nd Alan Birkett $220 mentum in the decid3rd Keith Helfrich $120 ing set and clipped 4th Steve Parlow $60 Birkett by another 8-4 margin for the title.

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TRUE HEART BILLIARDS CUES 519-220-0298 www.Trueheartbilliardcues.ca CUE LATHES Starting at $895 NEW ONLINE STORE NOW OPEN! Factory Direct Pricing Repair Lathes - Tapering Machines, Pantograph Inlay Machines, CNC Machines – Lathe Accessories, Leather Wrap Machines – UV Curing Booth UNIQUE PRODUCTS, INC. 3129 25th St. #215 Columbus, IN 47203 812-376-8887 www.uniqueinc.com

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Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once. Each 3 x 3 box is outlined with a darker line, and a few numbers have been already filled in to get you started.

CUE LATHES & INLAY MACHINES Starting at $850. Also sold separately: 2 HR cue repair and building video - $50. Point and inlay video - $50. Cue building book - $69.95. Lathe pins, concaved live centers, chucks, wrap motors, and other parts to convert your lathe for cue-making or repair. Tapered shaft and butt blanks.

WWW.CUESMITH.COM Phone: 770-684-7004 Ask for Chris, or write “Cue Man Billiards” 444 Flint Hill Road, Aragon, GA 30104 NITTI CUES www.nitticues.com ORIGINAL DESIGNS BY K. F. CUES www.poolcues.com.tw April 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 47

Know What I Mean, This classic American penny candy became popular in the early twentieth century and is always a welcome addition to Easter baskets. For National Jelly Bean Day this April 22, we've hidden some of the most popular Jelly BellyTM ďŹ&#x201A;avors in our word search.

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Visit www.InsidePOOLmag.com for the answers to this puzzle.

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