Germany’s 18-year-old young gun Dominic Jentsch has won the Swiss 10-Ball Open, which took place in Gstaad this past weekend. The three-day event drew some of the best European players to the wonderful Swiss city to fight for the prize money of 27,000.00 Euros.

At the end it was German straight pool champ Jentsch who took his chance and benefited from the elimination of both top favorites Ralf Souquet (Germany) and Niels Feijen (Netherlands) earlier in the tournament.

In the final, which was dominated by Jentsch, the last Swiss hope Ronald Regli, who earlier sent Feijen back home, had no real chance: 9-3 was the final result.

The approximately 150 spectators saw two very close semifinals before. Marco Tschudi (Switzerland) was ahead 7-3 over fellow countryman Regli, who had a great comeback and finally won 9-7. The other semi with Jentsch and World Team champ Imran Majid (United Kingdom) was decided at hill-hill. Majid was on his way to the final as he made a horrible mistake that cost him his place in the end game.

All results can be found on gstaadswissopen.ch.

Germany’s 18-year-old young gun Dominic Jentsch has won the Swiss 10-Ball Open, which took place in Gstaad. Pictured (L-R) Dominic Jentsch, Organizer Marcel Frattini, Ronald Regli before the final.

Last 16:
Ronald Regli (Switzerland) – Niels Feijen 9-3
Marco Tschudi (Switzerland) – Ralf Souquet 9-6

Quarterfinals:
Dominic Jentsch (Germany) – Harald Stolka (Germany) 9-8
Ronald Regli (Switzerland) – Sascha Specchia (Switzerland) 9-7
Roman Hybler (Czech Republic) –Marco Tschudi (Switzerland) 8-9
Imran Majid (United Kingdom) – Dimitri Jungo (Switzerland) 9-5

Semifinals:
Dominic Jentsch (Germany) – Imran Majid (United Kingdom) 9-8
Ronald Regli (Switzerland) – Marco Tschudi (Switzerland) 9-7

Final:
Dominic Jentsch (Germany) – Ronald Regli (Switzerland) 9-3
Dominic Jentsch Takes His Chance

Day 2 of the Swiss Open in Gstaad brought also no surprises. In each of the four groups the favorites had mostly easy jobs to make it through the winners’ round to get a place in the final 32.

Feijen from the Netherlands and Majid of the United Kingdom, who arrived one day later in Gstaad as he missed his train to bring him to the venue, dominated the fifth group as Switzerland’s Ronald Regli didn’t disappoint his local fans in Group 6.

Niels Feijen from the Netherlands and Imran Majid of the United Kingdom, who arrived one day later in Gstaad as he missed his train to bring him to the venue, dominated the fifth group as Switzerland’s Ronald Regli didn’t disappoint his local fans in Group 6.

Also Sascha Specchia (Switzerland), who is part of the organizational team, had few problems in Group 7. Sandor Tot from Serbia made it a little more exciting for the fans by besting David Pascasi (Italy) 9-6.

Last but not least, Murat Ayas (Switzerland) and Dominic Jentsch from Germany made their way through the winners’ round in Group 8.

On Saturday the final round of the top 32 players will start. A look into the draw shows that there will be thrilling matches from the very beginning. The live stream on gstaadswissopen.ch will be worth watching.

Final 32:
Arji – Hardegger
Majid – Grütter
Gavenciak – Nawawat
Jungo – Jenisy
Ayas – Facquet
Stolka – Thomen
Trabelsi – Gharbi
Jentsch – Pascasi
Sarafimoski – Regli
Brand – Feijen
Bodlovic – Specchia
Griess – He
Ernst – Hybler
Yuksel – Tot
Baechler – Tschudi
Hollenstein – Souquet

by Jose Burgos

Josh Brothers took out a strong field of 58 at the April 25 stop of the Mezz Pro-Am Tour, besting Adam Kielar in the finals to take the title. The stop was hosted by Drexeline Billiards in Drexel Hill, PA, and featured a $1,000-added prize fund.

Kielar led the top half of the bracket, notching victories over Lou Johnson 7-3, Dominic Noe 7-5, Brandon Slualis 7-6, Eddie Abraham 7-5, and Shaun Wilkie 7-5. Joe Hong took charge of the top half, winning over Sharon O’Hanlon 7-1, Ed Matushonek 7-4, Wes Dobson 7-3, Scott Freeman 7-5, and Raphael Saldana 7-4. Kielar and Hong collided in the hot seat match, which turned out to be a one-sided affair that saw Kielar taking an early lead and ultimately winning 7-1.

Having suffered an early loss to Abraham 7-5, Brothers went on a tear on the one-loss side, eliminating Joey Testa 7-3, Slualis 7-3, Freeman 7-5, Danny Muhollem 7-6, Wilkie 7-5, Noe 7-0, and Hong 7-6 to reach the finals. Brothers had to best Kielar twice to take the title. The first set went back and forth, with Brothers pulling away late to win 7-4. In the second set Brothers took charge from the start, winning easily 7-1.

Josh Brothers took out a strong field of 58 at the April 25 stop of the Mezz Pro-Am Tour, besting Adam Kielar in the finals to take the title. Pictured L-R: Josh Brothers, Bob Maidoff, Adam Kielar

by Jose Burgos

The Mezz Pro-Am Tour made its way to Hot Shot Billiards in Deptford, NJ, April 11. A strong field of 38 players came out to participate, including Josh Brothers, Joey Testa, Dominic Noe Adam Keilar, and Matt Krah.

Leading the top half of the bracket was Noe, with wins over Manny Chau 7-3, Al Tonelli 7-5, Derek Schwager 7-5, and Kielar 7-5. Testa led the bottom half, taking victories over Mark Horne 7-2, Sharon O’Hanlon 7-0, Denise Reeve 7-3, and Krah 7-5. Noe and Testa met in the hot seat match, and Testa pulled away late to win 7-4 and send Noe to the one-loss side.

After losing his first match to Al Tonelli 7-5, Brothers went on a winning streak by besting Jose Burgos 7-3, Chau 7-1, Bill Gallagher 7-1, Wali Muhammad 7-2, Jack Springfield 7-2, Devon Ward 7-3, Krah 7-2, Kielar 7-3, and Noe 7-4 to reach the finals.

The Mezz Tour is a double-elimination event, so Brothers had to defeat Testa twice in the finals to win. Brothers won the first set by a narrow 7-5 margin. After that, Brothers and Testa decided to be co-champions of the event.

The Mezz Pro-Am Tour made its way to Hot Shot Billiards in Deptford, NJ, April 11. A strong field of 38 players came out to participate, including Josh Brothers, Joey Testa, Dominic Noe Adam Keilar, and Matt Krah.

Results:
1st Joey Testa $800
Josh Brothers
3rd Dominic Noe $350
4th Adam Kielar $200
5th Matt Krah $125
Shawn Dobson
7th Denise Reeve
Devon Ward
9th Joe Hong
Derek Schwager

by Jose Burgos

Dominic Noe earned top honors at the March 28 installment of the Mezz Pro-Am Tour. A field of 41 players, including Josh Brothers, Joey Testa, Eddie Abraham, and Matt Krah, came out to Rileys Concord Billiards in Boothwyn, PA, to vie for the $1,000-added prize purse.

Noe cut a swath through the top half of the bracket, defeating Bruce Nagle 7-4, William McWilliams 7-4, Testa 7-4, and Brandon Slualis 7-6. Leading the bottom half of the bracket was Bob Burt with wins over Shawn Mankovich 7-1, Abdellatif Chamseddine 7-5, Todd March 7-3 and Marty Ciccia 7-5.

Noe and Burt collided in the hot seat match, and Noe recovered from a 4-1 deficit to win the match 7-4, sending Burt to the one-loss side. Brothers, having suffered an early loss to Slualis 7-5, went on a tear, defeating Adam Kielar 7-3, Testa 7-5, Ciccia 7-6, Slualis 7-2, and Burt 7-0 to reach the finals. Brothers and Noe decided to be co-champions of the event.

A field of 41 players, including Josh Brothers, Joey Testa, Eddie Abraham, and Matt Krah, came out to Rileys Concord Billiards in Boothwyn, PA, to vie for the $1,000-added prize purse.

by Jose Burgos

Adam “The Stealer” Kielar took down the Mezz Pro-Am Tour March 7, winning the title over Eddie Abraham in the finals. The $1,000-added stop was hosted by Main Line Billiards in Frazer, PA, and enticed a field of 41 out to play.

Kielar went through the top half of the bracket, winning over Lou Patrikios 7-1, Sharon O’Hanlon 7-2, Ray Lee 7-4, Josh Brothers 7-4, and Gregg McAndrews 7-3 . Leading the bottom half of the bracket was Shaun Wilkie, who scored over Tom Bow 7-1, Michael Praseutsy 7-0, Dan Zetts 7-1, VJ Mcglone 7-3, and Joe Hong 7-2.

Kielar and Wilkie collided in the hot seat match, which went hill-hill before Kielar advanced 7-6. Now on the one-loss side, Wilkie was faced with Abraham in the semifinals. Abraham was primed and ready to go, running away with the match 6-2 to reach the finals.

In the double-elimination finals, Abraham had to best Kielar twice for the title. But that was not necessary, for Kielar easily won the first set of the finals 7-3, taking his first Mezz Tour title.

Adam “The Stealer” Kielar (pictured right) took down the Mezz Pro-Am Tour March 7, winning the title over Eddie Abraham in the finals.

courtesy of Global Cuesports Touch Magazine

Yesterday evening one of the biggest pool tournaments that was ever held in Europe started. Around 40 teams and 200 players from all over the world attended for the first World Team Championship in Hanover, Germany, and 16 of them have already finished their first matches.

Overall 32 K-Steel II tables are arranged in one of the biggest halls of the Hanover Fair. Sixteen of them are in an arena for more than 3,000 spectators, whilst the other sixteen are practice tables in between the billiards exhibition that also is taking place. Besides that, there are two more fairs—one of them is a large Harley Davidson exhibition with beautiful and expensive Harleys—so it is secured that thousands of people have the possibility to watch the matches and take a look at the billiards exhibition.

Whilst teams like the Philippines, USA, Germany 1, and also The Netherlands didn’t play yesterday, the most exciting match was certainly Team Canada versus Germany 2 with Oliver Ortmann and teen sensation Dominic Jentsch. After more than four hours, it was finally Ortmann who secured the win for his team against Jason Klatt, who failed to finish the match as he missed two shots right at the end. Jentsch played probably the best match of the whole day as he dominated Tyler Edey with an impressing 7-1 win in 10-ball.

Around 40 teams and 200 players from all over the world attended for the first World Team Championship in Hanover, Germany, and 16 of them have already finished their first matches.

Results and Livescore: www.wpapoolonline.com
Official website: www.wtc-2010.com
Official pictures: www.touch-magazine.net
German press releases: http://portal.billardarea.de/cms_blog

Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.

“The Simonis cloth company makes a conscious effort to assist with youth events for the present and future benefit of our sport and our industry” stated Ivan Lee, President of Simonis USA, “We are proud to lend our support to the World Junior 10-Ball Open and to encourage talented youth from around the world to continue their journey toward excellence in billiards.” Lee is also currently the President of the BCA.

Past World Junior 10-Ball Champions have included Hayato Hijikata of Japan with John Morra of Canada in silver. Both player have gone on to become top pro players. Yu Ram Cha of Korea won gold in 2007 over Anna Kostanian of USA. Cha has since joined the WPBA and is ranked #5 in the world and Kostanian in the top 10 WPBA. Last year’s winners were Germany’s Dominic Jentsch and Liz Lovely. The competition was tough with top juniors such as Landon Shuffett and Austin Murphy, finishing near the end.

The winners of the boys will receive $1000 plus free invite and entry to next year’s Mezz Classic Pro Event and the girls $700 1st plus entry to next year’s Mezz Classic Pro Event . Juniors are also allowed to play in the Ozone Billiards US Amateur Open 8-Ball and 9-Ball events at the same time, with no conflicts in schedule. Last year over 20 juniors played in both the US Amateur Open and World Junior 10-Ball. The final four juniors will also get to play their matches on center court in the pro arena.

“I remember when I was a kid and junior player. Didn’t have alot of money so I’d always try to find a way to get a free ticket or borrow money to watch the pros play. We all need to invest into the youth and the kids need to be able to watch their idols play. That’s why Dragon Promotions offers free admission to all juniors at all our events” explained Charlie Williams, DP Founder and top 5 USA pro. Williams was the 1991 BCA USA Junior Champion at age 14.

On August 8-9, 2009 Dragon Promotions will bring kids from all over to compete in the Simonis World Junior 10-Ball Open in Orlando, Florida at Corner Pocket Billiards.

Great companies such as Brunswick, Laser Rack, Master Chalk, Predator, Lucasi, Viking, are joining Simonis, Ozone Billiards and Mezz to invest into the sport’s future. Gold Level poolroom sponsors are helping as well with Rocky McElroy of Capone’s Billiards in Florida, Danny Kuykendall of Danny K’s in California, James Oswald of Diamond Billiards in Florida. Bronze sponsors include Greg Hunt of Amsterdam Billiards New York and Bob Maidhof of Drexeline Billiards Pennsylvania.

Ozone Billiards has been providing pool players with top quality billiard products for more than eight years. Its commitment to customer service has helped Ozone Billiards grow to be one of the largest retailers of billiard supplies in the United States. For more information about Ozone Billiards and its product lines, visit www.ozonebilliards.com

About Iwan Simonis
Founded in 1680 in Verviers, Belgium, Iwan Simonis is the premier cloth manufacturer to the billiard industry. Simonis cloth is distributed globally through a network of carefully selected dealers that are committed to uphold the company’s longstanding commitment to quality. Simonis cloth… Authentic. Accurate. Always. For more information, visit www.simoniscloth.com or www.iwansimonis.com

by InsidePOOL Staff

The Diamond Open 10-Ball Professional Players Championship is in the homestretch as the remaining players fight to be one of the final three to return for Sunday’s matches. The winners’ bracket has winnowed down to four undefeated players with two rounds left to play through in the evening, while the one-loss side is still hard at work.

In the winners’ side matches, defending champion Shane Van Boening and past champ Corey Deuel went head to head in an epic battle that saw the players trade game for game. At one point Deuel gained a two-rack lead over Van Boening when the “South Dakota Kid” missed an easy 8 ball. But Deuel’s lead disintegrated as he fouled on a kick attempt, which saw Van Boening take that rack, and then the following game saw Van Boening make an astonishing four balls on the break and have a perfect 3-10 combo set up for him to knot the score at 8.

The Women's tournament kicked off tonight with 16 top woman players including, Fisher, Rousey, Shaw and Steinman.

Spheragon will be streaming the event using Ustream:
FREE LIVE Streaming of Players Championship

The event also will be accessible via Inside POOL Magazine and Spheragon

Diamond Player’s Championship 10-Ball tournament brackets

Deuel reached the hill first after a jump shot battle over the 2 ball left him a dicey run-out, but Van Boening had a chance to tie it up in the next. He broke and made a ball but had no shot on the 1. He pushed out, and Deuel left the 1 on the side rail with a tricky cut. Van Boening managed to pocket the 1 but scratched in the side, and Deuel was left with ball in hand and an easy table to clear for the win 10-8.

Ralf Souquet and young gun Oscar Dominguez had another lengthy match that saw the score reach 8 apiece before Dominguez took the hill. It was his break in the final rack, and he managed to pull out the 10-8 victory. The other two winners’ side matches saw John “Mr. 403″ Schmidt advance over young German Dominic Jentsch 10-7, and Charlie Bryant sent Al Lapena to the one-loss side 10-5.

In the one-loss side, Mike Davis fell to Shawn Putnam in a hill-hill match, while Charlie Williams ousted Mika Immonen 10-4. Putnam plays Al Lapena, and Williams meets Jentsch. Van Boening will have to play Thorsten Hohmann next, who just bested Frankie Hernandez 10-8. Marcus Chamat, who just eliminated Rodney Morris 10-2, will play Souquet.

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