ACS Supports UPA

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

ACS Supports UPA
by John Lewis
An Open Letter in Support of the UPA
Bravo to the UPA for standing up to the recent “BCA Resumes Control of Men’s Rankings, Communications” release!
The UPA - United States Professional Poolplayers Association, is an affiliate to the ACS - American CueSports Alliance. The ACS – a member-governed association – fully supports a pro men’s player union in the United States and their right to administer and govern their own affairs.
When issues arise that negatively affect the players, too often there’s a lack of activism. Regardless of -
- who is promoting a pro men’s event
- who claims to be a governing body
- who advertises themselves as the next savior of pool,
it is paramount that the professional pool players in the United States remain focused on their own union, whose sole purpose is to look after their interests.
In recent years, that has been the UPA. Some may criticize the organization for doing too little, but such critics should never lose sight of one vision - the UPA is “the men pro player’s thing” to which they can look to when outside forces make decisions that affect their future without including their “union” in the decision-making.
The Billiard Congress of America trade association should only be supported for what it is – a trade association that is necessary to the industry.
However, since 2004 when the BCA divested itself of its player programs, it has unfortunately insisted on continuing to adopt a governing body stance, with the also unfortunate backing of the world-governing body for the sport of pool, the WPA - World-Pool-Billiard Association.
The WPA is a credible world sports body, but even a credible body can make poor decisions. The WPA interference in United States pool growth by their continuing to recognize a trade association whose entire board of directors is trade people, is a black mark on the world-governing body. Unlike all the other confederation members of the WPA, the BCA is NOT a sports organization! It has no sports structure. If it walks like a trade association and quacks like a trade association…IT’S A TRADE ASSOCIATION! No amount of coaching from the WPA to be otherwise is going to change the BCA’s true profile.
The ‘Committee’ formed by the BCA of various Player Member organizations (which included the UPA) to somehow satisfy the WPA and to somehow address their complete lack of player membership, has shown itself to be the ‘window dressing’ of which it was suspected. In the United States, the women pros have a strong player’s union, and the WPBA serves that function very capably. But the men pro player’s in the United States should never lose sight of their best interest in supporting their own player’s union, and the UPA currently serves that purpose!
When the BCA announced a new ranking system that will affect the men pro players in the United States without consultation or input from representative players from their player’s union, the trade association showed its true colors.
Players in all member-governed associations should not support such actions. Let your voices be heard! Support the UPA on this issue and discourage the BCA trade association from any involvement in governing the sport.
Especially with the current overall weakness in the billiard industry, we need the BCA to fully focus on trade issues. The BCA should be working with and fully supporting Player Member organizations such as the UPA, instead of needlessly meddling with player issues that it is simply not organized or suited to responsibly handle.
John Lewis
Current ACS Executive Director
Lewis is the longest-tenured BCA employee (1991-2004) in the association’s history and a former board member of the WPA (1991-2007).

McKeon Cracks Pechauer Billiards Competition

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McKeon Cracks Pechauer Billiards Competition

Pechauer All-American Tour / Colorado Springs, CO
by InsidePOOL Staff
The fiftieth and final stop of the 2007/2008 Pechauer All-American Tour was hosted by Antique Billiard Museum in Colorado Springs, CO, the weekend of May 3-4. The $1,000-added event featured a $5 entry and drew 72 players in a double-elimination 9-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes, with Jeff McKeon recovering from an early loss to take top honors.
Ruben Silva marched undefeated through his bracket to the finals, while McKeon, despite an earlier round 9-4 loss to Silva emerged from his bracket to the finals.

In the last eight, Jim Barber eliminated Mark Morgan 7-3, while Nick Smith dominated Adrian Ayala 7-1. Both Smith and Barber fell at fifth place in the next round at the hands of Nate Smith and Bobby Hibbetts, respectively. Hibbetts, whose only loss came at the hands of Silva earlier, kept his momentum by dumping Nate Smith at fourth place by a 7-2 margin. Hibbetts’ recovery ended on the hill in the next round, courtesy of a 7-6 loss to once-defeated McKeon. The final match was a single race to 11, and McKeon took a small lead over Silva and never looked back in his 11-7 title win.

Results:
1st Jeff McKeon
2nd Ruben Silva
3rd Bobby Hibbitts
4th Nate Smith
5th Jim Barber
Nick Smith
7th Mark Morgan
Adrian Ayala

Parke Takes Home Billiards Title

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Parke Takes Home Billiards Title

Pechauer All-American Tour / Decatur, IL
by InsidePOOL Staff
Larry Parke took home first place on the April 19 stop of the Pechauer All-American Tour. Hosted by Brickhouse in Decatur, IL, this $500-added event drew a full 32-player field in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes.
In the hot seat match, Parke outmaneuvered Max Stortzum 5-2. Earlier, in the A-bracket semifinals, Parke turned back Larry Miller 5-2, while Stortzum outgunned Craig Hauck 5-2. In the B-side round of 8, Mike Green eliminated Mike Durbin at seventh place, while Dave Carr also exited at seventh place via a loss to Josh Johnson 2-5. The B-side quarterfinals featured Hauck ousting Mike Green 5-2 and Johnson finishing off Larry Miller 5-2. Johnson survived the semifinals by clipping Hauck 5-4, and he continued his hot hand in the B-side finals over Stortzum 5-1 to get a crack at Parke in the finals. Johnson appeared to be on cruise control in the finals after whitewashing Parke 5-0 in the first set, but Parke recovered nicely in the deciding set to claim the title by a 5-3 margin.

Results:
1st Larry Parke
2nd Josh Johnson
3rd Max Stortzum
4th Craig Hauck
5th Mike Green
Larry Miller
7th Dave Carr
Mike Durbin

Nodine Takes Down Pechauer Billiards Event

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Nodine Takes Down Pechauer Billiards Event

Pechauer All-American Tour / Chenoa, IL
by InsidePOOL Staff
Bob Nodine triumphed at the April 12 stop of the Pechauer All-American Tour, defeating Mike Dunklin in the final match. This $500-added event was hosted by Finish Line Food and Fun in Chenoa, IL, and drew 38 billiard players in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes.
Nodine, out of Streator, IL, took an undefeated route to the finals. In the A-side finals, Nodine outmaneuvered Mike Dunklin 6-3. Earlier, in the A-bracket semis, Nodine dominated local Merle Stalter 6-2, while Dunklin overwhelmed Kassy Werner 6-1.
On the B-side Larry Miller got hot and defeated Tommy Hernandez 3-2, Daniel Hoefing 4-1, Bob Waugh 4-1, and Mike Sather 4-0 before being defeated by eventual third-placer Merle Stalter on the hill 4-3. Also on the B-side Danny Waldrop got on a roll, defeating players Vik Dalavaipalle 4-1, Dennis Rodgers 4-3, and Kassy Werner 4-2. Stalter then eliminated Waldrop at fourth place on the hill 4-3. In a B-side finals battle for the right to play Nodine for the tournament finals, Dunklin ousted Stalter by a 5-2 margin. In the first set of the finals, both players reached the hill at 4-4, but Nodine pulled out the deciding game for the title 5-4.
Results:
1st Bob Nodine
2nd Mike Dunklin
3rd Merle Stalter
4th Danny Waldrop
5th Kassy Werner
Larry Miller
7th Dennis Rodgers
Mike Sather
9th Steve Allee
Vik Dalavaipalle
Bob Waugh
Chris Esker

Atwell Takes Come-From-Behind Victory

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Atwell Takes Come-From-Behind Victory

Pechauer All-American Tour / Portland, OR
by Skip Maloney
Down 5-1 early in the final match against hot seat occupant Dan Louie, Glen Atwell came back to win the final 6 games to capture the $1,500-added Pechauer All-American Tour stop in Portland, OR, at the Nite Hawk. The event drew 48 players the weekend of April 12-13.
Louie easily captured the hot seat by defeating Damien Rebman 9-3, while Atwell started the tournament’s final day on the one-loss side of the bracket with a 9-0 shut-out victory over Jeff Heath. He went on to best Jessie Allred 9-7 and then deposited Bob Zack into a fifth-place tie with a 9-6 win. Now in full stride, Atwell advanced to the quarterfinals and played a close match with Allan Hanson, winning 9-7. In the semifinals Atwell took a 9-5 victory over Rebman. The final match was a close one at first, but when the score was knotted at 5 apiece, Louie took a 7-5 lead before Atwell settled in to capture the last 6 games for the victory.
Results:
1st Glen Atwell
2nd Dan Louie
3rd Damien Rebman
4th Allan Hanson
5th Bob Zack
Bob Olsen
7th Gary Crane
Jessie Allred
9th Kenny Dodd
Steve Lingelbach
Stan Tourangeau
Jeff Heath

Rodriquez Takes a Win in Tucson

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Rodriquez Takes a Win in TucsonPechauer All-American Tour / Tucson, AZ

by InsidePOOL Staff
The March 29 stop of the Pechauer All-American Tour saw Ramon Rodriquez triumph in the final match over Angel Martinez, taking first place. This $1,000-added event, hosted by Main Street Billiards in Tucson, AZ, drew 46 players in a double-elimination 9-ball format on 9-foot Gold Crowns.
Rodriquez moved unscathed to the finals. In the hot seat match, Rodriquez’s powerful break dominated Martinez by a 9-1 score. In the A-bracket semifinals earlier on, Rodriquez outpointed Rudy Alameda 9-7, while Martinez outgunned Frank Wright by the same 9-7 margin.
On the B-side, Zeb Crawford and Dave Collins tied at fifth place via losses to Alameda and Wright, respectively. Alameda overwhelmed Wright in the B-side semis to end his march at fourth place by a 7-1 margin. The B-side finals saw Alameda take a 4-0 lead, only to have Martinez record 7 straight games in his column to stop Alameda at third place 7-4. The single race-to-11 finals featured great play and many outstanding run-outs, but as with the hot seat match, Rodriquez prevailed 11-6 over Martinez for the crown.

Results:
1st Ramon Rodriquez
2nd Angel Martinez
3rd Rudy Alameda
4th Frank Wright
5th Zeb Crawford
Dave Collins
7th Chris Paradowski
Al Gaudett

Bowman Double-Dips Nelson

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

Bowman Double-Dips Nelson
Pechauer All-American Tour / Davenport, IA

by InsidePOOL Staff
Jesse Bowman ran away with the March 22 stop of the Pechauer All-American Tour by twice besting Mark Nelson in the final set. Hosted by Miller Time Billiards in Davenport, IA, this $500-added event drew 34 players in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes.
Nelson went undefeated to the finals. In the hot seat match, Nelson slipped past Steve Parlow 6-5. Earlier, in the A-bracket semifinals, Nelson outpointed Jim LaFavre 6-4, while Parlow dominated Shawn Sommers 6-2. In the B-side round of eight, Bowman recovered from an early round loss to eliminate Rodney Flenoi 8-4, while Rich Bideaux clipped Eric Ward 6-4.
In the quarterfinals, Bideaux white-washed Sommers 6-0, while Bowman put a hurt on LaFavre by an 8-1 margin. Bowman ended Bideaux’s run at fourth place by an 8-4 margin, and he continued his hot streak in the B-side finals by ousting Parlow 8-0. The finals featured Nelson versus Bowman, with Bowman having to win two sets to claim the title. And that is exactly what Bowman did by turning back Nelson 8-4, 8-1 for the title.

Results:
1st Jesse Bowman
2nd Mark Nelson
3rd Steve Parlow
4th Rich Bideaux
5th Jim LaFavre
Shawn Sommers
7th Rodney Flenoi
Eric Ward

Haddad Hits a Home Run

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Haddad Hits a Home Run
Pechauer All-American Tour / Lakewood, CO

by InsidePOOL Staff
Mark Haddad soared to first place at the March 22 stop of the Pechauer All-American Tour. Hosted by Greenfields Pool and Sports Bar in Lakewood, CO, the $1,000-added event drew the maximum 48 players in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes.
In the hot seat match, Haddad outscored Sam Cordova 5-1. Earlier, in the A-bracket semifinals, Haddad defeated Jeremy Fournier 5-4, while Cordova topped off Bill Skinner 5-3. The A-bracket quarterfinals included Cordova dropping Dino Devoe 5-1, Skinner dominating John Duran 5-1, Haddad besting Noe Gonzalez 5-3, and Fournier eclipsing Ronnie Chavez 5-2.

In the B-side final eight, Chavez clipped Chuey Rivera 5-4, and Dave Gomez ousted Devoe 5-1. In the quarterfinals, Chavez and Gomez continued their winning ways by eliminating Skinner 5-4 and Fournier 5-0, respectively. The semifinals saw Gomez clip Chavez 5-4, but the B-side finals ended Gomez’s run at the hands of Cordova by a 5-1 margin. The finals featured Cordova versus Haddad, with Cordova having to win two sets to claim the title. But Haddad was determined to remain undefeated, as he comfortably won the first set 5-2 for the title.

Results:
1st Mark Haddad
2nd Sammy Cordova
3rd Dave Gomez
4th Ronnie Chavez
5th Bill Skinner
Jeremy Fournier
7th Dino Deveo
Chuey Rivera
9th John Duran
Greg Wey
Greg Romero
Noe Gonzalez

Steinke and Barnes Score Top Billiards Finishes

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Steinke and Barnes Score Top Billiards Finishes
Pechauer All-American Tour / Norfolk, VA

by InsidePOOL Staff
The March 8 stop of the Pechauer All-American Tour was hosted by Flipper McCoy’s in Norfolk, VA. The $2,000-added event drew 55 billiard players in separate men’s and women’s divisions in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes, with the winners being Vernon Steinke and Toni Barnes, respectively.
In the 35-player, $1,500-added men’s division, local player Vernon Steinke sailed undefeated to the finals. In the hot seat match, Steinke dominated Jack Davis 7-1. Earlier, in the A-bracket semifinals, Steinke also blitzed Joe Wood 7-1, while Davis comfortably handled Larry Kressel 7-3. In the B-side final eight, Dave Perry ousted Bill Mason 5-2, while John Hughes knocked out Chris Adams 5-3. The B-side quarterfinals featured Kressel crushing Hughes 5-0 and Perry taking care of Wood at fifth place. In the B-side semifinals Kressel eliminated Perry at fourth place 5-3, but Kressel’s run was ended by Davis, who bested him 5-4. Davis had to defeat Steinke two sets for the crown, but Steinke held Davis off in the first set by a 7-6 margin for the title.

In the 20-player, $500-added women’s division, Toni Barnes remained undefeated to the finals, eclipsing Ann Bellamy in the A-side finals 4-3. In the previous A-side round, Barnes eased past Connie Eddins 4-0, and Bellamy upped Rebecca Sears 4-2. In the B-side round of eight, Barbara Yeager took out Alena Joyce 4-1, and Luz Selbe ousted Susie Losh 4-2. In the B-side quarterfinals, Barbara Yeager eliminated Rebecca Sears at fifth place, while Selbe tied Sears because of her 4-0 loss to Connie Eddins. Eddins built up more momentum by eliminating Yeager at fourth place 4-3 and Bellamy at third place 4-3. In the finals, Barnes made short work of Eddins by a 4-1 margin for the crown.

Men’s Results:
1st Vernon Steinke
2nd Jack Davis
3rd Larry Kressel
4th Dave Perry
5th John Hughes
Joe Wood
7th Chris Adams
Bill Mason
Women’s Results:
1st Toni Barnes
2nd Connie Eddins
3rd Ann Bellamy
4th Barbara Yeager
5th Rebecca Sears
Luz Selbe

Billiard Victory Goes to Vilmont

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Billiard Victory Goes to Vilmont
Pechauer All-American Tour / Clinton, IA

by InsidePOOL Staff
Chad Vilmont took an undefeated journey at the March 1 stop of the Pechauer All-American Tour to claim first place. Hosted by Legend’s Sports Bar in Clinton, IA, this $500-added event drew 42 pool players in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes.
Vilmont, a local player, dominated Brad Thompson 7-2 after previously overcoming Jason Totten 7-2 in the A-side semifinals while Thompson clipped Josh Johnson 4-6. In the B-side last eight, Rich Bideaux and Ron Pluym eliminated at seventh place Rich Blauer 5-0 and Frank DeCastecker 5-2, respectively.
Johnson ousted Pluym 7-4 and Totten eliminated Bideaux 4-4, sending them both home with fifth place. In the quarterfinals, Johnson ousted Totten by a score of 7-0. The B-side finals featured Johnson stopping Thompson at third place 7-3. The final match featured the undefeated Vilmont versus Johnson, and Vilmont made short work of Johnson in the first set to claim the title 7-3.

Results:
1st Chad Vilmont
2nd Josh Johnson
3rd Brad Thompson
4th Jason Totten
5th Ron Pluym
Rich Bideaux
7th Rich Blauer
Frank DeCastecker
9th Jessen Numer
Don Branson
Don Thompson
Mike Herrera