Team Europe Caputres World Cup of Trick Shots

Posted by admin as Independent Tournaments - Trick Shot Magic

Team Europe Caputres World Cup of Trick Shots
The World Cup of Trick Shots was held November 1 at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Team Europe claimed the title over Team U.S.A. in the second annual international billiards team competition in the sport of Trick Shots. The prize purse was $50,000 for the event, with $40,000 and Gold Medals to the winning team.
Captain Stefano Pelinga, the 2007 Trick Shot Magic Champion, led Team Europe to victory and the Gold Medal. Other Team Europe members who were awarded the Gold Medal were Ewa Laurance, 2005 Trick Shot Challenge Champion, Nick Nikolaidis, 2006 Masters Artistic Pool Champion, and Luke Szywala, 2004 WPA World Artisitc Pool Champion. Silver Medalists from Team U.S.A. included Captain Mike Massey, 2006 World Artistic Pool Champion, Jeanette Lee, 2004 Trick Shot Challenge Champion, Tom Rossman, 2007 World Artisitic Pool Champion, and Bruce Barthelette, 2006 Masters Artistic Pool Runnerup. Their team also won $10,000.
The format for World Cup consisted of eight artistic show shots by both teams in a match. Team members executed a challenge shot of their choice, and their opponents were required to duplicate the shot or lose a point. In the semifinals, with two members from each team, the players alternated shots in four player head-to-head matches, performing intricate trick shots meant to stymie their opponents. The Championship Finals match pitted all eight members of Team U.S.A. and Team Europe in the wildest shootout of the year.
The players on Team Europe displayed their brilliance to emerge as the top trick shot artists in the world. The Championship match was poetry on green felt, with Team Europe defeating Team U.S.A. by a score of 7-4 to take the Gold Medals and $40,000. Team U.S.A., whose members were somewhat off their game, claimed Silver Medals and $10,000 second prize. In the first semifinal, Team Europe players Laurance and Nikolaidis prevailed over Team U.S.A. members Lee and Barthelette. The other semifinal saw Team Europe artists Pelinga and Szywala slip past Team U.S.A. players Massey and Rossman in a tight match. Team Europe dominated from the start, winning both semifinals by scores of 9-6 and 9-7. The team winning a semifinal carried one point forward to the finals, and thus Team Europe came into the finals with two point lead. The championship was theirs to win and they never looked back.
By contrast, Team U.S.A. began the finals with a two point deficit and never fully got their act together. The pivotal moment came on shot nine, when Mike Massey attempted an extremely difficult long shot in which a ball is made in one corner pocket and the cue ball is drawn around a blocker ball on the end rail and makes a ball in the opposite corner pocket. Massey missed on both tries and Ewa Laurance then executed the shot with cool perfection. Even though Team U.S.A. came back from a 7-2 hammering to score two additional points, victory eluded them in the end. Team Europe won the championship by a resounding score of 7-4.
The standing-room-only crowd gave Team Europe a rousing ovation at the conclusion of the Championship match. The Gold Medals and the team check were presented by Mohegan Sun and Olhausen Billiards, with “World Cup Champions” custom cues presented by Cuetec Cues. The presentations brought another round of cheers from the audience.
In addition to the fine tournament site at Mohegan Sun, the event was sponsored by Olhausen Billiards, Cuetec Cues, Aramith Super Pro Balls, Simonis cloth, L.E.A.N.I. Italian Slate, Ozone Billiards, AcAue Shot Training Device and Silver Cup Chalk. The WPA sanctioned event was produced by Billiards International, Ltd.

Corr Claims 2007 Champion of Champions Title

Posted by admin as Independent Tournaments - International Tournament of C

Corr Claims 2007 Champion of Champions Title
“I am thrilled beyond words,” said an elated Karen Corr moments after capturing the 2007 Mohegan Sun International Tournament of Champions title. The pressure packed $25,000 winner-take-all event was held at the Mohegan Sun Resort Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, October 31. Corr, the defending 2006 Champion, defeated World Ranked #1 Allison Fisher 4-0 and 4-1 in the final match and was crowned the 2007 “Champion of Champions.” The two semifinals and the Championship match were taped for broadcast by ESPN.

“We may look cool out there, but the pressure is just incredible,” said Corr “There’s no margin for error when every player is a champion. One shot missed and you can lose $25,000! Your emotions are off the chart during the entire tournament.”

Indeed, of the four international champions in the event, Corr played at the top of her game and virtually blitzed the field on her way to the title. She defeated World Ranked #4 Monica Webb in the semifinal round 4-1 and 4-3. The semi and final matches require a player to win two sets, race to 4 games each set with alternate break. In the event of a tie, the pressure becomes intense with a one game sudden death shootout.

The other semifinal also brought cheers from the crowd. Allison Fisher and San Diego Classic Champion Kelly Fisher battled back and forth in a seesaw match. Kelly took the first set 4-2 and Allison regrouped to win the second set 4-1. They then played a one game sudden death, and after a brief safety duel, Allison closed out the match by running the table.

Corr’s finals match against Allison Fisher featured exquisite safety play and several flawless run outs. In the first set, Corr ran four straight racks, despite the alternate break format, for a score of 4-0. The second set began much the same with Corr taking the first three racks and jumping out to an early lead. Allison Fisher, who never seemed to find her stroke, finally got her only run out of the match in game four of set two. Known for her pinpoint accuracy Corr took the next game to close out the Championship match 4-0 and 4-1.

The crowd gave Karen Corr a standing ovation when she won the final match and back-to-back Champion of Champions titles. She raised his arms in victory and then accepted the highest single winner’s purse in Women’s pool of $25,000. The trophy and the check were presented by Mohegan Sun and Olhausen Billiards, and Cuetec Cues presented a one-of-a-kind cue inscribed “2007 Champion of Champions.”

The 2007 event was the Tenth Annual International Tournament of Champions. Bob Yalen, Director of Sports Entertainment for Mohegan Sun, was delighted with the support displayed by the crowd of pool fans. “We will continue to host this event,” he said. “The crowds were even more than we anticipated, and the players were amazing. We are extremely pleased.”

In addition to the fine tournament site at Mohegan Sun, the event was sponsored by Cuetec Cues, Olhausen Billiards Tables, Aramith Super Pro Billiard Balls, Simonis cloth, L.E.A.N.I. Italian Slate, Ozone Billiards, AcCue Shot Training Device and Silver Cup Chalk. The WPBA sanctioned event was produced by Billiards International, Ltd.

Strickland Salvages World Pool Championship Hopes

Posted by admin as Independent Tournaments - World Pool Championship

Strickland Salvages World Pool Championship Hopes
Earl Strickland put on a dazzling display of pocket billiards as he won nine racks back-to-back to salvage his 2007 World Pool Championship hopes at the expense of China’s Li He-wen. Strickland had earlier rolled over against Malaysia’s Alan Tan, 9-2, in his opening game but followed that up with a lackluster 9-6 win over Germany’s Kay Reike.
With the two wins to qualify and two defeats to leave the competition, Strickland, a three time winner of this event, faced Li He-wen, the studious looking Chinese who won a bronze medal at last year’s tournament.
At 5-0 down in the race to nine match, ‘the Pearl’ looked dead and buried as he battled with his demons on the main TV table.
He hit a gear though and returned to the imperious form that has seen him win countless titles in an illustrious career. Strickland ran five racks from the break as he controlled the table and restricted Li to occasional safety escapes.
The win saw Strickland secure a last 64 berth where he will face impressive Vietnamese shooter Luong Chi Dung of Vietnam.
Other big names through on day three of the first round include Ralf Souquet who survived a scare as he lost his opener to local veteran Leonardo Andam before scoring wins over Bernard Tey Choon Kiat of Singapore and Canada’s Ronnie Wiseman to make it through.
Fellow German former World Champion Thorsten Hohmann capped a disappointing season with an early exit in Manila as he lost twice to depart the competition.
He lost successive matches against sensational 18 year-old Taiwanese Ko Pin-yi and then seasoned Canadian / Filipino Edwin Montal.
There was double joy for Pinoy hopes Marlon Manalo and Jeff De Luna as they both battled their way through to the last 64 stages of the 2007 Philippines World Pool Championship with two wins from two matches.
With four more groups playing double elimination qualifying games today at the Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, a further 16 players will secure spots in round two while the other 16 will depart the competition.
Manalo, of Mandaluyong City, Manila looked to be in total control as he led Li He-wen of China 8-3 but a missed ball in the 12th game let Li, a semi-finalist here last year, back to the table.
Li, who earlier this year was a World Cup of Pool winner, proceeded to run out the racks as he slowly silenced the pro-Manalo crowd. With the score at 7-8, Li ran slightly out of position and attempted a risky pot on the 3 ball as he was forced to hit down on the cue ball to swerve it.
He missed and left it sitting nicely for Manalo, who cleared the table to secure victory. Li eventually went out at the hands of Earl Strickland.
On Table 2, Jeff ‘Bata’ De Luna, who reached the last 16 of this competition in 2006 on his WPC debut, looked like he has the game to go even better this year as he gave Fu Che-wei of Chinese Taipei, something of a drubbing.
Fu, who was a bronze medalist at this tournament last year, found himself 8-0 down in no time at all, and although he mounted a comeback, the gulf was too wide to bridge as he lost 9-3.
De Luna can now look forward a mouth-watering last 64 match-up with fellow Filipino star Lee Van Corteza.
There were two tremendous performances from the Australian duo of Louis Condo and James Delahunty as both advanced with a brace of victories against high class opposition.
Condo, the 32 year-old from Melbourne, is playing in his sixth World Championship so he has plenty of experience at this level and he drew on it as he defeated highly rated Englishman Imran Majid 9-5 to advance to the winners’ side of the bracket.
In his next match he went even better as he recorded a comfortable 9-4 victory over 2005 World Pool Championship runner-up Kuo Po-cheng of Chinese Tapei.
Countryman James Delahunty, making his debut in the competition, looked good in beating 2006 Mosconi Cup player Mike Davis of the USA 9-5 and then defeated seasoned pro Ronnie Wiseman of Canada in a 9-8 thriller.
24 year-old Delahunty from Adelaide can now look forward to a day off before he resumes the competition in the last 64 straight knock-out.

Junior Billiards Champions Take Aim at World Title

Posted by admin as Juniors and Collegiate - BEF Billiard Education Foundat

Junior Billiards Champions Take Aim at World Title
The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) is excited to announce the junior players who have earned their right to represent the United States in the 2007 World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) Junior World 9-ball Championships, November 26– 30, 2007, in Willingen, Germany.
The Billiard Congress of America (BCA), as the North American member to the WPA, has awarded and supports the BEF and seven (7) U.S. junior representatives, as well as three (3) players from Canada, with the opportunity to participate in this prestigious event. Approximately 56 players from 6 continents and 25 countries will compete for the world title in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions.
Among the top international players representing “Team USA” in the boys’ and girls’ division are:
Mary Rakin, 19, Daly City, CA – 2006 WPA Junior World 9-ball Champion, Girls’ Division
2007 BEF Junior National 9-ball Champion, 19 Under Girls’ Division
Nicole Keeney, 19, Littleton, CO – 2007 BEF Junior National 9-ball, Runner-Up, 19 Under Girls’ Division
Briana Miller, 12, Allentown, PA – 2007 BEF Junior National 9-ball Champion, 14 Under Girls’ Division
Richard Barney, 16, Mont Alto, PA – 2007 BEF Junior National 9-ball Champion, 19 Under Boys’ Division
Christopher Futrell, 17, Virginia Beach, VA – 2007 BEF Junior National 9-ball, Runner-Up, 19 Under Boys’ Division
Landon Shuffett, 13, Greensburg, KY – 2007 BEF Junior National 9-ball Champion, 14 Under Boys’ Division
Joshua Newman, 14, Bessener City, NC – 2007 BEF Junior National 9-ball, Runner-Up, 14 Under Boys’ Division
During the Junior World 9-ball Championships, parents, players and fans can follow the matches during the live scoring system. Please visit the BEF website at BilliardEducation.org or WPA-tour.com for more information.
The Billiard Education Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit charitable organization committed to furthering the standard of excellence and leadership within the billiard community by engaging in activities related to the education and cultural advancement of tomorrow’s leaders.
For more information about the BEF, please visit BilliardEducation.org, contact Laura Smith at 303.926.1039, or e-mail LauraSmith[at]BilliardEducation.org.

Pinoy Billiards Pair Commands the Day

Posted by admin as Independent Tournaments - World Pool Championship

Pinoy Billiards Pair Commands the Day

There was double joy for Pinoy billiard hopefuls Marlon Manalo and Jeff De Luna as they both battled their way through to the last 64 of the 2007 Philippines World Pool Championship with two wins from two matches.
With four more groups playing double elimination qualifying games today at the Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, a further 16 players will secure spots in round two while the other 16 will depart the competition.
Manalo, of Mandaluyong City, Manila looked to be in total control as he led Li He-wen of China 8-3 but a missed ball in the 12th game let Li, a semi-finalist here last year, back to the table.
Li, who earlier this year was a World Cup of Pool winner, proceeded to run out the racks as he slowly silenced the pro-Manalo crowd. With the score at 7-8, Li ran slightly out of position and attempted a risky pot on the 3 ball as he was forced to hit down on the cue ball to swerve it.
He missed and left it sitting nicely for Manalo, who cleared the table to secure victory. Li He-wen now plays Earl Strickland in a final eliminator on Table 1.
On Table 2, Jeff De Luna, who reached the last 16 of this competition in 2006 on his WPC debut, looked like he has the game to go even better this year as he gave Fu Che-wei of Chinese Taipei, something of a drubbing.
Fu, who was a bronze medalist at this tournament last year, found himself 8-0 down in no time at all, and although he mounted a comeback, the gulf was too wide to bridge as he lost 9-3. De Luna can now look forward a mouth-watering last 64 match-up with fellow Filipino star Lee Van Corteza.
There were two tremendous performances from the Australian duo of Louis Condo and James Delahunty as both advanced with a brace of victories against high class opposition.
Condo, the 32 year-old from Melbourne, is playing in his sixth World Championship so he has plenty of experience at this level and he drew on it as he defeated highly rated Englishman Imran Majid 9-5 to advance to the winners’ side of the bracket.
In his next match he went even better as he recorded a comfortable 9-4 victory over 2005 World Pool Championship runner-up Kuo Po-cheng of Chinese Tapei.
Countryman James Delahunty, making his debut in the competition, looked good in beating 2006 Mosconi Cup player Mike Davis of the USA 9-5 and then defeated seasoned pro Ronnie Wiseman of Canada in a 9-8 thriller.
Delahunty, 24, from Adelaide can now look forward to a day off before he resumes the competition in the last 64 straight knock-out.

German Billiard Duo Stumbles Philippines World Pool Championship

Posted by admin as Independent Tournaments - World Pool Championship

German Billiard Duo Stumbles Philippines World Pool Championship
Thorsten Hohmann, the 2003 Champion, has hit early trouble in the group stages of the 2007 Philippines World Pool Championship as he dropped his opening game 9-3 to 18-year-old Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan.
Ko, who was a runner-up at last year’s WPA World Junior Championship, battled through the ultra-tough qualifying school last week at Star Billiards Center to secure his spot in the 128 man starting line-up.
Taking place on Table 2, Hohmann took the early lead before the young Taiwanese player pegged it back to two racks apiece.
From there, Ko took the next four to move into a 6-2 lead in the race-to-9 winner breaks match. Hohmann took the ninth game but that was to be his final contribution to the scoreboard.
It was an impressive performance from the youngster and he can now look forward to a match with Belgium�s unheralded Serge Das who recorded a fine 9-3 win over Edwin Montal (Canada). Montal now meets Hohmann in a do-or-die battle to stay in the Championship.
There was more bad news for the Germans as last year’s runner-up Ralf Souquet lost 9-5 to wily old campaigner Leonardo Andam of the Philippines.
The veteran Andam who has competed at top level for 20 years is always dangerous as he always held the lead from the off. He will now meet England’s Raj Hundal who had a comfortable 9-4 win over Singapore’s Bernard Tey Choon Kiat, now Souquet’s next opponent.
Earlier, Thomas Engert gave flagging German pride a boost with a nice 9-2 victory of Prince Muhtadee Billah of Brunei, who now meets Hong Kong’s Lee Chenman to stay in the event.