Peach Sends Alcano Packing

Posted by admin as Independent Tournaments - World Pool Championship

Peach Sends Alcano Packing
England’s Daryl Peach has secured his greatest result ever by defeating reigning World Pool Champion Ronnie Alcano – in his own backyard.
Peach, 35, beat Filipino Alcano 10-6 in the last 64 of the 2007 World Pool Championships, which is being held at the Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines.
The tournament, organised by England-based Matchroom Sport, is the biggest pool event of the year, and is broadcast live across Asia and on Sky Sports in the UK.
As well as his tough opponent, Peach also had to battle against a partisan crowd of more than 1,000 people in the venue that hosted the legendary ‘Thriller in Manilla’ heavyweight title fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975.
Peach, who is currently ranked No.2 in Europe, instantly hailed his victory as one of the finest of his long career.
“I’ve had some good tournament wins but in a one-off match, because of the situation – reigning world champion, big crowd and great venue - this has to be one of the best,” said Peach.
“The sky is the limit for me now. I’m not going to say I’m likely to win the tournament, it’s just one match at a time, but it’s something I could do.
“Playing against the defending World Champion was easier than playing someone that I’m supposed to beat.
“He was the favourite and I felt I had nothing to lose. I just concentrated on my game and used the atmosphere as a positive.
“I’m here to win pool matches so why get overawed by it?
“I didn’t do much wrong and there was nothing, no shots where I could say I had made a mistake.
“Before the match I wouldn’t say I was confident, but I just tried to remain focused and do what I needed to do.”
Peach’s victory moves him into the last 32 of the nine-day event and guarantees him a minimum of $3,000 (about £1,425), while the eventual winner will pocket $100,000 (about £47,500).
The tournament is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and also on ESPN Star across Asia, with a further 20 stations to show highlights in the near future.
It does not get much easier for Peach as he now plays Lee Kun-fang from Chinese Taipei, a World Championship runner-up in 1997 on Thursday evening.

Crews is Top Gun

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - ACS All American Tour

Crews is Top GunMcDermott All-American Tour / Port Charlotte, FL

by InsidePOOL Staff
Tim Crews scored a top finish at the ninth stop of the 2007/2008 McDermott All American Tour November 3. Hosted by Q’s Sports Bar and Girl in Port Charlotte, FL, the Q’s Snowbird 9-ball Amateur Open attracted 19 players from around southern Florida to compete for the $500-added prize purse.
The semifinals on the winners’ side in the double elimination race to 7 found Glen Olson defeating Shawn “Pokie” Collie 7-2. Also on the winners’ side, Crews came from behind to defeat Ken Coulter 7-4. On the one-loss side, Eddie Green defeated Mike Riggs 7-6, giving Riggs a fifth-place finish. Coulter bested Collie 7-4, sending Collie home in fifth as well. Back on the no-loss side Olson matched up with Crews in a hard-fought battle for the hot seat with Olson giving Crews the win 7-5.
The one-loss side found Coulter matched up with Green for the second time of the tournament, and once again Coulter scored the win 7-5. Coulter then drew Olson in a tough match that went to the hill. Coulter broke dry the last game, and Olson ran out to put Coulter in third for the day. The finals saw a repeat of the hot seat match, pitting Crews against Olson for the second time. Crews once again dominated, placing Olson in second place to earn the first annual Q’s Snowbird Amateur Open title.
Results:
1st Tim Crews
2nd Glen Olson
3rd Ken Coulter
4th Eddie Green
5th Shawn Collie
Mike Riggs

BCA Launches Development New Consumer Site to Promote Sport and Members

Posted by admin as Billiards Industry News - Information

BCA Launches Development New Consumer Site to Promote Sport and MembersThe Billiard Congress of America (BCA) is taking a giant leap in its commitment to promote the sport of billiards with today’s announcement it has launched the development of generationpool.com. The site will be introduced in early 2008.

“One of our key roles is the ongoing promotion of pool to current and potential players,” said BCA President Ivan Lee. “What better way than to create a state-ofthe-art consumer Web site that provides interesting and informative content to players at all levels of skill? Whether someone wants to find a pool hall, retail location, manufacturer or instructor, view a truck shot video, ask a pro player a question, get a playing tip, search industry news or join a pool social networking forum, they will be able to turn to generationpool.com for the answer.” generationpool.com is being designed by Colorado-based Insight Designs in conjunction with the BCA. With an impressive resume of work designing such sites as spyder.com, sierradesigns.com, etown.org and pepsiamericas.com, Insight Designs brings full-service Web-site development services, including domain name registration, Web hosting and site design, a nimation and database programming. - more -
“Our membership is looking to the BCA to help promote the sport and grow the industry,” said BCA CEO Rob Johnson. “Today’s ever-changing world focuses on consumers being able to obtain their information and make buying decisions via the Internet. We have an opportunity to create a marketing tool by offering an industry portal that provides consumers ability to access informative and interesting content in a first-class, consumer-minded manner. generationpool.com also will create a series of new opportunities for BCA members to promote their businesses and services via our site, once again providing another valuable reason to be a BCA member.”
The BCA will launch an aggressive, unique marketing campaign to promote the Website in early 2008. Ongoing communications and a seminar session during the 2008 International Billiard Home Recreation Expo in June in Charlotte will provide members with a means to utilize generationpool.com as a marketing tool.
About Billiard Congress of America
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 though educational, marketing and promotional efforts, annual industry trade shows, tournaments and other programs designed to encourage billiards as a lifestyle and make pool everybody’s game. For more information, visit BCA-pool.com or call 866.852.0999.
Contact: Robin Dahlen
BCA Associate Managing Director, robin[at]bca-pool.com
404.760.4248
bca-pool.com ● EnjoyPool.com ● bcaexpo.com

Lamar Triumphs over Garcia

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - ACS All American Tour

Lamar Triumphs over GarciaMcDermott All-American Tour / East Moline, IL

by InsidePOOL Staff
Trent Lamar won the tenth stop of the 2007/2008 McDermott All American Tour November 4. Hosted by Leisure Time Billiards in East Moline, IL, this $500-added event drew 21 players in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes.
Lamar ran undefeated to the finals. In the hot seat match, he slipped past Anthony Garcia 4-3. In the A-bracket semifinals earlier, Lamar tripped Josh Johnson, while Garcia eclipsed Chad Behnke 4-3. In the B-side bracket, Matt Flattman ousted Behnke, putting him in fifth place by a 4-3 margin, while Ryan Behnke eliminated Josh Johnson at the same placement 7-5. In the one-loss side semifinals, Flattman toppled Ryan Behnke 4-4, but Flattman in turn was eliminated himself in the B-side finals by Garcia 4-2. The final match featured a rematch of Lamar versus Garcia, with Lamar again taking the match 4-3 to claim the title.
Results:
1st Trent Lamar
2nd Anthony Garcia
3rd Matt Flattman
4th Ryan Behnke
5th Chad Behnke
Josh Johnson

Reyes Eliminated at 2007 Philippines World Pool Championship

Posted by admin as Independent Tournaments - World Pool Championship

Reyes Eliminated at 2007 Philippines World Pool Championship
Efren Reyes is out of the 2007 Philippines World Pool Championship. The 53-year-old Filipino legend went down on TV Table 2 at the Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Manila, at the hands of European No.1 Konstantin Stepanov of Russia.
For Reyes, the winner of this event in 1999, the dream is over for another year as he was well beaten 10-5 by the 24 year-old from Moscow.
Stepanov lead 3-0 before Reyes gave the full arena hope as he levelled it at 3-3. The Russian pulled away though to lead 7-4 and then 8-5 before clinching the final two racks for victory.
He can now look forward to a very tough draw in the round of 32 as he faces Jeff ‘Bata’ De Luna, a possible heir to the Reyes thrown.
Another young Filipino who could take Reyes’ mantle is Roberto Gomez, the 29-year-old who resides in Quezon City. Gomez put paid to Dutchman Alex Lely’s hopes as he drubbed him 10-1 on the easy breaking TV Table 1.
Nicknamed ‘Superman’, Gomez is a former ABS-CBN news reporter but if he continues in a similar vein this week, the news hounds will be chasing him.
He soon got the measure of the table and employed the soft break to excellent effect and he can now look ahead to a match against former two-time champion Chao Fong-pang tomorrow (Thursday).
Gomez said: I was watching television a couple of days ago the match between Earl Strickland and Li He-wen and I noticed that Earl shifted to the soft break so I thought ‘it could work’.
Now I tried it in my match here and the wing-ball kept going in. I think that was my edge for the match.
A lot of players were using the soft break, I went with the flow and it worked.
You have to just play your own game, your opponent is really yourself so you have to take it easy, relax and never mind your opponent.
There was less good fortune for another Pinoy hope as Poland’s Radoslaw Babica, playing in his ninth World Pool Championship, put in his best performance to date to put paid to Marlon Manalo�s title aspirations, winning 10-1 on table 7.
Babica, the 28 year-old from Poznan, recorded seven break and runs to put himself in the driving seat and restricted Manalo to two visits to extricate himself from safeties.
I was lucky to make it through the qualifications on Saturday. I didn’t play well and only got through because my opponents didn�t play well either, said Babica.
He defeated Carlos Castro (Nicaragua) and Chun Min-hung of Taiwan after a defeat at the hands of Vilmos Foldes.
Today though I really played my best and was really delighted with the way it went. I need to try and relax now and see if I can do the same tomorrow, he added.

Bustamante Continues to Impress at Philippines World Pool Championship

Posted by admin as Independent Tournaments - World Pool Championship

Bustamante Continues to Impress at Philippines World Pool Championship
Filipino pocket billiards player Francisco Bustamante continued his impressive march through the 2007 Philippines World Pool Championship. The Filipino, known as Django, recorded his third straight-forward victory of the competition with a 10-1 triumph over Spain’s David Alcaide to advance into the last 64.
Bustamante has now gained a win in each of the three matches he has played, won 26 racks and only conceded five. In a packed press conference after the match, he admitted he was feeling very confident and happy with his performance so far.
Last year my play was not as good as this year, especially in my match against Thomas Engert in 2006, said Bustamante.
But this year I feel very good. I’ve been practising a lot and I’m in a way, way better condition now.
I’ve studied the soft break and it’s a big advantage. I tried using the hard break earlier (in the tournament) and was not getting much luck but now I can control the cue ball better and there’s always a wing-ball going in. So I will probably use it from here onwards.
Asked who he wanted to play, Bustamente replied: Anybody is alright but of course I don’t want to play Efren (Reyes) in the last 64 or 32. If I do play him I want it to be in the final. Whoever wins that would be ok as we are buddies.

Souquet Survives Round

Posted by admin as Independent Tournaments - World Pool Championship

Souquet Survives Round
Billiard players Ralf Souquet, who won the hearts of the Philippine nation this time last year with his graciousness in defeat in the 2006 final, made his way into the last 32 with a 10-8 win over Naoyuki Oi of Japan.
The German though was not happy with his performance - mainly due to some back pain he is suffering from. He arrived in Manila late last week and had a massage to see if it could remedy the situation.
It’s still not right, said Souquet. I feel a few inches out when I’m standing over the table and I’ve got a long way to go before I feel I’m at my best.
Souquet suggested that he may have some more treatment ahead of tomorrow’s last 32 match against Niels Feijen (Holland) who eliminated America’s Charlie Williams 10-7.
However, despite not being at his best, the 1996 champion was too much for the flamboyant Japanese as Souquet came back from a 5-3 deficit to set the pace.
Oi though came back at him and even lead 8-7 but ‘The Kaiser’ closed out the last three racks for victory. He will now play Niels Feijen of Holland for a place in the last 16.
In an excellent all-Filipino clash, Jeff ‘Bata’ De Luna got the better of Lee Van Corteza on TV Table 1. For many De Luna could be the future of Filipino pool. He is flashy, confident and possesses a monstrously hard break shot that sees him leave the floor as he launches his full body weight behind it.
The match was nip and tuck at 5-all and although De Luna was making three and four balls off the break, he lost control of the white on two many occasions.
It was a sweet victory for De Luna who had been left upset earlier this year when Van Corteza was selected for the Filipino team in the 2007 South East Asia Games ahead of him, despite De Luna winning a silver medal in the 2006 competition.
That was my inspiration going into the match, said De Luna. I wanted to prove that I’m the better player and deserving of a South East Asia Games spot.
To emphasize this, I want to go all the way to the championship. Any one standing in my way - I will murder them.
He began to pull away though as Corteza failed to assert himself and in the end ran out a 10-7 winner to set up a match against either European No.1 Konstantin Stepanov of Russia or the legend that is Efren Reyes.

Luong and Condo First to Advance

Posted by admin as Independent Tournaments - World Pool Championship

Luong and Condo First to Advance
Luong Chi Dung of Vietnam and Australia’s Louis Condo are the first two billiards players to reach the last 32 of the 2007 Philippines World Pool Championships. A quarter-finalist in Manila last year, Luong put paid to the hopes of 2002 Champion Earl Strickland in an exciting encounter on Table 2.
Luong, the Hanoi based 22-year-old, must be the smallest player in the tournament at just under five feet tall but his heart is big and he recovered from an easy missed 9 ball in the 17th rack with the scores at 8-8.
Strickland played an excellent safety leaving the cue ball and the 9 at opposite ends of the table but the Vietnamese boldly banked it up the table and home to reach the hill. Victory came with a superb carom off the 5 ball that saw the 9 roll gently and drop for a place in the last 32.
Almost immediately after the conclusion of that match, Australian Louis Condo continued his excellent form as he won six consecutive racks to beat Singapore’s Chan Keng Kwan. Condo had great wins in the group stages as he beat Imran Majid and Kuo Po-Cheng but it was a superb performance that saw him advance.
Condo has reached the last 64 stage of the World Pool Championship on two occasions but this is his best showing yet.
The next match completed saw Raj Hundal of England crash out at the hands of experienced Taiwanese Lee Kun-fang 10-6.