SPM Magazine Issue 26

Page 8

Iwan Simonis R The Gloria Je By Patrick Sampey

has been hosting virtual billiards tournaments. Anyone can get a tour card for $40 and receive tournament discounts and perks related to being a tour member, players can compete virtually from anywhere, playing the ghost against one another live through the internet; this has been going on the last year and a half. Gloria Jean implemented these virtual pool tournaments as a result of the pandemic, since people weren’t able to get out, discouraged from congregating in groups and spreading COVID-19.

T

hursday, November 18th, 2021 -- Gloria Jean is grinding, making waves in the pool scene, tidal waves. Having just interviewed her just last week, she regaled me with her billiards life amidst the canvas of a pandemic: Covid-19. The pandemic has changed the game, literally, and Gloria Jean has adapted with a worldwide landscape of Global unrest, uncertainty, fear, vaccines, virtual pool tournaments, face masks, hand sanitizer, political unrest and so forth -- as we each seek to cope with all the stressors of our modern age. Gloria Jean’s is a story of victory -- one about adapting to the conditions of one’s environment, the reality we live in -- and overcoming the obstacles. Gloria Jean is a billiards influencer and the founder and President of the Iwan Simonis Ride The 9 Tour,

Gloria Jean sends her gratitude out to Iwan Simonis and all they do for the game. The Ride The 9 Tour has been going on since 2007, for approximately the last 14 years. But with the new, virtual tournaments, I wanted to get the inside scoop on her, what she is bringing to the sport of pocket billiards, maybe even eventually sign up myself, get into some virtual events (I love to play the ghost. Call me “ghostbuster.”). Here is a link to the ‘Ride The 9 Tour’ website where 7


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