Moore Undefeated at Choo-Choo Classic

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Great Southern Billiard Tour

Moore Undefeated at Choo-Choo Classic

Great Southern Billiard Tour / Chattanooga, TN
by Rick Davis
Billiards News - Steve Moore, Southern player extraordinaire, was the conductor at the Choo-Choo Classic V, where he went undefeated. Taking place at Diamond Billiard Club in Chattanooga, TN, the Great Southern Billiard Tour drew in a 41-player field for their double-elimination event, but when Moore was not minding the train he was driving the bus as he took everyone to school.
On the winners’ side Moore started the second day of play by defeating Cliff Joyner 9-6 then sent Dave Crockett west after their 9-4 meeting. In the lower half of the chart, Louis Ulrich defeated John “Hennessee” Pinegar 9-5 then tournament director Shannon Daulton 9-7 to meet Moore in the hot seat match. Moore was in top gear, while Ulrich could barely get off the line, and before long Moore had taken the last match needed to see the finals, defeating Ulrich 9-3.
Over on the one-loss side it was anyone’s game for most of the day. Multi-time Viking Tour winner Eddie Little might have been an early favorite if it was not for Pinegar eliminating him 7-4 in his first one-loss-side match. Pinegar went on to eliminate Russ Edwards double-hill and Dave Crockett 7-2 to reach the quarterfinals. Another great Southern player, Bill Bailey, started Day Two on the one-loss side, but after knocking out his fourth player of the day, Daulton 7-1, he was up against Pinegar.
With the final group of matches ready to go the event blazed by, first with Bailey destroying Pinegar 7-2 in the quarterfinals and then Ulrich shutting out Bailey in the semifinals. Ulrich returned for another shot at Moore in the finals, but the event conductor was barreling along. With the score at 8-5 Moore, an unlucky roll for Ulrich handed Moore the rack to cap off an incredible weekend of play.
Results:
1st Steve Moore
2nd Louis Ulrich
3rd Bill Bailey
4th John Pinegar
5th Dave Crockett
Shannon Daulton
7th Russ Edwards
Doug Young

Webb Wins on Ladies Spirit Tour

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Spirit Tour

Webb Wins on Ladies Spirit Tour

Ladies Spirit Tour / Stuart, FL
by Rick Davis
Billiard News - The July 14-15 weekend brought the Ladies Spirit Tour to Amy’s Billiards in Stuart, FL, where the 38-player field was drilled by WPBA pro Monica Webb as she claimed her first tour win of the season.
On the winners’ side Webb, ranked fourth on the WPBA, blazed a trail through the chart after her first-round bye. Webb took four matches to reach the hot seat match, not giving up more than three racks in any of them. In the hot seat match Webb continued her streak and destroyed Jeanne Seaver, winner of the season’s first stop, 7-3.
Over on the west side Debbie Schjodt, who has also claimed an event this tour season, drilled Druanne Battista 7-1, while WPBA pro Helena Thornfeldt did the same to Simone Hospedales by the same margin. In the quarterfinals Thornfeldt edged out Schjodt 7-4 then turned the screws against Seaver for another 7-1 smackdown.
Thornfeldt made her way to finals, earning it through a host of great matches, although Webb would not let up with the title in her sights, and in no time Webb was on top again for the last time in the event, taking the title from the 7-4 win in the finals.
Results:
1st Monica Webb
2nd Helena Thornfeldt
3rd Jeanne Seaver
4th Debbie Schjodt
5th Helene Caukin
Emily Wilmoth
7th Simone Hospedales
Druanne Battista

Murgia Comes Back to Claim Tri-State Season Opener

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

Murgia Comes Back to Claim Tri-State Season Opener
Tri-State Tour / Edison, NJ

by Rick Davis
Billiard News - The 2007–2008 season of the Tri-State Tour kicked off July 14 at Edison Billiards in Edison, NJ, where a 32-player field turned out for the double-elimination, B/D handicapped, 9-ball event. Topping the event was Gary Murgia, who came back from a late loss to claim the event and start the season with the lead.
On the winners’ side Murgia was in command of half the bracket, while Dave Fitzpatrick owned the other half, forcing their match-up in the hot seat match. Fitzpatrick took control early and never looked back as he took the match 9-3. Over on the one-loss side Carlos Jimenez eliminated Ed Miller 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals, while Mike Panzarella slipped past Dwane Toney double-hill to do the same. In the quarterfinals Panzarella pulled out another double-hill thriller to knock out Jimenez, but waiting for him in the semifinals was Murgia, whose solid play brought him past Panzarella 7-5 to earn a rematch in the final match.
In the finals Murgia took the first five racks, and just when things were looking grim, Fitzpatrick tapped in a hanging 9 ball, then scooped up two 9 on the breaks, followed by a multi-rail roll to sink another 9 and claim his fourth consecutive rack. From there the match tipped each way, but in the end it was Murgia who expanded on his lead and claimed the match 11-9 to start the season with a bang.
Results:
1st Gary Murgia
2nd Dave Fitzpatrick
3rd Mike Panzarella
4th Carlos Jimenez
5th Dwane Toney
Ed Miller
7th Jeff Dworzenski
Joe Varvaro

Ortmann Fulfills Lifetime Goal at Predator World 14.1 Championships

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

Ortmann Fulfills Lifetime Goal at Predator World 14.1 Championships

East Brunswick,NJ - Oliver Ortmann has done almost everything you can do in the game of pocket billiards with European titles galore, US Open Straight Pool titles, and even a World 9-ball crown. Almost. And today he has fulfilled a full circle of dreams by conquering the field in the most grueling test of straight pool in history.

The day began with Huidji See matched up again with Austria’s Martin Kempter. See demolished Kempter in the round of 32 and the second time would be the same as See cruised through Kempter like a hot knife 200-41.

Next Ortmann was looking to prove Germany as the absolute 14.1 powerhouse of the world by getting to the finals once again , but would need all his skills to defeat the determined American Danny Harriman. Harriman was the only USA player to make it to the semi-finals. I practiced hard for this event. Six hours a day of only straight pool, and I’m a much better player this year for it. warned Harriman. Ortmann looked like he would cruise at the onset, but Harriman came back with a 70 ball run and gave the German many second thoughts. But Ortmann would not be denied and closed the match out 200-123.

The two finalists had played a multitude of straight pool to get to the title match. See had played a total of 12 matches with 3 losses and 9 wins and over 1400 balls made in the event thus far. Ortmann had played 13 matches with 2 losses and 11 wins and over 1700 balls pocketed. The way Ortmann is playing, might as well write his name on that trophy now. said one of the top players watching.

I was rooting for Ortmann from the beginning. He’s become my favorite player because he is so intense. He looks like the most serious player out there commented one of the new fans at the event.

Though See was the underdog, he was determined to put up a fight.

The match see sawed with See leading, and then Ortmann. Then See leading and then Ortmann. Back and forth as neither player could post runs more than 25 balls at a time. The nerves were showing.

The first player to run 40 balls is going to win this match observed Niels Feijen speculating that kind of momentum would dishearten the opposing player.

In the end, Ortmann began a cat and mouse safety battle which eventually led to an open length of the table chance for Ortmann. The Machine from Germany made the shot and ran a nervy 18 balls to claim the title 200-171. This title means alot to me. The fans here watching as well as myself understand what straight pool means. We all love straight pool. said Ortmann in his champion speech to the fans.

This is by far the best event Dragon Promotions produces in my opinion. claimed Danny Harriman.

John Schmidt concurred, I’d trade any of my titles to win this event and be the World Straight Pool Champion. You just can’t win this by being lucky, you really need the skills to back it up here from beginning to end. There’s probably less than ten guys in the world who can really win this event.

Schmidt added, Oliver plays straight pool the way I think it should be played. Flowing, confident and natural. He outplayed everyone here this week. He really is a World Champion.

Oliver Ortmann’s name will rest upon the new World 14.1 Champions trophy alongside past legendary champions such as De Oro, Mosconi, Caras, Crane, Lassiter, and modern era icons such as Hopkins, Sigel, Mizerak, Varner, Martin, Hunter, and Hohmann.
Top Highest Runs:
1st $5000 Michael Kempter 160
2nd $1000 Thorsten Hohmann 139
3rd $600 Oliver Ortmann 131
4th $400 Dennis Orcullo 117
*Dragon Promotions would like to thank Chicago Dave Grotus for his generous contribution to the players for all $7000 of the high run prize fund.