New Brunswick, New Jersey – The Official Website of the World Tournament of 14.1 is now up and running! Billiards fans and players alike can checkout WorldStraightPool.com for exclusive interviews with the pro stars, and all the latest and even archive news of the World Tournament. The site will cover the biggest straight pool tournament in the world at the Dragon Promotions & Dr.Michael Fedak produced event. It all takes place on August 28- September 2, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

The Official Website of the World Tournament of 14.1 is now up and running! Fans and players alike can checkout www.Worldstraightpool.com for exclusive interviews with the pro stars, and all the latest and even archive news of the World Tournament.

The complete listing of this year’s roster of players is also now available on the site. Oliver Ortmann, Johnny Archer, Thorsten Hohmann, Niels Feijen, Allen Hopkins, Stefan Cohen, Mike Sigel, Tony Robles, Rodney Morris, Charlie Williams and many, many more will make this event memorable.

The site also contains all the info on purchasing tickets for the event, The 14.1 Hall of Fame Banquet, and discounted hotel reservations at the Hyatt Regency Hotel where the event takes place. During the event, daily updates will be added every few hours so fans can keep up with all the latest results and exciting stories. The site will also have the official brackets and tournament charts from the round robin through the end final single elimination charts.

Daily match times and complete tournament schedule will also be on the site. Online Live Streaming Coverage will also be on InsidePoolmag live streaming channel, the Official On-Site Media Partner of the World Tournament.

The 2011 World Tournament is proudly co-sponsored by Predator Cues, Olhausen Tables, Amsterdam Billiards, Inside Pool Magazine, Andy Cloth, Aramith Balls, Kamui, Pool & Billiard Magazine, Sandcastle Billiards and straight pool aficionados Bill Austin of UT, Dr.Louis Pannullo, Ralph Rubin of MD. Co-contributors Dennis Walsh, Dr.James Heller, Charles Eames, Mark Snodgrass, and Bill Marapolous. For more information on player registration, sponsorship, or if you would like to submit a comment, please email worldstraightpoolchampionships@gmail.com or contact Dragon Promotions at 1-407-782-4978.

Full event info is now at www.Worldstraightpool.com and more info on www.dragonpromotions.com

New Brunswick, New Jersey – Inside Pool will be the Official On-Site Media Partner of the 71st World Tournament. The popular magazine and website www.InsidePoolmag.com will give fans around the world an opportunity to watch the events live online during their extensive coverage of the event. This will be Inside Pool’s premiere appearance on the stage of the biggest straight pool tournament in the world at the Dragon Promotions & Dr.Michael Fedak produced event. It all takes place on August 28- September 2, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The most recognised and artistic 14.1 masters alive will air online with Oliver Ortmann, Johnny Archer, Thorsten Hohmann, Niels Feijen, Allen Hopkins, Stefan Cohen, and Ray “Cool Cat” Martin taking it to the felt.

“We’re honored and proud to be part of this historic world event. We love straight pool and feel that with all of the talent present, this event promises to be a huge success”, said JR Calvert, Founder & Publisher of Inside Pool Magazine.

“Inside Pool has become a top news medium in a relatively short amount of time. Billiard enthusiasts have come to enjoy Inside Pool’s magazine, website, videos, and live coverage of events in a multi-media billiard experience”, commented Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions.

We love straight pool and feel that with all of the talent present, this event promises to be a huge success.

Fans are encouraged to watch the event live in this never to be forgotten straight pool experience. But if you cannot, don’t fret as Inside Pool will have extensive coverage with brackets, updated match scores, and LIVE STREAMING ! Starting August 30th fans can view marquee matches online at Inside POOL Live Streaming page.

For the sixth straight year, Dragon Promotions will produce the 71st Annual World Tournament of Straight Pool . In partnership with the support of Dr.Michael Fedak, this year’s event will have the biggest payout in straight pool history with $20,000 going to the champion. The event is $35,000 added , boasting a total $70,000 in the prize fund. Predator Cues will also be sponsoring the event for the sixth straight year at the luxurious Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, NJ. Once again the greatest straight pool players from around the world will arrive on USA’s east coast again to attend this prestigious event. Their common goal will be to play for the coveted World Tournament of 14.1 title and be recognized as the #1 Straight Pool Player on Earth. The World Tournament is the oldest tournament in history that still exists today. Invented by Jerome Keough and shortly after recognized as the official game of billiards. The first World 14.1 Tournament was held in 1911 and won by Alfredo DeOro. In its history due to war and economics, the World Championships had 29 tournaments that did not take place including a 15 year gap between 1990-2005 until Dragon Promotions revived the game and the World Tournament in 2006.

Three time World 14.1 Champion Ray “Cool Cat” Martin and 14.1 Continuous inventor Jerome Keogh will also be the very first inductees into the 1st Annual Straight Pool Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place August 31,2011 at 5pm during a dinner banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel during the 71st World Tournament of 14.1. Guest speakers at the dinner banquet will include former World Champions and veteran peers of Ray’s such as Allen Hopkins and Earl Herring. The 14.1 Hall of Fame events will also include video presentations by NYCGrind.com’s Jerry Tarantola and funded by Dr.Louis Pannullo. Charlie Williams will MC the evening’s festivites. Inside Pool Magazine will also be covering the events live on site. Tickets must be purchased by August 27th and can be done live at the event or at Amsterdam Billiards in NYC or Sandcastle Billiards in NJ. Week passes to the World Tournament include one banquet ticket. Get the event special 40% discounted room at the Hyatt Regency by calling 732-873-1234 ask for “US Pool Players” Group and receive the Read more ...]]> http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/inside-pool-to-live-stream-world-14-1-event.html/feed 0 http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/olhausen-tables-and-andy-cloth-chosen-for-the-world-tournament.html http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/olhausen-tables-and-andy-cloth-chosen-for-the-world-tournament.html#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:00:47 +0000 Pool and Billiards News http://www.insidepoolmag.com/?p=16245 Olhausen Tables and Andy Cloth Chosen for The World Tournament

New Brunswick, New Jersey- Two of the biggest brands in the American and Asian billiards industry will be used together for the first time ever. Olhausen Tables and Andy Cloth have been named the Official Table and Cloth of the 71st World Tournament of 14.1. Their products will premiere on the big stage of the biggest straight pool tournament in the world at the Dragon Promotions & Dr.Michael Fedak produced event. It all takes place on August 28- September 2, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The tables and cloth will be played on by the most recognized and artistic 14.1 masters alive with the likes of Oliver Ortmann, Johnny Archer, Thorsten Hohmann, Niels Feijen, Allen Hopkins, Stefan Cohen and many more straight pool stars.

“We at Olhausen are extremely pleased at being the official table of the 71st World Tournament. Straight pool has a long tradition in the United States and while extremely popular in other countries; its roots are still here with the American fans. We pride ourselves at Olhausen for making our tables in the USA, and that the greatest players in the world will be coming here to play straight pool, the father of all pool games”, said Donny Olhausen, Founder and owner of Olhausen Tables

Two of the biggest brands in America and Asia will be used together for the first time ever. Olhausen Tables and Andy Cloth have been named the Official Table and Cloth of the 71st World Tournament of 14.1.

For the sixth straight year, Dragon Promotions will produce the 71st Annual World Tournament of Straight Pool . In partnership with the support of Dr.Michael Fedak, this year’s event will have the biggest payout in straight pool history with $20,000 going to the champion. The event is $35,000 added , boasting a total $70,000 in the prize fund. Predator Cues will also be sponsoring the event for the sixth straight year at the luxurious Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, NJ. Once again the greatest straight pool players from around the world will arrive on USA’s east coast again to attend this prestigious event. Their common goal will be to play for the coveted World Tournament of 14.1 title and be recognized as the #1 Straight Pool Player on Earth. The World Tournament is the oldest tournament in history that still exists today. Invented by Jerome Keough and shortly after recognized as the official game of billiards. The first World 14.1 Tournament was held in 1911 and won by Alfredo DeOro. In its history due to war and economics, the World Championships had 29 tournaments that did not take place including a 15 year gap between 1990-2005 until Dragon Promotions revived the game and the World Tournament in 2006.

“The World Tournament of 14.1 is one of the most important billiard events of the year, and we are happy to be a part of it. We understand the importance of inspiring new generations of players and keeping alive the traditions of this great game. Dragon Promotions is a leader in the sporting side of the industry, and Olhausen hopes to continue supporting professional pool along with them”, says Larry Olhausen, Vice President of Sales for Olhausen Tables.

And complementing with the importance of the table, the cloth is vital to its playability. Those who follow pool knows the massive and explosive growth of billiards in Asia and the rise of champions from China. And that’s why this year’s Andy Cloth will debut in the United States with Dragon Promotions. Andy is already the top cloth in China that has been exclusively used in all the major China championships.

“We at Andy Cloth are really thrilled at the opportunity to be the Official Cloth of the World Tournament of 14.1. We work very hard to create a high quality cloth and are excited to showcase it in the western world. This is the debut of Andy Cloth in the United States, and we truly hope the players enjoy playing on it”, says Andy Lin, President of Andy Cloth.

Andy Cloth was founded in 1973 and has become one of the premier professional playing cloths in the world today. Manufactured in Taiwan, Andy Cloth has been exclusively used in major international events such as The Women’s World 9-Ball Championship Read more ...]]> http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/olhausen-tables-and-andy-cloth-chosen-for-the-world-tournament.html/feed 0 http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/melling-remains-in-lead-for-european-mosconi-cup-team.html http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/melling-remains-in-lead-for-european-mosconi-cup-team.html#comments Thu, 07 Jul 2011 07:24:57 +0000 Pool and Billiards News http://www.insidepoolmag.com/?p=16055 Melling Remains in Lead for European Mosconi Cup Team

No change at the top

THERE IS NO change among the top six players on top of the 2011 PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup European Rankings, after the conclusion of the World 9 Ball Championship in Qatar last week – and that now puts some considerable distance between the probables and the possibles.

No.1 ranked Chris Melling, increased his lead at the head of the table with a last 32 finish, while Darren Appleton and Ralf Souquet strengthened their positions by reaching the last 16, thus heaping pressure on Niels Feijen and Nick Van Den Berg who failed to get in the points in Doha.

The biggest mover was England’s Mark Gray, a Mosconi Cup winner in Malta in 2008, who had a magnificent run to the semi-finals. He moves from 26th to 9th but trails the automatic third placed spot by 32 points.

It seems increasingly likely that the top three automatic invites will be taken from Melling, Van den berg, Feijen, Souquet and Appleton unless one of the chasing pack can step up to the plate.

There are now just four events left on the European Mosconi Cup ranking, with players gathering in Austria this week for the next stop on the Euro Tour.

Austrian Open 7-9 July

The Ranking (Top 15)

1. ( – ) Chris Melling (GBR) 98

2. ( – ) Nick Van Den Berg (NED) 71

3. ( – ) Niels Feijen (NED) 69

4. ( – ) Ralf Souquet (GER) 68

5. ( – ) Darren Appleton (GBR) 66

6. ( – ) Huidji See (NED) 50

7. (↑1) Daryl Peach (GBR) 49

8. (↓1) David Alcaide (ESP) 45

9 (↑17) Mark Gray (ENG) 37

10. (↑2) Carlo Dalmatin (CRO) 32

11. (↓2) Oliver Ortmann (GER) 31

T12. (↓2) Konstantin Stepanov (RUS) 30

T12. (↓2) Thomas Engert (GER) 30

14. (↓1) Scott Higgins (SCO) 28

15. (↓2) Manuel Gama (POR) 23

PERFECT 9-BALL, SUPREME CONFIDENCE BRING THE BRIT AND CHINESE-TAIPEI UPSTART TO THE BRINK OF GLORY IN CHINA OPEN

Story and Photo by Ted Lerner

(Shanghai, China)–Two relative unknowns on the 9-ball circuit. Two players playing lights out billiards. One sure to be entertaining final.

Britain’s Chris Melling and Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Kai Lan both played perfect 9-ball pool Sunday morning in Shanghai as they each emphatically cruised into the finals of the 3rd annual China Open in Shanghai to be played later today.

In the first semi-final Melling defeated the Netherland’s Niels Feijen 11-7. In the second semi-final Hsu surprised everyone with an amazing 11-2 drubbing of former double world champion Ronnie Alcano of the Philippines.

Britain’s Chris Melling and Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Kai Lan both played perfect 9-ball pool Sunday morning in Shanghai as they each emphatically cruised into the finals of the 3rd annual China Open in Shanghai to be played later today.

Melling picked up the express train where he got off yesterday after taking down the Philippines Lee Van Corteza and then German’s Thorsten Hohmann. The 32 year old Brit and former two time world champion in English 8-ball is on fire right now, playing with supreme confidence and the belief that he can’t lose.

He needed that rock solid mind set too as Feijen came to win as well. The two Europeans broke and ran three out of the first four racks in the alternate break format. But no matter what Feijen threw at Melling, there was always an answer coming back. And quickly at that, as one mistake against the fast playing Brit these days means opponents pay a hefty price.

The pair split the first 8 racks and then Melling stepped on the gas, capitalizing on every single error by the Dutchman. In rack 9, Feijen made two difficult full table pots, then made a small mistake and from there the big Brit never looked back. Melling pounced on one Feijen mistake in the next rack for a two game lead. In the subsequent rack, the fast playing Melling played a great safety, which forced Feijen in to leaving an open shot, and Melling cleared again for a three game lead.

The same thing happed in rack 12. An error by Feijen and, just like that, Melling was up 8-4 lead. Feijen didn’t lie down, though, and stopped the bleeding with two successive racks to pull within two. Just as all champions do, however, they turn up the heat when the pressure is coming from all sides and the finish line is in sight.

Melling would simply not be denied. He broke and ran to move up 9-6. Feijen did the same in the 16th rack, then Melling countered with another break and run to move to the hill. In the final frame, Feijen left the two ball open, and Melling potted a 3-9 combo for the 11-7 win and a well earned spot in the finals.

“I played perfect that match,” Melling said as he walked off the TV table. “If I’m on I can beat anyone. Somebody is going to have to play very well to beat me. I never made one mistake.”

“I played pretty good,” Feijen said. “He just outshot me. He never missed a shot. Chris was the better man today.”

Melling, who’s only been playing professional 9-ball for two years, is clearly going to be very difficult to beat as he is oozing confidence on and off the table.

“I love the atmosphere of the TV table,” he said. “I love playing under pressure.”

Going into the second semi-final, most people figured that Hsu Kun Lai would eventually run out of gas, especially since this complete unknown entity out of pool powerhouse Chinese Taipei had never been in this kind of big time situation before. And now here he was on the TV table, and playing a double world champion in Alcano. Instead the exact opposite happened. The 22 year old Hsu looked like the confident veteran and Alcano looked like he had never been in a big time tournament match.

Hsu won the lag and came storming out, breaking and running to grab the early lead. In the next rack Alcano left the one ball open and Hsu ran out. Hsu broke and cleared in rack three. In the next rack Alcano missed an easy 9-ball. Then Hsu broke and ran again. In matter of minutes the upstart had a 5-0 lead.

Alcano ran the next rack but he was never a Read more ...]]> http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/melling-and-hsu-motor-through-to-the-finals.html/feed 0 http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/van-den-berg-regains-top-mosconi-spot.html http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/van-den-berg-regains-top-mosconi-spot.html#comments Thu, 05 May 2011 01:03:13 +0000 Pool and Billiards News http://www.insidepoolmag.com/?p=15680 2011 European Mosconi Cup Rankings Latest

World Ten Ball Added to List

Nick Van Den Berg (Holland) has regained top spot in the PartyPoker.net European Mosconi Cup rankings following a third place finish at the Beijing Open last week. Collectively it wasn’t an overly successful week for European hopes which gives Van den Berg’s points an added value.

Dutchman Niels Feijen drops from first to second, while Chris Melling (England) maintains his push for a debut Mosconi Cup appearance after coming 9th in China. The likeable Yorkshireman climbs two places to tied third with Ralf Souquet of Germany.

VAN DEN BERG has regained top spot in the PartyPoker.net European Mosconi Cup rankings following a third place finish at the Beijing Open last week.

There was little movement in the rankings, with no new players entering the top 15 and there is everything to play for with seven events left to contest.

In other news, with an estimated 48 European players competing in the forthcoming World Ten Ball Championship in Manila, Matchroom Sport have decided to add this tournament to the Mosconi Cup ranking event roster.

The event was originally left off the list due to payment credibility doubts after very late payments in previous years.

At the conclusion of the 13 event programme, the top three players in the ranking will automatically qualify for the European side for the 18th annual PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup, which takes place at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas from 8-11 December.

The European Mosconi Cup Ranking now consists of 13 events – seven Euro Tour events and six ‘World’ events. The ‘World’ events will carry approximately 50% more points due to the international strength of the field.

Only players finishing in the last 32 of each event will be allocated points and at the conclusion, after the 2011 US Open, the top three players will auto matically gain entry to the Mosconi Cup side.

The remaining two players will be Matchroom Sport wildcard picks although the ranking will play a part in this.

The Rankings

1. (↑3) Nick Van Den Berg (NED) 66

2. (↓1) Niels Feijen (NED) 49

T3. (↑2) Chris Melling (GBR) 48

T3. (↓1) Ralf Souquet (GER) 48

5. (↓2) Darren Appleton (GBR) 46

6. (–) David Alcaide (ESP) 45

T7. (–) Konstantin Stepanov (RUS) 30

T7. (–) Thomas Engert (GER) 30

9. (↑3) Carlo Dalmatin (CRO) 27

10. (↓1) Oliver Ortmann (GER) 26

11. (↓1) Daryl Peach (GBR) 24

12. (↓1) Manuel Gama (POR) 23

T13. (↓1) Francisco Diaz-Pizarro (ESP) 22

T13. (↓1) Jayson Shaw (SCO) 22

15. (–) Christian Reimering (GER) 21