And then there was one. Final day of the Steve Mizerak Championship and after all the chalk dust settled, it was who was crowned the new Seminole Pro Tour champion.

The day stared with a thrilling match between Alex Pagulayan and Donny Mills. Both players played cautious, as to not make a costly mistake that would put their opponent any advantageous position on the table. The score reached hill hill and it was Mills would send Pagulayan to a fourth place finish and a $6,000 prize.

Up next was the hot seat match between Shane Van Boening and Hunter Lombardo. Both players had been playing superbly all weekend. Shane Van Boening got up 2-0 early. Lombardo tied it up at 2 games a piece. After that it was all Shane Van Boening, as he didn’t let his foot off of the accelerator and took the rest of the racks to win the hot seat by a score of 8-2.

Mills, Van Boening and Lombardo

Hunter Lombardo would go on to face Mills in the third place match. This would be yet another match for the ages. Mills would go up by 2 then Lombardo tied the score and went up by 1 himself. Mills would then tied it back up and go up again. Mills would reach the hill first to Lombardo’s 6. Of course, Lombardo would tie it up hill hill and set up one final rack to advance to the finals. Mills got a bad roll after sinking the 8 ball and left himself a very difficult shot on the none ball. Mills’ only option was a tough 9-10 combination in the corner pocket. The crowd held their breath as Mills lined up the shot and cheered loudly when he nailed the shot and sank the 10 ball to win and advance to the finals. Lombardo would finish in third place and claim the $9,000 prize.This would set up the final between Shane Van Boening and Donny Mills.

Shane Van Boening would strike first and go up 2-0. Mills, not wanted to let it get too far out of reach tied it up at 2. Shane Van Boening then went up 8-3. Mills stormed back to win the next two racks to make the score 8-5. Shane Van Boening seemed like he was going to go up 9-5, but rattled the 7 and allowed Mills to get one step closer at 8-6. Mills then broke and ran the next rack to make it 8-7 and win the following rack too to finally make it square at 8. The finals would come down to a race to 3 for the crown and the $17,000 first place finish.

View the Steve Mizerak Championship tournament brackets

Shane Van Boening finally got an open shot on the next rack. He would make the most of it by sinking a sick 1-10 combo to go up 9-8. Shane Van Boening would win the next rack to go on the hill and be on the brink of the championship. The next rack would seal the deal for Shane Van Boening and he would win the 2011 Seminole Pro Tour Steve Mizerak Championship. Donny Mills would get second place and the $12,000 prize.

The Seminole Pro Tour would like to thank everyone for their support throughout the season.

by InsidePOOL Staff

Dave Shlemperis double-dipped the Tri-State Tour’s October 2 event: Not only did he win the $500 break and run contest, he went undefeated through the 33-player field of the B-D 9-ball event. The $500-added event was hosted by Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ.

Dave Shlemperis double-dipped the Tri-State Tour’s October 2 event: Not only did he win the $500 break and run contest, he went undefeated through the 33-player field of the B-D 9-ball event.

Tackling Ra Hanna in the winners’ side final four, Shlemperis came out the 7-5 winner. He advanced to the hot seat match to meet Keith Adamik, who had just sent Bogie Uzdejczyk to the one-loss side after a hill-hill win 7-6. Adamik put up a good fight, but it was Shlemperis who would claim the hot seat 7-4.

Uzdejczyk quickly left the building after being sent west—his next match was against Guy Iannuzzi, who eliminated him 7-3. Hanna followed Uzdejczyk after a crushing 7-1 loss to Yomaylin Feliz. In the quarterfinals, Feliz moved on to face Iannuzzi but fell short by half, as Iannuzzi sent her home 8-4.

On a roll, Iannuzzi matched up with Adamik in the semifinals to see who would face the undefeated Shlemperis in the next round. It was a close match, but Iannuzzi triumphed 7-5, while Adamik went home with third place. In the finals, though, it was all Shlemperis, who continued his winning streak after winning the break and run contest to remain undefeated, besting Iannuzzi 7-2 for the title.

Results:
1st Dave Shlemperis $600
2nd Guy Iannuzzi $350
3rd Keith Adamik $240
4th Yomaylin Feliz $180
5th Ra Hanna $65
Bogie Uzdejczyk

Many pool players play poker in their spare time. It seems natural and the games are very similar. Some even play online video poker. Casinos the world over have jackpots and bonus wins, but one of the best wins online is the online casino bonus wins that players can win more frequently.

Featuring Newly BCA Hall of Fame Inductee Francisco Bustamante

The September 2010 online issue of Inside POOL Magazine, featuring newly Billiards Congress of America Hall of Fame inductee Francisco Bustmante on the front cover, has been made available for free viewing at InsidePOOLmag.com. This month the download features more banking secrets from new instruction writer Freddy “The Beard” Bentivenga, Matt Sherman, Jaon Lynch, Tom Simpson along with tons of great new technology in online billiards magazine viewing such as enhanced clarity, Bonus Content, loads of full-screen videos, links to favorite web sites, flipping pages, zooming, emailing, sharing, and printing.

The September 2010 issue is available for download and online viewing. This month features dozens of full-screen videos of matches and lessons.

September 2010 Inside POOL Magazine features Francisco Bustamante in the front cover as he wins the World 9-Ball Championship and gets elected to the BCA Hall of Fame. Brandon Shuff takes down the VA State 9-Ball Championship. Ga Young Kim repeats at the WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion. Learn the secrets of english from writer Matt Sherman. Rack ‘En Up with trick shot columnist Jason Lynch. Linares and Dorn are crowned collegiate champions. The BEF hosts the junior nationals. Shane Van Boening snaps off the Gem City. Donny Mills claims another tour stop. Get the latest professional billiards instruction from the top instructors in the world. Catch the latest billiards news from around the world.

As a special video section, matches from the VA State 9-Ball Championship have been made available.

View the September 2010 issue of Inside POOL Magazine for Free

View the Inside POOL Magazine Online Catalog for Free

Inside POOL Magazine publishes both print and online versions of each issue. The online version is usually made available for FREE (without a membership) viewing and downloading around the second week of each month. If you would like to receive the print version of this wonderful magazine, please visit InsidePOOLmag.com to subscribe.

About Inside POOL Magazine
Inside POOL Magazine launched in 2001 and, with pool player-based content and high impact photography, quickly became the largest magazine in the world for the sport of billiards. The official web site, InsidePOOLmag.com, followed shortly after and became one of the largest web sites in billiards. The web site features videos, image galleries, pool lessons, custom Pool Cue makers, online games, player profiles, tournament brackets, live streaming video, rules, product reviews, and the latest billiard news from around the world.

The Billiard Congress of America today announced it has finalized an unprecedented national partnership with Coca-Cola that provides pool room members of the association with national account pricing on the Coca-Cola family of products.

“We are thrilled that the recognized global leader in the beverage industry has committed to being the ‘Official Soft Drink of Billiards,’” said Billiard Congress of America CEO Rob Johnson. “A partnership with Coca-Cola enables the Billiard Congress of America to better fulfill our mission of ‘enhancing the success of our members and promoting the game of billiards.’ Pool room operators will realize bottom-line savings and outstanding support and partnership from Coca-Cola, while the entire industry is going to benefit from Coca-Cola’s commitment to promoting the game of billiards.”

“This is a very exciting opportunity for The Coca-Cola Company. Providing superior customer service, beverage category expertise, and leadership results will be our commitment to the pool room operators and the billiard industry,” said Coca-Cola Enterprise Account Executive Ed Naudin. “Growing the entire beverage category and driving beverage profitability with relevant programming will be critical to our future and long term success.”

More Benefits Than Just Coca-Cola

Other new membership benefits and direct savings available to Billiard Congress of America room operator members include a First Data merchant credit card discount program, Sysco Foodservices rebate program and a Web site development and hosting service.

First Data is offering Billiard Congress of America room operator members exceptional rates and service for credit card processing. At a rate of cost plus 5 cents, Billiard Congress of America members taking advantage of the program are directly improving their bottom line.

“We have provided more than 50 analyses of merchant card statements from pool room operators and in every instance our First Data program provides more than $450 in annual savings to our pool room operators,” said Johnson. “These programs are aimed at providing real, tangible savings.”

Billiard Congress of America room operator members who purchase products through Sysco Foodservices are eligible to receive rebates, or FREE money, on many of the products they are regularly purchasing.

For as low as $380 a year, Billiard Congress of America room operator members receive a Web site template and yearly hosting fees. The Web site template is designed with the most critical features important to a pool room. The features include the following options: event listing and calendar, video and photo gallery, couponing, custom forms, custom pages and an email list manager.

Pool room operators interested in learning more about the Coca-Cola, First Data, Sysco Foodservices and BCA Web Services member benefits program are encouraged to contact Billy Yinger at 1-800-343-1329, ext. 8432. More information can also be found at bca-pool.com.

Membership Savings Guaranteed
The Billiard Congress of America is so convinced pool room operators are going to realize significant savings through these programs, the association is guaranteeing a return on investment by participating in the programs. As such, if a Billiard Congress of America member participates in the Coca-Cola and First Data programs for one full year and doesn’t realize more savings than the cost of a Billiard Congress of America annual membership, the Billiard Congress of America will refund their annual dues.

The partnership with Coca-Cola, First Data and Sysco Foodservices is the direct result of BankShot Entertainment. BankShot Entertainment is the new marketing and activation division of the Billiard Congress of America.
About Billiard Congress of America

BCA
Founded in 1948, the Billiard Congress of America is a non-profit trade organization dedicated to growing a united, prosperous and highly regarded billiard industry through BCA leadership. The BCA seeks to enhance the success of its members and promote the game of billiards through education, marketing and promotional efforts, an annual industry trade show, tournaments and other programs designed to encourage billiards as a lifestyle and make pool everybody’s games. For more information, please visit bca-pool.com or call 303.243.5070.
About BankShot Entertainment

Created in 2010, BankShot Entertainment is the BSE logomarketing and activation division of the Billiard Congress of America. BankShot Entertainment has the responsibility of helping increase the profitability of billiard businesses, including pool rooms and retails stores, by researching and negotiating partnerships with nationally recognized companies that offer discounted products, services and rebates. BankShot Entertainment will also secure marketing partnerships outside the billiard industry that will help increase participation in, and awareness of, pocket billiards. Through the BankShot Entertainment group purchasing and rebate programs, pool rooms and retailers will enjoy the same purchasing power normally reserved for Fortune 500 companies. For more information, please visit BankShotEntertainment.com or call 800.343.1329 ext 8432

by Lea Andrews

Five-time U.S. Open champion Earl Strickland has had more than his share of Jacoby Custom Cues Carolinas Tour wins, and he got another one the weekend of September 11-12. Though B.J. Ussery made him work for it, Strickland went undefeated through the field at the $1,000-added event, which was held at 150 n Out in Mooresville, NC.

Strickland has had more than his share of Jacoby Custom Cues Carolinas Tour wins

On the left side of the bracket, Ron Park put John Burdick in seventh 7-4 to face Turner, while Lee Steelman did the same to Danny Owensby 7-5 to meet up with Ussery. Both Park and Steelman landed in fifth, though, as they fell 7-5 and 7-2, respectively. In the quarterfinal match, Ussery ousted Turner 7-4 to advance to a semifinal rematch with Abernathy, and he eked out his revenge 7-5.

Strickland won the first game of the single race-to-11 final match, but it was his only lead until much later. Up 9-7, Ussery broke and ran to the 7 ball, but when he left it hanging, Strickland made it 9-8, and two consecutive break and runs gave him the lead 10-9. Strickland’s fumble on the 2 ball allowed Ussery to make it hill-hill with a 3-9 combination in the next rack, but when he missed the 3 ball in the final rack, Strickland pocketed what was left to earn his win 11-10.

Results:

1st Earl Strickland $1,000
2nd B.J. Ussery $375
3rd Jeff Abernathy $75

Gambler Pro Tour goes green! McDermott, a leader in cue manufacturing for decades, has announced it will team up with Gambler Pro Tour as the official cue sponsor of the new McDermott Gambler Pro Tour.

Dan Dennis, founder of the GPT, said, “This will be a great opportunity for McDermott to showcase their products throughout the southeastern U.S. region. I am glad to have McDermott as the official cue sponsor. They produce solid, well-handcrafted cues, and I am glad to be promoting such a cue line with the new tour. Their award-winning cues have been in the forefront of billiards for decades. It’s a name well known and trusted in the billiards industry.”

McDermott, a leader in cue manufacturing for decades, has announced it will team up with Gambler Pro Tour as the official cue sponsor of the new McDermott Gambler Pro Tour.

The McDermott Gambler Pro Tour, or McDermott GPT, is set to kick off this spring in poolrooms throughout the southeastern U.S. region. These weekend tour stops will play host to a pro/open 9-ball event, a semi-pro/amateur 9-ball event, and a ladies’ 9-ball event at each stop. If the poolroom has enough tables and the response is good enough, the McDermott GPT will also play host to a one-pocket event and 10-ball ring games.

For more information on McDermott Cues, please visit McDermottCue.com. Also, for a complete list of events, formats, tour schedule, player rankings, handicaps, and more, please log onto GamblerProTour.com. The McDermott Gambler Pro Tour would also like to thank the following sponsors: McDermott Cues, Gambler Clothing, Team Gambler, BilliardScoop.com, X-treme Vision Studios, Inside POOL Magazine, and AZBilliards.

Gambler Clothing has announced the Gambler Pro Tour, a new billiards tour to be played in pool rooms throughout the Southeast USA. The goal of the new tour is to provide more opportunities for players to win more money and promote the game of billiards. Gambler Clothing feels that this is especially important to the players that play pool for a living.

Dan Dennis, founder of the Gambler Pro Tour, said, “This will be a great opportunity for players of all skill levels to get involved with a tour to help season their game. The tour plans on great things to come with great sponsorships and media coverage at each event.”

The two day events will have several events in one location depending on room size and tables. The events will include a Semi-Pro/Amateur 9-Ball Event that will start on Saturdays at noon, finishing on Sunday. The amateur events will be handicapped by games, races to 6, 8, 10 on the winners side and 5, 7, 9 on the one loss side (B, A, AA Players).

The Semi-Pro/Amateur events will allow any non-touring AAA pro. Gambler Pro Tour will provide a page on the tour website for player lists and handicaps. An Open Pro 9-Ball Event that will be on Sundays starting at noon and will be open to all players.

Gambler Clothing has announced the Gambler Pro Tour, a new billiards tour to be played in pool rooms throughout the Southeast USA.

For a complete lists of events, formats, tour schedule, player rankings, handicaps and more log onto Gambler Pro Tour. Gambler Pro Tour would also like to thank the following sponsors; Gambler Clothing, Team Gambler, BilliardScoop.com, X-treme Vision Studios, Inside POOL Magazine and AZBilliards.