As a long time member of the Billiard Congress of America (BCA), CSI supports the BCA in their recently announced pro pool initiative to provide funds to send North American players to international events. CSI is one of the first industry leaders to support the BCA initiative as a “2012 Official Contributor to International Competition.”

A solid framework for both North American and world professional pool has long existed, with the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) as the world body, and the BCA as the WPA member for North America. CSI commends the BCA on their commitment renewal as the “Governing Body for Cue Sports in North America.” CSI supports the BCA as the governing body, its pro points program, and the player selection process for international events.

As a long time member of the Billiard Congress of America (BCA), CSI supports the BCA in their recently announced pro pool initiative to provide funds to send North American players to international events.

With a decline in US player participation in world events, the time has come to change the structure of how pro pool in North America is supported. This is a great step in building that structure which will allow the top US and Canadian players to continue to compete and represent their countries internationally.

CSI, which produces the “US Open 10-Ball Championship,” one of the BCA pro point events, believes the future and strength of the sport lies in creating a synergy between the industry, the amateurs, the professionals, and the general public. Two years ago CSI launched the USA Pool League with that goal in mind, and a portion of CSI’s proceeds from the USAPL is pledged to promote and fund pro awareness.

We at CSI encourage industry support of the BCA in their new endeavor. In the past, CSI partnered with five other industry leaders to help support and fund the BCA Hall of Fame. It is time for all organizations that have the sport and industry foremost in mind to band together in support of the BCA.

CueSports International (CSI) is dedicated to creating more choices for all players. In the past seven years CSI has directly paid out approximately seven million dollars to players. CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League and the USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events such as the US Bar Table Championships, the Jay Swanson Memorial, the US Open One Pocket Championship and the US Open 10-Ball Championship. Visit www.playcsipool.com, www.playbca.com and www.playusapool.com for more information about CSI and its divisions.

CSI leads the billiard industry in the development of technology. For more information on the state-of-the-art software systems for league and tournament management visit www.leaguesys.net and www.ctsondemand.com.

by InsidePOOL Staff

Alex Olinger skated through the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s first stop of the new year, surviving a double-hill final onslaught by Sam Monday to take the title. The $1,500-added stop hosted 46 amateurs players who came out to The Club House Bar and Billiards the weekend of January 7-8.

Olinger went undefeated to best Brad Black in the winners’ side final four 10-2 and reach the hot seat. Meeting him there was Monday, who had just bested Billy Thorpe double-hill 10-8. It was another hill-hill affair for Monday, but this time he was sent to the one-loss side 10-9 as Olinger awaited a finals opponent.

On the left side of the chart, D. J. Holloway easily handled Collin Hall 9-1, while Larry Kressel narrowly notched a 10-7 win over Chris Bruner. Holloway continued on to eliminate Thorpe at fifth place 9-4, while Black tied with Thorpe after Kressel ousted him 10-4. In the following quarterfinal match, it was all Kressel, as he took the match 10-4, sending Holloway home in fourth place.

Alex Olinger skated through the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s first stop of the new year, surviving a double-hill final onslaught by Sam Monday to take the title.

Kressel’s come-uppance came in the next round via Monday, who won their semifinal match 10-6. His rematch with Olinger, though, found Monday in the exact same spot as before, as Olinger eked out another hill-hill victory.

Results:
1st Alex Olinger $1,000
2nd Sam Monday $500
3rd Larry Kressel $300
4th D. J. Holloway $200
5th Billy Thorpe $140
Brad Black
7th Collin Hall $100
Chris Bruner

Inside POOL Video and Kamui Tips are proud to announce special deal with Inside POOL Magazine and the live streaming of the 2011 Great Southern Billiard Tour Championships. The event will be streamed live in HD at the Inside POOL Video page, InsidePOOL.tv. The event starts on Friday, November 10, 2011 and runs through Sunday, November 13, 2011. The event will be produced by the Great Southern Billiard Tour and hosted by Fast Eddies in Goldsboro, NC.

Kamui will be giving a free Kamui Tip to the first 50 people to purchase a 2-year Inside POOL Magazine subscriptions at the special price of $27.99.

Kamui Tips and Inside POOL Video will be running a special offer for all the fans. The first 50 people who purchase a 2-year Inside POOL Magazine subscriptions at the special price of $27.99 (normally $36.99) will receive a voucher for one free Kamui tip to be redeemed at their local Authorized Kamui Tip installer, retail value $19.75. The special price will be available for a limited time.

Additionally, subscribers of the one-year U.S. subscription will also receive the Kamui Tip voucher. This item can be purchased here:
Inside POOL Magazine store

Visit the Inside POOL Magazine subscription store to purchase a 2-year U.S. Subscription at the special price of $27.99.

The live streaming for the event will be in HD and feature the top pros and amateurs competing. The live stream will officially kick off at 6pm EST on Thursday, November 10, 2011.

The live HD stream of the Great Southern Billiard Tour Championships will be simulcast at the following locations:

InsidePOOL.tv
Inside POOL live streaming billiards page
Inside POOL Billiards Streaming channel at Ustream
Facebook Live Streaming Billiards

The Great Southern Billiard Tour Championships is proudly co-sponsored by Kamui Tips, Fury Cues, Milliken Super Pro Cloth, and Cuesight.com.

About Kamui
Imported from Japan, the Kamui layered tip consists of 100% Japanese pig leather. With a unique production process, the Kamui tip maintains high porosity in the pig skin, allowing the Kamui tip to grip onto chalk. Each layer is carefully laminated creating uniformed quality and performance. The Kamui Original tip comes in four grades: Super Soft, Soft, Medium and Hard. The Kamui Black comes in four grades Super Soft, Soft, Medium and Hard.

#1 in Playability and Consistency

For more information on the Kamui tips, please visit Kamui Tips official website.

**The first 50 viewers that purchase a 2-year Inside POOL Magazine subscriptions at the special price of $27.99, will receive a free Kamui Tip ($19.75 value) for free. After you purchase the 2-year subscription, we will send you the voucher to claim your free Kamui Tip. All Kamui Tips will have to be installed at an authorized Kamui installer (installation not included). Contest is only open to United States viewers in the continental 48 states, not valid for international viewers. Free Kamui Tip voucher has no monetary value and cannot be combined with any other offer or used to purchase any other items.

Enjoy the stream!

by InsidePOOL Staff

It was a grind, but ultimately Shannon “The Cannon” Daulton took home the top prize at the October 8-9 installment of the Great Southern Billiard Tour over Keith Bennett. The stop opened up to allow pros as well as amateurs to their U.S. Open warm-up event, hosted by Speak Eazy Billiards in Sanford, NC, and the $1,500-added prize purse attracted a field of 71 hopefuls.

Ranked as an AAA player, Daulton raced to 13 against double-A-ranked B.J. Ussery in the winners’ side final four, sending him to the one-loss side with a 13-8 win. AA-ranked Bennett and A-ranked Tony Morrison raced to 11 in the other winners’ side match, with Bennett routing Morrison 11-3. In the following round, Daulton and Bennett went head to head for the hot seat, where Bennett eked out an 11-11 win.

Larry “The Truth” Nevel was taking advantage of the opportunity to warm up for the Open, eliminating Carlos Cruz at seventh place 13-8. Tying with Cruz was Sam Monday, who was sent home by Mike Fuller 11-4. Nevel went on to dominate Ussery 11-2, while Morrison ousted Fuller at fifth 9-10. In the quarterfinal match, Morrison held Nevel back from reaching the required 13, winning there 9-11.

It was a grind, but ultimately Shannon “The Cannon” Daulton took home the top prize at the October 8-9 installment of the Great Southern Billiard Tour over Keith Bennett.

Eagerly awaiting an opponent after his hot seat match loss, Daulton devoured Morrison 13-2 in the semifinals to earn a rematch with Bennett in the double-elimination finals. The first set saw Daulton win over twice as many racks as Bennett did to take it 13-6 and force a second set. There Daulton again dominated, winning this time by the score of 13-8.

Results:
1st Shannon Daulton $1,100
2nd Keith Bennett $600
3rd Tony Morrison $425
4th Larry Nevel $325
5th Mike Fuller $160
B.J. Ussery
7th Sam Monday $90
Carlos Cruz
9th Antonio Slaydon $50
Mike Higgins
Steve Page
B.J. Hucks

by InsidePOOL Staff

It was an epic battle between two Southern super powers at the August 13-14 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour when B.J. Ussery and Sam Monday went head to head in the finals, with Ussery taking the win 11-8. The $1,500-added, 9-ball event was held at Brown’s Billiards in Raleigh, NC, where a field of 58 amateurs came out to play.

Monday and Ussery first collided in the winners’ side final, after Monday had sent Norris Brady to the one-loss side 11-6 and Ussery had routed Mike Fuller 11-1. Monday and Ussery struggled to hill-hill before Ussery claimed the final game and the hot seat 11-10.

It was an epic battle between two Southern super powers at the August 13-14 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour when Ussery and Monday went head to head in the finals, with Ussery taking the win 11-8.

Mike Fuller and George Crawford, meanwhile, were making their move on the west side of the chart. Fuller eliminated Tommy Cook at fifth place 11-4, while Crawford ended Brady’s event in the same spot with a 9-8 win. In the quarterfinal match, Crawford was the one to advance by virtue of a 9-10 victory over Fuller in the handicapped match.

Monday awaited Crawford in the semifinals, and it was a hill-hill battle, with Monday eking out an 11-8 score to try for revenge in the finals against Ussery. But Ussery was determined to take home the title, and he did so by besting Monday 11-8.

Results:
1st B.J. Ussery $1,000
2nd Sam Monday $650
3rd George Crawford $450
4th Mike Fuller $275
5th Tommy Cook $145
Norris Brady
7th Ian Holt $95
Dylan Letchworth

The 2011 Ozone Billiards US Amateur Open is back in its 6th year and will bring forth some of the best amateur talents around the country. The event starts on July 28 until July 31 at Emerald Billiards in New Iberia,Louisiana. The Ozone Billiards US Amateur Open is produced by Dragon Promotions and will coincide with The Poison DP Pro Classic events. This 6th installment of this amateur extravaganza will feature 7 total tournaments with 9-Ball and 8-Ball disciplines, with divisions in Open, Women, Seniors, Mixed Doubles and new Pro-Am 9-Ball Open which allows all players pro or amateur to play. No Pros, No Semi-Pros, No Top Rated Amateur players will be allowed to play in the 8-Ball events. The amateur 8-Ball events are created for only the true amateur players, which makes it a fair chance for anyone to win. However Pro-Am 9-Ball events will let even the best players in the world play and welcomes the top amateur talents as well. The Ozone Billiards US Amateur Open has been a pre-cursor of amateur players turning into professionals later on and is regarded as a major stepping stone for up and coming talent.

The winner of the Open 8-Ball will receive $3000 and the winner of the Pro-Am 9-Ball $5000 based on moderate field sizes. The event is sponsored also by Poison Cues by Predator, Simonis Cloth, and APA Acadiana.

The 2011 Ozone Billiards US Amateur Open is back in its 6th year and will bring forth some of the best amateur talents around the country.

“We are really pleased to continue this long standing event. It’s now in its sixth year, and the Ozone Billiards US Amateur Open keeps drawing bigger and stronger fields. It’s exciting to also work with the local APA franchise and for the amateurs to qualify and play with the pros in the Poison DP Pro Classic. There are several events for each player to play, so they have more than one shot to play. Men, women, and seniors from all over the country get an opportunity to do it all during the Ozone US Amateur Open”, said said Shawn Gargano, President of Ozone Billiards.

Ozone Billiards has had a history of supporting professional tours as well such as The Predator International 10-Ball Championship, The World Straight Pool Championship and the Dragon Promotions Pro Classic.

The host Emerald Billiards opened in 2008 but moved in 2009 to a new million dollar facility by owner Keith Hulin. Emerald Billiards has 20 Valley Bar Tables and 8 Brunswick Gold Crown Vs and has hosted major amateur events such as the APA Tri-Cup with over 800 players. This will be the second time Emerald will host both the amateur and pro events. The event is also supported by the APA Acadiana operated by Preston and Lisa Granger, who run one of the top ten largest pool leagues in America with over 4000 members.
Emerald Billiards and the APA Acadiana will also be running numerous qualifiers where amateur players can earn a free spot into the pro events for $15-20 entry fees.

“This is one of the premier amateur events in the country and we are really happy to host it in Louisiana once again. And we are proud to be the only place in Louisiana bringing the best pros in the world”, said Keith Hulin, Owner of Emerald Billiards. This year top names such as Mika Immonen, Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Shane Van Boening, Shawn Putnam, Charlie Williams, and Thorsten Hohmann will be attending.

The pros themselves who attended last year were very impressed by the hospitality of Mr.Hulin and the Emerald Billiards staff and fans. “I never signed so many autographs in a poolroom in my life,” said top ranking pro Shawn Putnam. All seven of the advertised pro players from last year are all returning once again. This year’s pro events will have a $2000 added 9-Ball and a $3,000 added 10-Ball back-to-back.

The amateur events will have great quality equipment on Valley 7 ft bar tables. No coins needed to play matches as there will be a $20 registration and green fee inclusive in every entry fee in all divisions. Players may also choose to play in multiple divisions with no scheduling conflicts.These events are open to all true amateurs(men or women) and no membership fee is required . There is also a Mixed Doubles 9-Ball so now men and women can travel an Read more ...]]> http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/6th-annual-ozone-billiards-us-amateur-open.html/feed 0 http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/ice-breakers-to-host-billiards-event-october-8.html http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/ice-breakers-to-host-billiards-event-october-8.html#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:09:30 +0000 Pool and Billiards News http://www.insidepoolmag.com/?p=12896 Earl Strickland to Attend with Inside POOL Magazine Providing the Live Streaming

Ice Breakers in Youngstown, OH is pleased to announce that they will be hosting the next stop on the Come and Take it if You Can Tour, a tour sponsored and promoted by Mike Gulyassy Custom Cues and Baby’s Pro Shop. The event kicks off Friday, October 8, 2010 at 8pm EST and runs through Sunday, October 10, 2010.

Ice Breakers in Youngstown, OH is pleased to announce that they will be hosting the next stop on the Come and Take it if You Can Tour. Strickland is scheduled to do exhibitions, teach lessons, play and offer commentary for the free live stream.

The handicapped event features both amateurs and professionals competing for their share of a $1000 added purse with a $25 entry fee. Additionally, tour sponsor Mike Gulyassy will be playing in the event and the player that defeats Gulyassy will receive cues valued at $425.

Additionally, world champion Earl Strickland will be on hand to participate, give exhibitions and teach pool lessons. Strickland will also be promoting his new instructional DVD. As an added bonus, Strickland is scheduled to do commentary for the free live stream.

Ice Breakers is a full featured billiards facility with 14 pool tables, great food, and a full bar. Sister facility, the Ice House Inn, hosts live entertainment regularly. Ice Breakers, no stranger to events, hosts leagues and tournaments regularly. Owner Mike Mousie says, “We’re extremely excited at hosting the event. The tour and everybody involved with it are great to work with and the players are really excited to play.”

The live stream for the event is free and will provided by Inside POOL Magazine via InsidePOOLmag.com and the Inside POOL Magazine Ustream channel. For those viewers with iPhones, the stream is viewable at the Inside POOL Magazine iPhone Streaming page.

The live stream will begin at 8pm on Friday, October 8, 2010.

For more information about the event, please contact Ice Breakers at 330-544-1112.

WPBA Pro and Mezz USA President, Caroline Pao, along with Tournament Director, Jose Burgos, will be overseeing the Women’s tour.

“With so many great female players in the Northeast region, this is a great opportunity to provide a competitive tour for them to participate in. We will feature great prizes at each stop as well as hold a Grand Finale tournament with added monies. Prizes will also be awarded for the Top 3 players of the year with the Top Player receiving paid entry to the prestigious Turning Stone Classic Tournament in Verona, NY. I am very excited be able to provide an opportunity for our local female players to sharpen their competitive edge. Once we complete the 8 event schedule, it will be on our official Mezz Tour website, www.mezztour.com,” says Caroline.

Mezz USA is proud to announce the first stop of the Mezz Women’s Pool Tour, a $1,000 added event, will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2010, at Drexeline Billiards.

Stop #1 – May 8th – $1,000 Added*
Mezz Womens Pool Tour
Drexeline Billiards
5100 State Street
Drexel Hill, PA 19026

*$1,000 added is based on a full field of 50 players.

Visit the official Mezz Pro-Am Tour website, www.mezztour.com, for more information.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact info@mezztour.com.

by InsidePOOL Staff

Fifteen of Wisconsin’s best amateurs showed up at the November 1 installment of the Billiard Congress of Wisconsin’s new tour, with Tom Radowitz taking home first place. The $400-added event was hosted by the Brass Ring in Madison, WI.

The field was whittled down to the final three players. Radowitz earned the hot seat, taking wins over 14-year-old Tyler Styer 6-1, Haven Ben 6-4, Jon Giles 6-5, and Francis Rave Sr. 6-5 on the way. On the one-loss side, young gun Giles went toe to toe with Rave. Both competitors did their best, and it came down to who remained in control of the game. The score seesawed to hill-hill, and though it looked like it would be all Rave when Giles scratched, Rave in turn scratched on the 7 ball, and Giles cleaned up the last two for the win.

Fifteen of Wisconsin’s best amateurs showed up at the November 1 installment of the Billiard Congress of Wisconsin’s new tour, with Tom Radowitz taking home first place.

Results:
1st Tom Radowitz $330
2nd Jon Giles $200
3rd Francis Rave Sr. $150
4th Dean Durge
5th Bob Treffeisen $50
Duncan Kaufman

The Galveston World Classic features both professional and amateur billiard events, which will take place September 11-20, 2009. Many of the amateur events have sparked a huge response due to the larger prize funds and abnormally high guaranteed first place prizes for teams and singles players. Because of this response and restrictions that prohibited professionals playing in amateur events there were numerous requests for clarity on the qualification of professionals and amateurs.

Taylor Road Productions has clarified player eligibility rules that prohibit professionals from participating in the amateur events at the Galveston World Classic. The much anticipated event will be September 11-20, 2009 at the Moody Gardens in Galveston, TX.

Taylor Road Productions has posted the following guidelines on the official web site of the Galveston World Classic:

1. Any player may participate in the amateur 9-ball and 8-ball singles events that is not in the top 128 BCA points list.
2. Team players also become qualified if they have been a member of a recognized league within the last 5 years. Currently the recognized leagues are the APA, BCA, ACS, TAP, and VNEA. To have a league recognized that is not part of a system listed, please contact Taylor Road Productions at The Galveston World Classic.

“We’ve been inundated with requests about playing in the Galveston World Classic. After several discussions we feel the need to clarify player eligibility in the 9-ball and 8-ball amateur events. We have decided to permit any player that is not in top 128 of BCA points list participate in these tournaments. The same also applies for the team event, providing the player has been a member of a recognized league within last 5 years.” said Bobby Rone of Taylor Road Productions.

View the 2009 BCA Men’s Ranking

View the WPBA Ranking

About Taylor Road Productions
Taylor Road Productions is the producer and promoter of the Galveston World Classic from September 11-20, 2009 at Moody Gardens in Galveston, TX. The vision of the company is to produce pool and billiard events that promote the sport to a new level by large cash prizes, televised events and high profile events for all to experience. The company web site is The World Classic.