Play begins in less than ten days

FRISCO, TX (April 11, 2011): The 2011 Ultimate 10-Ball Championships is set to kick off in less than ten days at the Embassy Suites Hotel Dallas-Frisco, TX. If you plan to play in this historic event and have not made your reservations, please do so by April 21.

The 2011 Ultimate 10-Ball Championships is set to kick off in less than ten days at the Embassy Suites Hotel Dallas-Frisco, TX.

If you are arriving via plane, complimentary shuttle buses will be made available for transport to and from the Embassy Suites Hotel Dallas-Frisco. All non-local players participating in this event must lodge at the Embassy Suites Hotel. To make use of this complimentary service, please communicate your travel plans to the tournament director.

In addition to the $50,000 total added prize monies for the men’s and women’s divisions, tournament promoter Badi Nazhat has had custom-made first-, second-, and third-place medals created by John C. Sunderland, president of James and Sons Fine Jewelry.

Live high-definition streaming of this event will be provided free of cost to viewers by Inside Pool Video and PoolActionTV. Watch this complimentary stream at www.ultimate10ball.com and keep tabs on your favorite players.

The Ultimate 10-Ball Championships are being hosted by the Embassy Suites Hotel Dallas-Frisco in Frisco, TX. Matches will be played on Diamond Pro-Am 9-foot tables covered in Simonis cloth and using Super Aramith Pro Ball sets and red circle cue balls. For reservations please call 972-712-7200.

About the Ultimate 10-Ball Championships

The inaugural Ultimate 10-Ball Championships took place in Aruba in 2010 and featured some of the most talented players in the sport of billiards. The Ultimate 10-Ball Championships is an open tournament that will continue to feature the finest men and women pool players in the world. The 2011 is an event ranked by both the Billiard Congress of America and the Women’s Professional Billiard Association ranked event and is a World Pool-Billiard Association sanctioned event. The official web site, http://www.ultimate10ball.com, will provide stats, two free live streams, and live scoring.

by Jonathan Demet

Walter Hayes Sr. of Waukegan, IL, left the McDermott Midwest Cup a hometown hero when he won the first tournament of this season’s Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Tour at Legends Billiards. The tournament drew in 29 handicapped amateurs who competed for a serious purse and the honor of becoming the first McDermott Midwest Cup 9-Ball amateur champion.

On the right side of the chart four players fought hard for the hot seat match. Chicago’s Jonathan Strzezewski bested Chris Mason 8-3, while Hayes outplayed Christopher Szarek in a double-hill nail-biter 8-4. Hayes proved to be too much for Strzezewski and sent him to the one-loss side 8-6.

Ike Runnels

Four were left on the one-loss side, and all fought with great tenacity. Szarek nipped Mike Regan 4-3, while Mason ousted 17-year-old Erick Hincks 6-4. It was difficult for Mason to overcome the handicap as he lost the quarterfinal match 4-5 to B-player Szarek, leaving Mason with a good showing of fourth place. Szarek then fell to Strzezewski 7-2, ending his battle with a third-place finish.

In the final match, Strzezewski was looking for revenge on Hayes but fell short 8-5, making Hayes the first McDermott Midwest Cup 9-Ball amateur champion.

In the open division, 18 of the Midwest’s diehard big-table players showed up, with master player Ike Runnels going home the champion. Runnels battled his way through a few close matches and came out on top, just above Jonathan Demet.

On the right side of the bracket Demet bested Bill Fowler 7-4, and Runnels defeated Frankie Bashir in a double-hill match, leaving the two winners to fight for the hot seat. Runnels routed Demet 7-1, sending him to the west side of the bracket.

While Runnels patiently waited to see who would play against him in the final match, the shooters on the left side had to play perfectly against their tough competition. Fowler defeated Jon Giles 6-1, while Henry Brodt ousted Bashir 6-3. Fowler maintained some top-notch pool by besting Brodt 6-4. Demet however showed no mercy against Fowler and got him again, this time in a hill-hill match, earning another chance at Runnels. It was a close match, but Runnels pulled ahead and won 7-5, becoming the first Open division McDermott Midwest Cup champion.

Amateur Results:
1st Walter Hayes Sr. $413
2nd Jonathan Strzezewski $255
3rd Christopher Szarek $165
4th Chris Mason $97
5th Mike Regan $55
Eric Hincks
7th Paul Repischak $34
Mike Stowe

Open Results:
1st Ike Runnels $700
2nd Jonathan Demet $360
3rd Bill Fowler $204
4th Henry Brodt $140
5th Frankie Bashir $80
Jon Giles

by InsidePOOL Staff

The Billiard Congress of Wisconsin’s State Championships wrapped up June 26, crowning numerous victors in their respective divisions. The event was hosted by Ho Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells in Baraboo, WI.

The $2,500-added amateur 9-ball championships attracted 37 players, with Varun Raheja taking first place. In the winners’ side final four, Tyler Styer defeated Raheja 6-4 and went on to the hot seat match to face John Barton, who had just bested Jason Jick 7-6. Styer triumphed in the hot seat match 6-5, and Barton was sent west. In the semifinals he faced off against Raheja, who eked by with a 6-5 win to earn a rematch with Styer. In the double-elimination final match, Raheja double-dipped Styer, winning the sets 6-4 and 6-5 to earn $1,600 for first place.

The open 9-ball division saw 36 players vying for their shares of the $4,000-added prize purse, and it was Jeff Carter who took home $2,300 for first place. Like Raheja in the amateur division, Carter was defeated in the winners’ side final four and came back to double-dip his finals opponent. Carter was sent west by Jesse Engal 7-3, while Gene Albrecht defeated Tony Hilla 7-3. In the hot seat match, Albrecht came out the winner 7-3. After Carter eliminated Hilla in fourth place 7-5, he went on to the semifinal match against Engal, whom he ousted 7-5. In the finals against Albrecht, Carter won both sets with double-hill margins 7-6.

There were 108 players in the $1,500-added singles 8-ball barbox championship event, with Jack Wu taking first place. Wu went undefeated through the event, defeating Jeff Potts in the winners’ side final four 5-4 to reach the hot seat match against Matt Berg, who had just bested Shane Minihan 5-4. Another hill-hill match saw Wu take the king seat 5-4. Ryan Behnke took on Potts in the quarterfinal match and eliminated him 5-4, and he kept his momentum going by ousting Berg 5-4 in the semifinals. But he was stopped in the finals by Wu, who won the single-set finals 5-3.

The open one-pocket division boasted a $2,500-added purse and drew 23 players, with Beau Runningen taking the undefeated route to the winner’s circle. Runningen bested Jeff Carter 3-2 to reach the hot seat match against Ike Runnels, who had just whitewashed Tony Hilla 3-0. In the king seat match, Runningen eked out a 3-2 victory, while Runnels went west. Sylver Ochoa was working his way through the one-loss side and met up with Mike Perron Jr. in the quarterfinals, eliminating him 3-1. Ochoa also defeated Runnels 3-2 to reach the final match against Runningen. It was a close battle, but Runningen slid by with a 3-2 victory.

The Billiard Congress of Wisconsin’s State Championships wrapped up June 26, crowning numerous victors in their respective divisions.

9-Ball Open Results:
1st Jeff Carter $2,300
2nd Gene Albrecht $1,275
3rd Jesse Engal $875
4th Tony Hilla $575
5th Manuel Chau $300
Ramesha Gokhul
7th Sylver Ochoa $150
Billy Lasee
9th Beau Runningen $75
Jason Barnhall
Jon Giles
Randy Lamar

8-Ball Barbox Results:
1st Jack Wu $1,251
2nd Ryan Behnke $625
3rd Matt Berg $417
4th Jeff Potts $295
5th Ray Skinadore $208
Shane Minihan
7th Chad Cunningham $125
Chad Behnke
9th Jared Anderson $90
David Wilbelhouse
Reggie Runnels
John Pfeffer

One-Pocket Results:
1st Beau Runningen $1,296
2nd Sylver Ochoa $720
3rd Ike Runnels $504
4th Mike Perron Jr. $360
5th Jeff Carter $216
Tony Hilla
7th Billy Lasee $144
Bill Fowler

by Jonathan Demet

Master Z’s in Waukesha, WI, brought out 15 players on February 14 for the BCW Open 9-Ball Tour. All players hoped to take a win straight to the bank, and it was Mark Berry who took home the lion’s share of the purse.

On the winners’ side, John Zager won over Jeff Carter 8-4, while Berry showcased his skill by besting Jon Giles 8-2. In the following hot seat match, Berry continued his strong play by winning over Zager 8-3.

Over on the west side of the chart Jonathan Demet eliminated Todd Rathkamp 6-1, up-and-coming junior player Tyler Styer squeaked by Scott Kugel 6-4, Robert Treffeisen ousted Dave Leverenz 6-2, and Gary Johnson won a big match over previous state champion Craig Powers 6-1.

Runner up John Zager and winner Mark Berry

Results:
1st Mark Berry $400
2nd John Zager $235
3rd Jeff Carter $150

by Jonathan Demet

Eighteen players made their way from various parts of Wisconsin and Illinois to compete in the January 30 installment of the Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Open 9-Ball Tour. Hosted by Claw’s Billiards in Kenosha, WI, this $400-added event was won by Tommy Paukowske.

In the final four of the winners’ side bracket, Paulowske sent Claudio Parrone to the one-loss side 8-3, while Jonathan Demet bested Jason Barnhill 8-3. In the following hot seat match between Paulowske and Demet, Paulowske finished well, winning the final two games he needed to defeat Demet in a hill-hill nail-biter.

Once on the west side, Parrone rebounded against “Big Jay” and won their match 6-3. Jay tied for fifth place with Barnhill, who was eliminated by Gil Hernandez 6-2. Hernandez went on to win twice as many games as Parrone in the quarterfinals, winning 6-3. In the semifinal match, Hernandez steamrolled Demet 6-1 to advance to the finals. After a long wait, Paulowske played well to best Hernandez 8-3, taking home first place.

Champion Tommy Paulowske

Results:
1st Tommy Paulowske $430
2nd Gil Hernandez $240
3rd Jonathan Demet $175
4th Claudio Parrone $101

by Jonathan Demet

Twenty-seven amateur players made their way out for the $300-added Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Amateur 9-Ball Tour January 31. This handicapped event was hosted by Boomers Billiards in Sturtavent, WI, and was won by Josh Wilms.

Patrick McGuire, recently returned from his second 15-month Army term in Iraq, played very well to make it into a final four winners’ side match with Wilms that he won hill-hill. In the bottom bracket, junior player T.J. Brucker squared off with John Ehrhart, with Brucker taking the match 7-3. McGuire won the ensuing hot seat match 7-3.

In the final six of the one-loss side, 15-year-old Tyler Styer battled new tour member Troy Hansen, who won their double-hill match. In the bottom bracket Tony Loeper bested Tim Nickle 6-2. Loeper was then ousted by Wilms 7-2 and tied for fifth place with Ehrhart, who was eliminated by Hansen 5-3.

Wilms continued his winning streak by steamrolling Hansen 7-0 in the quarterfinals, leaving Hansen in fourth place, and then besting Brucker in the semifinals 7-5. But Wilms didn’t stop there—he went on to win his final two matches against Patrick McGuire 8-4 and 7-3, taking another BCW amateur title and earning a promotion to 9-ball open player status.

This handicapped event was hosted by Boomers Billiards in Sturtavent, WI, and was won by Josh Wilms.

Results:
1st Josh Wilms $340
2nd Patrick McGuire $205
3rd T.J. Brucker $120
4th Troy Hansen $80
5th John Ehrhart $40
Tony Loeper

by Jonathan Demet

Eight players braved the elements to come out and play at the January 24 installment of the Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Open 9-Ball Tour, with tour director Jonathan Demet walking away the ultimate winner. The event was hosted by the Varsity Club in Oshkosh, WI, and featured a $400-added prize purse.

Tim Vaulkman seemed the player to beat that day, as he tore through the winners’ side, defeating first Steve Puddy 9-2 and then Robert Treiffeisen 9-4 for the hot seat. Trieffeisen had just sent Dean Frater to the west side 9-5.

Meanwhile, Demet was fighting his way through the left side of the chart, eliminating Frater in fifth place 7-1, while Jon Giles sent Puddy home tied with Frater 7-1. In the ensuing quarterfinals, Demet eliminated Giles 7-4. After a sound 7-1 defeat of Treiffeisen, Demet moved on to the finals against Vaulkman.

Eight players braved the elements to come out and play at the January 24 installment of the Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Open 9-Ball Tour, with tour director Jonathan Demet walking away the ultimate winner.

Results:
1st Jonathan Demet $290
2nd Tim Vaulkman $175
3rd Robert Treffeisen $114

Tim Vaulkman and Jonathan Demet

by Jonathan Demet

Instead of staying home to watch the Packers versus the Cardinals playoff game, ten players decided to compete at the Billiard Congress of Wisconsin’s Open 9-Ball Tour stop January 10. The $400-added stop was hosted by The Brass Ring in Madison, WI, where Craig Powers took home the first prize of $345.

In the top bracket of the winners’ side Powers made it to the hot seat match with a bye in the first round and then 9-5 wins over Jonathan Demet and Chris Gitzlaff. In the bottom bracket straight pool world champion Bob Hunter received a bye the first round and then went on to defeat Jim Fitzpatrick 9-6 in the second and Bob Treffeisen 9-1 in the third. Powers went on to best Hunter 9-3 to claim the hot seat match.

Jim Fitzpatric fought back from a first-round loss with wins over Terry O’Brian7-6, Chris Mason7-4, and Treffeisen 7-3, putting him in a match with Demet. It was a close match, but luck came into play, leaving Demet a run-out in a double-hill match to advance.

Craig Powers and Bob Hunter

Results:
1st Craig Powers $345
2nd Bob Hunter $210
3rd Jonathan Demet $140

by Jonathan Demet

The Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Open 9-Ball Tour was hosted Master Z’s in Waukesha, WI, for their December 20 stop. The $500-added stop drew a solid 19 players, expecting a good day of competition, and Ike Runnels ran away with first place, besting Matt Daiber in the finals.

Runnels took control of the top half of the winners’ bracket, making his way through the traffic by outplaying Tony Chirchirillo, Tom Radowitz, and Jon Giles. Daiber made his way through the winners’ side bottom bracket with wins over Jason Jicks, Dave Leverenz, Chris Gitzlaff, and Duncan Kaufman. The hot seat match was a real nail-biter, but Daiber pulled ahead to claim it and send Runnels to the one-loss side with an 8-6 win.

Gil Hernandez of Chicago made it all the way through the west side of the chart to the semifinals after an upset by Tom Radowitz in the first round. Runnels won the semifinal match against Hernandez in a suspenseful showing by the score of 6-5. He continued his top-notch performance, playing nearly perfectly, and he double-dipped Daiber in the finals to clench his first victory on the BCW.

The Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Open 9-Ball Tour was hosted Master Z’s in Waukesha, WI, for their December 20 stop.

Results:
1st Ike Runnels $365
2nd Matt Daiber $230
3rd Gil Hernandez $180
4th Scott Doc $120
5th Jon Giles $50
Duncan Kaufman

by Jonathan Demet

Bob Hunter took first place at the December 6 stop of the Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Open 9-Ball Tour, defeating Matt Daiber in the finals. The tour brought out 22 of the Midwest’s top players to Outbreak Billiards in Racine, WI, for the $500-added event.

Frequent tour victor Jeff Carter took control of the winners’ bracket and matched up with Matt Daiber for the hot seat, but he was sent west as Daiber, known as “The Action Man,” advanced to wait for an opponent.

Hunter made his way through the one-loss side, scoring a 6-3 victory over Ike Runnels and moving on to face Gil Hernandez. Hernandez reached Hunter by taking down Claudio Parrone. Hunter and Hernandez seesawed to double-hill, when an unforced error left Hunter with cue ball in hand on the 5 ball. With an open table, Hunter cleared the remaining balls to advance.

Before he could rematch with Daiber, Hunter had to face Carter in the semifinals, and he sent Carter home in third place with a 6-5 score. In the final match, Daiber needed two games with Hunter breaking on the hill. Daiber gained control of the game by sinking the 1 ball but misses the 2. After a safety by Hunter, Daiber gives Hunter the chance he needed to win the title.

Bob Hunter took first place at the December 6 stop of the Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Open 9-Ball Tour, defeating Matt Daiber in the finals.

Results:
1st Bob Hunter $400
2nd Matt Daiber $260
3rd Jeff Carter $175
4th Gil Hernandez $140
5th Ike Runnels $90
Claudio Parrone
7th Tommy Paulowske
Jonathan Demet