Give a gift that doesn’t suck.
The patented Simonis X-1® chalk dust removal tool
U.S. Patent # D644,704
®
www.simoniscloth.com
w w w . a r a m i t h . c o m
6 Beat People With a Stick Better Missing 8 Pro Pool Workout Clip and Run Four Rails 10 Ten Steps to Pool Success Step Three: Developing the Speed You Need 12 Intermediate Objectives Why You Choke on the Money Ball
14 Kiamco Comes Through at Johnny Archer Classic 16 Bank Shots and Boardwalk Empire Tony Robles Talks About His Roles 20 Bringing It Back Van Boening Reclaims U.S. Open Title for USA 24 IP’s Holiday Buying Guide 28 Progress to the Pros Jones and Park Post U.S. Amateur Championship Wins
On the Cover: Tammie Jones and Brian Parks transcended the top contenders at the U.S. Amateur Championship to take the most prestigious amateur title in North America. For the full story, please visit page 28. 2 InsidePOOL Magazine â—Š December 2012
Publisher JR Calvert publisher@insidepoolmag.com Editor Sally P. Timko editor@insidepoolmag.com Graphic Artists Laura Luzier art@insidepoolmag.com Allen Hopkins Jr. Editorial Assistant Lea Andrews Advertising Sales Director Bill Perry sales@insidepoolmag.com Technical Consultant Tom Simpson Staff Videographer Alvin Nelson Feature Photo Credits JR Calvert, Raymond Linares E-mail info@insidepoolmag.com Website www.insidepoolmag.com Instructional Staff Johnny Archer, Shannon Daulton, Mark Finkelstein, Bob Henning, Allan Sand, Tom Simpson Contributing Writers Freddie Agnir, Sean Chaffin, Mark Finkelstein, Alison M. Fischer, Ken Shuman Toll Free 888-428-7665 Administrative Offices PO Box 972, Kittanning, PA 16201
4 Advertiser Directory 4 Pool on TV 38 APA Player of the Month
40 Northeast 44 Southeast 45 Central
32 Cue Maker’s Corner Ted Harris Cues – A Business in Repair 36 Industry News 44 SudoCue Puzzle Holidays! 48 Word Puzzle Gadzookery!
InsidePOOL Magazine Volume XII, Issue 10 (ISSN1547-3511) is published monthly except June and August by Spheragon Publishing, PO Box 972, Kittanning, PA 16201. Single copy price: $3.95 in U.S.A., $5.95 in Canada. Subscription prices: $19.99/yr in the U.S.A., $28/yr in Canada, $39/yr international. Periodicals postage at Kittanning, PA, and additional mailing offices. Submissions of manuscripts, illustrations, and/or photographs must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The publisher assumed no responsibility for unsolicited material. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: InsidePOOL Magazine, PO Box 972, Kittanning, PA 16201. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. December 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 3
Pool on Tv International Challenge of Champions International Challenge of Champions International Challenge of Champions Women’s Pro Billiard Tour Women’s Pro Billiard Tour Women’s Pro Billiard Tour International Tournament of Champions International Tournament of Champions International Tournament of Champions World Cup of Trick Shots World Cup of Trick Shots World Cup of Trick Shots
December 9 December 9 December 9 December 16 December 16 December 16 December 23 December 23 December 23 January 6 January 6 January 6
2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 1:30 PM 2:30 PM 3:30 PM 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM
ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2
Please visit InsidePOOLmag.com for television schedules.
Advertiser Directory
To contact any of our advertisers, visit their website, send an e-mail, or give them a call. A Pool Lesson with Jerry Breisath 608-279-9994
43
J&J America Billiards, Inc. www.jjcue.com
Allan P. Sand www.billiardgods.com
38
Kamui Tips www.kamuibrand.com
American Poolplayers Association www.poolplayers.com
39
Mark Finkelstein, Pool Ramblings www.mcnallyjackson.com
38
Atlas Billiard Supplies www.cuestik.com
11
McDermott Handcrafted Cues www.mcdermottcue.com
13
Balabushka Cue Company www.balabushkacues.com
19, 35
Mueller Recreational Products www.poolndarts.com
40
Bank Shot Calculator www.bankshotcalculator.com
31
OB Cues www.obcues.com
1
Bebob Publishing www.bebobpublishing.com
40
Predator Products www.predatorcues.com
37
Classified Ads
45, 46
Qpod www.qpod-billiard.com
36
Derby City Classic www.derbycityclassic.com
27
Sterling Gaming, Inc. www.sterling-gaming.com
5, 9
Dr. Popper Jump Q www.drpopperjumpq.com
40
Tiger Products, Inc. www.tigerproducts.com
7
Fury Cues www.fury-cues.com
23
Tom Simpson, Billiard Instruction www.poolclinics.com
40, 45
Iwan Simonis, Inc. www.simoniscloth.com 4 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Inside Front Cover
Viking Cue Manufacturing, LLC www.vikingcue.com
15 Inside Back Cover
Back Cover
Better Missing V
ast casino empires are built on a house advantage of a few percentage points. In the long run, tiny advantages can compound into major gains. What if your ball pocketing came up a few percent? What if you missed just one ball fewer for every fifteen minutes you’re at the table? How big of a difference would that make?
player told me that when he was 14 and missed a shot gambling, the next day he would shoot it until he made it 100 times in a row. No more judgment error on that shot.
•
Perception error: A surprising number of players have gotten pretty good despite the fact that they are not seeing the cue ball accurately. Many players believe they are striking the vertical centerline of the cue ball because that’s what it looks like to their eyes/brain. If you are consistently seeing sidespin on the cue ball (always on the same side), but it looks to you like you hit the vertical axis on the back of the ball, you probably have this problem. Your eyes are not in the right place relative to the shot line—for you. Come to pool school.
•
Not present: Good pool takes everything we have. All of our attention. If we’re busy thinking about the score or the great shot we just made or that sticky spot on the shaft, we are not fully “in the shot.” High-level pool happens in the present moment. Present shot, only shot. Get over whatever has happened or will happen before you get down on your shot. Fill your mind with the shot at hand. Be fascinated.
•
Not caring: Sometimes we miss a shot we should never miss simply because we didn’t take it seriously enough. Thought it was easy. Or we just didn’t bother to bring our focus to bear. A big part of our challenge as players is to “bring it,” 100%, shot after shot, every time. Making that happen is also part of the reward. Every shot has to matter or the game will punish you.
•
Inadequate precision: Better players do everything with more precision. It stands to reason that the most precise game in the world calls for high levels of precision. The giant tip here is this: You can see more sharply, you can align your stick more perfectly, you can place your tip more precisely, you can fold your arm more fluidly, and so on. Once it occurs to you to notice your level of precision and improve it on purpose, you will begin to find tweaks that help. We learn to walk, and because we don’t fall down, we assume we walk beautifully. Just like beautiful pool, it’s not likely without training and conscious practice. There is always more fluidity, more precision, more simplicity awaiting your discovery.
The difference can be enormous. Often the ball you miss is the one you shouldn’t have shot or the one that is the key to the rack. Not missing the key shot makes everything else easy. Shooting the wrong shot is a knowledge or fear issue. If you make that key shot or difficult shot a little more frequently, your winning percentage will go up. As things go better, you get more confidence. As you become more confident, you perform better. As you miss fewer balls, you’ll spend more time at the table. As you play better and spend more time at the table, your opponent’s confidence will erode. The player in the chair often “gets cold” and his performance falls off.
‘
Fill your mind with the shot at hand.
’
The idea here is that something as seemingly simple as missing a few less balls could make a big difference in our results and how we feel about our game. Why do we miss, and how can we do it less? Here are some of the primary culprits:
•
Shooting the “wrong” shot: The shot was too low percentage to attempt in the current game situation. Like golfers, reality eventually makes us wise up and play smarter. Golfers don’t swing for the pin every shot, and pool players don’t try to run out every time at the table. Believing you can will prove disappointing and unproductive. When would now be a good time to start playing smarter? Play safe when it’s time to play safe.
•
Inconsistent or flawed fundamentals: To the extent you are not mechanically consistent and precise, your results will be erratic. As you advance as a player, it’s vital to become more and more streamlined and effective in your pre-shot routines, setup, alignment, aiming, speed/spin control, and stroke delivery. Those players that are beating you are more fundamentally consistent or more consistent under pressure than you. The more solid and reliable your fundamentals, the more you can trust and let your body do what it knows how to do, especially under pressure. This is an area where a good instructor and some video analysis can clearly identify and quickly correct simple flaws that may have held you back for years.
•
Judgment error: We gradually refine our pool vision over time. With experience, we get better at judging the angle we have to cut a ball—and better at recognizing when we’re “on it.” When you’re down on a shot and you’re feeling some doubt, your body is telling you something is wrong. Pay attention. Start over. Don’t shoot until you are as confident as you can be. A famous road
6 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Better missing is when our misses are not so embarrassing—or aren’t embarrassing so often. Take a vow to do something about your easiest errors to avoid. Miss a little less. Feel a little better.
Tom Simpson Tom Simpson is a Master Instructor in both the PBIA and ACS Instructor Programs. He delivers his acclaimed 3-Day Weekend Intensive in 12 cities nationwide. As inventor of Elephant Practice Balls®, the Stroke Groover™, and the Ghostball Aim Trainer®, and authorized instructor for Secret Aiming Systems™, Tom’s innovations in training have helped thousands of players. Listen to an audio description of the Intensive, and read 35 instructional articles at www.NationalBilliardAcademy.com. Contact: Tom@PoolClinics.com.
Clip and Run Four Rails I
n the last couple of columns, we looked at clip safeties, a category of safeties included in my new book Pro Safeties: The TOP 100 Safety Shots in Pool. In this common and highly effective type of safety, the cue ball is moved to a safe location after contacting the object ball with a thin hit. In most cases, the cue ball is moved from one end of the table to the other, but the object ball is only moved a diamond or two.
The Clip to the Side and Run Four Rails is a touchy safety to execute, but with practice it’s not as risky as it looks. It is a great shot choice when the two- and three-rail paths to get the cue ball hidden down table are blocked or unworkable, but it is only available in a relatively limited number of situations. In fact, the layout of the cue ball and the object ball need to be fairly close to what is described in the graphic.
Since clip safeties are a common type of safety, there are several major variations and many secondary ones. So far we have looked at situations where the object ball is cut to the side rail and the cue ball runs either two or three rails to get it behind a blocker ball. The featured shot in this column is similar, except that we are changing the layout of the balls and going one more rail with the cue ball.
The key elements are the speed of the stroke and the hit on the 5. You’re moving the cue ball a long distance and hitting the 5 fairly thinly, so a light stroke is all that is required. A common mistake is to hit the shot too strong and send the cue ball too far. The best outcome, and the major thing to focus on doing, is to have the cue ball limp off the fourth rail and gently bump the cluster so that the balls only move a fraction of an inch.
6 5
8 9
7
Tom Simpson
On the other end of the equation, the hit on the 5 Tom Simpsonto is amove Master Instructor in bothrail, the PBIA ball needs to be thick enough it to the yet and ACS Instructor Programs. He delivers his acclaimed thin enough to guarantee that the cue ball will contact 3-Day Weekend Intensive in 12 cities nationwide. As the first end rail approximately one diamond from the inventor of Elephant Practice Balls®, the Stroke Groover™, corner pocket. You do not want scratch! For instructor a variaand the Ghostball Aimto Trainer®, and authorized tion, move the 5 ballforaSecret little closer toTom’s theinnovations side rail. You Aiming Systems™, in training helpedenglish, thousands ofbut players. to an is audio will need to use a lothave more thisListen safety acdescription of the Intensive, and read 35 instructional articles at tually easier from there. www.NationalBilliardAcademy.com. Contact: Tom@PoolClinics.com.
Second variation
As you can see in the accompanying graphic, the table situation is a 9-ball game where you do not have a workable shot to pocket the 5 ball. You could try the off-angle combination, but that is so low percentage that choosing it would rank somewhere in the realm of silliness. The follow-through carom is considerably more sensible, but it’s still low percentage, and even if you did pocket the 6 ball, you still have to deal with the 8 ball and 9 ball cluster down table. The ideal strategy in this situation is to play a lock-up safe and open up that cluster. Then when you get ball in hand, you’ll be Ken Shuman of Sacramento, CA, is one of the country’s able to run outpremier with tournament ease. directors. He is an accomplished
Ken Shuman
professional referee and is considered an expert on the
8 InsidePOOL Magazine rules ◊ofDecember play. Ken has2012 officiated at World Championship
events in the USA and the Philippines. He directs some of
Good luck and good shootin’!
Bob Henning Bob Henning is the author of The Pro Book, widely considered to be the most advanced training resource for competitive pool players. It brings the latest techniques of the top coaches and trainers of all sports into pool. It is intended for those who wish to prepare physically, mentally, and psychologically for pool competition. Bob is also the author of “The Pro Book Video Series,” a complete, on-the-table training system, and he also released The Advanced Pro Book and The Stroke Zone: The Pool Player’s Guide to Dead Stroke. In addition, he has authored Cornbread Red, a biography of the colorful Billy Burge. Bob recently released a new book titled Pro Safeties: The TOP 100 Safety Shots in Pool.
Robert LeBlanc
>
Instruction
< by Mark Finkelstein Step Three: Developing the Speed You Need
S
TOP! Not you, silly, the cue ball. How many times have you overhit the cue ball, or just didn’t hit it quite hard enough? This month we’re going to look at how to develop the feel for cue ball speed. After you are able to stroke in a straight line, controlling how far the cue ball rolls is of paramount importance to playing position and setting up for easy shots. Let me give you some ways to think about speed before we jump in to developing the feel for speed. Speed can be generated in one of three ways: •
• •
By placing your hand in different places on the butt of the cue stick, close up for soft shots and farther back for harder shots. By pulling the cue stick back a little for soft shots and more for harder shots. By pulling the cue stick back the same distance each time but using a soft swing for short shots and a harder swing for longer shots.
Again, there is no right way to feel speed, but this structure will help you think about it. The feel for speed can be enhanced with the implementation of drills. In this one, from Bert Kinister, we roll each ball just a little farther than the last one. If you hit another ball or the end rail, start over. If eight balls are too easy, add more, or if too difficult, use fewer. 1
2
The next drill I learned from Willie Jopling. Throw a ball on the table and mark the spot where it stops. The trick is to go no rails, one rail, two rails, and three rails and get the cue ball to the center of the table. You have ball in hand on each shot. The center of the table is a square one diamond’s length on each side in the middle of the table. What you do for the third drill is put the cue ball and the object ball on the table and mark their positions. Pocket the ball and mark where the cue ball stopped. Set up the same shot and stop the cue ball in the exact same spot as before. This is not as easy as it sounds, but again, you will be developing a real feel for the speed of the cue ball. The fourth drill is one I like to use. Throw a rack of balls on the table. Roll the balls so that they just reach the pocket. You don’t want to make the ball, but you also want to reach the pocket. Make sure you aim straight for the pocket and not rattle the ball.
Ken Shuman
Ken Shuman of Sacramento, CA, is one of the country’s premier tournament directors. He is an accomplished Knowing the bottom limitreferee of and a shot means you professional is considered an expert on the rules ball of play.will Ken has officiated at World Championship know how far the object roll. Using the idea in the USAhave and the the Philippines. directsand some of that hitting about a halfevents ball will cueHeball the major tournaments, including the Derby City Classic, the object ball rolling the about the same distance, you U.S. Bar Table Championship, CSI’s National can get an approximation of how theOpen cue will Championship Series,far the U.S. 9-Ballball Championship, roll. It is a simple matter to add the speed you need and the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. Contact Ken at shucue@yahoo.com. for shape.
Next month we will look at what a good pattern is and how to develop it.
Mark Finkelstein
3
4
5
6
7
8
10 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Mark Finkelstein is an ACS and PBIA Master Instructor, accomplished player, instructional columnist for NYCGRIND, and author of the book PoolRamblings, available at McNallyJackson.com. Mark has been involved in pool and billiards for almost 60 years and is available for lessons or events at Slate Plus or Eastside Billiards in New York City. Visit McNallyJackson.com for more information.
>
Instruction
Tom Simpson Sand < by Allan Why You Choke on the Money Ball
W
hen you are on the money ball, are you suddenly smitten with uncertainty? Do you feel like the eyes of the world are watching and waiting for you to embarrass yourself? Does an icy spear of fear embed itself in your guts? Do any of these situations seem a bit familiar when you finally have a shot at the ball that can win the game, match, a million dollars, and the “world’s greatest player” trophy? It doesn’t matter how skillfully you handled yourself before this final ball—this single shot is the one that will make you the champion, however temporary. This is the worst time to choke. And, then, of course, you feel like you are going to choke, or the fear of choking becomes foremost in your brain. When these thoughts are uppermost in your thoughts, you are experiencing pressure. The amount of pressure is directly proportional to the importance of the shot. For example, you don’t feel pressure when there is no value on winning. To all observers, if you make the ball, you are a hero. If you miss, you’re a bum. Ken Shuman of Sacramento, CA, is one of the country’s
Ken Shuman
Tom Simpson is a Master Instructor in both the PBIA and ACS Instructor Programs. He delivers his acclaimed 3-Day Weekend Intensive in 12 cities nationwide. As inventor of Elephant Practice Balls®, the Stroke Groover™, and the Ghostball Aim Trainer®, and authorized instructor Secretand Aimingstroke. Systems™,This Tom’smay innovations in training results in an uncontrolledforaim allow the have helped thousands of players. Listen to an audio billiard gods to help your opponent. description of the Intensive, and read 35 instructional articles at www.NationalBilliardAcademy.com. Contact: Tom@PoolClinics.com.
All is not lost. There is a process that eases the choking problem. It is experience. The turning point in your ability to handle pressure is to put the situation in perspective. This occurs at a point in your life when you finally realize that death will not be the result of failure.
Bob Henning
Here is a quick trick to gain a lot of personal experience on the practice table: Assign a penalty to isa the critical shot. Make Bob Henning author of The Pro Book, the widely penalty for failure something personally painful, add-for considered to be the most advancedsuch trainingas resource ing physical exercise repetitions topool your workout dis-of competitive players. It brings or the another latest techniques the top coaches and trainers of all sports into pool. It is tasteful task. intended for those who wish to prepare physically, mentally, and psychologically poolacompetition. Bob is When playing a similarly skilled opponent,forput little monalso the authorany of “The Book Video Series,” ey on your ability to succeed. Create kindPro of imbalance that a complete, on-the-table training system, and he alsogame. releasedGive The Advanced Pro Book costs you for not paying attention to the a generous and The Stroke Zone: The Pool Player’s Guide to Dead Stroke. In addition, he has handicap. Force yourself to play intelligently, and consider your authored Cornbread Red, a biography of the colorful Billy Burge. Bob recently released opponent to be dangerous. a new book titled Pro Safeties: The TOP 100 Safety Shots in Pool.
‘ ’ premier tournament directors. He is an accomplished professional referee and is considered an expert on the rules of play. Ken has officiated at World Championship events in the USA and the Philippines. He directs some of the major tournaments, including the Derby City Classic, the U.S. Bar Table Championship, CSI’s National Championship Series, the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship, and the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. Contact Ken at shucue@yahoo.com.
The amount of pressure is directly proportional to the importance of the shot.
When you can accept such lopsided odds and put in your best effort, any nervousness on the money ball will fade away and be replaced with the deadly serious necessity to stay focused. The experience of constant pressure will then become a routine and accepted part of your game.
Robert LeBlanc
Robert “Cotton” LeBlanc is a well-known pool player and was a roadman for almost 40that years,nervous traveling the It doesn’t matter how much of a problem country playing virtually all of the pool and concern causes you now. You can intentionally do legends somechampions—and making friends with them. Highly thing to make this concern a laughable problem of the skilled himself, heresult: is the author the best-selling book past. And there is one interesting Theofgame gets to Confessions of a Pool Hustler, which chronicles his be much more interesting and a lot more fun for the restlife and hundreds of stories about being on the road. Visit his of your life. website at www.confessionsofapoolhustler.com.
Mark Finkelstein
These emotional and physical reactions are an aspect of Markprimitive Finkelstein is responses an ACS and PBIA Instructor, your most innate, toMaster anything that you accomplished instructional consider a danger to yourplayer, well-being: the columnist fight or for flight reNYCGRIND, anda author of the book PoolRamblings, sponse. When faced with dangerous situation (e.g., loss of available at McNallyJackson.com. Mark has been money or prestige), do you battle with all your strength, or do involved in pool and billiards for almost 60 years and is you run away to fight another day?
available for lessons or events at Slate Plus or Eastside Billiards in New York City. Visit McNallyJackson.com for more information.
In a critical game with a chance to win and a tough shot, do you go for the win, or do you try to play defense and hope for another chance at the table? The longer you sit on the fence being indecisive, the more painfully intense are your worries. When suffering indecision, most people will make a snap choice to go for the win. The problem, of course, is that hurried decisions result in hurried pre-shot routines. This usually 12 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Bob Henning Allan Sand Bob Henning is the author of The Pro Book, widely
considered to be the most advanced training resource for competitive players. It brings the qualified latest Allan Sandpool is a pocket billiards instructor, by the Professional Instructor techniques of the Billiards top coaches and Association trainers of(PBIA) all and American CueItSports (ACS). for He teaches players sports into pool. is intended those who wishhow to to become physically, “intelligentmentally, shooters”and andpsychologically how to think before prepare for shooting. He has played the green game for more than 50 pool competition. Bob is also the author of “The Pro years and now resides in Santa Clara, CA, where he keeps Book Video Series,” a complete, on-the-table training system, and he also released his skills sharpened on a double-shimmed 5x10 Saunier The Pro Book ThehasStroke Zone:seven The books Pool Player’ Deadand andAdvanced Wilhelm 1938 table.and Sands authored on hows Guide to playtobetter Stroke. In addition, he has authored Cornbread Red, a biography of the colorful smarter pool, including Art of War Versus the Art of Pool, Psychology of GamesmanBilly Burge. ship, and Safety Toolbox. For more information and details, please visit www.billiardgods.com.
Kiamco
Comes Through
at Johnny Archer Classic
C
by InsidePOOL Staff
ontinuing his hot streak, Warren Kiamco bested a tough field of 10ball players to take off the inaugural Johnny Archer Classic. “The Warrior” ended up drubbing Shane Van Boening 11-3 in the finals to take home the $4,625 first-place prize.
After wins over Jeff Helie, James Giorella, and Mark Ritter, Kiamco found himself in the final eight on the winners’ side. He got past 2011 U.S. Open runner-up Shawn Putnam 9-5 and then “Iron Mike” Davis 9-6 to reach the hot seat match. Meeting him there was Jonathan Pinegar. “Hennessee” began his event with victories over Randy Mooren, Jeremy Sossei, and Brandon Shuff. He then eked out a hill-hill win over Tommy Kennedy to reach Shannon “The Can14 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Before Daulton met up with Pinegar, he delivered a 9-6 loss to Shane Van Boening, who had just come off a tough double-hill win over Corey Deuel. From there it was a long trek to the finals and an early morning on the one-loss side. With a 10 a.m. Sunday call, Van Boening eliminated Wang Can in ninth place 9-1 and then Kennedy in seventh 9-3. Fresh off his loss to Kiamco, Davis awaited Van Boening in the next round, but Van Boening easily handled him 9-2.
Now on the west side, Daulton had a close call against Hunter Lombardo before esShane Van Boening
caping 9-7 to reach Van Boening in the quarterfinals. But he couldn’t get past “The South Dakota Kid,” who handed him a 9-5 loss. Van Boening went on to face down Pinegar in the semifinal match 9-7 to advance to the finals. In the single race-to-11 final match, Kiamco opened with taking the first three racks. Van Boening only managed to win two racks before Kiamco reached a 9-2 lead. Van Boening’s errors gave Kiamco the edge he needed in order to claim the match 11-3 to win the inaugural event. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th 13th
RESULTS:
A field of 55 fine players took over Archer’s poolroom, the Marietta Billiard Club in Marietta, GA, October 12-14. But the 42-year-old Filipino went undefeated to take his third title in the span of a few weeks. Earlier in October he took off the Houston Open by besting Danny Lee, and then he won the Predator Pro-Am Tour’s Bayside, NY, stop by defeating Earl Strickland in the finals.
non” Daulton, to whom he dealt a 9-7 loss. But Kiamco was more than ready for Pinegar, as he claimed the hot seat 9-6.
Warren Kiamco Shane Van Boening Jonathan Pinegar Shannon Daulton Hunter Lombardo Mike Davis Tommy Kennedy Israel Rota Shawn Putnam Corey Deuel Wang Can Josh Roberts Sylver Ochoa Stevie Moore Johnny Archer Robbie Hudson
$4,625 $3,200 $2,000 $1,300 $1,000 $700 $500
$400
Johnny Archer Classic
ideos Johnny Archer Classic 2012 Finals Warren Kiamco vs. Shane Van Boening Shannon Daulton vs. Shane Van Boening 2012 Johnny Archer Classic Wan Can vs. Thorston Hohmann 2012 Johnny Archer Classic Hunter Lombardo vs. Silver Ochoa at the 2012 Johnny Archer Classic Jeremy Sossei vs.Stevie Moore 2012 Johnny Archer Classic Johnny Archer vs. Shannon Daulton at the 2012 Johnny Archer Classic Hunter Lombardo vs. Corey Deuel 2012 Johnny Archer Classic Warren Kiamco vs. Mike Davis 2012 Johnny Archer Classic Robb Saez vs. Richard Green 2012 Johnny Archer Classic
Pool�and�billiards coming�to�you
on�YouTube www.YouTube.com/insidepoolmag
and
Bank Shots Boardwalk Empire T by Sean Chaffin
ony Robles is at the top of his game. The Queens, New York, native is running a new league in The Big Apple after a long professional career and getting back into major pool competition. Add to that a cool gig as a billiards consultant for television shows like “Boardwalk Empire,” and Robles may be one of the busiest men in pool.
16 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Tony Robles Talks About His Roles
Growing up in Brooklyn, Robles remembers a nice childhood with a loving family. His mother and father grew up in Puerto Rico and then moved to New York after getting married. In high school he was a loner but became interested in pool at age 13. His father owned a poolroom for 17 years and Robles was attracted to the game the first time he took him to check it out.
That Popping Sound
“My dad was a very strong player. Watching him play, I was mesmerized,” he said. “The sounds of the balls hitting the pockets—that popping sound—it was pretty neat. I kept saying I would love to hit a ball so that I could make it in that pocket and make that popping sound. I asked my dad if I could make some shots, and he said yes.” Captivated by the game, his father gave him a book to read on how to play, and he was so excited that he read the entire book that night.
From that day forward I was hooked and I never stopped playing.
“From that day forward I was hooked and I never stopped playing,” Robles recounted. At age18, he finished fifth in the Junior World Championships and won $525 and promptly bought himself a new 10-speed bike. After high school, he went straight to his father’s pool hall and practiced 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. He soon joined the Professional Players Association as a semi-pro and received his membership card. “I never had any intentions of becoming a professional,” he remembered. “I was so excited I couldn’t stop looking at the card.” Robles began playing tournaments in the New York City area. From 1991 to 1994 he was named the Tri-State Tour’s Player of the Year. He began playing more tournaments in his area and then went on the pro tour. His biggest win came in 2004 when he won the BCA Open 9-Ball Championship, the second-biggest title a professional pool player can win in the United States next to the U.S. Open. In 2003 and 2004, he was part of Team USA at the Mosconi Cup and helped the Americans to victory.
On the Boardwalk
“It’s pretty cool. I love it because ‘Boardwalk Empire’ is huge,” he said. “For one of the episodes, the director asked me to come up with a scene where a character named Arnold Rothstein (played by Michael Stuhlbarg) could shoot multiple balls into one pocket, and I came up with a shot.”
HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” is one of the hottest shows on television. Set in Atlantic City during Prohibition, the show premiered in 2010 and revolves around Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (played by Steve Buscemi), a political figure who controlled Atlantic City, New Jersey, in the ‘20s and ‘30s. The show features mobsters, politicians, and government agents and was based on a book by Nelson Johnson.
In one scene, the characters were playing pool and discussing certain events that affected them. One character spoke about “playing it safe” rather than taking a risk and going for it all at once. The notion fit in both life and pool, and Robles enjoys that type of creativity.
When producers of the Emmy-winning series needed someone to coordinate several episodes featuring pocket billiards scenes, Tony Robles was the man. A pool player for more than three decades, Robles has been a well-known player throughout the New York area and competed on some of the biggest stages in pool. When the show premiered, Robles was contacted about doing some technical advising in regards to the billiard scenes. He quickly accepted and has worked on four pool scenes in the three seasons that the show has been on the air. He likes working on the show because it has allowed him to be creative and come up with some interesting shots that fit the scenes.
In recent years, Robles has been busier coaching other pool players and in pool league management rather than pocketing balls himself. The work is a passion for Robles, who has always loved the game.
Branching Out
“I started a brand-new league from scratch called the National Amateur Pool League in October of 2009,” he said. “We went from having fourteen teams to now having thirty-four teams. We’re growing and we’re excited about it. It’s a very nice tour, and we have a lot of top players play in it. And a lot of major players who may be in the New York area at the time come in to play.”
December 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 17
played as much professionally since founding the NAPL, he plans on competing more in the near future.
Evolving Role in Life
With a growing tour and plans for more competition himself, Robles is not slowing down and hopes his new-found role as a billiards consultant for television and movie productions continues. He’s worked on a few other productions, including a small role in the film Turn the River, a 2007 film starring Famke Janssen as a woman trying to win enough money by playing pool to take her son out of the country and flee a dangerous situation. Pool is central to the film, and he plays one of her opponents backed by a pool club owner, played by Rip Torn.
So far the league is mostly New York-based, but Robles hopes to eventually take it national. One reason he started the league is because he realized he couldn’t make a great living full-time as a professional pool player. He also wanted to create a league that focused on skill and takes the luck factor out as much as possible. What sets his tour apart from other tours? The format has a lot to do with it, he explained. As a pro, Robles said many times he grew sick of losing matches because his ball was left behind others without a shot. He might outshoot his opponents but was left with fewer shots and lost. The NAPL rules mandate that players use “call shot, call safe” rules and several other subtle rule changes. This style of play favors shot-making over defense. Robles, who has been living in Manhattan for four years, says the rules take 85 percent of the luck factor out of the game. While Robles (nicknamed the “Silent Assassin” for his penchant for unexpectedly besting top pros early in his career) hasn’t
“The director had to ask me three times to say yes to the role because I believe that the movie ‘The Hustler’ has literally taken pool back to the Stone Age,” Robles said. “He kind of wanted me to play a hustler. He met me at a bar and talked me into it under the condition that he limit the amount of hustling that I had to do. So I didn’t actually hustle anyone in the movie. That was the only reason I wanted to do it. I just think anything that has to do with hustling hurts the game more than it helps it.” Through the years, Robles has been asked numerous times if he is a hustler. He feels this image has given pool a bad reputation and believes much of corporate America does not want to be associated with pool because it is still often viewed as a shady game. Other than this film and “Boardwalk Empire,” this billiards assassin and entrepreneur has also worked as the pool technical advisor for the USA Network show “White Collar,” helping the main actor with a billiard scene in season three, and he did the same type of work for the short-lived ABC show “Pan Am.” As a pool player, the work always offers something a bit different than the average pool hall or hectic tour stop.
I started a brand-new league from scratch called the National Amateur Pool League. 18 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
“I like the television work,” he said. “I’m really having a fun time.”
B O
RINGING IT Van Boening ACK Reclaims U.S.
n center stage in front of dedicated fans, players, and billiard industry members crowded into the arena at the Virginia Beach Holiday Inn and Conference Center, it was clear from the beginning of the final day of the event that Shane Van Boening was in prime form to win his second U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships title. Of the 220 players who entered, Van Boening stood head and shoulders above the world-class international challengers with his unstoppable break and the swagger of a champion to go into the finals undefeated after six days of battling that began October 21. Of the top-finishing players in the Open, there were only a handful of American names, with Johnny Archer the next-highest finisher tied for ninth, followed by thirteenth-place finishers Corey Deuel and top Connecticut player Tom Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Alfonso, who had a breakthrough showing with impressive wins over Mario He, Albin Ouschan, and Carlo Biado.
20 InsidePOOL Magazine â&#x2014;&#x160; December 2012
Open Title for USA by Alison M. Fischer
Road to Success Few of Van Boening’s opponents leading up to the final posed much of a threat to him. His run was marked with wins over Adam Smith 11-1, Tom Karabatsos 11-2, Nick Van den Berg 11-4, and Chris Melling 11-4 before running into his toughest challenge of the event, top Filipino champion Ronnie Alcano. This match was one of four that determined who would move on to the final bracket undefeated. Alcano jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the beginning of this match, but Van Boening tallied up the score to keep this race close, leading all the way to double hill. In the case game, Alcano played a safe on the 3, leaving the 8 ball blocking the way. Van Boening attempted to get a hit on the ball but ended up giving Alcano ball in hand. With an open table, Alcano got back to the table to make the 3 but over-shot his position on the 4 on the opposite rail. Instead of the run-
Following the safety, Van Boening stunned the crowd with an incredible jump-massé-kick safe. out that the crowd was anticipating, Alcano had to play safe. Following the safety, Van Boening stunned the crowd with an incredible jump-massé-kick safe. Alcano then kicked, but he left an open shot for Van Boening to run out for the match win. “The South Dakota Kid” was then one of the final four players in the winners’ bracket, along with Filipino legends Efren Reyes, Alex Pagulayan, and Van Boening’s opponent, veteran champion Jose Parica. Parica did not stand much of a chance against Van Boening, getting to only five games in the race to 11. The score ended the same for Reyes, as Pagulayan triumphed to move on and face Van Boening for the hot seat match. Running concurrently on the one-loss side, current world 8-ball champion Jun Lin Chang of Taipei and the U.S. Open’s defending champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain took their shot against the two Filipinos, but neither was successful. Former world 9-ball champion Ronnie Alcano and reigning China Open champ Dennis Orcollo respectively defeated the two, both at 11-7.
Orcollo on the Move The man who many call one of the world’s toughest players to beat, Orcollo, then moved on to defeat Jose Parica 11-4 and go up to take on Reyes in the quarterfinal. Midway through the match, Reyes led at 5-4. With a chance to run out and tie, Orcollo rattled the 5 ball, giving Reyes a 6-4 lead. Before long, Reyes took a 5/9 combination in the next rack to lead by three. However, Reyes only put one more bead on the wire, as Orcollo turned on the heat, hardly making any errors to lead to an 11-8 final score. In the match for the hot seat, fan favorite Pagulayan and Van Boening were both gunning for their second U.S. Open title, and a lot was riding on this match, which decided which player would be a lock for the final. Van Boening jumped out to an early lead and didn’t allow Pagulayan many opportunities to get in the match, which ended in Van Boening’s favor 11-5. Pagulayan had no easy task in coming back for another chance at Van Boening in the title match, as he would have had to get past Orcollo, who was still hot from his win against Reyes. In the beginning of the semifinal match, the two world-class players went back-and-forth, but Orcollo got out to an early 6-4 lead.
Dennis Orcollo December 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 21
Coming from behind, Pagulayan broke and ran the next two racks to tie at 6-6. Though many expected a heated battle to ensue, Pagulayan dropped the cue ball in a side pocket on the next break, which turned out to be his death knell. Orcollo jumped at the golden opportunity, breaking and running out four racks to get on the hill at 10-6. The game that marked the hill was not without some drama, as Orcollo’s cue ball nearly rolled into the side pocket as he moved into position for the 8 from the 7. Orcollo wasn’t able to keep Pagulayan from the table in the next rack, as he rattled the 3 ball in the corner pocket and allowed Pagulayan to run out the rack and go 10-7. But it appeared that fate was on Orcollo’s side in the next rack. To start, Pagulayan failed to make a ball on the break, and when Orcollo missed the 3 ball, it rattled out and knocked the 6 into the side Efren Reyes pocket. This could have been an extremely lucky break for Orcollo, but he was unable to see the 3 ball. He opted to jump, and although the ball missed the pocket, he ended up leaving Pagulayan safe. Pagulayan’s kick shot on the 3 proved to be fruitless and opened up the table for Orcollo to run out his winning rack.
Finals Cued Up When the final was cued up to begin, the buzz was at a high level. The championship match got underway with Van Boening winning the lag for the break. His crushing break was an appropriate opening to this title match, and when he followed it up by with a lock-up safe on the 1 ball, it was quite evident that Van Boening meant nothing but business. Van Boening moved through the set with a demeanor of focused poise, and the proud American fans in the stands remained rapt with every smashing break and run he executed. Van Boening controlled the lead throughout the match, and while Orcollo waged a comeback, it was short lived. Van Boening ran out two racks to make it to the hill at 12-7, and Orcollo’s only shot at the table in what would be the final game was a failed combination, which handed the table back to Van Boening, who ran out the final string of balls and marked his name in the history books as the 2012 U.S. Open 9-Ball champion.
Alex Pagulayan
22 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th 13th 17th 25th 33rd 49th
Shane Van Boening Dennis Orcollo Alex Pagulayan Efren Reyes Ronnie Alcano Jose Parica Jun Lin Chang Darren Appleton Niels Feijen Jayson Shaw Johnny Archer He Wen Li Wang Can Tom D’Alfonso Corey Deuel Yukio Akagariyama Shawn Putnam Raj Hundal Nick Van den Berg Albin Ouschan Earl Strickland Jin Hu Dang Chris Melling Huidji See Jason Klatt Ko-Pin Ye Louis Ulrich Haitao Liu Darren Appleton David Alcaide Daryl Peach Brandon Shuff Chris Futrell Shaun Wilkie Demetrius Jelatis Hanni Al-Howri Mika Immonen Mario He Hunter Lombardo Thorsten Hohmann Hao Xiang Han Jani Siekkinen John Foster Mike Davis Tommy Kennedy Phil Burford Ralf Souquet John Morra Kenichi Uchigaki Israel Rota Mario Morra Ralph Ekert Karl Boyes Mark Gray Chris Bruner Jason Richko Eric Moore Anthony Meglino Salah Al-Rimawi Carlo Biado Warren Kiamco Robb Saez Nick Ekonomopoulos Michael Wong
$25,000 $15,000 $10,000 $6,000 $4,000 $3,000 $2,000
$1,800
$1,600
$1,400
$1,200
$1,000
Holiday Buying Guide Ip’s
Kamui Chalk
Surprise your favorite pool player this holiday season with a fresh piece of Kamui chalk. The Kamui Chalk #.98 is the soft compound for the player who wants to chalk once and play a rack of balls. The Kamui Chalk #1.21 is the harder compound for the player who has the “pre-shot routine.” Both excel at gripping the cue ball and making your shot in the pocket. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer. To order, please visit or call your local retailer, cue maker, or repair shop, or log onto www.KamuiTips.com.
Star Pearl Cues
McDermott’s Star Pearl cues feature colorful pearl inlays and are available in many unique designs. Affordably priced at $195, it won’t be hard to find the perfect cue for that special person. To top it off, every Star Pearl cue is guaranteed for life by McDermott’s Limited Lifetime warranty. Please view the full cue line at www.mcdermottcue.com, or call 800-666-2283 for more information.
Adam Cues
The Adam line of cues is available once again, featuring new design concepts based on the “old-school” Adam cues of the past. Crafted from the finest exotic woods, these cues have exceptional playability and attention to detail. Ranging in price from $199 to $445, the Adam line features coring technology for consistent balance and feel, spliced-point colored veneer and real inlays, wood-wrapped brass pilots, aged shaft wood, Tiger Everest tips, and come with joint protectors. A perfect holiday gift for the pool player in your life—or for yourself! Look for a dealer in your area at www.balabushkacues.com, or call 480-940-7003.
24 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Pool Player Excuses Towel
This whimsical towel gives your favorite pool player an easy out with six excuses for why that ball didn’t drop. Adorned with original animalthemed cartoons, this 22-inch by 13-inch towel is made of lint-free flour sack material and has a hanging loop on the back. Retail price is $7.95, with 10% of the profits donated to H.E.A.L. Inc (Helping Every Animal Live). To order, please visit www.poolplayerexcuses.com.
Slippy Zippy
Always have your chalk handy! The Slippy Zippy is made from durable plastic and clips right onto your belt or pocket, and its retractable zip line ensures that it will always be close. No more looking for chalk or constantly shifting it from one spot on the table to another. This accessory will keep your chalk close and prevent you from misplacing it, driving up your chalk costs! Available at CueSight.com or by calling 800-660-2572 for only $7.95.
Pro Safeties: The TOP 100 Safety Shots in Pool
Pro Safeties features the top 100 safeties used by top professionals today. Each one is illustrated in a real game situation and completely explained, named, and categorized. Secrets are revealed! It’s easy to use and fits in most cue case pockets. You’ve mastered any safety when you can recognize the general layout, know the strategic aspects of the shot, and confidently execute it in a match. Learning these top safeties will give you that mastery. Never leave an easy table again! Take advantage of the 2012 holiday special at $29, plus $3 shipping and handling. To order, please visit www.BebobPublishing.com, or call 888-33-BEBOB. A “must have” for any pool player!
Bank Shot Calculator 2.0
This version of the popular app incorporates the new “advanced bank shot,” which accounts for all of the factors that measurably change the rebound angle of a bank shot. The app accounts for shot angle, shot speed, and applied english varied between a hard, medium, or soft stroke defined as 3.5, 2.5, and 1.5 times table length, respectively. Additionally, the app accounts for skidding of the cue and object balls within the three shot speeds, scaled for each table size. Lastly, the app now includes a blue bull’s-eye on the long rail to identify the starting point of the shot line.
Balabushka Performance Chalk
In their time-honored tradition of excellence, Balabushka Cues is pleased to present their new Performance Chalk. This chalk adheres to your cue tip, making frequent chalking a thing of the past, and it grips the cue ball, allowing for superior ball control. Also, Performance Chalk produces little dusty residue, keeping the table, balls, and your hands cleaner. A three-piece box of Performance Chalk retails for $8. To order, please visit www.balabushkacues.com.to find an authorized dealer.
Qpod
The elegant Qpod is a must-have accessory for your billiard chalk and cue case this holiday shopping season. This precision-manufactured Qpod is set with finely handcrafted polished inlays of semiprecious stones or mother of pearl. To order your Qpod today, please log onto www.qpod-billard.com.
Tiger LX Series Cue TL-2
This cue features a natural curly maple forearm with five cocobolo inlay points, with a curly maple handle and ten cocobolo inlays. It is complemented with a white plastic sleeve with custom rings. Each cue features the Ultra-X® high-performance patented technology shaft (low-deflection X shafts are optional) and a radial Tiger joint protector. Available for $1,099. To order, please log onto www.tigerproducts.com, or call 800-584-4375. December 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 25
McDermott Cue Kit Looking for the ideal gift for a beginner pool player? Look no further than McDermott’s cue kits. These kits include everything you need to get started as a pool player. McDermott kits range in price from $49 to $99 and come with a cue, case, and set of chalk, plus other accessories. The Dr. Cue Training Kit, a fan favorite, comes with an instructional DVD featuring Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman himself. Who wouldn’t want to take lessons from a pro? Learn more about McDermott cue kits at www.mcdermottcue.com, or call 800-666-2283 for more information.
Simonis X-1®
This patented Simonis X-1® chalk dust removal tool keeps your Simonis cloth playing better longer. The unique structure of the tool lifts the chalk dust out of the cloth, and the low-profile design gets under the rails as well. Keep your playing field in top shape with the totally unique Simonis X-1®! Retails for $89.99. To order, please visit www.simonis-X1.com, or call 800-SIMONIS.
J&J Pro Cue Cases
J&J America’s new pro cue cases offer sporty designs at affordable prices. Featuring high-quality materials, a built-in spring at the bottom of the tube, two large pouches, carrying handles, and a shoulder strap, these cases hold two to four cues. Suggested retail price starts at $100. To place your order, please call J&J America at 562-229-9688, or check www.jjcue.com.
The Skill Development Bundle
These e-books will quickly put your game on the next level. Check out cue ball control cheat sheets and the advanced cue ball control self-testing program. Additionally, drills and exercises for pocket billiards are included. The variety of this material is all-encompassing, with progressive levels of complexity for C (beginners) through A+ (advanced) players. Select from PDF, MOBI, and EPUB e-book formats at www.billiardgods.com for $22.95.
Beat People With a Stick!
Master instructor Tom Simpson, founder of the National Billiard Academy, has been teaching pool for 20 years and writing instructional columns for players for 13 years. This book contains the full collection of his 120 one-page lessons. Many of the topics Simpson explores can be found nowhere else. Cost is $36 plus $3 shipping. You are getting better than three lessons per dollar. To order, please call Tom at 614-975-8337, or buy your copy with PayPal at www.PoolClinics.com/book.html. A great gift for any player! 26 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Dr. Popper Jump Cue
This is not your average jump cue! The Dr. Popper Jump Q’s carbon fiber shaft, coupled with a solid phenolic tip, allows maximum energy transfer to the cue ball for those shots that you would otherwise pass up with any other jump cue. The Dr. Popper Jump Q allows you to jump over an object ball less than an inch away. Using the dart-style method allows you to jump balls anywhere on the table, and because of its light weight, you will be amazed at how easy it is to execute jump shots. To purchase for only $125, please visit www.drpopperjumpq.com.
n y a P � s Angela ria�RiceJennifer �Hugh Ma K
PROG
win
ak
s e n N o J � e i m m a T
.S.�A
a h C � r u e t ma
a P � n a i r e B n PROS �Pay
ngela �Rice Jennifer�P a i r a h g M i Jones and Parks u k �H h c t o H � y l l e K u a u y Post U.S. Amateur a B Charles�Suarez Raym nch e n n a z Championship u S n o d r o G � o y R iel nWins n a m Hone
T
� e n i t s by InsidePOOL Staff
ammie Jones and Brian Parks shone in the Sunshine State in early November, surpassing the top amateur pool players in North America who competed in the U.S. Amateur Championship. The 2012 version of the sport’s most prestigious amateur tournament featured 128 men and 32 women all with the dream of adding the title “U.S. Amateur Champion” to their billiard résumé.
e n o J � e i Tamm
k a c kwold y c u C B � � t t a o i Presc ell As w o R � id v Da ck o � n n r a a i r e W B n � t rt�Hall y r a a P la� e Stew g s n ifer A e n t n n d e o o e r J J B ic � � R y � y r n ro aria h T 28 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊t December 2012 l win�Hug M d e E g t n o la bin�W eff�B
C � r u e t a U.S.�Am
a B � o t s e n r E nch
age
RESS
n y l L o � c h n t i i L d n� re e M r e k a n i e�Sta
Ch
G � l e i n a D p i h s n o i p m James�Miller Christine sJon�James�Jr. The men’s division kicked off November 9 at Stroker’s in Palm Harbor, while the women’s division got underway November 10 at the Crooked Cue in Clearwater. Both divisions came together November 11 at Stroker’s for the final rounds of competition.
e
This year’s event featured a strong mix of U.S. Amateur Championship veterans, as well as a talented pool of newcomers. In all, more than 1,700 players attempted to qualify for this year’s tournament.
e d i r B d�Mc h t i m S Asia Cycak
In the finals the of the women’s division, Tammie Jones of Muncie, IN, faced off with Asia Cycak of Raleigh, NC. The match opened in the 8-ball set with Cycak jumping out to a 2-0 lead. Unfazed, Jones came back to win the next four games, taking a 4-2 lead into the 9-ball set. Cycak again took the first two games of 9-ball, but just as in the 8-ball set, Jones settled into her game and took the next five games and the match 9-4. Jones went undefeated in her first U.S. Amateur Championship experience. Cycak finished with a very respectable runner-up finish, recording her only losses in the tournament against Jones.
okawa
“This is the tournament I’ve wanted to play in my entire career, and to be able to come here and win this championship means the world to me,” said Jones after the match.
Daniel Gordon
Jones relished the thought of knowing that wherever she goes and whatever tournament she plays in, she’ll forever be known as a U.S. Amateur champion.
I played hard, I competed hard.
kiss h c t o H � y cB Kell M � d u n a o u y m a o�B t �Suarez Ray s s le e r a n ith h r C E m h c S n � y ln e L o � c n h in it n L Mered ordon Suza aker okawa
G � l e i n a D an p i m h e s n n o o i H p es�Miller Christine� Jam Jr.
Stain
Ryo�Y
es�
Jon�Jam
December 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 29
APA US Amateur Championships
ideos Henry Brodt vs Jon James Jr at U.S. Amateur Championship APA US Amateur Championships Finals at Strokers Billiards Asia Cycak vs, Tammie Jones APA US Amateur Championships Prescott Buchwold vs. Phil Sidarii APA US Amateur Championships Brian Parks vs. Nick Conners 2012 APA US Amateur Championships Edwin Hugh vs Nick Applebee at 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship Mike Fuller vs. Don Lamken 2012 APA US Amateur Championships Mike Fuller vs. Don Lamken 2012 APA US Amateur Championships Henry Brodt vs Richard Andrews at 2012 US Amateur Championship
May/June 2011 â&#x2014;&#x160; InsidePOOLmag.com 57
Ernesto Bayuau
Jones moves on to compete in the WPBA U.S. Open next year. Cycak finished as the runner-up in her first U.S. Amateur Championship competition. Finishing in third place was Christine Honeman of Conifer, CO, who was also making her first U.S. Amateur Championship appearance.
nifer�Pa
In the men’s division final, it was 2009 U.S. Amateur champion Brian Parks of Bakersfield, CA, versus Daniel Gordon of Marietta, GA. The final match opened in the 8-ball set, with Parks setting the tone. He opened up a 4-0 lead before Gordon was able to take his first game. The pair traded wins to close out the 8-ball rack, with Parks leading 6-2.
Gordon cut Park’s lead in half by winning the first game of the 9-ball set, but Parks quickly regrouped to take the next four games. With Parks on the hill, Gordon was able to fend off his ouster by takChristine Honeman ing another game, but in the end, the former champ would not be denied his second title. “I’m just really happy. I played hard, I competed hard. I take my hat off to Dan [Gordon]—he’s a great competitor,” said Parks after the victory. Parks, a U.S. Amateur Championship regular, said the victory meant even more to him the second time around given the outstanding level of competition that the U.S. Amateur Championship offers. “The competition just gets better and better. There are so many top notch players here, and to go through the 128-player field that we do, it just seems to get harder and harder to win, but I can’t wait to come back again next year,” he added. Parks will advance to the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships next year. Gordon finished as the runner-up in only his second U.S. Amateur Championship performance and recorded two impressive wins over defending champion Ernesto Bayaua of Houston, TX, who finished in third place. In fourth place was Troy Jones of Muncie, IN. Stewart Warnock of Bardonia, NY, and Jeff Blattel of North Augusta, SC, tied for fifth place.
As champions, both Jones and Parks will return next year to defend their coveted titles.
The 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship was conducted by the APA and is the only tournament produced by the APA open to both members and non-members. Preliminary qualifying rounds were held throughout the country in mid September. The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues, and Pool Dawg.
RESULTS:
u y a B � o t s e n h r C E h c n y ln L o � c h n t redi e M Karen�Li ker a n i G a t � l S s � e le i e o n c n i N a o D p i h s n o i p e n m i t a s r i e r h ll i h r�C James�M s�JrC . e s k m r a J ian�Pa ge Jon� “The title U.S. Amateur Champion lasts forever, and that was in my mind every single match. I wanted that title—and to be able to hold onto it forever,” she added.
WOMEN’S RESULTS: 1st Tammie Jones 2nd Asia Cycak 3rd Christine Honeman 4th Angela Payne 5th Jennifer Page Kelly Hotchkiss 7th Suzanne Smith Kira Brown 9th Robin Wong Pam Oves Charles Suarez Meredith Lynch 13th Maria Rice Karen Lincoln Ada Lio Nicole Stainaker
MEN’S RESULTS: 1st Brian Parks 2nd Daniel Gordon 3rd Ernesto Bayuau 4th Troy Jones 5th Stewart Warnock Jeff Blattel 7th Criegh Dumo Joseph Coleman 9th Raymond McBride Walter Bentley II Henry Brodt Robert Hall 13th Nicholas Applebee Jon James Jr. Ryo Yokawa Prescott Buckwold 17th David Rowell Nicholas Conner William Gallagher Jr. Paul Adolini James Miller Michael Mello Donald Lamken Edwin Hugh Troy Jones
e
n o J � e i m ak Tam
I wanted that title—and to be able Sto.�Amateur�C U. hold onto it forever.
uckwold sia�Cyc B � t t o c s Pre well A o R � id v a k D c o n n� r a a ll i a r e W H B n � t rt� y r a a P � w ela Ste r g e s f n i A e n t n n d e o o e r J J B ic � nry� oy ng Edw- Tammie r T ugh Maria�R �HJones in l e t t la ◊ DecemberR2012 ff�BMagazine obin�Wo Je30 InsidePOOL
3G
Camera
Settings
Calculator
iCal
Skype
Youtube
Notes
Safari
A perfect stocking stuffer for any pool player.
4:08 PM
Maps
Chat
Gmail
iTunes
Weather
Based on U.S. Patent # 7144328
3G
Only $4.99
4:08 PM
Camera
Settings
Calculator
Chat
iCal
Skype
Youtube
Gmail
Notes
Maps
iTunes
Safari
Weather
Bank Shot Calculator iPhone App
www.bankshotcalculator.com
Ted
Harris Cues A Business in Repair
by Freddie Agnir photos courtesy of Raymond Linares
Q
uite often, the start for a budding cue maker is in cue repair. Repeated repair business then often leads to cue building. However, when a cue maker establishes himself as a builder of cues, normally the repair business becomes secondary.
Ted Harris, though he builds world-class cues for players, has long been primarily known as one of the elite cue repairmen in the U.S. and one of the very few who travels to tournament venues. So when tournaments across the country began to dwindle, so, too, did his business, which then found itself in dire need of repair as well. However, thanks to his partnership with pool player and long-time friend Danny Green, Harris has bounced back, putting his cue business back on the map. Harris fell in love with pool as a young adult while living in Florida with his father, unfortunately spelling doom to his collegiate career. Bitten deeply by the pool bug, Ted took moved to Ocean City, MD, near his mother and took a job in a poolroom. The room was full of action and management allowed Ted to partake. On the road to becoming one of the better players in the area, Ted also learned all that he could about the pool industry, including setting up tables and replacing cue tips. Since no cue repairmen worked in his immediate area, he would often take cues to Tim Scruggs in Baltimore. While waiting for Tim to do the repairs, Harris would be in action at the local pool hall. However, after a disagreement with Scruggs, Ted Harris decided that he would learn how to do the repairs himself. Ted purchased a cue lathe from famed cue maker Leonard Bludworth, one of the very few at the time who would do any kind of traveling for cue repair. In addition, most considered Bludworth the best repairman in the country. In a recurring theme, Harris had a disagreement with Bludworth, resulting in Ted vowing to become a cue repair expert who would end up taking up all of Bludworth’s work. “And that’s exactly what happened,” joked Harris. Today Harris remains friends with both Scruggs and Bludworth.
The Road to Repair
After a year of saving his money and collecting enough equipment, Ted Harris took his repair work on the road. Armed with his intrepid persona yet lacking a long-term plan, Harris traveled across the country to Reno, NV, in 1991 for the Sands Regency 9-ball event. He hoped to jump start his traveling cue repair business, get into action, and make a little money. The 32 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
I was fearless! I would work on any cue no matter how much it was worth. event already had a cue mechanic, but the event organizers allowed Ted to set up shop as well. He had hoped to make maybe $200 a day, but the successful event earned him over $10,000! During a time when a player needed to either send their cues to a cue builder to get even the most basic tip change or learn to do it himself, Harris took his repair work from tournament to tournament. He became the most prolific at his trade while his Airstream RV served as his home and workshop. “I started on the road on Thanksgiving in 1991,” recalled Harris. “And I didn’t go back home for seven years!” Though the money from his early Reno success came and went, as is the common story in a gambler’s life, the revelation came to Harris that he loved performing his craft in front of people. While cue builders of that era would shut their machines down if visitors came to their shops, he thrived on pulling aside the curtains and showing the insides of a player’s most prized magic wand. “Early on I was such a hack,” said Harris. “But I was fearless! I would work on any cue no matter how much it was worth, and I didn’t care who was watching!”
Although he honed his craft through repeated execution of repairs, Harris quickly acknowledged the help and influence of established cue makers and repairmen, including Mike Capone, Dave Bollman, Dennis Searing, Jerry McWorter, and many others. In fact, Ted Harris built his first cue at Jerry McWorter’s shop during part of his seven-year odyssey. When some German enthusiasts had requested McWorter to build some plain Sneaky Pete cues, Jerry declined, as he did not make Sneaky Petes. However, he agreed to let Ted build them on his equipment, allowing Harris a financial avenue to continue his travels. Though known primarily as a cue repairman extraordinaire, the cues Ted built had gained a reputation for being real players’ cues built by a real player. His journey took him to every part of the country, setting up shop at over 400 events. Eventually, however, the road led him back to the Maryland area and a more settled existence. But as the pool boom ran its course, fewer and fewer pool tournaments materialized. Additionally, personal problems led to depression as his work subsequently suffered. Already known to be a slow-paced worker apart from his road show, Ted’s productivity, as well as his reputation, began a downward spiral.
Playing off the Green
Danny Green was one of the top players in the Baltimore area. Like Ted Harris, he fell in love with pool during college, which not so coincidentally ended his collegiate career as well. Schooled by some of the local pool sharps, Danny took to pool like fish to water. When the game included action, magic happened for Danny. Win or lose, the game became a greater love. Though losing rarely happened, any loss would drive Danny into a trance-like state, determined to practice until his fingers bled and until whoever beat him did not have a prayer of doing it again. On one of his early match-ups, Danny played and lost to a local poolroom worker—Ted Harris. True to his spirit, Danny returned a few months later to return the favor. Rather than beat each other up on the table, the two became best friends, started traveling together, and would often discuss possibilities of working together. However, any idea of working toDecember 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 33
Ted Harris, Danny Green
I just love everyone. And I’m not mad anymore! poolroom after leaving his union job. However, after talking with Ted and seeing his friend in need, Danny and his fiancée, Janet Causey-Bruce, opted to move to Florida and put a stake into Ted’s business. Danny’s work ethic and organization skills, combined with Janet’s support and communication savvy, transformed Harris and his floundering workshop into a well-oiled machine. gether normally fell through as both acknowledged being too hardheaded to work as partners. When author David McCumber penned Playing off the Rail, his crosscountry action tour with California’s Tony Annigoni, a chapter included Annigoni’s run-in with Maryland’s Danny Green.1 His reputation had grown such that when road players came through, they were steered towards him. Danny worked as a house pro at various poolrooms, and as the Internet gained a head of steam, Green started the Planet Pool Tour using the World Wide Web, recognizing it as a powerful advertising tool. He started the website www.planet-pool.com and broke new ground by streaming live video pool matches to the world out of Fast Eddie’s Billiards in 1999. Unfortunately, this idea came too soon, as bandwidth issues meant that viewers had a difficult time following the action, as the sound never coincided with the video. Nevertheless, the tour thrived, bringing an average of over 100 players per event, which even today’s tours rarely match.
Today, Ted Harris Cues is a streamlined shop that has both building and repair as its primary business. Danny does much of the pre-construction and assembly, while Ted provides the bulk of the detailed finishing work. This division of the workload allows Ted the time to perform his renowned cue repair, as Danny processes the initial stages of the custom orders. Though not much of the technical details of a Ted Harris Cue have changed, Harris acknowledges that the improvements in the shop have lead to an improvement in the quality of the work. As an endorsement of just how good the cues play, look no further than the recent ESPN.com article on Filipino great Dennis Orcollo. After searching for a cue he can “believe in,” Orcollo found it in a Ted Harris Cue.2 With Danny Green as his partner, Ted now has the opportunity to give thanks to those who stuck with him through his lows and at the same time be able to make amends to those that his earlier decline had caused dismay. “I’m just so grateful,” stated Harris emphatically. “I just love everyone. And I’m not mad anymore!”
However, with great ideas and great success come enough complaints that eventually any love soon is lost. And so it was with Green and the tour. Two years in, he left control of the tour and pool in general, deciding on a full-time union job. He went on to have a successful career as a stagehand for the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. However, a back injury in 2011 forced him to quit that profession.
Danny and Ted have managed the backlog of cues through better organization and have made every effort to repair the business and the name. So if a player is in need of a cue or repair, he should consider looking to Hollywood, FL, and Ted Harris Cues. After all, their business in repair is back in action.
Business is Turning
1 David McCumber, Playing off the Rail: A Pool Hustler’s Journey (Random House, 1996), 230-249 2 Brett Forrest, “Running the Tables,” ESPN the Magazine (May 2012): 100
In an effort to revitalize his business, Harris took on a partner and moved to Georgia, but the partnership failed abruptly. Ted fell deeper into depression. He borrowed from family members and friends in order to move again, this time to Hollywood, FL. However, things only seemed to get worse. He rebuilt his shop rather slowly and inefficiently. While working, he confessed to frequently being confused, disorganized, and simply mad at the world. Then Green came to the rescue. Danny had sold his house after a series of downturns himself and had thought about getting back into pool. He considered possibly buying a 34 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Fred Agnir
A mechanical engineer by trade, Freddie Agnir from Treasure Island, FL, has been playing pool for over 30 years and has several league and amateur state titles to his credit in singles, partners, and team competition. He is a former New Hampshire State Amateur 8-ball champion.
GB1
GB2
GB3
GB5
GB6
GB8
GB9
GB21
GB22
GB23
EXTRA SHAFT
AD1
AD2
AD3
AD4
AD5
AD6
AD7
AD8
AD9
AD10
McDermott raises money for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation McDermott Cue Mfg., LLC, is a leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of pool cues, performance shafts, and billiard accessories. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, McDermott raised money for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. During the month of October, a portion of the proceeds on select pink cues and cases went to support the fight against breast cancer. McDermott was able to raise $750 for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation thanks to everyone who bought pink gear. For more information on the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation and how you can help, please visit www.tnbcfoundation.org.
Billiard Factory Unveils Exclusive Cloth Line
The Billiard Factory unveiled a new premium cloth from Simonis Cloth available only at the Billiard Factory. This private labeled cloth is made from worsted wool with a fabric protection coating that can withstand any home environment. “This cloth has a superior play surface and a long life, so there will be more years of enjoyment than other brands,” said Ryan Stick, co-owner of the Billiard Factory. The exclusive line comes in colors that will not only complement your table but also your game room. Choose from a rich mocha to a cool slate gray and everything in between. It can be placed on any table in stock at the Billiard Factory or on your current table.
S O
P O W E R F U L,
I T S
C R I M I N A L.
Faster, stronger, and more powerful. After more than two years of research and development, mountains of data, and feedback from top Predator Pros, we've created the world's best break cue – again. Featuring more than a dozen design changes from our renowned BK2, the new BK3 deploys even more power for that all important first shot. The motive is simple, kill the competition. Watch for the BreakSpeed Powered by Predator Application for Apple® iOS and AndroidTM ©2012, Predator Cues, All rights reserved. Predator is a registered trademarks of Predator Group. Apple is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. Android is a registered trademark of Google Inc.
www.PredatorCues.com
>Player of the Month Demon Thompson of Richmond Hill, GA, has been an avid APA
member since 2010. He currently plays on five APA teams and is the captain of several. In addition to regular weekly league play, Demon competes regularly in singles qualifiers, Jack and Jill, 8- and 9-ball doubles, and masters tournaments. In 2011 he qualified for the masters championship at the APA National Team Championships in Vegas. Demon is currently a skill level 5 in 8-ball and skill level 6 in 9-ball and plays in the Southeast Georgia APA operated by Joel and Sandra Chue. “Demon absolutely loves to have fun, meet people, and play pool in the APA,” said Joel. “He’s not just a member of the Southeast Georgia APA, he portrays some of the best sportsmanship in our league.” Demon worked with the Chues over the summer to organize a charity tournament benefiting the local American Diabetes Association, which was a great success. He’s also a veteran—Demon was in the U.S. Army for eight years, completing one tour in Iraq. While in the Army he worked as a health care specialist, which in turn sparked an interest in the medical field. He’s now been a certified pedorthist for the past 14 years. Even with his busy work schedule, he finds time to play plenty of pool.
Books & Videos
“Demon contributes back to the community, is a veteran and a family man. He personifies what we’d like the majority of our members to be,” said Sandra.
38 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
that improve your
GAME.. FROM THE
Handbook of the Billiard Gods Authored by Allan P. Sand PBIA/ACS Pocket Billiards Instructor Get these books & videos at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at:
www.billiardgods.com
Wilkie Goes the Distance 2012 Maryland Open 9-Ball Championship / Glen Burnie, MD
Gabia and Aro met in the hot seat match after wins over Chris Kelly 7-4 and Anthony Dahab 6-4, respectively. Aro then claimed the winners’ bracket final 7-5 over Gabia to remain undefeated.
by InsidePOOL Staff
Shaun “Get Some” Wilkie took down the 2012 Maryland Open 9-Ball Championship, going undefeated through the 35-player field to best Brett StottlemyBrett Stottlemyer, Shaun Wilkie er in the finals for the title. The October 13 tournament was hosted by Big Daddy’s Billiards in Glen Burnie, MD, but states of residence represented also included Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. By midday, the winners’ side had narrowed down to four players. Wilkie bested Rob Cord, while Stottlemyer defeated Shawn Jackson to reach the hot seat. Wilkie quickly took 3-0 lead. Stottlemyer fought back, but Wilkie was the winner 7-3. On the one-loss side, Adam Kielar and Alan Duty each won three matches to meet up in the quarterfinals. In this hill-hill thriller, the final rack started with a dry break by Kielar. Duty ran through the rack until a scratch on the 8 ball brought Kielar back to the table for the win. Both Kielar and Stottlemyer were in top form in the semifinals, and it showed in their play. Kielar opened by clearing a tough table, but Stottlemyer countered with a run-out to tie it. The score continued to go back and forth until the match was hill-hill, with Stottlemyer breaking and running the final rack. The double-elimination final saw the score seesaw until Wilkie inched ahead to 6-5 when Stottlemyer rattled the 9. Stottlemyer came back to take the next three racks to reach the hill. Wilkie broke and ran to pull back within one game, but Stottlemyer broke and ran out the next rack to take the first set 9-7. Wilkie raced to a 4-0 lead in the final race to 7. Stottlemyer grabbed the next, but Wilkie went ahead 5-1 after the Stottlemyer rattled the 5 ball. The two traded break and run-outs, but Wilkie took the last game for the win and title.
Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th
Shaun Wilkie Brett Stottlemyer Adam Kielar Alan Duty Rob Cord Shawn Jackson Bill Gallagher Brian Y
$530 $310 $185 $120 $75 $65
Aro and Gabia Split Top Honors Tri-State Tour / Staten Island, NY by InsidePOOL Staff
Michael Aro and Ron Gabia opted to split the top prize at the October 14 stop of the Tri-State Tour because of the late hour. The 9-ball tournament attracted a field of 28 to House of Billiards in Staten Island, NY. 40 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Anthony Dehab, Michael Aro, Ron Gabia, Dennis Kennedy
Kelly was eliminated in fifth place by Dave Shlemperis 7-3, as Mike Davie joined Kelly after being ousted by Dahab 6-3. Dahab then relegated Shlemperis to fourth place after the quarterfinal match ended in his favor 7-5. Gabia won the semifinals 8-6 to deposit Dahab in third place. In the final match, Aro and Gabia chose to split first place.
Results: 1st 3rd 4th 5th
Michael Aro Ron Gabia Anthony Dahab Dave Shlemperis Chris Kelly Mike Davie
$425 $200 $120 $70
Uzdejczyk Upends Tri-State Field Tri-State Tour / Clifton, NJ by InsidePOOL Staff
Bogie Uzdejczyk took down 11 straight matches on the oneloss side at the TriState Tour’s October 20 event to win the title over Guy Iannuzzi 9-2. The $750-added 9-ball tournament drew 49 players to Clifton Billiards Espresso Bar and Grill in Clifton, NJ.
Guy Iannuzzi, Bogie Uzdejczyk, Kim Meyer-Gabia, Vincent Sauro
Iannuzzi went through the winners’ side, besting Keith Adamik 7-4 to reach the hot seat match. His opponent there was Kim Meyer-Gabia, who had just defeated Peter Chin 6-5. Iannuzzi was able to claim the hot seat with a 7-3 victory. On the road to the finals, Uzdejczyk eliminated Ron Gabia 7-2 in seventh place and Adamik 7-5 in fifth. Louise Petronica was on a collision course with Uzdejczyk, ousting first Tony Ignomirello 6-5 and then Chin 6-5. In the quarterfinals, though, Uzdejczyk won by a close 7-5 margin.
Results:
Uzdejczyk went on to face down Meyer-Gabia for the right to challenge Iannuzzi in the finals, relegating Meyer-Gabia to third place 7-4. In the final match, Uzdejczyk only allowed his opponent two games before racing to a 9-2 victory.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th
Bogie Uzdejczyk Guy Iannuzzi Kim Meyer-Gabia Louise Petronica Keith Adamik Peter Chin Ron Gabia Tony Ignomirello Emerson Verano Michael Rodriguez Robert Veit Dennis Kennedy
$740 $490 $300 $200 $120 $90 $65
Casanzio Cashes on Joss Tour Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour / Syracuse, NY by InsidePOOL Staff
Ron Casanzio rose through the ranks at the October 27-28 stop on the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour, going undefeated to claim the title over Spencer Auigbelle. Premium Billiards in Syracuse, NY, hosted the $1,500-added tournament, which drew a field of 32. In the winners’ side final four, Casanzio faced Mike Renshaw and triumphed 9-6, as Russ Philp edged past Jerry Crowe 9-7. It was a close call in the hot seat, but Casanzio pulled it out for the 9-8 victory. Auigbelle was making a move on the one-loss side, eking out a hill-hill win over Ed Saur 9-8 and then Jerry Crowe 9-3. Dave Grau relegated Dwight Dixon to seventh place 9-1 and then Renshaw to fifth 9-0. In a close quarterfinal battle, Auigbelle came out on top of Grau 9-7.
It was even closer in the semifinals between Auigbelle and Philp, but Auigbelle pulled out a 9-8 win. In the final match, Casanzio retained his undefeated status by notching a 9-5 victory over Auigbelle.
Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th
Ron Casanzio Spencer Auigbelle Russ Philp Dave Grau Mike Renshaw Jerry Crowe Ed Saur Dwight Dixon
$1,000 $650 $500 $400 $250 $100
Slam Dunk for Sossei Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour / Utica, NY by InsidePOOL Staff
Going through the winners’ side of the chart with ease, Jeremy Sossei slammed the 52-player field that came out for the November 3-4 stop on the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour, taking the final match over Adam Keilar 9-3. The Al Conte Memorial 9-Ball Open was hosted by Hippo’s House of Billiards in Utica, NY, and boasted a $1,500-added prize fund. Sossei squared off with Geoff Montgomery in the winners’ side final four and dealt him a 9-3 loss. Ron Casanzio, looking to follow up his win last week with another, bested Greg Antonakos 9-5 and advanced to the hot seat match, which Sossei claimed 9-5. Keilar was rolling through the one-loss side of the chart, putting Dave Dreidel in seventh place 9-7 and then in Antonakos in fifth 9-6. Equally determined, Nelson Olivieira eliminated first Jerry Crowe in seventh 9-7 and then Montgomery in fifth 9-4. The two collided in the quarterfinal match, with Keilar coming out Results: the 9-5 victor. 1st Jeremy Sossei $1,150 2nd Adam Keilar $800 Keilar went on 3rd Ron Casanzio $600 to face down Casa4th Nelson Olivieria $400 nzio in the semifinal 5th Greg Antonakos $325 match 9-7, thwarting Geoff Montgomery his hopes for consec7th Dave Dreidel $200 utive Joss Tour wins. Jerry Crowe But the final match 9th Phil Davis $100 between Keilar and Dwight Dixon Sossei was a lopsided Victor Conte one, with Sossei surg Mike Zuglan ing ahead to claim the title 9-3.
news images videos games lessons
Insidepoolmag.com December 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 41
> Upcoming Northeast Tournaments 12/1 12/1-2 12/8-9 12/15 12/16 12/22 12/30 1/10-13 2/9-10
Tri-State Tour Predator Tour Predator Tour Finale Tri-State Tour Mezz Pro Tour Tri-State Tour Tri-State Tour Turning Stone Classic XX 9-Ball Open Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour
Available for Lessons or Shows
Gotham City Billiards Mr. Cue Billiards Raxx Pool Room Castle Billiards Sandcastle Billiards Port Richmond Billiard Club Cue Bar Turning Stone Resort and Casino Sharpshooter’s Billiards
en on As se orld W ESPN f Trick Cup o nd a Shots e! b YouTu
Invented by Mark Dimick
Artistic Pool Tour Professional
Per f gift, ect o $12 nly 5.00 MARK DIMICK 405.642.5641 • 405.794.9575 drpopperjumpq.com 42 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Brooklyn, NY Lindenhurst, NY West Hempstead, NY East Rutherford, NJ Edison, NJ Staten Island, NY Bayside, NY Verona, NY Amsterdam, NY
718-714-1002 531-226-9486 516-538-9896 201-933-6007 732-632-9277 718-727-0800 718-631-2646 518-356-7163 518-627-4634
$1,500 A-D players $1,000 Open $3,000 Open $500 A-D players $1,000 Open $750 A-D players $1,000 A-D players $25,000 Open $2,000 Open
E1 2 OR 4 / F ! O M N ON A S I TH UR CT HO RU ST IN
The most comprehensive, informative and beneficial billiards lesson DVD ever produced!
OV
Available direct from Jerry at PoolLessons.com or by phone at 608-279-9994
TO ER PI 5 CS 0
t a re ng g A cki ! r o t e f s uf st
Mason Aces All-American Title Pure X Cues All-American Tour / Virginia Beach, VA by InsidePOOL Staff
Bill Mason went unchallenged through the field at the October 20 stop on the Pure X Cues All-American Tour to resist a strong push by Dave Perry to Dave Perry, Bill Mason, Vern Steinke claim the title. Mike’s Break Room in Virginia Beach, VA, hosted the $500-added 9-ball tournament on 7-foot Valley bar boxes, which drew 15 players. The winners’ bracket ended with Mason blanking Bernard Andico 5-0 and Vern Steinke outpointing Perry 5-2, followed by Mason dominating Steinke to gain the hot seat by a 5-1 margin. On the B-side Perry recovered to oust Steve Jeffries at fifth place by a 5-3 score, while Edith Waldon was eliminated in the same bracket at the hands of Bernard Andico 4-5. Perry then stopped Andico at fourth place 5-3 and then avenged his earlier loss to Steinke with a 5-1 thrashing in the B-side finals. In the tournament finals, Perry jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set, but the undefeated Mason rebounded to gain a 5-4 decision for the title.
redrew into a singleelimination bracket on the winners’ side. In the final eight player board, Lombardo eliminated Sam Kantor and Justin Gilsanen.
Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 5th
Hunter Lombardo Chris Filippelli Greg Deaton Justin Gilsanen Sam Kantar Chris Gentile Eric Swingle Lyn Remsen
$250 $150 $100 $50
Lombardo then matched up against Filippelli in the final match. Filippelli played strong, but not quite strong enough to take the win from Lombardo, fresh off a respectable finish in the top 32 at the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships. Other players making it to the final board of eight included Greg Deaton, Chris Gentile, Eric Swingle, and Lyn Remsen.
When this SudoCue is solved, the letters in “Holidays!” will appear in each row, column, and box—but only once, and not in any particular order. Answer available online at www.InsidePOOLmag.com.
Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Bill Mason Dave Perry Vernon Steinke Bernard Andico Steve Jeffries Edith Waldon
$400 $200 $100 $50 $30
Lombardo Tips Top Hat Field Flamingo Billiards Tour / Jupiter, FL by InsidePOOL Staff
Hunter Lombardo strolled his way to the top of the leader board at Top Hat Billiards and Lounge in Jupiter, FL, to take first place over Chris Filippelli November 4. Participating in the Flamingo Billiards Tour’s “Cues for the Cure II” fundraiser, Lombardo had few obstacles in his path, although Eric Swingle forced him to take a detour to the left. The event was a modified, double-elimination format, playing down to four on each side. The final four on the one-loss side
> Upcoming Southeast Tournaments 12/1-2 12/8-9 12/8-9 12/15-16 1/12-13 1/19 2/9 2/9-10
Great Southern Billiard Tour The Action Pool Tour Great Southern Billiard Tour Great Southern Billiard Tour The Action Pool Tour Pure X All-American Tour Pure X All-American Tour The Action Pool Tour
44 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Shore Thing Bar and Billiards VIP Billiards Raisin’ Cain’s Speakeazy Billiards Diamond Billiards Mike’s Break Room Q’s Sports Bar and Girl Break Time Sports Grill
Myrtle Beach, SC Catonsville, MD Inman, SC Sanford, NC Midlothian, VA Virginia Beach, VA Port Charlotte, FL Salisbury, MD
843-712-1905 410-747-2551 864-472-8716 919-775-1166 804-794-8787 757-647-3421 941-585-9600 410-742-7665
$1,000 TBA $1,000 $1,500 TBA $500 $500 TBA
Amateurs Open Amateurs Amateurs Open Amateurs Amateurs Open
Davis and Whit Win in Dallas Lone Star Billiards Tour / Dallas, TX by InsidePOOL Staff
The Lone Star Billiards Tour visited Hawley’s Billiards in Dallas, TX, the weekend of October 13-14 for its $1,000-added stop. The tour pulled in 57 players that filled two 32-player brackets for the open and amateur divisions, as well as 8 ladies. T. J. Davis, Mark Whit, and Orietta Strickland all walked away Mark Whit winners in their respective events. The open 9-ball winners’ bracket saw Dallas’ T. J. Davis defeat Robert Clark 9-6, as Al Mason passed Walt Anderson 9-2. It was a classic Davis versus Mason hot seat match for the Dallas pool fans. Mason pulled ahead 4-1, but Davis capitulated in the sixth rack when he kicked in a 4 ball then took off to secure a 9-6 win. Chris “Woody” Smith made his way through the one-loss side, eliminating Walter Hawley and Somner, until he met up with Crispian Ng, who ended his run 7-4. Clark overcame Ng 7-3 to meet a streaking Emerson, who took out Clark 7-6, then Mason, 7-3, for a total of seven consecutive matches to reach Davis in the final. Davis defeated Emerson 9-6, going undefeated in the star-studded Lone T. J. Davis, Barry Emerson Star Open division.
Open Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th
T. J. Davis Barry Emerson Al Mason Robert Clark Walt Anderson Crispian Ng Chris Smith Tuan Nguyen
$470 $300 $220 $110 $65 $35
Amateur Results: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th
Mark Whit Doug Pitts Eric Renteria Chris Smith Crispian Ng Joseph Pruiett Coner Chinan Vince Tovar
$400 $290 $200 $100 $50 $25
Ladies’ Results: 1st 2nd 3rd
Orietta Strickland Courtney Molina Amber Stone
$100 $75 $25
placed him on the hill first. Whit responded with three straight racks, winning the final set and his first Lone Star Tour title. In the ladies’ 9-ball division, Orietta Strickland secured wins over Trisha Abadilla 7-0, Monica Anderson 7-4, and finally Courtney Molina for the hot seat 7-0. After a second-round loss to Molina, Cindy Cole came back to face Amber Stone, who was making a play of her own. Cole took a 4-1 lead but failed to close, and Stone took 5-4. Molina bested Stone but fell to Strickland in the final 7-3.
In the amateur division, Mark Whit defeated Joseph Pruiett 7-3, while Eric Renteria ousted Ng 7-5. Whit then eked out a hill-hill hot seat win over Renteria 7-6. On the one-loss side, Doug Pitts won an astounding eight consecutive matches after a first-round loss to Tovar to meet Whit in the finals. The first set went to Pitts 7-6. In the final race to 5, both players ground it out till the very end. At 2-2, Pitts won two more games, which
Courtney Molina, Orietta Strickland
December 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 45
Bayaua Breaks In Poison by Predator Tour / Houston, TX
Fuller came back to whitewash Daniel Coffman 6-0, while Pacheco was making his move and eliminated Raymond Corpuz 6-2. In the next round, Fuller bested Lee and Pacheco defeated Escobedo to meet in the final two on the one-loss side. Pacheco plowed through Fuller 6-2 and gained his third-round loss vengeance on Demetro, eliminating him 6-5.
by InsidePOOL Staff
The Poison by Predator Tour held its final 9-ball stop of the year November 3, and Ernesto Bayaua came out on top of the field to best Bobby Pacheco for the title. Bobby Pacheco, Ernesto Bayaua The $1,000-added event drew a field of 45 to Bogies Billiards and Sports Bar in Houston, TX.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th
Bayaua went undefeated, besting Dalton Riley 6-4 and then Danny Lee 6-2 to reach the winners’ side finals. Facing him there was Sonny Demetro, who had dealt Bill Fuller his first loss 6-4, followed by a win over Raul Escobedo 6-0. Bayaua claimed the hot seat over Demetro, who went to the west side.
> Upcoming Central Tournaments 12/1 12/1 12/7-9 12/15 12/29 1/12 1/25-2/2
Pure X All-American Tour Pure X All-American Tour Space City Open Pure X All-American Tour Pure X All-American Tour Pure X All-American Tour Derby City Classic
In the finals, Pacheco came on the strong, winning his eighth consecutive match against Bayaua 6-2. With the finals in overtime, it was Bayaua’s turn to answer back, and he did. Rock steady, he claimed a 6-0 victory over Pacheco, capturing his first Poison by Predator Tour event win.
Results:
Sandite Billiards Sandite Billiards Bogies Billiards and Sports Bar Sharky’s Billiards 2nd Avenue Corner Pocket 2nd Avenue Corner Pocket Horseshoe Casino and Hotel
Ernesto Bayaua Bobby Pacheco Sonny Demetro Bill Fuller Raul Escobedo Danny Lee Daniel Coffman Raymond Corpuz Dalton Riley John Newsome Victor Rojas Will Felder
Sand Springs, OK Sand Springs, OK Houston, TX Davenport, IA Cedar Rapids, IA Cedar Rapids, IA Elizabeth, IN
$635 $450 $325 $200 $125 $75 $40
918-906-8779 918-906-8779 281-821-4544 563-359-7225 319-366-0979 319-366-0979 866-766-2671
$500 $200 $5,000 $500 $500 $500 $75,000
Amateur men Amateur women Open Amateurs Amateurs Amateurs Open
TRUE HEART BILLIARDS CUES 519-220-0298 www.Trueheartbilliardcues.ca CUE LATHES Starting at $895 NEW ONLINE STORE NOW OPEN! Factory Direct Pricing Repair Lathes - Tapering Machines, Pantograph Inlay Machines, CNC Machines – Lathe Accessories, Leather Wrap Machines – UV Curing Booth UNIQUE PRODUCTS, INC. 3129 25th St. #215 Columbus, IN 47203 812-376-8887 www.uniqueinc.com CUE LATHES & INLAY MACHINES Starting at $850. Also sold separately: 2 HR cue repair and building video - $50. Point and inlay video - $50. Cue building book - $69.95. Lathe pins, concaved live centers, chucks, wrap motors, and other parts to convert your lathe for cue-making or repair. Tapered shaft and butt blanks. WWW.CUESMITH.COM Phone: 770-684-7004 Ask for Chris, or write “Cue Man Billiards” 444 Flint Hill Road, Aragon, GA 30104 NITTI CUES www.nitticues.com ORIGINAL DESIGNS BY K. F. CUES www.poolcues.com.tw 46 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ December 2012
Share
Live. Stream your next event with IP Video. For more information on streaming with InsidePOOL Video, call 888-428-7665, or email info@insidepoolmag.com.
InsidePool
In case you can't participate in Visit the Zoo Day this December 27, we've hidden the names of exotic animals large and small, from reptiles to mammals, in our word search. Agouti Alligator Antelope Bear Boa Buffalo Cheetah Chimpanzee Condor Crane Crocodile Deer Duck Duiker Eagle Elephant Falcon Flamingo Fox Gazelle Gecko Giraffe Gorilla Heron Hippopotamus Ibis Jaguar Kangaroo Kookaburra Lemur Leopard Lion Macaque Meerkat Monitor Monkey
Okapi Orangutan Ostrich Otter Owl Panther Parrot Peacock Penguin Porcupine
Rhinocerus Tamarin Tarantula Tiger Tortoise Toucan Turtle Viper Wolf Zebra
Visit www.InsidePOOLmag.com for the answers to this puzzle.
PATENT PENDING
ACCURATELY ACCURATE ACCURACY.
DEMO ONE TODAY!
®
Visit vikingcue.com to find your nearest eXactShot® Certified Viking Dealer
The Viking eXactShot® Pure Performance Shaft Viking Cue Manufacturing, LLC • 2710 Syene Road • Madison, WI 53713 • www.vikingcue.com
• Revolutionary eX-Core® Construction • Viking SightLine Technology • 100% Made in the USA by Viking Cue • Limited Lifetime Warranty, including warpage • $279 - eXactShotUSA with Tiger® Everest Tip • $299 - eXactShotSPEC with Kamui ® Black Soft Tip
handcrafting cues since 1965