Saez Goes Undefeated at Joss Billiards Stop

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Saez Goes Undefeated at Joss Billiards Stop
Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour / Waterville, ME

by Skip Maloney, Inside POOL Magazine

Saez outlasted Marc Vidal to take down the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour stop at TJ's Billiards in Waterville, ME.

Robb Saez withstood a double challenge from Marc Vidal and took home the first-place prize on the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour stop September 27-28. The $2,000-added event drew 28 entrants to TJ’s Classic Billiards in Waterville, ME.

Among the winners’ side final four, Saez and Billy “the Kid” Lanna sent Vidal and Ivaylo Petrov, respectively, to the one-loss side of the bracket with identical 9-6 victories. Saez then grabbed the hot seat, sending Lanna over with a 9-7 win.

On the one-loss side, Ray McNamara and Tom McGonagle dropped Chris Leal and David Hall into a tie for seventh before meeting up with Vidal and Petrov. The latter two dropped McNamara and McGonagle into a tie for fifth place and squared off to face each other in the quarterfinals. Vidal and Petrov battled to a 9-7 win for Vidal, who went on to defeat Lanna in the semifinals 9-6.

In what turned out to be only the third match among the tournament’s final ten to conclude with a score differential higher than four racks, Saez concluded his first journey of the year to first place with a commanding 9-3 victory over Vidal.

Results:
1st Robb Saez
2nd Marc Vidal
3rd Billy Lanna
4th Ivaylo Petrov
5/6th Ray McNamara
5/6th Tom McGonagle
7/8th Chris Leal
7/8th David Hall

World 10-Ball Championship Commences

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World 10-Ball Championship Commences
World 10-Ball Championship / Manila, Philippines

by InsidePOOL Staff

Ouschan defeated Lin Yuan Chun in the preliminary round of the World 10-Ball Championships in Manila, Philippines. The event is sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association.

The World 10-Ball Championship kicked off in Manila, Philippines, September 29, with a total of 128 of the finest players from all over the world vying for the first-ever world title in the 10-ball format as sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association.

The international event is also offering up a massive prize purse of $400,000. Leading the pack in pursuit of the lion’s share are the three reigning world champions: Niels Feijen, recently crowned the world straight pool champion; Ralf Souquet, world 8-ball champion; and Daryl Peach, world 9-ball champion.

On the American team, number-one-ranked Shane Van Boening is joined by Johnny Archer, Corey Deuel, Steve Moore, Jeremy Jones, Gabe Owen, Max Eberle, Oscar Dominguez, Glen Atwell, Louis Ulrich, Shaun Wilkie, and Charlie Williams.

The 128 players entered in the main draw will be divided into 16 groups of 8 and will contend in a double-elimination format. From there, four players from each group will advance to the final sixty-four. At that point, the format changes to single elimination with one small exception: Instead of a tie for third place, there will be a match to determine the third- and fourth-place finishers.

In a battle of top women, Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan bested Lin Yuan Chun of Chinese Taipei 9-6. Germany’s Martin Kempter delivered a 9-7 defeat to Archer while fellow countryman Roman Hybler came out ahead of his hill-hill match with Deuel. Hungary’s Vilmos Foldes handed Dominguez his first defeat 9-6, and Ricky Yang bested Wilkie 9-4. All are now one loss away from being sent home. Ernesto Dominguez also suffered a first-round loss to Russia’s Rusian Chinahov. However, Williams bested Raj “The Hitman” Hundal 9-3, while compatriot Owen defeated French shooter Vincent Facquet 9-7 to move within one win of advancing to the knockout stages.  

Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.

ACS Midwest 8-Ball Championships Announced

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The ACS Midwest 8-Ball Championships will once again be feld in Hubertus, WI.

The ACS Midwest 8-Ball Championships returns for a third year in Hubertus, Wisconsin (near Milwaukee), at the Richfield Chalet, November 14-16! The event will feature singles and 3-person team divisions for ACS and CCS-sanctioned league players with four weeks of play since June 1, 2008.

Any pool league can sanction or dual-sanction with the ACS simply by paying a $10/player sanction fee. Entry forms and flyers may be downloaded from the ACS website at Americancuesports.org. ACS league members are qualified to compete in twelve (12) ACS state championships within their respective states, four (4) CCS Canadian regional and national championships and the 2008 ACS National Championships to be conducted May 31 – June 6 at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The ACS also offers both certified referee and instructor/coach programs, and the highest-placing ACS member wins a free entry into the ACS Nationals at each Pechauer All American Tour stop – open to any amateur player. ACS presents the 2008/2009 installment of the Pechauer All American Tour in October, 2008.

The ACS is a non-profit, national organization dedicated to heightening the interest and awareness of cue sports through the support and sanctioning of organized competition throughout the United States and North America.

American Pool Deluxe Racks up on Wii™

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American Pool Deluxe Racks up on Wii™

The Ultimate Pool & Billiard Simulation Coming This Fall

The American Pool Deluxe pool and billiard video games will be available for Wii™ this Fall.

“The most realistic pool game on the market to date!”
Eric “The Preacher” Yow, WPA Massé World Champion

“The only game that can actually make you a better pool player on the real felt!” 
Jennifer Barretta, Women’s Professional Billiards Association

Austin, TX – September 9, 2008 – Coming this fall, American Pool Deluxe offers your favorite pool and billiards games for Wii™. American Pool Deluxe makes use of Wii remote’s accelerometer technology for the most realistic experience possible.

American Pool Deluxe pool and billiards video games.

From 8-ball to 9-ball to snooker, American Pool Deluxe features head-to-head and two person multiplayer, trick-shot challenges, as well as a complete tournament mode. Players in a tournament can face off against other pool champions from around the world. Three professional commentators analyze the action as players walk around the table and plan their shots from any angle.

“With superior graphics and incomparable gameplay, American Pool Deluxe is as authentic as they come,” said Eric “The Preacher” Yow, World Pool-Billiard Association Massé World Champion. “For years the gaming industry has attempted to duplicate the complex physics and geometry of cue sports into a lifelike rendition for families to enjoy. Finally, a game captures the beauty of the sport and allows you to perfect your skills! Run a rack without ever leaving your chair!”

American Pool Deluxe is the first game to come out of Upshot Games, the casual games division of Gone Off Deep Inc., whose other brands include video game publishing company Gamecock Media Group.

For more information please visit www.AmericanPoolDeluxe.com. American Pool Deluxe will be released on Wii this November for $49.99. 

About Upshot Games
Upshot Games is the casual games label of Gone Off Deep LLC, who also operates as Gamecock Media Group. Upshot seeks opportunities to reach mainstream audiences with quality offerings on all gaming platforms worldwide.
Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo.

Contact:
Shaun Norton
Sandbox Strategies
212-213-2451 x 226
shaun@sandboxstrat.com

Lanuto Logs Tri-State Billiards Win

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Lanuto Logs Tri-State Billiards Win
Tri-State Tour / Edison, NJ

by Skip Maloney

Sal Lanuto fended off the field to capture the Tri-State billiards tour stop title at Sandcastle Billiards in Edison, NJ.

Sal Lanuto went undefeated to take first place in the Tri-State Tour stop September 27. The $500-added, B,D-handicapped event drew 30 entrants to Sandcastle Billiards in Edison, NJ.

Positioned among the winners’ side final four, Lanuto first sent Gary Murgia to the one-loss side with a 7-2 victory before taking on Amy Triolo in the hot seat match. Triolo, who’d defeated Jason Egeln 7-5, followed him over on the heels of a 7-3 Lanuto victory.

On the one-loss side, Phil Carr, positioned among the final eight there, defeated Angelo Fiorino 7-2 and Ted Lubis 7-5 before facing Egeln. Carr dropped Egeln 7-5 into a tie for fifth place with George Osipovich, who’d fallen 7-2 to Murgia. In the early going of the quarterfinal match that followed, Carr was building on his momentum and took a 4-0 lead against Murgia.  Murgia rallied to tie it and then surged ahead by two games to reach the hill first. Carr responded to go double-hill before Murgia finished it 7-6 and turned to face Triolo in the semifinals.

In the handicapped format, Triolo entered the semifinals with a 4-0 lead. Murgia allowed her to win only two actual games, closing it out at 9-6 and preparing for his second match-up against Lanuto.

Like Triolo in the semifinals, Lanuto started the final match with two games in hand against the higher handicapped Murgia. Murgia erased that lead to tie it at 2-2 right away but missed opportunities to open and widen a gap as the match progressed. The two battled to a 5-5 tie, before Lanuto took advantage of successive opportunities and finished it 7-5.

Results:
1st Sal Lanuto
2nd Gary Murgia
3rd Amy Triolo
4th Phil Carr
5/6th George Osipovich
5/6th Jason Egeln
7/8th Teddy Lubis
7/8th Ben Sadowski
9/12th Randy Mackin
9/12th Angelo Fiorino
9/12th James DeGiosafatto
9/12th Michael Seas

Ranola Wins Arizona Women’s Billiard Tour Event

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Ranola Wins Arizona Women’s Billiard Tour Event
Arizona Women’s Billiard Tour / Tempe, AZ

by Skip Maloney

Iris Ranola snapped off her second straight Arizona Women's Billiard Tour event at Corner Pocket Billiards in Tempe, AZ.

Iris Ranola fought off a strong challenge by Susan Mello from the one-loss side and captured her second straight win on the Arizona Women’s Billiards Tour the weekend of September 27-28. Ranola, who’d won the stop in Tucson late in August, joined a field of 23 women for the $500-added event, hosted by Kolby’s Korner Pocket Billiards in Tempe, AZ.

Among the winners’ side final four, Ranola shut out Nina Tagley to face Nicole Keeney in the hot seat match. Keeney, who’d sent Kathleen Wallace west with a 7-3 victory, followed her over with a 7-4 defeat at the hands of Ranola.

On the one-loss side, Mello and Susan Williams emerged from among the final 12, dropping Sara Miller and Angel Paglia, respectively, into a tie for seventh and then facing Wallace and Tagley over from the winners’ side. The two Susans dropped Wallace and Tagley into a tie for fifth and then battled through a double-hill match in the quarterfinals that sent Mello to meet Keeney in the semifinals. Mello followed her hill-hill victory over Williams with a solid 7-1 defeat of Keeney that moved her into the finals against Ranola.

Mello’s momentum in the semifinals helped to define a give and take struggle in the finals. Ranola, however, was not to be denied and closed it out at 7-5 to secure her second straight win on the tour.

Results:
1st Iris Ranola
2nd Susan Mello
3rd Nicole Keeney
4th Susan Williams
5/6th Nina Tagley
5/6th Kathleen Wallace
7/8th Sara Miller
7/8th Angelina Paglia
9/12th Ashea Erdahl
9/12th Liz Bernreuter
9/12th Krystal Edmondson
9/12th Trinh Lu

photo courtesy of Rixx Images

Powers Holds off Laney to win at Diamond Billiards Club

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Powers Holds off Laney to win at Diamond Billiards Club
The Great Southern Billiard Tour / Chattanooga, TN

by Skip Maloney

Rock Powers held off Mike Laney in the finals of the Great Southern Billiard Tour stop at Diamonds Billiard Club in Chattanooga, TN.

Rick Powers withstood a strong challenge from the one-loss side by Mike Laney to take first place in the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s amateur stop the weekend of September 27-28. The $2,000-added event drew 52 amateur pool players to Diamonds Billiard Club in Chattanooga.

Early Sunday, Powers and Daniel McKenney, on the winners’ side, sent Kendall Frazier and Josh O’Neal over to battle for fifth place and faced each other in the hot seat match. They battled to double-hill before Powers prevailed, sending McKenney to the semifinals.

Laney, in the meantime, was working from among the one-loss side’s final eight, defeating Darrell Stites and Gabe Appolos before facing O’Neal in the battle that determined fifth place. Dave Crockett was at work as well, moving past Jared McGee and Jarrett McPherson for his fifth-place struggle against Frazier. Crockett and Laney faced each other in the quarterfinals, won by Laney 8-4.

Laney completed his trip to the finals with an 8-6 victory over McKenney, only to be defeated by the same score in the finals against Powers.

Results:
1st Rick Powers
2nd Mike Laney
3rd Daniel McKenney
4th Dave Crockett
5/6th Josh O’Neal
5/6th Kendall Frazier
7/8th Jarret McPherson
7/8th Gabe Appolos
9/12th Jared McGee
9/12th Darrell Stites
9/12th Jeff Tabet
9/12th Jamey Hickman

Roberts Returns to Win Legends of Bank Pool

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Roberts Returns to Win Legends of Bank Pool
Legends of Bank Pool / Lexington, SC

by Skip Maloney

Josh Roberts won the Legends of Bank Pool event held at Grady' in Lexington, SC.

Josh Roberts avenged a shut-out defeat at the hands of Scott Rabon and returned to defeat him in the finals of the first Legends of Bank Pool tournament, held the weekend of September 27-28. The $1,000-added event, hosted by Grady’s in Lexington, SC, drew about six times as many spectators as it did participants, with eight players on hand to compete in the bank pool tournament. According to co-owner Randi Mathews, while the limited participation had been expected, the spectator turnout came as something of a surprise.

Roberts, Rabon, club co-owner Grady Mathews, and Kevin Brown won the opening round of play, with Rabon shutting out Shannon Lundy. Rabon repeated his shut-out play with a 5-0 defeat of Roberts and followed it with a 5-1 victory over Kevin Brown to earn the hot seat.

In the meantime, on the short list, one-loss side of the bracket, Brian White and Red Calhoun were eliminating Lundy and Matthew Dugger. White then fell to Grady Mathews 5-2, as Roberts recorded his only shut-out of the tournament in the subsequent match against Calhoun. Roberts dropped Mathews into fourth place with a 5-3 score and Brown into third place 5-2. Roberts then closed the proceedings on Sunday night with a 5-3 victory over Rabon in the finals.

Results:
1st Josh Roberts
2nd Scott Rabon
3rd Kevin Brown
4th Grady Mathews
5/6th Brian White
5/6th Red Calhoun
7/8th Shannon Lundy
7/8th Matthew Dugger

Kennedy Takes Long Road to Billiards Victory

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Kennedy Takes Long Road to Billiards Victory
J. Pechauer Southeast 9-Ball Tour / Savannah, GA

by Skip Maloney

Tommy "TK from FLA" Kennedy lost his round but won every round afterwards to win the J. Pechauer Southeast 9-Ball Tour stop.

Tour director Tommy Kennedy was defeated in the opening round of play on his J. Pechauer 9-Ball Open stop the weekend of September 27-28 but proceeded to battle through ten opponents to capture first place. The $1,500-added event drew 46 players to the Southside Billiard Club in Savannah, GA. A second chance, $500-added tournament on Sunday drew 28 entrants and was won by Chad Stokes.

In the open event, as Kennedy was working his way back to the finals as Butch Croft, Walter Blacker, Michael Newsome, and Neil Fujiwara were the last four standing on the winners’ side. Croft defeated Blacker 9-3, as Fujiwara moved Newsome west 9-5. Croft sent Fujiwara to the semifinals with a 9-6 victory in the hot seat match.

On the one-loss side, Kennedy and Ron Park emerged from among the final 12, dropping John Swope and Josh Williams into seventh place, respectively, before facing Blacker and Newsome. It was Kennedy and Park advancing to the quarterfinals, with Kennedy winning that match 9-4. Kennedy improved on his 9-4 habit with a 9-3 defeat of Fujiwara in the semifinals.

Early on, it looked as though Kennedy’s streak was going to be halted. Croft had a 6-2 advantage going into the ninth game. A combination shot that sunk the 9 ball early gave Kennedy that game, which he turned into a six-pack that put him up 8-6. They maintained that two rack distance to the nineteenth game, when Croft took advantage of a missed bank shot by Kennedy on the 8 ball to pull within one at 10-9. Croft broke for the chance to tie it but missed on an early 1-9 combination that he left for Kennedy. Kennedy made that combination and secured the first-place win.

Results:
1st Tommy Kennedy
2nd Butch Croft
3rd Neil Fujiwara
4th Ron Park
5-6th Walter Blacker
5-6th Michael Newsome
7-8th John Swope
7-8th Josh Williams
9-12th David Crocker
9-12th Red Sale
9-12th Bobby Gaza
9-12th David Tootle

Roberts Rules Inaugural K F Cues Billiard Event

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Roberts Rules Inaugural K F Cues Billiard Event
K F Cues Amateur 9-Ball Tour / New Port Richey, FL

by InsidePOOL Staff

James Roberts snared the title at the K F Cues inagural event at TJ's Billiards in New Port Richey, FL.

James Roberts came through to take top honors at the K F Cues Amateur 9-Ball Tour’s inaugural event, hosted by the brand-new TJ’s Billiards in New Port Richey, FL. Hosted the weekend of September 27-28, this tournament garnered a field of 32 for its $600-added first event.

It was Michael Delawder who took the hot seat from Roberts by a tight 7-5 score. On the one-loss side, though, Louis Smith, who also played in the tour’s pro event, eliminated Bobby Livrago 5-3, while Mark Wathen ousted Keelan McCullers by a whopping 5-0. In the ensuing quarterfinal match, Smith sent Wathen packing 5-2.

In the two-rack handicap system used by the K F Cues Tour, Roberts had to give up two racks to Smith in the semifinal match. He did this most successfully, advancing to the finals with a 7-3 score. From there he took a 4-0 lead against Delawder, but his opponent fought back to make it a 7-all tie. Roberts made a few strong bank shots in the penultimate rack to take the hill, and another strong bank in the final rack gave him the win 9-7.

Results:
1st James Roberts
2nd Michael Delawder
3rd Louis Smith
4th Mark Wathen
5-6th Keelan McCullers
5-6th Bobby Livrago