Sally Timko

World Teams Championship 2010

Press Release – World Pool-Billiards Association

The World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA) has announced the World Teams Championship 2010. From the 30th of January to the 7th February the inaugural World Teams Championship (WTC) event will take place in Hanover, Germany. With prize money of $400,000 on offer, it assures the very best players from all around the world will be competing. This event is supported and sanctioned by the WPA.

It promises to be very exciting, and could well be the most interesting event ever with its unique format. All countries have to opportunity to nominate a four, five or six person team, and all matches will include the disciplines of 8-Ball, 9-Ball and 10-Ball. Each match will feature singles and doubles play, therefore the strategy of how a country selects its team is critical. They need to select specialists in each discipline, and the players can be all male, all female, or a combination of both.

With prize money of $400,000 on offer, it assures the very best players from all around the world will be competing.

I encourage everyone to go and see these great players in action, nothing is better to feel the tension and electric atmosphere than by seeing it live. For those who cannot attend, it will be live-streamed over the internet. For all details, see www.wtc-2010.com

Ian Anderson
WPA President

Team CSI – American Grand Masters Heads to the Heartland

CueSports International (CSI), in partnership with promoter Mark Cantrill, would like to announce that Team CSI – American Grand Masters is heading to the U.S. Midwest for the first leg of the Team CSI Tour.

The team is comprised of: BCA Hall of Fame inductee and 5 time U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion Earl “The Pearl” Strickland, 2009 Texas Open winner Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant, 2006 U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion and 2009 Derby City Classic One Pocket winner John “Mr. 400” Schmidt, and 2001 U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion Corey Deuel who has also served on the U.S. Mosconi Cup Team 6 times.

Each of the four members of Team CSI still actively compete in both U.S. and international events, thus two members of the team travel together for each leg of the tour. The Midwest Tour, which is scheduled January 8-17, will feature Earl Strickland and John Schmidt.

“I have always enjoyed teaching and passing on knowledge in person. I also enjoy meeting new people and so this is going to be a great experience and can’t wait.” said John Schmidt.

Strickland and Schmidt will perform a series of exciting exhibitions and hold pool schools throughout Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska and Iowa. The pool school is 4 hours in length with a maximum of 12 students per school. Each student will have an opportunity for individual instruction with both Strickland and Schmidt addressing the student’s personal needs to progress in their respective games. The total cost to attend the pool school is $200 per student.

CueSports International (CSI), in partnership with promoter Mark Cantrill, would like to announce that Team CSI – American Grand Masters is heading to the U.S. Midwest for the first leg of the Team CSI Tour.

The Midwest Tour schedule dates and locations are:

• Friday, January 8th Open to Public Exhibition: 7:30 pm, The Rack, Livonia, MI

• Saturday, January 9th Pool School: 11 am – 4 pm, The Rack, Livonia, MI

• Saturday, January 9th Exhibition: The University of Michigan Student Union, Ann Arbor, MI

• Sunday, January 10th Pool School: 1 pm – 5 pm, Big Shot Billiards, Muncie, IN

• Sunday, January 10th Open to Public Exhibition: 7:30 pm, Big Shot Billiards, Muncie, IN

• Tuesday, January 12th Private Exhibition: 7:30 pm, Springfield, IL

• Wednesday, January 13th Private Pool School: 4 pm – 8 pm, Springfield, IL

• Thursday, January 14th Pool School: 4 pm – 8 pm, Big Dog’s Billiards, Des Moines, IA

• Friday, January 15th Exhibition: 7:30 pm, Big Dog’s Billiards, Des Moines, IA

• Saturday, January 16th Exhibition: 7:30 pm, Heidelberg’s, Lincoln, NE

• Sunday, January 17th Pool School: 11 am – 3 pm, Heidelberg’s, Lincoln, NE

Strickland started working with Cantrill in 2008 with the Legends and Champions Tour. With Cantrill’s partnership with CSI, as Team CSI – American Grand Master’s will be able to expand the team and offer more opportunity to bring these accomplished professionals to area pool communities to broaden the sport and help expand the skills of local pool enthusiasts.

“I am really excited that we are heading to the Midwest, the people are always welcoming and friendly whenever I have been there,” said Strickland.

For information about Team CSI visit the CSI website at www.playcsipool.com. For more information about the tour, to schedule an exhibition or pool school in your area, and to register to attend a pool school contact Mark Cantrill at (480) 612-7732 or email him at markc@playcsipool.com

In addition to CSI, Team CSI – American Grand Masters 2010 Midwest Tour is sponsored by, Mueller Recreational Products, Cornhuskers Billiards, Sterling Gaming, and Nielsen’s Billiards.

CueSports International (CSI) is dedicated to creating more choices for all players. CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League, the National Championship Series (NCS), and the USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events such as the U.S. Bar Table Championships, the Jay Swanson Memorial and the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. Visit www.playcsipool.com, www.playbca.com and www.playusapool.com for more information about CSI and its divisions.

WPA To Conduct World 9-Ball Championship in 2010

The World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) is pleased to announce that the World 9-Ball Championship will be conducted in Doha, Qatar from June 25 until July 5, 2010. Qualifiers for this event will be held in Doha from June 25 until June 27 and the main event will be conducted from June 28 until a champion is crowned on July 5.

The prize fund for this initial appearance and in 2011 in Qatar is $250,000 and will increase to $300,000 for both 2012 and 2013. Invitations will be done according to WPA rankings, and via the WPA members. Invitations will be done according to WPA rankings, and via the WPA members and should commence during the spring of 2010.

The World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) is pleased to announce that the World 9-Ball Championship will be conducted in Doha, Qatar from June 25 until July 5, 2010.

More details will be forthcoming shortly but the WPA wishes to take this opportunity to thank the organizers in Qatar who have worked so diligently to make this event a reality. The world has been awaiting the return of the World 9-Ball Championships and it is their efforts who have made this possible.

Shlemperis Slays Holiday Tri-State Field
Tri-State Tour / East Rutherford, NJ

by InsidePOOL Staff

Dave Shlemperis bounced back from a late loss to Wilson Cruz to earn a rematch with him in the finals of the Tri-State Tour’s December 26 event, winning the match and the title. This $500-added holiday tournament drew 41 players to Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ.

Shlemperis and Cruz first clashed in the hot seat match after sending to the one-loss side Pete Brennan 6-2 and Jacob Schwartz 7-6, respectively. The ensuing match-up saw Cruz dominate Shlemperis 7-4 and send him to the semifinals on the west side of the chart.

Now in the left side’s final four, Schwartz fell to Scott Simonetti 7-5, while Brennan moved past Ra Hanna 6-4. Simonetti and Brennen advanced to the quarterfinals, where Brennan relegated Simonetti to fourth place with a 7-4 victory.

Shlemperis was fired up, ready for a rematch with Cruz, and he made short work of Brennan in the semifinal match, winning 6-1. He opened the final match with a 9 ball on the break and was up 8-0 in the race to 10 before Cruz got on the board. Though Cruz made it to 4, Shlemperis had too large of a lead and won the final match 10-4.

Dave Shlemperis bounced back from a late loss to Wilson Cruz to earn a rematch with him in the finals of the Tri-State Tour’s December 26 event, winning the match and the title.

Results:
1st Dave Shlemperis $600
2nd Wilson Cruz $400
3rd Pete Brennan $220
4th Scott Simonetti $150
5th Ra Hanna $100
Jake Schwartz
7th Jerry Tarantola $75
Annie Flores

U.S. Qualifiers Gear Up for the World Stage

Presented by Masterpool Promotions, the Predator World 10-Ball Tour in Lloret de Mar, Spain will be the first major international billiard event of 2010. In addition to several top Americans already invited to play, five American players have earned a spot through various qualifiers to play in this event which will be the first of many international tour stops.

Two Mosconi Cup team members won their qualifier spots in November at the UPL 10-Ball Invitational at the Innisbrook Resort in Florida. Noted for its unique and progressive format, this tournament rewarded players for break and runs and games won. Johnny Archer and Corey Deuel rose to the top earning a spot in Spain and $8,000 and $5,000, respectively.

Representing the KF Cues Tour and Hammer Head Pool Room in Holiday, FL, Tony Crosby defeated Tommy Kennedy in a hill-hill battle to capture his spot in Spain. In addition to competing on the professional pool scene, Crosby runs the KF Cues Tour and is involved in managing several other businesses within the pool industry.

Presented by Masterpool Promotions, the Predator World 10-Ball Tour in Lloret de Mar, Spain will be the first major international billiard event of 2010.

Hall of Fame Billiards in Warren, Michigan also held a qualifier where professional player, Adam Smith won. This was the site of the first tour stop for the new Northern Action 9-Ball Tour.

Meanwhile, across the country, the Lone Star Billiard Tour was underway. This qualifier was held in conjunction with their tour finale at Bogies Billiards in Houston, TX. James Davis Jr. earned his spot at this event and was the only amateur American player to be invited to the Predator World 10-Ball Tour through a qualifier. “I would like to thank Predator giving me the opportunity to play in this event. I have been practicing a lot in preparation for Spain so I hope all of my hard work pays off. I’m stoked to be competing in an international event of this caliber,” said Davis.

The Predator World 10-Ball Tour in Lloret de Mar will kick off on January 6, 2010 and already has a stellar player list including many World Champions. Fans can follow the event on the live internet stream at www.Predator10Ball.com.

Richko and Crosby Take Down KF Billiard Fields
KF Cues Tour / Holiday, FL

by Lea Andrews

This season’s KF Cues Tour has two new winners after its December 19-20 stop at Hammerheads Billiards in Holiday, FL. Jason Richko pummeled his way to undefeated victory in the 47-entrant, $1,000-added amateur event on Saturday, while tournament director Tony “The Sniper” Crosby chose a more covert approach in Sunday’s $1,000-added open event, making his way through the 29-player field on the left side of the bracket following a loss to Louis Altes.

Richko got past Dan Dennis to face Bill Dunsmore in the hot seat match, where the two fought to hill-hill before Richko notched the final game. On the one-loss side, Mike Xiarkos, Sr., who’d fallen in the second round to Mark Wathen, strung several matches together to face Dan Dennis, whom he put it fifth to meet up with Josh Palmer. Palmer, who’d just knocked aside Glen Miller, couldn’t make it happen against Xiarkos, and he landed in fourth. A victory over Dunsmore in the semifinals put Xiarkos into the single race-to-8 final match against Richko, and it seemed it would end up a blowout as he jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Richko fought back, though, managing to tie it up at seven games apiece before taking the lead for the first time right when it counted the most, earning his first KF Cues Tour win 8-7.

On Sunday, while Crosby was making his way through the west side thanks to Altes, who’d also taken down Rafael Martinez 7-6 and Mike Davis 7-5, Altes himself was working on an undefeated run, but after getting past Josh Palmer 7-3, he was stopped in his tracks by Tommy Kennedy, who edged him out 7-6 to claim the hot seat. On the other side, Crosby rode a 7-2 win over Dunsmore to a 7-5 victory over Mike Delawder, who’d just gotten past Palmer. He got a crack at revenge against Altes in the semifinals, where he took full advantage, not allowing Altes to mark up even a single game. In the single race-to-9 final match against Kennedy, the two seasoned players fought to hill-hill, and it appeared in the final game that Crosby would finish out the match in his chair and Kennedy would pick up his second win this season. But after Kennedy hung up the 4 ball, Crosby was out of his chair to earn his first win this season and put Kennedy in second for the second stop in a row.

This season’s KF Cues Tour has two new winners after its December 19-20 stop at Hammerheads Billiards in Holiday, FL.

Amateur Results:
1st Jason Richko $650
2nd Mike Xiarhos, Sr. $400
3rd Bill Dunsmore $300
4th Josh Palmer $200
5th Glen Miller $125
Dan Dennis
7th Scott Howard $90
Mark Wathen
9th Louis Altes $60
Trey Jankowski
Bill Delisle
Michael Xiarhos, Jr.

Open Results:
1st Tony Crosby $1,650
2nd Tommy Kennedy $400
3rd Louis Altes $300
4th Mike Delawder $200
5th Josh Palmer $100
Bill Dunsmore

Hill Capitalizes to Win Dominiak Billiards Event
Dominiak Cues Northeast 10-Ball Tour / Springfield, MA

by Kevin Vidal

Chuck Hill took top honors at the Dominiak Cues Northeast 10-Ball Tour stop December 20, defeating Chip Tibbets in the final showdown. Hosted by Snooker’s Billiards in Springfield, MA, the stop hosted the top amateurs in the Northeast.

The top half of the winners’ bracket saw Tibbets making his way to the hot seat match with wins over Mike Wheeler, Rogers Hill, and Rob Francoeur. The bottom half of the winners’ side saw tour point standings leader Hill make his way to the hot seat to play Chip with wins over Jerry Brayson, Brandon Charin, and Andy Decker. The hot seat match proved to be a close one between Tibbets and Hill, but Tibbets displayed steady shot-making to send Hill to the one-loss side and earn his spot in the finals.

The one-loss side saw tour regular Charin take wins over Brandon Ryan, Wheeler, and Francoeur to meet up with Rogers Hill, who was also steadily making his way with wins over Ray Belden, Choneyi Tenzin, and Andy Decker. In the ensuing semifinals, Hill played steadily and took advantage of his opportunities to clinch the match.

Chuck Hill took top honors at the Dominiak Cues Northeast 10-Ball Tour stop December 20, defeating Chip Tibbets in the final showdown.

In the final match, which was a rematch for Hill, as Tibbets had sent him west earlier in the event, Hill took advantage of opportunities and gained a lead of 3-0. However, Tibbets battled back to make the score 3-2. Hill took the next two racks and reached the hill first in the race to 6, but Tibbets closed the gap to 5-3. The next game went back and forth, and Tibbets had a chance but let back in the match. Hill ran out to take home his first tour stop win of the season.

Results:
1st Chuck Hill $150
2nd Chip Tibbets $90
3rd Rogers Hill $50
4th Brandon Charin $35

December 2009 Issue of Inside POOL Magazine Available for Free Download

Mika Immonen Seals the Deal

The December 2009 issue of Inside POOL Magazine, which again features Mika Immonen on the cover, has been made available for free download at InsidePOOLmag.com. This month the download features new technology in online billiards magazine viewing such as enhanced clarity, videos, links to favorite web sites, flipping pages, zooming, emailing, sharing, and printing.

Immonen fights back from the one-loss bracket to win an improbable and historical U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship in Chesapeake, VA.

Mika Immonen snares his second history-making straight U.S. Open 9-Ball in Chesapeake, VA. Kelly Fisher takes down the Tournament of Champions at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Unasville, CT. Johnny Archer and Shawn Putnam claim the titles at the Carolina Open. Filipino sensation Marlon Manalo wins the Steve Mizerak Seminole Tour finale. Get pool lessons from one of professional instructors. Check out the Inside POOL Magazine Holiday Buying Guide. Get the latest billiards news from the regional tours across the U.S and around the world.

Download the December 2009 issue of Inside POOL Magazine for Free

Want the real issue? Order this issue online today!

Inside POOL Magazine publishes both print and online versions of each issue. The online version is usually made available for FREE (without a membership) viewing and downloading around the middle of each month. If you would like to receive the print version of this wonderful magazine, please visit InsidePOOLmag.com to subscribe.

Check out December 2009 | Download it FREE!

About Inside POOL Magazine
Inside POOL Magazine launched in 2001 and, with pool player-based content and high impact photography, quickly became the largest magazine in the world for the sport of billiards. The official web site, InsidePOOLmag.com, followed shortly after and became one of the largest web sites in billiards. The web site features videos, image galleries, pool lessons, custom Pool Cue makers, online games, player profiles, tournament brackets, live streaming video, rules, product reviews, and the latest billiard news from around the world.

Archer Takes Over Number One Spot on BCA Rankings

As the 2009 season in the world of pool and billiards has wound down, it was revealed that Johnny Archer has taken over the top spot on the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) rankings. With his victory at the Turning Stone Classic XIV, he has knocked Ralf Souquet out of first place and now reigns supreme going into the new year.

This was not the only victory that “The Scorpion” had this year that contributed to his new position on the ranking system. In November he won two events. First he took down the Steve Mizerak Championship, and then he also won the U.S. 10-Ball Invitational later that month.

Archer capped off the 2009 season by by jumping into the number one spot on the Billiard Congress of America rankings. This year also witnessed Archer receiving his BCA Hall of Fame induction.

View the BCA Rankings

Reaching the acme of the BCA rankings is the icing on the cake for Archer’s 2009 season. In October he was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America’s Hall of Fame during the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, and in December he participated in the PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup, helping Team USA reclaim the prestigious Cup for America.

Runnels Double-Dips Daiber
Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Open 9-Ball Tour / Waukesha, WI

by Jonathan Demet

The Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Open 9-Ball Tour was hosted Master Z’s in Waukesha, WI, for their December 20 stop. The $500-added stop drew a solid 19 players, expecting a good day of competition, and Ike Runnels ran away with first place, besting Matt Daiber in the finals.

Runnels took control of the top half of the winners’ bracket, making his way through the traffic by outplaying Tony Chirchirillo, Tom Radowitz, and Jon Giles. Daiber made his way through the winners’ side bottom bracket with wins over Jason Jicks, Dave Leverenz, Chris Gitzlaff, and Duncan Kaufman. The hot seat match was a real nail-biter, but Daiber pulled ahead to claim it and send Runnels to the one-loss side with an 8-6 win.

Gil Hernandez of Chicago made it all the way through the west side of the chart to the semifinals after an upset by Tom Radowitz in the first round. Runnels won the semifinal match against Hernandez in a suspenseful showing by the score of 6-5. He continued his top-notch performance, playing nearly perfectly, and he double-dipped Daiber in the finals to clench his first victory on the BCW.

The Billiard Congress of Wisconsin Open 9-Ball Tour was hosted Master Z’s in Waukesha, WI, for their December 20 stop.

Results:
1st Ike Runnels $365
2nd Matt Daiber $230
3rd Gil Hernandez $180
4th Scott Doc $120
5th Jon Giles $50
Duncan Kaufman