SPM Billiards Magazine Issue 40

SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE ISSUE 40

CONTENTS

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INSTRUCTION ARTICLES

FROM FRUSTRATED TO FEARLESS BY ANTHONY BEELER ONE POCKET, PATTERN PLAY BY RICK PRINCE THE EYES HAVE IT BY STEVE JENNINGS

THE FUNDAMENTAL CHECKLIST BY ERIC NARETTO WHEN TO KNOW YOUR ON OFFENSE OR DEFENSE BY DOMINIC ESPOSITO ZERO REGRET BY JACKIE KAROL

BILLIARD NEWS

06 09 10 30 34 50

12 THE RISE OF JFLOWERS CUES AND CASES BY KAT DAY 16 THE ADVENTURES OF CONNOR BENSON VOLUME TWO BY TOMMY HILL 22 THE US OPEN 9 BALL CHAMPIONSHIP GETTING TO THE CORE BY KEITH SHANER 26 A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT ROSS BY KAT DAY 38 THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON I WILL NEVER FORGET BY STEVE RAU 45 BE NOT AFRAID OF GREATNESS: THE FINAL FOUR BY KEITH SHANER 54 VENOM RETURNS AND THE PHILLY FLASH ... BY BRIAN PAULEY

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JADEN THE POOL LOVER WITH MARK WHITE KO PING CHUNG WINS 46TH US OPEN BY ADAM CLAPHAM POINTS IS HERE BY ALBERT CHARBONNEAU FEDOR GORST & DAVID ALCAIDE QUALIFY FOR 30TH

52 61 68

70 HOW USA CAN WIN THE MOSCONI CUP BY CHIP KLEIN 72

BILLIARD NEWS

ANNIVERSARY MOSCONI CUP

Hello, everyone. It’s been an exciting month with all the Matchroom events and talking to loyal readers.

I can’t help but mention Ko Ping Chung’s recent achievements - he has won the 2023 Maldives 10-ball Open Championship, the Sharks International 9-Ball Open, and the 46th Anniversary US Open 9-Ball Championship! He also came in runner-up at the Qatar Open. What a year for this talented player! It’s always exciting to follow fantastic talent, and I’ve decided to dedicate this issue to the US Open!

I had the privilege of working with Deborah, Robert Ross’s wife. After I posted a message expressing my condolences for the loss of Robert Ross, Deborah contacted SPM to get a hard copy of Issue 29 of SPM Billiard Magazine, which featured her husband’s fantastic photography!

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FROM OUR EDITOR

Time has flown by, yet it feels like I’ve been a part of this community for a long time. My dedication to SPM has always been to provide you with the most up-to-date news and stories about players while striving to put out a great magazine. Last month, I started a fresh look for the magazine after giving it a makeover and redesigning it from scratch. It has been arduous, but I’m thrilled to share Issue 40 with you!

As always, I am on the lookout for new players to interview and share the latest stories. Let us all continue to strive for excellence and hit those pockets!

Yours sincerely, Kat

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ANTHONY BEELER

FROM FRUSTRATED TO FEARLESS!

H

ow does frustration affect your pool game? Is there anything you can do to overcome it? These are common questions players ask themselves.

frustration set in. You lost your next match 7-2 because you just couldn’t rebound from your first defeat. You worked so hard practicing before the tournament, and now you feel everything is lost. You thought your efforts were wasted. You even had thoughts of never wanting to pick up a pool cue ever again.

Your confidence will take a dive.

With this mindset, you may never fully recover mentally or physically or regain your full composure.

The other choice, when faced with frustration, is to be FEARLESS Learning to deal with frustration and look for a present-oriented in the correct way will allow you response. This choice answers the to make great strides with your question, “What can I do right overall pool game. The first step in now?” All negativity stems from However, at some point, you must overcoming frustration is to know negative memories from the past decide what to do. Your decision will or fear of the future. Playing in the when it’s time to “move on.” have a significant impact on you as present moment is a critical part of For example, you started the a player. Do you stay stuck with a tournament playing your very best, playing Fearless Pool. negative mindset? That is, will you and you never felt mechanically stronger or more comfortable at the focus on everything that went bad? To play your best game, it’s always That kind of mindset will keep you table. helpful to focus on your senses. One down and out. thing that I do that really helps me You were so sure this was going to is to focus on how the cloth feels be your tournament. In your second Furthermore, this will hinder your before every shot. I do this when I match, your opponent ran out of the future performances and keep you slide my bridge hand into place. This set, lucking in the 9-ball twice. Then out of the money in other events. is a very positive thing and helps 6

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Anthony Beeler is the current Billiards Instructor of the Decade and is a former BCAPL National Responding well after Champion. He has numerous experiencing frustration will get “Top 25” national finishes and you back on track and mentally is the primary author of the ACS stronger than before.

National Billiards Instructor’s Manual. He has also authored Here are some examples of ways Peak performance always involves the book Unstoppable! Positive “fear of the future” can get in your good choices: follow a wellThinking for Pool Players. way: defined pre-shot routine or make Anthony currently has the highest random decisions; practice your established Fargo Rating of any • I missed this shot last week. weaknesses or shoot from the hip; Master Instructor. He has won go through the motions or put in over 300 tournaments and has • How will I feel if I dog this shot? the work; wallow in frustration or defeated numerous professional take action that will pay off in the players in tournament • What will my friends say? future. competitions. me keep my focus on the shot at hand rather than dwelling on my shortcomings from previous matches. This also serves as a distraction from the fear of the future.

frustration.

Having a game plan to deal with this kind of negativity can mean the difference between winning and losing. You should be focused on acting instead of doing something passive that focuses on something negative, such as wallowing in self-pity. An excellent

All choices have repercussions.

Moving past frustration, it all comes down to making correct choices–instead of dwelling on something unfair that happened to you in a previous match, think about playing Fearless Pool one shot at a time.

Having a game plan to deal with this kind of negativity can mean the difference between winning and losing.

He has numerous “Top 25” national finishes and is the primary author of the ACS National Billiards Instructor’s Manual. He has also authored the book Unstoppable! Positive Thinking for Pool Players.

Anthony currently has the highest established Fargo Rating of any Master Instructor. He has won over 300 tournaments and has defeated numerous professional players in tournament competitions.

way to overcome all this is to focus on your pre-shot routine. Your routine should be so well-defined that there truly is no time for negative thoughts.

When you have a bad experience, you can also choose to reevaluate your game, work with your pool coach, or try improving your mechanics. You could contact a mental game coach or spend hours working on ball-running drills. You can easily find at least one strategy to move forward after experiencing SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

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RICK PRINCE

ONE POCKET PATTERN PLAY

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n the Game of “One Pocket,” the pattern play is leaves them with no straight-in shot options. endless, and the types of shots and layouts are limitless.

In fact, it often causes them to have to bank their shot. Leaving them close to their pocket can prove In “One Pocket,” you’ll find that there are very few “ to be frustrating and counterproductive for them. It’s Hard and Fast Rules,” and a lot of the patterns aren’t also a great pattern play and strategic move to fall so common, as opposed to other Pocket Billiard back on when you’re not sure what your next move games. should be.

For this reason, One Pocket is the game to play if you The intricacies and high characteristics of One Pocket want to use your creativity and imagination to its it analogous to a game of Chess. fullest.

Just like in Chess, One Pocket can be broken into three One of the reasons One Pocket is one of the hardest basic components: the beginning game, consisting of games out there is simply because every skill in pool both typical and not-so-typical opening moves; the that you’ve ever developed comes into play. middle game, in which balls tend to get shifted to the other end of the table; and finally, the end game, in Shooting dead straight, cue ball control, controlling which one or both opponents only need just one ball the object balls, safety play, kick shots, bank shots, for the win, and this is when you’ll generally see a lot caroms, and much more. of defensive play.

That’s right, every conceivable shot can come into At the end of the game, only a few balls will be left, and play in a single game. the odds are high that either you or your opponent will need only to pocket one more ball for the win.

Because of the unpredictable nature of the game, you’ll never be able to think a full rack ahead.

In the next article, I will be covering “The One Pocket Break”! And some of the various shots that you’ll Too many situations change. The balls get moved need in your bag to be successful at One Pocket! around, and you’ll never know what your last ball will be.

Until then...

There’s always one excellent place to leave the cue HappyShootin’ ball, and that’s generally as close to your opponent’s pocket.

From “The White Wolf” Leaving your opponent close to their pocket generally SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

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STEVE JENNINGS

THE EYES HAVE IT!

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have seen a few discussions online lately discussing where your eyes should be focused when you are executing your final forward stroke. Some say you should be looking at the cue ball, others vote for the object ball, and a few even suggest the pocket where you’re hoping the object

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ball is going. (Please tell me that last option isn’t your answer!) The answer to the question isn’t quite that simple. There are shots where one answer is right and some shots where it’s not. So, how do you know where your focus should be?

The answer rests in another question, that is, what information does your brain need to execute the shot successfully? And this is where it breaks down. For the majority of pool shots, your brain needs to know where you want to put the cue ball. And for those shots, it’s usually to focus on that spot. Take note we are about to get very specific here. Even with most shots, we don’t want to focus on the object ball. We rarely want to focus on the contact point. Instead, our focus should be directed to a specific aim point for each shot. The aim point may or may not be found on the object ball. On any cut shot greater than a 30-degree cut angle, the aim point is near but not actually on the object ball. And, of course, on a kick shot, our focus is directed to a spot on the cushion. And all of these are options for “normal” shots.

There are other unique shots where your eyes should be directed toward a spot on the cue ball. The best example of this is a jump shot. Once you have your cue lined up for a jump, the most critical piece of information your brain needs is where is the tip going to contact the cue ball. So that is exactly where we should have our eyes focused. Another example might be a very short soft safety, where ball pocketing isn’t our goal, as long as we deliver the cue ball with the proper speed.

Your eyes collect information wherever they are focused. That information is then sent to the brain to process and make decisions. Without the proper information, the brain can’t make good decisions. And poor decisions often result in poor shot execution. And poor execution can send you back to your chair.

So, does this mean we shouldn’t move our eyes while we’re shooting? Of course our brain needs to gather that information in an orderly, logical way. Our eye movement should be closely aligned with our shooting routine. When we are getting our alignment set, we focus on our cue and shooting line. During warm up strokes, we need to know where the tip will contact the cue ball. That;s when we need to focus on the tip and cue ball. And when we are ready for the final stroke, our eyes should be locked in on our final focal point. We must always consider what are we looking at, when and why.

In the immortal words of Grace Slick of the Jefferson Airplane, Feed Your Head!

Until next time.

Steve Jennings PBIA/ACS Master Instructor 980 253-0211

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BRIAN PAULEY

GROUP PHOTO

VENOM RETURNS, AND THE PHILLY FLASH OUTRUNS THE FIELD

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rom May 18th through May 20th, the League Room in Parkersburg, West Virginia, was once again host to Artistic Pool. As a past venue for the WPA World Artistic Pool Championships, the League Room was delighted to host the 2023 US National Artistic Pool Championships. Artistic Pool 12

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Players from all over the US were competing for the eight-event discipline titles as well as the overall National Championship.

Day one saw players shoot 30 shots through the first six disciplines of Artistic Pool. Each discipline has a maximum of 40 points possible, and the player

with the highest score wins that discipline. Round one consists of the Trick & Fancy discipline and the Special Arts discipline. The Trick & Fancy discipline consists of shots making various set-up shots where the player is pocketing multiple balls at a time. Special Arts is made up of speed and timing shots, as well as shots with

DISIPLINE WIINNERS

multiple props. The stream table was highlighted by last year’s Trick & Fancy and Special Arts Champion Abram “Too Tall” Diaz, 2023 Masters Trick and Fancy champion Steve “Philly Flash” Markle, and New Jersey’s Andrew “The Driver” Sozio. After taking a four-year hiatus, internet sensation Florian “Venom” Kohler returned to competition with a vengeance and won both disciplines in round 1 with scores of 37/40 in Trick and Fancy and 39/40 in Special Arts. Florian also was the number one seed after round one.

and make the cue spin all over the table. Many of the shots in this round are variations of shots that can come up in a regular game of pool. Jamie picked a few of the “regular pool” shots and showed off why he is a 630 Fargo-rated player. When round two was over, Florian won another discipline, shooting 38/40 in follow. Brian Pauley captured the draw title with his first-ever perfect score of 40/40. Through four disciplines, Florian and Brian stayed as the top two seeded players, with Florian still leading Brian by eight points.

Round two comprises the Draw and Follow Disciplines. Florian joined Brian “Superman” Pauley, who was the number two seed after round one, and 2023 Masters Draw Champion Houston’s Jamie “The Bayou Bullet” Moody on the stream table for round two. The draw and follow disciplines allowed the players to let their stroke out

Round three encompasses the Bank/Kick and Stroke disciplines.

The Bank/Kick discipline has players shoot all types of famous bank and kick shots such as “The Hustler Bank” (made famous from “The Hustler” movie,) the 5 rail kick shot that won Willie Mosconi a World Championship, “The Pool Hall Junkies Kickshot” (made famous from the “Pool

Hall Junkies” move, and the famous “Efren Reyes Kick shot.”

The stroke discipline really tests a player’s stroke and technique.

All shots in this discipline see the cue ball no further away from the object ball than a ball width. There are many shots that require a fouetté stroke that are measured with a 2mm gauge. A fouetté stroke is a very loose whip stroke that allows a legal hit on a cue ball with a 2mm distance away from the object ball. These 2mm draw shots are very difficult but are crowd-pleasers when executed. The stream table was made up of previous bank/kick and stroke discipline winners in Tim “The Dragon” Chin and Jason “The Michigan Kid” Lynch, as well as 2023 Masters Special Arts Champion Massachusetts’ Jimmy “The General” Glanville.

Brian rode the momentum from the last round and won the Bank/ Kick discipline with a score of 39/40. Abram Diaz won the stroke discipline with a score of SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

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BRIAN PAULEY

GROUP SHOT WITH MIKE

35/40 and outlasted Steve Markle discipline. Florian proved why in a discipline tiebreaker. he is the best at jump and masse and won both disciplines with a Day one ended the same way it perfect 40/40 in jump and 37/40 started, with Florian Kohler, the in masse. The end of the prelims number one-seeded player, and marked the next phase of the Brian Pauley, the number twotournament, the playoffs. The seeded player with only five points players were seeded based off between them. Abram Diaz was their prelim scores and put in a the first person outside of Florian single elimination bracket. The and Brian to win a discipline playoff format is like a game of medal. With the seeding so close, H.O.R.S.E. in basketball. Players day two would sure to prove most lag to start the match, with the suspenseful. winner determining who leads out which discipline. The matches Day two started off with the are made up of two parts: the round 4, the final round of the discipline round and the wild preliminaries. Round 4 has the card round. Players will alternate two fan-favorite disciplines in leading in each of the eight Jump and Masse. “This is where disciplines, with the opposing we make the cue ball cry,” as player having to duplicate the Jason Lynch likes to say. The top shot. After those eight shots, 3 scoring players were featured players have four shots they on the stream table. The top 3 can pick from anywhere in the players after day one were Florian 120-shot program. The only rule Kohler (201), Brian Pauley (196), is players can not duplicate a and Jason Lynch (164). All three discipline in their wildcard picks. started strong, but both Jason and Brian faltered in the masse There is usually a theme that

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materializes at these events. This event’s theme was rematches.

The first round of the playoffs had two matches to get down to eight players for the quarterfinals.

The stream table match saw the first of the rematches in Jimmy Glanville (8) vs. Andrew Sozio (9). These two players matched up at the 2022 WPA World Artistic Pool Championships, with Andrew winning that match.

In the rematch, however, Jimmy Glanville pulled out the win this time. The second first-round match was the seven-seed Jamie Moody versus the ten-seed Cary “That Trickshot Guy” Wallace, with Jamie Moody advancing to the quarter-finals.

The quarter-finals kept up with the rematch theme with Jamie Moody (7) vs. Tim Chin (2).

Jamie had not had any luck in matches against Tim in the past but finally upset Tim at this event, moving into the semifinals. The other rematch in the quarterfinal

TOP FOUR

round saw Brian Pauley (3) vs.

Abram Diaz (6), a rematch from the quarter-finals from the last event that saw Brian get the best of Abram. Like the two rematches before, the opposite player won, with Abram upsetting Brian to move on to the semifinals.

Number one seed Florian Kohler matched up and defeated number eight seeded Jimmy Glanville and took the third semi-final spot. The stream table saw Steve Markle (4) and Jason Lynch (5) battle it out for the last spot in the semifinals.

Steve Markle got past Jason and took the remaining semifinal spot in only his second tournament back from an eight-year layoff.

As with the playoff matches before, there was a theme with the semifinals: playing against your friends. The first semifinal match saw Florian Kohler (1) vs. Steve Markle (4). These guys made a tandem trickshot

video years ago and have been friends for a long time. Fans were treated to a great match, with both players missing very little.

Florian missed a couple of Steve’s picks and found himself down.

Needing to get back into the match, Florian hit two 10-point shots back-to-back on the first try to gain some ground on Steve. It was a great attempt but fell a little short, with Steve Markle edging out Florian to take the first spot in the finals. The second semifinal match pitted road partners Jamie Moody (7) vs. Abram Diaz (6).

These two know each other so well and have played against each other so many times that it is hard to come up with a game plan. The match went back and forth until Abram eventually pulled away and advanced to the finals.

The finals were another treat for fans of artistic pool and a great story. This was Steve Markle’s

second tournament back after a long layoff, and he was chasing his first major win. Abram was chasing his second US National Artistic Pool title in three years.

The players went back and forth, making shot after shot. The crowd and the other players were watching with much interest, seeing who would get the upper hand first. The score stayed close the entire match. With only a few shots left, Steve got out to a lead that Abram could not overcome.

In just his second tournament back, Steve Markle won his first major championship over a very game, Abram Diaz.

The fans at the League Room were treated to an amazing event that even saw a visit from BCA Hall of Famer and Artistic Pool Legend “Tennessee Tarzan” himself, Mike Massey. There was some time before the finals, and Mike jumped on the TV SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

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KAT DAY

THE RISE OF JFLOWERS CUES & CASES: A GAME-CHANGER IN THE WORLD OF CUE SPORTS Over the last two years, JFlowers Cues & Cases has emerged as a formidable force

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n the dynamic world of cue sports, where precision and performance are paramount, one brand has been making waves like never before. Over the last two years, JFlowers Cues & Cases has emerged as a formidable force, rapidly ascending to become the world’s fastest-growing brand in cue sports. With an unwavering commitment to quality, affordability, and community engagement, JFlowers has taken the pool community by storm, challenging traditional brands and setting new standards in the industry.

Quality Meets Affordability JFlowers Cues & Cases has disrupted the cue sports market by offering high-quality products at remarkably affordable prices. In an arena where established brands have long dominated, JFlowers has managed to strike a chord with both amateur and professional players alike. The brand’s dedication to delivering cues and cases of superior craftsmanship without the exorbitant price tags often 16

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associated with top-tier equipment has garnered widespread acclaim.

Ambassadors of Excellence One of the key factors driving JFlowers’ meteoric rise is their roster of ambassadors, which reads like a who’s who of cue sports. Legends and influencers such as Earl Strickland, Dennis Orcollo, Rodney Morris, Lil’ Chris, Jeff de Luna, Emily Duddy, and many others have heaped praise upon JFlowers’ products. These

EARL STRICKLAND AT US OPEN PHOTO BY TAKAIMAGES FOR MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT

ambassadors not only endorse the brand but also serve as living proof of the exceptional performance and reliability that JFlowers cues and cases offer.

The endorsements from these seasoned professionals carry significant weight within the cue sports community, inspiring players of all skill levels to explore the possibilities offered by JFlowers equipment.

Community Engagement and Charity SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

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DENNIS ORCULLO

Beyond revolutionizing the world of cue sports, JFlowers Cues & Cases is dedicated to giving back to the community that supports it. The brand actively engages in charitable endeavors, such as hosting tournaments and events that raise funds for various causes. This commitment to philanthropy showcases JFlowers’ dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of cue sports enthusiasts and beyond.

players to up their game without breaking the bank.

This affordability factor is particularly appealing to newcomers and young players looking to invest in reliable equipment as they develop their skills. JFlowers’ commitment to keeping the sport inclusive and accessible is a testament to their passion for cue sports.

Affordable Excellence for All

Setting the Customer Service Benchmark

JFlowers understands that the cost of top-tier cue sports equipment can be a significant barrier for many aspiring players. To address this, they’ve made it their mission to ensure that quality cues and cases are accessible to everyone.

By offering top-notch products at budget-friendly prices, they’re democratizing the sport, enabling

In an industry where customer service often takes a backseat, JFlowers Cues & Cases stands out as a shining example. Their customer service is second to none, earning them a reputation for being responsive, helpful, and dedicated to customer satisfaction.

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The brand’s willingness to go the extra mile for their customers has earned them a loyal following.

Whether it’s answering inquiries, addressing concerns, or assisting with product selection, JFlowers’ customer service is a beacon of excellence that other brands would do well to emulate.

Innovation Redefined: The Low Deflection Shaft JFlowers Cues & Cases has made yet another groundbreaking announcement that has sent ripples through the cue sports community. They are set to release a playing shaft that has been scientifically proven to be the lowest deflection shaft on the market. What sets this apart is not just the innovation but also the price, which remains an astonishing 40% lower compared to the competition.

LIL CHRIS

This innovation represents a game-changer for cue sports enthusiasts, promising unprecedented accuracy and control. JFlowers continues to redefine the industry by combining cutting-edge technology with affordability, once again challenging the status quo.

A Brand to Watch In the world of cue sports, where tradition often reigns supreme, JFlowers Cues & Cases has emerged as a breath of fresh air. Their dedication to quality, affordability, and community engagement has not only disrupted the industry but also breathed new life into the sport itself.

With ambassadors who embody excellence, a commitment to making the sport accessible to all, industry-leading customer service, and groundbreaking innovations, JFlowers is a brand that deserves the attention of cue sports enthusiasts worldwide.

If you’re passionate about cue sports and looking for a brand that combines quality with affordability, JFlowers Cues & Cases should be at the top of your list. They are more than just SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

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a brand; they are a force that is reshaping the world of cue sports, and they show no signs of slowing down. Explore the world of JFlowers, and you’ll discover a cue sports experience like no other – one where excellence is accessible to all and tradition meets innovation.

Check them out at www.JFlowersCues.com

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NEW PRODUCTS www.JFlowersCues.com Scientifically proven lowest deflection on the market

TOMMY HILL

THE ADVENTURES OF CONNOR BENSON VOLUME TWO

SOMETIMES, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH GOING ON THE ROAD IS THE EMBARRASSMENT OF COMING HOME A LOSER.

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pon his return home from his recent trip, Connor stayed away from the pool room for a couple of weeks. He was embarrassed to tell everyone that he had lost his entire bankroll playing one pocket and had to come home because he didn’t have enough money left to pay his entry fee for the tournament.

Connor worked part-time at a drive-thru coffee joint called The Human Bean. This particular location was once a Fotomat, where people could drive up and drop off camera film and get their pictures developed. The pictures would be ready for pick up the next day, or for an additional charge, they could be ready in one hour. The problem was the photos were rarely ready in one 22

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hour, and therefore, the building became vacant. Someone decided it would be a good idea to open a drive-through coffee shack in the vacant spot. Connor liked working there well enough, but he knew it was temporary at best. I mean, come on, who in their right mind would stop at a drive-through window, at some obscure little shack, in a random parking lot, to get a cup of coffee? How long could this possibly last?

close to five hundred in his front right pocket. Feeling pretty good about himself and able to put his recent loss behind him, Connor was ready to head back to The Rack, his local pool room.

He didn’t know what to expect going back to The Rack. Were the guys going to bombard him with questions? Were they going to laugh at him for losing? Had they already heard? Oddly enough, and a bit unexpectedly, no one Nevertheless, it was a decent job asked him anything at all. It was for a young person that should be like he was just there yesterday, going to college. Connor made and no one had anything new to $4.75 an hour, which was fifty talk about. At that very moment, cents over the California minimum Connor learned a lesson that he wage in 1988. He was able to would carry with him his entire pick up some extra shifts, and life: You are the only one who after a few weeks and a couple of cares if you win or lose. paychecks, Connor was carrying

Connor practiced hard in the weeks to come. He won a couple of the weekly 9 ball tournaments and booked a few winners playing some small sets with his regular clientele of players. The Reno Open was only a few weeks away, and he was determined to be as ready as he could be.

the backyard for a cigarette and a beer. He told his son to come out because he wanted to talk to him. Connor sat there in silence while his dad smoked. Finally, Tom said that he would be driving a company truck for a while and handed Connor the keys to his own truck. He then handed him two hundred dollars in twenties The Reno Open was held twice and a quarter. Tom told Connor a year at the Sands Regency not to tell his mother about the Hotel & Casino in Reno, Nevada, money and that he was to keep 4 hours north and just over the the quarter on him at all times.

California-Nevada state line. Now Connor chuckled and asked if it that Connor had turned eighteen was a lucky quarter or something. years old, he could finally attend. Tom said no. He told Connor He had heard from the older guys that if he ever found himself in at the pool room what a great a position where he needed his tournament this was. Many of dad, to find a payphone and call. the professional players and all of No matter where he was in this the top guys from the West Coast world, he would come running. He would be there. Two weeks before then said, “You are my son; if we the Open, Connor asked his boss don’t have each other, we don…”. at The Human Bean if he could Connor finished by saying, “We take some time off to go. He was don’t have anything.” This was told no. something they had said to each other for years. Overwhelmed After a faint knock on his door, with his dad’s love and support, Connor’s mom, Irma, entered his Connor went to his room and room. She saw him packing his cried. duffel bag and asked if he was going somewhere. He told her The next morning, Connor about the tournament and that he loaded up the truck. Along with wanted to see just where he stood his bag and cues, he loaded up as a pool player. His mom asked an air mattress and pump, a how he was going to get there and pillow, some blankets, and an if he had enough money. He said ice chest with a few drinks and he was okay with money, which he some snacks. Irma handed him a would have said if he had none at fifty-dollar bill and said, “Don’t all, and that was going to drive. tell your father.” She hugged him Her two-word response sounded and told him to be safe and to call more like concern than a question home once in a while to let them when she said, “Your car?” know how he was doing. She then asked about his job. He smiled That night at dinner, before and told her that he didn’t work Connor could bring it up, his dad there anymore. asked him about the tournament.

Connor’s parents knew how Before Connor pulled out, he much he loved to play pool, and told his mom that he was going although neither one of them had to stop in Sacramento for a few ever seen him play, they supported days before heading up to Reno their son fully and wanted to and that he would call in a few see him succeed. After dinner, hours once he got there. He was Connor’s dad, Tom, went out to less than a half mile from his

house when he let out a shouting, screaming, excited noise that sounded like it was straight out of the Dukes of Hazard or something. He had a bankroll of a little over twelve hundred dollars, a good truck with a camper shell, and all the hopes and dreams a young man headed out to the open road could possibly have.

He was northbound on the highway and on his way to a poolroom that was known as one of the greatest action rooms in the country. His nine-ball game had yet to be tested outside of his hometown. In his local pool room, he was one of the big guys, but was he just a big fish in a small pond? Could he keep up with the big boys? Was he a real player or just another wannabe? He was determined to find out one way or another.

Almost three hours to the minute from leaving his home, he found himself in the back parking lot at The Great American Billiards.

Although he had never before been there, he had heard many stories about this place and couldn’t wait to get inside just to look around and see what it was all about. As he approached the door, his heart raced with nervous excitement. He stopped to take a deep breath and said to himself, “Here we go,” as he reached for the door.

Well, folks, you are going to have to tune in next month to see how our young road player fares swimming in this sea of sharks. As always, I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read my work, and I sure hope you enjoy the story. Your continued support for SPM magazine is greatly appreciated, and until next month, folks, stay safe out there, and keep that cue ball rollin.

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TOMMY HILL

Tommy Hill Bio Tommy is a master instructor with both the PBIA & AMP; ACS. When he was a younger man Tommy played on the Men’s Professional Billiards Tour and the Camel Pro Tour. Like many un-sponsored pro players of that era he also played on the road in order to keep the dream alive. Tommy has spent 40 plus years in the billiards industry. The adventures of Connor Benson are fictional short stories of a road player. Although fictional, some stories may derive from his own experiences, stories he had heard or things he witnessed along the way.

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KEITH SHANER

THE US OPEN NINE-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP: GETTING TO THE CORE OF MODERN POOL

T

here are many great events for pool in the United States at both the amateur and professional level. There are many regional, national, and world championship events held in the US that have historical significance. The big three in my eyes are The Derby City Classic, The International Open, and The US Open. The size of the fields, the talent level, and the impact that they all have on American cue sports are mainly why I chose them.

Among the Big Three, The US Open is the longest-running active tournament in the US, and looking at its history is like studying an ice core. Year by year, layer by layer, we can see the changes and growth of pool.

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Starting with less than 20 players in its first year, it now regularly fields 256 players with a waiting list. American players dominated the event, similar to how they dominated the Mosconi Cup in its early years. Sigel, Hall, Strickland, Varner, and Mizerak were familiar names to see in the finals. Mike LeBron was the first non-US-born player to win it, taking the title in 1986. Just eight years later, in 1994, we see the so-called “Filipino Invasion” wave hitting a big crest with Efren Reyes winning. Reyes would make three more final appearances, making way for players like Jose Parica, Alex Pagulayan, Rodolfo Luat, Ronnie Alcano, Dennis Orcullo, and Carlo Biado to find themselves in the finals. Takeshi Okumura, a standout player from

Japan, made the finals in 2000, and Ralf Souquet of Germany was a winner in 2002, with Thorsten Hohmann quickly following in 2004 to make the finals and taking the runner-up spot.

In 2005, we saw the first allFilipino final, and in 2009, we saw our first all-European final. Since then, only Corey Deuel, Shawn Putnam, and Shane Van Boening have reached the finals, and only Shane has seen the winner’s circle, winning four times to bring his total to 5, tying the legendary Earl Strickland. We regularly see European and Asian players in the finals. Kevin Cheng and Karl Boyes met in 2015, and Joshua Filler and Wu Jiaqing clashed in 2019. No American player has made the finals since SVB’s last

EFREN REYES WINNING THE 1994 US OPEN AGINST NICK VARNER

win in 2016.

I think it is generally agreed that pool in the US has fallen as Asia and European players now dominate most major events.

This is directly reflected in looking at the history of the US Open.

It’s not that you can’t find other examples to track; it’s just that I think the US Open offers the best dataset overall, with its long history.

The US Open has also been a showcase for things like Corey Deuel throwing the first and only shutout in the finals in 2001. Part of Corey’s dominance eventually led to new rules regarding the soft break. We’ve seen dark horse winners like Gabe Owen and John Schmidt. We’ve seen legends built with Earl Strickland beating

players like Sigel, Rempe, Reyes, Ellin, and Omura and eventually winning five titles, the first of two to reach that number.

The US Open changed hands from the longstanding founder Barry Behrman to his children in 2016, who ran with the help of Pat Fleming, and finally to Matchroom in 2018, who have taken pool further in the last five years than anyone else has in the last twenty-five. The fields are growing to match World Championship levels, and they are now being mirrored in events all over the world. Another thing to come out of the sale of the US Open to Matchroom was Pat Fleming creating the International Open, which has become just as big and almost as prestigious.

Matchroom has added more new events like the UK Open and the Spanish Open as well as the Peri Open and the Asian Open Championship. They have events like the World Cup of Pool, the Premier Pool League, and the World Pool Masters. The crown jewel event in terms of hype and presentation is, of course, the Mosconi Cup. In recent years, though, the US has begun to increase training and events for its junior players, like the JIC Tour and the BEF event, to send our young players to the Junior World Championship. From these, we are starting to see some positive results in the rise of our younger talent. We have some distance to go, but we are taking steps in the SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

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KEITH SHANER

right direction. Matchroom is also running junior events parallel to their major events, which gives young players even more opportunities. This also means that we cannot rest when we see a little bit of success. It means that our players must work even harder, and we need to support them even better. Do not rest on your laurels. Do not coast on your talent. Do not underestimate your opponents.

Learn from the Past. Live in the Present. Look to the Future.

Right now, the future looks bright, and if we stay in the moment and don’t repeat the doomed decisions of the past, I think in a few more years, it will have evolved well beyond what anyone could have imagined way back in 1976. Who knows what we will see in the next core sample, say, fifty years from now? It might be something epic.

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ERIC NARETTO

THE FUNDAMENTAL CHECKLIST As an instructor, I teach my students how to organize their thinking. I work with my students to create different “checklists” they can use to help maintain their composure in order to execute their goals.

P

sponsorships and traveling across the world, representing their respective homelands in grand competitions.

Professional runs a category of its own, with players having

There are many differences between an amateur and a professional player. According to Malcolm Gladwell, who authored the book “Outliers,” it takes 10,000 hours to master any craft.

Well, according to many rankings among pool players, there are a couple of steps above what we

laying pool at a competitive level is an extremely difficult task. There are two major categories that pool players fall into in our world: amateur and professional. These categories may have many sub-categories, such as standard, open, advanced, and master, while others use handicaps ratings such as Fargo and APA.

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classify as a master player. If it takes 10,000 hours to master a craft, what does it take to become a professional pool player? I like to think a professional pool player masters the steps of mastering the craft.

A professional pool player goes through all the motions of the game with a different level of intensity than the amateur player does. Pool ambassador, professional player, and coach Mark Wilson often states that one of the hardest parts of being a professional is looking the part.

With that being said, how does an amateur player (whatever their ranking) start to evolve into a professional player? I believe this evolution starts by creating checklists to guide our fundamentals along with our mentality.

As an instructor, I teach my students how to organize their thinking. I work with my students to create different “checklists” they can use to help maintain their composure in order to execute their goals. The most important checklist that I teach is the fundamental checklist. Today, I share this 7-step checklist with you to hopefully help increase your execution rates on the pool table.

ERIC NARETTO

G-1’s FUNDAMENTAL CHECKLIST

6) Slow backswing- The backswing of the stroke controls the accuracy of the follow1) Face the Shot and Set the through. Work with precision. Pull Stance- Part 1 of looking like a pro. the cue back slowly and follow Go stand behind the shot as if it through accurately. Wherever was straight in, then return to the you start, should be wherever you cue ball and take a good look at finish. the shot at hand. Set yourself with the following steps.

7) Stay Down- Part 2 of looking like a pro. Finish your shot well 2) Proper Footwork- The back and freeze on the follow-through. foot should never be positioned Don’t jump up and watch the across the shot line. The stroke finish strong. traditional American stance has the toe of the back foot positioned Applying this type of list can 90 degrees to the shot line; keep any player calm, collected, however, as long as the foot does and in control of the situation at not cross the shot line, the angle hand. The road to glory starts of the back foot can be smaller. here for any player. Think of the star players on top of their The front foot should be game currently. Players such positioned in front of the back as FSR, Gorst, Van Boening, foot, just past shoulder width Woodward, Feijen, and Styer all apart, and the big toe of the front have some type of routine before foot pointing toward the targeted the shot, during the shot, and object ball. after the shot. Create purpose in your game by starting here and 3) Strong Balance- Balance creating a better game for your comes from the proper distribution future! of weight. Create a triangle of weight using your back foot, front foot, and bridge as the corners.

Each corner of your triangle should hold approximately 33% of the body weight. No one should be able to push you over.

Eric believes, “All students are all capable of being great, and through hard work and determination, we can surpass our current situation to obtain a better one.” If you are currently looking for instruction, Eric currently resides in the Pontiac, Illinois area and can be reached through his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ g1billiards Or you can email him at: ericnaretto@gmail.com

4) Proper Clearance- In order for the cue stick to move the straightest, the cue stick must be away from the body. We keep the cue away from the body by making sure the backhand holding the cue is placed directly under the elbow.

5) Handshake grip- A proper handshake won’t crush a hand, but it won’t let the other person walk away, either. This handshake grip is the appropriate amount of energy used to hold the cue. Not too loose and not too tight.

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DOMINIC ESPOSITO, A.K.A., THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR

WHEN TO KNOW YOU’RE ON OFFENSE OR DEFENSE T

he overwhelming majority of pool players think about shooting Defensive shots when they don’t see any openmakeable shots right in front of them. If that’s what happens to you, it’s high time you consider learning The Drill Instructor Way. The Three Ball Rule is the most intelligent and effective way to know from shot to shot if you should be on Offense or Defense.

We’ll look at two table layouts that can teach you to see this.

First, let’s understand how the Three Ball Rule works.

Offense. When you Cannot see three open-makeable shots with a controlled cue ball, you’re on Defense.

Before you take the next shot, ask yourself, “Can I see three makable shots and how to control cue ball for position to pocket each of the three shots?”

The critical thinking skill to have when you don’t see three open shots is to decide which of the next three balls would work best to execute your Defensive play, viz., when you’re on the first, second, or the final third ball that you could use.

When you can see Three Open and Makable Shots, you’re on

The Three Ball Rule works for any game you’re playing, even on a competitive level. Before every shot, you should always know in advance if you’re on Offense or Defense. Unfortunately, most players are too late to come to this conclusion. This is one of the major reasons why players lose control of both the table and their opponents. The worst part is you end up getting out of rhythm.

The following examples are best utilized by any level players.

Scenario No. 1.

The game is 8 Ball.

Your opponent missed their shot.

You have Striped Balls.

Q1a. Are you on Offense or Defense?

Q1b. What is your strategy of play?

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The Drill Instructor Way suggests: Answer 1a: You’re on Defense because you don’t have 3 clear, open, and makable shots.

Answer 1b: Because you don’t have 3 clear, open, and makable shots: a. Pocket the 12 ball into the corner pocket with 2 Tips of bottom, a 4 Speed Shot Stroke, and a level cue. b. Draw the cue ball within three inches from the bottom rail, 1 1/2 Diamonds from the corner pocket, close to the 13 ball. c. Shoot into the 13 ball first using a ¼ Shot Speed Stroke. After hitting the 13 ball, the cue ball will touch the rail, then roll back up and rest frozen on to the 13 ball.

You should leave your opponent with your 10 and 15 Ball blocking their 4 and 6 ball. The 1 and 7 Ball are blocked by the 8, 9, and 14 Ball.

If the player jumps or kicks, the Cue Ball to run wild.

You could force getting Ball-In-Hand with this strategy.

Scenario No. 2.

The game is 9 Ball.

Your opponent made the 5 Ball on the brake then missed the 1 Ball.

Q 2a. Are you on Offense or Defense?

Q 2b. What is your strategy of play?

The Drill Instructor Way suggests: Answer 2a: You’re on Defense. You only have 2 open and makable shots out of 3.

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Answer 2b: Because you don’t have 3 clear, open, and makable shots: a. Use a 2 Speed Shot Stroke with 1/2 Tip of Top. b. Pocket the 1 Ball in the corner pocket. The Cue Ball should roll out 1 Diamond from the bottom cushion at center table. c. Pocket the 2 Ball into the corner pocket using a 3 Speed Shot Stroke with 2 Tips of Bottom and 1 Tip Right-Side English. The cue ball should land above Center Table, almost perpendicular to the 4 Ball (basically where your shot on the 1 Ball started from). d. There are TWO WAYS to execute your Defensive Shot using the 3 Ball.

Shot Option 1, Freeze the Cue Ball to the 7 Ball and land in any position on the opposite side of the 7 Ball.

Shot Option 2, Stun-roll the Cue Ball 1 inch past the 7 Ball. Run the 3 Ball into the top cushion and land it past the 9 Ball.

Whenever you use the Three Ball Rule, you’ll know before every shot if you should be on Defense or Offense.

It all starts by first clearly seeing Three Open and Makable Shots.

I strongly endorse never passing up the chance to force your opponent to give you Ball-In-Hand.

That’s The Drill Instructor Way — always controlling both the table and your opponent.

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IMPROVE YOUR GAME THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR WAY!

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KAT DAY EDITOR IN CHIEF/CONTENT CREATOR

A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT ROSS

T

he World of Pool has lost an amazing photographer and pool player! Robert Ross will be missed for his gifted talent with a lens and his love for pool! For the last year and a half, Robert G. Ross had a fight for the second time with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The last time he was home before he was in Hospice, all he wanted to do was to get to the pool table. His wife, Deborah, took him to the table, but unfortunately, all he could do was barely hit two balls. But just to get there and do that meant a lot to him. He passed away on June 21, 2023. Before he passed, he said, I’ll see you on the other side.” Ross had a good

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life and was grateful to make it to 80. He also loved his military brothers and sisters. Ross was buried at the VA National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

Ross was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on February 21, 1943. As a young man, he is remembered for his love of Westerns and beautiful landscapes in California. When Ross turned 18, he purchased a one-way ticket to California and never looked back!

Ross was drafted by the army and sent to Korea,

where he bought his first camera. Robert Ross had a deep interest and love for playing pool and later started using his skills to photograph pool players in action. Ross worked for UPS, and after work, he would hit the pool halls with his lens and work his magic on and off the table! Ross was so quiet that many people did not realize his playing skills on the table!

Robert Ross even made it to the screen. He did trick shots on a sitcom called “It’s a Different World.” and was also in a short video featuring Jackie Gleason called “Trilogy Eddy Ross.” You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/DesfurNjcBg?si=dso3Q4IGoiFS3smz Ross had a talent for capturing stunning photographs of the players without being noticed, almost like he was the invisible man! He would arrive early to tournaments and strategically position himself in inconspicuous locations to snap his magical shots.

Ross became well-known and loved through his photography. The more photos that Ross took and shared, the more he became known for his unique style. Ross’s favorite player was Efren Reyes. When Reyes was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Ross was called and asked if they could use one of his pictures of Efren for the Ceremony. Ross happily obliged and was invited to attend the induction. Ross’s photos have been featured in different billiard magazines.

The last magazine Ross was in was SPM Billiards Magazine Issue 29, where I did a write-up and showcased his amazing photography. I felt honored to work with Ross, who was a wonderful and generous man to work with and provided me with many photos for me to choose from!

I found out about Ross’s passing through Sandro Menzel while I was looking for some photos of Alex Pagulayan for an article I was writing. Sandro told me that Robert Ross would have been my go-to for photos of Alex, and I replied that I had messaged him also but had not heard back from him. Sandro came back to tell me that I would not be hearing from him because he had passed. My heart hit the floor. I was deeply saddened. We proceeded to chat, and Menzel mentioned that I should do an article. I was in complete agreement. I asked Sandro if he would like to add something to the article, and this is what he said. “Robert and I interacted several times through Messenger. He was always delightful and helpful.

Unfortunately, we never had the opportunity to meet in person. I learned a lot from him merely by looking at (studying) his images. The fact that he shot on film is incredible.

I think all of us who shoot pool owe him a debt of gratitude for leading the way.”

Mary Kenniston wrote an Obituary for Ross. Here is a clip from it, PHOTO BY TAKAIMAGES FOR MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT

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“My friend of many years & photographer extraordinaire, Robert Ross, has passed away from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

He was 80. Seldom seen without his camera, Ross (as he was known to his many friends) was one of the faces I always searched for in the crowd at the numerous pro events held out west in days gone by. I first met him in the early ‘80s at the House of Billiards in Los Angeles when he approached me with a couple of photos in his hand. “Thought you might like these,” he said as he handed them to me. I was thrilled!”

The obituary continued with beautiful words to say: Over the years, Ross took hundreds of photos of the legends of our game - pool players who became his friends. As another old friend, John Henderson, wrote when I told him of the passing of our mutual friend, “I knew he was fighting cancer for a while. Sad news, he was a good man and loved pool, and his photos were wonderful.”

I then got together with his lovely wife, Deborah, who helped with information for the article to honor his memory.”

Ross left behind a cue that was made for him by Gus Szamboti in 1984, Ms. Ross will be selling this cue on Ebay.

If you are interested, you can contact Ross’s wife via email at: drross4353@att.net There are many pictures that Ross took that the pool community, unfortunately, will never see. Hope you enjoy the pictures in this article.

Ross, you will be missed by so many. I know that you are up there with the greats at the table!

ROSS’S GUS SZAMBOTI CUE

The information provided was

by Deborah Ross and Mary Kenniston, and thank you, Sandro Menzel!

BUDDY HALL BY ROBERT ROSS

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EFREN REYES

ROBERT ROSS

COLE 2019

CECIL TUGWELL

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT ROSS

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JAMES ARANAS

CHRIS ROBINSON

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JOSH ROBERTS

JIMMY REID

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT ROSS

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STEVE RAU

f you are a pool player or have followed the billiard world at all, you may be asking yourself, who is Steve Rau? This article is lengthy but explains a whole lot.

There was a day in July of 2022 that I will never forget! In fact, it was July 24th. It was the start of something special that I did not see coming at all. Let me explain a few things that happened to me leading up to that day. In early June, I was driving on the expressway, and I saw a billboard that caught my attention. It was an advertisement for the WPBA (Women’s Professional Billiards Association) going to be at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant, MI. As I passed by the billboard, fond memories came to mind from when my brother-in-law, Eric Anderson, and I attended our first WPBA event at The Shark Club in Canton, MI, in 1997. Sadly, it was also the last. (Not because we didn’t enjoy ourselves; in fact, we had an absolute blast!) We were able to meet some of the female pro pool players and got some of their autographs, which we still have to this day, 26 years later—even had an opportunity to play against them! I remember my opponent. I played Loree Jon Jones. I heard about her being a contestant and winning on the Price is Right game show from people in the crowd, so I thought that was cool to have played against her. Eric ended up SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WISCONSIN BILLIARDS HALL OF FAME

I

THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON I WILL NEVER FORGET!

them from the 1997 tournament was that Kelly was from the U.K. and dominating in snooker during those years, and Jasmin was from Austria and hadn’t started professionally competing until 2002. I read as much as I could about them both before the start of the final.

playing Allison Fisher, I believe.

As the event went on, we watched Jeanette Lee and Allison Fisher play in the final. It was intense.

You could cut the tension with a knife.

So, back to early June 2022, when I saw the billboard. I knew that I was going to attend the Soaring Eagle Masters event—no doubt about it. I couldn’t wait to call Eric to see if he wanted to go. We decided to go on Sunday, July 24th, because we wanted the opportunity to watch the final again. We made plans to go, but unfortunately, Eric had to back out. I found myself thinking that I still wanted to go but didn’t really want to go by myself. That Sunday morning, I woke up and got ready for church. The thought of going to the event was waning a little. After church, a group of us went out to lunch. We went to Hardee’s. As we were eating, I kept checking the time. I was quickly approaching the time that I needed to leave to make it to Soaring Eagle. It was about 75 miles away. At lunch with me was my mom. We were talking about 46

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As I was sitting there in anticipation, I began to observe the auditorium. I was watching the fans and their interactions. I noticed details about the video production, the lighting, sound, the personnel working, and so on.

Idea after idea was coming to me.

I couldn’t help it. I remember the thought, why is all of this jumping out to me? As the announcer introduced Jasmin and Kelly what each of us was going to do prior to their match, I watched that day. I told her of Eric and I’s Kelly walk in and immediately plans to go to the tournament, found myself drawn to her. Not in and since Eric couldn’t go, I was some awkward or inappropriate, thinking about not going. She strange way, just something about said, “Well, I will go with you.” I her that I couldn’t explain. The replied, “Sounds good,” and away best way to describe it now was I we went. felt like I had known her my whole life. There was something about I am so glad we did! I walked her that resonated with me and into the auditorium where the had no explanation for—literally tournament was being played. I seeing her for the first time ever. found a tournament bracket and began to read the list of players The match began, and a battle trying to catch up on all the action ensued. It was a race to 10 in 9 from the week. I was looking ball. Match after match, back for familiar names from the and forth was the wins and losses 1997 tournament but sadly only stacking up. Just when I thought recognized 2 or 3 of them. Allison one would run away with victory, or Jeanette was not there. I heard the other would rally back and an announcement made that take the lead. Ultimately, Jasmin Margaret Fefilova had just taken prevailed. After the match, I third place. I was relieved that I had the opportunity to meet arrived in time to watch the final. I Margaret, Kelly, Jasmin, and a few saw that in the final was going to others. be Jasmin Ouschan against Kelly Fisher. (And no, I did not think To speed up this long story, Kelly and Allison were sisters. Lol.) two months later, I ended up attending the Predator Pro Billiard To be honest, I had never heard Series tournament in September of Jasmin or Kelly, so I googled 2022 in Battle Creek, MI. My their names. I quickly learned the brother-in-law was able to go with reason that I had not heard of me this time. We had such a good

STEVE RAU

time. Interestingly, though, all those ideas came back to me from the WPBA event, along with more ideas. I leaned over to Eric when we were waiting for the final to begin and said to him, “I felt very strongly about sharing my ideas with someone.” Whether they would do anything with the ideas didn’t matter so much to me. Just felt I needed to tell someone.

Now, to be transparent, I do have event and marketing experience from my time working in Pro Wrestling as a promoter and marketer and the projects that I have been involved in over the last 6 years with the TV stars from the hit iconic show, The Dukes of Hazzard. However, these ideas and observations from attending

these two billiard events hit me differently.

reached. Leading up to that call, I thought that if there were to be a person to speak more about Prior to the final match beginning, my ideas, it should be with the I ended up meeting and sharing #1 ranked woman in the world. some ideas with someone from As our conversation began and the WPBA and CSI. (Cue Sports I told her about my life, business International). I shared briefly background, and a few of my about my background and a few ideas, I was eagerly and nervously of my ideas. I had sparked some awaiting her response. interest and left the tournament that day having a great time. I As she began to ask me questions ended up getting my picture taken and tell me a little about herself, with Kelly and her opponent in I was so happy and relieved she the final, Wei Tzu Chien. That seemed to show genuine interest. was quite the battle as well. It As our talk progressed, I sensed ended up in a shoot-out, and Kelly that we had a like-mindedness. prevailed.

Some of my ideas were sitting right with her. She said she Five months later, in early wasn’t sure if some of the ideas February 2023, an opportunity to would work, but ultimately, the speak with Kelly Fisher had been conversation continued, which

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was the start of something special. We entered into a conversation about me becoming her manager. To say I was thrilled about the prospect was an understatement.

excited for our future. We have implemented some ideas but still have much more work to be done.

I want to take this opportunity to announce something special that is coming out very soon. One Months later, and after numerous of my ideas was to create theme conversations, we reached an songs for them. We could use the agreement for me to become her songs for social media posts, TV manager. I was high as a kite. I advertisements, special events, couldn’t wait to get started! One etc. Wei Wei’s new theme song of the pleasant surprises for me was shared on social media not in all of this was the conversation too long ago, and Kelly’s will be we had about me becoming the debuting for the first time very manager for Wei Tzu Chien, too. soon. It is a great song that I feel In part, the words of legendary fits her perfectly. Every lyric of the baseball player Lou Gehring come song hits home to the fact that to mind: “Yet today I consider she truly is a champion on and off myself the luckiest man on the the table. I cannot wait for you face of the earth,” resonated with to see it! We will be announcing me. These two are wonderful soon on our social media page human beings, and I am going on Facebook at facebook.com/ to work hard to make a lot of steverauprobilliards when it will opportunities happen for them. I come out. Keep an eye out for it! am hoping that my contributions In a short amount of time, our can help promote the sport at new Facebook page has reached large to new audiences. I am just under 8,000 followers. We

greatly appreciate it.

Lastly, I want to report about the recent success Kelly Fisher has experienced by taking first place at both the 2023 Predator Pro Billiard Series tournament in Battle Creek, Michigan, and the WPBA Iron City Billiards II tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. Both of those matches were intense, to say the least. In Michigan, Chou battled hard and forced an extra set, and in Alabama, Fefilova was on point the entire match. Kelly had to dig deep. She had to make some incredible shots despite the immense pressure that was there.

Wei Tzu Chien finished in fourth place in Michigan and Alabama. She played very well and competed at a high level. In both events, she narrowly missed opportunities that would have put her in the final undoubtedly.

STEVE RAU, KELLY FISHER AND WEI TZU CHIEN

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JACKIE KAROL PBIA INSTRUCTOR

ZERO REGRETS S

ports psychologist, Dr. Jerry Lynch, has created an exercise called. “Zero Regrets”. It can be used for any path, including athletic, professional, or personal.

Imagine it is 6 months from now, for example, and you are looking back on the area life that you are committed to (ie. your tournament / personal relationship / work / fitness program, etc.). Using your past experience as a guide, what 5 regrets could you have at that time? For example, it could be not giving it my all, not consistently practicing, not doing nice things for your significant other, not eating healthy and working out, etc.

After you have listed these things, ask yourself, “What 5 or more behaviors could I perform that, if successful, would eliminate the chances of having those regrets?” Your answers to this are specific tangible tasks to be performed such as: Practice 3 times a week for 2 hour sessions each to prevent the regret of not giving it your all.

Take pool lessons at least twice a month for an hour each to prevent the regret of not not learning more.

Clean up around the house once a week to prevent the regret of not making your significant other smile.

You can use this exercise for almost anything whether it’s because you want to win more games or make something that is already good even better and even more fulfilling. Having purpose and vision significantly impacts your experience and enjoyment of your journey.

I strongly recommend reading Jerry Lynch’s books. This exercise is from, “The Way of the Champion”.

Thank you, Jackie JACKIE KAROL | The Best Damn Billiards Instructor! www.AngelofBilliards.com National Champion 8 Ball PBIA Instructor | ACS Instructor (503) 820-9000

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MARK WHITE

JADEN CHOW AKA JADEN_THE_POOL_LOVER I sat down for a chat with ‘Jaden_the_ppol_lover’ from Hong Kong, the teenage Instagram sensation with over 25 million views.

He isn’t just a cool content creator showing off his trick shot skills but is also an aspiring player and is coached by pro player and fellow countryman Lo Ho Sum. He shuffles his time between school and pool, rising at 7 am every morning, and after his studies, he helps his Mum Miko Chan and Dad Royston with one of the family. businesses selling template racks, the Magic Ball Rack (As seen at all Matchroom events.)

He is also an entrepreneur and already has a very shrewd head on his shoulders.

Incidentally, Dad Royston is also a player and regularly competes, and at the time of writing, this. Jaden is at the Matchroom wnt 9 Ball Open in Hanoi, Vietnam.

He truly is a pool fanatic like myself and is always looking for ways to entertain his followers, looking for unique tables. (See an example in the interview in my background) and his instructional videos are very interesting and entertaining. Also, he has a unique style and delivery, which makes him very endearing and likable.

This 13-year-old Hong Kongian, can I say that, is it even a word? Well, it is now, he is an inspiration, and a lot of his talk about algorithms, reach, and many other terms was like a foreign language to this dinosaur.

I couldn’t get my head around a lot he was telling me, but after hearing him explain it in a way that even a Grandad like me could understand, it made sense and explained why I got 100 views on a post while his idea of ‘Viral’ is a few hundred thousand. Foloowm Jaden on Instagram at @jaden_the_pool_lover For a more in-depth view of Jaden’s world, check out the interview Here. just a couple of pool ‘Fan’atics discussing their passion and love for cue sports.

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JADEN THE POOL LOVER

INTERVIEW WITH MARK WHITE

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KEITH SHANER

BE NOT AFRAID OF GREATNESS:

THE FINAL FOUR OF THE US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

T

he 2023 US Open 9-Ball Championship has ended, but it is not behind us. It still stares us right in our eyes and measures all of us: players, fans, supporters, and leaders. The US Open is about excellence, dedication, and commitment.

The US Open is the oldest active tournament and one that has held a prestigious position at both home and abroad for decades. From the humble 54

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beginnings of Barry Behrman to its acquisition by Matchroom, it has had moments of brilliance and moments of tragedy. It has excitement and drama like no other event of its time. It continues to evolve, as do we all, and I hope we all continue to be worthy of the journey it can take us on.

This event has grown to 256 players with a long waiting list. The arena has emerged as one of the

finest stages for pool, both live and for media broadcast. Can it still improve? Yes, absolutely, and I’m confident that its caretakers will always seek to make it one of the best examples of pool entertainment in the world.

Certainly, the talent pool has exploded over the past few years.

This year alone, the names left by the wayside tell us that fact.

Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, Ko Pin Yi, Albin Ouschan, Shane Van Boening, and Joshua Filler. The final four this year was one of the most interesting I have seen in quite a while, and it was one of the most exciting to watch.

titles or had high finishes.

Ko Ping Chung is the younger brother of Ko Pin Yi. Ping Chung has won the World Junior 9-Ball Championship, a World 10-Ball title, and had two semifinal appearances at the US Open only to fall short both times. He was born in Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) and has been making big appearances for more than ten years. His brother, Ko Pin Yi, has slightly overshadowed him, and many have been waiting for him to have his breakout moment.

Aloysius Yapp is from Singapore and is also a Junior World champion and has been playing This year saw it boil down to since he was a young boy. He has four names: Ko Ping Chung, been playing professionally for Fedor Gorst, Aloysius Yapp, and more than 10 years and has won a Aleksa Pecelj. None of them were gold medal at the Asian Games. older than 28. None of them He has been a runner-up at the had won a US Open 9-Ball title US Open and has won the Pro prior to 2023. Three of them Billiard Series event in Michigan had won World Junior 9-Ball twice, but he has been trying to Championships, and all have won capture that major event that will

cement his position as one of the best in the world.

Aleksa Pecelj comes to us from Serbia and is a fine example of how far interest in the game has spread. And furthermore, it shows how large the talent pool is around the world. Aleksa is only 23 and has finished second at the European 10-Ball Championship and third at the European Junior 9-Ball Championship. He is also a winner of the Visoko Open.

Aleksa is poised to emerge as a true young star, and winning an event like the US Open would go far in making that statement to the world.

Fedor Gorst is perhaps the biggest name among the final four. Born in Russia and now living in the United States, he is both a Junior World 9-Ball Champion and World 9-Ball Champion. He has won the US Open 8-Ball and 10Ball titles and multiple titles at the SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

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time-honored Derby City Classic.

The US Open title, though, has eluded him thus far, and while he is young, you must remember that nothing is guaranteed, and there are many greats who chase titles but never capture them. Also, the previous year, through no fault of his own, Fedor was banned from playing in many major events, and 2023 has been his reemergence year, so he wants to show the world he is still a top threat to win.

Aloysius began his journey with a win over Leo Ott 9-2 and went on an undefeated run to the final four, beating Kyle Akaloo, Jeff De Luna, Wojciech Szewczyk, Marco Teutscher, Mario He, Wiktor Zielinski. Aleksa started his quest with Barry West winning 9-1, but then he stumbled and lost to Lee Kang 9-8, sending him to the B side. He recovered and went on to beat Edward Epperson, Babken Melkonyan Denis Grabe,

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Imran Majid, Phuong Nam Pham, Ralf Souquet, and Jayson Shaw.

Fedor’s first match was with Sam Henderson, a strong junior making his first attempt at The Open. Fedor won 9-1 and went on to defeat Payne McBride, Nicholas De Leon, Billy Thorpe, Sanjin Pehlivanovic, Carlo Biado, and Robbie Capito. Ko made quick work of his first opponent 9-1 and seemed well poised to move through the fields, but he ran into former US Open champion Corey Deuel, and Corey sent him to the B side 9-6.

Ko Ping Chung then fought his way through Jeremy Seaman, Ahmed Aldulaimi, Radislaw Babica, Alexander Kazakis, Jeff De Luna, and Max Lechner.

And then there were four. Four players, all young, all hungry, all with something to prove to the world and to themselves. The pairings were as follows: Fedor

Gorst versus Aleksa Pecelj and Ko Ping Chung versus Aloysius Yapp.

First up was Gorst and Pecelj.

The first rack had Gorst looking strong and comfortable with just a small glitch getting on the eight ball to the nine, but he took the rack with no issue. Rack two, however, had Aleksa at the table looking at a long jump shot on the one ball. He drilled the shot, bringing the cue ball back up and across the table, getting into a nice little window for a shot on the two-ball. He made the rest of the rack look easy, and the match was even at one game each. Aleksa would go on to take the next four racks, looking like a seasoned veteran. Fedor finally got a look in rack seven, and he stopped the bleeding, making it 5-2. It looked like he would take rack 8, but an attempt at an early 9-ball went awry. Aleksa stepped up, but he was unable to take advantage

of the former World Champion, and Fedor got a reprieve and a win to make it 5-3. Fedor also wins game nine but scratches on the break in the next rack, and Aleksa makes it 6-4. Aleksa showed a little chink in his armor and gave Fedor a chance, and we saw him take seven games in a row to head into the finals with an 11-6 victory. Don’t forget the name Aleksa Pecelj because I can assure you his future competitors will not.

The second semifinal became something rare and beautiful. It was Ko Ping Chung squaring off with Aloysius Yapp. Ko broke making the one-ball, and Yapp missed a long, difficult shot on the two. Ko stepped back to the table and took the rack apart to win the first game. Little Ko would go on to win eleven straight racks. He made a ball on the break every single game, and he made every ball in every game for a total of 99 balls. Yapp would only have a few chances to kick at balls as Ko broke and ran six of the 11 games and controlled every aspect of the match, missing only one ball in the entire set. According to some statistics that were posted, 93% of the table time was Ko Ping Chung. It is one of the most incredible performances of all time, and it was done in the semifinals of the US Open 9-Ball Championship! To paraphrase the former great amateur golfer Bobby Jones when he watched a young Jack Nicklaus win The Masters in 1965 – “You, sir, played a game with which I am not familiar!”.

We now move to as highly an anticipated final as you could have imagined. Fedor Gorst, who was trying to reestablish himself as a top player on the world stage, and Ko Ping Chung looking to show he is a major champion in his own right. Fedor, who had won seven in a row against a young rising star who was eclipsing SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

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champions and looked to be poised to be the dark horse winner of the event. Ko stepped up against the man who made the finals just two years prior to this encounter. He was a man who was looking to redeem himself and put that major win on his resume, only to see Ko Ping Chung take eleven straight racks in a match where he only had one possible offensive shot.

The final stage was set, and someone was going to emerge as a champion. Two young men who are as great off the table as they are on it. Players who represent themselves and the sport as well as anyone in the world. It was now a race to thirteen in one of the highest-pressure situations in major pool.

In rack one, we saw Ko snookered on the two-ball behind two other balls. Ko calmly jumped and pocketed the two, but he left the cue ball behind the four, unable to see the three at the other end of the table. No problem. He jumped again, pocketing the ball and getting shape of the four proceeded to run out rack one.

Rack two presented us with an early safety battle that got Fedor ball-in-hand from Ko Ping Chung, and he evened things up at 1-1. A misplayed safe in game three by Ko and Fedor took the lead 2-1. Fedor missed a bank on the two-ball in the next game, and Ko came right back to make it two-all!

The fifth game started again with some fine safety play and, another great jump shot by Ko Ping Chung and a safe. Fedor was able to return the safe and take away the jump shot and any easy route to the ball. Ko managed a hit but could not get to a rail, and Fedor had ball-in-hand again. Fedor would go on to win the next three racks and take a 5-2 lead. Ko won rack eight after an uncharacteristic mistake by Gorst to cut the lead to two games. A missed cut on the three-ball let Fedor back in again, and he wins the ninth rack, and the score stood at 6-3 Gorst. In the tenth rack, Fedor played a cross-bank, possibly with a two-way shot in mind, but he left Little Ko an opening, and Ko notched that game on his side of the string. Another miss by Fedor in the next rack led to another Ko win, making it 6-5. Ko Ping Chung continued his winning streak, and at 6-6, he hit a great back-cut on the two and played a safe that led to him taking the lead for the first time since the opening rack. Ko’s play began to mirror his performance in the semi-final against Yapp as his ball pocketing, cue ball control, and defensive play. Fedor made a tremendous jump shot of his own in rack fourteen, but a miss on the four-ball in the side pocket left another win out on the table for Little Ko and

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a score of 8-6. Fedor’s chances became fewer and fewer after that as won two more to get to 10-6. In rack twelve, Ko rattled a six-ball on the four-inch corner pockets and left an opening for Fedor to try to climb back into the match. Leaving himself a tough cut on the seven, he makes it but has a horrible result as he sees the cue ball disappear into the side pocket, and Ko Ping Chung moves to 11 while Fedor stays at 6. Ko would give no more chances to Gorst after that and would go on to take the next two games and earn himself a place in pool history as the forty-sixth winner of the US Open 9-Ball Championship.

This tournament had everything you could possibly want. Drama, excitement, agony, and entertainment.

A feel-good story. A well-deserved win that let a man put a well-deserved stamp on his career as well as a performance for the ages. Congratulations to Ko Ping Chung for a win no one will forget. Congratulations to Fedor Gorst for a great run in a very tough event. Congratulations to Aloysius Yapp and Aleksa Pecelj for journeying to a point that more than a few champions could not reach. Congratulations to Matchroom for putting on another terrific major tournament, as well as the Shane Van Boening Junior Open event, which Lazaro Martinez won. Well done, young man! And finally, congratulations to all the fans and supporters of the players and the event. You are helping to grow the sport by not only buying tickets, streams and merchandise but sharing your experiences with others and helping show the players that they are appreciated and the world that they matter.

Thank you everyone!

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY OF US OPEN BY TAKAIMAGES FOR MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT

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ADAM CLAPHAM MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT

“KO PING CHUNG WINS THE 46TH US OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP

KO PING CHUNG WINNING US OPEN PHOTO BY TAKAIMAGES FOR MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT

Ko Ping Chung has won the 46th US Open Pool Championship at Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City, after beating Fedor Gorst live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom & Ireland and DAZN in the United States.

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F

ollowing the final four racks against Max Lechner, the 11-0 semi-final whitewash of Aloysius Yapp, and the first rack of the final, Ko Ping Chung had recorded 16 consecutive racks – an incredible feat to help open proceedings. But Gorst wasn’t prepared to allow a repeat of the semi-finals, winning the next two to go ahead.

The Ghost’s defense has grown in strength as the week advanced, with some brilliant safety play coercing Ko into mistakes, helping him establish a three-rack margin at 5-2. The 23-year-old maintained a 100% safety success throughout the opening 12 racks.

A ridiculous five-rail fluke on the 3-ball set a series of events that stopped the rut, eventually seeing

the Chinese Taipei World Cup of Pool star come back to level the match at 6-6. A mistake from Gorst at 6-3 left the three over the pocket, then a fault on the same ball in the next rack invited Ko to clean up and level the match.

Aloysius Yapp. It looked like this was Gorst’s chance to get back into the match after Ko hung the 6-ball over the pocket – however, Gorst could only look on in disbelief after scratching off the rail to fall to 11-6.

Ko Ping Chung knows how to control the momentum of a match, having produced a flawless display in the semi-finals.

From 6-all, the match quickly became 10-6 as seven consecutive racks were accumulated to leave him three from home.

When momentum is on his side, it’s very difficult to stop Ko Ping Chung, who finished with 10 consecutive racks to claim the biggest title of his career. Ping Chung follows brother Pin Yi in landing a Matchroom Major title in 2023 – having won the 2023 World Pool Masters in Brentwood, There was a shocked gasp around England, earlier this year. the audience at the start of the 17th as Ko Ping Chung broke The $50,000 World Nineball dry—such was the quality of his Tour Ranking Points top prize play across Saturday—having sees the 28-year-old move from pocketed the one into the middle 10th to number four in the WNT pocket on every break against Rankings.

KO PING CHUNG WINNING US OPEN PHOTO BY TAKAIMAGES FOR MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT 62

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SVB Junior Open Matchroom extends its congratulations to Lazaro Martinez, the winner of the 2nd annual SVB Junior Open on Saturday, following a 9-7 victory over Estonian prodigy Karl Gnaderberg.

Pool championship, held between October 1015th at the Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium in partnership with the City of Hanoi and the country’s number one sports agency, Vietcontent.

Tickets are available to purchase here.

Martinez, representing the United States, received Adam Clapham Matchroom Multi Sport an elated ovation from the home crowd and will look to build on his prospects down the line on the World Nineball Tour.

The 17-year-old follows in the steps of Khalid Alghamdi, who won the inaugural event in 2022.

Next World Nineball Tour Event Ahead of the Hanoi Open, the World Nineball Tour heads to the Peri Pool Arena in Hanoi for the Peri 9-ball Open between October 5-9th.

Next Matchroom Major The World Nineball Tour descends on the Vietnamese capital for the inaugural Hanoi Open

SHANE VAN BOENING, LAZARO MARTINEZ SVB JR. OPEN CHAMPION PHOTO BY TAKAIMAGES FOR MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT

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US OPEN POOL WINNERS ATTENDING PHO 2023 KO PING CHUNG

2022 FRANCISCO SANCHEZ RUIZ

2021 CARLO BIADO

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OTOS BY TAKAIMAGES FOR MATCHROOM 2020 JOSHUA FILLER

2017 JAYSON SHAW

2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2007 SHANE VAN BOENING

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2011, 2010 DARREN APPLETON

2009, 2008 MIKA IMMONEN

2005 ALEX PAGULAYAN

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2002 RALF SOUQUET

2001 COREY DEUEL

2000, 1997, 1993, 1987, 1984 EARL STRICKLAND

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ALBERT CHARBONNEAU

POINTS IS HERE! Made in America for the world to play, watch & enjoy the game of billiards. It has an easy-touse scoring system & puts the player’s creativity on full display.

Excitement & entertainment for everyone! America leads the way!

One of the things that draw people to this country is that no matter who you are or where you came from, if you have a new product or a better way to do something & you have a solid plan, then America is still the place where you can make your dreams a reality. It’s the land of prosperity and opportunity.

Some of the best innovations and inventions in history came from this great land. Americans are bold, brash people with an uncanny tenacity and an unwavering desire to succeed.

Points will lead the way!

Points is a great example of the American dream. What started 68

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as a simple statement, “I want to do something for billiards.” has become a quest to bring billiards back to its roots and back to mainstream television here in the U.S.

happening. If you don’t catch our attention after 10 seconds, then you had better deliver in a really big way, or we are gone.

If you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, you will be challenged by this game. What’s your personal best score in SoloPractice? Did you give yourself points that you really didn’t earn?

Being honest with ourselves is the pathway to playing at the highest level. Points requires precision, so we all, as players, must demand more of ourselves.

Well... This bold, brash, American-made billiards game, called Points, is ready to lead the industry to a bright, positive future for all.

Billiards has not had a major change in over 100 years. The In order to capture and maintain general mainstream audience the attention of today’s general has far too many other ways to mainstream audience, billiards occupy their time. The games we has to show something that’s new, have relied on for so long have challenging to play, and exciting become the same old, same old in to watch. Points delivers! their eyes.

As fans & spectators, we want to be entertained before we need to understand what is really

I designed the game of Points to be open-ended so you and your opponent can decide on how many balls to use, what the shot limit is, or to what point limit to play up to. I also created SoloPractice as a way for everyone to start the game. Not just Points but billiards in general.

Start by earning those small victories. Build your confidence by increasing your knowledge of the game. Develop your skills and increase your abilities.

Challenge your friends or start a Solo-Practice quest. Always try to beat your personal best score. Pick a division/weight class & train for the upcoming Points - The Sport of Billiards. Watch for local Points Tournaments & the Points Players League coming soon!

Until next time.

By Albert Charbonneau - Inventor & author

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ADAM CLAPHAM MATCHROOM MULTI SPORT

FEDOR GORST & DAVID ALCAIDE QUALIFY FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY

IN A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR NINEBALL, FEDOR GORST – WHO WAS POSITIONED AT NO.2 IN THE TEAM EUROPE QUALIFICATION RANKINGS – WILL NOW REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES AT THIS YEAR’S LANDMARK EVENT IN LONDON, ENGLAND.

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F

edor’s acquisition for Team USA comes as a result of the 23-year-old’s recently granted permanent residency in the United States, marking a significant and exciting moment in the storied history of the Mosconi Cup. Gorst qualified for December’s showpiece at Alexandra Palace following his runnersup finish, collecting $25,000 WNT ranking points at the US Open Pool Championship in Atlantic City. His representation of the United States in the Mosconi Cup signals an exciting new chapter in his burgeoning career where he will now represent USA across all World Nineball Tour events starting with the Hanoi Open Pool Championship this week.

As a result of Gorst’s change in country representation, European Open champion David Alcaide has taken the second qualification spot for Team Europe and will join fellow-Spaniard and World Cup of Pool partner Francisco Sanchez Ruiz as part of Ralph Eckert’s roster.

Alcaide will compete in his third consecutive Mosconi Cup, and fifth overall, having a 75% success-record in the trans-Atlantic feature.

The change in representation across the WNT events complied with Matchroom’s policy regarding country representation, which can be found here.

Matchroom Multi-Sport CEO, Emily Frazer said: “This is one of the most exciting announcements in the 30year history of Mosconi Cup, with American fans able to witness another world-class player showcase their skills on the grandest stage for them. Fedor received a great reception when representing the Americans at his run to the final at the US Open last month, and with David, the newly crowned European Open Champion, confirmed for Europe, two of Nineball’s current greatest will go head-to-head at the 30th anniversary of the Mosconi Cup.” Fedor Gorst added: “Since I moved to the USA in February of last year, I’ve been welcomed with open arms everywhere I’ve been. The people of America have treated me like one of their own. I have felt this for months, and especially with the support I received at the US Open. I felt like I was truly home.

“For that reason as well as my recent approval for permanent residency, I’m so excited to represent the red, white and blue of USA across WNT events as well as Team USA at the Mosconi Cup. I can’t wait to head to London in December and join up with Jeremy and Skyler – let’s go USA!” Following confirmation of his qualification, David Alcaide said: “At the start of every season, me and Francisco aim for the Mosconi Cup. With only three players getting in from the rankings, for me and Fran to be the first is an amazing feeling.

“The event is on a different level to everything else. I have never felt pressure like it before in my life. It is a dream for every player to play in the Mosconi Cup. “30 years of this special tournament promises to be bigger than ever. I hope to see as many Spanish fans in London as possible!”

The Mosconi Cup takes place at Alexandra Palace, London between 6-9 December 2023, live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom & Ireland and DAZN in the United States. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here.

Two further players will qualify on the completion of the Hanoi Open Pool Championship; with Captain Picks to follow shortly after.

It features some of the best pool players from both Europe and the United States, and with the addition of Fedor Gorst to the American roster, this year’s event promises to be more exciting than ever.

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CHIP KLEIN

HOW USA CAN WIN THE MOSCONI CUP “The USA doesn’t have players as patterns as well as “ball on break” defeated many players easily on strong as Europe.” percentages.

4.5 after closely hanging with them on tight pockets? Because HOGWASH! It’s a simple Europe is spending their whole Americans have those powerful adjustment in percentages that year playing real pool while our shots and spins that the table has will rule the day. players are seeing who can rack allowed us to develop. smarter.

Here’s the cold, hard, ugly truth.

Make no mistake: USA PLAYERS If my opponent or referee bad ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST 1) Our players spend their time racks me, I must deal with that IN THE WORLD. playing on bigger pockets, which constantly. Transitioning up and teaches more aggressive play. down the table becomes the I find many players weak on zigMany times, they even play 7ft norm. This teaches speed on zag kicks like this below. It can add diamond tournaments. This different equipment and stops the a whole new dimension to your means on tighter equipment, the easy Mickey Mouse run-outs. kicking game by mastering these. first inclination is to go for the run. Their 75 percent shots have CONCLUSION: become 55 percent shots, but that Thank you. Enjoy. simply isn’t how their brain has 1) The USA needs to get their been wired. percentages adjusted and, Chip Klein become more conservative on Europe knows that their chances tight equipment and realize the in a safety battle favor them if value of striking first with safeties. they strike first. Hard shot vs. safety, percentages favor the 2) Spend countless hours kicking safety on tight pockets. Add two-rail, three-rail, and two-rail pressure and positive percentage zigzag back kicks to gain highresults on safeties because of tight traffic advantages. (shown below) pockets to the mix, and this allows us to conclude USA SHOULD 3) stop listening to negative PLAY MORE SAFETIES. Nancys that down American players and tell them they can’t 2) RACK YOUR OWN. USA is full compete. of the whole nonsensical theory that players should rack their own Our players go for hero big shots to save arguments. Racking your because the tables allow for it. own allows players to manipulate If they are so easy, why have I

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