July/August Inside POOL Magazine by Inside POOL Magazine

6 Beat People With a Stick A New Spin on Rotation 8 Pro Pool Workout Long Bank Kill Safety 10 Ten Steps to Pool Success Step Nine: Tooling up to Run Racks 12 Intermediate Objectives Gamesmanship and Sharking 14 Angles as a Second Language Toothpick

16 APA Members Win Big in Las Vegas World’s Largest Pool League Crowns Seven Amateur Champions 20 Staking Their Claim to Stardom Corteza and Liu Land China Open Titles 28 Familiar Faces Triumph Over Newcomers Pure X ACS Nationals Participation Swells On the Cover: Lee Van Corteza of the Philippines coolly claimed the China Open 9-ball men’s title over Fu Che Wei, dominating the Taiwanese veteran 11-6 and scoring a $40,000 payday. For the full story, please visit page 20. 2 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

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, Jin Li/Top147.com E-mail info@insidepoolmag.com Website www.insidepoolmag.com Instructional Staff Johnny Archer, Anthony Beeler, Shannon Daulton, Mark Finkelstein, Bob Henning, Allan Sand, Tom Simpson Contributing Writers Ted Lerner, Alan Morris, Ken Shuman Toll Free 888-428-7665 Administrative Offices PO Box 972, Kittanning, PA 16201

4 Advertiser Directory 38 APA Player of the Month

40 Northeast 43 Southeast 44 Central 47 Western

34 Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New 36 Industry News 47 SudoCue Puzzle 48 Word Puzzle Game Time

InsidePOOL Magazine Volume XIII, Issue 6 (ISSN15473511) is published monthly except June and August by Spheragon Publishing, PO Box 972, Kittanning, PA 16201. Single copy price: $3.95 in U.S.A., $5.95 in Canada. Subscription prices: $19.99/yr in the U.S.A., $28/yr in Canada, $39/yr international. Periodicals postage at Kittanning, PA, and additional mailing offices. Submissions of manuscripts, illustrations, and/or photographs must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The publisher assumed no responsibility for unsolicited material. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: InsidePOOL Magazine, PO Box 972, Kittanning, PA 16201. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. July/August 2013 â&#x2014;&#x160; InsidePOOLmag.com 3

Advertiser Directory

To contact any of our advertisers, visit their website, send an e-mail, or give them a call. Allan P. Sand www.billiardgods.com

Kamui Tips www.kamuibrand.com

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Anthony Beeler, Maximize Your Potential www.poolteacher.com

Maryland Open 14.1 Straight Pool Championship 410-757-3488

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McDermott Handcrafted Cues www.mcdermottcue.com

Atlas Billiard Supplies www.cuestik.com

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Tom Simpson, Billiard Instruction www.poolclinics.com

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World Professional Billiard League www.wpbltv.com

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Inside Back Cover

5, 9, 15

A New Spin on Rotation I

didn’t realize how tired I was of 9-ball until I played a new game. Actually, it’s a new version of a very old game—rotation. Pro player and instructor Joe Tucker developed it. I’ll summarize here, but you can get the complete rules and scoresheets at JoeTucker.net. For many years, the story has been that the Filipinos are great at 9-ball and 10-ball because they all grew up playing rotation (with 15 balls). The explanation we usually hear is that their pool fees were paid by the rack, not by the hour. So rotation was a good way to get more table time for the same money. And look what’s it’s done for their level of play! We still played rotation here in the ’60s, mostly as a gambling ring game such as Pill Pool. Nine-ball took over, possibly because it was a faster way to separate bangers from their cash. Joe suggested calling this new version American Rotation to differentiate it from the old version played extensively by the Filipinos. But I propose we name it Rhode Island Rotation in accordance with the tradition of sometimes naming a game to honor the place where it began or became popular. Of course, Joe is from Rhode Island. I’ll explain enough here for you to get the idea and give the game a try. Rhode Island is a rotation game, meaning the low ball on the table must be contacted first. A match is played to some number of points, typically 100. Balls numbered 1-10 are worth one point each. Balls 1115 are worth two points, so each rack contains a total of twenty points. Play continues until one player reaches the winning score. (With more than two players, it’s no safeties and pay for every ball.)

Other than the break, every shot is either a called shot or 15 a called safety. When you miss a called shot or 3 2 pocket a ball on a called safety, 1 the incoming player can make you shoot again. 13 14 The incoming player gets ball in hand on any foul, for example, scratching, failing to hit the lowest ball first, knocking a ball off the table, or failing to make a legal shot. No balls are ever spotted, so this is a perfect game for barbox play. Balls pocketed on fouls or on missed shots belong to the player who shoots next. The penalty for three consecutive fouls is a “free shot” (ball in hand on any ball), followed by ball in hand in rotation. Rack all 15 balls as shown. In Joe’s rules, there are a few special rules for the first rack of the game, but we’ll ignore those small differences here and talk about how to try the game. Here we go: Lag for the break. Alternate breaks after the first rack. After the break, the breaker starts the rack with ball in hand, regardless of whether a ball was pocketed or whether there was a foul. On every shot except the break, you must contact the lowest numbered ball first. Requirements for a legal shot are Anthony Beeler is a certified level 3 instructor for the the same as in 9-ball.

Anthony Beeler

American CueSports Alliance and also the founder of Maximize Your Potential Billiards Academy, located in 6 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013 is also a fully licensed Bradfordsville, Kentucky. Beeler Kentucky educator, having received his bachelor’s degree

Why I believe this is a compelling, rewarding, enjoyable game:

It’s lots of fun! Rhode Island presents surprises, challenges, opportunities for greatness, and opportunities for excitement. As in games like one-pocket, momentum can switch very quickly. Miss a ball you called, and it could be very costly.

Luck is a smaller factor. With ball in hand after the break and no requirement to sink a ball on the break, “luck of the break” is not a big factor. And with the ability to make your opponent shoot again when he misses, you’re not suffering from accidental snookers so frequently. Let the player who missed deal with it. It might be risky, but you could make him shoot until he fouls or leaves you a shot worth taking.

Pocketing balls is rewarded. Points are scored for every ball. In 9-ball, the only reward for pocketing a ball is staying at the table. If you’re not a run-out player, every ball you sink makes it easier for your opponent to get out. The only ball that counts for anything is the 9. Lots of fabulous plays are not rewarded because the player didn’t get to the 9.

Planning is rewarded. With as many as 15 balls on the table, it’s vital to think ahead. If you call a ball and miss, you could be impossibly snookered and give up ball in hand when the incoming player makes you shoot again.

Less frequent racking, more innings. With more balls in the game and more traffic on the table, a rack may take more time and more innings (maximum bang for the buck on a barbox).

Expanded strategic and defensive components. Playing this game will expand your strategic thinking and enhance your defensive moves. Constantly weighing significant risk versus reward decisions sharpens your game. You’ll learn to see better, smarter safeties, and think like a player. This game really builds your skills.

Easy handicapping. Good news for those not at the top of the food chain—this game is easy to handicap fairly. You simply get “points on the wire,” for example, in a 100-point match, the stronger player might give the weaker player 40 points at the start. The strong player needs 100, while the weaker player needs 60 to win.

“So, ya wanna play some Rhode Island, buck a point? I’ve never played it before …”

Tom Simpson Tom Simpson is a Master Instructor in the PBIA & ACS Instructor Programs, and a professor at Billiard University. 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 NationalBilliardAcademy.com. 20 years: 3000 happy players, 150 instructors, 125 instructional articles. Contact: Tom@PoolClinics.com, 614-975-8337.

Long Bank Kill Safety B

ank safeties are very common in 9-ball and fairly common in 8-ball. There are one-rail bank safeties and two-, three-, and even four-rail versions. The multi-rail bank safeties normally require specific ball arrangements to be effective, but when one is dead on, it can result in a killer safety scenario. The single-rail bank safeties, on the other hand, rely primarily on distance and are applicable in many configurations. They are familiar tools in 9-ball when the game is down to the last couple of balls and the player does not have an offensive shot. They are seen in 8-ball when only the 8 is on the table and the incoming player doesn’t have a reasonable chance to pocket it. The featured safety in this column is the Long Bank Kill Safety. In this shot you are moving the active ball to the far end rail and attempting to keep the cue ball as close to the other end cushion as you can. The primary goal is to leave the object ball near the middle of the end rail and close to the cushion. The secondary goal is to leave the cue ball in an off-angle bank relationship with the object ball so that any attempt to bank the object ball straight back is thwarted. If possible, leave the cue ball frozen to the cushion to cut off some of your opponent’s options.

Anthony Beeler Anthony Beeler is a certified level 3 instructor for the American CueSports Alliance and also the founder of Maximize Your Potential Billiards Academy, located in x Bradfordsville, Kentucky. Beeler is also a fully licensed Kentucky educator, having received his bachelor’s degree at Campbellsville University and his master’s degree in education leadership at Eastern Kentucky University. Throughout his pool-playing career Anthony has won over 300 tournaments and defeated numerous professional players in tournament competition.

you don’t have a high level of confidence in controlling both of these outcomes, however, it would be wise to consider the safety. This safety looks easy, but it’s not as simple as it looks. You are betting everything on your ability to control the speed and get the 8 ball to end up close to the cushion. If you hit it too hard or too slow, you are liable to leave an open shot for your opponent that could lead to the loss of the game. In addition, you are putting a lot of inside english on the cue ball to kill it off of the rail. You could keep the cue ball closer to the rail if you shoot this shot with low draw, but that could bring the double-kiss on the 8 ball into play, again possibly leaving a shot for your opponent. Therefore, some healthy inside english will kill the cue ball some and also throw the 8 ball a little. For a second variation, move the cue ball to the Point X. This requires holding more english on the cue ball, so cue a little lower.

Tom Simpson

Tom Simpson is a Master Instructor in the PBIA & ACS Instructor Programs, and a professor at Billiard If you want to practice an 8-ball scenario, simply take University. He delivers his acclaimed 3-Daywant Weekendto the 9 ball off of the table. Then ask yourself if you in 12 cities nationwide. As inventor of Elephant take an offensive shotIntensive at banking the 8 ball in, or would Practice Balls®, the Stroke Groover™, and the Ghostball you rather have your opponent attempt the off-angle bank Aim Trainer®, and Authorized Instructor for Secret Aiming you will leave by playing the safety? Base inyour decision on Systems™, Tom’s innovations training have helped three factors: howListen easy the table banks, banking thousands of players. to an audio description of thethe Intensive, and readabil35 NationalBilliardAcademy.com. years:how 3000 happy 150 ity instructional of both articles you at and your opponent, 20 and wellplayers, you can instructors, 125safety. instructional articles. Contact: Tom@PoolClinics.com, 614-975-8337. execute the

Good luck and good shootin’!

Bob Henning

Second variation

Ken Shuman

In the demonstrated 9-ball situation, only the 8 and the 9 are still on the table. You don’t have a simple shot, but you could go for the straight-back bank on the 8 and Ken Shuman of Sacramento, CA, is one of the country’s probably end uppremier withtournament a reasonable onaccomplished the 9 ball. If directors. shot He is an professional referee and is considered an expert on the

8 InsidePOOL Magazine rules◊ofJuly/August play. Ken has2013 officiated at World Championship

events in the USA and the Philippines. He directs some of

Bob Henning is the author of The Pro Book, widely considered to be the most advanced training resource for competitive pool players. It brings the latest techniques of the top coaches and trainers of all sports into pool. It is intended for those who wish to prepare physically, mentally, and psychologically for pool competition. Bob is also the author of “The Pro Book Video Series,” a complete, on-the-table training system, and he also released The Advanced Pro Book and The Stroke Zone: The Pool Player’s Guide to Dead Stroke. In addition, he has authored Cornbread Red, a biography of the colorful Billy Burge. Bob recently released a new book titled Pro Safeties: The TOP 100 Safety Shots in Pool.

Robert LeBlanc

Instruction

< by Mark Finkelstein

Step Nine: Tooling up to Run Racks O ver the past 8 months in this column, we’ve been getting our pool tools ready. We developed the stun shot and learned the value of rolling the cue ball, shooting softly, getting good angles, landing on the “right” side of the shot, planning in triangles, and more. Let’s look at using some of our tools to run a rack of 9-ball. Here’s the layout right after the opening break.

We now have another straight shot on the 5 that puts us perfectly in line for the 6 to go one rail and come back to the center of the table for a great angle on the 7. Notice how I am coming down the correct side of the line to the 7 so I can use the rail to fall on the 8. If I am almost straight on the 7, we can play it as in the diagram. If I have a little more angle, I’ll go one rail and back to the center to roll in the 8.

Anthony Beeler C

B 1

8 3

1 4

Anthony Beeler is a certified level 3 instructor for the American CueSports Alliance and also the founder of Maximize Your Potential Billiards Academy, located in Bradfordsville, Kentucky. Beeler is also a fully licensed A Kentucky educator, having received his Cbachelor’s degree at Campbellsville University and his master’s degree in education leadership at Eastern Kentucky University. Throughout his pool-playing career Anthony has won over 300 tournaments and defeated numerous professional players in tournament competition. B D 8

5 3

We got lucky on this break as our opponent didn’t make a shot and left us an easy shot on the 1 ball. Here is how I see running this rack down. First we roll in the 1 ball with a high rolling cue ball. With a nice smooth stroke, you will get pretty much in line for a stop shot on the 2 ball in the corner. Notice we are not moving the cue ball a lot and coming down the line of the 2 ball shot. I like the corner here rather than the side because it is easier to stay in line for the 3 by being straight on the 2. We shoot a stun shot at the 2, keeping the cue ball right where it is, and that puts us perfectly in line for the 3 in the side.

The final three balls in this rack are a center rolling ball to pocket the 7 and falling on the 8, followed by a soft rolling ball pocketing the 8 to get perfect on the 9.

Ken Shuman

Let’s see what we did in this rack. On the 1, 3, 7, and 8, we Ken Shuman of Sacramento, CA, is one of the country’s used a soft rolling cue ball (and no sidespin). This was the simple, premier tournament directors. He is an accomplished easy way to get good angles on the next shots. The 2, 4, 5, 6 and 9 professional referee and is considered an expert on the were stun shots. The only chance we took was when we bumped rules of play. Ken has officiated at World Championship the 8 to hold the line for the 5 ball. Weand could have overhit events in the USA the Philippines. He directsthat some of shot and gotten into trouble, but I think the risk was worth the major tournaments, including the Derby Citythe Classic, reward, as we kept our cue ball perfect line for the 5 ballCSI’s and National got the inU.S. Bar Table Championship, great position to make the 6Championship and fall onSeries, the 7. the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, and the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. Contact We kept our cue ball movement down to a minimum, used Ken at shucue@yahoo.com. our triangles and stun shots to keep in line, and came down the line from the 1 to the 2 and from the 6 to the 7 to keep good angles. It looks easy when you use the right tools.

7 9

Notice here that we rolled forward just a little on the 3 to get almost straight on the 4. We pocketed the 4 using another stun shot. We used a stun shot and used the 8 to stop the cue ball, making sure not to hit the 8 too hard and knock it to a bad position. 10 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

Mark Finkelstein Mark Finkelstein is an ACS and PBIA Master Instructor, accomplished player, instructional columnist for NYCGRIND, and author of the book PoolRamblings, available at 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

Tom Simpson is a Master Instructor in the PBIA & ACS Instructor Programs, and a professor at Billiard University. He delivers his acclaimed 3-Day Weekend Intensive in 12 cities nationwide. As inventor of Elephant Practice Balls®, the Stroke Groover™, and the Ghostball Random House Dictionary definitions: Aim Trainer®, and Authorized Instructor for Secret Aiming gamesmanship - 1. the use of methods, esp. in a sports contest, that are dubious or seemingly improper butTom’s not innovations strictly illegal. 2. the techSystems™, in training have helped nique or practice of manipulating people or events so as to gain an advantagethousands or outwit competitors. of one’s players.opponents Listen to an or audio description of the Intensive, and read 35 instructional articles at NationalBilliardAcademy.com. 20 years: 3000 happy players, 150 shark - 1. (v) to obtain by trickery. 2. (n) a person regarded as ruthless. Anthony Beeler is a certified level 3 instructor for the instructors, 125 instructional articles. Contact: Tom@PoolClinics.com, 614-975-8337. American CueSports Alliance and also the founder of Maximize Potential Billiards Academy, amesmanship (also Your known as “sharking”) haslocated beeninaround game as pocketing and positioning balls. They include these efKentucky. Beeler isand also aaccusations fully licensed have a long time.Bradfordsville, In billiards, complaints forts in their overall strategic program, carefully tailored to their often been madeKentucky even at national world championships. In educator, havingand received his bachelor’s degree competition. Each attempt to confuse an opponent is chosen afat Campbellsville and his master’swas degree in education leadership at Eastern who the 1800s,University one accusation made against a competitor ter careful analysis and then applied with precision. Kentucky Throughout his pool-playing Anthony has won over 300Another was University. improperly using an overlycareer large handkerchief. tournaments and defeated numerousabout professional players in of tournament competition. complaint was made a couple spectators who were These players do not see this as cheating but the use of a tool Henning the author of The Pro Book, generating excessive cigar smoke. You can walk into any pool applied with the same finesseBob and styleis as any defensive or widely ofconsidered to be the most advanced training resource hall in the world and within minutes identify a variety of sharkfensive tactical decision. They have a very large library of choicesfor competitive pool players. It brings the latest techniques of ing tricks. and options that can be adapted to their competitor’s personality the top coaches and trainers of all sports into pool. It is and playing style. Compared to the gross approach, they prefer intended for those who wish to prepare physically, How does this apply to you in your sporting adventures destroying their opponent’s focus with the gentle tap of a carementally, and psychologically for pool competition. Bob is on the green table? As I explain in my book The Psychology of fully placed psychological chisel. also the author of “The Pro Book Video Series,” a Gamesmanship - How to Manage Mind Games & Tricks, the purcomplete, on-the-table training system, and he also released The Advanced Pro Book pose of any shark is to split your attention between two or more Nearly everyone setPlayer’s of tricks that he orStroke. she has adopted and The Stroke Zone:has TheaPool Guide to Dead In addition, he has things: your game and anything else. When this happens, you and adapted his Red, or her lifetime. outrecently is usually authored over Cornbread a biography of thePointing colorful Billythem Burge. Bob released are being sharked. It doesn’t matter that the diversion is initiated answered shock followed by100 vehement a newwith book titled Pro Safeties: The TOP Safety Shotsdenial. in Pool. After much by someone else or generated withinCA,yourself. Ken Shumanfrom of Sacramento, is one of the Anything country’s explanation, they are appalled to realize that they were bending that divides your focus can be considered a shark. premier tournament directors. He is an accomplished the concept of sportsmanship. professional referee and is considered an expert on the rules of play. Ken has officiated at World Championship However fiercely you may cling to the high ideals of upstandevents in the USA and the Philippines. He directs some of ing sportsmanship, the reality of the world is that gamesmanship the major tournaments, including the Derby City Classic, is everywhere. You can best respond to sharking situations with Robert “Cotton” LeBlanc is a well-known pool player the U.S. Bar Table Championship, CSI’s National intelligent actions instead of emotional reactions. You can directand was for almost 40 years, Championship Series, the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championly confront intentional efforts anda roadman justifiably request thattraveling actionthe country playing virtually all of the pool legends and ships, and the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. Contact be stopped. champions—and making friends with them. Highly Ken at shucue@yahoo.com. skilled himself, he is the author of the best-selling book Skillful and knowledgeable play or a lucky roll is NOT sharkConfessions of a Pool Hustler, which chronicles his life ing. It is bad sportsmanship and poor manners to accuse anyone and hundreds of stories about being on the road. Visit his of sharking when they are simply better players. website at www.confessionsofapoolhustler.com.

Gamesmanship and Sharking Anthony Beeler

Bob Henning

Ken Shuman

‘ ’

Robert LeBlanc

Anything that divides your focus can be considered a shark.

The concept of bending an opponent’s mind has been around a long time. It is so pervasive in the world that Sun Tzu incorporated sharking and gamesmanship into The Art of War, and that was 2,500 years ago. Do you think that there were no psychological sharking tricksis and going at the first Mark Finkelstein an ACStraps and PBIA Masteron Instructor, Olympics? These accomplished were the guys came up with the player,who instructional columnist for Trojan NYCGRIND, authorthere of thewas bookone. PoolRamblings, Horse—the ultimate sharkand if ever available at McNallyJackson.com. Mark has been pool and that billiardsyou for almost 60 years and whether is Sharking caninvolved be soin subtle can question available for lessons events at Slateyour Plus orway Eastside in New IfYorkyou City. spend Visit too someone isoraffecting ofBilliards thinking. McNallyJackson.com for more information. much time wondering about it, you begin to assume that someone saying hello is a shark attempt (and it might be). Paranoia is one of the health risks of seriously studying competitive psychology.

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

Mark Finkelstein

On the other hand, some players see the mastery of these efforts merely as a standard competitive skill, as necessary to the 12 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

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

Instruction

< by Anthony Beeler

Toothpick I

was 17 years old and was just starting to get my feet wet with serious competition. J. R.’s weekly 8-ball tournament in Lancaster, Kentucky, was viewed by many as the strongest tournament in the state. When I arrived on the scene, over 50 players had already paid their entries. During the tournament, one player in particular caught my attention. In fact, the man referred to as “Toothpick” waltzed all the way to the finals of the 52-man field. This wasn’t by coincidence—at that time Ronnie Lane was one of the best defensive 8-ball players that I had ever seen. After watching a few games, it was easy to see that Ronnie played 8-ball like most people play chess, executing shot after shot with a toothpick hanging out of the side of his mouth. Every move and every shot was both deliberate and calculated. Many times he would either pocket his opponent’s ball for strategic purposes or roll a ball in front of a pocket to congest traffic for his opponent.

critical to executing the shot. If you hit the bank too hard, you could pocket the ball or leave it on the end rail where it would be very difficult to pocket. “Don’t overlook the obvious!” he said as he executed the shot. It was a very common sense, high-percentage play. The truth is, I never thought about him using my ball to play a defensive shot. In fact, looking back on the situation, he did the only high-percentage thing that he could have done. “At least you can hit it!” he laughed.

14 3

At the same time I, too, was making my way through the one-loss side, and it was becoming apparent that there would be a showdown between the two of us in the finals. There were a lot of clusters in our final rack, and I knew it was going to be a long defensive battle. After running a few balls I attempted a difficult defensive shot and fell short of the mark. At that point, Ronnie had positioned his balls out in the open and decided to attempt a run-out. He played himself out of position on his final striped ball and was left with the layout below.

14 3

I was in a trap. Ronnie had turned a losing proposition into a fighting chance to win. I will always remember the disappointment I felt as I approached the table. I attempted to play some kind of a safety, but the sly fox had painted me into no-win scenario. When Ronnie returned to the table he pocketed the final two balls to win the tournament. The wise veteran had taken me to school. It was at that moment I began to understand a new concept. I had learned not to overcomplicate things and to look for simple things to do in high-pressure situations. Over the next few years I learned a lot from watching Ronnie play, but looking back I will never forget the time he showed me just how important it was to always play the percentage.

Bob Henning

As soon as Ronnie got out of line I felt as though I had a chance to win the tournament. It looked as though his best bet was to play a difficult low-percentage bank. Even in face of adversity, one could see the wheels turning as he decided what to do. Ronnie approached the table and did something I never expected: He shot the cue ball into the 14, freezing the cue ball to my 3 ball (leaving me at Cue Ball Position A). At the same time he banked the 14 up table, positioning it near the upper corner pocket. The key to this shot is to hit the cue ball one tip below center, striking the 14 slightly to the left of center. When executing the shot, you are better off banking short, leaving the object ball near the long cushion. Speed is

14 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

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. is also the of “TheforProthe Anthony Beeler isBob a certified levelauthor 3 instructor American CueSports Alliance andandalso the released founder of Book Video Series,” a complete, on-the-table training system, he also Potential Billiards The Advanced Pro Book andMaximize The StrokeYour Zone: The Pool Player’Academy, s Guide tolocated Dead in Bradfordsville, Kentucky. Beeler is also a fully licensed Stroke. In addition, he has authored Cornbread Red, a biography of the colorful Kentucky educator, having received his bachelor’s degree Billy Burge.

Anthony Beeler

at Campbellsville University and his master’s degree in education leadership at Eastern Kentucky University. Throughout his pool-playing career Anthony has won over 300 tournaments and defeated numerous professional players in tournament competition.

APA

Members Win Big in

LasVegas gue Crowns a Le l o Po st e rg La ’s d rl Wo pions Seven Amateur Cham

Tom Williamson

Eddie Conklin Jr.

David Apollos 16 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

by InsidePOOL Staff

ore than $500,000 in cash and prizes were awarded to APA members at the APA National Singles Championships held April 24-27 in Las Vegas at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. The National Singles Championships consisted of both the 8-Ball Classic and 9-Ball Shootout Singles Championships, the Wheelchair Challenge, and the Jack and Jill Doubles Championship.

The final round of the 9-Ball Shootout featured three championship matches, one for each skill level tier, with two shooters in each match competing for $10,000 in cash and prizes. More than 4,000 pool players made it to the regional level of the 9-Ball Shootout before the field was whittled down to 310 men and women competing for 9-ball crowns in each of three skill level tiers. In the Green Tier, Tom Williamson of Billerica, MA, bested Cheri Schroth of Murfreesboro, TN. Williamson had advanced to the finals after a semifinal-round victory over Kathy Tingler of Tyler, TX, while Schroth had gone onto the finals as a result of a disqualification following the semifinal round. Tingler finished in third place. In the White Tier, Eddie Conklin Jr. of Bayonne, NJ, defeated Rodger Doyen of Brandon, FL. Conklin Jr. had won over Mathis Martines of Greensboro, NC, in the semifinal round to advance to the finals. Doyen had advanced to the finals by besting Erick Carrasco of Ridgewood, NY. Martines and Carrasco tied for third place.

Faith Rubin

In the Black Tier, David Apollos of Gallatin,TN, won over Jan Mierzwa of Garfield, NJ. Apollos had advanced to the finals after winning over Herb Wilburn of Longview, TX, in the semifinals. Mierzwa had gone onto the final match after a victory over Jessica Schuddekopf of Clifton Park, NY, in the semifinal match. Wilburn and Schuddekopf tied for third place. Each of the three champions received a prize package worth $10,000. Runners-up in each tier took home a prize package worth $5,000. Third-place finishers each received $3,000 in cash and prizes. Daniel Praty of San Diego, CA, was awarded the Sportsmanship Award in the 9-Ball Shootout. Nearly 6,400 APA members advanced to regional competition of the 8-Ball Classic, and 489 of those players advanced to the championship in Las Vegas. In the finals of the 8-Ball Classic, four champions each took home a prize package worth $15,000 for their performances. In the Blue Tier, Faith Rubin of Fayetteville, NC, defeated Joe Fickett of Chicago Ridge, IL. Rubin had won over Freida Swain of Lapeer, MI, in the semifinals to advance, while Fickett had defeated Summer Turner of St. Augustine, FL. Swain and Turner tied for third place. In the Yellow Tier, Steven Davis of Minneapolis, MN, defeated Clayton Fulcher of Loganville, GA. Davis had advanced to the finals by defeating John Falco of Benton, AR, earlier in the day in the semifinal round, while Fulcher had bested Douglas Moe of Easton, CT, in the semifinals. Falco and Moe tied for third place. In the Red Tier, David Templeton of Jackson, MO, won over Wilson Chung of South San Francisco, CA. Templeton had defeated Charles Swan of Pickering, Ontario, in the semifinals to advance, while Chung had won over Matthew Witschonke of Seattle, WA. Swan and Witschonke tied for third place.

The National Singles d Championships consiste ic of both the 8-Ball Class gles and 9-Ball Sho otout Sin Championships, the , and Whe elchair Challenge s the Jack and Jill Double Championship.

Steven Davis

David Templeton

Dustin Gunia

July/August 2012 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 17

Long Shot

Charlie Hans

18 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July August 2013

In the Purple Tier, Dustin Gunia of Omaha, NE, claimed the title over Nathan Moore of Warren, MI. Gunia had defeated John Scudder of Portland, OR, in the semifinal round. Moore had advanced after besting Ever Valasques of Hyattsville, MD. Scudder and Valasques tied for third place. First-place winners received cash and prizes worth $15,000. Each runner-up received cash and prizes worth $9,000. Thirdplace finishers each received $4,000 in cash and prizes. Michael Andrew of Oshawa, Ontario, was awarded the Sportsmanship Award in the 8-Ball Classic. In the annual Jack and Jill Doubles Championship, held during the Singles Championships, “Long Shots” (Jaime Guajardo and Amber Kwasigroch) of Joliet, IL, defeated “Ride the Rail” (James Giorella and Evaughn Hall) of Athens, GA. The victory earned them a $5,000 payday. As runners-up, Ride the Rail took home $3,000. The Jack and Jill Doubles field included 256 teams. The Wheelchair Challenge made its debut at the National Singles Championships after being held in August during the National Team Championships for many years. In the finals, Charlie Hans of Middletown, OH, defeated Ron Bates of Coldwater, MI, to take home $2,000 in prize money. Bates received $1,000 as the runner-up. A total of 42 players competed in the Wheelchair Challenge.

STaking Their

ST R Corteza and Liu Land China Open Titles

by Ted Lerner photos courtesy of Jin Li/Top147.com

laying with his trademarked calm and cool demeanor, all the while exhibiting a deadly stroke and a fierce, quiet fortitude, the Philippines’ Lee Van Corteza smoothly defeated Taiwanese veteran Fu Che Wei to win the 2013 China Open 9-ball tournament in Shanghai. In the women’s division, Shasha Liu seized the moment to come from behind in crunch time to overtake rising young star Siming Chen to win by a nose 9-8.

PRIMED AND READY FOR BATTLE

Lee Van Corteza

As in much of the world, the sport of professional pool has had to endure its share of austerity lately, which is why, as over 100 of the best men and women players from around the globe gathered in Shanghai to prepare for opening day of the China Open, the mood among the gathered throng of cue artists was decidedly upbeat. Now in its fifth year, the China Open, which was held May 16-19 at the Shanghai Pudong Yuanshen Stadium, quickly established itself as one of the premier events in the professional pool calendar. The tournament, which is a major ranking event of the World Pool and Billiard Association (WPA), featured both a men’s and women’s tournament. The men’s event offered $176,600 in prize money, with $40,000 going to the winner. The women’s tournament, which is played concurrently, had $125,600 on offer, with $30,000 going to the eventual champion. That it was going to be one of the toughest slogs of the year in pool was without question, and for the best players on the planet, they wouldn’t have it any other way. Defending men’s champion Dennis Orcollo of the Philippines

Fu Che Wei 20 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

Siming Chen

Claim to

DOM had to put in yeoman’s effort in 2012, and even then that almost wasn’t enough. After brilliantly disposing of Taiwan’s Lu Hui Chan in the final, Orcollo remarked that the win represented perhaps his greatest achievement in pool. Nine months on he still felt the same way. “This tournament is one of the hardest to win,” Orcollo said. “Last year was very difficult. I don’t know how I won it, because I almost got knocked out several times. Of all the tournaments I won, winning the China Open is one of my top achievements. And this year there are more top players so it will be very difficult to win again. I will just try my best.”

RETURN OF THE BOY WONDER

Day 1 of the event produced plenty of nail-biting, down- to-the-wire drama, but few shockers. Leading the pack in the men’s event, which features 64 players divided into 8 groups of 8 in a double-elimination format, was Orcollo. He had no time to get loose as he immediately found himself in a dogfight with unknown Taiwanese Ahen Yuxuan. Yuxuan had the race-to-9 match tied at 7 but succumbed to the pressure late and handed Orcollo a 9-7 win. China’s number-one player Li Hewen, who came within one rack of winning the 2012 World 9-Ball Championship in Qatar, came from behind in a TV table match against Orcollo’s talented countryman, Carlo Biado and won 9-8. Later on Li laid down his marker when he easily beat Canada’s John Morra to advance to the knockout stage of 32. Biado, who is due to go far in a major tournament, later got his feet back under himself with a 9-1 drubbing on the one-loss side over China’s Zhou Long. One of the most intriguing matches of the day pitted Holland’s talented Niels Feijen against two-time former world champion Wu Jiaqing (formerly known as Wu Chia Ching.) Wu, who made pool history back in 2005 when he won the World 9-Ball Championship when he was just 16 years old and then went on to win the World 8-Ball Championship just five months later, only recently completed a 16-month stint in the Taiwan military. That was on the back of four straight years of personal drama and intrigue that left the sport without one of its biggest stars. In the military Wu was forced to mop floors and clean windows for

Shasha Liu Shasha Liu

Of all the tournaments I won, winning the China Open is one of my top achievements. -Dennis Orcollo

the entire time, and he never once touched a cue stick. In addition, in August of last year, Wu was diagnosed with leukemia. Fortunately doctors caught the blood disease in its early stages, and Wu says it can be controlled with medication.

Dennis Orcollo

Having only practiced for one month since being discharged from the military, Wu came into the match against Feijen with no expectations. Wu, however, looked like the boy wonder of old as he thumped the Dutchman 9-4. On the women’s side, which featured 48 players divided into 8 groups of 6, defending champion Kelly Fisher kept the express train barreling down the tracks with a 7-0 win over China’s Liu Jia. The match took an incredible 20 minutes to complete. Hall of Famer Allison Fisher won her first match, then had to face old rival Ga Young Kim of Korea in a marquee affair. Kim won 7-4. Chinese stars Xiaofang Fu, Xiaoting Pan, and Siming Chen all won their opening matches. Thorsten Hohmann July/August 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 21

Ralf Souquet

OH, WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

There’s nothing quite like Judgment Day in the world of professional pool. Otherwise known as the Day of Reckoning, it’s when dozens upon dozens of matches take place in the group stages, all trying to determine who will still be around for the money rounds and who will be sent packing without a dime to spend on even a soft drink. Sometimes whole careers ride on the smallest turn of the ball. And so it was on Day 2. World 9-ball champion and world number 3 Darren Appleton thought he was cruising through to the knockout stage as he was up 7-3 in a race to 9 on the TV table against China’s 19-year-old up-and-comer Wang Can. But Can, who has spent some time playing pool in the U.S., turned the tables on the Brit and stormed back and grabbed an 8-7 lead. Appleton went from counting his chickens to realizing he might have to play again later to stave off a shock elimination. But if anyone can play with their back against the wall, it’s Appleton, and the 9-ball king gritted his teeth and pulled out the win to advance. Appleton was clearly ecstatic afterwards and said he was nearly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment. “In every major tournament I’ve won, I never make it easy,” he explained. “I consider myself a bulldog, a fierce player. I like to scrap, sort of like a counter puncher in boxing. But when I have a big lead I tend to lose that intensity. I need that scrap.” While Appleton went off to breathe easy, Cam had to do it all over again, this time against Albin Ouschan

Darren Appleton

In every major tournament I’ve I've won, I never make it easy. -Darren Appleton

Dutch star Feijen, who had earlier bested good friend and countryman Nick Van den Berg in a do-ordie match 9-7. Against Can Feijen was up 8-5, but Can fought his way back to tie it at 8 for a one-rack decider. Feijen pulled it out to advance while Can was left to wonder what might have been. The pressure matches kept popping up around the arena. Greece’s Nick Ekonomopolous, who had earlier lost to Wu, went hill-hill with Venezuela’s Jalal Yousef, who was sure he was about to claim one of his biggest scalps. But a fluked 4 ball off a jump propelled the burly Greek into the knockout stages, while Yousef stormed out of the arena in disgust. Germany’s Thorsten Hohmann advanced but not without some heart palpitations as he won two straight hill-hill matches. Hohmann’s countryman Hall of Famer Ralf Souquet had to battle back from the west side and barely got by China’s Liu Haitao in a do or die match 9-8. The Philippines’ two biggest stars played drama free as Orcollo advanced to the final 32 with an airtight 9-7 win over Austrian young gun Albin Ouschan 9-7. Corteza also advanced with a 9-6 win over Vietnam’s Do The Kien. The Philippines’ Jeffrey De Luna flew to China without a place in the tournament and won one of the brutally tough qualifiers earlier in the week. De Luna was millimeters away from a spot in the money rounds only to lose on the last ball. Then, playing against fellow Pinoy Carlo Biado, De Luna squandered his fortune again, losing 9-8 after up being 8-7. Biado advanced and De Luna hit the road. The Philippines’ fourth player in the final 32 is Johann Chua, who originally hails from Bacolod City but has resided in Manila for the last ten years. Chua’s aggressive, confident style and dead-eye stroke had even the partisan Chinese fans talking. Chua, like De Luna, came to China without a spot in the tournament and won a qualifier to earn a place in the main event. After easily defeating Chinese Zeng Zhaodong 9-3 on Day 1, Chua tangled with WPA world number 6 Ko Pin Yi of Taiwan. Despite the fact that Ko had much more world-class experienc, Chua played and acted Ko’s equal, and he took the match to a one-rack decider before falling 9-8. Not to be deterred, Chua then came right back and booked his spot in the final 32 with a resounding 9-1 pounding of the strong Albanian, Nick Malaj. Afterward Chua revealed that he’s been playing pool for ten years, mostly gambling in Manila’s hardcore money-game scene and entering tournaments when he can. In November 2012 he took third place in the prestigious All Japan Open. “I’m an aggressive player because you have to be aggressive here—there are a lot of good players,” Chua averred. “Pool is my life. I love pool.”

Pool is my life. I love pool. 22 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

-Johann Chua

Ko Pin Yi Allison Fisher On the women’s side, the script went nearly to plan as most of the sport’s biggest stars booked their spot in the final 16. Defending champion Fisher was down 4-1 to Pan in front of a packed house on the TV table. Fisher, though, caught one of her now-famous gears and ran Pan off the table 7-4.

ning the Philippine Open 10-Ball in 2010, she has faltered in the big events in China and seems to play under more pressure than does Liu.

Pan then went to the one-loss side and was eliminated by Japan’s Chichiro Kawahara, much to the disappointment of her legions of fanatical fans. Another marquee matchup then took place on the TV table as Hall of Famer Allison Fisher went to the brink with World 10-Ball champion Ga Young Kim. Fisher took the match 7-6, sending Kim out of the tournament.

Chen first took down Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan in a messy match 9-7 and then manhandled the Philippines’ Rubilen Amit 9-2. In the semifinals Chen met up with defending champion Fisher. The Brit had notched relatively easy wins over Taiwanese Tsai Pei Chen 9-3 and then Lan Hiushan 9-5, looking to be cruising towards a repeat of the last year.

TEENAGE PRODIGIES EYE THE PRIZE

Chen Siming and Liu Shasha, both 19 years old, are also both members of the Chinese national women’s team. And each has a prodigious talent with a cue stick that leaves fans of the sport in awe. Both players have achieved fantastic successes in their own short careers, but it was Liu who pulled off the most amazing feat, winning the 2009 Women’s World 9-ball Championship when she was just 16 years old. That same year, Chen won the China Open, also at the age of 16. In the highly competitive world of Chinese women’s pool, however, it is Chen is who considered to have a freakish talent. Much is expected of Chen from her coaches and fans of the sport. Since win-

My confidence is getting better every time I play.

Fisher surely knew, however, that she would be in for a much stiffer test in the semis against Chen. Chen grabbed an early 3-0 lead, but Fisher fought back to tie. From there the two stars sparred in a high-quality, give-and-take match with Chen getting a one-rack lead, then falling back into a tie, then getting a lead, then back to tie again. The whole match came down to two mistakes by Fisher, one with the match tied at 6-6 and one right at the end. Chen was up 8-6, but Fisher fought back to force a one-rack decider. In the final frame, Fisher thought she left a lockdown safety on the 2 ball, but Chen could see enough of the long shot to sink the pot. She then calmly ran the table for the win and a spot in the final.

“I played really good today,” Chen said afterwards through an interpreter. “I’ve been practicing a lot in the last few months, and my confidence is getting better every time I play.”

-Siming Chen

Siming Chen

Fisher was disappointed but resigned to the fact that her two mistakes spelled the difference. “She’s always been at that very high standard. But July/August 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 23

Karl Boyes this time she’s held it together better than she’s done in the past. I made two more mistakes than her, and in a way she deserved to win.” Like Chen, Liu caught a gear at just the right time, first besting Japan’s Chichiro Kawahara 9-7 and then easily waltzing past 2011 World 9-Ball champion Bi Zhuqing 9-4. The semifinal was another East versus West affair as Liu went up against legend Allison Fisher. As in Chen’s match with Kelly Fisher, Liu grabbed an early lead and fended off every attack by Fisher. The match was close throughout, and Fisher nearly closed the small gap right at the end. But at 8-6 down Fisher missed a 9 ball, and Liu stepped up and potted the long leave to send the hometown crowd into cheers and herself into a finals date with Chen.

A KUWAITI IN SHANGHAI

Omar Al Shaheen booked his place in pool history after defeating Taiwan’s Hsu Kai Lun 11-8 in the quarterfinals. The 20-year-old Kuwaiti became the first pool player in his country—and indeed in the entire Middle East region—to ever advance to the semifinals of a major world ranking pool event. Al Shaheen’s amazing run through the field was capped off with an all-time gritty performance when he came back from a 10-7 deficit to best Poland’s Radislaw Babica 11-10. In his next match, he fended off Great Britain’s Karl Boyes down the stretch and won another cliffhanger 11-10.

I have worked very hard for this.

Kelly Fisher After taking down Taiwan’s Hsu, Al Shaheen whooped it up with his fellow Kuwait teammate and various friends in the arena. “I’ve very happy,” a beaming Al Shaheen said. “A lot of people back in Kuwait are waiting for something like this. All over the Middle East this is very big. They will be proud of this. I have worked very hard for this.” The youngster’s rise to the upper echelons of pool is not totally out of the blue. When four Kuwaitis made it to the final 64 of the World 9-ball Championship in Qatar last June, it showed Kuwait is a growing force in professional pool. His opponent in the first semifinal, Corteza, also played marvelous pool, first taking down Ouschan 11-8 and then smothering Yi 11 -6. In the final match of the day, Corteza defeated another strong Taiwanese player, Zheng Yu Xuan, 11 -7. Corteza is certainly one of the world’s top players, but he said he had to take a rather unconventional approach for a Filipino player in preparing for the China Open. With the tournament and money game scene having all but dried up in the Philippines, Corteza had to find other things to do. He got himself into playing shape by swimming, jogging, and practicing by himself at a local pool hall.

The change of routine and the focus on fitness has clearly paid off for the Filipino. “One of the keys today was that I didn’t get tired,” he stated. “I was very focused all day.” Wu only practiced for one month before the China Open, but incredibly he played like the Wu of old. On Saturday he first defeated Hohmann 11-10. Then, against Greece’s Nick Ekonomonopoulos, who had just taken down World 9-Ball champion Appleton, Wu delivered nine break and runs, all while Ekonomonopoulos played lights out and ran eight racks. Wu won the match 11-10. He then came right back out and whipped Biado 11 -6 to book a spot in the semis.

ALL FOR LIU

Coming into Sunday’s finals, Liu knew she was on the cusp of a golden opportunity to vault her way back to the upper echelons of not only the fiercely competitive world of Chinese women’s pool but also the entire world of women’s professional pool.

-Al Shaheen 24 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

The 37-year-old Fu played fantastic Saturday and was practically untouchable. He crushed 2011 China Open champion Chris Melling 11-3, and then he outlasted defending champion Orcollo 11-8. He finished up with an 11-10 squeaker over fellow Taiwanese Tsung Hua to take his place in the final four.

Al Shaheen

Since coming out of nowhere and winning the 2009 Women’s

Shasha Liu

I didn't think I could win it. -Shasha Liu

terpreter. “I have not been playing well lately. We had a practice tournament before this tournament, and I got eighth place. I was hoping to get at least to the quarterfinals in the China Open. I didn’t think I could win it.” Chen was gracious to a fault in defeat. “I think I played well. I missed one ball in the first half of the match. The second half I also played well, but it was then that Liu didn’t miss a shot. When I missed she took that and played well. I’m happy that at least two Chinese players reached the finals.” Liu won $30,000 for first place, while Chen took home $15,000. World 9-ball Championship held in Shenyang, China, the diminutive and glamorous youngster has maintained her place on the Chinese national team, but she hadn’t won any tournaments. In the leadup to this tournament, with 48 top women players from all parts of the globe, Liu hadn’t been playing well in practice and was only hoping to at least reach the quarterfinals. Chen was in stride early and jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the alternate-break match. Liu quickly got it together and tied up the match. But then Chen hit one of her high gears and went up 5-3, then 6-4, then 7-4. She seemed to have an answer for everything Liu tried and appeared capable of fending off her opponent at will. But as so often happens in pool, one mistake sends the momentum over to the other player’s side. After a break and run by Liu to move to 7-5, Chen broke but saw the cue ball get kicked into the pocket for a scratch. Lui made a calculated clear to close the gap to one at 7-6. Liu then stepped to the table and tied the match with a break and run-out. With the title down to a mere race to 2, Liu got Chen once again as Chen left a safe open and allowed Liu to grab her first lead of the night 8-7. Chen, the consummate battler, broke serve in the next frame after winning a nervy safety exchange to leave one final rack to decide the champion. Chen broke and sent two balls down on the break. Position for the 2 ball was tricky, and Chen bobbled the 1 ball in the jaws. Liu came to the table with a look at the 1 and steadily picked off the colors. As she got down to the final 8 and 9 balls, she held her chest and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as she stood on the cusp of victory. With raw nerves jangling, she potted the last two balls for the championship. On the floor afterwards, Liu was greeted with warm hugs by a tearful Xiaofang Fu. As she drank in the accolades, Liu expressed surprise that she was even standing in the winner’s circle. “I am very surprised that I won this tournament,” she said through an in-

CORTEZA CASHES IN

Corteza’s pedigree had already been established far and wide. Everywhere he has played fellow players and fans could see that under his humble veneer and boyish smile was a deadly serious and focused professional with a noticeable swagger that oozed confidence. All of these traits were on full display during the final match, which was played at an extremely high quality with 12 of the 17 played racks being break and run-outs. The outcome turned on just a few mistakes, and it was Corteza who took advantage and nailed the door shut every time h e was given the opportunity.

As they had all week, both Corteza and Fu remained untouchable in their respective semifinal matchups, which had taken place earlier. Corteza easily defeated surprise entry Al-Shaheen 11-3, while Fu put a halt to the marvelous run of former twotime world champion Wu 11-8.

Wu Jiaqing

In the finals, the 34-year-old Corteza won the lag and broke and cleared the first rack in the alternateb r e a k match.

Fu Che Wei July/August 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 25

I'm so happy right now I really don't know what to say. -Lee Van Corteza The pair traded racks and neither missed a single ball as the Filipino led 2-1. Corteza’s first chance to gain some distance came in the fourth rack when he cleared off a Fu miss on the 1 ball to take a 3-1 lead. Corteza broke and ran the next rack to move up 4-1.

Fu continued to play well and continued to break and run racks, but so did Corteza, plunking the cue ball square in the center of the table on the break and potting two, three, and once even four balls. Down 7-5, Fu had a brilliant opportunity to narrow the lead in Rack 13 when Corteza scratched. Fu was clearing the table beautifully until he missed an easy 8 ball and was soon down 8-5. Fu forced a foul in the next rack to close to 8-6, but Corteza, as all great champions do, put the pedal to the metal and sprinted home, while Fu wilted down the stretch. Corteza won going away 11-6. Afterwards the low key Corteza was typically reserved, but the satisfaction of his accomplishment was all too clear. “I’m so happy right now I really don’t know what to say,” Corteza said. “This tournament is so hard—there are so many good players. I tried not to be under pressure, and I really enjoyed myself this match. That was one of the keys today. I was relaxed. And that also helped me to stay focused the whole time.”

Fu was disappointed, as the loss meant his second defeat in the final of major in the course of one year. In 2012 he lost in the finals of the World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, to fellow Taiwanese Chang Jung Lin. Fu indicated that while he was playing well all week, he could never get fully comfortable with the new tip he had put on his cue stick the just before the China Open began. “I had a problem with my cue tip today,” Fu said through an interpreter. “Just before the tournament I changed my tip, and I’m really not used to it. But before Rack Thirteen I felt like I was playing good. Then when I missed that eight ball in that rack, that was it. After that I didn’t play good. And he also played good. He deserves to be the champion.” Lee Van Corteza

Siming Chen, Shasha Liu, Lee Van Corteza, Fu Che Wei

26 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

For his victory, Corteza took home $40,000, while Fu pocketed $20,000.

Familiar

Faces

Triumph Over Newcomers

Wrecking Crew

Pure X ACS Nationals Participation Swells

by InsidePOOL Staff

Lyn Wechsler, Mike Singleton, Dave Boone

njoying a large increase in participation this year, with some divisions up 50-100 percent, the Pure X Cues ACS National Championships capped off a banner year of growth for the nine-year-old American CueSports Alliance (ACS). A record $36,500 in added prize monies drew players from throughout North America to 23 divisions of competition at the new Tropicana Las Vegas. Despite the large turn-out, players such as Mike Singleton, Beth Fondell, Dustin Gunia, Jessica Frideres, and the team “Wrecking Crew” still earned top honors in multiple events. Singles action began at the first of the week with handicapped 9-ball. Mike Singleton of Sulphur, LA, improved on his past mediocre performances in the Nationals to outlast 69-year-

Lyn Wechsler, Dustin Gunia, Dave Perry Labernalene Store, Beth Fondell, Jessica Frideres

28 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

Michelle Jarrell, Toni Barnes, Sophia Morquecho

Melanie Jacobs, Frances Jensen

Joe Wood, Ben Sutherland, Julian Russell

old Lyn Wechsler for the Men’s 9-Ball Singles honors. On the distaff side, past 8-ball champion Beth Fondell remained undefeated throughout, including her final set against Phoenix’s Bernie Store to earn her Women’s 9-Ball Singles crown. Results from the many divisions of 8-ball singles included Dustin Gunia displaying dominating form to defend his Men’s Advanced Singles 8-Ball crown over Lyn Wechsler; Beth Fondell obtaining a rare double by outlasting defending champion Jessica Frideres on the last ball of the deciding set to claim the Women’s Advanced 8-Ball Singles title 7-6; Ben Sutherland losing to Julian Russell in the first set of the finals only to recover to gain the deciding set for the Men’s Open 8-Ball Singles championship; Toni Barnes scoring a title with a one-set finals defeat over Sophia Morquecho for the Women’s Open 8-Ball Singles laurels; oncedefeated Dennis Coolen outdistancing Joe Herne in two sets for the Men’s Standard 8-Ball Singles division success; and Melanie Jacobs besting Frances Jensen in one set for the Women’s Standard 8-Ball Singles glory. In the senior 8-ball singles divisions, Carl Coffee took down Claude Gragg III in the first set of the finals for the Men’s Senior (55+) 8-Ball Singles crown, leaving Gragg to take the runner-up position for the second straight year; Debbie Snook stopped three-time defending champ Shawn Modelo in the winners’ bracket finals and then took the Women’s Senior (50+) 8-Ball Singles title by upending Linda Asleson in two sets in the tournament finals; and Richard Foley relegated the undefeated Charles Smith to the runner-up position for a second straight year in taking the Super Senior (65+) Singles 8-Ball Singles title in two sets. The two Scotch Doubles 8-Ball divisions showcased perhaps the most dominant amateur scotch doubles team in the country,

Joe Herne, Dennis Coolen, Jon Ericksen

with defending champions Dustin Gunia and Jessica Frideres capturing the Advanced Scotch Doubles division with a comfortable one-set win over Labernaline Store / Steve Stowers. The team of Arlene David / Bill Mason claimed victory over Sophia Morquecho / Burt Balancad in the Open Scotch Doubles category in just one set as well. With the ACS schedule in the latter portion of the week allowing non-conflicting accommodation of entry into both 9-ball and 8-ball team competitions, there was still plenty of competition to keep every player involved—especially those out of the money who automatically qualified for free second-chance team divisions. In the Men’s Advanced 8-Ball Team division, defending champion “Dick’s Pick” (Ronnie Allen, Jimmy Moore, Greg Kuhl, George Huffman, Chris Akey, and James Carmona) reloaded but with the same results to take down “Jitnot” in the title match in two sets after Jitnot had originally claimed the hot seat. The Women’s Advanced 8-Ball Team division showcased “Victoria’s Secret” (Susie Miller, Linda Asleson, Jonella Staus, and Teresa Keller), outpointing Colorado’s “T’s Bar” in the round-rob-

Jessica Frideres, Dustin Gunia, Labernaline Store, Steve Stowers

July/August 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 29

Carl Coffee, Claude Gragg III

Debbie Snook, Linda Asleson

Richard Foley, Charles Smith

Anastasia Zubar, Eddie Vidal, Arlene David, Bill Mason, Sophia Morquecho, Burt Balancad

in format. In the Men’s Open 8-Ball Team competition, once-defeated “Wrecking Crew” (Mike Singleton, Blaine Stanford, Jamie Spivey, Rodney Browne III, and Luke Coffey) took two sets from “No Flash” in the title match. The Women’s Open 8-Ball Team division’s “Fuhgettaboutit” (Barbara Wisdom, Kenyon Juo Young, Sophie Lopez, Kawania Watson, and Maria Lopez) survived a deciding set over “After Eight” for the title. “Harbor Hills” (Al Carmody, Mark Schmidt, Tim Gamerdinger, Tom Decker, and John Schlapman) needed only one set in the Men’s Standard 8-Ball Team division final’s clash to make “Comrades” the bridesmaid. In the Women’s Standard 8-Ball Team division, British Columbia’s “Venus Envy” (Theresa Warren, Susan Johnston, Susan Kottke, and Roxanna Alton) took off the deciding set of the finals to repel New York’s “Mohawk Chicks” for the crown. The three-person 9-ball team divisions featured some of the top 8-ball team placers as well. Undefeated “Gotta Have It” (Jerrod Frideres, Jessica Frideres, and Dustin Gunia) turned back Las Vegas’s “Dick’s Pick” in the first set of the finals for the Men’s Advanced 9-Ball Team title. Open 8-Ball Team runnerups “After Eight” (Flori LeHart, Michelle Jarrell, Janet Smith, and Jamie Toennies) succeeded in ousting “Miller Time” for the Women’s Open 9-Ball Team laurels. In the Men’s Open 9-Ball Team category, “Wrecking Crew” (Jamie Spivey, Mike Singleton, and Luke Coffey) doubled up on its Open 8-Ball Team win to capture that title as well with a two-set finals sweep over “9 Ball Shockers.” In the Ninth Annual ACS National Artistic Pool Championships, Dennis Brown of Creston, BC, claimed another title for Canada, edging out hundreds of entries. The ACS Nationals is already looking to returning to the Tropicana May 10-17, 2014. 30 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

Men’s 9-Ball Singles - $1,500 added 1st Mike Singleton $1,500 2nd Lyn Wechsler $1,115 3rd David Boone $750 4th Dustin Gunia $500 5th Joe Wood $350 Thomas Carawan Jr. 7th Dennis Brown $250 Matt Bracewell Women’s 9-Ball Singles - $1,000 added 1st Beth Fondell $970 2nd Labernalene Store $600 3rd Jessica Frideres $400 4th Alesia Rhodes $300 5th Linda Fuller $200 Teresa Perser 7th Melinda Bailey $150 Mimi McAndrews Men’s Advanced 8-Ball Singles - $3,000 added 1st Dustin Gunia $2,000 2nd Lyn Wechsler $1,200 3rd Dave Perry $750 4th Colin Maloney $435 5th Chris Akey $250 Marc Vidal Claramont Men’s Advanced 8-Ball Singles – 2nd Chance Division 1st Pat Heisler $300 2nd Derrick Cantu $150

Dick’s Picks

Victoria’s Secret

Women’s Advanced 8-Ball Singles - $3,000 added 1st Beth Fondell 2nd Jessica Frideres 3rd Jamie Toennies 4th Teresa Perser 5th Samantha Patton Kawania Watson

Wrecking Crew

$1,500 $1,100 $700 $500 $300

Women’s Advanced 8-Ball Singles – 2nd Chance Division 1st Kit Dennis $300 2nd Rhonda Wright $225 Men’s Open 8-Ball Singles $1,500 added 1st Benjamin Sutherland $2,500 2nd Julian Russell $1,560 3rd Joe Wood $1,100 4th Kevin Grimm $800 5th Jerry O’Keefe $600 Wayne Graves 7th Mike Whitegrass $450 Juan Avalos Men’s Open 8-Ball Singles Chance Division 1st Trevor Poole 2nd Christopher Bright 3rd Thomas Martin Chuck Skubal 5th B.Y. Wagh James Brown Michael McNaughton Richard Baler

Fuhgettaboutit

– 2nd $300 $200 $100 $75

Women’s Open 8-Ball Singles $1,500 added 1st Toni Barnes $2,000 2nd Sophia Morquecho $1,200 3rd Michelle Jarrell $810 4th Eva Hill $600 5th Mary Rayner $450 Rachel Klein-Johnson 7th Yvette Villarreal $300 Trina Blackman Women’s Open 8-Ball Singles – 2nd Chance Division 1st Sophia Lopez $300 2nd Veronica Poore $200 3-4th Teresa Eibner $100 Maria Simonson 5th Therese Thompson $75 Sara Sorg Janet Smith Gina Quinones Men’s Standard 8-Ball Singles $1,000 added 1st Dennis Coolen $1,500 2nd Joe Herne $1,000 3rd Jon Ericksen $720 4th Leonard Weaseltraveller $450 5th Justin Toennies $325 Neal Ram 7th Robert Wright $250 Evan Chenevert

Men’s Standard 8-Ball Singles – 2nd Chance Division 1st Matt Dennis $300 2nd Scott Johnson $200 3rd Greg Baker $100 Jim Bouschor Women’s Standard 8-Ball Singles - $1,000 added 1st Melanie Jacobs $1,100 2nd Frances Jensen $800 3rd Teresa Price $515 4th Emalee Gielen $350 5th Sandra Rodermund $225 Ann Mason 7-8th Sue Roadcap $175 Christie Tipper Women’s Standard 8-Ball Singles – 2nd Chance Division 1st Debra Furlan $300 2nd Jamie Cork $200 3rd Darla Royall $100 Cynthia Lovendahl Men’s Senior 8-Ball Singles $1,000 added 1st Carl Coffee $1,300 2nd Claude Gragg III $1,000 3rd Rodney Browne III $750 4th Roger Anderson $500 5th David Stowers $300 Max Denman 7th Lance Allen $225 Gene Hill

After Eight

July/August 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 31

Venus Envy

Gotta Have it

Women’s Senior 8-Ball Singles $1,000 added 1st Debbie Snook $1,000 2nd Linda Asleson $700 3rd Shawn Modelo $500 4th Linda Foley $300 5th Kim Anderson $150 Donna Gellings (Ketchikan, AK)

Women’s Advanced 8-Ball - $3,000 added 1st Victoria’s Secret 2nd T’s Bar 3rd Femme Fatale

Women’s Senior 8-Ball Singles – 2nd Chance Division 1st Sharon Page $200 2nd Connie Lackey $100 Super Senior 8-Ball $1,000 added 1st Richard Foley 2nd Charles Smith 3rd Jerry Watts 4th Randy Goettlicher 5th James Dant Stewart Hunter 7th Gary Metoxen Glen Gares

Singles

$1,200 $900 $600 $400 $300 $175

Super Senior 8-Ball Singles – 2nd Chance Division 1st Jim Roller $200 2nd Bill Bartley $150 Advanced Scotch Doubles $500 added 1st Jessica Frideres / Dustin Gunia $900 2nd Labernaline Store / Steve Stowers $600 3rd Leigh Ann Giles /Colin Maloney $360 4th Pam Fletcher /George Huffman $200 Open Scotch Doubles 1st Arlene David / Bill Mason $2,000 2nd Sophia Morquecho / Burt Balancad $1,200 3rd Anastasia Zubar / Eddie Vidal $782 4th Roxanna Alton / Robert Wright $550 5th Kendra Harris / Kelly Ashe $375 Monique Connolly / Robert Connolly 7th Cathy Kelley / David Stowers $250 Veronica Poore / Brian Poore Men’s Advanced 8-Ball Teams $3,000 added 1st Dick’s Pick $2,500 2nd Jitnot $1,500 3rd Brass Bell $1,000 Men’s Advanced 8-Ball Teams – 2nd Chance Division 1st Squires 2 $430 2nd American Legion 313 #1 $200

32 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

Harbor Hills

Men’s Open 8-Ball $2,000 added 1st Wrecking Crew 2nd No Flash 3rd Leo’s Place 4th Moosehead 5th Locas Carlos O’Bryan’s 7th Arizona Shockers Q-Zone

Teams $1,750 $1,050 $765

Teams $3,000 $2,055 $1,500 $1,100 $800 $550

Men’s Open 8-Ball Teams – 2nd Chance Division 1st Kickin Chickins $300 2nd Squires Fryars $200 3rd Nite Hawk $100 Slate Killers 5th Bullshooters Express $75 BHC Devastators Gold Nugget Exterminators Sandpiper Women’s Open 8-Ball Teams $2,000 added 1st Fuhgettaboutit $2,000 2nd After Eight $1,055 3rd Lady Killers $600 4th Miller Time $400 5th Strokers Ladies $250 Game Birds Women’s Open 8-Ball Teams – 2nd Chance Division 1st Deli Avengers $300 2nd This Bud’s For You $200 3rd Rack & Roll $100 Busted Racks Men’s Standard 8-Ball Teams $2,000 added 1st Harbor Hills $1,500 2nd Comrades $1,000 3rd Dick’s Picks $690 4th Don’t Hold It Against Us $450 5th Ready Room $325 Just Lucky 7th Koushins $225 No Problem

Men’s Standard 8-Ball Teams – 2nd Chance Division 1st Shuswap Hustlers $300 2nd Gr8 Balls of Fire $200 3rd Bob’s Bust-A-Rack $100 Jax High Hopes 5th The Office II $75 Outsiders Sharp Shooters NDN Time Women’s Standard 8-Ball Teams - $2,000 added 1st Venus Envy $1,200 2nd Mohawk Chicks $800 3rd Shut Up ‘N Shoot $500 4th Felt On Table $300 Women’s Standard 8-Ball Teams – 2nd Chance Division 1st Smooth Shooters $300 2nd Mike’s Break Room – Killer B’z $115 Men’s Advanced 9-Ball Teams $2,000 added 1st Gotta Have It $1,885 2nd Dick’s Picks $1,100 3rd Jitnot $700 4th American Legion 313 #2 $400 Women’s Open 9-Ball Teams $1,500 added 1st After Eight $1,200 2nd Miller Time $760 3rd Lady Killers $600 4th Roy’s Toys $500 5th Miss Cues $300 Game Birds Men’s Open 9-Ball Teams $1,500 added 1st Wrecking Crew 2nd 9 Ball Shockers 3rd No Flash 4th Footers 2 - John 5th San Antonio Strokers 7th Roswell Aliens Wrecking Crew 7

$2,000 $1,200 $795 $500 $375 $275

9th Annual ACS National Artistic Pool Championship - $500 added 1st Dennis Brown $300 2nd Ren Roberts $200 3rd John Jenks $100 4th Joe Richards $50 5th Glenn Hughey $25 Dustin Gunia Eric Pawl Shane Tymchyna

Jim McDermott Cue of the Year

What s ’ New

McDermott launches their 2013 Jim McDermott Cue of the Year this July. The G1304 ($1,399; Edition size: 150) features over 150 inlays, including exotic materials such as green burl, brass, recon ivory, and recon ebony. The Special Edition G1907 ($1,999; Edition size: 50) contains unique abalone inlays. Both cues feature a no-wrap recon ebony handle and come standard with high-performance i-2 and i-3 quick release shafts. Each Cue of the Year includes a certificate of authenticity signed by Jim McDermott. To order, please visit www.mcdermottcue.com or call 800-6662283.

Bank Shot Calculator 2.0

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.

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.

Superlative Slippy Cue Care Kit

Slippy Powder dispenses talc when you need it, making sure that you cue glides smoothly through your bridge without creating a mess. Slippy Papers are the ultimate shaft-conditioning papers in the form of three grades of micro-fine sandpaper, similar to what is used in the aviation industry to clean aircraft windshields. The Slippy Grippy four-cue holder is made of durable rubber and designed to fit on virtually any table, shelf, or other flat surface. The Super Slippy Tip Tool is the multi-function tip tool that shapes, scuffs, dimples, trims, and burnishes. It is made of durable brass and comes with its own pouch. The Slippy Zippy retractable chalk holder is designed to clip right onto your belt or pocket. This set is available online at www.cuesight.com for $59.95 or by calling 800-660-2572.

Kamui Beta

The Kamui Beta version of Kamui .98 and 1.21 is still the same great chalk, but it’s now 36% larger. This means your Kamui chalk can now fit into your favorite chalk holder! To learn more, please visit www.kamuitips.com. 34 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

WWW.DIAMONDBILLIARDS.COM DIAMOND BILLIARD PRODUCTS, INC. | 4700 NEW MIDDLE ROAD JEFFERSONVILLE, IN 47130 | 812-288-7665

APA’S Top League Operators Recognized

The American Poolplayers Association (APA) recognized five of their top franchisees with League Operator of the Year awards during the APA Annual Convention in late April in Las Vegas. The 5 were selected from a group of more than 270 league operators throughout North America, with one league operator selected from each market size. In the Level 1 Market, Greg and Alana Pierce of the Kansas City Northland APA were honored for their performance during the past year. Ewa and Mitch Laurance and their daughter and son-in-law Nikki and Toby Graham of the Coastal Carolina APA were the top league operators in the Level 2 Market. In the Level 3 Market, Ned Tosyali of the Golden Gate APA was selected. Jim Badger and Marc Lancaster of the Memphis APA were selected in the Level 4 Market. Doug and Gina Nowlin of the Phoenix Metro APA were awarded League Operators of the Year in the Level 5 Market. The APA awards a number of league operators each year for their accomplishments in running their league area. Those selected as League Operator of the Year receive a check for $1,000 and a trophy. In addition to recognizing the League Operators of the Year, the APA also awarded the Rookie and Journeyman of the Year awards. Steve Morton of the South Idaho APA received the Rookie of the Year Award, while John Ervin of the East Texas APA was selected for the Journeymen of the Year Award. The Journeyman of the Year is presented to the top league operator who is no longer a rookie but not yet eligible to receive the League Operator of the Year award.

Mirage Named as 2013 Venue for PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup

The Mirage Hotel and Casino, the first of the “super resorts” on the Las Vegas Strip, will play host to the 20th Annual PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup, which will take place December 2-5. Following on from five stagings at the MGM Grand, the Mosconi Cup now will move just up the road to the Mirage, where promoters Matchroom Sport will be installing their 600-seat arena to produce the most intimidating atmosphere in pool. Commented Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn, “We are very excited to have the Mirage as our hosts for what will be 36 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

a very special edition of the Mosconi Cup. Las Vegas has been our home and away venue for the past decade, and we’re delighted to be staying in the city of lights this year. “I’ve no doubt that we will have sold-out crowds throughout the four days of the event, and we will be doing everything within our power to make this the biggest Mosconi Cup of them all. Stand by for some major announcements!” The PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup is the annual Europe versus USA 9-ball challenge played out between two sides representing the very best in pool talent from both sides of the pond.

New Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Tour Texas and Louisiana have rolled out the red carpet for the hottest women’s regional tour to hit the Gulf Coast. The new Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Tour is the Women’s Professional Billiard Association’s tenth sanctioned regional tour in a system that has cultivated champions like Allison Fisher, Jeanette Lee, Ewa Laurance, and many more. The Gulf Coast Tour will provide an array of conveniences for women, easing some of the geographical and financial hardships of competition. The tour will stage one-day classic events in addition to two-day qualifiers/state championships with increased purses, hosted in cities across Texas and Louisiana. “Our goal is to reach every female player in our region and beyond; players of all skill levels, of all ages; WPBA Tour hopefuls; or those who just want to improve their game,” explained Newsome. The Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Tour will schedule a minimum of six events for 2014. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/gulfcoasttour or e-mail gulfcoasttour@ gmail.com. The tour website, www.gulfcoastregionaltour.com, is coming soon.

Player of the Month Vivian McNamee of Old Bethpage, NY, has been an APA member since 2001. She’s played on multiple 8-ball and 9-ball teams over the past 12 years. Recently Vivian received the 2012 Craig Gundersen Sportsmanship Award, which is the APA of Suffolk New York’s annual sportsmanship award.

“The award was named after a man who was a true sportsman, and Vivian epitomizes the meaning of sportsmanship,” said APA of Suffolk NY League Operator Melissa Cossidente. “She encourages members from both teams while she is playing, and as her teammates know, you can hear her cheering in the background at all matches.” Vivian is also focused and passionate about the game of pool. She’s always looking to improve, which is evident as her skill level has climbed from a 2 to a 6 over the years. She’s proud when she does move up and looks at it as an accomplishment. She qualified for the National Singles Championships 8-Ball Classic in 2005. Vivian also competed in the 9-Ball Doubles Championship at the National Team Championships and then returned to Vegas in 2010 for the 9-Ball National Team Championship. She is energetic and passionate. Vivian participates in every aspect of League play including weekly team play, singles boards, and doubles events. She attends every charity event run by the APA of Suffolk NY and is willing to help ensure that each is a success. She is fair when it comes to league matters and can always be relied upon for objective input.

Books & Videos

“Vivian is the kind of person that every league wishes they had many of,” said Cossidente. “We have a special place in our hearts for players like her, and we’re fortunate that she plays with us!”

38 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

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

Zimny Captures Tri-State Title Tri-State Tour / East Rutherford, NJ

same slot 6-4. In the ensuing quarterfinal match, it was Uzdejczyk over Nahay 8-6, with Nahay going home in fourth place.

by InsidePOOL Staff

Mike Zimny, Thomas Rice, Eddie da Costa

Mike Zimny came through unscathed at the May 4 stop on the Tri-State Tour to defeat young gun Thomas Rice in the final match. The $560-added tournament was hosted by Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ, and drew a field of 26 A-D players.

Borana Andoni challenged Zimny in the winners’ side final four, but Zimny zapped her with a 7-2 score to advance to the winners’ side finals. His opponent there, Eddie da Costa, had just delivered Luis Jimenez to the one-loss side 6-4. Zimny proceeded to route da Costa 7-1 to claim the hot seat. Bouncing back on the west side, Andoni eliminated Ricardo Mejia in fifth place 7-1, while Rice sent Jimenez home in the same spot 6-0. Rice then went on to oust Andoni in fourth place after winning the quarterfinal match 8-6. In the semifinals it was a rematch between the 14-year-old Rice and da Costa, who had defeated him in the third round earlier in the tournament, Results: and Rice relegated 1st Mike Zimny $550 him to third place 2nd Thomas Rice $320 7-5. Rice gave Zimny 3rd Eddie da Costa $200 a run for the money 4th Borana Andoni $140 in the finals, but Zim5th Ricardo Mejia $100 ny was able to take Luis Jimenez the title 7-5.

Aro Shoots Down Tri-State Field Tri-State Tour / House of Billiards by InsidePOOL Staff

Michael Aro flew through the Tri-State Tour’s May 11 lineup, going undefeated to best Bogie Uzdejczyk in the finals for the title. The $750-added tournament hosted 30 A-D players at House of Billiards.

Bogie Uzdejczyk, Michael Aro, Koka Davladze

In the winners’ side final four, it was Aro routing Thomas Rice 6-0, while Koka Davladze defeated Uzdejczyk 7-2 to advance. Aro then aced the hot seat match against Davladze, moving forward 8-6. Coming back on the west side, Uzdejczyk ousted Ron Gabia in fifth place with a 7-6 win, as Gerard Nahay sent Rice home in the

40 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

Continuing his hot streak, Uzdejczyk forged ahead to claim a 7-4 win over Davladze in the semifinal match. In the finals between Aro and Uzdejczyk, Aro took the lead initially, but then Uzdejczyk climbed back to wrangle the Results: score to 7-4 in his favor. 1st Michael Aro $600 The score seesawed to 2nd Bogie Uzdejczyk $350 hill-hill, and Aro won 3rd Koka Davladze $230 the deciding rack to 4th Gerard Nahay $140 claim the victory. 5th Ron Gabia $80 Thomas Rice

Rice Rocks Tri-State Field Tri-State Tour / Brooklyn, NY by InsidePOOL Staff

Fourteen-yearold Thomas Rice bounded back from a second-round loss at the Tri-State Tour’s May 18 event to win the next eight matches in a row to take first place over Kyle Bubet. Kyle Bubet, Kevin Buckley, Thomas Rice, Kristin Rice The $1,500-added tournament was hosted by Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY, and drew a field of 43 A-D players. Bubet went undefeated through the field, besting Joshua Morancie in the winners’ side final four 6-2 to advance to the hot seat match. Meeting him there was Gary O’Callaghan, who had just won over Bredan Ince 7-4. Bubet easily captured the hot seat over O’Callaghan 8-3. After a second-round loss to Bubet, Rice raced through the west side of the chart. He sent Brendon Hollock home in seventh place 6-3 and then ousted Morancie in fifth place 6-3. Tying with Morancie was Ince, who was eliminated by Alex Osipov 7-6. Rice went on to best Osipov in the quarterfinal match 7-4. Rice won the semifinal match over O’Callaghan by default to advance to the finals and face Bubet, who had been responsible for Rice’s second-round Results: loss. It was all Rice this 1st Thomas Rice $1,010 time, as he took con2nd Kyle Bubet $680 trol of the match early 3rd Gary O’Callaghan $420 to win it 8-3. 4th Alex Osipov $250 5th Bredan Ince $170 Joshua Morancie 7th Koka Davladze $125 Brendon Hollock

Sookhai Snares Tri-State Event Tri-State Tour / New York, NY by InsidePOOL Staff

Basdeo Sookhai survived a challenge from Jimmy Acosta in the double-elimination final match of the May 25 stop on the Tri-State Tour to take first-place honors. The $1,000-added Bernie Isaacowitz, Basdeo Sookhai, Jimmy Acosta event drew a field of 41 B-D players to Amsterdam Billiards and Bar in New York, NY, for the two-day Memorial Day weekend. It was Sookhai who took the undefeated route to the finals, besting Thomas Rice 7-3 in the winners’ side final four to reach the hot seat match. His opponent there was Bernie Isaacowitz, who had just sent Edward Lum to the one-loss side 6-2. It was a close match, but Sookhai snagged the hot seat with a 7-6 victory. On the west side of the chart, Acosta was moving through the ranks and relegated Rice to a fifth-place finish 7-2. Tying with Rice was Kirill Safronov, who was eliminated by Lum 6-1. In the quarterfinal match, Acosta continued his winning ways with an 8-6 victory over Lum.

In the elimination bracket, Matt Tetreault sent Joe Dupuis home in seventh place 9-7, tying with Tim Perry, who was ousted by Phil Davis double-hill. In turn, Tetreault and Davis went home in a fifth-place tie after losses to McNamara 9-8 and Dechaine 9-3, respectively. McNamara continued his forward momentum with a 9-5 win over Dechaine, who took home fourth place. But Sossei was eager for a rematch with D’Alfonso and handed McNamara a 9-6 loss in the next round. In the finals, though, D’Alfonso was still the stronger player that day, and he notched a 9-4 finals win. The $500-added second chance event drew 14 players, with Joe Darigis emerging as the first-place winner over Brent Boemmels in a two-set finals. Results: Darigis took home 1st Tom D’Alfonso $1,000 $300 for first, and Bo2nd Jeremy Sossei $700 emmels earned $200 3rd Ray McNamara $550 for his runner-up fin4th Mike Dechaine $400 ish. Kyle Pepin scored 5th Matt Tetreault $300 $120 for third place, Phil Davis and Tim Parisian won 7th Joe Dupuis $200 $80 for fourth. Tying Tim Perry for fifth place were 9th Suad Kantarevic $100 Francisco Cabral and Doug Brown Chris Neacsu, who Steve Mack each earned $40. Tim Parisian

In another tight match, Acosta and Isaacowitz matched up in the semifinals, with Acosta moving forward 7-5. The double-elimination final match Results: saw Acosta win the 1st Basdeo Sookhai $950 first set over Sookhai 2nd Jimmy Acosta $470 7-4. The second set 3rd Bernie Isaacowitz $300 saw Sookhai get into 4th Edward Lum $200 gear to win the title 5th Kirill Safronov $120 7-1. Thomas Rice 7th Ron Mason $90 Jamie Poush

D’Alfonso Doubles Down on Joss Tour Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour / Providence, RI by InsidePOOL Staff

Tom D’Alfonso slew Jeremy Sossei not once but twice in order to take first place at the June 1-2 stop of the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour. This was D’Alfonso’s second win in a row on the tour, as he bested Ron Casanzio in the last event a few weeks prior. Snookers Billiards Bar and Grill in Providence, RI, hosted the $1,500-added event, which drew a field of 45 9-ball players. D’Alfonso dealt Providence pro Mike “Fireball” Dechaine his first defeat in the winners’ side final four 9-4 to advance to the hot seat match where he faced off against Sossei for the first time in the event. Sossei had just sent Ray McNamara to the one-loss side with a strong 9-2 win. In another lopsided match, D’Alfonso triumphed 9-4 to await a finals opponent. July/August 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 41

Jimenez Shuts Down Sekine for Tri-State Win Tri-State Tour / East Rutherford, NJ by InsidePOOL Staff

Luis Jimenez handled all challengers at the Tri-State Tour’s June 1 stop, going undefeated through the field to take top honors over Shinichi Sekine in the Geoffrey Bauer, Shinichi Sekine, Luis Jimenez finals. The $780-added stop attracted a field of 37 A-D players to Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ. In the winners’ side final four, Jimenez dealt Eddie Perez his first loss 6-3, as Geoffrey Bauer trumped John Trobiano 7-3. When the two winners met to battle for the hot seat, it was Jimenez who walked away with the win over Bauer 8-4. Scoring revenge for his earlier loss to Trobiano, Sekine sent him home in fifth place with a 7-4 victory. Ray Marisette tied with Trobiano after being eliminated by Perez 6-4. Sekine went on to oust Perez in fourth place 7-4. Surging forward, Sekine and Bauer met in the semifinals, with Sekine eking out the 7-6 victory. But Jimenez held on in the final match, turning aside Sekine to take the win 7-5.

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

Luis Jimenez Shinichi Sekine Geoffrey Bauer Eddie Perez John Trobiano Ray Marisette Ken DeBroske Steven Protzo

$750 $450 $250 $200 $100 $65

> Upcoming Northeast Tournaments 8/19-24 9/19-22 9/28-29

World 14.1 Tournament Turning Stone Classic XXI 9-Ball Open The Action Pool Tour

42 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

Steinway Billiards Turning Stone Resort and Casino VIP Billiards

New York, NY Verona, NY Catonsville, MD

718-472-2124 518-356-7163 410-747-2551

TBA $25,000 TBA

Open Open Open

ended with Hucks claiming the hot seat 9-5.

Dix Defeats Great Southern Field Great Southern Billiard Tour / Myrtle Beach, SC by InsidePOOL Staff

Greg Dix denied the rest of the field in the hunt for first place at the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s May 4-5 installment, going undefeated to take the title. Shore Thing Greg Dix, Shannon Daulton, Kevin Brown Billiards and Bar in Myrtle Beach, SC, hosted the $1,000-added event, which attracted a field of 29. Dix dealt J. R. Dix his first loss in the winners’ side final four, besting him 7-3. In the other bracket, Don Strickland routed Colin Hall 5-1 to match up with Dix in the next round. With a 7-2 victory, Dix sent Strickland to the one-loss side.

Phillip Britt dealt with Langston on the west side, relegating him to a fifth-place finish 9-4. Tying with B. J. Hucks, Trent Talbert, James Carroll Langston was Thompkins, who lost a double-hill match with Sidney Champion 9-8. Britt went on to send Champion home in fourth place with a 9-6 win in the quarterfinals.

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

B. J. Hucks Trent Talbert Phillip Britt Sidney Champion Scott Langston Wendell Thompkins

$600 $400 $300 $200 $100

Talbert was determined to match up with Hucks again, and he bested Britt in the semifinals 7-6 to advance to the finals. But Hucks easily handled Talbert, winning the match and title 9-3.

J. R. Dix was eliminated in fifth place by Kevin Brown 5-2, as Hall tied with Dix after his match with Trent Talbert ended 5-3. The ensuing quarterfinal match saw Brown triumph over Talbert 5-3.

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

Greg Dix Kevin Brown Don Strickland Trent Talbert Colin Hall J. R. Dix Brian Bryant Steve Walker

$550 $350 $250 $175 $125 $50

Brown advanced to face Strickland in the semifinals and scored a 5-3 victory that sent him into the final match. The undefeated Dix, though, was more than ready for him, and claimed the match 7-4.

Hucks Handles Great Southern Field Great Southern Billiard Tour / Myrtle Beach, SC by InsidePOOL Staff

B. J. Hucks hit a home run at the June 1-2 stop on the Great Southern Billiard Tour, going unchallenged through the field to take first place over Trent Talbert in the finals. The $1,000-added amateur stop was hosted by Shore Thing Bar and Billiards in Myrtle Beach, SC, and drew a field of 30 players. Hucks faced down Scott Langston in the winners’ side final four, sending him to the one-loss side with a 9-5 victory. In the other winners’ side bracket, Talbert advanced to the next round over Wendell Thompkins 7-4. The first meeting of Talbert and Hucks

> Upcoming Southeast Tournaments 7/13-14 8/10-11 9/7 9/8-9 9/28-29

The Action Pool Tour The Action Pool Tour Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Tour The Action Pool Tour The Action Pool Tour

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July/August 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 43

Chen Brings Heat to OB Cues Tour OB Cues Ladies’ Tour / Katy, TX by InsidePOOL Staff

Making tour history, Siming Chen stormed through the field at the May 4-5 stop on the OB Cues Ladies’ Tour to claim the title over Tara Williams, Rhea Brooks, Siming Chen Tara Williams with an unprecedented win/loss record of 49-1. Slick Willie’s in Katy, TX, hosted the $2,000-added event, which drew 46 players who were ready for some fun, competition, and 9-ball action. The young 18-year-old phenom displayed almost flawless pool and aiming skills with precision play, going undefeated to await a finals opponent. On the one-loss side, Michelle Yim, Jennifer Kraber, Teresa Garland, and Julie Stephenson tied for ninth place. Seventh place went to Michelle Cortez and Amanda Lampert. In fifth place were Nicole McDaniel and Belinda Lee, and the fourth place winner was Ming Ng. Rhea Brooks, who lost the hot seat match to Chen, played Tara Williams in the semifinals and finished in third place. Chen had already won the WPBA qualifier spot for Tunica, but her win/loss tally for the two-day tournament going into the finals against Williams was 42-0. As the match progressed, it appeared that Chen was going to go undefeated, as the score was 6-0. Chen was breaking the seventh game and, in her typical perfect fashion, was running out. With the 5, 6, 8, and 9 balls left to go for the Results: tournament win, the 1st Siming Chen $750 5 ball rattled in the 2nd Tara Williams $550 left corner pocket, 3rd Rhea Brooks $400 leaving an opportu4th Ming Ng $270 nity for Williams to 5th Belinda Lee $155 take the game. In the Nicole McDaniel next game, though, 7th Amanda Lampert $105 Williams broke dry Michelle Cortez and the table was 9th Julie Stephenson $75 wide open as Chen Teresa Garland ran out for the win Michelle Yim with a 7-1 score. Jennifer Kraber

The 35-year-old Floridian was fortunate to qualify from the group phase after suffering two defeats out of four matches, placing runner-up to five-time champion Tom Kollins, but he slowly forged his way into the championship and gathered momentum with each match played to reach the final against the defending champion, Sargon Isaac.

Corey Deuel

The 27-year-old from California was in good form throughout the championship and looked formidable in his semifinal victory, which would have made him the favorite to retain his title. Deuel is an impressive performer, however, as he calmly approached each attempted pot and methodically thought over many of the safety exchanges. Number-one seed Isaac made an underwhelming start to the final as he found it difficult to take advantage of any chances, and Deuel’s commanding presence helped him win the first two frames comfortably. But Isaac was the more accomplished break-builder of the two, and when he hit a fluent and precise run of 68 to win the third frame, it appeared the tide had turned in his favor as he started frame four confidently. This upbeat mood did not last long, as Isaac offered an opportunity to Deuel to get back into the frame, and he duly took it and won it assisted by a break of 53 to lead 3-1 into the mid-session interval. The interval did not help to settle Isaac, as on the resumption he still found it difficult to play himself into the tie. Deuel completely dominated proceedings from then on as a contribution of a break of 36 helped him seal frame five, and runs of 34 and 39 in the following frame helped him wrap up the match 5-1 for a terrific victory. All credit must go to Deuel, for what he lacked in snooker knowledge was made up by using his years of experience of playing professional pool at the highest level, and he must be applauded for making the positive decision to broaden his billiard playing horizons and take up the challenge of competing in the National Snooker Championship.

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Deuel Captures National Snooker Championship Title United States National Snooker Championship / Houston, TX by Alan Morris

Corey Deuel has made a successful transformation to snooker as the former U.S. Open 9-Ball champion has now added the 2013 United States National Snooker Championship title to his collection with a victory at Snooker 147 Bar and Grill in Houston, TX, over Memorial Day weekend. 44 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

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Rudder and Demetro Decimate Poison Field Poison by Predator Tour / Houston, TX by InsidePOOL Staff

Chase Rudder and Sonny Demetro dominated the June 1-2 stop on the Poison by Predator Tour, winning the open 9-ball and amateur divisions, respectively. The Younger Chapman, Kim Newsome, Chase Rudder $1,000-added tournament drew 57 entries overall to Bogies Billiards and Sports Bar in Houston, TX. Rudder annihilated North Carolina’s Younger Chapman 9-1 in the final after an undefeated run in which he held each of his

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victims to four racks Open Results: or less. Chapman 1st Chase Rudder $480 had also succumbed 2nd Younger Chapman $275 to Rudder in the hot 3rd Will Felder $150 seat match 9-1 after 4th Sonny Bosshamer $75 an impressive show5th Raul Escobedo $35 ing that included Erik Renteria wins over resident players Brent Thomas and Bill Fuller. The Amateur Results: final four on the 1st Sonny Demetro $475 winners’ side saw 2nd Bobby Perez $275 Raul Escobedo fall 3rd Chuck Adams $165 to Rudder 9-4, while 4th Raul Escobedo $75 Will Felder fell to 5th Jerald Jackson $50 Chapman 9-5. After Younger Chapman a first-round blow at 7th Will Felder $35 the hands of Eric Hsu, Sonny Bosshamer Sonny “The Boss” Bosshamer won six consecutive matches, including wins over Andy Jethwa 7-6 and Escobedo 7-1, but was stopped dead in his tracks by Felder 7-2. Once again, Felder was defeated by Chapman 7-4, settling for a respectable third-place finish. The amateur 9-ball division saw Perez move swiftly through the winners’ side with wins over tour newcomer Matthew Sales, Bobby Garcia, and Steve Williams. On the final four on the winners’ side, Perez ousted Chuck Adams 7-4, Sonny Demetro, Bobby Perez while the indomitable Demetro defeated Raul Escobedo 7-4. After a first-round loss to Jonathon Poon, Jerald “Topwater” Jackson won six consecutive matches, including wins over Errol Sanders, Alex Cardenas, Mike White, and Jack Cavalier. Escobedo ended Jackson’s run 5-3 but was then eliminated by Adams 5-1. Hot seat action saw Demetro handily defeat Perez 7-4, staging a rematch between Perez and Adams. Perez stayed the course, defeating Adams once again 5-4 and earning himself another shot at Demetro. In the final match, both players were collected and calculating. Despite his raw determination, Perez fell short against the veteran player by the same score 7-4.

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> Upcoming Central Tournaments 7/6-7 7/7 8/10-11 8/3-4 8/3-4 8/8-11 8/24-25 9/14

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46 InsidePOOL Magazine ◊ July/August 2013

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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 July/August 2013 ◊ InsidePOOLmag.com 47

Game Time If you're all too familiar with the phrase "Thank you, Mario! But our princess is in another castle!" you'll love this issue's puzzle, which celebrates Video Games Day on July 8 with a list of your favorite classic games from the 1980s.

Arkanoid Asteroids Battlezone Berzerk BurgerTime Centipede Commando Contra Defender Dig Dug Donkey Kong Dragon's Lair Final Fight Frogger Galaga Galaxian Gravitar Gyruss Joust Kaboom Kung Fu Lunar Command Mappy Metal Slug Missile Command Missile Strike Moon Patrol Mortal Kombat

Pac Man Paperboy Pengo Phoenix Pole Position Pong Punch Out Qbert Qix Rally X Red Plane Scramble Sonic the Hedgehog Space Invaders Spy Hunter Star Castle Star Trek Street Fighter Super Mario Bros Tapper Tetris Time Pilot Tron Vanguard Varth Wizard of War Xevious Zaxxon Zelda

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

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