February 2012 Inside POOL Magazine

The

truest

playing cloth h a s a l w a y s been made

in B e l g i u m . . .

Do you know where your cloth comes from?

速

A u t h e n t i c. A c c u r a t e. A l w a y s.

February 2012

Instruction

6 Beat People With a Stick

Balls in the Air! 8 Pro Pool Workout

Standard Three-Rail Bank Safety 10 Confessions of a Pool

Hustler

One-Pocket for Fun … and For Cash

Features

12 Ralf Souquet

IP’s Male Professional Player of the Year 15 Van Boening Takes

Turning Stone Title 16 Siming Chen

IP’s Female Professional Player of the Year 18 Alex Olinger

IP’s Amateur Player of the Year

On the Cover: Ralf “The Surgeon” Souquet dominated the year of 2011 with his formidable pool prowess, earning InsidePOOL Magazine’s Male Professional Player of the Year award.

For the full story, please visit page 12.

2 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

contents

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

18 16

Technical Consultant Tom Simpson Staff Videographer Alvin Nelson Feature Photo Credits Carina Altomonte, JR Calvert, Ted Lerner, Matchroom Sport, World Pool-Billiard Association, my147.com

15

E-mail info@insidepoolmag.com Website www.insidepoolmag.com Instructional Staff Johnny Archer, Shannon Daulton, Bob Henning, Robert LeBlanc, Tom Simpson Contributing Writers Fred Agnir, Sean Chaffin, Alison M. Fischer, Rob Johnson, Keith Loria, Ken Shuman

Departments 4 4 22

Pool on TV Advertiser Directory APA Player of the Month

Regional Roundup 24 27 29 32

Northeast Southeast Central Western

Columns 20 27

33

What’s New SudoCue Puzzle Down Table Word Puzzle Let the Good Times Roll!

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Advertiser Directory

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Jim Murnak Custom Cue Cases www.jimmurnakcuecases.com

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Atlas Billiard Supplies www.cuestik.com

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Balabushka Cue Company www.balabushacues.com

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Mueller Recreational Products www.poolndarts.com

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Bebob Publishing www.bebobpublishing.com

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Pool Player Excuses Towel www.poolplayerexcuses.com

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Sterling Gaming, Inc. www.sterling-gaming.com

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Back Cover

Tiger Products, Inc. www.tigerproducts.com

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Fury Cues www.fury-cues.com Iwan Simonis, Inc. www.simoniscloth.com

4 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

Inside Front Cover

McDermott Handcrafted Cues www.mcdermottcue.com

Tom Simpson, Billiard Instruction www.poolclinics.com

1

26, 29

>

Instruction

< by Tom Simpson

Balls in the Air! is mostly played on the flat surface of the P ool table. Occasionally, though, we need to take to

the air. And sometimes, it’s not for one of those routine jump shots you may already have in your bag. Let’s look at five clever airborne shots that are not so obvious.

If you are already a jumper, you’ll be able to execute these shots with reasonable results after a little practice and a jolt of confidence. If you haven’t yet developed jumping skills, perhaps these cool shots will entice you to learn.

Shot 1 – Jump Over Blockers or Into Stack: In this shot, a row of balls blocks your position route to the far end of the table. Elevate and jump the cue ball onto the back of the 1 ball. The 1 goes in the pocket, and the CB, since it was airborne when it hit the 1 ball, flies over the row of blockers and coasts nicely down table. In addition to jumping over blockers, this shot can be used to jump onto something. For example, you could jump off your object ball and land the cue ball in the stack to break it up, rather than risking getting stuck to the side of the cluster. Note: Anytime the cue ball is airborne when it hits an object ball, that OB will be cut thinner. Allow for that in your aim.

Shot 2 – Off Cushion First: Here we want to pocket the 2 ball, but there are blockers. Elevate and shoot the CB into the cushion. The cue ball will be slightly airborne at impact, so instead of the nose of the cushion deflecting it downward into the cloth, it deflects upward, flying over the blockers. You will make this shot more easily than you might imagine. In fact, hit too hard and you could lose face.

Shot 3 – Off Cushion Second: This one looks much easier than it really is. It combines elements of Shot 1 (goes airborne off the OB) and Shot 2 (goes airborne off the cushion nose). Shot 3 does both. The problem here is not having enough angle to get down table very far. The cue ball will travel much farther if it bounces off the nose of the cushion. It doesn’t take much height. You don’t have to pound it.

Shot 4 – Off Back of Side Pocket: You’ve probably had this one happen to you by accident. Shooting the 4 ball to the corner pocket is an unavoidable scratch in the side. Not a high-percentage shot, but if the moon is

6 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

in the right phase and you elevate and hit this shot just right, you could get a happy result. The cue ball flies up off the 4, whacks into the upper lip of the back of the pocket, and bounces back onto the table. Don’t bet your life on this one.

Shot 5 - Double Jump: We’re playing 8-ball, shooting the 8. The edge of the 5 blocks just enough of the pocket that the 8 won’t go. Ignore the 5. Aim for the pocket. Hit with authority. Jump onto the back of the 8-ball. The 8 bounces slightly airborne, clears the edge of the 5, and bounces into the pocket. The difficulties here are believing it will work— and keeping the cue ball on the table. Hit a little low to put the brakes on the cue ball.

airborne on the table

5

10 1

2 6

5

11 13

1

8

12

3

9

3 4

4

2

Making one of these shots can be quite disheartening for your opponent. They may not want to continue as your “customer.” Depending on the stakes and your attitude, you may or may not want to admit it was not an accident.

Tom Simpson Tom Simpson is a Master Instructor in both the BCA and ACS Instructor Programs. 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 www.NationalBilliardAcademy.com. Contact: Tom@PoolClinics.com.

>

Instruction

< by Bob Henning

Standard Three-Rail Bank Safety I mentioned in my last column, learning a A ssafety shot within a specific game situation is helpful, but that in and of itself is not the core accomplishment. It is learning the shot itself that is of the most benefit.

When a player understands and masters a specific shot, he can then employ it in any situation where it is useful. When he learns a hundred different safeties complete with their strategic components, drawbacks, and risks, then he has the experience and knowledge to employ the best safety for any specific table situation.

That is why my new book is titled Pro Safeties: The TOP 100 Safety Shots in Pool. I demonstrated each one in a 9-ball game situation, but that is an added benefit, as the shots themselves are the core content. I could have demonstrated each shot with just the cue ball, the active ball, and the blocker balls. If you only play 8-ball and find the 9-ball layout confusing, you can do that too. Just set up the three essential balls and practice the shot like that, or add some other balls to create an 8-ball situation. This idea is easy to see with this month’s selection.

7

In the graphic, the 7 ball cannot be pocketed in the corner because the edge of the 9 ball is in the way. The key to this shot is a near-full hit and enough draw to freeze the cue ball to the 9. Depending on the exact distance between the 7 and 9, this can range from a stop shot at contact to a few inches of draw. Set your cueing and speed of stroke to accomplish this, but try to keep the 7 ball close to the fourth rail so that it doesn’t cluster up with the 8 ball. Another concern is to check the path of the 7 ball before you determine the exact hit. You don’t want to accidentally pocket it in the corner or leave it in front of the hole for an easy kick by your opponent.

For a variation, move the cue ball back to Point X.

A good 8-ball application for this shot is easy to imagine.

Just have the 7 ball be your last solid and switch the position of the 9 and the 8 balls. You shoot the 7 as shown and stick whitey to the backside of the 8 ball so he can’t see his 9 ball.

You win the game!

Good luck and good shootin’!

9

8

x Second variation

The Standard Three-Rail Bank Safety is not one of the most difficult safeties named, explained, and categorized in Pro Safeties. In fact, it is a simple, well-known, yet very effective shot that will win you many games if you add it to your arsenal. This safety can be used in similar positions up and down the rail a few inches and is commonly employed as an alternative to attempting to break open a cluster where the active ball cannot be pocketed. This takes care of the problem and virtually guarantees coming back to the table after your opponent kicks.

8 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

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.

>

Instruction

< by Robert LeBlanc

One-Pocket for Fun … and for Cash of weeks ago, I got a phone call around 10 p.m.

A couple from Best Billiards here in Las Vegas. It was from a local lady named Sondra who said that she had a partners’ one-pocket game for us, and she wanted to know if I was interested. I love onepocket, so I told her I would be come down and check it out.

When I got to the poolroom, I saw that our opponents were two guys who were pretty good players. I knew that Sondra was one of the best female 9-ball players in town, but I didn’t know if she played one-pocket. I asked her if she did, and she said that she loved the game but didn’t know too many shots. I wanted to show her some moves before we played, so we decided to hold off on the game until a later time so she could practice.

I met up with Sondra the next day and showed her a few important shots and safeties that pretty much come up in every game, and she caught on quickly. This shot in Diagram 1 is pretty routine for all one-pocket players, but for new players like Sondra, it is unfamiliar. Player A has the top left corner pocket with five balls on the spot and has the cue ball in the kitchen (Player B has scratched). Placing the cue ball about one-third over from the right side of the table and using left english (9 or 10 o’clock ), shoot the cue ball into the long rail at the diamond by the pocket (could vary an inch or so depending on the table). The cue ball goes two rails skimming the balls, pushing them toward your pocket, while the cue ball comes to rest on the end rail near the adjacent pocket. Mission accomplished!

I then showed Sondra a more complicated shot. In Diagram 2, I have Pocket B. I need four balls to win, and my opponent needs only one. I need to go for the dough! I could play a safety, but here’s my chance to win the game. There are five balls on the spot, and the cue ball is sitting about four inches right in front of my hole. I strike the cue ball with low right (5 o’clock) and split the back two balls, banking the back ball toward my pocket. If the back ball drops, I have a chance to run out; if it doesn’t drop, here’s what I leave my opponent.

Before

4

5

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8

7

Result

8

4

6

Before 5

7

3

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2

1

Sondra was impressed, to say the least. We had a good time, she learned a lot, and we wound up playing the opponents later and took down the cash.

Robert LeBlanc

Result

2 3

1 4

10 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

Robert “Cotton” LeBlanc is a well-known pool player and was a roadman for almost 40 years, traveling the country playing virtually all of the pool legends and champions—and making friends with them. Highly skilled himself, he is the author of the best-selling book Confessions of a Pool Hustler, which chronicles his life and hundreds of stories about being on the road. Visit his website at www.confessionsofapoolhustler.com.

Takes Turning Stone Title

A

fter a hill-hill, fourth-round loss to Mosconi Cup teammate Shawn Putnam, Shane Van Boening came back through the one-loss side to take the Turning Stone Classic title over Raj “The Hitman” Hundal in the finals. The $25,000-added tournament, held twice a year at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY, drew a packed field of 128.

Having sent Van Boening west, Putnam advanced to face Mosconi teammate in Rodney Morris on the winners’ side final four. “Rocket” soon shot past Putnam to notch a 9-5 victory and advance to play yet another Mosconi teammate, Mike Dechaine. It was another 9-5 win for Morris, who moved on to the hot seat match as one of the remaining two unscathed players.

On the bottom bracket, Earl Strickland had gone on a tear, whipping through players such as Johnny Archer 9-0 and Mike Davis 9-4 to reach the final four. There he confronted a determined Ralf Souquet, who ended Strickland’s streak 9-6.

But Souquet soon followed Strickland to the left side after Hundal bested him 9-5.

On the left bracket, Strickland was soon ousted 9-4 by Van Boening, who had previously eliminated Bucky Souvanthong 9-6. “The South Dakota Kid” then axed Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour threat Dennis Hatch’s hopes of taking the event 9-2. Hatch went home in seventh place, tied with Brandon Shuff, who was ousted by two-time U.S. Open champ Darren Appleton.

Appleton, who suffered a third-round, hillhill loss to Hatch, won six matches in a row to reach Mosconi Cup teammate Souquet and fell 9-3 in fifth place. Tying with him was Dechaine, who came out on the short end of a hill-hill match against Van Boening.

Clearly determined to fight to the finish, Van Boening easily handled Souquet in the quarterfinal match 9-3 to advance to the semifinals against Morris. The defending champion put up a struggle, but there was no repeat performance in his future as Van Boening allowed him 5 racks in the race to 9. In the extended race-to-13 final match, Van Boening gave Hundal a few chances, but when all was said and done, Van Boening took the final match and the title 13-9.

1st Shane Van Boening 2nd Raj Hundal 3rd Rodney Morris 4th Ralf Souquet 5th Darren Appleton

Mike Dechaine 7th Brandon Shuff

Dennis Hatch 9th Jason Klatt

Shawn Putnam

Dustin Morris

Earl Strickland 13th Eric Hjorliefson

Stevie Moore

Johnathan Pinegar

Bucky Souvanthong 17th Chris Lynch

Danny Thompson

Zion Zvi

Shane Winters

Mike Davis

Oscar Dominguez

Larry Nevel

Oscar Bonilla 25th Randy Labonte

Dave Fernandez

Louis Ulrich

Russ Philp

Dan Heidrich

Ruben Bautista

Josh Ulrich

Brian Brekke

$8,000 $5,000 $3,600 $2,600 $2,000 $1,600 $1,200

$850

$550

Results:

by InsidePOOL Staff

$300

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InsidePool

Ralf IP's Male Professional Player of the Year

by Sean Chaffin

R

alf “The Surgeon” Souquet was a dominating force at the billiards table in 2011.

With seven major wins and many top finishes, the German billiards superstar remained one of the most consistent pros in the game, amassing more than $150,000 in tournament winnings in tournaments around the globe.

At the table, Souquet is known as a calm and cool tactician—a player ready to pounce like a cat on any mistake. The more tension he feels, the better he seems to perform.

“Under pressure he’s calm and cool and seems to play better when it’s a life-or-death situation,” stated fellow pro and 2010 InsidePOOL Player of the Year “Dynamite” Darren Appleton. “As a player he is the ultimate professional. He doesn’t take many silly risks and goes with the best percentage offered at the time. He shoots great, his touch and cue ball control are the best in world, tactically he’s strong, and he breaks great. So, obviously, that makes him one of the world’s best players.”

Souquet’s amazing career and love of pool began when most boys are playing with toy cars or action figures. A lifelong love of billiards was born.

Souquet’s amazing career and love of pool began when most boys are playing with toy cars or action figures.

A lifelong love of billiards was born.

12 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

Beginnings

"

From this time on, I practiced for about eight years—up to five hours a day.

Souquet got his start at the table in 1974 at the age of six, playing pool in the pub owned by his parents in Germany. It was a pastime he quickly embraced.

“From this time on, I practiced for about eight years—up to five hours a day,” he remembered.

At the age of 14, Souquet won his first German Juniors Championship. In 1985, he won his first European Championship title with the German National Team and a year later won his first individual title at the European Juniors Championships. His career continued to flourish in the next few years, and in 1989 European Pocket Billiard News named him the European Player of the Year. Since 1981, the pool phenom has won more than 250 tournament titles, including 41 German championship and 36 European championship titles.

In 2008, Souquet took home his second 8-ball World Championship title, followed by a gold medal at the 2009 World Games. Matchroom Sport’s Luke Riches said Souquet’s attention to detail and practice distinguished him in 2011.

photo courtesy of Carina Altomonte/Matchroom Sport

“Experience, professionalism, application, ability, and an unerring attention to the smallest detail of a table layout are some of the things that set him apart. No player in the world has the dedication of Souquet,” Riches said. “He is such a tough match player and no one wants to play him, as they know that to get past him they will have to be at their very, very best.”

Souquet’s 2011 winnings were a bit of a bounce back from 2010 when he pocketed more than $58,000 in winnings. In 2009, Souquet topped $100,000 after winning $43,000 in ’08 and then in $219,000 in ’07. In the last five years, he has averaged almost $105,000 annually.

A Year to Remember

The Surgeon’s amazing year kicked off with a huge win in February when he took his first of three events on the EuroTour—the Dynamic French Open in Paris for more than $6,000. That same month he added another $2,000 for a 17th-place finish at the World 8-Ball Championships in the United Arab Emirates.

photo courtesy of Matchroom Sport

In March, Souquet went on a tear. First, he came up just short of another title and took second at the Masters 10-Ball Championship in Chesapeake, VA, for another $7,000. He followed up this impressive finish by winning the Diamond Open Professional Players Championship at Allen Hopkins’ Super Billiards Expo for a nice $20,000 payday.

His stellar spring continued in early April at the Philippine Open with another runner-up performance for $15,000. He then took home another EuroTour title in April, winning the Dynamic Italy Open for another $6,327.

In four months, Souquet had already wrapped up more than $58,000 in tournament wins, but he didn’t slow down. In May and June, he finished seventh at the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship in Las Vegas ($2,400); ninth at the China Open ($2,400); and ninth at the World 9-Ball Championship in Qatar ($4,000).

Beginning in September, Souquet added another EuroTour title to his résumé and ended the season in Europe as number one for February 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 13

the sixth time. His string of championships started at the World Pool Masters, where he took home the $20,000 top prize. Next it was off to the World Cup of Pool in the Philippines, where he also captured the $30,000 first-place prize with partner Thorsten Hohmann.

Appleton recalled a match against him in the Philippines that demonstratedswhat a competitor Souquet is. Leading 8-6 with only five players remaining, Appleton reported that Souquet was struggling a bit.

However, Appleton’s dry break gave “The Surgeon” the opening he needed: He won three straight and Appleton never saw the table again.

Hall of Fame Career

As if his year couldn’t be more successful, Souquet was honored with an induction into the Billiard Congress of America’s Hall of Fame in October. He became the first European male player to achieve this honor.

“All these victories were somehow special,” Souquet said of his run through 2011. “A great year—2011 is obviously hard to top. My goal for 2012 is to improve my game a few percent, stay healthy, and win another world title, just to name a few.”

"

My goal for 2012 is to improve my game a few percent, When not at the pool table, other players say Souqet stay healthy, is very friendly with a good of humor. Friends say and win another world title, sense he is a perfectionist who likes to have his schedule just to name a few. and everything planned out.

“That’s Ralf. He can find his game at any moment—especially when he needs it most—and that’s why he such a great champion and so hard to beat,” Appleton explained. “All aspects of his game can match up with anyone in the world. He never gives in no matter what the score. He will give nothing away even if he’s not on his game.”

A few weeks later, in September, Souquet won the Hungary Open for $6,327, finishing off a spectacular September. In October, Souquet was on to the Sarajevo 10-Ball Open, where he took another runner-up finish for $2,800. A third-place finish at the Beassy 8-Ball World’s Top Gun in Hungary for $2,720 followed later in the month.

In December, Souquet finished strong, including a fourth-place finish at the Turning Stone Classic for $2,600. And then it was on to the Mosconi Cup in Las Vegas, where he helped Team Europe defend their title and bring home another $15,000.

14 2012 20 InsidePOOL InsidePOOL Magazine Magazine ◊◊ February January 2012

“He’s always pleasant and likes a laugh with the best of them,” stated Riches.

Appleton noted that Souquet was a great selection for the Hall of Fame and is a great role model for younger players coming into the game.

“The only bad thing about him would be he’s extra careful at spending, especially when it comes to a round of drinks,” he joked.

“All in all, he’s a good guy and one of the all-time greats. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame at such a young age and Player of the Year all in same year, plus winning three EuroTours in one year and winning a bunch of other big events—he deserves all the success that comes his way.”

Siming IP's Female Professional Player of the Year

by Sean Chaffin

W

ith two championships and two runner-up finishes, along with more than $76,000 in winnings, Siming Chen takes the 2011 InsidePOOL Magazine’s Female Player of the Year award. And at only age 18, this young star should have many more years of success.

Born in China, Chen is known for her amazing cue ball control, precision shot-making, a powerful and smooth stroke, and an intense focus at the table. She is quickly becoming a billiard tour de force, and her recent finishes indicate much more success to come.

While she may be a fairly new name to the world of pro billiards, in 2009, the teenage sensation tested the waters on the pro circuit and took home a ninth-place finish at the China Open and a ninth place at the Women’s World 9-Ball Championship.

But she burst onto the scene in a big way in 2010, earning a total of $36,000 for three top finishes, including third at the Amway Cup in Taipei for $5,000. She then took fifth at the World 9-Ball Championships in China for another $3,000. In September 2010, Chen really made the billiards world take note, winning the China Open in Shanghai for $26,000.

photo courtesy of my147.com and the WPA 16 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

Siming Chen is very calm and relaxed around the table.

She comes across fearless and under pressure is very composed, which is of course a great -Kelly Fisher asset to have.

"

In 2011, Chen definitely shined by adding two more championships and three runnerfinishes. In March she improved on her 2010 finish at the Amway Cup by taking second to Ga Young Kim, earning a cool $10,000 prize. Her sizzling spring continued in April as she took home the title at the Philippine Open in Manila, where she topped Great Britain’s Kelly Fisher for the $20,000 first prize.

Chen’s amazing run persisted in late April at the Beijing Open, where a third-place finish earned her another $6,500. At the China Open in June, Chen made a Herculean effort at defending her title. The young gun again made it to the championship match but came up just short to Xiao-Fang Fu. While the championship eluded her, the first-place and runner-up finishes in back-to-back years is quite impressive.

photo courtesy of the World Pool-Billiard Association

She followed up this in September with another runner-up finish at the Women’s World 9-Ball Championship in China. The win earned her another $15,000. In October, she also took ninth at the Haining Cup in Haining, China.

Back in the Philippines in November, Chen took ninth at the Women’s World 10-Ball Championship. Also in November, she added another championship to her quickly growing résumé of top finishes and titles when she finished first in the women’s division at the All Japan Championships for another $7,690.

Her honors for 2011 also include winning the World Pool and Billiard Association 2011 Women’s Player of the Year award. As part of the title, she takes home yet another trophy and an elegant TAG Heuer watch.

Touring pro Kelly Fisher says this rising star is a great talent and a very challenging opponent at the table.

“Siming Chen is very calm and relaxed around the table. She comes across fearless and under pressure is very composed, which is of course a great asset to have,” she reported.

“She has a solid all-round game, which makes her the great player she is. She has great shotmaking ability and is a naturally talented player. For her age, her knowledge is exceptional.”

photo courtesy of Ted Lerner photo courtesy of the World Pool-Billiard Association

Fisher predicted Chen will continue improve and further her game as she gains more and more experience.

Pool has always been part of Chen’s life. She began playing Chinese 8-ball when she was 8 years old and then moved on to snooker and pool. At the 2009 Asian Indoor Games and 2010 Asian Games, Chen won the gold medal in snooker. Zhang Kechang, director of the China Billiard Snooker Association, said snooker and pool are generally not considered a sports game in China, and many parents might discourage their children from taking up the game. Fortunately, this was not the case for Chen.

“When her mother found that she was interested in the game and good at pool, her mother found a coach for her,” he said.

photo courtesy of the World Pool-Billiard Association

As for her skills at the table, Kechang says she has a strict self-discipline. She keeps a precise schedule including practicing at the tables, learn English, and getting her needed sleep. The hard work has definitely paid off for this player still only in her teens.

“Although she is very young, she can manage herself very well. At the table, she never gives up. She can keep pressure on her opponent, so she can always turn the tide back in her favor,” Kechang explained.

Kechang says Chen has already become somewhat famous in her home country because of her international event championships. Kechang says Chen’s goal now is a world championship, which could springboard her to even more fame in China. And with a career starting out at such an amazing pace and already coming up just short of that first world championship, time is on her side as her skills can only improve.

February 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 17

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Alex IP's Amateur Player of the Year

by Keith Loria

W

hen you grow up in the city of New Lebanon, Ohio, there’s not a lot for kids to do. There’s no bowling alley, no miniature golf course, and the closest movie theatre is almost a half-hour away.

As a 9 year old growing up in this small town, Alex Olinger discovered the game of pool. It was a discovery that shaped Olinger’s life and career path and set him on his way to earning InsidePOOL Magazine’s Amateur Player of the Year award for 2011.

“My mom worked at a local bar, and I would go up there and play on the table,” Olinger, now 25, explained. “A few of the customers who were regulars taught me a little about the game, and I played well.”

His neighbor also had a billiards table, and he would allow Alex and his best friend Ryan Stone to come over and play whenever they wanted. There was also a pool hall in the next town over that the two friends would sneak away to as they got a little older to get better at the game.

It wasn’t long before Olinger was the talk of the town and he started to make a name for himself around Ohio at pool tournaments.

“Ryan and I would play for hours and hours as we got older, and we both got progressively better,” Olinger said. “I played something like seven junior tournaments and I won four times and came in second or third the others.

18 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

By the time both boys reached 18, they set off on different paths—not only having to say goodbye to each other for the first time, but realizing that they would have to put the cues down as they faced the realities of life.

Stone joined the military and Olinger went to work.

“After high school, I got a job working as a security guard, and I was still playing pool casually at some local tournaments, but it was tough to make a living at pool,” Olinger stated. “So I got a job as a welder, working sixty to eighty hours a week, and didn’t get to play pool at all.”

Like most of the nation, Ohio was battling a tough economic climate, and Olinger was laid off from his job.

“After two and a half years, I was let go. Times were tough, and I decided that I wanted to go back to pool and really make a go at it,” Olinger said. “I started taking it really seriously, practicing twenty-five to thirty hours a week, and I started to get a lot better. I really dedicated a majority of my time to my pool game.”

Olinger began traveling to tournaments from Florida to Las Vegas and put up some impressive games.

In 2008 he won the Viking Tour event at Michael’s Billiards in Cincinnati, also placing in the top four in three other Viking tour events that year. Other highlights of that year included a second-place finish in the VNEA Ohio State Masters Team Division, a third-place finish in the BCA State Team Division, and a ninth-place finish in the Amateur Open at the Super Billiards Expo in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

“I try to play three to five tournaments a week, play in leagues two nights a week, and practice all the time,” he says. “Where once it was a hobby, now my ambition is to make it to the pro level.”

He began 2011 with a first-place finish in the Joss Central Ohio Open and had impressive victories at Great Southern Billiard Tour events in Bristol, Tennessee, and Conyers, Georgia. He finished fifth in the Super Billiard Expo Open, first in the Ohio BCA State Masters Team Tournament, and first in the APA National 9-Ball Shootout, held in Las Vegas in May.

As the calendar rolled along, more wins followed. In July he won the Moulton 8-Ball Shootout, August saw him on top in APA National 9Ball Team Event, September had him winning the Great Southern Billiard Tour in Cincinnati, October he bested 64 players to capture the 25th Midwest Bar Table Classic, and November he won the Great Southern Billiard Tour Championship warm-up.

“Alex is one of the most improved players since he started playing on the tour,” Shannon Daulton, tour owner and promoter, explained. “Now he is one of

the pre-tournament favorites at any Great Southern Billiard Tour event that he attends. His demeanor at the table is very professional.”

Olinger started 2012 with a bang as well, besting 82 players to finish first in the Central Ohio Open Singles and first on the Great Southern Billiard Tour in Lynchburg, Virginia.

“The more tournaments you win, the more confidence you get and the more ambition you have to practice more,” he averred. “Right now I am working on getting sponsorships because it’s so expensive to play in pro tournaments, so it’s tough to get to all of them. I really hope I have the chance to do more of that.”

Currently Olinger is sponsored by Hammerhead Hustling Clothing and Absolute Billiards Service, and he is also speaking with an energy drink company to add to his stable.

“I just try to show them that I’m real dedicated to what I am doing and if I was to get a sponsorship from them, I would give one hundred percent and wouldn’t slack off at all,” he said earnestly. “I do the best I can at all times.”

Going along for the ride is Stone, who has returned to the game and is once again entering tournaments with his friend.

“This past weekend, we split first and second pace in singles and won the teams at the Central Ohio Open,” Olinger expressed. “It’s great to have him playing again, and it’s just like when we were nine years old and playing together and having fun.”

But Olinger understands that it needs to be about business too. He speaks to pros whenever he can, looking for advice, and spends plenty of time working on the aspects of his game—mainly his combos and banks— that he feels needs work.

“I played the U.S. Open this year, and I would love nothing more than to play in all the pro events and get to the point where I could go to different countries and play the world events as well,” Olinger explained. “I have loved this game since I was nine. I love the competitiveness of it. I was always good at math, and I like the fact that you can’t master it, no matter what. It intrigues me.”

Looking ahead, Olinger is ready to battle the Johnny Archers and Shane Van Boenings of the world on a regular basis.

“By the end of 2012 I am hoping that I will have been able to make the leap,” Olinger said. “It all depends on sponsorships now. I think my game is ready and I am excited for the challenge.”

I have loved this game since I was nine. I love the competitiveness of it. I was always good at math, and I like the fact that you can’t master it, no matter what. It intrigues me.

February 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 19

This new series from Tiger Products is all about simple elegance with performance in mind. The Tiger HUSTLER series features a sneaky pete design in bacote, fully spliced into a light-colored Canadian hard rock maple forearm and accented with black, natural, and black point trims. For Model #1, thin black decorative phenolic rings complement the butt cap and shaft joint. Model #2 series cues come with wood-to-wood shaft joints creating the solid one-piece look. Genuine solid black Irish linen is available for either model. Each cue features the Ultra-X® high-performance patented technology shaft (low deflection shafts are optional) and radial Tiger joint protectors. The suggested retail price is $409. For more information, please visit www.tigerproducts.com.

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20 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

This whimsical towel gives your favorite pool player an easy out with six excuses for why that ball didn’t drop.

Adorned with original animal-themed cartoons, this 22-inch by 13-inch towel is made of lint-free flour sack material and has a hanging loop on the back.

Retail price is $7.95, with 10% of the profits donated to H.E.A.L. Inc (Helping Every Animal Live). To order, please visit www.poolplayerexcuses.com.

Simonis X-1® This patented Simonis X-1® chalk dust removal tool keeps your Simonis cloth playing better longer.

The unique structure of the tool lifts the chalk dust out of the cloth, and the low-profile design gets under the rails as well. Keep your playfield in top shape with the totally unique Simonis X-1®! Retails for $89.99. To order, please visit www.simonisX1.com, or call 800-SIMONIS.

>

Industry

>

News News

CSI Supports BCA as Governing Body For Cue Sports In North America

As a long-time member of the Billiard Congress of America (BCA), CSI supports the BCA in their recently announced pro pool initiative to provide funds to send North American players to international events. CSI is one of the first industry leaders to support the BCA initiative as a “2012 Official Contributor to International Competition.”

OB Cues Inks Deal With Shane Sinnott

OB Cues is proud to announce that Shane Sinnott, a 15-year veteran of the billiards industry, joined OB Cues January 2. Shane joins OB Cues in the position of sales and marketing director.

Shane brings valuable experience acquired over his long career in the billiard industry, including manufacturing, distribution, and retail sales. With his knowledge of the industry, Shane brings the insight to grow OB Cues’ business in all areas, and having the understanding and empathy earned through his time and experience gives him communications skills that are difficult to find.

“We have been looking for just the right person to take charge of our sales and marketing focus, and Shane will fit that position perfectly,” declared Royce Bunnell, co-owner of OB Cues. “Within our industry, very few people have represented all aspects of the billiard business like Shane has. He brings an understanding of not only the industry but the people, and that is very hard to find. OB Cues is in the position of high potential growth, and Shane is just the right person to take us there.”

A solid framework for both North American and world professional pool has long existed, with the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) as the world body, and the BCA as the WPA member for North America. CSI commends the BCA on their commitment renewal as the “Governing Body for Cue Sports in North America.” CSI supports the BCA as the governing body, its pro points program, and the player selection process for international events.With a decline in U.S. player participation in world events, CSI feels the time has come to change the structure of how pro pool in North America is supported. This is a step in building a structure that will allow the top U.S. and Canadian players to continue to compete and represent their countries internationally.

CSI, which produces the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship, one of the BCA pro point events, believes the future and strength of the sport lies in creating a synergy between the industry, the amateurs, the professionals, and the general public. Two years ago CSI launched the USA Pool League with that goal in mind, and a portion of CSI’s proceeds from the USAPL is pledged to promote and fund pro awareness.

The CSI encourages industry support of the BCA in their new endeavor. In the past, CSI partnered with five other industry leaders to help support and fund the BCA Hall of Fame. It is time for all organizations that have the sport and industry foremost in mind to band together in support of the BCA.

Billiard EducationJunior Foundation Player Profile Shawn D. Begay Hometown: Gallup, New Mexico

Cue used: Lucasi Hybrid

Birth date: August 28, 1997

Left- or right-handed: Right

School attended: Gallup High School

Sponsors: Lucasi Hybrid, Florida; Kamui Tips, California; Slop Shot Billiards, Gallup, New Mexico

Grade: Freshman Favorite band/music: Country Favorite subjects in school: Math and geometry Hobbies: Hunting and playing basketball Age began playing pool: 9 years old Titles/high finishes: • Runner-up in 2011 BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships, 14 and Under Boys’ Division • First place on Lucasi Tour in Phoenix, Arizona • New Mexico Junior State champion in Albuquerque, New Mexico • First place in Navajo Nation Fair Boys and Girls Club pool tournament in Window Rock, Arizona Other notable awards: Represented the United States at the 2011 WPA World Junior 9-Ball Championships in Kielce, Poland

Memorable pool moment: When I was invited to play in the WPA World Junior 9-Ball Championships in Kielce, Poland Favorite food: Navajo traditional recipes Real-world hero: My dad Fondest childhood memory: Family cook-outs Goals (personal and/or career): Complete grade school and go to college to study to be an electronic technician

Support Junior Programs ...

Join now! www.BilliardEducation.org

> Larry Meilak Meilak of Selkirk, NY, has been an APA member since L arry 2008. He currently plays on eight teams in the APA of Great-

er Albany and serves as the team captain on several of those teams.

He’s rated a skill level 6 in both 8-ball and 9-ball. Larry is a division representative and is on the board of governors. He’s played a vital part in growing the APA of Greater Albany.

“Larry has been a very active and loyal member of the APA, not missing one session since he started. We’re proud to have him,” said APA of Greater Albany League Operator Matt MacPhail.

Larry continues to improve his game and has qualified for both 8-ball and 9-ball singles regionals on a number of occasions. In such a short time, Larry has played nearly 700 matches and is inching closer to reaching the National Championships every year. On a recent league night, Larry even notched four nines-on-the-snap in a row!

“On top of many rackless nights, eights-on-the-breaks, and break-and-runs, Larry snapped in the nine-ball four games in a row this past fall session. We can’t be any more proud of his accomplishments!” said MacPhail.

> >>

Regional Roundup Wilkie and Sookhai Capture Predator Season Finale Wins Predator Pro-Am Tour / West Hempstead, NY

by Alison M. Fischer, NYCgrind.com

Shaun “Get Some” Wilkie and Shawn Sookhai took titles at the Predator Pro-Am Tour’s fourth season finale, winning the open/pro and amateur divisions, respectively.

The event was held Shaun Wilkie December 10-11 at Raxx Pool Room in West Hempstead, NY, where a total of 84 players showed up for both events.

Tour promoter Tony Robles highlighted the top half of the bracket, defeating Gregg McAndrews, Jorge Rodriguez 8-5, and Zion Zvi 8-5 to move into the hot seat match. In the other half of the winners’ bracket, Maryland pro Wilkie took down Ruben Bautista 8-3, Mhet Vergara 8-4, and Mike Miller 8-6 to meet up with Robles. Wilkie continued to play strong to win 8-4, guaranteeing himself a spot in the finals.

After his earlier loss to Robles, Zvi got back on his feet on the one-loss side, knocking out Earl Strickland 8-4 and Miller 8-4 before taking vengeance against Robles, whom he defeated 8-2 in the semifinals.

In the championship match, Zvi kept closely tied with the undefeated Wilkie as the two worked their way to a hill-hill tie-breaking game. After a short safety Open/Pro Results: battle at hill-hill, the play$1,000 ers traded innings before 1st Shaun Wilkie $700 Zvi ultimately hung the 2nd Zion Zvi $550 10 ball in the pocket and 3rd Tony Robles $350 handed over the victory 4th Mike Miller 5th

Jorge Rodriguez

$110 to Wilkie, his second conEarl Strickland secutive Predator Tour fi- nale victory.

Amateur Results:

In the amateur divi- 1st Shawn Sookhai $1,500 sion, a field of 68 turned 2nd Chris Giannakouros $1,000 out to fight for the title. 3rd Frank Ramos $600 Chris Giannakouros de- 4th Steve Way $425 feated Robert Gipp and 5th Robert Gipp $300 then moved on to best Romeo Singh Frank Ramos 7-4 to take 7th Daniel Dagotdot $200 the hot seat.

Patrick Meyers 9th Christian Cabrera $110

On Giannakouros’ Matthew Harricharan successful run through Bob Schlott the winners’ bracket, Omar Alli he also claimed wins 13th Scott Murphy $70 over Steve Way, Mike Steve Mack Hertz, Christian Cabre- Carrie Metz ra, and Daniel Dagot- Niko Berzenishvili

24 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

dot before winning the final two matches to guarantee his spot in the finals.

On the left side of the bracket, Sookhai was busy grinding through the final rounds. After a first-round bye, Sookhai bested John Mazes 7-4, Raphael DaBreo 7-5, and Matthew Harricharan 7-4 before heading west after a 7-5 loss to Robert Gipp.

Then Sookhai made it through to the one-loss side to defeat Christian Cabrera 7-5, Dagotdot 8-7, and Steve Way 7-3 before moving into the semifinals, where he eliminated Frank Ramos 7-2.

The undefeated Giannakouros was then met by Sookhai, who had finished off five opponents beforehand. Another hill-hill final ensued, ending in Sookhai’s favor after meeting at hill-hill.

Cintron and Shellhouse Split Tri-State Title Tri-State Tour / East Rutherford, NJ

by InsidePOOL Staff

Good friends Dan Cintron and Rick Shellhouse succumbed to the late night and opted to split first place at the December 10 stop of the Tri-State Tour. The $500-added event was hosted by Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ, and drew a field of Rick Shellhouse, Dan Cintron 41 A-D players.

Cintron and Shellhouse ended up facing each other in the hot seat match after winning their respective matches over Scott Bannon 7-5 and George Osipovitch 6-3 in the winners’ side final four. Cintron claimed the hot seat with a strong 10-7 victory, and Shellhouse went west.

Ed Culhane soon eliminated Bannon in fifth place 7-3, as Osipovitch ousted Greg Constanza in the same place after their hill-hill match ended 6-5. Culhane then went on to face down Osipovitch in the quarterfinal match 7-5 to advance to the Results: semifinals.

1st Dan Cintron $500

Rick Shellhouse

The meeting between $250 Culhane and Shellhouse 3rd Ed Culhane was a one-sided affair, with 4th George Osipovitch $150 $100 Shellhouse quickly taking 5th Scott Bannon Greg Costanza the win 8-1. As the hour was $75 late, the two friends chose 7th Kyle Bubet

Mike Zimny to split first-place honors.

< Cintron and Khan Split Tri-State Win Tri-State Tour / Bayside, NY

by InsidePOOL Staff

Dan Cintron and Carl Yusef Khan split top honors at the December 18 installment of the Tri-State Tour.

The $1,000-added event was open to A-D players and drew a field of 34 to Cue Bar in Bayside, NY.

Khan and Cintron Dan Cintron, Carl Yusuf Khan played each other on the winners’ side final four, with Cintron advancing by a narrow 8-6 win. In the other match, Steve Wade bested Keith Diaz 6-4 to go on to face Cintron. It was another close one, but Cintron prevailed over Wade 10-8 to remain undefeated.

Once on the west side, Khan eliminated Gary Murgia in fifth place 7-3 to stay alive, while Diaz tied with Murgia after being ousted by Rene Villalobos 6-4. Khan went on to escape a double-hill thriller against Villalobos Results: in the quarterfinals 7-6.

1st Dan Cintron $505 Carl Yusef Khan

It was an easy 7-3 vic- $250 tory over Wade that pro- 3rd Steve Wade 4th

Rene Villalobos

$150 pelled Khan into the finals $90 against Cintron. However, 5th Gary Murgia

Keith Diaz the two decided to split 7th Keith Adamik $70 the victory.

Vincent Morris Sossei Slays Joss Field Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour / New Milford, CT

by InsidePOOL Staff

Jeremy Sossei enjoyed an unchallenged run through the 57-player field that gathered for the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour’s first stop of the new year.

The event was hosted by Fast Eddie’s Billiards in New Milford, CT, January 7-8, and boasted a $2,000-added prize purse.

In the $1,500-added main event, Sossei worked his way through the winners’ bracket to face Bucky Souvanthong, whom he easily handled 9-3 to advance to the hot seat match. His opponent there was Vinny Zuniga, who had just bested Scott Ireland 9-5. Sossei had little trouble in this match and quickly sent Zuniga to the one-loss side 9-4.

Jeremy Sossei

Once on the west side, Ireland was soon eliminated 9-1 by Nick Conner and took home fifth place. Tying with him was Rick Sleeper, who was ousted by Souvanthong 9-3. The following quarterfinal match was a hill-hill nail-biter, with Conner triumphing over Souvanthong 9-8.

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

7th

9th

Jeremy Sossei Vinny Zuniga Nick Conner Bucky Souvanthong Rick Sleeper Scott Ireland Holden Chin Choneyi Tenzin Dave Fernandez Tom Torres Phil Davis Spencer Auigbelle

$1,100 $800 $650 $500 $350 $250 $125

Wanting a rematch with Sossei, Zuniga topped Conner in the semifinal match 9-5 to advance to the finals.

But once there, he soon found himself dominated by Sossei, who took home the title with a 9-2 victory.

In the $500-added second chance event, a dozen players participated. Steve Mack went undefeated through the field to take home first place and $300. Brent Boemmels earned $200 for his runnerup finish. Bruce Carroll won $120 for third, Bud Robideau $80 for fourth, and rounding out the field were Dawn Fox and Bob Vanduzee, who each took home $20 for fifth place.

Castaneros Double-Dips Lee for Victory Tri-State Tour / Brooklyn, NY

by InsidePOOL Staff

Ben Castaneros and Raymond Lee met three times at the Tri-State Tour’s January 7-8 event, with Castaneros double-dipping Lee in the finals to take the title. The $2,000-added stop drew a field of 61 Bryan Jeziorski, Raymond Lee, Ben Castaneros players to Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY, for the A- through D-player, 9-ball event.

Castaneros and Lee first matched up in the winners’ side final four, where Lee dealt Castaneros his first—and only—loss of the tournament 6-1. In the other bracket, Bryan Jeziorski sent Alex Osipov to the west side of the chart 7-5. Jeziorski put up a fight in the hot seat match, but Lee was able to notch a 7-4 win.

From the left side of the bracket, Castaneros sprang back with a 7-4 victory over Mike Strassberg, while Osipov sent Ron Gabia home in a fifth-place tie with Strassberg after their match ended 7-2. Castaneros and Osipov collided in the quarterfinal match, which saw CasResults: taneros best Osipov 6-4 1st Ben Castaneros $1,250 to stay alive.

2nd Raymond Lee $870 $590

It was another vic- 3rd Bryan Jeziorski 4th

Alex Osipov

$420 tory for Castaneros in $270 the semifinals, where 5th Ron Gabia Mike Strassberg he eliminated Jeziorski $190 in third place 7-4. In the 7th Ed Culhane

Andrzej Kaldan double-elimination final $140 match, Castaneros dom- 9th Robert Plaut Arturo Reyes inated Lee 6-2 in the first Luis Jimenez set and 6-1 in the sec-

Alan Chan ond to take first place.

February 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 25

<

Mike Zimny

Chau Undefeated at Joss Event >Upcoming Tournaments Joss Northeast 9-BallNortheast Tour / Levittown, NY 2/11-12 Predator Tour

by Lea Andrews 2/18-19 Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour

Cue Bar Many tried,Billiards but Sharpshooters no man managed to 2/18-19 Predator Empire State Championship Raxx Pool Room take down Manny Chau 3/3-4 Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Billiards Bar and Grill onSnookers his way to an undefeated victory at the first 3/3-4 Predator Tour Mr. Cue Billiards Joss Northeast 9-BallExpo Center 3/8-11 Super Billiards Expo Greater Philadelphia Tour stop of 2011. The 3/17-18 Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Trick Shot Billiards and Sports Pub $1,500-added event was 3/17-18 Predator Tour Steinway held JanuaryBilliards 8-9 at Cue Nine inCity Levittown, NY. 3/24-25 Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Salt Billiards Manny Chau 3/24-25 Tour 9-3 win over Lenny Savata Carom ChauPredator rode a strong intoCafé the hot seat 3/31-4/1 Joss Northeast 9-Ballwho’ Tour Raxx out Pooltour Room match against Jeremy Sossei, d managed to edge director Mike Zuglan Sossei came three games shy against though, 4/14-15 Joss9-8.

Northeast 9-BallupTour GoldenChau, Cue Billiards moving over to semifinals 9-6.

5/5-6 Predator Tour Gotham City Billiards

Bayside, NY

718-631-2646 $1,000

Amsterdam, NY

518-627-4634 $1,500/$500 Open

West Hempstead, NY 516-538-9896 $2,000 Providence, RI

Open Amateurs

401-351-7665 $2,500/$500 Open

Lindenhurst, NY

631-226-9486 $1,000

Open

Oaks, PA

484-754-3976 TBA

Open

Clifton Park, NY

518-383-8771 $1,500/$500 Open

Astoria, NY

718-472-2124 $1,000

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315-454-8643 $1,500/$500 Open

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718-358-5467 $1,000

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718-714-1002 $1,000

Open

February 2011 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 39 Februarymock.indd 41

26 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

1/19/2011 2:31:28 PM

> >>

Regional Roundup Crosby Crowned Florida State Open Champion Poison Cues Florida State Open Championships / Holiday, FL

by InsidePOOL Staff

Brady Takes off Great Southern Title Great Southern Billiard Tour / Sanford, NC

by InsidePOOL Staff

Norris Brady went undefeated to win the last stop for 2011 on the Great Shannon Daulton, Norris Brady, Glenn Russell, Southern Billiard Jimmie Bullis Tour after escaping a double-dip attempt by Glenn Russell in the final match. The $1,500-added event was hosted by Speakeazy Billiards in Sanford, NC, and drew a strong field of 52 players.

English transplant Tony Crosby took off the Poison Cues Florida State Open Championships, snatching the title from Rick Shau in the finals.

The $2,000-added Tony Crosby, Rick Schau event was hosted

by Hammerheads Billiards Lounge in Holiday, FL, the weekend of December 10-11.

Brady delivered a donut to Tommy Cook in the winners’ side final four 9-0 to move on to the hot seat match, as Chris Vollmar only allowed Mike Walker one rack before winning their match 9-1 to meet Brady. In the hot seat match, it was another story, as the players traded rack for rack before Brady ultimately edged out Vollmar to win 9-8.

Schau looked strong on the winners’ side after a tough 9-8 win over Louis Altese in the second round. He went on to defeat Jim Dolan 9-2, James Roberts 9-2, and Jason Richko 9-5, putting himself in the hot seat match. Meeting him there was Crosby, who had made his way there with wins over Ke Wu 9-5, Betina Chase 9-1, Prescott Buckwold 9-4, and Richard Broumpton 9-1.

In the semifinals against Vollmar, Russell was unimpressed and sent his opponent home in third place with a 9-3 win. On a roll, Russell took Brady to Results: the hill in the first set of Norris Brady $1,000 the double-elimination 1st $650 finals and triumphed 2nd Glenn Russell 3rd

Chris Vollmar

$425 9-8. In the second set, B.J. Hucks $300 though, it was Brady 4th Tommy Cook $150 who came through with 5th

Mike Walker a 9-5 victory to claim the 7th Shawn Ray $100 title.

Billy Thorpe

The match kicked off with Crosby coming out strong and taking a commanding 6-2 lead, but Shau won the next two racks to pull the deficit to 6-4. Crosby had his chance, only to miscue on the 1 ball, and that was his last shot of the match. Shau ran that rack and left Crosby in his seat as he broke and ran the next four racks to take the match 9-6 with a superb performance.

Mike Davis navigated his way back through the one-loss side with wins over Wu 7-4, Mike Delawder 7-0, Richko 9-6, and finally Broumpton 9-5 to meet Crosby in a semifinals match-up. The semifinal looked like one-way traffic as Crosby took advantage of some unforced errors to take a 6-0 lead. But Davis turned the match around and clawed his way back to 8-8 with him breaking for the match. With a tough 1 ball after the break, Davis opted to play safe and leave Crosby hooked. Crosby kicked at the 1 ball with speed, making contact and fluking a ball in at the same time. That was enough for him run the balls out and escape into the final.

After Russell whizzed past Shawn Ray 9-2, he went on to send Cook home with a score of 9-5 to advance to the quarterfinal match. Meeting him there was B.J. Hucks, who had gone through Billy Thorpe 9-4 and then Walker 9-4. The quarterfinal match was a closer one, but still Russell managed to best Hucks 9-6 to keep his momentum going.

When this SudoCue is solved, the letters in “Down Table” will appear in each row, column, and box—but only once, and not in any particular order. Answer available online at www.InsidePOOLmag.com.

The final was a race to 10 with a possible one-rack sudden death shootout if Crosby were to win the first set. The first rack proved, as Crosby broke and ran to the 8 ball and missed, giving Schau the opportunity to take the first rack. However, Shau also missed the 8, which proved costly, as Crosby took that game and then won the next nine 9-Ball Results: in a row to force the one-rack sudden death 1st Tony Crosby $1000 shootout. Crosby won 2nd Rick Schau $700 the lag and then broke 3rd Mike Davis $550 and ran the last and final 4th Richard Broumpton $400 rack.

5th Justin Hall $300

Jason Richko Courtesy of Sandy Brown February 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 27

<

Olinger Stands out in Lynchburg Great Southern Billiard Tour / Lynchburg, VA

by InsidePOOL Staff

Alex Olinger skated through the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s first stop of the new year, surviving a double-hill final onslaught by Sam Monday to take the Alex Olinger title. The $1,500-added stop hosted 46 amateurs players who came out to The Club House Bar and Billiards the weekend of January 7-8.

Olinger went undefeated to best Brad Black in the winners’ side final four 10-2 and reach the hot seat. Meeting him there was Monday, who had just bested Billy Thorpe double-hill 10-8. It was another hill-hill affair for Monday, but this time he was sent to the one-loss side 10-9 as Olinger awaited a finals opponent.

On the left side of the chart, D. J. Holloway easily handled Collin Hall 9-1, while Larry Kressel narrowly notched a 10-7 win over Chris Bruner. Holloway continued on to eliminate Thorpe at fifth place 9-4, while Black tied with Thorpe after Kressel ousted him 104. In the following quarterfinal match, it was all Kressel, as he took the match 10-4, sending Holloway home in fourth place.

Kressel’s come-uppance came in the next round via Monday, who won their semifinal match 10-6. His rematch with Olinger, though, found Monday in the exact same spot as before, as Olinger eked out another hill-hill victory.

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

7th

Alex Olinger Sam Monday Larry Kressel D. J. Holloway Billy Thorpe Brad Black Collin Hall Chris Bruner

$1,000 $500 $300 $200 $140 $100

>Upcoming Southeast Tournaments 2/4-5

Great Southern Billiard Tour

Q-Master Billiards

Virginia Beach, VA 757-499-8900 $1,500

2/11

Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour

Amateurs

Q’s Sports Bar and Girl

Port Charlotte, FL

941-585-9600 $500

Amateurs

2/11-12 Tiger Southeast Open 9-Ball Tour

Pockets Billiards

Dothan, AL

334-793-9644 $1,000

Open

2/18-19 Poison Tour

Cue-Phoria Billiards and Café

Winter Park, FL

321-972-1867 $2,000

Open

2/18-19 Great Southern Billiard Tour

Michael’s Billiards and Games

Fairfield, OH

513-860-0044 $2,000

Amateurs

2/25

Danny’s Billiards

Baxley, GA

912-278-7099 $1,000

Open

2/25-26 Great Southern Billiard Tour

Tiger Southeast Open 9-Ball Tour

Borderline Billiards

Bristol, TN

423-989-7665 $1,500

Amateurs

3/3-4

Poison Tour

Zingales Billiards

Tallahassee, FL

850-224-8644 $2,000

Open

3/3-4

Great Southern Billiard Tour

The Clubhouse Bar and Billiards

Lynchburg, VA

434-851-4100 $1,500

Amateurs

3/10-11 Great Southern Billiard Tour

Shore Thing Bar and Billiards

Myrtle Beach, SC

843-712-1905 $1,500

Amateurs

3/17-18 Great Southern Billiard Tour

Raisin Cain’s

Inman, SC

864-472-8716 $1,500

Amateurs

3/31-4/1 Poison Tour

Capone’s Billiards

Brooksville, FL

352-688-9965 $2,000

Open

4/21-22 Poison Tour

Cunningham’s Billiards

Vero Beach, FL

772-562-1171 $2,000

Open

28 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ February 2012

> >>

Trobiano Takes Tri-State Win Tri-State Tour / East Rutherford, NJ

by InsidePOOL Staff

Room owner John TrobianoRoundup triumphed at the January 8 stop Regional

of the Tri-State Tour to win the title over Gary Murgia in the final match. The $500-added 10-ball event garnered 37 players to Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ. Lone Star Tour Crowns Championship Winners Trobiano had to come through the one-loss side, eliminating Lone Star Billiards Tour / Houston, TX players such as Guy Iannuzzi hill-hill and Ted Lapadula 7-5 to reach

by InsidePOOL Staff the final four on the west side. On the right side of the chart, Murgia bested Ed Culhane in a double-hill match as Ricardo Mejia dealt a and The Lonemet StarinBilliards its 7-5 loss to Jason Egeln. Murgia Mejia the hotTour seat held match, annual championship event December where Murgia emerged victorious with a convincing 7-4 win.

10-11 at Bogie’s Billiards in Houston, TX, and crownedasfive TheEgeln five-diviAnother close match for Trobiano he winners. eliminated 7-5 Sylver Ochoa, Courtney Peters sion 9-ball event boasted a $2,000-addto advance to the quarterfinal match against Jake Schwartz, who ed purse and wasEd live-streamed forHe all the fans unable to attend. had just ousted Culhane 7-4. dispatched Schwartz 7-4The to amateur and open divisions saw 77 entries, with the one-pocket, meet up with Mejia and Results: ladies’, and juniors’ divisions totaling 28 entries. got through that match 1st John Trobiano $550 as this action time 7-5. well, Open sawTroupsets that in2nd Gary Murgia $350 biano ablephenom to ride his cludedwas junior Joey Torres over 3rd Ricardo Mejia $220 momentum the over Ernesto Lanny Herrinthrough and twice 4th Jake Schwartz $140 final match as heTokoph defeat-fell to Bayaua Bayaua.

Tommy 5th Jason Egeln $100 ed Murgia in the race-to-9 in the second round 9-6 but came back Ed Culhane finals 9-5. with five straight wins over 7th Bill Fuller, Ted Lapadula $70 Sonny Bosshamer, Kenneth Price, Sylver MikeKenneth Zimny Price Ochoa, and Herrin until he met a vengeful Bayaua. The hot seat match featured Torres and the indomitable James Baraks, who had earlier eliminated Tim Heath, Ochoa, and Chau Undefeated athis Joss Event Bernard Walker during trek.

Torres lost the set when he missed a crucial 9 ball at 8-7.

After Torres passed Bayaua Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour / Levittown, NY 7-6, Baraks made

by Lea Andrews quick work of Torres in the fitried, 9-4 but nal, settlingMany the question no man managedconto and taking his second takeopen downdivision Manny Chau secutive title win. on his way to an undefeated victory at the first Joss new Northeast

Brand to the 9-Ball winTour stop of ners’ circle and the2011. talkThe of $1,500-addedwas eventKenwas the tournament held January 8-9 at Cue neth Price.

He conquered Joey Torres, James Baraks Nine in Levittown, NY. the amateur field undefeated Manny Chau with wins over Allen Baker 7-4, Tim Heath 7-3, and Ty Few 7-1. Will Chau a strong 9-3 win SavataPerez into the seat Felder wasrode on roll of his own withover winsLenny over Bobby 7-6,hot Charlie match against Jeremy Sossei, who’ d managed to edge out tour director Mora 7-6, and Mitchell Lang 7-6. It was Price versus Felder for the hot Mike up three games against Chau, though, seat Zuglan match 9-8. withSossei Pricecame moving forward 7-4.shy This loss earned Felder moving over to semifinals 9-6.

<

another with Mora, butInness got past Holden Chin 9-3 to meet On theround one-loss side, Angelo Mora took down Badstuebner notched his own 9-3 win upthis withtime Zuglan, while Mikeit“Fingers” 5-2.Scott Grady Cooper and Brian over Murphy to face Savata.

But both Inness and Badstuebner landed made and incredible inRosenbaum fifth place as Zuglan Savata advanced to the quarterfinals 9-6 and bids after losing in the first 9-4, respectively.

Looking for the rematch against Sossei in the semifinals, round.

Cooperthe fellfinal to Bill Fuller Zuglan notched game in his hill-hill match against Savata, but he consecutive fellafter shortfour against Sossei, whowins, advanced to his own rematch in the finals 9-3. while Rosenbaum secured Mike Calderaro, Nick Calderaro, five straight wins before fallJoey Torres Results: The true double-elimingChau to Heath5-4.$900 When Manny ination match began 1st Openfinal Results: theSossei smoke cleared on the 2nd Jeremy $650 evenly enough, but when 1st James Baraks $550 Mora Zuglan side, it was $450 Sossei a Torres chance to 3rd$370 Mikeone-loss 2ndmissed Joey who eliminated$300 Heath 4th Lenny Savata tie 3rd it up at six games apiece, Ernesto Bayaua $250 5-4Inness and earned$125 himself 5th Angelo Chau control, 4thtook

Tommyfinishing Tokoph $160 rematch with Felder.

MikeaBadstuebner up 5th his undefeated weekend Lanny Herrin $100 This time Mora took with a strongTim 9-6 win.

Heath down Felder 5-2 but was 7th Sylver Ochoa $35 brought down by Price in

Bobby Perez the final 7-5.

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

7th

9th

Kenneth Price Charlie Mora Will Felder Tim Heath Ty Few Mitchell Lang Jason Pearce Brian Rosenbaum Jason Smiser Bill Fuller Jeff Fox Joey Torres

$600 $475 $290 $125 $75 $50 $25

Ladies’ Results: 1st 2nd 3rd

Courtney Peters Belinda Lee Loretta Lindgren

$200 $90 $90

One-Pocket Results: 1st 2nd 3rd

Sylver Ochoa Charlie Mora Ernesto Bayaua

$300 $180 $100

Juniors’ Results: 1st 2nd 3rd

Nick Calderaro Joey Torres Mike Calderaro

$90 $60 $40

Sylver Ochoa and Courtney Peters were crowned 2011 Lone Star Tour champions, accumulating the most points for their ranking divisions.

Peters also captured a final victory in the ladies’ division, while Ochoa captured the final onepocket event, both undefeated. For their year-long efforts they each received plaques, Delta-13 Elite racks, and Poison VX jump cues.

In the juniors’ division, Nick Calderaro captured his second Lone Star Tour event, this time from the one-loss side. He bested the undefeated Joey Torres 7-5 and then 5-1 to win the final juniors’ event of 2011.

February 2011 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 39 February 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 29 Februarymock.indd 41

1/19/2011 2:31:28 PM

< Hess Handles Helfrich for Lucasi Win Lucasi Hybrid Cues All-American Tour / Clinton, IA

by InsidePOOL Staff

Vilmont Goes Undefeated for Lucasi Win Lucasi Hybrid Cues All-American Tour / Davenport, IA

by InsidePOOL Staff

Rob Hess doubledipped Keith Helfrich in the finals of the Lucasi Hybrid Cues All-American Tour’s December 10 stop, hosted by Legends Keith Helfrich, Rob Hess, Terry Stevens Sports Bar in Clinton, IA. The $500-added 8-ball handicapped tourney on 7-foot Valley bar boxes drew 30 players.

Chad Vilmont dominated the 26-player field that attended the Lucasi Hybrid Cues All-American Tour’s December 17 stop, besting Anthony Garcia in Josh Johnson, Anthony Garcia the finals for the title.

The $500-added 8-ball tournament was hosted by Sharky’s Billiards in Davenport, IA.

Helfrich took control of the A side with an undefeated run to the semifinals. There he clipped Terry Stevens 7-5 and then took the hot seat with another hill-hill win over Hess 7-4.

On the B side Kent Zirtzman stopped Casey Brokus at seventh place 6-5, and Clyde Dunlop tied Brokus by falling to the cue of Tim Krouse 6-1. In the next round, Josh Johnson and Zirtzman were eliminated at fifth place by Krouse 6-7 and Stevens 6-1, respectively. Stevens then ousted Results: Krouse at fourth place 1st Rob Hess $320 6-5, but in the B-side fi2nd Keith Helfrich $240 nals, Stevens fell to Hess 3rd Terry Stevens $170 5-4. In the tournament 4th Tim Krouse $120 finals, Hess took advan5th Josh Johnson $75 tage of another shot at Kent Zirtzman Helfrich to take the title 7th Casey Brokus $50 in two sets by identical Clyde Dunlap 5-3, 5-3 scores.

Despite the handicapping, the heavyweights dominated on this day. On the A-side Vilmont, rated a 7 on a regional handicap system used, and Garcia, ranked a 6, won their semifinal matches over Josh Johnson 7-4 and Ronnie Martin 6-5, respectively. Vilmont then took the hot seat by dispatching Garcia 7-4.

On the B-side Ronnie Martin and Rich Bideaux were relegated to fifth place at the hands of Jesse Bowman 8-4 and Josh Johnson 7-5, respectively. Johnson then eliminated Bowman at fourth place by a 7-4 margin. The B-side finals went in favor of Garcia, as he turned back Johnson Results: 6-5. The final went to the 1st Chad Vilmont $350 hill, but the undefeated 2nd Anthony Garcia $250 Vilmont prevailed in the 3rd Josh Johnson $200 first set to claim the title 4th Jesse Bowman $120 by a 6-5 margin.

5th Ronnie Martin $60 Rich Bideaux

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< Fuller Untouchable at Inaugural Poison Tour Event Poison by Predator Tour / Houston, TX

by InsidePOOL Staff

Bill Fuller took off the Poison by Predator (PxP) Tour’s first event, going undefeated through the field January 7 to best Jason Pearce in the finals. The Jason Pearce, Brent Thomas, Bill Fuller $1,000-added 9-ball event drew a field of 50 players to Bogie’s Billiards and Sports Bar in Houston, TX.

Fuller, a long-time Texas player, delivered Bobby Perez to the one-loss side 6-3 to reach the hot seat match, while local Tiger Tour champ Pearce defeated Dalton Riley 6-0. In the hot seat match, Pearce came on strong, leading Fuller 5-2, but Fuller came back to win the set 6-5.

After a first-round loss to Fuller, Brent Thomas won eight consecutive matches with wins over Kenneth Price, Bob Guzik, Perez, and Riley. In the semifinals, though, he was stopped short

by Pearce 6-4 and settled for third place.

The finals revealed another heart-stopping match between Pearce and Fuller. This time the scenario was reversed when Fuller pulled ahead 5-2 only Results: to see Pearce grind it 1st Bill Fuller $800 out and knot the score 2nd Jason Pearce $475 at 5. In the final game, 3rd Brent Thomas $325 the two weary com4th Dalton Riley $200 petitors traded safeties 5th Brian Rosenbaum $125 until Fuller capitalized

Bobby Perez on a failed 5 ball safety 7th Victor Rojas $100 and ran the remaining

Chuck Adams balls for an undefeated 9th Mark Fusina $62.50 Poison Tour victory.

Steve Lindgren

Drew McCoy Joey Torres

>Upcoming Central Tournaments 2/4

Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour

Cue Master Billiards

Dubuque, IA

563-557-0875

$500

Amateurs

2/4-5

BCW Pechauer Tour

The Brass Ring

Madison, WI

608-256-9359

$700

A-C players

2/4-5

Lone Star Billiards Tour

Future Cues

Temple, TX

254-291-2526

$1,000

Open

2/11

Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour

Pyramid Club

Addison, IL

630-688-1719

$500

Amateurs

2/9-12 BCAPL Tri-State Championship

French Lick Resort

French Lick, IN

260-413-1604

$2,000

Members

2/18-19 Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour

Starship Billiards

Decatur, IL

217-872-8882

$500

Amateurs

2/22-26 WIBCAPL State Championships

Olympia Resort Hotel and Spa

Oconomowoc, WI

wisconsinbca.com $16,000 Members

2/25

Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour

Krug’z Pool Hall

Muscatine, IA

563-272-8733

$500

Amateurs

3/3

Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour

2nd Avenue Corner Pocket

Cedar Rapids, IA

319-366-0979

$500

Amateurs

3/3-4

Lone Star Billiards Tour

Bogie’s Billiards and Games

Houston, TX

713-825-1411

$1,000

Open

3/4

Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour

Tequila Bar

Columbus Junction, IA 319-461-6296

$1,000

Amateurs

3/8-11 BCAPL Midwest Regional Champs

Canterbury Park

Shakopee, MN

651-636-2022

$10,000 Members

3/10

Legends Sports Bar

Clinton, IA

563-243-4266

$500

3/10-11 BCW Pechauer Tour

Master Z’s

Waukesha, WI

262-552-3615

$1,200

Open

3/17

Dale’s Weston Lanes

Wausau, WI

715-845-4129

$500

Amateurs

Miami, OK

Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour

3/19-25 Oklahoma Black Gold BCAPL Champs Buffalo Run Casino

Amateurs

918-906-0839

$20,000 Members

3/22-25 Michigan State BCAPL Tournament

Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort Mount Pleasant, MI

517-663-5892

$5,500

Members

3/24

Sharky’s Billiards

Davenport, IA

563-359-7225

$500

Amateurs

3/24-25 BCW Pechauer Tour

Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour

Master Z’s

Waukesha, WI

262-552-3615

$700

A-C players

3/31

Bogie’s Billiards and Games

Houston, TX

713-825-1411

$1,000

Invitational

3/31-4/1 BCW Pechauer Tour

Poison by Predator Tour

The Brass Ring

Madison, WI

608-256-9359

$1,200

Open

4/7-8

Master Z’s

Waukesha, WI

262-552-3615

$2,500

Open

4/10-15 BCAPL Texas State Championships

WI Pocket Billiards Championships

Harker Heights Event Center

Harker Heights, TX

702-738-3950

$5,000

Members

4/14-15 WI Pocket Billiards Championships

Master Z’s

Waukesha, WI

262-552-3615

$1,500

Open

4/14-15 Lone Star Billiards Tour

Bogie’s Billiards and Games

Houston, TX

713-825-1411

$1,000

Open

4/21

Varsity Club

Oshkosh, WI

920-651-0806

$1,000

Amateurs

Master Z’s

Waukesha, WI

262-552-3615

$1,350

Juniors

Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour

4/21-22 WI Pocket Billiards Championships

February 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 31

> >>

Regional Roundup >Upcoming Western Tournaments 2/4-5

Jay Swanson Memorial Tournament

2/12-19

U.S. Bar Table Championships

> >>

Hard Times Billiards

Bellflower, CA

702-719-7665

$3,000

Open

Grand Sierra Resort Casino Reno, NV 702-719-7665 $25,250 Open third leg of the World Ladies’ Billiards and Snooker Association’s 2/17-19 World PPA Reno Shootout Grand Sierra Resort Casino Reno, NV 702-719-7665 TBA Open 2010-2011 tour.

2/18 Tiger Classic Tour The Cue Ball Salem, OR 503-362-9740 $300 Amateurs Evans, the six-time women’s world champion, has now won 3/12-18 Western BCA Regional 8-Ball Tourn.

Chinook Winds Casino Resort Lincoln City, OR 360-477-1867 $30,000 Members Regional Roundup her last 76 WLBSA matches.

After successfully defending her Brit3/24 Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour Greenfields Pool and Sports Bar Lakewood, CO 303-989-9820 $1,000 Amateurs ish Open title, the 25 year old from Dudley, West Midlands, said, 4/13-15 Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour Nite Hawk Portland, OR 503-285-7177 $1,500 Amateurs “It was a bit scrappy and all the balls went a bit awkward. I needed a snooker in the second frame, got it, and then she potted a brilCUE LATHES & INLAY MACHINES liant pink.”

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February 2012 â&#x2014;&#x160; InsidePOOLmag.com 33