JR Calvert

Posted by admin as Billiards Industry News - Information, Pool Players

JR Calvert

Publisher and InsidePOOL Magazine Founder

JR Calvert started playing pool at the age of 15. He also started to attend college at this time. With hard work and practice, he quickly honed his game, rising to the top of the local ranks in Pittsburgh, PA, almost overnight. Then, as fast as he had appeared, he quit the game of pool to move his college career to the next level to attend the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Engineering. Several years passed before he was persuaded to play the university tournament by a friend. JR won the event and finished as runner-up in the ACU-I National Tournament. Soon afterwards, JR received an invitation to join the Professional Billiards Tour and joined without hesitation. After receiving his degrees from college, he set his sights o­n the Pro Billiards Tour. Within o­ne season, JR earned the distinguished rank of Touring Pro, in which o­nly a handful of other players laid claim. JR won numerous regional events throughout his career but failed to earn that honor on the top professional level. In 1996, JR won the U.S. Open Trick Shot Championship in Chesapeake, VA.

See photos by JR Calvert

In 1989, JR turned his attention to attention to cuemaking by joining efforts with Paul Mottey. His attention quickly moved to marketing the fruits of their labor. His dedication and professionalism landed him a sponsorship deal with Falcon cues, Ltd. where he acted as the U.S. Distributor for the fledgling company. To market Falcon Cues, Ltd. and his new software company, Definitive Synergy, JR tried his hand at writing. He syndicated instructions columns that he would take payment in the form of advertising with about a dozen magazines. After a few magazines failed that he was contributing to, JR decided to start his own magazine, InsidePOOL Magazine, in September of 2001. He stays dedicated to creating the best magazine that pool and billiards has to offer while having a daily hand in running his software company.

Inside POOL Magazine has become the hottest selling magazine while leading the billiards industry in print and online with almost 100,000 subscribers between online and print editions. Recently, Inside POOL Magazine started creating a video version of the popular print and online magazine. The videocasts are syndicated to thousands of online locations and the episodes have quickly become among the most viewed billiards videos. The hard work paid off as Inside POOL Magazine received a Partner Channel at Youtube.com in May 2008.

Watch InsidePOOL Magazine videos on Youtube

Billiards National Event a Success

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

Billiards National Event a Success
14and1.com Nationals Main Event
A true double-elimination tournament format was used for the 14and1.com Nationals Main Event at the Atlantic City Billiard Club in Egg Harbor, NJ. The top two finishers in all leagues nationwide earned an invite into the main event.
Friday morning all players were focused and ready. Straight pool players from eight states converged on Atlantic City to try to become the first 14and1.com national champion through qualifying in their local sanctioned league.
The hot seat match was a classic battle between two knowledgeable players who did not relinquish the table easily. John Downie managed to send Tom Acciavatti to the one-loss side in a well-played match. Waiting there for Acciavatti was Al Muccilli, who was playing well and had just put Joe Stern III out in fourth place. The match was a classic with two old-school players in battle. With Acciavatti giving up 30 balls going to 140 he pulled out that victory 140-131 to make the true double-elimination finals and get another chance at Downie.
Saturday night saw the start of the finals of the 14and1.com Nationals between Downie (B+ handicap) and Acciavatti (A+ handicap). Acciavatti gave Downie 45 balls on the wire going to 140, with Acciavatti having to defeat Downie twice to win. The first match saw Downie get cold from sitting and never really get going as Acciavatti cruised to win the first match 140-96.
In the second match, Downie started to get back in stroke a bit and managed to stay even in score with Acciavatti throughout. Somewhere around 100 balls each on the score Acciavatti made a long break shot while he was on a run, but the cue ball fell into the corner pocket. Downie methodically put together a 29-ball run. From there they got into safety battle, and Acciavatti got another opportunity after winning the safety battle, making the score 129-114 Downie. With Acciavatti at the table with a few balls sticking out, he got a bit too straight on the ball he wanted to use to break open the rack and elected for a combination to break up the cluster. He fired at the combo but it hit the point, and the balls were wide open. Downie had a couple of tough shots, but he became the first 14and1.com national champion.
Results:
1st John Downie
2nd Tom Acciavatti
3rd Al Muccilli
4th Joe Stern III
5th Steve Hathaway
Cliff Hatfield
7th Angelito Carpio
Luke Hubbard
9th Jim Hastings
Wade Hill
Rob Sumner
Tom Lazrovitch

Lai Lifts Third National Snooker Title

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

Lai Lifts Third National Snooker Title
by InsidePOOL Staff
George Lai captured his third United States National Snooker Championship title, as the number-two seed from Las Vegas defeated New York’s Jian Qiang Wang 5-2 in this year’s final at the Embassy Billiards Club in San Gabriel, CA.
Eleven years after tasting his first national success, 33-year-old Lai last won the title back in 2005, though he suffered defeat in the final last year at the hands of Jack Kung.
Lai went into this final as a strong favorite, though Jian’s tremendous progress through this championship had been a revelation, particularly after defeating the defending champion and number-one seed Kung 4-1 in the semifinals.
Jian stated his early claim to this prestigious title as he won Group D in the round robin stage ahead of the former champion Paul Kimura and only lost one frame in the knockout stage in progressing to the finals.
In the last 16 he faced Chris Sheerin from Las Vegas and comfortably advanced into the quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory, where he then took on his fellow New Yorker Henry Wong.
Wong has worked hard at improving his snooker over the past few years and has competed well during this championship in reaching his first quarterfinal. He ran Jian close in the first frame by narrowly losing it on the final colored balls, but Jian then went onto easily secure the following two frames to record a 3-0 success.
Up against Kung in the semifinals, Jian’s run of 33 assisted in winning the first frame, and he then went 2-0 ahead by pinching the next frame on the final black ball.
The Californian sealed the third frame to open his semifinal frame account, but Jian restored his two-frame lead by securing frame four on the final colored balls.
Jian finished off the match to defeat the favorite for the championship, by winning the fifth frame helped by a break of 35 and advancing into his first final.
Lai resoundingly won Group D undefeated, though his passage to the final in the knockout stage had been a little more difficult than Jian’s, as he came through his last-16 match against California’s Jeff Szafransky 3-1.
He then had to face the former champion Ajeya Prabhakar in the quarterfinals, who was always going to give him a tough competitive match.
Prabhakar, who lost in the quarterfinals last year to the eventual champion Kung, ran Lai close in the first frame but went onto level the match by capturing frame two.
Lai then went 2-1 up over the San Jose, CA, resident but was again pegged back to 2-2 to take the tie into a tense final frame.
In a close fifth frame, it was Lai who went onto prevail in this battle of the former champions as he went onto seal it on the final colored balls by a score line of 55-43.
For the second successive year Lai had to play against New York’s Raymond Fung, who he defeated in the quarterfinals 3-0 last year.
Fung, who plays at the Prince Snooker Club in Brooklyn, came back from a 2-0 deficit in the quarterfinals against Tom Kollins to win 3-2 for the right to play Lai in this year’s semifinals.
Both of the first two frames went down to the final colored balls and were shared, but from that moment on Fung struggled in the tie.
Lai won frame three and then with a break of 52 he then forged into a 3-1 advantage.
The Las Vegas resident then secured his fourth appearance in a United States National Snooker Championship final by winning the following frame for a 4-1 success.
In the finals, a run of 31 by Lai in the first frame got his final challenge off to the perfect start as he went into a 1-0 advantage, and although Jian responded in frame two with a break of 30, it was still not enough to claim the frame as Lai eventually ran away with it with an 85-31 score line.
A break of 42 by Lai secured frame three, though Jian opened his frame account by sealing the fourth frame on the final colored balls.
Jian’s run of 32 in the next frame further reduced his frame deficit to 3-2, and he was now right back into this final.
From then on, however, the match turned right in Lai’s favor as he comfortably took the sixth frame assisted with a break of 39, and in the next frame he compiled a championship-winning run of 54.
Results from Last 16:
Last-16
Jack Kung (California) def. Ruan Zhi Ming (California) 3-1
Cheang Ciing Yoo (Washington) def. Henry Nogiec (Nevada) 3-2
Henry Wong (New York) def. Michael Chan (California) 3-1
Jian Qiang Wang (New York) def. Chris Sheerin (Nevada) 3-0
Raymond Fung (New York) def. Sridhar Shrinivasan (Pennsylvania) 3-0
Tom Kollins (Illinois) def. Paul Kimura (California) 3-0
Ajeya Prabhakar (California) def. Christopher Szarek (Illinois) 3-0
George Lai (California) def. Jeff Szafransky (California) 3-1
Quarterfinals
Kung def. Cheang 3-0
Jian def. Wong 3-0
Fung def. Kollins 3-2
Lai def. Prabhakar 3-2
Semifinals
Jian def. Kung 4-1
Lai def. Fung 4-1
Final
Lai def. Jian 5-2

Stars Shine at Billiard Education Fundraiser

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

Stars Shine at Billiard Education Fundraiser
Pros help raise funds for junior billiards
The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) held their annual “Challenge the Stars” fundraiser on May 13th at the Riviera Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. The BCA Pool League (BCAPL) National 8-ball Championships and the 8th Annual Predator International 10-ball Championships were held at the Riviera that week, providing opportunity for participation by both pro and amateur billiards talent. Over $4,000 was raised through “challenge the pro” matches and auctions to help support junior billiard programs and scholarships.

Thirteen pros accepted challenges from highly skilled amateurs who were among the 7,000 players competing in the BCAPL National 8-ball Championship. Participating pros were Francisco Bustamante, Dominic Esposito, Allison Fisher, Thorsten Hohmann, Melissa Little, Rafael Martinez, Cathy Metzinger, Caroline Pao, Stefano Pelinga, Efren Reyes, Tom“Dr. cue” Rossman, Adam Smith, and Laura Smith. All challengers received a certificate and an autographed souvenir photo taken with their pro.
Challengers and spectators alike participated in the silent auction and raffle made possible by the generous donations from dozens of industry supporters. Donating companies included Ozone Billiards, Viking cue Mfg, Cuestix International, PoolDawg.com, Frank’s Center, Omega Billiards, Chalkeys by Ken, Predator Products and Poison Cues. Mark Griffin of Diamond Billiard Products provided pool tables from the BCAPL tournament.

The BEF charity event was made possible with the help of a team of volunteers including Keven Engelke, Brent Johnson, Shanna Lewis, Dave Merrill, and BCA Pool League referees. BEF President Tom Riccobene served as Master of Ceremonies. A complete list of those who helped make this event possible is available on the BEF website at BilliardEducation.org.

All proceeds benefit the BEF scholarship fund and junior programs throughout the year.
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
or contact Laura Smith at 303.926.1039 or e-mail LauraSmith[at]BilliardEducation.org

Nevel and Walker Take Marietta Billiard Stop

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - J Pechauer Southeast Tour

Nevel and Walker Take Marietta Billiard Stop
J. Pechauer Southeast Open Tour/Marietta, GA
By Skip Maloney
For the third weekend in a row, Larry “The Truth” Nevel stepped into a billiards tournament and stepped out with the first-place prize. On Memorial Day weekend, he joined a field of 38 entrants in the $1,000-added J. Pechauer Southeast Open Tour stop at the Side Pocket cue Club Grill in Marietta, GA, and did it the hard way, defeating Steve Moore twice for top honors.
Already on the one-loss side, Nevel was faced with tournament director Tommy Kennedy, whom he bested 9-5, dropping him into fifth place. He then went on to defeat Jason Richko in the quarterfinals and then turned to face Jesse Middlebrooks, who only won two of the eleven games that delivered Nevel to the finals against Atlanta’s Steve Moore.
Nevel and Moore fought back and forth to double-hill in the first set of the double-elimination finals. With two balls left on the table in the final game and the cue in Moore’s hand, it looked as though Moore was going to take it, but he missed. Nevel stepped to the table, sinking the 8 but watched as the cue ball traveled a little farther down table than he’d anticipated, leaving him with a long bank to finish the game. He made the bank, won the game, and moved on to the second set.
They struggled again. Back and forth to a second double-hill game, where Moore committed a foul prior to the break. Moore handed Nevel the ball, and with ball in hand, Nevel touched the 1 and hooked Moore. They wrestled back and forth through a few successful kicks that managed to nudge the 9 ball out of what was still a fairly tight pack of balls in the center of the table. Until Moore missed. Nevel set up to shoot the 1 ball, and a carom knocked the loose 9 ball in to win the game, set, and tournament.
In the amateur event Sunday, Bryant Walker defeated Jeff Hooks 7-1 in the finals to capture the first-place prize in the $500-added event. Walker had sent B.R. Tatum to the one-loss side earlier in the day and defeated Jeff Tabet in the subsequent hot seat match.
Open Results:
1st Larry Nevel
2nd Steve Moore
3rd Jessie Middlebrooks
4th Jason Richko
5th Tommy Kennedy
Johnny Archer
7th J. R. Rossman
Ron Park
9th George Rothrock
B.R. Tatum
Craig Houghton
Jeff Tabet
Amateur Results:
1st Bryant Walker
2nd Jeff Hooks
3rd Jeff Tabet
4th Denny Singletary
5th B.R. Tatum
John Hossman

Shin Park Claims Another Predator Billiard Tour Stop

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

Shin Park Claims Another Predator Billiard Tour Stop
Predator 9-ball Tour / Queens, NY
By InsidePOOL Staff
In a strong field of 50 pool players over Memorial Day weekend at Master Billiards in Queens, NY, the Predator 9-ball Tour hosted its sixth stop of the season. The event saw stand-out players such as Shin Park, Mika Immonen, Shaun Wilkie, Warren Kiamco, Frankie Hernandez, Matt Krah, Tony Robles and many others.
As day one ended, the final twelve were brought back for a chance at the top prize of $1,025. On the winners’ side, Frankie Hernandez battled newcomer Scott Simonetti in the quickest match of the day, lasting under an hour. The quick-fires fought to hill-hill, and Simonetti looked to win the match with a killer safety on the 2 ball. But the unfazed Frankie kicked three rails to make an amazing 2 ball and run out for the 5-9 combination.
The common match-up of Robles and Park was the other winners’ side match. Robles took an early 5-2 lead on Park, but again Robles’ break proved inconsistent. Both struggled to make balls, and Park managed to pull ahead and win the match 9-6.
After a loss to Park, Immonen came back to win his next six in a row, including wins over Bobby Blackmore, Thomas Wan, Eddie Abraham, Robles, and Kiamco to face Hernandez in the semifinal match. Hernandez came out strong and took an early lead over Immonen, but Immonen fought back with some offensive shots and a few good rolls to win the match 9-4, leaving Hernandez to settle for third place.
The final was all Park. Immonen seemed to show signs of fatigue from the day’s battles and missed shots unexpectedly. Park capitalized and played some great pool, earning a 9–5 win over the “Iceman” and winning the event.
Results:
1st Shin Park
2nd Mika Immonen
3rd Frankie Hernandez
4th Warren Kiamco
5th Scott Simonetti
Tony Robles
7th Matt Krah
Eddie Abraham
9th Kari Paloheimo
Jorge Rodriguez
Joey Kong
Victor Nau

Brunswick Dealer Advantage Expands to Include Dealer Logo Wear and Promotional Items

Posted by admin as Billiards Industry News - Information

Brunswick Dealer Advantage Expands to Include Dealer Logo Wear and Promotional Items

Brunswick Dealer Advantage is helping dealers promote their businesses by offering logoed clothing and promotional products at preferred pricing through Threds. Brunswick dealers across three industries and two countries now have access to the program; Brunswick Billiards dealers, Life Fitness dealers and Brunswick marine dealers in the United States and Canada can take advantage of special pricing on everything from dealer branded dress shirts for employees, to logoed plastic cups and giveaways for customer events.
“Local awareness and word of mouth are two keys to success for our dealers,” said Brunswick Dealer Advantage director Betsy Lazzara. “Threds gives our dealers access to products to help them stand out.”
Founded in 1994, Threds is based in Knoxville, Tenn., and boasts an impressive client list in a wide range of industries. Threds is capable of fulfilling small custom jobs for dealerships of any size or developing elaborate retail programs for additional dealer revenue. In addition to preferred pricing on all promotional items available through Threds, Brunswick dealers will have access to monthly specials at even deeper discounts.
“Threds has a great reputation in the industry,” said Thred’s Director of Sales Stephen Ladner. “Combined with the volume of business we conduct through our vendor partners, we frequently enjoy significant savings opportunities which we can pass along to our clients. Based on our experience, we believe we can help Brunswick dealers effectively promote their businesses while saving them money.”
Brunswick Dealer Advantage features three levels of participation – silver, gold and platinum – each based on the amount of the dealer’s business with Brunswick. The deeper the partnership with Brunswick, the higher the dealer’s level of eligibility, with more benefits and services available to them.
In addition to promotional products, Brunswick Dealer Advantage benefits and services include preferred pricing on customized retirement strategies and succession planning, discounted rates on computers and equipment for dealerships and their employees, college scholarships for dealership employees’ children, and much more.

Dealers can learn more about Brunswick Dealer Advantage by visiting its dedicated web site at www.brunswickdealeradvantage.com (http://www.brunswickdealeradvantage.com/) or by calling 1-877 GO-ADVTG (462-3884).

About Brunswick Dealer Advantage
Brunswick Dealer Advantage is offered through Brunswick Corporation to Brunswick Billiards dealers, Life Fitness dealers and Brunswick marine dealers in Canada and the United States. It provides dealers access to benefits and services designed to address the unique needs of independent dealers. The deeper the partnership with Brunswick, the higher the dealer’s level of eligibility and the more benefits they can access through Brunswick Dealer Advantage.

About Brunswick Corporation
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation endeavors to instill “Genuine Ingenuity”™ in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron electronic controls; Albemarle, Arvor, Baja, Bayliner, Bermuda, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Harris, Hatteras, Kayot, Laguna, Lowe, Lund, Maxum, Meridian, Örnvik, Palmetto, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Savage, Sea Boss, Sea Pro, Sea Ray, Sealine, Triton, Trophy, Uttern and Valiant boats; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land ‘N’ Sea, Kellogg Marine, Diversified Marine and Benrock parts and accessories distributors; IDS dealer management systems; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and ParaBody fitness equipment; Brunswick bowling centers, equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards tables; and Dynamo, Tornado and Valley pool tables, Air Hockey and foosball tables. For more information, visit www.brunswick.com (http://www.brunswick.com/).

Stone Storms Through Billiard Field Undefeated

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Viking Cues 9 Ball Tour

Stone Storms Through Billiard Field Undefeated
Viking cue Open 9-ball Tour/Fairfield, OH
by Skip Maloney
In a stop on the Viking cue Open 9-ball Tour that almost didn’t happen, Stoney Stone worked his way undefeated through a field of 27 billiard entrants to face Shannon Murphy in the finals. Thanks to Viking Cues, which provided a majority of the funding that allowed the event to go on, and a deal struck by the venue with its’ lease holders, the $1,500-added event was held the May 17-18 weekend at Michael’s Billiards in Fairfield, OH.
Early Sunday, Stone was among four players still left on the winners’ side of the bracket. He faced Jamie McWhorter, as Mike Cantrell squared off against Joe Brown. After two hard-fought matches in which Stone defeated McWhorter 9-6 and Cantrell knocked off Brown 9-7, Stone and Cantrell advanced to the hot seat match. Stone wasted no time sending Cantrell west with a commanding 9-2 victory.
Shannon Murphy and Shawn Putnam dropped Justin Daniels and Lykins into the seventh-place slot and turned to face Jamie McWhorter and Joe Brown, just over from the winners’ side. Murphy and Putnam continued their advance, moving into the quarterfinal match, won by Murphy 9-4.
Murphy duplicated that score in the semifinal match against Cantrell before moving into the true double-elimination finals against Stone. Stone defeated Murphy in the first set 9-6, capturing the first-place prize.
Results:
1st Stoney Stone
2nd Shannon Murphy
3rd Mike Cantrell
4th Shawn Putnam
5th Joe Brown
Jamie McWhorter
7th Shayne Lykins
Justin Daniels
9th Mike Grooms
Mike Franklin
Mike Janis
Shane Jackson

Fuller Wins Second Straight Billiards Event

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Jacoby Cues Carolina Tour

Fuller Wins Second Straight Billiards Event
Jacoby Cues Carolina Tour / Rocky Mount, NC
by Skip Maloney
After recording his first victory in five attempts on the Jacoby Cues Carolina Tour in April, Mike Fuller picked up his second straight billiards tour victory the weekend of May 17-18. Fuller defeated Phillip Richardson twice to capture first place in the $1,000-added event, which drew 39 entrants to Sharks-N-Shooters in Rocky Mount, NC.
On Sunday, Fuller and Richardson were half of the final four on the winners’ side. They gave up only three games total between them in defeating Rob Krull 7-1 and Delton Howard 7-2, respectively. The going got a little rougher in the hot seat match, with Fuller prevailing 7-5 to send Richardson to the semifinals.
On the west side, Robert Ray faced Mike Gulyassy in the quarterfinal match. He’d sent Gulyassy to the one-loss side in the tournament’s opening round and defeated him a second time 7-5 to move into the semifinals against Richardson. Richardson defeated Ray 7-4 to advance to the finals.
Richardson took an early 3-0 lead in the finals before Fuller responded. They tied and then struggled back and forth to double-hill before Fuller closed it out and collected his second straight tour victory.
Results:
1st Mike Fuller
2nd Phillip Richardson
3rd Robert Ray
4th Mike Gulyassy
5th Rob Krull
Delton Howard
7th Ron Park
Mac Harrell
9th Matt Reed
Peaches Fuller
Jeff Pruitt
Russell Sasser

Nevel Captures Third Straight Great Southern Billiard Tour Win

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

Nevel Captures Third Straight Great Southern Billiard Tour Win
Southern Billiard Tour / Knoxville, TN
by Skip Maloney
“The Truth” Nevel picked up his third straight victory on the Great Southern Billiard Tour the weekend of May 17-18 in Knoxville, TN. He defeated Jonathan “Hennessee From Tennessee” Pinegar in the final match, adding to a string of six victories on the tour dating back to the finale of last year’s tour in January. He’s defeated six different opponents in the finals on the tour and has been defeated only twice. The $1,500-added event drew 40 entrants to Breakers Sports Bar Grille.
The hot seat match that followed between Nevel and Daulton was the second time in a week that the two had squared off in a critical Great Southern Tour match. Once again Nevel prevailed, defeating Daulton.
On the one-loss side, bank champion John Brumback faced off with Pinegar in the quarterfinal match. Brumback put up a fight, forcing the match to hill-hill before Pinegar closed it out and turned to face Daulton, who’d sent him to the one-loss side earlier in the day.
In the semifinals, “Hennessee” jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Daulton came back to tie it. They fought back and forth beyond the tie to a 6-5 Hennessee lead. They traded the next two racks before Pinegar won two to drop Daulton into third place.
Pinegar brought some of his semifinal momentum with him to the true double-elimination finals against Nevel. He took a 5-0 lead, but Nevel was not to be denied. He took the next five to tie it, and after a seesaw round of six games that took the match to hill-hill, Nevel won the seventh and last game.
Results:
1st Larry Nevel
2nd Jonathan Pinegar
3rd Shannon Daulton
4th John Brumback
5th Randy Vaughn
Robert Green
7th Tony Smith
Curtis Blevins
9th Janet Atwell
Scott Eller
Ricky Patterson
Wes Covington