rackem magazine january issue 2012

NICK VAN DEN BERG & TEAM EUROPE

CRUSHES TEAM U . S . A .

M O S C O N I C U PW I N S

S T A T SR E S U L T SH I S T O R YR E C O R D S

2 Rackem Magazine - June 2011

http://www.tapleague.com

About RackemRackem is a monthly publ icat ion, dedicated to the advancement of the sport of pool and to promoting enthusiasm and encouragement among the players at all levels, regardless o f t h e i r l e a g u e affiliation, in addition t o r e c o g n i z i n g those businesses who support them all. Covering the midwest. Look for Rackem by the 10th of each month.T h e o p i n i o n s expressed are those o f the au thor o r advertiser and do not necessarily reflect the views of Rackem or its staff. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted for publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher. © 2012 Rackem

Atlas Billiard Supply Skokie, IL 25BCAPL/CSI/USAPL Henderson, NV 27BEF Billiard Education Foundation 11C R Sports Bar Coon Rapids, MN 9Cue & Case St Augustine, FL 7CueStix Int’l Lafayette, CO 28Farmington Billiards Farmington, MN 9Four Bears Classic New Town, ND 6Kamui Tips CA 26Krug’z Pool Hall Muscatine, IA 9LaFonda’s Eagan, MN 24Lucasi Hybrid St Augustine, FL 26Mueller Lincoln, NE 3OTBnTV Live 26Players St Augustine, FL 23Q-Spot Tulsa, OK 6Sharky’s Sedalia, MO 6Simonis Cloth Gurnie, IL 26SW Indiana TAP Evansville, IN 9TAP Little River, SC 2Tiger Products Burbank, CA 3,26Varsity Club Oshkosh, WI 5Video Encyclopedia 8White Diamond Lafayette, LA 12

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What’s Inside

Publisher

Do

n “

Ch

eese

” A

ker

low

Rackem StaffPUBLISHER/EDITORDon “Cheese” Akerlow

MARKETING DIRECTORMary Akerlow

LAYOUTS & DESIGNWendy Swenson

Mary AkerlowDon Akerlow

NICK VAN DEN BERG & TEAM EUROPE

CRUSHES TEAM U . S . A .

M O S C O N I C U PW I N SS T A T S

R E S U L T SH I S T O R Y

R E C O R D Spresents

LIVE StreamingWatch on www.OTBnTV.com ustream.tv/channel/otbntv-livewww.facebook.com/otbntvSponsored by:www.tigerproducts.comwww.simoniscloth.comwww.lucasihybrid.comwww.kamuitips.com

December 2011 - Rackem Magazine 3

POOL ON TV

These schedules have been provided by ESPN.

These are tentative dates and are subject to change

All times are Central time.

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The A to Z of Billiards and Pool

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Currently ESPN is not showing any pool or billiard listings for the month of January.

Cover Photo Courtesy of: JP Parmentier / Matchroom Sport

Happy

New Year

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We can get the word out Pool players want to know Who you areWhere you areWhat you are doingAnd when you are doing it

Our pool publication is not an industry driven media. Our publication goes to the pro and amateur pool players and the destinations where the pool players play.

We are an ad driven media. The Break, Rackem and Stroke go to pool halls, bars, taverns, leagues and tournament players.We cater to our advertisers!If you want your business associated with the pro players you sponsor, what better way to get the players to know that - Put an ad in our magazines which is put directly into the hands and mailbox of the pool players! Why Not?

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BACK2BACK

WPBAPRESIDENT

TALKS 2012

2011

Darren Appleton

Reasons Why Successful Pool Locations Increase Advertising During Slow Economic Times

1. YourCompetitionIsLikelyToCutBackOnAdvertising.2. TheFrequentAdsofSuccessfulLocationsBecomeMoreVisibletothePoolPlayer.3. StudiesProveThatLocationsAdvertisingduringslowtimesIncreaseMarketShare.4. LocationsThatCutAdvertisingWillLoseMarketShare.SomeWillEvenGoBust.5. AdvertisingworksovertimebecauseitbuildsnameAWARENESS.6. Itworksbecausewithoutitthepoolplayersbelievesallproducts,servicesand locationsarethesame.7. Whenyoudon’tadvertiseapoolplayerquicklyforgetsyourlocation. And,theydon’tknowwhyyouarebetterthanyourcompetition.8. Researchhasshownthatthebest-performingcompaniesinthelongtermare thosethatcontinueadvertisingduringaneconomicslowdown.9. Yourbudgetmayseemtightrightnow,butthecurrentslowdownmaybean idealopportunitytobringinnewpoolplayersandtheirspousestoyourlocation.

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WE CATER TO OUR ADVERTISERSWe will promote your Events, Location, Pool Tournaments and your Pool players

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4 Rackem Magazine - January 2012

January 2012 - Rackem Magazine 5

DECEMBER3OPEN8-BALL

SaturdayDec3rdsaw43playersdescenduponTheVarsityClubinOshkosh,WIfortheiropen8-Ball,$675added,raceto5tournament.Thetournamentwasplayedontheir(12)7’DiamondPro-Cuttables.ManynotableMidwestplayerssuchasGeneAlbrecht,JohnFields,TomMcCluskeywereinthehousehopingtotakedownthecash.ThewinnerssidesawRonDobesinskicomethroughthetopofthebracket.ManywillrememberRon’sdominatingperformancesincasinotournamentsfrom10yearsago.Ronisstartingtogetbackintopoolaftertakingabreak.Comingfromthebottomofthewinner’sbrackettomeetRonwasMadison’sChrisBonde.ChrishasbeenontearinWisconsindoingwellinmanyoftheBeloittournamentsandalsohavinghispoolteamwinboththeWisconsinBCAteamdivisionin2010andtheWAMOteamtournamentin2011.RonwasabletogetbyChris5-3totakethewinner’sside.

Ontheloser’ssideJohnFieldswasmakinghiswaythroughthebracket.JohnhasbeenoneofthetopplayersinWisconsinformanyyearsandisrededicatinghimselftoplayingoverthelastyear.HiseffortswererewardedashegotpastChrisBondeto5-4tohavehisshotagainstRon.

ThefirstsetofthefinalswasquickasJohngotpastRon5-2.InthesecondsetJohnwasonceagainabletogetpastRon5-3towinthetournament.

DECEMBER10A/BTOURNAMENT

Dec.10thwasthedateforTheVarsityClub’sfinalA/Btournamentoftheyear.TheformatforthesetournamentshasbeenahugesuccessforTheVarsityClubasattendancehascontinuedtoincreaseas57playerswereinattendance.ForthistournamentAratedplayersracedto5onthewinner’ssideand4ontheloser’sside.Bplayersracedto4onthe

winner’ssideand3ontheloser’sside.

“A”rated,16yearoldTylerStyerfromMilwaukeecruisedthroughthetopofthewinner’ssidebracket.TylerhaswonnumerousjuniortitlesandrecentlyrepresentedtheUSAinPolandfortheWPAJuniortournament.

MeetingTylerinthefinalsonthewinner’ssidewasJimDuganfromMadison,WI.Jim,rankeda“B”wasonfirealldayashemoweddowntopcalcuttapicks.IntheirmatchTylerwouldgetbyJim5-2.

Ontheloser’ssideJason“NewYork”Blomwasmakinghiswaythrough.JasonwasgivenalotofincentivetodowellasafterthistournamenthewasgoingtobemovedupandnotbeabletoplaytheseA/Btournamentsanymore.Jasonprovedwhyhewasbeingmovedupashecruisedtoa5-2winoverJimDugan.

InthefirstfinalsmatchitwasallJasonBlomasheplayedgreatandbeatTyler5-1.thesecondsetwouldbeelusiveforJasonthough.Hegotupearlyandhadachancetogoup3-0butmissedatough8-ball.ThisgaveTylerthechanceheneededashewonthatgameandranthenext2togoup3-2.Thematchendedupgoinghill-hillandTylerbrokeandranouttowinthetournament.

TheVarsityClubwouldliketothankalltheplayersforplayingandcontinuingtosupportpoolinWisconsin!

8-BALLat theVARSITY CLUB

DEC 3RD OPEN 8-BALL TOURNAMENT DEC 10TH A/B TOURNAMENT

Results

OPEN8-BALL1. $1300 JohnFields($500tournament/$800calcutta)2. $1000 RonDobesinski($400/$600)3. $750 ChrisBonde(300/450)4. $450 JeremyFedkenhauer($200/$250)5/6. $230 ChadGosz,DaleLorenz($100/$130)7/8. $65 JohnLewis,GilHernandez9/12. $30 TomMcCluskey,CarlosMcGill,GeneAlbrecht,MatStrong

A/BTOURNAMENT1. $1400 TylerStyer($550tourney&$850calcutta)2. $1075 Jason“NewYork”Blom($425/$650)3. $775 JimDugan($325/450)4. $530 JamesClemente($200/$330)5/6. $270 PaoXiong,BrianMiller($120/$150)7/8. $165 RodgerPregler,SonnyGalica($65/$90)9/12. $50 JeffGilson,RobbieSchmidt JayBeale,JerrySolvang13/16. $30 MaynardHebert,JakeSchneider TylerMeyer,AndyKunz

RESULTS


The 2011-2012 Lucasi Hybrid Cues All American Tour conducted its fifteenth stop at Sharky’s Billiards in Davenport, IA, Saturday, December 17. The $500-added 8-ball handicapped tourney on 7-foot Valley bar boxes drew 26 players. Despite the handicapping, the “heavyweights” dominated on this day. On the A-side Chad Vilmont (Clinton, IA) [rated a “7” on a regional handicap system used] and Anthony Garcia [6] (Cedar Rapids, IA) won their semi-finals matches over Josh Johnson [7] (Bettendorf, IA) 7-4 and Ronnie Martin [6] (E. Moline, IL) 6-5 respectively. Vilmont then took the hot seat by dispatching Garcia 7-4. On the B-side Ronnie Martin and Rich Bideaux [6] (Moline, IL)

were relegated to 5th place at the hands of Jesse Bowman [8] (E. Moline, IL) 4-8 and Josh Johnson 5-7 respectively. Johnson then eliminated Bowman at 4th place by a 7-4 margin. The B-side finals turned in favor of Anthony Garcia, as he turned back Josh Johnson 6-5. The tourney finals went to the hill, but undefeated Chad Vilmont prevailed in the first set to claim the title by a 6-5 margin! Anthony Garcia being the highest-finishing ACS member in the event qualified for a free 9-Ball singles entry into the

2012 Lucasi Hybrid ACS Nationals. The ACS wishes to thank sponsors Lucasi Hybrid Cues, Championship Billiard Fabric and Nick Varner Signature Cases for their support. Sponsorship opportunities and tour stop openings are still available for the 2011/2012 All American Tour by contacting the ACS.

Further information, entry details and schedules for the 2011/2012 Lucasi Hybrid All American Tour are available at www.americancuesports.org.

Final Results:1st Chad Vilmont (Clinton, IA) $350 + $60 side pot 2nd Anthony Garcia (Cedar Rapids, IA) $250 + $30 side pot3rd Josh Johnson (Bettendorf, IA) $200 + $20 side pot4th Jesse Bowman (E. Moline, IL) $1205-6th Ronnie Martin (E. Moline, IL) $60 Rich Bideaux (Moline, IL)

Mens Division: $10,000 Added $60 Entry • Race to 7 • Alternate BreakFirst 128 Players PaidStarts April 20th at 6 pmEntry Deadline April 19th at 5pm Mens Calcutta – Top 32 Cash Only – 100% Payback

Womens Division: $3000 Added$40 Entry • Race to 5 • Alternate BreakFirst 64 Players PaidStarts April 20thEntry Deadline April 19th at 5pmWomen’s Calcutta – Top 8Cash Only – 100% Payback

April 19-22, 2012Four Bears Casino & LodgeNew Town, North Dakota

Entry Deadline : April 19th @ 5 pm Central Time

SEND ENTRyS TO:4 Bears 8-Ball ClassicBox 745New Town, ND 58763

FOR ROOMS OR MORE INFO: Call Ray @ 701-421-0604Or Bill @ 701-421-1305 Or Go To www.4bearsclassic.comIN

FO

9-Ball Tournament $3000 Added $50 Entry Fee

Race to 9Alternate Break

Starts April 19th at 5pm

VILMONT DOMINATES

[L-R] JOHN JOHNSON (3RD) AND ANTHONY GARCIA (2ND)

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January 2012- Rackem Magazine 7

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C O L U M N I S T

San Francisco Billiard Academywww.sfbilliards.com

Bob JewettSan Francisco Billiard Academy is a BCA Certified Master Academy.The academy offers:Private InstructionBasics ClinicEight Ball ClinicNine Ball ClinicIntroduction to Billiard InstructionBCA Recognized Instructor Course BCA Certified Instructor Course

BY: BOB JEWETT

Two STroke ShoTSWhen you’re playing well, all your shots will be simple and if you’re playing really well all your position plays will also be easy. When things are not going well, you better have a wide repertoire of shots and moves to help get back on track. Here are two shots that every player should be ready to use in a pinch. Both shots are from a hypothetical game of nine ball.

In the first shot the challenge is to pocket the 1 and get position on the 2 ball. The 8 ball is blocking the standard three- or four-cushion path which is played with right draw off the cushion and then to the cushions at A and B. The alternative is shown: use left follow and get the cue ball tohook forward after hitting the side cushion. This is definitely the sort of shot you have to experimentwith. If the shot is nearly full and the 1 ball is very close to the side pocket you should have no trouble getting the cue ball back to the cushion and you might even be able

to scratch in the side after hitting up on the cushion.

Once you have the right action to get back to the cushion, try making the shot harder by moving the object ball farther from the pocket. This will cause the cue ball to use up more of its follow on the way to the cushion so that there will be less follow after the bounce unless you crank up the power and spin.

Another major factor in getting the shot to work well is the angle of the shot into the cushion as shown by the angle of the cue stick. If it is not pointed at least partly up-table, the shot will be

nearly impossible.

The more it is pointed straight

towards the cushion, the easier it will be to get back to the cushion but you also need the follow to help move the cue ball towards the other end of the table. Remember that follow tends to move the cue ball in the same direction as the cue stick is pointed even after contact with a cushion.

There are also some bank shots where this idea can be used. For example, if the 8 and 9 are the last balls left on the table (with the cue ball as in Shot 1), it is possible to bank the 8 cross-side and get the cue ball to follow the double-the-rail path.

In Shot 2, the problem is to get from the 3 ball to the 4. You might be able to get the path shown to work without any spin on the cue

ball, but I think it’s a lot easier with left side spin. In the position shown follow and draw will not help much, so hit the cue ball on the equator. You need enough left spin that there is still a fair amount left on the second cushion.

It will take a few tries to find the easiest angles to make the shot work. Feel free to adjust both the cue ball and the object ball slightly. And be sure to start the cue ball with plenty of left english.

Once you have found the sweet spot for the shot, see if you can make it work from less favorable positions.

These two shots are not the sort that you want to encounter in a game, but when you do be prepared to deal with them.

REJ

1

2

3

4

56 7

8

9

Shot 1Left follow

Shot 2Left center

A

B

http://www.dr-dave-billiards.com


Sports Bar

8525 CoTTonwood ST nwCoon rapidS, Mn 763-780-1585

8-Ball SinglesNov 12, 2011$1,000 Added

Entry based on skill level-Sign-up 10amMPA Event - info at mpapool.com

C R’sPLAYERS WANTEDSouthwest Indiana TAP Pool League

Contact812-454-6600

933 8Th ST (hwy 3 & 50)FarMingTon, Mn 651-463-2636

www.FarMingTonbilliardSMn.CoM

Pool TournamentsEvery

Friday & Saturday

The2011-2012LucasiHybridCuesAllAmericanTour–presentedbytheAmericanCueSportsAlliance(ACS)–helditsthirteenthstopatKrug’zPoolHallinMuscatine,IA,Saturday,December3.The$300-added8-ballhandicappedtourneyon7-footValleybarboxesdrewafull32-playerfield.ThetourneyfinalsfeaturedRonPluym(Dubuque,IA)[rateda“6”onaregionalratingsystemused]andOscarPeralesJr.[8](Muscatine,IA).ThroughouttheA-sidePluymoutpointedTracyHoerrmann,SteveW.,JimTipps,RustyClesterandOscarPeralesJr.PrevioustohislosstoPluymintheA-sidefinals,PeralesvanquishedMirandaKrueger,SteveKrueger,TonyTorresandJamesMiller.OscarrecoveredintheB-sidefinalsbyeliminatingJamesMiller.ButthetourneyfinalswentRonPluym’swayinthefirstsetagainstPeralesforthetitle!ByvirtueofRonPluymbeingthehighest-finishingACSmemberintheevent,hequalifiedforafree9-Ballsinglesentryintothe2012LucasiHybridACSNationalsattheTropicanaLasVegas–courtesyoftheACS.TheACSwishestothanksponsorsLucasiHybridCues,ChampionshipBilliardFabricandNickVarnerSignatureCasesfortheirsupportindonating“Value-In-Kind”productforthisandallstopsontheLucasiHybridAllAmericanTour.Sponsorshipopportunitiesandtourstopopeningsarestillavailableforthe2011/2012AllAmericanTourbycontactingtheACS.

TheTourstaysinIowaforitsfourteenthstop:a$500added9-BallHandicappedTourneyatLegendsSportsBarinClinton,IAonSaturday,December10(contactDavidHolmesat563-243-4266).Furtherinformation,entrydetailsandschedulesforthe2011/2012LucasiHybridAllAmericanTourareavailableatwww.americancuesports.org.TheACSisanon-profit,nationalorganizationdedicatedtoheighteningtheinterestandawarenessofcuesportsthroughthesupportandsanctioningoforganizedcompetitionthroughouttheUnitedStates.1st $300+Free9-BallSinglesentrytoACSNatls RonPluym(Dubuque,IA) 2nd $180 OscarPeralesJr.(Muscatine,IA)3rd $140 JamesMiller(Muscatine,IA) 4th $90 RustyClester(Muscatine,IA)5-6th $50 DennisCushing(Dubuque,IA) JohnGorsch(CedarRapids,IA)7-8th $35 JimTipps(Wapello,IA) JeffNguyen(Wilton,IA)9-12th $15 NickAllendorf(Muscatine,IL) JohnPokora(Springfield,IL) DustinKrueger(Muscatine,IA) TonyTorres(Muscatine,IA)

PluymTakestheTitleOverPerales

RESULTS

[L-R] Oscar Perales Jr. (2nd), Ron Pluym (1st) and James Miller (3rd)

218 Walnut St - Muscatine, IA563-263-7665

www.krugzpoolhall.com

*Tournaments*Cue stick tip and shaft repair*Cue sticks & supplies*Lessons*In house & travelingleaguesISPA, ACS, VNEA

BARAKS & PRICE FINISH STRONG in lone STar ChaMpionShipS 2011

Kenneth PriceSylver Ochoa, Courtney PetersMike Calderaro, Nick Calderaro, Joey Torres Joey Torres, James Baraks


OnDecember10th-11,2011,the3rdAnnualLoneStarTourChampionshipswasheldatBogiesBilliardsinHouston,Texas.The5division9-balleventwas$2,000addedandlivestreamedforallthefansunabletoattend.TheAmateurandOpendivisionssaw77entrieswiththeOnePocket,Ladies,andJuniordivisionstotaling28entries.SupertalentincludedJamesBaraks,SylverOchoa,AndyJethwa,currentU.SAmateurChampionErnestoBayaua,andTommyTokophofAlbuquerque,N.M.The“B”sideboastedKennethPrice,ValCharles,SteveLindgren,WendellMoser,JasonSmiser,JasonPearce,andBrianRosenbaum,allofwhomwillbecompetingwith43otherplayersinthefirstPoisonbyPredator9-ballToureventonSaturday,January7,2012atBogiesBilliards.

Saturday’sOpenactionsawupsetsincludingjuniorphenomJoeyTorresoverLannyHerrinandtwiceoverErnestoBayaua.TommyTokophfelltoBayauainthesecondround9-6,butcamebackwith5straightwinsoverBillFuller,SonnyBosshamer,KennethPrice,SylverOchoa,andHerrin,untilhemetavengefulBayaua.ThehotseatmatchfeaturedTorresandtheindomitableJamesBarakswhohadearliereliminatedTimHeath,SylverOchoa,andBernardWalkerduringhistrek.Torreslostthesetwhenhemissedacrucial9-ballat8-7.AfterTorrespassedBayaua7-6,BaraksmadequickworkofTorresinthefinal,settlingthequestion9-4.ThisisBarakssecondconsecutiveOpendivisiontitlewin.

Brandnewtothewinners’circleandthetalkofthetournamentwasKennethPrice.HeconqueredtheAmateurfieldundefeatedwithwinsoverAllenBaker7-4,TimHeath7-3,andTyFew7-1.WillFelderwasonrollofhis

ownwithwinsoverBobbyPerez7-6,CharlieMora7-6,andMitchellLang7-6.ItwasPricev.FelderforthehotseatmatchwithPricemovingforward,7-4.ThislossearnedFelderanotherroundwithMora,butthistime,Moratookitdown5-2.GradyCooperandBrianRosenbaummadeincrediblebidsafterlosinginthefirstround.CooperfelltoBillFullerafter4consecutivewinswhileRosenbaumsecured5straightwinsbeforefallingtoTimHeath,5-4.Whenthesmokeclearedontheone-lossside,itwasMorawhoeliminatedHeath5-4andearnedhimselfarematchwithFelder.ThistimeMoratookdownFelder5-2,butwasbroughtdownbyPriceinthefinal,7-5.KennethPricehascompetedinmanyTexas’tournaments,butneverexecuteda“win”untilnow.

SylverOchoaandCourtneyPeterswerecrowned“2011LoneStarTourChampions”,accumulatingthemostpointsfortheirrankingdivisions.PetersalsocapturedafinalvictoryintheLadiesdivisionwhileOchoacapturedthefinalOnePocketevent,bothundefeated.Fortheiryear-longeffortstheyeachreceivedplaques,Delta-13EliteRacks,andPoisonVXJumpCues.

IntheJuniordivision,NickCalderarocapturedhissecondLoneStarTourJuniorevent,thistimefromtheone-lossside.HebestedtheundefeatedJoeyTorres,7-5then5-1,towinthefinalJunioreventof2011.

TheTourwouldliketothankitslongtimesponsors:PoisonbyPredatorCues,PredatorCues,Delta-13Rack,www.PoolWebsites.com,APAofNorthHarrisCounty,andthenewestadditions,GulfCoastBilliardsandWww.Pool-Trax.net.ManythankstoDamienNelson,

Nelson&Company,andJamesPainterforproducinganimpeccableHDlivestream,andMarkFusinaandJohnNewsomeofthe“RunOutReview”forkeepingthefansathomeinformedandentertained.Aspecial“thankyou”goesouttolong-timefriendandauthor,CarlMiller,forupdatingallofthepointstandingsandequallytoDerrellMontgomery,certifiedBCArefereeandrefereeoftheLoneStarandPoisonTours.TheownersofBogiesDavidandShannonRichardsonandtheirincrediblestaffhostedafirstrateevent.In2012theywillplayexclusivehosttothePoisonbyPredator9-BallTour,www.PxPTour.com.ThefirsteventisSaturday,January7th,2012.Thiswillbeatruespectatorevent,hosting50invited,pre-paidplayers,competingina$1,000added,oneday,livestreamedevent.Spectatorswillbeabletoenjoyalltheexcitementofatwodayevent,packedintooneday.Theplayerauctionwillbeginpromptlyat12pmandmatchtimeswillbeposted.

ThefirstLoneStarToureventof2012willbeheldatFutureCues,February4th-5th.Visitwww.futurecues.comformoreinformationonthisfabulous,10,000squarefootroomnestledintheheartofTemple,Texas.TheTourwillalsobecomingtoHawley’sBilliardsinDallas,TexasinOctober,andre-visitingBigTymeBilliardsinSpring,andSkinnyBob’sBilliardsinRoundRock.

TheTourextendsitsdeepestappreciationtoalltheplayers,fans,rooms,sponsors,andpresswhohelpmaketheseeventspossible.WehopeyouandyourfamilieshaveaveryMerryChristmasandprosperousNewYear.

(LSBTresultsonpage22)


JUNIOR BILLIARDS...PLAY. SPONSOR. GET INVOLVED WWW.BILLIARDEDUCATION.ORG

JUNIORPLAYERPROFILE: BRIANA MILLERHOME TOWN: Allentown, PA

BIRTH DATE: 09/18/1995

SCHOOL YOU CURRENTLY ATTEND: Allentown Central Catholic High School

GRADE: 11

FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: Math

AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START PLAYING POOL? Age 8

TITLES: • 2011 BEF Junior National 9-Ball Champion, 18 &

Under Girls’ Division• 2010 WPA World Junior 9-Ball Championships,

Runner-up, Girls’ Division• BEF Junior National 9-Ball Champion 2007,2008,

2009 and 2010, 14 & Under Girls’ Division• 2010 Women’s Valley Forge Super Billiards Expo

9-Ball Champion• 2009 Women’s Valley Forge 8-Ball Bar Box Champion

OTHER NOTABLE AWARDS: • Unites States representative to the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World Junior 9-Ball Championships 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011• JPNEWT Regional Tour points leader in 2009, 2010 and 2011• 2011 New York State 9-Ball championships, 2nd place• 2011 WPBA Regional Tour Championships 4th place• 2010 Maryland State 9-Ball and 10-Ball Championships, 2nd place• 2009 New York State 9-Ball championships, 3rd place• 2009 Qualified to compete in the WPBA U.S. Open at age 13

WHAT KIND OF CUE(S) DO YOU USE? Jacoby (playing cue), Predator (Break cue)

LEFT OR RIGHT HANDED: right-handed

SPONSORS: Jacoby Custom Cues

FAVORITE BAND/MUSIC: I like a lot of different music

HOBBIES: pool, shopping, hanging out with friends

MEMORABLE POOL MOMENT: winning my first junior nationals at age 11

FAVORITE FOOD: pizza

REAL-WORLD HERO: my grandfather because he taught me how to play pool

FONDEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY: going fishing with my grandfather when I was little.

GOALS- PERSONAL AND/OR CAREER: I would like to attend college, but I am not quite sure what I would like to major in yet. I would also like to continue to play pool on a competitive level.


C O L U M N I S T

Tim Miller

BY THE MONK

This is not a feel good program. This is the real deal. You will be working with the monk for over four months. You will be working step by step to build the skills at nine ball that your opponent does not have. You will master the important moves this game calls for. You will become a master nine ball player and play better nine ball than you have every played this game before.

May all the rolls go your way,

The Monk

More detailed information available onlinehttp://www.monkbilliardacademy.net/9-balltrainongprogram.html

ROAD PLAYERS 9-BALLWORK WITH THE MONK,

STEP BY STEP WITH NO RISK FOR $300.00!!!!

WOULD YOU PAY $300.00 TO BECOME A TOP PLAYER IN YOUR TOWN?

CALL THE MONK TODAY

1-603-566-6229

THE SHOT, MINUS THE INTERFERENCE EQUALS THE STROKE

In my book Point the Way I talk about how the shot minus the interference equals the stroke. What is the interference?

When you lean over the, table focused on a shot that could win or lose the game you must be free to deliver the stroke. Without a good stroke you miss and lose.

Your concentration must be clear. Concentration is the narrowing of your focus on the object of your desire. You narrow your focus on something you are deeply interested in. If your attention is divided your keen interest is challenged.

In my program THE ROAD PLAYERS NINE BALL TRAINING I work with you in the art of concentration. I show you how to connect to the shot. This connection is a vital part of your interest. Interest equals concentration, concentration equals success. We are not interested in avoiding a loss or winning a game. We are interested in the cue ball making contact with the object ball.

You must see the shot. Your interest must be on the shot and nothing else. The connection part of this process involves the letting go of all interference. You are one with what you want to accomplish. Connect to the shot. See the shot, feel the shot, sense the shot and become one with the shot. You must know the stroke you are going to use, and be able to anticipate how it will sound when you deliver the cue tip through the cue ball.Your opponent will talk to you during the connection stage because he knows that this is the time to break your concentration thus to cause interference with your stroke. Do not respond to your opponent. Ignore him/her. Stay in your own world.

Interference comes in many forms. One popular form is “fear of failure”. This fear interferes with our ability to deliver the pure stroke each shot requires. I have missed a shot because I knew my next shot was going to be tough. Or I missed because I did not know how a clump would break apart. Now I “make the shot”.

2. Fear of success. How many times have we become nervous as we finish our run out for the victory? This nervousness is interference.

3. Fear of the shot. Your perceptions form your mind set. When you face a shot you have missed before, this past experience comes back to you at the exact moment you try to connect to the shot. That mind set is interference. When I designed the ROAD PLAYERS NINE BALL TRAINING I paid a lot of attention to the identification of the shot at hand. When you

face an important shot you must see it as it is. The series of shots I take you through are set up so you can deliver one hundred per cent of your stroke. This gives you a much better chance for success.

4. Inability to compete. Sometimes it is just plain hard to compete. After a tough missed shot you feel down and defeated. The score should have been two to two but instead as a result of your mistake it is three to one. You have lost your competitive spirit. I get that way during a long tough match. We must learn to build those competitive skills so we are at one hundred per cent all the time. We do this through training. Specific and deliberate practice helps us to narrow our focus on the shot at hand. When we can break it down to connection to the shot we are then able to deliver the pure stroke. That is why training is so important.When we are not performing well others will say we are out of rhythm. This is caused by interference, not so much with the shot at hand but with the match. We may be over our head, or close to winning a tournament or far behind in a match. The interference is constant.

STEPS TO TAKE TO AVOID INTERFERENCE.In the ROAD PLAYERS TRAINING PROGRAM I work specifically on a series of shots that come up in the game of nine ball. Not many players recognize this when it happens so we want to master the ability to focus on what the shots require. All the shots in the series are designed to build your skills at nine ball. This is why the training program carries a money back guarantee. I am the only teacher in this game who guarantees you will improve or your money back!

We also need to build our competitive skills. In all matches we connect to composure. This enables us to be in the proper rhythm for each shot. Concentration, composure is linked to courage. Courage exists when we have the ability to connect to each shot with total purpose. In a serious training program all the components need to be present.

2012 is the year for you to put it all together. Make it your time to shine. You will be faced with all the same old challenges you faced in the past but this time you approach them in a different light. If I am to bring your game to a higher level I must bring you to a higher level. You need shot recognition, pattern recognition and game discipline in order to become a first class nine ball player.

Go to my web site, www.monkbilliardacademy.net and click on ROAD PLAYER NINE BALL TRAINING. You may also call me 1-603-566-6229. I am here to help.


Left to right: Tara Williams, Sergio Lopez – Casper’s General Manager, Lisa Marr, Roy & Kathy Robinson – Casper’s Owners

OOps….She DiD it AgAinLISA MARR – 4-TIME OB CUES LADIES TOUR CHAMPION!

The final stop of the OB Cues Ladies Tour for 2011 was more exciting than ever based on three important factors. For the 1st time in the tour’s history, the last event of the year was $3,000 added monies, $1K more than the normal added dollars. Secondly, the OB Cues Tour Champion spot was up for grabs as several contenders were vying to unseat 3-time Tour Champion Lisa Marr. And finally a new award of Best Sportsman would be voted by the

players out of four nominated players.

As this last stop was $3000 added monies, a special player’s eligibility requirement was needed to play in this event at one of our favorite host site, Casper’s in San Leon, Texas. Players had to play in at least 3 events throughout this tour year and 28 ladies ventured down south Texas way to participate in all the year end festivities. First and foremost, we would like to thank Don Owen and Royce Bunnell, as our main tour sponsors. Year after year they have provided customer service, pool products and unwavering support and friendship for both tour players and host site partners. Thank you for all that you do and believing in us and keeping our dreams

alive. Be sure to check out our sponsor at www.obcues.com and www.pool300.com

Also special thanks to Kathy and Roy Robinson, who are frequent hosts on the ladies tour. They have one of the most fabulous and unique pool and restaurant establishments on our tour calendar and we greatly appreciate your down home hospitality displayed by your staff, customers and fans everywhere. Casper’s is a must see pool establishment. If you are ever down south Texas, be sure to look them up.

Four players were chosen by the board for the 2011 Sportsmanship Award. Becky Jones fromArkansas, Kathy Knuth from Dallas, Shirley Fields from Arkansas, and Tracie Voelkering from Fort Worth were nominated by players over the course of 2011 and picked by the board members for their exemplary behavior both on and off the table. It was a close race between the nominees as players submitted their votes and it came down to a tie between Shirley and Tracie. The players were asked to re-vote for only these 2 players and it was one vote away from a tie again, with Tracie edging out Shirley for the award. Congratulations Tracie! Your display of sportsmanship both on and off the table makes you very deserving of this award. The 2011 Most Improved player was voted on by the board based on player performance and ranking for 2011 against prior years. One player really stood out from the pack in the increase in rankings for the past two years, but based on her position on the board, she asked to be removed from contention. After review of her movement from 20th in 2009, to 9th in 2010, and to 6th for the season in 2011, it was no contest to the remaining board members who should take this award. With her left out of the vote, the board selected Julie Stephenson as the most improved player. She credits her participation in Pool 300

league to her overall improvement at the sport.

For the 2011 Tour Champion, it was a tight race with four potential players that had the ability to seize the title. Orietta Strickland was the tour point’s leader going into this last stop with Lisa Marr 110 points behind. Based on the outcome of the tournament, Tara Williams and Ming Ng could also be contenders or spoilers for the tour champion spot. But with all the pressure on Orietta to maintain her position as point’s leader, she would also need help from others to keep Lisa at bay. Unfortunately by the end of tournament play on Saturday, 8 players would return for the Main Event and Orietta was not one of them. Winner side matches would include Lisa Marr vs. Ming Ng and Tara Williams vs. Ricki Lee Casper. One loss side matches would include Belinda Lee vs. Jennifer Kraber and Amanda Lampert vs. Yvette Reyes.

Finishing 7th/8th was Yvette Reyes and Belinda Lee; 5th/6th was Jennifer Kraber and Ming Ng. 4th place would go to Ricki Lee Casper, her highest tour finish ever; always a contender and strong player who we are sure she will continue with her winning ways. 3rd place was

Julie Stephenson

Tracie Voelkering

(OBCues continues on page 25)

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: JP PARMENTIER / MATCHROOM SPORT

MIKE DECHAINE (RHODE ISLAND)“This is definitely one of the best moments of my life. I’m having a great time and everyone has a positive attitude, even though we were 4-1 down after the first day,”

SHANE VAN BOENING (SOUTH DAKOTA)

SHAWN PUTNAM (GEORGIA)

RODNEY MORRIS (HAWAII)


JOHNNY ARCHER (GEORGIA) “We lost a couple of matches we should’ve won and they blitzed us in a few matches.“We all gave it our best and will do it again next time. Hats off to their team, they hung in there when things didn’t look good.”(PHOTO BY: DON “CHEESE” AKERLOW)


TEAMU.S.A.BY: LUKE RICHES

AFTERthefirstday’splayatthe2011PartyPoker.netMosconiCup,TeamEuropeholdsacommanding4-1leadastheycashedinonsometentativeplayfromtheAmericansattheMGMGrand.AsidefromArcherandPutnam’ssolidshowinthefirstdoublesmatchofthetournament,noneoftheAmericanswerefiringonallcylindersandcaptainCharlieWilliamswillhaveajobtodofortomorrow.EuropebycontrastlookedlikethoroughbredswithbignameslikeSouquetandFeijenlookingthepartandrookieChrisMellingpullingoffastunningwininthelastgameoftheday.Watchedbyhisfather,whowascelebratinghis60thbirthday,the32year-oldMellinglookedsuperbashecamefrom3-0downtostealthefinalmatchofthedayfromShaneVanBoeningwithahill-hillwin.ItwasabitterpillfortheAmericanstoswallowasthedifferencebetween3-2and4-1isimmense,andtheywillneedtodigdeeptomorrowiftheyaretoreversetheirfortunes.Earlier,theEuropeansdrewfirstbloodastheytooktheopeningteammatchwhichfeaturedalltenplayers.Theformatdifferedfrompreviousyears,inthateachrackwascontestedbyjusttwoplayersratherthanthealternateshotmethodinvolvingallfive.ItwasChrisMellingwhotookthedecidingrackagainstMikeDechaineforthepointbuttheAmericanslookedalittlenervousthroughout.2010MVPDarrenAppletonwasdelightedwiththewin;“I’mreallyhappywiththestart.Theformathadchangedabitanditaddsmorepressure.You’reabitcoldandhavenohelpfromyourfriends.Iplayedthefirstrackandwasshakingreallybadly.“Chrisdidn’tgetashotinthefirstgamebuthemanagedtowintherackthatwonusthepointandIthinkhewillgoonandplayverywell.“Wedon’thavetogelaswejustcometogetherandarealotmorerelaxedthaneverbefore.We’replayingreallygood,feelcalminourselvesandprettysurewe’regoingtowin.”TheAmericanpairofJohnnyArcherandShawnPutnam–close

friendsoffthetable–dugtheirheelsintooverturna3-1deficitandbeattheEuroduoofChrisMellingandNickVandenBerg.ItwasabigpointfortheAmericansasArcherandPutnamgrewinconfidenceasthematchwentonandtheycamewiththecriticalshotsintheclosingstages.Thecommunicationbetweenthepairwasexcellentastheykickedonforvictory.“Representingyourcountryisthemostpressureyouwillfeel,”saidPutnam.“Everyoneisusedtoplayingforyourselvesbutwhenyouplayforyourcountrythenervesareabouttentimesmoreandyourfriendsontheteamarelookingforyoutocomethrough.Archeradded“It’searlybutanymatchcanturnanythingaround.Wewere3-1downandthemomentumwasintheirfavourbutabadbreakgaveusabitofalifelineandwestartedcreepingback.”RodneyMorris,forsolongastalwartoftheUSMosconiCupside,lookedaforlornfigureasheslumpedtoa6-0defeatatthehandsofNielsFeijen.TheDutchmanlookedclinicalthroughoutashecapitalisedonMorris’slacklustredisplay.“Thatmatchwasgreat,”saidadelightedFeijen.“Inthefirstteammatchitwasthemostnerve-rackingmatchI’veplayedinsoitwasnicetosettledowninthesinglesmatch.“Iplayedreallywellanditwasalotoffun.It’sabigconfidenceboost,especiallyagainstsomeonelikeRodneyMorriswhohasasuperrecordintheMosconiCup.”TheUSAsufferedahugekickintheteethinthefourthmatchofthedayasMikeDechaineandShaneVanBoeningrelinquisheda4-0leadtolose6-4toDarrenAppletonandRalfSouquet.ThecriticalmomentcameintheseventhrackwhenDechaineneededatricky9ballcueingofftherailtotaketheUStothehillat5-2,buthisheadcameupfartooearlyandthechancewentbegging.Whatshouldhavebeen5-2became4-3andAppletonandSouquethadshiftedthemomentumintheirfavour.Fromthere,theyneverlookedbackastheytookEuropeintoa3-1leadanditwaslefttoMellingtocompletetheroute.

EUROPEENJOYSUPERBOPENINGDAYEurope 4 – 1 USA

Europe6-4USA Melling/VandenBerg3-6Archer/Putnam NielsFeijen6-0RodneyMorris Appleton/Souquet6-4VanBoening/Dechaine ChrisMelling6-5ShaneVanBoening

CHARLIE WILLIAMS

JERRY FORSYTHPHOTO BY: JP PARMENTIER

CHARLIE WILLIAMS (USA, CAPTAIN): “It wasn’t our week. Things didn’t go to plan. We ate together and the chemistry on the team, even though we were losing every day, didn’t break our spirits. We still believed we could win today.“No disrespect to them but we feel you got the rolls sometimes. To win a tournament you need rolls to go your way. But they played good and Chris Melling was awesome.”

MIKE HOWERTONAZBILLIARDS.COM

PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY DON “CHEESE” AKERLOW

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2011

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TEAMEUROPE

TEAMUSArecoveredfromafirstdayhammeringatthePartyPoker.netMosconiCupastheyputthemselvesrightbackintocontention,winningthreematchestoEurope’stwoattheMGMGrandinLasVegas.StellarperformancesfromtheAmericanssawthemlevelthematchat4-4,beforetheEuropeansderailedtheirmomentumtotakethefinaltwogamesandmoveintothefourthdaywithatwopointlead.TherewasplentyofMosconiCupdramaasdebutantMikeDechaineovercameRalfSouquet6-1andRodneyMorrishadanoutburstthathewillbehappytoforgetinahurry.However,comingintothedaythreepointsdown,TeamUSAwillbehappytohavereducedthedeficit.Theopeningmatchofdaytwowasamust-winsituationfortheAmericansandwinittheydidasJohnnyArcherandShaneVanBoeningedgedpasttheDutchduoofFeijenandVandenBerg.Withtherackingchangedfromtheopeningday–aregularrackwasusedinsteadoftheMagicRack-theballswerespreadingnicelyandbothpairstookadvantagewithsuccessionofbreakandruns.WiththeUSAhavingwonthelag,theyreachedthehillfirstandhadagreatchancetowin6-4butVanBoeningleftArcherinthelurchwithjustthe8and9ballsleftonthetableandtheDutchmeneventuallytooktheracktomakeithillhill.ArcherdroppedfourballsintothepocketsfromhisbreakshotandhimselfandVanBoeningwentontoclaimanervecalmingwin.“We’renotdoinganythingdifferent.Ourexecutionyesterdaymeantweoverranafewshotsandwe’vejusttighteneditup.Wehadchancestowinmatchesyesterday,”saidArcher.TherewasmoreUSAjoyinthesecondmatchasMikeDechaine–aheavyunderdog–putinaperfectperformancetooverturnRalfSouquetby6-1andreducetheEuropeanleadtojustonepoint.The24year-oldDechainelookedabundleofnervesandadrenalinepriortothematchbuthemadeitallworkinhisfavourasheranthroughhisrackswithprecisionandcashedinonacoupleoferrorsfromSouquet.“Thisisdefinitelyoneofthebestmomentsofmylife.I’mhavinga

greattimeandeveryonehasapositiveattitude,eventhoughwewere4-1downafterthefirstday,”saidadelightedDechaine.“Wehadacoupleofunfortunateeventsyesterdaybuttodaywe’veputupagoodline-upandit’sgoingtobeagreatday.”TherewasplentyofdramaandcontroversyinthenextmatchasTeamUSAdrewlevel,winningtheirthirdconsecutivematchofthedayasRodneyMorrisandShawnPutnambeattheEnglishpairofMellingandAppleton.6-5wasthescorelineastheUSstoleitatthelastwhenAppletonleftMellingatoughpink4ballandheovercutittogivethetableandsubsequentlythematchtotheAmericans.TherealdramacameatthestartofthesixthrackwhenMorris’stemperboiledoverandheusedsomeregrettablelanguage.SomeoftherowdierelementsgottohimandhetoldDarrenAppleton,innouncertainterms,totellthemtobequiet.ItthenescalatedasMorristhenaudiblyofferedtheEnglishmantostepoutside.ThingscalmeddownastheAmericanswentontotakethematchandafterwardsMorriswashighlyembarrassedbyhisoutburstaswellasapologetic.Inthefourthmatchoftheday,NickVandenBergputinasuperbperformancetobeatJohnnyArcher6-1andrestoreEuropeansupremacy.SimilarlytoMikeDechaine’sdefeatofRalfSouquet,itwastheunderdogwhocamewithalltheshots,takingfulladvantageofatired-lookingArcher.“Today’sbeenawful-wewantedtogoandwinthesessionbutwewere3-0down.Whenit’slikethatyou’rejusttryingtogiveyourbestandIdidn’tmakeamistake.“JohnnyArcherwasprobablythebestAmericanplayersofarbuthedidn’tgetachancesoI’mveryhappywiththewayIplayed.Wetriedtokeepourheadsup.”Inthefinalmatchofthesession,ChrisMellingandRalfSouquetreinforcedEuropeansupremacyastheplayedexcellentlytodefeattheShaneVanBoening/RodneyMorrisaxis6-2.ThatlefttheEuropeanswithatwopointleadgoingintodaythreeoftheeventbuttheAmericansstillhaveeverychance.

USARIGHTBACKINITEurope 6 – 4 USA

VandenBerg/Feijen5-6Archer/VanBoening RalfSouquet1-6MikeDechaine Appleton/Melling5-6Putnam/Morris

NickVandenBerg6-1JohnnyArcher Souquet/Melling6-2VanBoening/Morris


BY: LUKE RICHES

JIM WYCH & ANDY GOLDSTEIN LUKE RICHES JOHN MCDONALD

PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY DON “CHEESE” AKERLOW

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MICHAELA TABB


www.TheBreakMagazine.com January 2012 - The Break 21January 2012 - Rackem Magazine 17 PHOTOS COURTESY OF: JP PARMENTIER / MATCHROOM SPORT

NIELS FEIJEN (HOLLAND)“This (being the Most Valuable Player) is something I’ve been dreaming about this for seven years, every year I’ve played in it.”

CHRIS MELLING (EUROPE): “It was unbelievable. There’s a lot of pressure and people back home don’t realise how much pressure you’re under as you have the whole continent and your friends to play for.”

DARREN APPLETON: (ENGLAND)“But we played well at the end and had a lot of fire inside us - Niels is a fantastic player to play with.”

RALF SOUQUET (GERMANY): “It’s not over until the fat lady sings and we want to win the next two and finish it off. We have quite a comfortable lead but it’s still a long road.”

NICK VAN DEN BERG (HOLLAND): “Johnny Archer was probably the best American player so far but he didn’t get a chance so I’m very happy with the way I played. We tried to keep our heads up.”


EUROPE has successfully defended the PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup following a convincing 11-7 victory over the USA at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It was Holland’s Niels Feijen, in his seventh Mosconi Cup, who downed the winning 9 ball which sparked mayhem as his team mates flooded the arena.It also delivered Feijen the Most Valuable Player award, achieved for two singles and two doubles wins: “It got a bit shaky but they went in,” he said of his 6-3 victory over Rodney Morris to seal the Mosconi Cup.“I just want to thank the crowd, the British and Europeans and you need them to make it. There were some immense moments and thanks to the coach for doing a super job. He gave us speeches every morning and kept us sharp.”The Americans, who had trailed 10-5 at the start of the day, won the opening two games to leave the Europeans looking a little edgy.“Even this morning, there was pressure on us and we knew they would come out strongly. There was some heat to get over the finish line but these guys are just so good,” continued Feijen.“Being the Most Valuable Player is something I’ve been dreaming about this for seven years, every year I’ve played in it.”Johnny Archer, playing in his 15th Mosconi Cup was stoical in defeat; “We lost a couple of matches we should’ve won and they blitzed us in a few matches. We all gave it our best and will do it again next time. Hats off to their team, they hung in there when things didn’t look good.”The opening match of the day saw Shane Van Boening put in an excellent performance to keep US hopes alive as he comfortably beat Nick Van den Berg 6-2. The South Dakota Kid kept his team in the competition on Saturday night when he beat the same opponent in a close match but this time he pulled away from 2-2 to take the victory.

Still fighting, a dogged display from veteran Johnny Archer kept USA fires alight as he put paid to Darren Appleton’s hopes of a repeat MVP trophy.It was left to Niels Feijen to bring home the bacon for Team Europe as he faced off against Rodney Morris. The Hawaiian had not been at his best this week but had showed flashes of his best form at times.A poor safety from Morris gave Feijen an opportunity in the opener but he scratched, drawing the ball down table and into the centre pocket and Morris, with ball in hand, ran out. Feijen took the next with a tidy run out and went into a 2-1 lead when Morris scratched on the break and handed him an open table.Another excellent run out, this time from Morris, levelled the scores at 2-2, before Feijen took the lead, thumping a tricky 9 ball into to the top corner pocket. He increased that lead as he was given ball in hand after a Morris foul and Europe were two racks away from glory.That became one rack as Feijen took the next before a dry break from the Dutchman gave Morris a chance in what was a high quality match, and the Hawaiian ran through the table to reduce arrears to 5-3.Morris broke in the next and with the table open, he missed a horrible pot on the 2 ball. Feijen though, with nerves creeping in, missed it himself. Finally a shocking safety from Morris on the 5 ball was to prove to be the Americans last contribution to the event as Feijen ran out for a glorious victory.

Europe 11– 7 USAFEIJEN BRINGS IT HOME FOR EUROPE

TEAM EUROPE is now one match away from retaining the PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup after a one-sided blitz on the American team in front of a standing room only crowd at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.After getting the better of things yesterday, the Americans entered the day with high hopes but were battered from start to finish with only Shane Van Boening contributing some red to the score board.Needing a great start to the day, the USA lost an exciting opener as Appleton and Feijen got the better of Dechaine and Putnam by 6-3. That restored the Europeans three point lead that they held at the start of day one, but the final rack of the match was one of the best safety battles in Mosconi history as all four players took turns to leave the cue ball tucked up.It was Feijen who broke the deadlock as he made a table length bank on the blue 2 and from there the Europeans ran out to take the match.“Yesterday we lost the first doubles match 6-5 but Niels and Nick had played well. You need a bit of luck at the right time and we had a couple of rolls there,” said Appleton.“But we played well at the end and had a lot of fire inside us - Niels is a fantastic player to play with,” he added.There was more misery for Putnam in the next as he was easily beaten by a fired-up Darren Appleton as Europe moved into an 8-4 lead. The tone was set in the opening rack as Putnam looked to be heading for a run out but missed a howler of a 9 ball to hand the rack to Europe. The big man never really recovered from that and further errors sealed his fate.The third match featured Johnny Archer and Rodney Morris against Niels Feijen and Ralf Souquet and for the American side it was desperate stuff. 8-4 soon became 9-4 as the lacklustre American pair failed to make any sort of dent in the confident Europeans’ armour.

“When we had a training camp we played with each other and figured out what teams were working out and Johan then picked the pairings,” said Souquet.“It’s not over until the fat lady sings and we want to win the next two and finish it off. We have quite a comfortable lead but it’s still a long road.”Feijen added “When everyone is scoring points in front of you it takes the pressure off. We’ve clicked really well and have a great team spirit and a great team.”It was Shane Van Boening who finally stopped the rot and ensured a final day of play as he endured a torrid match against Nick Van den Berg that went all the way to a decider. Van Boening had led 5-2 at one stage but the plucky Dutchman fought back to level it at 5-5 and breaking in the final rack he found himself favourite.A dry break got the American back to the table and he played a superb slow roll on the 1 ball to set up a difficult run out which Van Boening completed to keep his side in the competition.Finally it was left to Chris Melling to turn the screw and put his side on the hill as he beat Mike Dechaine 6-2 in a clash of the rookies.Melling looked as confident as ever and his win leaves him in the running for MVP honours.“It was unbelievable. There’s a lot of pressure and people back home don’t realise how much pressure you’re under as you have the whole continent and your friends to play for.”

Appleton/Feijen6-3Putnam/Dechaine DarrenAppleton6-2ShawnPutnam Feijen/Souquet6-2Archer/Morris NickVandenBerg5-6ShaneVanBoening ChrisMelling6-2MikeDechaine

Europe 10– 5 USAEUROPE ONE AWAY FROM GLORY

NickVandenBerg2-6ShaneVanBoening DarrenAppleton3-6JohnnyArcher NielsFeijen6-3RodneyMorris

BY: LUKE RICHES

P R E S S R E L E A S E S


2010:EUROPE11-8USA(YORKHALL,BETHNALGREEN,LONDON) Europe: Darren Appleton (England) (MVP), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Nick Van den Berg (Holland), Mika Immonen (Finland), Karl Boyes (England) USA: Johnny Archer, Shane Van Boening, Rodney Morris, Dennis Hatch, Corey Deuel2009:USA11-7EUROPE(MGMGRAND,LASVEGAS,USA) USA: Johnny Archer, Shane Van Boening, Corey Deuel, Oscar Dominguez, Dennis Hatch. Europe: Ralf Souquet (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Niels Feijen (Holland), Darren Appleton (England), Thorsten Hohmann (Germany)2008:EUROPE11-5USA(HILTONHOTEL,VALLETTA,MALTA) Europe: Ralf Souquet (Germany), Niels Feijen (Holland), Mika Immonen (Finland), Mark Gray (England), Tony Drago (Malta) USA: Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Jeremy Jones, Shane Van Boening2007:EUROPE11-8USA(MGMGRANDHOTEL,LASVEGAS) Europe: Ralf Souquet (Germany), Niels Feijen (Holland), Konstantin Stepanov (Russia), Daryl Peach (England), Tony Drago (Malta) USA: Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Corey Deuel, Shane Van Boening2006:USA11-11EUROPE(CRUISETERMINAL,ROTTTERDAM,HOLLAND) Europe: Nick van den Berg (Holland), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Niels Feijen (Holland), Imran Majid (England), David Alcaide (Spain) USA: Johnny Archer, Corey Deuel, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, John Schmidt, Mike Davis2005:USA11-6EUROPE(MGMGRANDHOTEL,LASVEGAS) Europe: Alex Lely (Holland), Mika Immonen (Finland), Niels Feijen (Holland), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Raj Hundal (UK), Thorsten Hohmann (Germany) USA: Johnny Archer, Shawn Putnam, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Charlie Williams, Jeremy Jones2004:USA12-9EUROPE(HOTELZUIDERDUIN,EGMONDAANZEE,HOLLAND) Europe: Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Niels Feijen (Holland), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK), Thomas Engert (Germany) USA: Johnny Archer, Gabe Owen, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Charlie Williams, Tony Robles2003:USA11-9EUROPE(MGMGRANDHOTEL,LASVEGAS) Europe: Oliver Ortmann (Germany) non-playing captain, Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Nick van den Berg (Holland), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK), Thorsten Hohmann (Germany) USA: Nick Varner non-playing captain, Johnny Archer, Jeremy Jones, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Charlie Williams, Tony Robles2002:EUROPE12-9USA(YORKHALL,BETHNALGREEN) Europe: Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Nick van den Berg (Holland), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK) USA: Johnny Archer, Nick Varner, Jeremy Jones, Corey Deuel, Earl Strickland, Charlie Williams2001:USA12-1EUROPE(YORKHALL,BETHNALGREEN) Europe: Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Niels Feijen (Holland), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK) USA: Johnny Archer, Nick Varner, Jeremy Jones, Corey Deuel, Earl Strickland, Charlie Williams2000:USA12-9EUROPE(YORKHALL,BETHNALGREEN) Europe: Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Thomas Engert (Germany), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK) USA: Johnny Archer, Shannon Daulton, Jeremy Jones, Corey Deuel, Earl Strickland, Michael Coltrain1999:USA12-7EUROPE(YORKHALL,BETHNALGREEN) Europe: Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Alex Lely (Holland), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Steve Davis (UK) USA: Johnny Archer, Kim Davenport, Jeremy Jones, Jim Rempe, Earl Strickland, Michael Coltrain1998:USA13-9EUROPE(YORKHALL,BETHNALGREEN) Europe: Ralf Souquet (Germany), Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Steve Davis (UK), Fabio Petroni (Italy) USA: Kim Davenport, Johnny Archer, Earl Strickland, Reed Pierce, Nick Varner, Jim Rempe1997:USA13-8EUROPE(YORKHALL,BETHNALGREEN) Europe: Steve Davis (UK), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ronnie O’Sullivan (UK), Tommy Donlon (UK) USA: Earl Strickland, Kim Davenport, Johnny Archer, Jim Rempe, Nick Varner, Reed Pierce1996:USA15-13EUROPE(GORESBROOKLEISURECENTRE,DAGENHAM) Europe: Steve Davis (UK), Vincent Facquet (France), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Oliver Ortmann, (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ronnie O’Sullivan (UK), Andy Richardson (UK) USA: Earl Strickland, Mike Massey, CJ Wiley, Roger Griffis, Shannon Daulton, Allen Hopkins, Danny Harriman1995:EUROPE16-15USA(FESTIVALHALL,BASILDON) Europe: Daryl Peach (UK), Steve Davis (UK), Alex Higgins (UK), Lee Kendall (UK), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Tom Storm (Sweden), Jimmy White (UK) USA: Lou Butera, Mike Massey, Robert Hunter, Dallas West, Mark Wilson, Mike Gulyassy, John DiToro1994:USA16-12EUROPE(ROLLERBOWL,ROMFORD) Europe: Ralf Souquet (Germany), Steve Davis (UK), Lee Tucker (UK), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Tom Storm (Sweden), Jimmy White (UK), Franziska Stark (Germany), Allison Fisher (UK) USA: Lou Butera, Paul Gerni, Bobby Hunter, Dallas West, Mark Wilson, Mike Gulyassy, Jeanette Lee, Vivian Villarreal

MOSCONI CUP HISTORY



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TRACK RECORDS

Johnny Archer (GA) (1997 thru 2010) 14 69 36 (52%) 33Earl Strickland (NC) (1996 thru 2008) 13 60 39 (65%) 21Rodney Morris (HI) (2003 thru 08 & 2010) 7 35 20 (57%) 15Corey Deuel (OH) (00,01,02,06,07,09,10) 7 32 18 (56%) 14Jeremy Jones (TX) (99,00,01,02,03,05,08) 7 33 17 (52%) 16Charlie Williams (FL) (01,02,03,04,05) 5 21 12 (57%) 9Shane Van Boening (SD) (07,08,09,10) 4 19 8 (42%) 11Nick Varner (KY) (97,98,01,02) 4 19 8 (42%) 11Kim Davenport (CA) (97,98,99) 3 14 8 (57%) 6Jim Rempe (PA) (97,98,99) 3 14 7 (50%) 7Dennis Hatch (NY) (09,10) 2 10 7 (70%) 3Lou Butera (CA) (94,95) 2 11 6 (55%) 5Bob Hunter (NV) (94,95) 2 11 6 (55%) 5Shannon Daulton (KY) (96,00) 2 10 6 (60%) 4Reed Pierce (MS) (97,98) 2 10 5 (50%) 5Dallas West (IL) (94,95) 2 9 5 (56%) 4Michael Coltrain (NC) (99,00) 2 10 4 (40%) 6Mark Wilson (MO) (94,95) 2 9 4 (44%) 5Mike Gulyassy (FL) (94,95) 2 7 4 (57%) 3Mike Massey (NV) (95,96) 2 10 3 (30%) 7Tony Robles (NY) (03,04) 2 9 3 (33%) 6Vivian Villarreal (TX) (94) 1 5 5 (100%) 0C J Wiley (TX) (96) 1 5 4 (80%) 1Gabe Owen (OK) (04) 1 5 4 (80%) 1Jeanette Lee (IN) (94) 1 4 4 (100%) 0Mike Davis (MD) (06) 1 6 3 (50%) 3John Di Toro (FL) (95) 1 5 3 (60%) 2Oscar Dominguez (CA) (09) 1 5 2 (40%) 2Shawn Putnam (OH) (05) 1 5 2 (40%) 3Roger Griffis (TX) (96) 1 4 2 (50%) 2Allen Hopkins (NJ) (96) 1 4 2 (50%) 2John Schmidt (FL) (06) 1 6 1 (17%) 5Danny Harriman (MO) (96) 1 4 1 (25%) 3Paul Gerni (KS) (94) 1 3 0 (0%) 3

Total Cup Wins: U.S.A. 12 - 6 EUROPE

USA EUROPERalf Souquet (DE) (94,96 thru 03,06 thru 10) 14 71 42 (59%) 29Mika Immonen (FI) (96 thru 06,08 thru 10) 14 70 37 (53%) 33Steve Davis (UK) (94 thru 04) 11 52 22 (42%) 30Oliver Ortmann (DE) (94,95,96,97,98,99,02,04) 8 40 18 (45%) 22Niels Feijen (NL) (01,04,05,07,08,09) 6 27 15 (56%) 12Marcus Chamat (SE) (00,01,02,03,04,05) 6 26 11 (42%) 15Nick Van den Berg (NL) (02,03,06,10) 4 20 8 (40%) 12Steve Knight (UK) (98,99,00,01) 4 18 8 (44%) 10Thorsten Hohmann (DE) (03,05,09) 3 14 6 (43%) 8Thomas Engert (DE) (00,04,06) 3 16 4 (25%) 12Tom Storm (SE) (94,95) 2 11 7 (64%) 4Darren Appleton (UK) (09,10) 2 9 4 (44%) 5Ronnie O’Sullivan (UK) (96,97) 2 9 4 (44%) 5Tony Drago (Malta) (07,08) 2 8 4 (50%) 4Daryl Peach (UK) (95,07) 2 11 3 (27%) 8Jimmy White (UK) (94,95) 2 8 3 (38%) 5Alex Lely (NL) (99,05) 2 8 2 (25%) 6Karl Boyes (UK) (10) 1 5 4 (80%) 1David Alcaide (ES) (06) 1 6 3 (50%) 3Imran Majid (UK) (06) 1 6 2 (33%) 4Tommy Donlon (IE) (97) 1 5 2 (50%) 3Lee Kendall (UK) (95) 1 5 2 (40%) 3Konstantin Stepanov (RU) (07) 1 5 2 (40%) 3Fabio Petroni (IT) (98) 1 5 1 (20%) 4Franziska Stark (DE) (94) 1 5 0 (0%) 5Lee Tucker (UK) (94) 1 4 2 (50%) 2Raj Hundal (UK) (05) 1 4 1 (25%) 3Vincent Facquet (FR) (96) 1 4 1 (25%) 3Alex Higgins (N IR) (95) 1 4 1 (25%) 3Andy Richardson (UK) (96) 1 4 1 (25%) 3Mark Gray (UK) (08) 1 3 1 (33%) 2Alison Fisher (UK) (94) 1 3 0 (0%) 3

Cups

Played Matc

hes

Played

WonLost Cups

Played Matc

hes

Played

WonLost

1994 - 2010 Does Not Include 2011 Scores

Players Yea

r(s)

Played

Players Yea

r(s)

Played

From

From


Van BOening WINS Turning STone ClaSSiC XViii

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RESULTSOPEN1st $550/$360 James Baraks2nd $370/$270 Joey Torres3rd $250/$180 Ernesto Bayaua4th $160/$90 Tommy Tokoph5th-6th $100 Lanny Herrin, Tim Heath7th-8th $35 Sylver Ochoa, Bobby PerezAMATEURS1st $600/$435 Kenneth Price2nd $475/$275 Charlie Mora3rd $290/$190 Will Felder4th $125/$110 Tim Heath5th-6th $75 Ty Few, Mitchell Lang $75 ea.7th-8th $50 Jason Pearce, Brian Rosenbaum 9th-12th $75 Jason Smiser, Bill Fuller, Jeff Fox, Joey Torres

LADIES1st $200/$90 Courtney Peters2nd $90/$45 Belinda Lee3rd $90 Loretta LindgrenONE POCKET1st $300/$110 Sylver Ochoa2nd $180/$50 Charlie Mora3rd $100 Ernesto BayauaJUNIORS1st $90 Nick Calderaro2nd $60 Joey Torres3rd $40 Mike Calderaro $40

Shane Van Boening added another entry to his already impressive resume, with a win at the last major event of the year; the Joss NE 9-Ball Tour's Turning Stone Classic XVIII at the Turning Stone Casino & Resort in Verona, NY.Van Boening took an early trip to the one loss side in this event, as he dropped a fourth round match to Shawn Putnam 9-8. Putnam would then lose his next match to Rodney Morris 9-5 and join Van Boening on the one loss side.Morris would continue through the winners side, until he lost to Raj Hundal 9-4 in a lackluster hot seat match.Hundal was having a great tournament with notable wins over John Morra, young gun Dustin Morris and Ralf Souquet on his way to the hot-seat match with Morris.Meanwhile, Van Boening was running through a very tough one loss side. Van Boening notched left side wins against Larry Nevel, Joss Tour points leader Bucky Souvanthong, Earl Strickland, Dennis Hatch, Mike Dechaine and Ralf Souquet before eliminating Rodney Morris to set up the match with Hundal in the extended single set finals.The final race to 13 match between Hundal and Van Boening went back and forth, with neither player able to capture a significant lead. With the score tied at 8-8, Van Boening started to take control of the match. Hundal would only manage one more rack as Van Boening won the match 13-9.

1st $8,000 Shane Van Boening 2nd $5,000 Raj Hundal 3rd $3,600 Rodney Morris4th $2,600 Ralf Souquet5/6th $2,000 Mike Dechaine, Darren Appleton 7/8th $1,600 Dennis Hatch, Brandon Shuff 9/12th $1,200 Jason Klatt, Shawn Putnam, Earl Strickland, Dustin Morris13/16th $850 Bucky Souvanthong, Johnathan Pinegar Erik Hjorleifson, Stevie Moore17/24th $550 Mike Davis, Oscar Dominguez Zion Zvi, Dan Thompson, Larry Nevel Chris Lynch, Oscar Bonilla, Shane Winters25/32nd $300 Brian Brekke, Randy Labonte, Dave Fernandez, Louis Ulrich Ruben Bautista, Dan Heidrich Joshua Ulrich, Russ Philp

lone STar (continued from page 10)

SHANE VAN BOENINGPhoto by: Don “Cheese” Akerlow


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S T O RY

BY: ANDREW MONSTIS

lA FonDA’s sports CAntinA (lower level)

3665 Sibley Memorial HwyEagan, MN

651-452-0334

Pool Leagues TournamentsKaraoke Fri-Sat 9:30pm

We did make it out of Vegas safely, and back to Lucky’s ranch. Lucky checked in with his doctor, who said he was in remarkably good shape, under the circumstances. On our way to California we hit several spots. Lucky was sadden that some of his favorite pool halls were gone but that didn’t stop us. We made it to Hardtimes in Bellflower CA. Kind of a legend of a place we were hanging out for a couple of days. Playing easy and light action. We were wining mostly and laying down some. After setting himself up as a B player with a witty demeanor, Lucky was playing a little pool with a Canadian gal, cheap while he waited for one of the big fish to appear.It’s almost two in the morning. I’ve been scribbling my notes, recounting the past day of some pretty strange up and down action on Lucky’s part. When The FISH walked in. He noticed Lucky right away. That was likely because some of the locals told him about Lucky.I think this is going to be the big one. Lucky has said nothing for the past 15 minutes. He finished playing the girl and was sitting at the bleachers looking glassy eyed out over the pool tables down below. We both journeyed in the silence, staring at the tables like they were shrines. But, to the business at hand -- Lucky has to make money here. He knows the guy he will play is fully backed and will play for a good chunk of dough.Lucky got up and walked through the place, jostled by the small crowds at each table even at this late hour, I ask Lucky how he feels. “Just got some pool to play,” he says. He usually says something witty. Things are different. As we approached the group Lucky was accosted immediately by a tobacco stench person, maybe a bodyguard backup type guy, who obviously smoked. Lucky looked past him to this fancy player. He was dressed to the max! The suit jacket, slacks and shoes he was wearing were likely over thousand dollars. He had a babe on his arm. Lucky asked him to play one pocket. No lets play nine ball, he said. Lucky got a match in a few minutes with a guy from Mexico. Time to go I thought. I put away my journal and we head for the table they were going to play on.

I suggest to Lucky that he warm up a bit. He says he doesn’t need to. Then he changes his mind and tosses a few balls out on the table, saying need to warm up for this guy so everyone

could hear. Lucky asked me if he was dressed nice or should he go get some nice shoes on. And should he go find a date!! “I’m relieved to see he still has his sense of humor and am reassured that he’s probably feeling ok.While Lucky strokes the balls around, I see an entourage of a half dozen people followed the Pescado Grande around the room. He briskly walks right over to Lucky and says, “Ready, amigo?”Lucky says, “Well, I got to hit a couple more balls first.” Lucky never does that I thought. He always plays cold. Why is this different, I wonder? A few minutes pass while Lucky pulls up the rest of the balls and strokes them in, and the other guy screws his cues together. The Babe, who’s with this Mexican sets a couple of plastic bottles of cold water by his chair. I notice that another guy is side betting with the crowd. The same guy who backed the Canadian gal earlier. I can’t understand Spanish, but I think I know pretty much what he’s saying as he gesticulates toward Lucky, speaking rapidly and laughing, and I hear something about “loco hombre” or something. Lucky tells me to go side bet with that guy which I did for $20 a game. I should have done more but Lucky said only $20. Presently, Lucky says, “Ok, let’s lag.”“How much do you want to lose?” says the Mexican, grinning through his mustache. Lucky gives him a look and says, “Whatever you want to lose, amigo.” Pescado Grande, probably thinking this is his opportunity to bet high, says, “Five hundred a game.”Lucky raises his bushy eyebrows and says, “Is that it? Don’t you want to freeze up twenty grand?” Pescado Grande consults with his backer. They must be thinking this is the easiest money ever. I can see them chortling. He turns back to Lucky, who is busy blowing his nose into his hankerchief and says, “Ok, we will play for a grand a game -- ten games ahead. “Ok. He holds the money.” Lucky is pointing to me. They finally agreed. Lucky pulls out a huge stack of one hundred dollar bills from inside his jacket, and hands it to me, and the guy’s backer hands me another stack. Holy cow. I’m highly nervous about holding $20,000. I’ve had that much money in my hands before. I count it all out in front of everybody. “Hope I don’t get mugged,” I laugh nervously to Lucky. He says not to worry, he did his homework on these folks -- it’s fine. NO!, in this place they are too known. So I get it all stuffed into my shirt and jacket pockets and zip up my jacket and sit back down with my arms folded tightly together, just hoping I don’t have to use the bathroom.Pescado Grande wins the lag. Lucky racks and sits down. Grande runs three games just like that. I’ am paying off the side bet every game which is a pain but a safe way to go since iI didn’t know him. His crowd is babbling and laughing all over the place, and though I can’t understand

them, it is clear they are happy. On the fourth game, however, Pescado misses a shot and Lucky steps up to the table, saying, “I thought I might never get a shot.” Pescado Grande slaps him on the back, and laughing, says, “You are not supposed to get a shot, hombre!” Lucky glances at me. I know what he is thinking, but what he says is, “I am an old man! Do you think that I am going to win any money from you?”Pescado Grande says, “No, amigo, I do not!” and everyone laughs. It takes Lucky few games to get even. Nothing spectacular from either player -- they each play just well enough to win. When they are even, the old man Lucky, who in this moment does look old to me, says to Pescado Grande, “This can’t be all you’ve got! If it is you are going to lose!” Thinking that Lucky is funny they all laugh at Lucky and slap him some more on the back, and keep on chattering, loud enough to be distracting to some... Lucky is now breaking. He breaks and makes the nine, breaks and runs, breaks and makes the nine, breaks and rides, breaks and runs, breaks and makes the nine, breaks and makes the nine, breaks and runs, breaks and rides, breaks and runs. I am enjoying having this guy I am side betting with come over and pay me so fast, but he’s stating to give me the look. Lucky looks at Pescado Grande and his entourage, grins, and says, “Almost halfway there!” No laughter this time. No chattering now. No merriment. Lucky has the Mexican in the CHAIR. I feel like I am in the chair, too. I can feel the pressure, the Mexican having to get up every few minutes to rack the next game and still not get to shoot as minute after long minute stretches into the wee hours. The watching crowd all looks puzzled, floored, speechless… a look I can’t justly describe. Finally, Lucky sets his cue next to his chair for a stretch, and pulls out a new cinnamon stick to chew on. “I’m getting tired,” he says to me. “I need to get this over with.” Lucky waits for Pescado to rack, gets up and runs another, then a couple more. Pescado won a game or two in this stretch but Lucky is at 8 ahead. It’s only been about 90 minutes. A little disagreement on the rack ensued. The worn felt made it difficult. Pescado brought out a Magic Rack. This was interesting to Lucky a great idea he thought to get the balls to rack near perfect. Foreign to Lucky he said no at this time. If we play, freeze up some more then I say yes. Lucky finished the last two games. Side better paid me on the last game. I handed the money to Lucky. Lets do it again he said. Lucky got out a new cinnamon stick. Money re-upped. My side bet guy came up to me and wanted to jack the bet to $50 a game, pay after every game. Lucky gave me the nod to go ahead. Lucky won the lag. Here is the Magic Rack Pescado said. Lucky said OK. The games went back and forth basically were no one ran

more then 4 racks at anytime. Lucky two games behind looked puzzled Lucky noticed that it was easier to make extra balls with this rack. He was accustomed to knowing where all the balls go on his break with all his different break speeds and break spots. Knowing Lucky, he was playing position off break for the three ball from the position in the rack. The one and two went down, but the three went go too. His methodical break strategies were out the window. He would have to learn how this rack makes the extra balls that he didn’t expect to go in and adjust for it. It could cause a problem for him if he doesn’t figure out the magic rack break soon. It was 6am. The game score was even. Lucky was up late, unusual for him, who likes his beauty sleep. We had been up all day, I know Lucky was tired I certainly was. Lucky looking ragged said do you want to come back tomorrow to play some more. Pescado Grande says I might be in the Bahamas tomorrow. I want to play now. You know that he probably just woke up just before he came to the pool hall so he was fresh and ready to play. Being around Lucky so much I can see Lucky slipping some in this match. I am also getting tired of running the side bet money after each game too. It was 9am. I could barely keep my eyes open. If it wasn’t for the back and forth side bet pay off and if I wasn’t carrying all this money. I’d sleep. The late night makes you think about a lot of things. I was wondering about having Thanksgiving at home with my wife and friends even how I’d cook the Turkey and what side dishes to have. I hoped my cat was doing ok, I know we were talking about introducing a new cat to our house and whether my cat would accept a new cat in her space. Lucky started to talk maybe to keep me awake or even himself awake. I know the sun was out. He brought up his old friend Jimmy Caras. He was remembering his old friend who had had a passed away a few ago. Started to tell a story where Caras was playing for days…. What an encouraging conversation I thought…and he looked at me with that half joking stare. I smiled back. Lucky said “I think I figured out this rack”.

The Score even again Lucky broke made nothing, “I must be getting tired” “I was going to make four balls on the break and run out”. he said, instead Pescado Grande ran out. I got a snack for Lucky thinking this would help him. I went over to the counter everyone was watching me. You know they were nervous that I might bolt out of the place. I came back Lucky had won that game. I told the guy that we should just pay on the end of 5 ahead. I got in a small conversation with the Canadian Girl. She was interesting and from Kamloops. All of a sudden the guy interrupts us and pays me $250 five games ahead. I felt I must have not paid attention. Lucky got there so fast. Looked over to him he had a second wind………..Copyright 2011 by Andrew Monstis

LuckyPlaysthePescadoGrandeLucky #12


Amanda Lampert who sought her revenge win against Ricki who put her on the one loss side.

In the finals match, it was a replay of the hot seat with Lisa Marr and Tara Williams. Both ladies were not only vying for the win, but the tournament winner would also be crowned the tour champion in the close point race. Tara would have to beat Lisa twice for the win, but it would not happen, Lisa bested Tara in one set with a score of 7-5. Tara Williams finished in 2nd place her last 3 tour events, including this stop, for the 2011 year, showing very consistent shooting and strong year end finish to boot. With this 1st place finish, Lisa went on to become tour champion for the 4th time in a row. Lisa went through some challenges this year while enduring

shoulder surgery which caused her to not finish as high as she would have wanted. But always the fighter and her “never quit” attitude, she was able to overcome all obstacles and prevail once again as the tour champion. Congratulations to all tour players for an excellent tour year.

Thank you to all OB Cues Ladies Tour players, supporters, fan, sponsors, host sites, everyone! It was a great 2011 year and looking forward to a bigger and better 2012 year. Be sure to check out our website for 2012 Tour Calendar updates. www.obcuestour.com

Good Pool, Good Friends, Good Times!!!MAIN EVENT TOURNAMENT: ($3000 monies added; 28 players – 100% payback)1st $850 Lisa Marr 2nd $630 Tara Williams3rd $455 Amanda Lampert 4th $295 Ricki Lee Casper 5th/6th $185 Jennifer Kraber, Ming Ng 7th/8th $110 Yvette Reyes, Belinda Lee9th/12th $75 Monica Anderson, Kim Pierce, Orietta Strickland, Julie Stephenson13th/16th $55 Natalie Mans, Deedra Trammell, Shayla Neris, Melinda Bailey17th/24th $35 Amber Stone, Shirley Fields, Tracie Voelkering, Rebecca Riley, Tami Dearman, Michelle Prince, Kathy Knuth, Becky Jones25th/28th $20 Lucille Donahue, Diana Cardona, Jennifer Pavlovick, Lisa Henderson-Major A SECOND CHANCE TOURNAMENT (15 players and $200 added monies; $350 total)1st $125 Kathy Knuth 2nd $85 Melinda Bailey3rd $60 Tracie Voelkering4th $40 Julie Stephenson5th/6th $20 Monica Anderson, Michelle Prince

OB CUES LADIES TOUR SPECIAL YEAR END AWARDS:• 2011 OB Cues Ladies Tour Champion – Lisa Marr – 4-time winner – receives 2012 paid

tournament entry to all stops + trophy• 2011 OB Cues Most Improved Player – Julie Stephenson – receives 2012 paid

tournament entry to all stops + trophy• 2011 OB Cues Ladies Tour Best Sportsman – Tracie Voelkering – receives (1) 2012 paid

tournament entry + trophy• 2011 OB Cues Ladies Tour Perfect Attendance Winner - Monica Anderson – receives

$200 cash – 3-time winner

OTHER TOURNAMENT WINNERS:• Three Mobile Gas Cards ($50 value) – Becky Jones, Amanda Lampert, Rebecca Riley• Three Starbucks gift cards ($25 value) – Tami Dearman, Michelle Prince, Jennifer Pavlovick• Free Entry ($30 refund) – Shirley Fields• Poison T-Shirt – Melinda Bailey• Pool Dawg Key Chain – Lisa Henderson-Major• Vitality Day Spa Lotion – Jennifer Kraber• Pool DVD by The Monk – Kathy Knuth

OB CUES RAFFLE WINNERS:• Natalie Mans – winner of OB Cues Ladies Tour Player raffle drawing• Suzanne Walkuski – Casper’s Customer/also OB Cues Ladies Tour Player

OOps…. (continued from page 13)

http://www.cuestik.com

DATE CITY LOCATION PHONE EVENT / RULES ENTRY ADDED TIMEJan 1 Muscatine, IA Krug’z Pool Hall (563) 263-7665 8-Ball Race to 4 $10 Call 2PMJan 7 Lees Summit, MO Side Pockets (816) 524-2400 Rated 9-Ball $15 $500 12:30PMJan 7 Kansas City, MO Brass Rail (816) 468-6100 KC Rated 9-Ball Tour $30+$10 g.f. $300 w/32 NoonJan 7 Muscatine, IA Krug’z Pool Hall (563) 263-7665 9-Ball Race to 7 $25 $100 1PMJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 9-Ball Banks - $50 buy back $100+$10 reg. $10,000 Guar NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 One Pocket - $75 buy back $125+$10 reg. $15,000 Guar NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 9-Ball Banks, 1 Pocket, 9-Ball Minis $25+$5 reg. $1,000 NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 14.1 Challenge $100. $8,500 NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 FATBOY Challenge $500 $10,000 NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 One Pocket Challenge $50 $12,500 min NoonJan 21 Blue Springs, MO Side Pockets (816) 224-5454 KC Rated 9-Ball Tour $30+$10 g.f. $300 w/32 1PMJan 26-29 Coon Rapids, MN CR’s Sports Bar (763) 780-1585 Upper Midwest Bar Table Call $5,000 CallJan 28 Muscatine, IA Krug’z Pool Hall (563) 263-7665 9-Ball Race to 7 $25 Call 5PMFeb 4-5 Bellflower, CA CSI (702) 719-7665 9-Ball Jay Swanson Mem. $80 $3,000 Guar CallFeb 9-12 French Lick, IN French Lick Resort (260) 413-1604 Tri-State Championships Call $2,000 CallFeb 12-19 Reno, NV CSI (702) 719-7665 10-Ball Bar Table Open/Wmn Call $6,000/$1,000 CallFeb 12-19 Reno, NV CSI (702) 719-7665 9-Ball Bar Table Open/Women Call $6,000/$1,000 CallFeb 12-19 Reno, NV CSI (702) 719-7665 8-Ball Bar Table Open/Women Call $6,000/$1,000 CallFeb 22-26 Oconomowoc, WI Olympia Resort wisconsinbca.com WIBCA State Championships Call $16,000 CallFeb 25 Muscatine, IA Krug’z Pool Hall (563) 263-7665 9-Ball Handicap-Lucasi Tour $30 $500 1PMMar 10-11 Lafayette, LA White Diamond Billiards (337) 989-9889 9-Ball Mini Tournament $20 Call CallMar 10-11 Lafayette, LA White Diamond Billiards (337) 989-9889 9-Ball Bar Table - Race to 7 $40 $1,000 w/128 9AMMar 19-25 Miami, OK Buffalo Run Casino (918) 906-0839 OK Black Gold BCAPL State Call $20,000 CallApr 19-22 New Town, ND Four Bears Casino (701) 421-0604 8-Ball Classic Men division $60 $10,000 w/128 5PMApr 19-22 New Town, ND Four Bears Casino (701) 421-0604 8-Ball Classic Women division $40 $3,000 w/64 5PMMay 9-20 Las Vegas, NV BCAPL (702) 719-7665 BCAPL Nationals Varies $800,000 payout CallMay 10-13 Las Vegas, NV CSI (702) 719-7665 U S Open One Pocket Call $10,000 Guar CallMay 14-19 Las Vegas, NV BCAPL (702) 719-7665 U S Open 10-Ball Call $25,000 Guar Call

Wednesdays Oshkosh, WI Varsity Club (920) 651-0806 9-Ball Beginners $8 CallThursdays Muscatine, IA Krug’z Pool Hall (563) 263-7665 Pool/Darts (2nd Shift) SE $5 1AM Oshkosh, WI Varsity Club (920) 651-0806 9-Ball Intermediate $10 CallFridays Coon Rapids, MN CR’s Sports Bar (763) 780-1585 8-Ball on 7’ Diamonds $16 $75 7PM Farmington, MN Farmington Billiards (651) 463-2636 8 or 9-ball rotation $10 $50 w/16 6:30PM Muscatine, IA Krug’z Pool Hall (563) 263-7665 9-Ball Race to 4 or 5 $5 8PM Tulsa, OK Q-Spot Billiards (918) 779-6204 8-Ball 7 & under $5 9 PM Oshkosh, WI Varsity Club (920) 651-0806 9-Ball Open - Break Pot $15 $5/player Guar. CallSaturdays Farmington, MN Farmington Billiards (651) 463-2636 8-Ball Bar Box Hdcp $20 entry $25 every 8 2PM Tulsa, OK Q-Spot Billiards (918) 779-6204 9-Ball 7 & under $10 (incl. g.f.) 9 PM

Call First - All Tournaments are subject to change without noticeDATE CITY LOCATION PHONE EVENT / RULES ENTRY ADDED TIME

WEEKLY TOURNAMENTS

Live Streaming of Pool Tournaments Call 4 Info 406.285.3099

Presents


Call First - All Tournaments are subject to change without noticePresents

http://www.tigerproducts.com

“Come Celebrate the Life of a Gentle Giant”

Tournament Entry

ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE AT WWW.CTSONDEMAND.COM

17450 Bellflower Blvd., Bellflower, CA 90706 (562) 867-7733

No Checks After January 21, 2012

All mailed entries must be received no later than January 31, 2012

On-site entries will be accepted in CASH ONLY.

Make Checks payable to: CueSports International or CSI

Mail to: CueSports Intl, 2041 Pabco Rd., Henderson, NV 89011

Fax Entries to: (702) 719-7667. CSI Phone: (702) 719-7665

www.hardtimesbellflower.com

Open to All Players / Doors Open at 9 a.m. Play Begins at 10 a.m.(includes $20 reg./green fee + $5 late fee)

(includes $20 reg./green fee)Race to 7 winner side ~ 6 one loss side (final 48 one loss side to 7)

Final Single Race to 11 ~ Double Elimination.

Field Limited to 192 Players. Early Sign-Ups Encouraged.

(we reserve the right to modify races to accomodate tournament time restraints)

$3,000 Added Guaranteed

$4,000 Added With Full Field

February 4 - 5, 2012$80.00 Entry Fee

$85.00 Day of Event

Hard Times Billiards

The 16th Annual Jay Swanson

Memorial 9-Ball Tournamenthosted by

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Open Division

10-Ball ($6000 Added)



Women’s Division

10-Ball ($1000 Added*)



*Based on Minimum 16 Players

All Around Bonuses*

Open: 1st - 3rd Point Leaders

Women’s: 1st - 2nd Point Leaders

*Must compete in all 3 divisions (Open or Womens)

to qualify for the All Around Bonus Points and Awards.

to reach CSI call (702) 719-7665

Sponsored by

Tournament

Direction by:

Streaming by:

www.playcsipool.com for event and entry information

Play in 2012

CueSports International

(702) 719-POOL

Choices for All Players

More

LIVE STREAM BY

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BCAPL Rules

http://www.playcsipool.com

http://www.cuestix.com

rackem magazine january issue 2012

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