by Suzanne Smith

Jana Montour came out on top of the July 17-18 stop of the Northwest Women’s Pool Association by going undefeated to take the title. A total of 27 ladies attended the event and represented Alberta, Washington, Colorado, and Oregon. Stixx and Stones Billiards in Bremerton, WA, was host to the event.

The weekend’s typically festive atmosphere was overshadowed by the loss of fellow player Martha Hartsell, who succumbed to cancer the previous week. In her memory, the NWPA will be hosting a memorial event every year starting in 2011 at The Cue Ball in Salem, OR.

Montour advanced over Shelby Locati 7-1 to advance to the hot seat match. There she met Kimberly Kirk, who had just bested Sandra Badger 7-5. Montour was able to best Kirk 7-3 and send her to the one-loss side while she waited for her last opponent.

One the west side, June Maiers bested Mary Hopkin 7-2, while Jackie Karol ousted Cindy Sliva 7-3. In turn they were eliminated by Badger 7-4 and Locati 7-5, respectively. Badger and Locati then squared off for a hill-hill bout that saw Badger earn a rematch with Kirk, who sent her to the left side earlier in the event. Badger was ready this time and defeated Kirk 7-2 to head to her first finals appearance in an NWPA event.

The final match was close initially as some uncharacteristic errors by Montour provided Badger with some early opportunities that she took advantage of. Though the score was knotted at 3 apiece, soon some missed chances saw Montour take a three-rack lead. Back and forth misses in the following game saw Badger bring the match within two games. But Montour again took every opportunity afforded in the next three racks to close out the match 9-4 and win her second stop of the year.

Jana Montour came out on top of the July 17-18 stop of the Northwest Women’s Pool Association by going undefeated to take the title.

by InsidePOOL Staff

In an incredible comeback, defending champion Brandon Shuff recovered from an early 5-1 deficit against David Hunt to claim the hot seat 9-8. Hunt was on the hill 8-2 before Shuff really began chipping away at his opponent’s lead, notching several break and runs in the process. A few errors on Hunt’s behalf aided Shuff, including two missed 8 balls that brought the score to 8-6. Shuff broke and ran the next two racks to make it a hill-hill match. He got poor position on the 6 ball in the final game and missed. But as Hunt pocketed the 6 ball down the rail, he also made the cue ball in the corner pocket. With ball in hand, Shuff had no troubles clearing the remaining three balls for the 9-8 win.

In the matches that determined fifth place, Chris Futrell met John Newton, while Reyjon Carmona played Larry Kressel. Kressel dominated Carmona from the start, taking a lead of 5-2 in no time. His swift shooting then saw him reach the hill 8-3 after Carmona missed the 6 ball. In the last rack, Kressel scratched on the 5 ball, but Carmona was careless on the 9 ball and missed it, allowing Kressel the 9-3 victory.

View the 2010 VA State 9-Ball Championship tournament brackets

In an incredible comeback, defending champion Shuff recovered from an early 5-1 deficit against Hunt to claim the hot seat 9-8.

The Free Live Stream can be viewed at VA Pool and Billiards Association web site.

In the quarterfinal match, Kressel will play Newton, with the winner going on to play Hunt in the semifinals. Shuff waits in the hot seat.

courtesy of Rob Marshall.

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Wins for Gomez, Williams and Kuribayashi

THERE WERE THREE further Round 3 matches at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas as the PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters reached its penultimate day. With all-round play rising to a high standard, there were wins for Charlie Williams, Roberto Gomez and Toru Kuribayashi.

In the opening game, Scottish qualifier Jayson Shaw made a few too many mistakes for a player of Roberto Gomez’s standard and the Filipino joins compatriot Dennis Orcollo in the quarter-finals.

Shaw lost the initiative in the third game as he made an elementary error going from 6 to the 8, as he left the cue ball behind the 9 ball. That handed the rack to Gomez for 2-1 and another shocker, scratching when the run out was elementary. It was a choker for the young Scot as Gomez increased his lead to 3-1.

A run out in the next increased his lead, but Gomez tried a Bustamante-style ‘behind the back’ shot instead of using the bridge and completely miscued. He made contact with the 6 ball but failed to reach a rail.

With ball in hand, Shaw took full advantage and he ran the next following a decent break to get to within one rack of Gomez at 4-3. A missed pink 4 down the rail, though down the rail, let the Filipino back in and he increased his lead to 5-3.

From there it was all Gomez as he took the last three racks to seal the win and move into the quarter-finals where he faces a tough one in Ralf Souquet.

“I played good – maybe I would give myself seven or eight out of ten. My shot (behind the back that caused a ) it happened at exactly the same time as the shot clock warning bell ringing and I just hit it badly,” said Gomez.

THERE WERE THREE further Round 3 matches at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas as the PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters reached its penultimate day.

“He had a lot of chance but missed them and that gave me courage to grab the chances. Playing Ralf Souquet will be a great match and I have to prepare well. I’ve played him once in Taiwan and I won.

“But everyone is confident of winning this tournament and everyone here is a master.”

In the second match of the afternoon, Charlie Williams looked the business as disposed of entertaining Japanese player Naoyuki Oi, coming from 4-1 down to win 8-5.

Having been used to race to 9 matches in the first two rounds, Williams assumed that this match was race to 9 also and returned to his chair after potting what was the case 9 ball.

Referee Nigel Rees had to tell the American that he had indeed won the match, much to his pleasure.

“That was a big win for me and I’m pleased to get in the last eight. Now I’m in the championship ring and it looks a bit easier,” said Williams.

“Oi is a very aggressive player so I knew he would come at me. I thought I had got here early enough to practise but I didn’t so I hadn’t hit one ball in practise today.

“The first shot I hit was actually in the game and it showed as I made some early mistakes but it’s my fault as I should’ve been here at 2pm.

“At 4-1 Oi was playing good but I didn’t give up and just tried to work it back one frame at a time.

“Being 4-1 down it wasn’t looking good at all but I figured out the break quicker that he did and that gave me some momentum.

“At the end I didn’t know it was a race to eight. Nigel looked at me and someone jumped up and I thought I’d committed a foul!”

In the final match of the afternoon, Japanese qualifier Toru Kuribayashi looked a million dollars as he mastered the break superbly to record an 8-0 whitewash over England’s Daryl Peach.

Making two and three balls at a time and leaving easy run outs, Kuribayashi left Peach seated for most of the match and the young Japanese looks a massive dark horse for the title. He now plays Charlie Williams in the next round.

“I played really well and I am really happy with my performance. If I keep playing like that then I know I can win the tournament,” said the Japanese.

Play continues this evening.

Saturday Afternoon – Results

Roberto Gomez (PHI) 8-3 Jayson Shaw (SCO)

Naoyuki Oi (JAP) 5-8 Charlie Williams (USA)

Daryl Peach (ENG) 0-8 Toru Kuribayashi (JAP)

Saturday Evening Matches

Round Three

Rodney Morris (USA) v Thomas Engert (GER)

Oliver Ortmann (GER) v Thorsten Hohmann (GER)

Quarter-Final

Dennis Orcollo (PHI) v John Morra (CAN)

After 17 years as a 16-player invitational competition, the Masters, one of the longest established tournaments in pool, is now a 64 player event and takes place over five days instead of three.

Working in conjunction with Cuesports International, the Masters takes place during the annual BCA National 8-Ball Championships, which sees thousands of players and fans flock to the Riviera for a lengthy festival of pool.

Television is produced by Matchroom Sport and will be seen as 15 x one hour programmes in 14 countries around the world with more to be added to the list.

The prize fund is set at a guaranteed $100,000 with $20,000 going to the eventual champion.

Luke Riches, Matchroom Sport: luke.riches@matchroom.com, +44 7785 395688

http://www.matchroompool.com/page/WorldPoolMasters/Home

Notes: Matchroom Sport are one of the world’s leading producers of televised sport and are responsible for over 1,100 hours of original programming across a range of nine sports. Based in the UK and chaired by charismatic founder Barry Hearn, the World Pool Masters is one of a stable of pool events that include the World Cup of Pool and the Mosconi Cup.

The 2010 World Pool Masters is sponsored by PartyPoker.net. Tables are supplied by Brunswick Billiards, cloth by Iwan Simonis, Super Aramith balls by Saluc and the Official Cue is Predator.

The Scorpion, Johnny Archer, sprung to life on Saturday, the final day for the regular round robin portion of the inaugural Bonus Ball event. With the top four players advancing to the play-offs on Sunday, Johnny came alive today after a slow start, winning only six of his first sixteen games on Thursday & Friday. Saturday’s performance was enough to edge out John Schmidt for the fourth and final play-off spot. Johnny played loose today and played the crowd, as well. The spectators and the organizers are happy to see Johnny make the final four. He is a real crowd pleaser, not to mention one very talented Bonus Ball player.

Shane Van Boening, fresh off a big win in the Aruba Ten Ball tournament, kept the wheels turning and after a very strong start to this event, held on enough to finish in a solid third place. Shane will play Johnny in the quarter final match at 1:30 pm on Sunday, May 9 with the winner advancing to the semi finals. Shane’s cue ball control has been nothing short of brilliant in this event to date. He is also a fast learner of Bonus Ball.

Nick Varner! There are no nick names, no puns, nothing except amazement as to how well this gentleman has learned this game so quickly. We sat in amazement as to how well he executes and despite the fact that Nick has had many faux pas over this weekend, he’s still managed a second place finish and will be waiting for the winner of Archer versus VanBoening this afternoon. I have never seen so many banks made in one day as this eight time world champion has made today. Wow! Nick woke up on Friday evening after being crushed by Charlie Williams. Nick has earned a bye to the semi-finals.

Archer, sprung to life on Saturday, the final day for the regular round robin portion of the inaugural Bonus Ball event.

Fifth and sixth place finishers, John Schmidt and Erik Hjorleifson will face off Sunday, May 9th for a consolation match at high noon. With any luck at all and a couple of shots each they’d like to take back, these players could have very easily made the final four. I guess if it’s any consolation, (pun) we’ll get to see them play again on Sunday. John made so many great shots this week end it makes you wonder how he missed out of the final four and for Erik, playing at home adds that extra bit of pressure that just made him try maybe a bit too much. Still a great player by anyone’s measure! You can go to playbonusball.com and click on the WPBL header to see the final round robin results.

by Michell Monk

Helene Caukin won her first Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour stop May 1, besting Nicolle Rasmussen in the finals. Hosted by the Art of Billiards in Gainesville, FL, the $250-added event attracted 11 of Florida’s top women players.

The single-elimination event quickly wound down to the final four competitors, with Caukin facing Shanelle Lorraine, while Rasmussen went up against Jessica Barnes. In the first semifinal match, Caukin rattled a couple of 9 balls, and Lorraine took an early lead. But Caukin countered and brought the score to 5-all after Lorraine jawed the 9. From there, it was all Caukin as she took over the table and eventually won the match 7-5.

In the other semifinals, Rasmussen quickly took a 2-0 lead, but Barnes fired back and tied the match. Rasmussen pulled away taking the lead 4-2, but Barnes managed to pull within one game. When it looked that she would tie the score, Barnes missed the 8 ball, and Rasmussen went up 5-3. Again Barnes found her rhythm and looked to be out when an unexpected miss on the 6 ball gave Rasmussen another game. Now on the hill, Rasmussen ran out, closing out the match 7-3.

Helene Caukin won her first Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour stop May 1, besting Nicolle Rasmussen in the finals. Hosted by the Art of Billiards in Gainesville, FL, the $250-added event attracted 11 of Florida’s top women players.

Results:
1st Helene Caukin $370
2nd Nicolle Rasmussen $250
3th Jessica Barnes $100
Shanelle Lorraine $100

The Banks event saw some heavy matches as the Sunday action sent dozens more of the top professional bank pool aficionados packing.

The highlight of the day saw two legendary past champions square off on the Accu-Stats live streaming table. As Efren Reyes and Shannon Daulton entered the arena, the crowd gathered to watch the what they knew would be a match to talk about afterward. The match saw Reyes jump out to a 1-0 lead but in what seemed to e only minutes, Daulton fought back and surged ahead of Reyes to a 2-1 lead.

Reyes got a second chance in his match with Daulton after Daulton scratched on the match ball.

That might have been just bad news, the the real salt and lemon for the wound came as Daulton scratched again during his next shot. This gave Reyes the shot that he needed to come to life, play perfectly and win the next two games to deliver Daulton his first loss.

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by Lea Andrews

Sparky Ferrell met Joey Gray twice—and put him in his place twice—on his way to undefeated victory at the White Diamond Billiards Winter Extravaganza. The $1,000-added event, which was streamed live by Ray “Bigtruck” Hansen at poolactiontv.com, was an extravaganza indeed, drawing a full field of 128 players to White Diamond Billiards in Lafayette, LA, the weekend of January 9-10.

Ferrell got past 2009 Summer Extravaganza winner Jeremy Jones to reach the hot seat match, where he met up with Gray for the first time. Gray, who was coming off a win over Rafael Martinez, moved west after falling 7-3 to Ferrell.

On the left side of the bracket, Jerry Slivka landed in a ninth-place tie courtesy of David Trest, who moved on to face Bobby Pickle. Pickle, who’d just ousted Shane Waltrip, did the same to Trest to meet up with Martinez. Meanwhile, Joey Barnes notched a win over David Gutierrez to face Kevin Noel, who’d gotten past Sean Black. Barnes put Noel in seventh to face Jones and dashed his hopes of back-to-back Extravaganza victories 7-4.

In the quarterfinals Barnes met up with Martinez, who’d put Pickle in fifth, but it was the end of the road for Barnes. Martinez kept it close in the semifinals against Gray, but with the score at 6-5 Gray, Martinez attempted a thin cut on the 8 ball but hit nothing but the cushion behind it, giving up ball in hand and the set to Gray.

In the true double-elimination final match, Ferrell hit the string first after he broke and got out with a 2-9 combination. Gray returned with a break and run to tie it up, but Ferrell pulled ahead 4-1. Gray staged a comeback that began with a 9 on the break, going on to get the score to 4-4 and 6-5. His final break, though, put the cue ball in a pocket and spread the balls wide open, leaving Ferrell a clear path to victory.

The $1,000-added event, which was streamed live by Ray “Bigtruck” Hansen at poolactiontv.com, was an extravaganza indeed, drawing a full field of 128 players to White Diamond Billiards in Lafayette, LA, the weekend of January 9-10.

Results:
1st Sparky Ferrell $2,142
2nd Joey Gray $1,040
3rd Rafael Martinez $796
4th Joey Barnes $551
5th Jeremy Jones $367
Bobby Pickle
7th David Trest $214
Kevin Noel
9th Jerry Slivka $107
Shane Waltrip
David Gutierrez
Sean Black

David Rice and David Trest hanging at the Viking 9-Ball Tour event.

The Viking Cue Amateur 9-Ball Tours Sunday Mini Tournament was won by BR Tatum who defeated Sam Gilmer to claim first place prize fund.
1st BR Tatum $150
2nd Sam Gilmer $80
3rd Jeff Lavinge $30
This weekends winner of The Viking Cue Raffle was Ryan Roundtree. Ryan won $230 Viking Cue that comes with a lifetime guarantee.

If you make your way to Georgia don’t miss out on all the action at Classic Billiards. There is never a lack of action in the room. Monday thru Sunday the room is filled as players from around the region match up.

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

Allan Sand, Billiard Gods Productions (www.billiardgods.com) is proud to become a sponsor of the Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour. This is a great opportunity to support all those who make the Green Game such a great part of our lives.

Billiard Gods Productions is the publisher and distributor of the Handbook of the Billiard Gods series of books. These each present true table knowledge and are designed to help you become the Intelligent Shooter. This knowledge is independent of skill levels and shows how you can make good table decisions.

Allan Sand, Billiard Gods Productions (www.billiardgods.com) is proud to become a sponsor of the Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour.

Currently, there are three books (CD book format) available:

* Table Map Library – 3,100+ cue ball patterns that provide dozens of ways to get from one location to another. For those who want to master table patterns. Useful for safeties and kicks, and the game of One Pocket
* Safety Toolbox – the knowledge on how to use defensive shots as offensive tools. Every trick and trap will help you win more games. Included are the finest cue ball and object ball control exercises.
* Cue Ball Control Cheat Sheets – Learn in weeks what takes others years to use cue ball speed and spin to get position on any ball. Hundreds of diagrams with exact spin and speed cheats. Just reading this makes you a smarter player.

Two new books in January and March of 2010:

* The Art of War versus The Art of Pool – this book takes the rules of war by Sun Tsu (a Chinese general who lived 2,500 years ago) and applies them to pool strategies, tactics, and deceptions. If you are serious about becoming a serious player, this book will teach you the mindset. Embedded are the real and true secrets to being a tough and dangerous competitor. (For those interested in the philosophy of pool.)
* How to Stop Sharking – this book identifies 75 major sharking techniques that unscrupulous players can use against you. Each one includes a full description (with variations) and the necessary actions to restore the integrity of the game. (Written about pool, the material applies to all sports.)

Go to www.billiardgods.com and read further details. Also available are 10 cool pool screensavers.