From Oscar Dominguez – ABP Board Secretary & Treasurer

Chicago, IL – The ABP has been making strides for the betterment of pool players and promoters alike. The newest development of the ABP and professional pool comes with the full cooperation and support of legendary player and promoter Allen Hopkins with his annual Players 10-Ball Championship. The Super Billiard Expo will celebrate its 20th year in 2012, in a new, larger, and more accommodating facility for players and spectators alike. This will be the first fully sanctioned full ABP ranking points tournament. Allen has fully committed his support to the players by listening to the players’ desires to help make pool better for everyone. By making minor adjustments to rules and length of play, Allen has stepped up to the plate and met the ABP’s requests to make pool a sport of skill.

“It’s like a breath of fresh air finally having a promoter who wants to work with the professional players without any issues or agendas. Allen is a promoter who truly understands the importance of a strong men’s professional association. He wants the players to be able to play by the same rules, format, and have a voice. He is definitely a role model for all other promoters to follow”, said Rodney Morris, Vice President of the ABP.

“I’ve been a player my whole life, so I’m always going to support the players. I’m a promoter, but in my heart a player first. When it comes to prize money, players should always be paid in full and on time. That’s why I support the ABP and what they are trying to do”, said Hopkins. Allen Hopkins is a 40 year veteran of the game and one of the sport’s most successful promoters. Hopkins was recognized for his achievements and inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 2008 in the Greatest Player category.

The ABP has been making strides for the betterment of pool players and promoters alike.

The Super Billiards Expo will be March 8-11, 2012 at The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks. It will be the 20th anniversary event, the largest and longest running independently owned expo show in billiards history. The new venue has double the space which allows The Players Championship to expand to 128 players. The Players Championship will use ABP rankings to seed players and follow all ABP Format and Rules to standardize the game. Last year, the SBE had 120 vendor spaces and now it will nearly double with over 200 vendor spaces available. There will be an additional 32 tables in a separate room and they will host daily tournaments for all players with a total of over 200 tables on site hosting the World Artistic Championship and a Pro 3-cushion event.

“The timing is great with the ABP launching alongside our 20th Anniversary of the Super Billiards Expo. With the top ABP pros there, along with the vendors, industry leaders, fans, and amateurs, this will be one of the best billiard extravaganzas we ever hosted”, said Allen Hopkins, Jr., who has been his father’s right hand man in producing the huge show each year.
Allen Hopkins, Sr. adds, “I’m a little anxious about it all because it’s a big move. But we have much more space, double the parking, and a new hotel built for the SBE 2013. I’d like to make this event eventually the major trade show of the billiards industry. There’s huge potential here at the new venue to expand, so, all in all, it’s a very good thing.”

In 2012, the ABP plans to sanction more events and in that regard will be introducing the ABP International Ranking Point System which has been created by ABP associate Joel Pope. The ABP will also be introducing the ABP Rules & Format which it hopes will standardize the sport further. The planned integration will be a process, and the ABP is not expecting an overnight change, and is ready to work with promoters and associations to take time to integrate these needed changes into our sport.

“Allen is a good friend to the tour, and to the professional players. He’s the kind of man and promoter we can always count on”, said Johnny Archer, ABP President.

“The conversation with Allen on sanctioning his event with the ABP took less than 2 minutes. He agreed right away without hesitation. He didn’t ask for any concessions or demands. Allen thinks it’s the right move for the players to make uniform the rules and guidelines. He understood what the ABP is trying to do and he has always believed in the men professionals being together. HeR Read more ...]]> http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/allen-hopkins-and-super-billiards-expo-sanctioned-by-abp.html/feed 0 http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/ussery-undefeated-on-great-southern-billiard-tour.html http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/ussery-undefeated-on-great-southern-billiard-tour.html#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:45:07 +0000 Pool and Billiards News http://www.insidepoolmag.com/?p=16696 Ussery Undefeated on Great Southern Billiard Tour
Great Southern Billiard Tour / Raleigh, NC

by InsidePOOL Staff

An undefeated B. J. Ussery won top honors at the January 14-15 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour, as he breezed through the field to best Mike Fuller in the final match. The $1,500-added amateur 9-ball event drew 42 players to Brown’s Billiards in Raleigh, NC.

An undefeated B. J. Ussery won top honors at the January 14-15 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour, as he breezed through the field to best Mike Fuller in the final match.

Ussery’s run wasn’t without its challenges, though. After sending Younger Chapman to the one-loss side 11-5, he went on to face Fuller, who had just bested Brad Shearer 11-5, for the first time in the event in the hot seat match. Their first meeting in the tournament went hill-hill, with Ussery eking out the 11-10 win.

Once on the west side of the chart, Chapman and Shearer soon found themselves tied for fifth place courtesy of James Blackburn 7-8 and Brian White 11-6, respectively. White went on to topple Blackburn in the quarterfinal match 11-6 and advance to the semifinals.

In a narrow 11-9 decision, it was Fuller who won and earned a rematch with Ussery in the finals. It was another close call, but Fuller still could not get past Ussery, who took the title 11-9.

Results:
1st B. J. Ussery $1,000
2nd Mike Fuller $500
3rd Brian White $300
4th James Blackburn $200
5th Younger Chapman $155
Brad Shearer
7th Vernon Rogers $90
Larry Kressel

by InsidePOOL Staff

Ron Gabia and Ed Culhane elected to split first place at the January 14 stop of the Tri-State Tour because of the lateness of the hour. The $500-added 9-ball event was hosted by Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ, and drew a field of 47 A-D players.

Ron Gabia and Ed Culhane elected to split first place at the January 14 stop of the Tri-State Tour because of the lateness of the hour.

Gabia took the right side of the bracket by storm, defeating Joe Palone in a double-hill match to advance to the hot seat match. His opponent, Cory Sohlman, had just thumped George Osipovitch 6-1, but against Gabia he found no respite, as Gabia went on to win 8-3.

Culhane was fighting his way through the left side, eliminating Annie Flores 7-5 and Palone 7-5 to reach the quarterfinal match. Facing him was Ed Dacosta, who had just ousted Osipovitch at fifth place 6-2. Their match went double-hill before Culhane squeaked past with a 7-6 win.

Sohlman was the last barrier before Culhane could reach Gabia, and though he put up a fight, it was Culhane who emerged the 8-5 winner. But in the finals, Gabia and Culhane decided to split top honors.

Results:
1st Ron Gabia $575
Ed Culhane
3rd Cory Sohlman $275
4th Ed Dacosta $150
5th Joe Palone $100
George Osipovitch
7th Annie Flores $75
Rick Shellhouse

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