October 2012 Inside POOL Magazine by Inside POOL Magazine

“My advice is that if you want the best, there is no other choice” Barry S. Behrman

Barry Behrman, promoter and founder of the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, and founder and owner of Q-Master Billiards, with his partner and daughter, Shannon Behrman Paschall. Barry and Shannon insist on Simonis cloth to provide the finest playing conditions for their clientele. Q-Master Billiards is currently the largest billiard room in the United States, with 72 tables, featuring Simonis cloth and Aramith balls. Simonis and Aramith are proud to sponsor the 37th annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, the longest continually run professional event in U.S. pool, which has paid out nearly $2 million in prize money. ®

www.simoniscloth.com

w w w . a r a m i t h . c o m

8 10 12 14

Beat People With a Stick Pool Myth-conceptions Pro Pool Workout Clip and Run Two Rails Ten Steps to Pool Success Step One: Setting Goals Intermediate Objectives Killer Instinct

16 Schmidt a 14.1 Smash 18 APA Takes Vegas by Storm Once Again More Than $1 Million Awarded at 32nd Annual Team Championships 20 Kim Captures World Championship for Korea Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Title Glory 24 Dechaine Douses Turning Stone Field 26 George “Ginky” SanSouci Honored in NYC Dagotdot and Strickland Merit Memorial Titles 30 Finland Grabs World Cup of Pool Glory Immonen and Makkonen Pairing Best Team Polands

On the Cover: Korea’s Ga Young Kim brought home glory when she procured the Women’s World 10-Ball Championship in Yalin. Kim faced down numberone ranked Siming Chen of China in the finals to claim the title. For the full story, please visit page 20. Cover photo courtesy of Chito Ines 2 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

HOW DID WE EVER SHOOT WITHOUT IT?

SHOT BY

VIKING

Coming Soon… the world’s first pure performance shaft. The Viking Cue® eXactShot ® improves your accuracy from the moment you line up your first shot. Its vertical sight lines down the length of the shaft help you shoot more accurately, and its revolutionary eX-core ® construction redefines just how good a cue can feel in your hands while shooting. It’s the one thing you can buy today that guarantees you’ll shoot more accurately tomorrow. The All-New Viking eXactShot® Pure Performance Shaft. Coming soon to a dealer near you. Patent Pending Viking Cue Manufacturing, LLC • 2710 Syene Road • Madison, WI 53713 • www.vikingcue.com

SINCE 1965

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 Carina Altomonte, JR Calvert, Alison Chang, Chito Ines, Brian Leong, Matchroom Sport, NYCGrind, Emille Soriano, World Pool-Billiard Association, Bruce Li Xiaolong E-mail info@insidepoolmag.com Website www.insidepoolmag.com Instructional Staff Johnny Archer, Shannon Daulton, Mark Finkelstein, Bob Henning, Matt Jackson, Allan Sand, Tom Simpson Contributing Writers Fred Agnir, Ricky Bryant, Rob Johnson, Ted Lerner, John Leyman, Ken Shuman, Suzanne Smith Toll Free 888-428-7665 Administrative Offices PO Box 972, Kittanning, PA 16201

6 Advertiser Directory 36 APA Player of the Month Regional Roundup 38 Northeast 40 Southeast 44 Central 46 Western

4 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

34 42 48

What’s New SudoCue Puzzle Halloween Word Puzzle National Pizza Month

InsidePOOL Magazine Volume XII, Issue 8 (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. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: InsidePOOL Magazine, PO Box 972, Kittanning, PA 16201. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

Advertiser Directory

Iwan Simonis, Inc. www.simoniscloth.com

To contact any of our advertisers, visit their website, send an e-mail, or give them a call.

Inside Front Cover

Allan P. Sand www.billiardgods.com

Johnny Archer Classic 678-324-6693

American Poolplayers Association www.poolplayers.com

Mark Finkelstein, Pool Ramblings www.mcnallyjackson.com

Atlas Billiard Supplies www.cuestik.com

McDermott Handcrafted Cues www.mcdermottcue.com

BCA Hall of Fame Banquet www.www.usbma.com/halloffame2012

Mueller Recreational Products www.poolndarts.com

36, 41

Balabushka Cue Company www.balabushkacues.com

OB Cues www.obcues.com

Bankshot Calculator www.bankshotcalculator.com

Olhausen Billiard Manufacturing, Inc. www.olhausenbilliards.com

Bebob Publishing www.bebobpublishing.com

Pool Player Excuses Towel www.poolplayerexcuses.com

Classified Ads

Predator Products www.predatorcues.com

Definitive Synergy www.definitivesynergy.com

6, 47

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

7, 11

Falcon Cues www.falconcues.com

Fury Cues www.fury-cues.com InsidePOOL Video www.insidepoolmag.com

6 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

Tiger Products, Inc. www.tigerproducts.com

Back Cover

Inside Back Cover

Tom Simpson, Billiard Instruction www.poolclinics.com

42, 46

Viking Cue Manufacturing, LLC www.vikingcue.com

Pool Myth-conceptions T

•

Your dominant eye should be directly over the shaft. I wish it were this easy. Your eyes have to be wherever they have to be for your brain to correctly perceive your alignment and shot picture.

•

Topspin is the opposite of backspin. No, backspin breaks the friction with the cloth. So-called “topspin” does not. Overspin doesn’t really happen. The best you can do, hitting near the miscue line, is full natural roll. The difference between one tip of follow and three tips of follow is in how soon the cue ball attains full roll.

Players should try to hit the center of the cue ball on most shots. Yes, if by center you mean the vertical axis on the back of the CB. No, if you mean dead in the center of the back of the ball. The only time the CB goes where your stick is pointing is when you hit the vertical axis, that is, no sidespin. Sidespin, although it’s often necessary, complicates shots.

•

Force follow is caused by lots of topspin. No, “force follow” is the result the rpm’s of forward roll left in the cue ball after that fast-rolling CB strikes an OB fairly full. The full hit on the OB uses up the forward (linear) force, leaving the rotational force (roll), which then spins on the cloth, to grab and accelerate the ball forward.

When you’re down on the shot, you should be able to easily lift your bridge hand. If you can lift it, you are standing on your feet and are more likely to have unintended body motion. If you anchor your bridge to the cloth with a little weight or finger pressure, you become a tripod, a much more stable structure.

•

You should always take the same number of strokes. What if you’re not ready when you get to your magic number of strokes? Will you be able to stop? Take your hit stroke when you are as ready as you can get.

•

Throw doesn’t exist. Yeah, right. This is physics. It’s not somebody’s opinion, even though some famous players may not believe in it. Throw is real and must be factored into your shot plan, whether you believe in it or not. Read up.

The cue stick must be kept level throughout the stroke. What does the cue ball feel when struck? One force at one point in one direction. Moment of impact is one- to two-thousandths of a second and the ball is gone. Level at that moment is what matters.

•

The cue stick should hover over your back foot. Why should this matter? How about when you take a wide stance?

Sidespin changes the CB deflection angle off the OB. Nope. It’s the same whether the CB is spinning or not.

•

More speed, more squirt. It sure seems like that would be the case, but it’s not. Squirt increases with your tip offset. All shafts cause CB squirt when you use sidespin. Some shafts squirt less than others. Less is good.

Pool is easy for some people. Yeah, those with terrific athletic ability and great eyesight tend to rise more quickly. But it’s those who actually do the work that eventually become players. Pool is not easy for anybody. I think that’s why we like it.

his article may stir some players up. What follows are a few of the most prevalent, enduring pool playing myths and “mythconceptions.” They often come up in pool school. You may choose to write some of these off as just my opinion, but I see most of them as demonstrably false. I don’t have the space in one page to go into detail on each myth.

•

Transfer of spin from CB to OB works like gears. It’s not like gears. You can transfer only a few percent of the sidespin from CB to OB. A cue ball with backspin can encourage an object ball to begin rolling immediately on impact. However, a rolling CB will not make the OB take backspin.

Break cues should be heavy. Seems to make sense. Not true for most players. You can accelerate the lighter cue quickly enough to end up with more power at the hit. Occasionally a player will get better results with a heavy cue, but it’s unusual. You should be looking at the CB during the hit. An unfortunate habit. It took me years to get over it. Looking at the CB means you’re not fully using your body’s ability to line you up to the distant target. It can also lead to poking. The exceptions: break shots and elevated shots.

8 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

If you are guilty of some of the above, I’d suggest you look into it a little more deeply. You may be myth-taken.

Tom Simpson Tom Simpson is a Master Instructor in both the PBIA 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.

Darren “Dynamite” Appleton, back-to-back U.S.Open winner and defending champion trusts his game to Predator.

VICTORIES & TRUST A R E E A R N E D. PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS TRUST THEIR GAME TO PREDATOR MORE THAN ANY OTHER CUE MAKER. PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION, PLAY WITH PREDATOR.

www.PredatorCues.com

Clip and Run Two Rails C

lip safeties are a category of safeties included in my new book Pro Safeties: The TOP 100 Safety Shots in Pool. In this common and highly effective safety, you are contacting the object ball with a thin hit and moving the cue ball around the table to a safe location. This defensive shot differs from a skim safety in the thinness of the hit and in the overall intention for the object ball. In a skim safety, the goal is to hit the object ball very thinly and barely move it from the safe position where it already lies. In a clip safety, the goal is to contact the object ball thinly, but thickly enough to move it a small distance to a safer position. Since it is a common type of safety, there are also several major variations. One of them, the Clip to the Side and Run Two Rails, is the featured shot for this column. As the name of the shot implies, the objective of this safety is to clip the object into a side rail and run the cue ball two rails around the table and hide it behind a blocker. Usually the overall objective of this type of shot is to leave the object ball on an end cushion and move the cue ball way down table for the added benefit of distance.

Side and Run Two Rails is a good option. All you have to do is clip the edge of the 4 with a lot of left english to take the cue ball wide to the first long rail. This will take bumping into the 8 ball out of the equation. The number-one goal is to get the cue ball behind the 7 ball, but if you come in a little short or bump into it, you’ll still have a good safety as the 4 ball, with the correct hit, is almost guaranteed to be on the end rail and hidden by the 6, 5, and 7. You may leave a kick available for your opponent, but hopefully the 8 ball and/or the 7 will be in the way and complicate that option. The main thing you don’t want to do is to overshoot the cue ball target and leave a long thin cut shot on the 4. For a second variation, move the 4 ball to the X. Here you could probably make it in the corner, but the scratch in the other corner is a serious threat. InTom Simpson stead, consider hitting less of the 4, moving it only about a diamond or so. This iswill leave it inout inPBIA the Tom Simpson a Master Instructor both the open, but if you take similar ballHepath, you’ll still andaACS Instructorcue Programs. delivers his acclaimed end up safe behind3-Day theWeekend 7 ball.Intensive in 12 cities nationwide. As

inventor of Elephant Practice Balls®, the Stroke Groover™, and the Ghostball Aim Trainer®, and authorized instructor Good luck and good shootin’! 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.

7 5 6

Bob Henning 8

Second variation

The layout depicted in the graphic is a 9-ball situation where you hit the 4 ball, but not enough Kencan Shuman of it to pocket it in the corner. The only reasonable course of actionKen isShuman to play safe, CA, and Clip to the of Sacramento, is onethe of the country’s premier tournament directors. He is an accomplished professional referee and is considered an expert on the 10 InsidePOOL Magazine October 2012 rules of◊ play. Ken has officiated at World Championship events in the USA and the Philippines. He directs some of

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 One: Setting Goals

veryone who plays pool has a different goal in mind as far as where they want to take their game. Some want to be professional players, some want to be league champions, and others just want to make a ball once in a while. However, whatever you want from your pool game, you have to start somewhere. What I plan to do in this new series is to give you the tools and knowledge you will need to become successful in your pool game no matter where you’re starting. Your job will be to do the work necessary to develop your skills. If you follow this path, I think you will be excited with the results. First we need to set some goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time bound. For example, one goal might be to become a competitive pool player at the end of a year. This is specific, measurable by results in tournaments, achievable, realistic (if you do the work), and it has a time limit. On the way to reaching our long-term goal, we need intermediate steps that focus our efforts in a productive manner. We might want to work on improving our safety play or increasing our ability to pocket balls. We measure these intermediate steps by tracking our progress with our drills and exercises.

‘ ’ What are you waiting for?

Finally, to work toward our intermediate goals, we need to know what we are going to do every day in practice to reach them and, ultimately, our long-range outcome goal. For example, as a daily practice goal, I plan on hitting 100 straight-in shots. My intermediate goal might be to improve my pocketing percentage from 85% to 90%. My long-term goal might be to finish in the top eight in a regional tournament. Let’s go through an example to help you: Long-range goal: Top eight in a regional tournament one year out.

Intermediate goals: • Play in monthly regional tournaments. • Join a league. In looking for a league or tournament to play in, we want to reach a little. Playing better players is good for learning, playing players of equal skill develops your ability to compete, and competing against players that you can beat develops your confidence. Look for a balance in any league or tournament you play in.

12 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

• •

•

Take a pool lesson once a month. The Professional Billiard Instructors Association (PBIA) website has a list of qualified instructors that can help you with your stroke and game. Improve long, straight stop shot pocketing percentage by 10% every three months. Set up a fairly challenging straight shot on the diagonal between two corner pockets and shoot thirty stop shots (two racks). Track your make percentage. Adjust the difficulty to where you can make at least two-thirds of your attempts. Improve your speed/position control by 5% every three months by using the classic “L” drill. Track the average number of balls you make in each session.

Weekly goals: • Play in a tournament. • Once a week shoot with the bridge, shoot off the rail, and practice jump shots, curve shots, and jacked-up shots. Five minutes for each category is good. Fifteen is better. • Compete on league night. • Plan an evening alone or with friends to watch videos of top pool players. They will show you what a great stroke and game looks like. Daily goals: These goals are examples. Set goals that stretch yourself but are realistic enough for you. Scale these goals to reflect the amounts of time that are achievable for you and appropriate for your intermediate goals.

Ken Shuman

• • • • • •

Ken Shuman of Sacramento, CA, is one of the country’s Shoot 100 straight stoppremier shots. tournament directors. He is an accomplished Shoot 5 repetitions of speed/position drills. an expert on the professional referee control and is considered Play safe for 15 minutes.rules of play. Ken has officiated at World Championship Kick for 15 minutes. events in the USA and the Philippines. He directs some of Do daily pattern drills totheexercise various position major tournaments, including theroutes. Derby City Classic, Do daily mental training,the including relaxation practice, visualizaU.S. Bar Table Championship, CSI’s National tion of making good shots, and practicing pre-shot routine. Championship Series, theyour U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship,

and the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. Contact Ken at Doing this work for a month will start you on the road to pool shucue@yahoo.com. success. What are you waiting for? Grab your calendar and start on your plan today! Next month we will look at the foundation skill of pool and how to develop it. We will look at how to develop a straight stroke and how to maintain it. Good luck in your practice, and see you on the road.

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 McNally Jackson. 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 Mfpool.com for more information.

Instruction

Killer Instinct M

ost of the time when you play casual matches they are, at best, played as a matter of friendly competition or something to pass the time of day. In either case, the games and matches are rarely anything of importance or have anything of value at stake. Game wins and losses mean little to the players. But there are games with more meaning to the participants. For example, you are in a competition against an opponent with whom you have a personal long-running vendetta or a chance to win (or lose) a few bucks. There may be some friendly by-play, jokes, and teasing early in the match, but that fades away quickly as the results of each game become more and more important. This is the bare edge of the “killer instinct.” It’s not at the “battle to the death” level, but the teeth and a feral attitude are beginning to show. In tournaments, the killer instinct is more obvious. There is money at stake, along with prestige. To an observer, the players’ focus and attention is much more intense. The opponents may pass a few courteous words, butofthat is mere dressing. Ken Shuman Sacramento, CA, iswindow one of the country’s The unspoken challenge visible indirectors. their attitudes. Focus is on premieristournament He is an accomplished the table, not each other. professional referee and is considered an expert on the

Ken Shuman

‘ ’ 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 Championship, and the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. Contact Ken at shucue@yahoo.com.

How much of the feral animal do you wantMark toFinkelstein experience? Mark Finkelstein is an ACS and PBIA Master Instructor,

accomplished player, instructional columnist with for even Some individuals feel somewhat uncomfortable NYCGRIND, and author of the book PoolRamblings, the smallest bit of exposure to their primeval animalistic inMcNally Jackson. Markcircumstances” has been involved in or lose stincts. They willavailable either atavoid “desperate pool and billiards for almost 60 years is available for players the match rather than awaken the inner and beast. These lessons or events at Slate Plus or Eastside Billiards in New York City. Visit Mfpool.com rarely advance their skills beyond a personal comfort level. for more information.

There are a few who have the strength of desire and the focused drive to do whatever it takes to compete at the higher skill levels. These individuals possess the full-fledged killer instinct. During the match, no prisoners are taken. Each duel is to the (figurative) death, and no mercy or kindness is offered or intended. 14 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

Tom Simpson Sand < by Allan

Tom Simpson is a Master Instructor in both the PBIA 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 Secret Aiming Systems™, Tom’s innovations training In competitions, the for desires of these individuals areinobvihave helped thousands of players. Listen to an audio ous to any observer. There are no conversations, jokes, or comof the Intensive, and read 35 instructional articles at ments description during the match as they draw deep within themselves www.NationalBilliardAcademy.com. Contact: Tom@PoolClinics.com.

to bring their competitive spirit to the forefront.

The question is: How much of the feral animal do you want to experience? How much competitive spirit do you have (or want to have)? When playing in a friendly group, intensive competitive attitudes are out of place. This focus would be a bit uncomfortable for your opponents. It may get to the point where you need to find another group play.is Unfortunately, Bobto Henning the author of The Pro you Book, will widely have outgrown your old friends. considered to be the most advanced training resource for

Bob Henning

competitive pool players. It brings the latest techniques of

topexperience coaches and trainers of all sports into It is This may occur whenthe you an epiphany of pool. comintended for friends those whodowish prepareis physically, petitive understanding while your not.to That when mentally,opponents. and psychologically for pool competition.you Bob is you have to hunt down tougher If this happens, also the authorwith of “The Profriends, Book Video can still have friendly competitions your butSeries,” you a complete, on-the-table training system, he also released The Advanced Pro Book have to give spots (handicaps) toand keep the games interesting. and The Stroke Zone: The Pool Player’s Guide to Dead Stroke. In addition, has The problem with developing a killer instinct is that you haveheto authored Cornbread Red, a biography of the colorful Billy Burge. Bob recently released keep it fed. a new book titled Pro Safeties: The TOP 100 Safety Shots in Pool.

As your skills improve, the game stays interesting only as long as you are playing opponents at and slightly above your level. Against weaker players, your skills may lessen simply because you don’t have to work at winning. Against far superior players, there is no enjoyment in watching them have fun while Robert “Cotton” LeBlanc is a well-known pool player you only get up to rack the balls.

Robert LeBlanc

and was a roadman for almost 40 years, traveling the playing virtually all ofgrand the poolcompetilegends and Regardless of where country you are now in the making you friendswill withbe them. Highly tive scheme of your poolchampions—and career and where in the himself, he isgame—at the author of whatever the best-sellinglevbook future, enjoy yourself. Theskilled game is the Confessions of a Pool Hustler, which chronicles his els of “killer instinct” you currently apply. Even if you only likelife and hundreds of stories about being on the road. Visit his the friendly competitiveness of the game among friends, things website at www.confessionsofapoolhustler.com.

may change your mind later, and you may learn to appreciate your inner animal.

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

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 Instructor techniques of the Billiards top coaches and Association trainers of(PBIA) all and American CueItSports (ACS). for He teaches players sports into pool. is intended those who wishhow to to become physically, “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 The Pro Book ThehasStroke Zone:seven The books Pool Player’ Deadand andAdvanced Wilhelm 1938 table.and Sands authored 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.

Schmidt a 14.1 R

ight on the heels of his major victory at the Predator World 14.1 Tournament over none other than Efren Reyes in the finals, John Schmidt also claimed top honors at the Maryland Open Straight Pool Championship, besting Germany’s Thorsten Hohmann for the prize. The August 18-19 event was hosted by Big Daddy’s in Glen Burnie, MD, and featured am $18,000-added prize purse. There were 32 players competing at the start, with a round robin format yielding 24 for the final singleelimination bracket, and the field was peppered with champions such as Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer, Mika Immonen, Thorsten Hohmann, Corey Deuel, Shaun “Get Some” Wilkie, Warren Kiamco, and Mike Davis.

by InsidePOOL Staff Archer caught a couple of breaks and Davis missed a shot, at which point Archer never sat down again, pulling out the win 125-60. Wilkie took down room owner Rick Molineiro in spite of a 66ball run by “Levi” and advanced to play Schmidt, who put up a 57 and eliminated Wilkie 125-66. Deuel had a quiet but sterling tournament, going 2-1 in the Saturday rounds before a loss to Kiamco. After besting Don Polo 125-19, Deuel faced the always-tough Zion Zvi. Deuel stayed strong and pulled out a 125-75 victory to get further along the cash trail. Brian Deska played a long and hard-fought match, including a number of three-fouls, against Steve Lipsky, ever tough to beat, with Lipsky finally pulling out the game 125-110. Lipsky then faced Hohmann, the 2011 world 14.1 champion, and and Hohmann got it going immediately and ran out to a 125-20 win. Hohmann controlled the bottom half of the bracket, ousting Deuel 125-42 to reach the semifinal round. His opponent, Immonen, notched the high run of the day with his 113-ball run against Eckert to win 125-13. The day before, Dechaine scored the high run of the tournament with his 125-and-out over Rick Molineiro. In the top bracket Archer was waiting for Schmidt after his 125-82 win over Dave Daya. “Mr. 400” had just won a close match with Kiamco 125-98, when Kiamco had recorded a 103-ball run in his previous match against sYednak. Both semifinal matches were lopsided affairs: Hohmann routed Immonen 150-1, while Schmidt won his bout with Archer 150 to -1. In the finals, Hohmann held a 21-14 lead but then left Schmidt a shot after a safety situation. Schmidt went on to dominate the final match completely, taking first place with a well-deserved 150-21 score over Hohmann.

In the single-elimination round, Mike Dechaine got past Charlie Strayer 125-31 and advanced to the next round, where he was bested by Dave Daya 125-108 in one of the best matches of the day. Amsterdam Billiard’s Michael Yednak had a strong first-round match against Bob Maidhof, knocking him out and advancing to the money round. He then faced Warren Kiamco and went down 125-47. Chicago’s great world 14.1 champion and cue maker Bob Hunter had a tough draw and was ousted in the first round by Archer, who then faced Davis, who was the numberone seed following a terrific run the day before. Their match was nip and tuck before 16 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

1st 2nd 3rd 5th 9th

Results:

Results: John Schmidt $4,000 Thorsten Hohmann $3,000 Mika Immonen $1,800 Johnny Archer Dave Daya $800 Warren Kiamco Brandon Shuff Corey Deuel Steve Lipsky $400 Zion Zvi Ralph Eckert Danny Barouty Shaun Wilkie Michael Yednak Mike Dechaine Mike Davis

THIS CHALK BITES!

Balabushka Performance Chalk

480.940.7003 www.BalabushkaCues.com

APA

Takes�Vegas�by

Storm Once�Again

More Than $1 Million Awarded at 32nd Annual Team Championships

by InsidePOOL Staff

Hate Joey, Not Us

Shark Week

I’m a 7 at Drinking

Take Advantage 18 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

he world’s largest pool tournament, as recognized by Guinness Records, returned to Las Vegas in mid-August as thousands of amateur pool players competed for more than $1 million in prize money. More than 2,100 teams in 8-ball, 9-ball, doubles, and masters made the trek to Sin City to compete August 16-25 in the American Poolplayers Association’s Annual Team Championships, sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues, and PoolDawg. All teams in the 8-ball championships squared off in a modified single-elimination format that ensured each team played at least twice before elimination. All 8-ball open division teams automatically received $350 in national qualifier money, and the top eight teams won at least $5,000. In the 8-ball ladies’ division all teams automatically earned $350 national qualifier money, with the top eight teams winning at least $1,000.

Babes

Southern Style

Fight Club Two Peas in a Pod

Triple Threat

Fantastic Four

In the 8-ball open division, “Hate Joey, Not Us” of Trenton, NJ, defeated “Shark Week” of Warren, OH, 3-1 in the finals to take home $25,000 in cash and the championship title. Shark Week received $15,000 in prize money for being runners-up. In the finals of the ladies’ 8-ball division, it was “I’m a 7 at Drinkin’” of Matthews, NC, defeating “Take Advantage” of Arlington, VA, 3-2 to win $10,000 in first-place prize money. As runners-up, Take Advantage received $5,000 in cash. The 9-ball open national championship saw each team compete in a modified single-elimination format that ensured each team played at least twice before elimination. All national qualifiers received a minimum of $350, with the top eight teams winning at least $2,000. In the open 9-ball tournament, it was “Babe’s” of New Derry, PA, besting “Southern Style” of Lafayette, LA, 50-32 in the finals. Babe’s took home $15,000 in first-place prize money, and Southern Style received $7,000 in cash for second. After winning their divisions in weekly APA 8-ball and 9-ball league play and then placing in local team championships throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan, 734 open 8-ball, 430 open 9-ball, and 52 ladies’ 8-ball teams, all consisting of five to eight players, qualified to compete in the 2012 National Team Championships. In the open 8-ball doubles championship, it was “I’m With Stupid” of Belchertown, MA, winning $6,500 in the finals with a victory over “Fight Club” of Woodbridge, VA. Fight Club received $4,000 as runners-up in the 384-team event. The finals of the masters championship event featured “Triple Threat” of Saginaw, MI, defeating “Fantastic Four” of Battle Creek, MI. Triple Threat took home $10,000 in first-place prize money, while Fantastic Four received $5,000 as runners-up in the 256team event. In the open 9-ball doubles championship, “Two Peas in a Pod” of Raleigh, NC, won over “H-Cues Double Malt Scotch” of Nashville, TN. Two Peas in a Pod took home a firstplace prize of $5,000 and the championship trophy, while H-Cues Double Malt Scotch walked away with $3,000 in prize money. Charlie Hans of Middletown, OH, bested Ron Bates of Coldwater, MI, for $1,800 in the finals of the APA Wheelchair Challenge. Bates took home $900 as runner-up. In addition, the APA conducted nearly round-the-clock MiniMania tournaments, which took place daily and were open to all APA members. The MiniMania tournaments offered multiple formats with 100% prize money payback that awarded nearly $250,000.

‘

I’m With Stupid

H-Cues Double Malt Scotch

Thousands of amateur pool players competed for more than $1 million in prize money.

Charlie Hans

Ron Bates October 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 19

Kim

Captures World Championship for Korea

Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Title Glory by InsidePOOL Staff photos courtesy of Alison Chang, Chito Ines, Emille Soriano, and Bruce Li Xiaolong

orea’s Ga Young Kim finally overcame her demons to claim glory for her country. In her second appearance in the finals of the Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship, Kim faced last year’s number one in the world, Siming Chen of China, and completely dominated the match, putting herself and South Korea back on top of women’s pool. The Dragon Promotions produced the Fourth Annual Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship, which was held August 20-24 at Robinson’s Galleria Mall in Manila, Philippines. The event was supported by Yalin Billiards, OB Cues, Championship Tour Edition Cloth, Aramith Balls, Tour Edition Chalk, and ABSCBN. Star Billiards and Pool & Billiard Magazine also supported the event. 20 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

Siming Chen, Ga Young Kim

After the first day of play, three of South Korea’s four players remained in the hunt. Kim, Eun Ji Park, and Yu Ram Cha all came through the grueling round robin stage relatively unscathed.

Kim Blazes a Trail

Cha was the only of the three to go undefeated and clinch a top eight seed, which rewards the players with a bye into the sweet sixteen. She defeated defending world champion Kelly Fisher on the way in a 6-5 battle and ousted 13-year-old Filipina sensation Cheska Centeno 6-2. Eun Ji “Erica” Park dropped one match to number-one seed Xiaofang Fu of China but then dominated her opponents from Taiwan, Iran, Venezuela, and Italy. But Kim is by far the most decorated player from Korea, men or women. She dropped her match to past champion Jasmin Ouschan of Austria in a repeat of the 2010 finals, but she went on to dominate the rest of her group, earning the number-ten seed. In the first round of the single-elimination stage, Park was ousted by Ho Yun Tan of Taipei 8-4, but Kim bested Japan’s Akimi Kajitani 8-4, while Cha had a bye. Kim’s next victim was Ya Ting Chen of Taipei, whom she dominated 8-3, while Cha dealt Kimura Maki an 8-4 loss in the round of 16. Forging on, Kim had a hard-fought battle against the tough Austrian Ouschan in the quarterfinals. But Ouschan couldn’t get past Kim, who won their match 8-5. Cha also was successful, eliminating the final Taiwanese player, Lai Hui Shan, from the event 8-4.

Korean Players Collide

This set up the all-Korean semifinal between that country’s two top-ranked players.

Xiaofang Fu

Efren Reyes, Siming Chen

Billiards Unites China and Philippines for Noble Cause

hina’s top pro Siming Chen volunteered to take time out from her quest for her first world championship title to help the recent flood victims via ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya, along with national hero Efren “Bata”Reyes. Reyes’ hometown of Pampangawas one of hardest hit during the flood. OB Cues donated a cue for the cause, and the raffle winner not only won the cue but the chance to play on a team side by side with Chen and Reyes on television. ABS-CBN filmed the special match with all proceeds going to charity. “It is our duty and privilege to help this great country. Philippines has been an honorable and hospitable host to our event and supportive of our Chinese professional players. The Filipino people are a kind, good people and anything we can do to help we will,” said Eric Ding, president of Yalin Tables. Yalin is China’s top international table manufacturer and made additional contributions to the charity. “I love coming to the Philippines to play. The fans are so good to us. I feel terrible [that] such tragedy has happened here. Of course I will take time out to help the charity if my skills can help at all,” said Chen, who also won the Philippines Open last year. Shane Sinnott of OB Cues, Cindy Lee of Dragon Promotions, Marcel Sabioof Championship Cloth, and Peter Musngi of ABS-CBN attended the special event as sponsor participants on the teams. “It’s heartwarming to see such great effort and support from foreign players and companies who want to help our people. It’s inspiring to see billiards in China and Philippines as a unifying force and just be human beings helping their fellow men,” said Musngi, vice president of ABS-CBN Sports. October 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 21

Both women were superb, with non-stop exciting jumps, kicks, powerful break shots, and offensive firepower. Leading 3-1, Cha gave Kim a slim opportunity that she took to level the score at 3-3. Cha made one costly error going for a 10-ball combination instead of opting for a run-out, and Kim took the lead.

Siming Chen, Ga Young Kim

At 5-4, Cha was able to break again and sent the cue ball high in the air, landing perfectly in the center of the table. The rack looked good for a run-out to tie the match. But the 3 ball went three rails around the table and scratched, and Kim ran out. Cha’s next opportunity was off a safety, she was facing a tablelength shot on the 1 ball with the cue ball frozen to the 8 ball. Cha jacked up and speared the 1 ball in perfectly and ran out. But a dry break in the next did it for Cha—Kim was determined to get to the finals, and she ran out and then broke and ran the last rack to win 9-5. In the other semifinal match, China’s number-one player, Fu, faced off with 19-year-old Chen. Neither had ever reached this far into this event before, and it was a tightly contested match, with Chen leading by one-game margins throughout. But it was Fu’s fatal scratch on the 7 ball in the fourteenth rack where she had a chance to tie the match at 7 that decided her fate. Chen was able to close the match out at 9-6.

Chen Challenges Kim

It was China versus South Korea for the glory. The final began with Kim continuing her lightning-fast pace, taking the first three racks in a blink of an eye. In about 15 minutes, she took command of the match to the tune of a 4-1 lead. Chen seemed overcome with the blitz and never really shook her off. She pocketed some nice shots but wasn’t able to control her cue ball well. But Kim looked to be supremely

Ga Young Kim, Siming Chen

confidence at the table, coming with every challenging shot and executing intricate safeties and positional play. Leading eventually at 9-3, Chen was given another chance off after a safety. She made a nice carom shot off the 3 ball, sending the cue ball down table off and into the 10 ball perfectly, pocketing it as she called it. Chen then broke and ran the next, making the audience hopeful for a comeback. But it was not to be.

Xiaotang Fu, Siming Chen, Ga Young Kim, Yu Ram Cha

Chen made a positional error in the next rack and was forced to kick the 6 ball. The effort was halfhearted as the disappointment was apparent on her face from the earlier mistake. Kim faced the final four balls that stood in her way and pocketed the first three. As the cue ball landed perfectly for the final 10 ball shot, Kim showed her first emotion in the whole event by looking up to the sky. She pocketed the final shot and clenched her fist in the air in victory. “I have improved my result from last year, so I am happy about that. I am getting closer,” said a disappointed Chen in the award ceremony. Kim was ecstatic to have won the world title. “I really did not practice any more than usual for the event, but I was doing a ‘Dancing with the Stars’ TV show in Korea leading up to the world championship, and so I was really in a happy mood,” she explained. “So I think my happiness and positiveness carried over to here this week.”

22 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

ike “Fireball” Dechaine bounced back from a loss in the hot seat match to Shawn “Big Bubba” Putnam to best him in the finals for the Turning Stone Classic XIX title. Dechaine was part of a full 128-player field to gather at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY, the weekend of August 24-26. The tournament was promoted by Mike Zuglan of the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour and boasted a $25,000-added prize purse. Upsets peppered the winners’ side bracket. Johnny Archer suffered a firstround, hill-hill loss to Blaine Barcus and had to fight his way through the west side, eventually taking home ninth place after being ousted by Rodney Morris 9-5. Florida’s Hunter Lombardo breezed through Jerry Crowe and Mike Yednak in the first two rounds to meet up with 2008 and 2009 U.S. Open champion Mika Immonen. The Finn, just off a close match with Shaun “Get Some” Wilkie, just couldn’t keep up with Lombardo, who recorded a 9-6 victory to advance to face Raj Hundal, who took second at this event last December. Shane Van Boening was another highly rated pro who was destined for disappointment in his third-round match. Though “The South Dakota Kid” had no troubles in his first two matches against Tim Parisian and Josh Ulrich, he foundered against Ron Casanzio, a regular on the TriState Tour, and was sent to the one-loss side 9-5 to be eliminated by Oscar Dominguez 9-5. Warren Kiamco, who recently took third place in the Master of the Table division of Diamond Billiards’ Southern Classic, was upended by Mike Davis 9-5 after surviving a close 9-6 match against Hall of Fame inductee Karen Corr. With arguably one of the toughest draws in the event, Dechaine first dealt Jason Klatt of Canada a donut 9-0 to next face Dennis “The Hatchetman” Hatch, long seeking a Turning Stone title of his own. Hatch put up a fight, but Dechaine was able to hold him off and win 9-6. The next two matches against Jason Hubert and Matt Krah both went to Dechaine 9-4. After surviving a hill-hill affair with Morris, Dechaine went on to challenge Hundal, who had just bested Tom D’Alfonso 9-6. Dechaine was able to handle Hundal easily to advance to the hot seat match 9-5. 24 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

Douses Turning Stone Field

by InsidePOOL Staff

Shawn Putnam

In the other winnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bracket, Putnam pushed past Corey Deuel 9-4 to meet Mario Morra, just off a 9-6 defeat of Donny Mills. It was a close match, but he triumphed over Morra 9-7 to await a finals opponent. Once deposited on the one-loss side, Morris fought a double-hill match with Brandon Shuff but was sent home in seventh place 9-8. In the other bracket, Mills had an easier time with Jeremy Sossei, winning 9-4, and then sent Hundal home in fifth place. With his 9-2 drubbing of Morra, Mills met Shuff in the quarterfinal match. It was Shuff by a long shot as he surged ahead to deposit Mills in fourth place, but Dechaine, determined to face Putnam again in the finals, shot Shuff down in the semifinal match 9-6. In the extended race-to-13 final match, Putnam never really seemed to get started, and Dechaine blazed spast him to claim the title 13-4.

Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th 13th 17th

Mike Dechaine Shawn Putnam Brandon Shuff Donny Mills Mario Morra Raj Hundal Rodney Morris Jeremy Sossei Tom Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Alfonso Johnny Archer Hunter Lombardo Corey Deuel Stevie Moore Oscar Dominguez Ron Casanzio Matt Krah John Morra Cleiton Rocha Mike Davis Shane Van Boening Jennifer Barretta Warren Kiamco Dany Normandin Joe Landi

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

$850

$550

Brandon Shuff

“Ginky”SanSouci

George

Honored NYC Dagotdot and Strickland Merit Memorial Titles

by Jerry Tarantola and Alison M. Fischer, NYC Grind.com photos courtesy of NYCGrind and Brian Leong

everyone in the room and inspired others to strive for that same level of heart. To honor SanSouci, who died in 2011, pool players joined together at the Second Annual George “Ginky” SanSouci Memorial, held at Amsterdam Billiards in New York City over Labor Day weekend. A joint effort by the Tri-State Tour, Predator Tour, and Mezz Tour, two divisions of events were held at the memorial—an amateur 9-ball event and an open/pro 10-ball event.

ne of the unique attributes of George “Ginky” SanSouci was that he had an unwavering belief in himself and would to strive to grind the “W” in each game he chalked his cue for. It was this inner drive that he displayed when he got to the table that held the attention of The field in the amateur 9-ball was filled to the 128-player limit. The event featured a handicapped split format, where A/B-level players were separated in the top half of the bracket, and C/D-level players were on the bottom.

Daniel Dagotdot 26 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

George Poltorak

on to take six matches before ending his run with another loss to Wong 7-3. He ended with a solid fifth-place tie with Chan. Wong’s win over Gabia kept him alive to go on to the quarterfinal, where Poltorak took down the match in a close 7-5 finish. Moving on to the semifinal, Poltorak continued to play tough, winning 7-3 over Patrick Meyers. Poltorak then moved on to the finals against Dagotdot. As Poltorak was rated a C+ and Dagotdot an A+, Poltorak was spotted four games on the wire in an extended race to 9. If Poltorak reached 9 first, the race would be extended to 11.

Poltorak and Dagotdot Face off in the Finals Dagotdot Displays His Dominance Dominating the A/B half of the winners’ bracket was Daniel Dagotdot, one of the area’s top young emerging players. To open the event, Dagotdot drew one of his close friends and mentors, Noel Bensurto, for the first match of the event to be featured on the live stream, which was co-produced by NYC Grind and InsidePOOL Magazine. The score ended 7-6 in Dagotdot’s favor, and he then moved on to tear through the bracket, defeating Kapriel “Kapo” Delimelkonoglu 8-6, Trevor Heal 7-5, Chad Bowling 7-0, Phil Davis 7-5, and Kelly Wong 8-7, setting himself up to meet the winner of the C/D bracket in hot seat match. The C/D bracket was highlighted by NYC player Patrick Meyers, who has been spotted in the final rounds of area events, including the Predator Tour. Meyers worked his way through the bracket with wins over Izzy Matos 7-2, Ray Feliciano 7-4, Kyle Bubet 7-6, Vincent Morris 7-6, Kirill Safronov 7-5, and Nick Chan 7-4. Patrick Myers then moved on to the take on Dagotdot but came up short, as Dagotdot won 9-6. While Dagotdot waited in the hot seat, George Poltorak rose to become the hero of the one-loss side. After his winners’ side loss to Nick Chan in the fourth round, Poltorak regained control and went on to best Mike Ettl 7-4, Willie Johnson 7-3, Kirill Safronov 7-0, and Sal Marcelo. Poltorak then had a rematch with Nick Chan, avenging his earlier loss by winning 7-6.

The final match got off to an unexpected start, with Poltorak jumping ahead to lead the way, going up 9-3 to extend the race to 11 games. After winning the next rack to get to the hill, Poltorak was only one game away from winning his first major tournament. But Dagotdot was not ready to give up yet. In a dramatic turn of events, Dagotdot closed out 9 ball after 9 ball before reaching the tying win, making the score 10-10. With a crowd held tightly in suspense of the outcome, Poltorak was in a favorable position to win the final rack. He left Dagotdot hooked on the 2 ball and forced him to kick. Dagotdot did not get a good hit on the 2 and gave Poltorak ball in hand. From there Poltorak ran from the 2 to the 7 ball, but he missed the 8 after leaving himself tough. Dagotdot was not left with an easy shot on the 8 ball, but he took his time and executed the shot, then pocketed the 9 ball for a tremendous comeback win. Reflecting on his win, Dagotdot explained what kept him going, even when he was trailing badly, was something he learned from watching SanSouci. “I kept in mind that even though my opponent doesn’t expect me to win, I will never go home without giving it everything I’ve got.” The open/pro 10-ball division brought in a full field of 48 players. Top names included Filipino champion Warren Kiamco, recent Turning Stone XIX champion Mike “Fireball” Dechaine, former world champion

Another impressive comeback was charged by Brooklyn player Ron Gabia in the A/B bracket. After two wins in the winners’ bracket, Gabia was sent west after a 7-2 loss to Kelly Wong. Gabia then went

Earl Strickland

October 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 27

George "Ginky” SanSouci Memorial

ideos

Scotty Bannon vs. Arturo Reyes 2012 Ginky Memorial Predator Pro-Am Tour

Frankie Hernandez vs. Mhet Vergara 2012 Ginky Memorial Predator Pro-Am Tour NYC

Ryan McCreesh vs Oscar Dominguez 2012 Ginky Memorial Predator Pro Am Tour NYC

Koko Davladze vs Ron Mason

Manny Stamatakis vs Gary O’Callaghan at the 2012 Ginky Memorial Predator Pro-Am Tour

Zion Zvi Warren Kiamco at the George “Ginky” SanSouci Memorial Event Part 1

Zion Zvi VS. Warren Kiamco part 2 at the 2012 Ginky Memorial Predator Pro-Am Tour

Earl Strickland vs Tony Robles at the George “Ginky” SanSouci Memorial

Earl Strickland vs Adam Kieler Part 1 at the George “Ginky” SanSouci Memorial Predator Pro-Am

Earl Strickland vs Adam Kieler Part 2 at the George “Ginky” SanSouci Memorial Predator Pro-Am

Scotty Bannon vs. Chad Bowling at the George “Ginky” SanSouci Memorial Predator Pro-Am Tour

Earl Strickland vs. Mike Dechaine Ginky Memorial Finals 2012 Amsterdam Billiard Club NYC

May/June 2011 â&#x2014;&#x160; InsidePOOLmag.com 57

Earl Strickland, Predator Tour owner Tony Robles, Oscar Dominguez, Mike Davis, Zion Zvi, and many others.

mentary 1 ball in the first rack. Neither player was initially able to establish control, as they went back-and-forth to tie at 5-5.

Favorites Find Their Way

But that proved to be the turning point in the match, as Strickland began to string together racks, and the opportunities Dechaine afforded him were turning into run-outs. Dechaine lacked the swagger he earlier displayed, and Strickland took the reins to dominate the rest of the match and win 13-5.

Three of the likely favorites in the event did not disappoint and came through to end up in the top three positions. Dechaine, the defending 2011 Ginky Memorial champion, charged the winners’ bracket at Amsterdam. His run was marked with wins over Jonathan Smith 8-4, Billy Lana, Matt Krah 8-6, Ryan McCreesh 8-6, and Zvi as he went on to the second day undefeated. Likewise, Strickland was also red hot as he cruised through the winners’ side on Day 1, defeating Jerry Tarantola 8-1, Robles 8-2, Nelson Oliveira 8-4, and Jeremy Sossei 8-4. Strickland and Dechaine were then paired up for the hot seat battle. Too many errors on Strickland’s part resulted in an 8-6 final score in favor of Dechaine in this match, locking in his spot in the finals. Another notable favorite in the event, Kiamco, was sent to the one-loss side a few rounds earlier after being defeating by Zvi 8-6 in the final eight of the winners’ side. Kiamco bounced back to eliminate Jorge Rodriguez 8-2, McCreesh 8-2, and Sossei 8-2.

Zvi’s win landed him in the quarterfinal for another go against Kiamco, but the match result was starkly different this time around. Zvi’s previous win was not to be repeated here, as Kiamco whitewashed him, winning eight unanswered racks to lead to an 8-0 final score. Moving on to the semifinal between Strickland and Kiamco, the crowd was anticipating a great match by two masters. The two battled back and forth until they matched each other at hill-hill, ten games each. In this final game, as Kiamco was running out the rack for the win, the unimaginable happened. Kiamco pocketed the 9 and followed the cue ball into the pocket after it, turning the winning game over to Strickland.

Strickland Wreaks Revenge The beginning of the final match between Strickland and Dechaine proceeded in lackluster fashion, with Dechaine missing a rudi-

28 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

Through the efforts of the players, event coordinators, and everyone at Amsterdam Billiards, the Second Annual George “Ginky” SanSouci Memorial was a great success. Additional support for the event was given by Harold Siegel, Gregg McAndrews, and Justin Marcus.

Daniel Dagotdot, Patrick Meyers, George Poltorak

Amateur 9-Ball Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th 13th

Daniel Dagotdot George Poltorak Patrick Meyers Kelly Wong Nicholas Chan Ron Gabia Ron Mason Sal Marcelo Nick Verducci Junior Sanchez Kirill Safranov Phil Davis Willie Johnson Bogie Uzdejczyk Scott Simonetti Mike Aro

Open/Pro Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th

Earl Strickland Mike Dechaine Warren Kiamco Zion Zvi Oscar Dominguez Jeremy Sossei Nelson Oliviera Ryan McCreesh Jorge Rodriguez Joey Korsiak Matt Krah Brian Deska

Results:

Oscar Dominguez was also forging a comeback through the oneloss side after his first-round loss to McCreesh. Dominguez got past Tarantola, Joey Landi, Emily Duddy, and Jennifer Barretta on Day 1 of the event to move on to the second day, where he eliminated Brian Deska 7-5 and Oliveira 7-3. However, Dominguez’s run ended after falling short in a comeback against Zvi, who elimiMike Dechaine nated him 8-6. Dominguez would end the event tied for fifth place with Sossei.

Strickland expressed appreciation for the New York pool community and acknowledged SanSouci in the speech he gave. He also thanked the tours, their directors, and all the staff that made the event possible.

$2,000 $1,500 $1,000 $725 $425 $300 $200

$150

$2,000 $1,400 $1,000 $600 $400 $250 $125

2012 BCA HAll of fAme BAnquet AT THE U.S. OPEN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 • 5:00pm – 7:00 pm Holiday Inn Virginia Beach/norfolk Hotel and Conference Center Virginia Beach, VA

KAREN CORR • 3-time WPBA national Champion • 3-time tournament of Champions • 15 WPBA Classic tour titles

BE PART OF HISTORY! The biggest night in pool, held during the game’s longest-running pro tournament! TICKETS $60 Per Person • $500 for a table of 10 (single payment only) (ticket includes sit-down dinner)

oRDeR At: www.USBMA.com/HallofFame2012 oR CAll: 312-341-1110 (ext. 229) HOSTED BY the united States Billiard media Association and the Billiard Congress of America

official Supporters of the 2012 BCA Hall of fame Ceremony

Finland World�Cup Grabsof�Pool Glory Immonen and Makkonen Pairing Best Team Poland

by Matt Jackson photos courtesy of Matchroom Sport / Carina Altomonte

inland are the 2012 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool champions, as they put paid to the dreams of Poland, winning 10-8 in a tight final in front of a packed crowd in Manila. It was blend of youth and experience as 39-year-old Mika Immonen, who has operated at the highest level for the past 15 years, paired up with 24-year-old Petri Makkonen to deliver the goods time and again. Their efforts won them the trophy, gold medals, a check for $60,000, and, more importantly, the title of World Cup of Pool champions. However, the Polish pair of Karol Skowerski and Wojciech Szewcyk were magnificent 30 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

throughout the competition but came up just short in the closing stages of the championship match. “We were down four-to zero to the Koreans and got over that hurdle. Then we beat the champions, Germany. Then we beat the Philippines, and that was an immense hurdle and a lot of pressure. And another champion pair in the USA. Coming from that route, I feel that we really deserve this,” said Immonen. “It feels absolutely great. It hasn’t sunk in yet—it will later. I can’t describe it. Every match before, Mika shot the last nine ball. But this game I shot the last nine, and that was great. That was the greatest moment of my career,” said an awestruck Makkonen.

Hill-Hill Squeakers The prestigious Matchroom Sport tournament ran from September 4-9 at Robinson’s Place, Ermita, Manila, where 32 two-player teams fought tooth and nail to represent their respective countries. On Day 3 the event had winnowed down to eight. Rodney Morris and Shane Van Boening of Team USA eked past China with a hill-hill nail-biter. Representing China were He Wen Li, who was recently runner-up at the World 9-Ball Championships, and Liu Haitao. Though the American pair held an 8-2 lead, the Chinese were able to level the score at 8. In the decider, China made two balls on the break but were forced to play safe as the two sides went back and forth with the safeties. Finally China got a ball in hand opportunity as Van Boening fouled with a three-rail escape.

He Wen Li

The USA looked in pieces as they watched their opponents run out to victory as the Chinese were down to the 7 ball with three easy shots on the table. Then, inexplicably, Li scratched into the side pocket to hand the USA an unlikely win. Said a relieved Morris, “We got lucky there at the end! But if you look back they got really lucky, too, when they were coming back. So these things even out. Everything was going for them.” In the second quarterfinal, there was more deciding rack heartbreak, this time for the English pair of world 9-ball champ Darren Appleton and Chris Melling who went down 9-8 to the Chinese Taipei teenagers Han En-hsu and Hsin Ting-chen, who coolly ran out the tricky final rack for victory.

The pressure gets easier after every game. - Petri Makkonen

Coming from a country containing the likes of World 8 Ball king, Chang Junglin, Ko Pin-yi and Yang Ching-shun, there was some surprise when the 18- and 19-yearFabio Petroni, Bruno Muratore old were nominated for the event after winning a qualifying tournament in Taipei. However, the way they played in the event would indicate that there is seemingly endless production line of world-class pool talent. The match was close from the early stages and always looked like it was going to go close. The match then went 6-6 then 7-7 before a quick break and run got the English to the hill with the break. But the Taiwanese took advantage of an opening made by Melling to level the score at 8-8. The English could only sit and watch with a sick look on their faces as Han and Hsin ran the final rack for a great victory and a spot in the semifinals. Polish pairing Karol Skowerski and Wojciech Szewcyk overcame a lackluster Italian pairing of Bruno Muratore and Fabio Petroni to advance to the semifinals after a match in which Italy led only once after taking the opening rack. At 8-4 the Poles were on the brink of victory but missed a 7 ball into the center pocket when the pot up table looked the easier option. The Italians took that and the next to pile the pressure on Poland. Petroni, though, was the ultimate villain of the piece, as he missed 7 ball and Poland cleared up to take an excellent win. A delighted Karol Skowerski said, “I think we played not very well, but it worked. This is really big for us because at the beginning of the tournament we dreamed about this achievement. Darren Appleton

October 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 31

Hometown Crowd Let Down In the last quarterfinal match, Finland extinguished Filipino hopes as they made light work of Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante to run out convincing 9-5 winners and book a semifinal match up against the USA. The Philippines were never at the races as the huge hometown crowd were gradually quieted as the Finns began to control the game. Makkonen dogged the 9 ball in the opening rack, but after that the youngster seemed to grow in confidence abetted by Immonen. Finland led over the early stages, but the Filipinos found themselves at 6-5 and still in the match. A ball-in-hand opportunity for the Finns in the next made the score 7-5, and they took the next two to take the match, Immonen closing it out with a great 7-9 combination. Commented Immonen, “We’ve already beaten two World Cup of Pool champions, and if we keep it together, break well, keep our composure, then we have every chance. We’ve had our moments— the last match Petri carried me and tonight I carried him.” For the Philippines it was a disappointing evening with so much expectation resting on the veterans’ shoulders. “They played good because we missed a lot in the beginning and that give them confidence. All our break shots are no good. They break really good. That’s the whole match,” said Reyes. Bustamante added, “It wasn’t our night, I guess, because we just don’t break good. We had two illegal breaks and then they ran four racks on us. Whoever gets the break is going to win. They played good and had confidence so congratulations to them.” Setting up an all-Northern Europe final affair, Poland and Finland came through their semifinal matches to make for an intriguing clash in Manila. Earlier Finland had tussled with Team USA before breaking away at the close to clinch it, while the Poles were dominant against a Taiwanese team who weren’t able to deliver a similar performance to their quarterfinal show. Within 30 minutes the Poles found themselves 5-0 up. Calm under pressure, Skowerski and Szewcyk seemed to improve with each match as they completed some difficult run-outs. The Taiwanese pair of Han En-hsu and Hsin Ting-chen were never in it as they chased af-

Efren Reyes

32 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

ter a big deficit, and in the end they lost by 9-4. Skowerski, the senior of the two, said, “It’s impossible. One week ago we didn’t dream about the final. We are just happy to reach the quarterfinal. The semifinal is historical. The final is another level. Maybe we can win this tournament.” The 18-year-old Szewcyk added, “We are not the strongest possible team. We are not top two in Polish ranking, but what we did here was amazing.”

Han En-hsu, Hsin Ting-chen

Finland reached their second PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool final as they buried American hopes, running out 9-7 winners. The Finnish pair of Mika Immonen and Petri Makkonen turned over a 5-2 deficit to win seven out of nine racks as they closed the match out.

American Hopes Fall The American pair of Morris and Van Boening were in control of the match in the first half, but some crucial mistakes by Morris let the Finns off the hook, coupled with an outrageous fluked 9 ball that saw the Finns get to 8-7 at a critical moment. In the final rack, the Americans had a great chance to clear, but Morris badly missed a 6 ball, and with that the Finns ran out for the victory in what was a close-run match. Immonen said, “We hung in there. Our break was a bit off at the beginning and then we adapted. That’s what it is in pool. We did better on the long shots than they did. Petri’s really doing better. We don’t make little mistakes get to us. We analyze it and then brush it off and move on, but in the finals we have to play more solid.” Morris was disappointed but only had himself to blame. “Shane played real good, but I didn’t—I dogged it and it cost us the tournament. A least three times I dogged it. The turning point was at fivetwo when Shane got kissed in and scratched. They tied it up from there and then we had to fight it out. When they fluked the nine to make it eight-seven that was the game right there.”

Shane Van Boening

We put everything we had into this match. - Mika Immonen

Finland Wins Historic Final The final match between Teams Finland and Poland was always close, with the scores progressing from 3-3 to 5-5 to 7-7 and then 8-8. With the situation finely poised there was drama in what was the penultimate rack. Makkonen scratched playing a difficult jump shot, and the Poles cleared to the 6 ball as a bad position forced Szewczyk into a difficult shot down the rail. The 6 hit the knuckle and the Finns cleared to move within one of the title. Finland was breaking for the match, but the Polish pair made it back to the table after Immonen missed a tricky one on the 2 ball. Poland got down to four balls before Szewczyk missed a makeable cut in the side pocket to hand the table to Finland, and it was Makkonen— whose lowly #35 ranking on the Euro Tour belies his immense potential—who nailed the winning 9 ball. Immonen reported, “I’m completely spent right now. We put everything we had into this match. It was a high-quality final and it was the toughest match we had. We were hanging by the skin of our teeth; the rolls were against us all night. But we came with the tough shots. We both made some terrific long shots. Our decision-making was good, too, and they missed a few opportunities.

“Last year we got knocked out in the first round. This time we got in a lot more practice. We were more in tune with each other. We had a common goal. I told Petri if I tell you something just trust it, and that can take the pressure off you. He’s a great shot-maker and he took the pressure so well. Now he can say that he’s been there and done that.

Mika helps. The pressure gets easier after every game. After we beat the Philippines we can’t be nervous and after that it got easier.” The Poles were stoical in defeat having far surpassed their expectations. “Almost. What a shame. We had a lot of chances and I think we played quite nervous at the end of the match. I missed a six ball, he missed a six ball. Up until then we played fantastic, but that is pool; it’s a lot of pressure,” said Skowerski. “I’m not too disappointed. It was close, but I’m not going to cry. We made something special. We created history in Polish pool.” The 19-year-old Szewcyk said, “I don’t want to be unthankful, but I do regret. I feel disappointed but also a great pride of course. We had a chance and it was our mistake that decided it, not a runout from Finland. I think this tournament gave me so much experience that I couldn’t earn anywhere else. There’s no tournament where the pressure is bigger than here. The sad thing is that the adventure is over.” Wojciech Szewcyk, Karol Skowerski

“Poland was terrific, they are great shot-makers, and they broke really well. Somehow in the end it went our way. All the credit goes to the Polish guys, who are really great players, great guys.” Makkonen was thrilled with his achievement, the biggest of his career by a long chalk. “We were down a few times in the tournament and we fought back every time, so I knew we could do it. It’s short races and it’s nine-ball and anything can happen, and playing with October 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 33

McDermott G709 and G508

The G709 is the latest addition to McDermott Cue’s shaft inlay cue line. It features cocobolo, brass, and recon ivory and ebony inlays on both the butt and shaft. Priced at $790, the G709 comes with a lizard-embossed leather wrap and the high-performance i-2 shaft. McDermott has also introduced the G508, which It features pewter, turquoise, and recon ivory short inlays on the forearm and sleeve. The G508 retails for $590 and comes standard with McDermott’s G-Core shaft. For ordering information, please call 800-666-2283 or visit www.mcdermottcue.com.

G707

G508

Kamui Chalk #1.21

Kamui Chalk consists of fine particles that maximize friction and provide a larger sweet spot to generate more spin on the cue ball. The all-new Kamui Chalk #1.21 is designed for more consistent playability, offering improved longevity with a harder compound to give the player more confidence with a pre-chalking routine. Additionally, Kamui Chalk reduces compound transfer to the cue ball. To find your closest dealer, please contact www.kamuitips.com, or call 877-GO-KAMUI.

Klematch ®

Widely regarded as the best carom rubber available and also available for pool, the world-famous Klematch® premium billiard cushions will be available soon from Iwan Simonis, Inc. For pricing and availability, please call 800-SIMONIS.

Balabushka Performance Chalk

Tiger LX Series

Tiger Products, Inc.’s new LX Pool and Three-Cushion Cue Series is an homage to the classics with a modern twist. It combines natural exotic woods with new materials and vibrant colors for a design unlike any other. The new series comes fully loaded with Tiger’s X5 patented shaft technology. To order, please log onto www.tigerproducts.com, or call 800-584-4375. 34 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

In their time-honored tradition of excellence, Balabushka Cues is pleased to present their new Performance Chalk. This chalk adheres to your cue tip, making frequent chalking a thing of the past, and it grips the cue ball, allowing for superior ball control. Also, Performance Chalk produces little dusty residue, keeping the table, balls, and your hands cleaner. A three-piece box of Performance Chalk retails for $8. To order, please visit www.balabushkacues.com to find an authorized dealer.

Viking eXactShot® Pure Performance Shaft

Made in America, the Viking™ eXactShot® Pure Performance Shaft is designed to improve your accuracy from the moment you line up your first shot through our exclusive SightLines running the length of the shaft. The revolutionary eX-Core® construction redefines just how a performance shaft should perform through a quad-core construction technique that lowers deflection. MSRP with Everest tip $279; with Kamui tip $299. For more information, please visit www.vikingcue.com, or call 800-397-0122.

>Player of the Month Paul Langley of San Diego, CA, recently played his 1,000th APA match at his

Spring Singles Regional, which also qualified him for the 2012 National Singles Championships! He played on his first singles board in 2004 and became hooked. Paul is extremely supportive of the singles program in his area, having run singles boards since 2005 and qualifying over 1,000 San Diego APA players for regionals. Paul qualified for the National Singles Championships in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. “Paul has been invaluable to our local singles program for the past several years,” said San Diego APA League Operator Brian Frankland. “He has selflessly dedicated himself to running as many qualifying tournaments for our San Diego APA members as he can so that others can enjoy and share in the excitement and unique opportunity that the APA Singles Program offers.” Paul was fortunate enough to meet his wife, Jamie, in the APA. In January 2008 Paul and Jamie welcomed a baby girl, Claire. Jamie is also a huge APA supporter, often helping Paul run singles boards. She qualified for the National Singles Championships in 2011. “His enthusiasm has spread to others who now also donate their time and effort to support and expand the program locally,” said San Diego APA League Operator Jill Frankland. “In addition, Paul spends time sharing his knowledge of the game with lower-skilled players, helping them improve their game so that they can be more successful. We are truly fortunate to have him!”

36 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

Morris and Andoni Split Tri-State Tournament Tri-State Tour / Brooklyn, NY by InsidePOOL Staff

DaBreo Dispatches Culhane for Title Tri-State Tour / East Rutherford, NJ by InsidePOOL Staff

Raphael DaBreo easily trumped Ed Culhane at the August 11 installment of the Tri-State Tour in the finals, winning the title 7-3. There was a 35-player field that gathered at Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ, for the $500-added 9-ball tournament. Culhane and DaBreo first faced off in the winners’ side final four, where DaBreo gave Culhane a preview of the finals with a 7-4 victory. In the other winners’ side match, Sam Hoffman bested Dave Danchak 6-2. DaBreo went on to send Hoffman to the oneloss side 10-7 in the match for the hot seat. Fighting to stay alive, Culhane eliminated Naldo Trancoso in fifth place 8-5, as Danchak tied with Trancoso after his match with Mike Aro ended in Aro’s favor 6-3. Culhane and Aro fought in the quarterfinal match, with Culhane progressing after his 9-6 win. Hoffman and Culhane collided in the next round as only one could go on to challenge DaBreo in the finals. Culhane came out the winner 11Results: 8, sending Hoffman home in third place, 1st Raphael DaBreo $600 but DaBreo got the 2nd Ed Culhane $350 better of Culhane in 3rd Sam Hoffman $250 the final match, win4th Mike Aro $150 ning top honors 7-3. 5th Naldo Trancoso $75 Dave Danchak

Borana Andoni, Vincent Morris, Kevin Beckley, Mike Harrington

Andoni and Morris faced each other in the hot seat match after notching wins over Koka Davladze 7-4 and Mike Harrington 6-3, respectively. To remain undefeated, Morris then bested Andoni 7-3, sending her to the one-loss side of the chart. Harrington stayed alive for another round on the west side, eliminating Mel McMullen 7-3 in fifth place. Davladze and Gary O’Callaghan fought a hill-hill battle, with Davladze eking out a 7-6 win. Harrington conResults: tinued to dominate in the next round as he 1st Vincent Morris $730 relegated Davladze to Borana Andoni fourth place 8-5. 3rd Mike Harrington $350 Andoni had to face Harrington in the semifinal match, and she turned him away with a 7-6 triumph. In the finals, she and Morris split, with Morris taking the title.

> Upcoming Northeast Tournaments 10/6 10/6 10/6-7 10/6-7 10/7 10/13-14 10/14 10/20 10/27-28 10/28 10/28 11/3-4 11/3-4 11/4 11/10 11/10-11 11/11 11/17 11/17-18 11/25 11/26

Tri-State Tour Main Line Jack and Jill Tournament Predator Tour Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Mezz Pro-Am Tour Predator Tour Tri-State Tour Tri-State Tour Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Mezz Pro-Am Tour Tri-State Tour Predator Tour Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Tri-State Tour Tri-State Tour Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Mezz Pro-Am Tour Tri-State Tour Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Tri-State Tour Mezz Pro-Am Tour

38 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

Vincent Morris and Borana Andoni opted to split top prize at the August 18 stop on the Tri-State Tour, with Morris claiming first place. The 9-ball tournament was hosted by Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY.

Castle Billiards Main Line Billiards Cue Bar Sharpshooters Billiards Main Line Billiards Club Carom Café House of Billiards Clifton Billiards Premium Billiards Sandcastle Billiards Gotham City Billiards Castle Billiards Hippo’s House of Billiards BQE Billiards and Bar Castle Billiards Raxx Pool Room and Grill Drexeline Billiards Port Richmond Billiard Club Snooker’s Billiards Bar and Grill Carom Café Billiards Main Line Billiards Club

4th 5th 7th 9th

East Rutherford, NJ Frazer, PA Bayside, NY Amsterdam, NY Frazer, PA Flushing, NY Staten Island, NY Clifton, NJ Syracuse, NY Edison, NJ Brooklyn, NY East Rutherford, NJ Yorkville, NY Jackson Heights, NY East Rutherford, NJ West Hempstead, NY Drexel Hill, PA Staten Island, NY Providence, RI Flushing, NY Frazer, PA

Koka Davladze Mel McMullen Gary O’Callaghan Ron Gabia Keith Diaz Daniel Dagotdot Ed Culhane Luis Jimenez Kyle Bubet

201-933-6007 610-647-8805 718-631-2646 518-627-4634 610-647-8805 718-358-5467 718-981-2222 973-928-6622 315-488-4888 732-632-9277 718-714-1002 201-933-6007 315-768-0218 718-779-4348 201-933-6007 516-538-9896 610-259-9144 718-727-0800 401-351-7665 718-358-8585 610-647-8805

$500 $1,000 $1,000 $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 $750 $750 $2,000 $1,000 $1,250 $1,000 $2,000 $1,000 $500 $2,000 $1,000 $750 $2,000 $1,500 $1,000

$230 $140 $100 $80

A-D players Open Open Open Open Open A-D players A-D players Open Open B-D players Open Open A-D players A-D players Open Open B-D players Open A-D players Open

elimination format, playing down to four on each side with the final eight redrawing into a single-elimination bracket. Once in the single-elimination bracket, Mulligan started out with a close match over Janis Sessions and then was bested in a hill-hill match with Chris Fields. However, Mulligan grew stronger as the day wore on, defeating Kelly Cavanaugh in another double-hill match and then taking out Jennifer Page to make it to the redraw.

Laha Latches Onto Great Southern Win Great Southern Billiard Tour / Marietta, GA by InsidePOOL Staff

Duke Laha narrowly escaped Rod Rentz to take top honors at the August 11-12 stop on the Great Southern BilShannon Daulton, Duke Laha, Rod Rentz, liard Tour after having Melanie Archer gone undefeated to the finals. The amateur 9-ball tournament featured a $1,500-added prize purse and hosted a full field at Johnny Archer’s Marietta Billiard Club in Marietta, GA. Unchallenged until his final match with Rentz, Laha easily handled Toppy Athakhanh in the winners’ side final four 9-2, as Rentz took down Tommy Najar 9-3 in the other bracket. Laha then rolled over Rentz to take the hot seat 9-3 and await a finals opponent. Najar scrambled to stay alive on the west side of the chart, whitewashing Clay Fisher 9-0. Athakhanh ended up tied with Fisher after being eliminated in fifth place by Josh Roberts 11-5. Najar then nudged aside Roberts in the quarterfinals 9-6. Rentz put an end to Najar’s day in the semifinals, ousting him 9-4 to earn a rematch with Laha for the title. The first set of the double-elimination final match was tooth and nail, as Rentz eked out a 9-8 victory to force a second set. Laha, though, had had enough and quickly put an end to the bout 9-4 for the win.

Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th

Duke Laha Rod Rentz Tommy Najar Josh Roberts Clay Fisher Toppy Athakhanh Mike Langley Dylan Letchworth Woodie Ochle Mark Rochester Jeff Hooks Steve Cox

$1,000 $600 $400 $200 $150 $125 $100

Mulligan Takes Flamingo Tour by Storm Flamingo Billiards Tour / Fort Pierce, FL by InsidePOOL Staff

Tropical Storm Isaac’s gusting wind and rain wasn’t about to stop 30 players from creating a whirlwind 9-ball event at the Flamingo Billiards Tour Stop August 25 at Ultimate Billiards in Fort Pierce, FL. When Cassidy Mulligan, Crystal McCormick, the whirlwind had Justin Gilsanen died down, Cassidy Mulligan stood in the winner’s circle, having won her first event on the tour. The $250-added competition was a modified double40 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

Mulligan then found herself in a revenge match against Fields that went double-hill. With three balls left to win the match and make it to the semifinals, Fields started to execute the perfect pattern to get on the 8 and 9, but the cue ball unexpectedly caught the corner of the side pocket and sent the cue ball in the wrong direction. Mulligan got her revenge. Nicolle Cuellar blew past Susan Roberts to reach the semifinals, and McCormick swept over Cheryl Perez. But Cuellar settled for third after McCormick won their match 7-5. In the other semifinal match Mulligan sent Cloke home 7-2, setting McCormick against Mulligan in the final match. With the score tied at 5 in the race to 7, Mulligan reached the hill first after McCormick scratched one ball away from running out. But McCormick restored parity in the next after Mulligan missed a long cut on the 9. Results: After a couple of in1st Cassidy Mulligan $400 nings each in the final 2nd Crystal McCormick $275 rack, Mulligan got out 3rd Nicolle Cuellar $150 of line on the 8 and Christie Cloke had to bank it, which 4th Chris Ann Fields $ 60 she did perfectly to Cheryl Perez make the last 9 and Kim Richeson win the match. Sue Roberts

Books & Videos that improve your game From the Handbook of the Billiard Gods Get these books & videos at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at:

www.billiardgods.com

Books (available in PDF, MOBI, EPUB downloads) - Cue Ball Control Cheat Sheets - Safety Toolbox – Advanced Strategies & Tactics - The Art of War versus The Art of Pool - Psychology of Gamesmanship (the sharking book) - Advanced Cue Ball Control Self-Testing Program - Drills & Exercises for Pool & Pocket Billiards - FAQs of Pool & Pocket Billiards

Videos (available in AVI & FLV downloads) - Secrets of One-Rail Kicks (50 min) $10.99 - Easy 9 Ball Safeties (24 min) $5.99 - Aiming with Cue Ball Side Spin (21 min) $5.99 - Kicking to a Big Ball (12 min) $3.99 - Authored by Allan P. Sand - PBIA/ACS Pocket Billiards Instructor

Authored by Allan P. Sand PBIA/ACS Pocket Billiards Instructor

Thwaites Thwarts Blitch for Great Southern Win Great Southern Billiard Tour / Greenville, SC by InsidePOOL Staff

Mark Thwaites turned aside a late onslaught from Darrin Blitch in the finals of the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s Shannon Daulton, Mark Thwaites, Darrin Blitch, August 25-26 installBrad Black ment, winning the last set of the double-elimination final match to take the title. The $1,500-added tournament drew 60 players to The Coliseum in Greenville, SC, for the amateur-only 9-ball event. Going undefeated through the winners’ side, Thwaite bested Matt Mancini 7-6 to reach the hot seat. His opponent there, Wendell Thompkins, had just sent Jamie Anders to the west side 9-3. Thompkins soon followed Anders, as Thwaites won their match 7-4. Anders was soon eliminated in fifth place after Romy Malonzo won their match 6-1. Mancini joined him there, as Blitch was making his move through the one-loss side and ousted him 7-8. Blitch then forged ahead in the quarterfinals to send Malonzo home in fourth place 7-2. Blitch went on to tackle Thompkins in the semifinal match, defeating him 7-4 to reach the doubleelimination finals against Thwaites. Blitch took the first set 7-5, but Thwaites turned the tables in the second and claimed the title with a 7-3 win.

A fourth-round loss to David Styers deposited Roberts in the west side, where he sent Dix home in fifth place 11-5. Wendell Thompkins tied with Dix after being ousted by Styers 7-3. Meeting Styers for the second time yielded better results for Roberts, who relegated him to fourth place 11-3. Roberts advanced to face down Abernathy in the semifinals, winning their match 11-4. He almost overcame Gonzalez in the double-elimination Results: finals, dominating the 1st Steven Gonzalez $750 first set 11-3. But Gon2nd Josh Roberts $500 zalez eked out a 10-9 3rd Jeff Abernathy $300 victory in the second 4th David Styers $175 set to win top honors. 5th Wendell Thompkins $100 Greg Dix 7th David Slaughter $50 Stevie McClinton

news images videos games lessons

Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th

Mark Thwaites Darrin Blitch Wendell Thompkins Romy Malonzo Jamie Anders Matt Mancini Scott Howard Steve Cox Hugo Hernandez Marvin Reed Ron Frank Mike Langley

$750 $500 $300 $200 $100

Insidepoolmag.com

$75 $50

Gonzalez Grasps Great Southern Title Great Southern Billiard Tour / Myrtle Beach, SC by InsidePOOL Staff

Steven Gonzalez narrowly escaped a late onslaught by Josh Roberts from the one-loss side of the chart to grab the title at the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s SepShannon Daulton, Steven Gonzalez, tember 1-2 event. The Josh Roberts, James Carroll $1,200-added amateur event attracted a field of 40 to Shore Thing Billiards and Bar in Myrtle Beach, SC. Gonzalez took the right side of the chart by storm, besting David Styers in the winners’ side final four 9-4 before meeting Jeff Abernathy, who had just defeated Greg Dix 11-7. Gonzalez went on to give Abernathy his first loss 9-6 and await an opponent in the final match. October 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 41

> Upcoming Southeast Tournaments 10/6-7 10/12-14 10/16-20 10/18-19 10/18-19 10/19 10/19-21 10/20-21 10/20-21 10/20-21 10/21 10/21-27 11/3-4 11/9-11

Great Southern Billiard Tour Johnny Archer Classic Dragon Promotions Pro Classic Ozone U.S. Amateur Open 8-Ball Ozone U.S. Amateur Seniors 8-Ball Ozone U.S. Amateur Women’s 8-Ball Ozone U.S. Open Pro-Am 9-Ball Ozone U.S. Women’s 9-Ball Open Ozone U.S. Seniors’ 9-Ball Open Great Southern Billiard Tour Ozone U.S. Scotch Doubles 9-Ball U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships Great Southern Billiard Tour Florida State BCAPL 8-Ball Champs

Shore Thing Bar and Billiards Marietta Billiard Club Emerald Billiards Emerald Billiards Emerald Billiards Emerald Billiards Emerald Billiards Emerald Billiards Emerald Billiards Q-Master Billiards Emerald Billiards Holiday Inn Shore Thing Bar and Billiards Backstage Billiards

Myrtle Beach, SC Marietta, GA New Iberia, LA New Iberia, LA New Iberia, LA New Iberia, LA New Iberia, LA New Iberia, LA New Iberia, LA Virginia Beach, VA New Iberia, LA Virginia Beach, VA Myrtle Beach, SC Orlando, FL

843-712-1905 678-324-6693 407-782-4978 407-782-4978 407-782-4978 407-782-4978 407-782-4978 407-782-4978 407-782-4978 757-499-8900 407-782-4978 757-499-8900 843-712-1905 702-719-7665

$1,500 $8,000 TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA $1,000 TBA $72,000 $1,000 $2,000

Amateurs Open Open Amateurs Amateur seniors Amateur ladies Open Ladies Seniors Open Mixed teams Open Amateurs Members

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

Courtesy of Sandy Brown 42 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

Live. Stream your next event with IP Video. For more information on streaming with InsidePOOL Video, call 888-428-7665, or email info@insidepoolmag.com.

InsidePool

Lone Star Tour Titles for Ferrers Jr. Bryant, and Sanders Lone Star Billiards Tour / Round Rock, TX by InsidePOOL Staff

Three champions emerged with titles at the Lone Star Billiards Tour’s Texas Open warmup 9-ball tournament August 11-12, with Frank Ferrers Jr., Charlie Bryant, and Kim Sanders winning their respective divisions. Manny Chau, Charlie Bryant Skinny Bob’s in Round Rock, TX, hosted the event, which drew 120 players with 167 total entries. In the winners’ side final four, Ferrer Jr. defeated Lee Rosa to reach the hot seat match, as Cielo Vasquez bested Brian Anderson. Vasquez then went on to vanquish Ferrer Jr. to remain undefeated. Tracy Sanders cut a path through the oneloss side, ousting Steve Pennington and then Ricardo Espinosa before depositing Brian Anderson in fifth place 4-3, tying with Rosa. In the quarterfinals Sanders took down Kim Sanders, Liz Kirkman Mallow 4-2 to reach Ferrer Jr., but Ferrer Jr. wanted his rematch with Vasquez in the finals, and he earned it 4-3.

Winners’ side action in the open division saw James Davis Sr. slide by James Henson 8-7 and Bryant dust Manny Chau 8-4. After a west-side round, Cielo Vasquez eliminated Will Felder 6-5, and Corey Dordek fell Amateur Results: to Doug Young, who 1st Frank Ferrer Jr. $735 was then ousted by 2nd Cielo Vasquez $525 Henson 6-1. Vasquez 3rd Tracy Sanders $300 was sent home by 4th Mike Mallow $175 Chau 6-2, as was Hen5th Lee Rosa $100 son 6-4. Hot seat ac Brian Anderson tion saw Bryant blow 7th Ricardo Espinosa $70 past Davis Sr. 8-5, Will Felder with Davis Sr. going 9th Patrick Hill $40 on to be dusted off Steve Lindgren in the next round by Steve Pennington Chau 8-5. In the first Cesar Garcia of the two set-final, 13th J.P. Lopez $25 Chau came on strong Raul Escobedo with an 8-5 win. But Nick Banks Bryant came back in Rich Anglin the second cool and composed to win 6-2. In the 18-player ladies’ field, Kim Sanders defeated Liz Kirkman for the hot seat. Kirkman then defeated Kim Pierce 4-3 on the one-loss side but fell to Sanders in the final. Nicole McDaniel finished a respectable fourth.

In the first of the two-set final match, Ferrer came on strong and confident over Vasquez 5-2. The second set, though, was a different story as Vasquez reached the hill 3-0. Ferrer Jr. fought back and at double-hill was left with a short-rail bank shot on the 9-ball, which he pocketed Frank Ferrer Jr., Frank Ferrer for the win.

> Upcoming Central Tournaments 10/6-7 10/13-14 11/3 11/24-25

Omega Billiards Tour Lone Star Billiards Tour Poison by Predator Tour Omega Billiards Tour

44 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ October 2012

Rusty’s Billiards Hawley’s Billiards Bogie’s Billiards and Games Speed’s Billiards and Games

Open Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th

Charlie Bryant Manny Chau James Davis Sr. David Henson Doug Young Cielo Vasquez Corey Dordek Doug Young Frank Ferrer Jr. Jacob Warriner Brian Anderson John Palmore

$640 $440 S200 $100 $60 $40 $30

Open Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Kim Sanders Liz Kirkman Kim Pierce Nicole McDaniel

Fort Worth, TX 817-244-3294 Dallas, TX 800-938-3000 Houston, TX 713-825-1411 Arlington, TX 817-640-7675

$1,200 $1,000 $1,000 $1,200

$225 $125 $50 $30

Open Open Invitational Open

> Upcoming Western Tournaments 10/9-14 10/27-28 11/10-11 12/1-2

Western BCA Regional 9-Ball Champs Arizona Women’s Billiard Tour Colorado State BCAPL 8-Ball Champs Arizona Women’s Billiard Tour

Chinook Winds Casino Resort BullShooters Antique Billiard Museum BullShooters

Lincoln City, OR Phoenix, AZ Colorado Springs, CO Phoenix, AZ

tr@westernbca.org 602-441-2447 702-719-7665 602-441-2447

$17,500 $300 $2,000 $300

Members Ladies Members Ladies

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

TRUE HEART BILLIARDS CUES 519-220-0298 www.Trueheartbilliardcues.ca ORIGINAL DESIGNS BY K. F. CUES www.poolcues.com.tw

NITTI CUES www.nitticues.com STEVE WHETSTONE BCA – ACS – PBIA INSTRUCTOR TWO DAY INTENSIVE TRAINING www.bestpoolinstructor.com

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 October 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 45

48 InsidePOOL Magazine â&#x2014;&#x160; October 2012

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