UNBREAKABLE: IMMONEN'S DOMINATION CONTINUES AT WORLD 10-BALL
JANUARY 2010
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SARAH ROUSEY LEARNS TO ENJOY LIFE AS A WPBA STAR $3.95
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CONTENTS
Vol. 32, No. 2 J A N U A R Y
2 0 1 0
Features 34 NUMBERS GAME Corey Deuel arranged a $30,000-added tournament that attracted plenty of interest from players and statisticians alike. by Skip Maloney
36 OH MY, OUSCHAN! The Austrian star took her third Classic Tour title of the 2009 season at the WPBA Tour Championship.
IMMONEN: JERRY FORSYTH; ROUSEY: JOHN GRESS; OUSCHAN: ANNE CRAIG-WPBA
40
by Nicholas Leider
40 ALL ALONE AS NO. 1
46
36
Capping one of the most dominant years in recent history, Mika Immonen captured the World 10-Ball title in Manila. by Ted Lerner
46 SARAH’S SMILE From timid teenager to an outspoken WPBA mainstay, Sarah Rousey has learned to be comfortable in her own skin. by Mike Gef fner
Columns 10 FROM THE PUBLISHER Remembering the Aughts. Mike Panozzo
64 TIPS & SHAFTS Ever wonder how a bankroll is built? George Fels
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On the Cover Sarah Rousey has been a fixture in the WPBA’s top 20 since she was the Classic Tour Rookie of the Year in 2003. In this month’s issue, Mike Geffner takes a look inside the sometimes frantic mind of one of America’s top talents. Photo by John Gress
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CONTENTS
J A N U A R Y
Vol. 32, No. 2 2 0 1 0
Departments
BD
The Premier Billiards Magazine since 1978
FOUNDER
PUBLISHER
MORT LUBY JR.
MIKE PANOZ ZO
MANAGING EDITOR
NICHOL AS LEIDER
8 YESTERYEAR
ART DIRECTOR
Jim Rempe roared back from a 180-ball deficit to upend Mike Sigel.
JENNY BR ADLE Y PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
10 MAILBAG
L AUR A VINCI
Why has Cisero Murphy been left off the list of world champions?
CONSULTING EDITOR
GEORGE F ELS
10 AD INDEX
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
ROBERT BYRNE MIK E SHAMOS
Your guide to BD’s advertisers.
SENIOR WRITER
12 BD NEWS
MIK E GEF F NER
A professional team event conflicts with this year’s Derby City Classic.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
DAVID ALCIATORE R. A . DYER JAY HELF ERT BOB JE WE T T WILLIE JO PLING L ARRY SCHWART Z NICK VARNER MARK WILSON
16 WINGSHOTS The Predator World Tour hopes to cover the globe in 2010 and beyond. Also, Pool on TV and a goodbye to Willie Jopling.
19 STROKE OF GENIUS Efren’s imaginative position play makes you wonder how he does it.
N AT ION A L A DV E R T ISING RE P.
CARL A BONNER
52 CHRONICLES by Mike Shamos
PRESIDENT
Taking stock of a collection random bits that deserve some attention.
56 TOURNAMENTS Johnny Archer didn’t wait long to pocket his first title as a Hall of Famer. Also, Liu Shasha takes the Women’s 9-Ball Championship.
KEITH HAMILTON CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
BUSINESS MANAGER
ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE
N AT H A N HANKINS
NANCY DUDZINSK I
QUIAN A MAYS
60 TOUR SPOTTING ’Tis the season for finales, with Charlie Bryant No. 1 in Texas and Denise Belanger victorious in Canada. Plus, the Tri-State Tour keeps rolling.
63 MARKETPLACE Check out some great offers.
Practice Table Instruction 22 24 26 28 30
6
Quick Hits: Robles offers three points on the pre-shot routine. Plus, Drill Bits, Straight Talk and Stan Tourangeau is On the Spot. Nick Varner • Strategies Bob Jewett • Tech Talk Larry Schwartz • Solids & Stripes David Alciatore • Illustrated Principles BILLIARDS DIGEST
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LUBY PUBLISHING INC. 122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1506 Chicago, IL 60603 (312) 341-1110 FA X : (312) 341-1469 w w w.billiardsdigest.com email @ billiardsdigest.com BILLIARDS DIGEST (ISSN 0164-761X) is published monthly by Luby Publishing, Inc., 122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1506, Chicago, IL 60603 USA. Telephone 312-341-1110, Fax 312-341-1469. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL and additional offices. SUBSCRIPTION RATES in the U.S. and possessions, one year (12 issues) for $30; two years, $43; three years, $55. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send new as well as old address. If possible, furnish label from recent issue. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Billiards Digest, 122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1506, Chicago, IL 60603.
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YESTERYEAR
Rempe Roars Back + 5 YEARS AGO +
+ 15 YEARS AGO +
The first-ever class inducted into the One-Pocket Hall of Fame (a creation of Steve Booth’s based on his Web site www. one-pocket.org) was one for the ages. Fittingly, the Hall of Fame opened up by inducting a dozen members at a ceremony held alongside 2005’s Derby City Classic. Restless promoter and one-pocket ace Grady Mathews was the first person inducted into the hall, joined by such luminaries as Danny DiLiberto, Ronnie Allen, Jack Breit and Efren Reyes. Reyes was the man to beat at the 2005 Derby City Classic, winning both the onepocket and 9-ball divisions, marking the first and only time one player had won multiple divisions in the same year.
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Smoking bans might seem like a debate born in the 21st century, but the discussion reaches back further than 2000 or 2001. A New York state law banning smoking in public places spelled trouble for Victor Conte’s Hippo’s in Yorkville, N.Y. Restaurant, bowling alley and bingo parlor lobbies negotiated exemptions for their businesses, but poolhalls were left to the mercy of the law. Conte, however, claimed discrimination in 1995. “We’re in the entertainment, recreation and hospitality business and should be treated equally,” Conte said. “We need relief. We need the same exemption that others have.” Fifteen years later, plenty of room operators are still arguing this point.
KING JAMES TOOK GREAT PLEASURE IN TAKING THE TITLE FROM SIGEL WITH A 180-BALL COMEBACK.
+ 20 YEARS AGO + In Mike Sigel’s backyard of Rochester, N.Y., Jim Rempe pulled off an incredible comeback at the 1990 Classic Invitational 14.1 Championship. Early in the match, Sigel looked in complete control of the raceto-200 final. After Rempe’s opening break, Sigel rattled off a run of 137 and worked his way to a lead of 195-15. But Rempe found his way back into the match, running 75 balls in two innings. Down 195-90, “King James” then ran 110and-out to win in spectacular fashion. “All the straight-pool tournaments, it was all the same players,” Rempe said. “It didn’t matter what title it was, a tournament was a tournament. But I know he wanted to win that one; it was his hometown tournament.”
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MAILBAG
ADVERTISER
INDEX COMPANY
PAGE
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D & R INDUSTRIES/ PAGES 32-33, 51 CHAMPIONSHIP WWW.CHAMPBILLIARDS.COM DERBY CITY CLASSIC WWW.DCCTICKETS.COM THE ILLUSTRATED PRINCIPLES OF POOL AND BILLIARDS WWW.DR-DAVE-BILLIARDS.COM IMPERIAL INTERNATIONAL WWW.IMPERIALUSA.COM JEANETTE LEE EXPERIENCE WWW.JEANETTELEE.COM JERRY BRIESATH’S POOL SCHOOL WWW.POOLLESSONS.COM
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BACK COVER
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NICK VARNER WWW.NICKVARNER.COM
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BILLIARDS DIGEST
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Murphy’s Omission?
PAGE 25
To the editor of Billiards Digest: I recently bought the 2005 edition of the Billiard Congress America’s official “Rules & Records Book” and took knowledge of the current list of the men’s pocket billiard champions (1878-1991). Until 1990, the BCA rule book listed “World Pocket Billiard Champions” ending in 1974 with Ray Martin, with this notice at the end: During the period of 1963-1968, no World Pocket Billiard Championships were held except by the Billiard Room Proprietors Association of America (no longer in existence). The rule book then lists the results of the BRPAA events from 1963 to 1968. The BCA rule book never mentions the Professional Pool Players Association (PPPA) championships held between 1976 and 1990, probably due to the boycott of the BCA U.S. Open by the PPPA’s players. Then, in 1992, Charles Ursitti, Mike Shamos and Ken Shouler had the merit and patience to completely review and update the list of men’s 14.1 champions (up until 1990, when the last sanctioned championship was held). But the biography of Cisero Murphy, inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 1995, states: “… because of his race was not invited to compete in world title events until 1965, when he won the Burbank World Invitational 14.1 tournament, beating Joe Balsis, Jimmy Moore, and Luther Lassiter. Murphy is one of only two players to win a world title on his first attempt.” Despite this recognition from the BCA in the Hall of Fame section of the rule book, a few pages later, the “world champions” list does not mention Murphy for 1965. So, according to the current list of the world champions, Murphy never won the world title in his whole career! It is obvious that Ursitti, Shamos and Shouler simply took the winners of the world championships held by different organizations over the years — first, the BRPAA winners (1963-1968), then the winners of the world invitational tournaments held in Los Angeles by Fred Whalen (1969-1974), and finally the winners of the PPPA championships (1976-1990). In the introduction to their list, they explain their results by writing: “Not all tournaments advertised as for the title are listed,
but only those that were sanctioned by an appropriate governing body.” Well, the truth is that the only “appropriate governing body” between 1960 and 1990 was the BCA. The only BRPAA event sanctioned by the BCA was for the year 1964! The tournaments held by Whalen in Los Angeles were sanctioned by the BCA, and the winners were duly mentioned in the list of the BCA rule book in the subsequent years. On the other hand, some very important tournaments were sanctioned by the BCA and should be recognized as world championships, among them the 1965 and 1966 Burbank World 14.1 Championships. These events featured all the top players of the era (Jimmy Moore, Luther Lassiter, Joe Basis, etc.) in a round-robin format, with Murphy winning the 1965 event with a 17-3 record. (Balsis won the 1966 event.) Because the two Burbank World Championships were sanctioned by the appropriate governing body and all the top players of the time participated, why not recognize them as a world championships? Because that would make two world champions in the same year? Well, there were three championship meetings in 1955 and 1956, and two between 1963-1967, so this is no reason. Including Murphy in the BCA rule book as a world champion for 1965 (and, by way of consequence, Balsis for 1966) would neither hurt nor deprive anyone of anything. It would simply give justice to Murphy. I hope this plea will not be considered as blame toward Ursitti, Shamos and Shouler, who are, like me, great fans of the game. I know they have done this work with much patience. I am the proud owner of every book written by Mr. Shamos and eagerly await his contribution to every issue of Billiards Digest. Pierre W. Morin St. Georges, Quebec
KUDOS TO A LEGEND I am writing to express my gratitude and admiration for George Fels’ columns and writing skills. What a wonderful combination they have been for pool & billiards through the years! Thanks so much, George. Allan F. Wier II Elkhart, Ind.
January 2010
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B bre a k i n g
N news
DERBY CITY’S DATE CONFLICT
World Team Championships may siphon some players away from the Louisville area.
Louisville, Ky.
FOR A dozen years, the Derby City Classic has been the unofficial start to a new year for pool players and fans alike. The January convention of all things cue related in the Louisville, Ky. area is the first major event of the year, ending a few weeks of inactivity wrapped around the holidays. But this year, Derby City will have some company. In its first year, the World Team Championships — advertised as a $400,000 tournament attracting four-player teams from 50 nations — will run from Jan. 30 to Feb. 7 in Hannover, Germany, alongside a large sports and leisure trade show. The WPA-sanctioned event will begin on the same day Derby ends, meaning professionals will not be able to compete in both the Derby City 9-ball division and Hannover “It’s not going to impact [the Derby City Classic] financially,” said Greg Sullivan, who founded the event. “But it’s a damn shame that for one day, players are missing out on a chance at two paydays. I really don’t understand it.” The 50-team event has reportedly attracted some of the brightest stars that are mainstays at the Derby City Classic. Shane Van Boening, reigning champion in the 9-ball division, plans on attending both the Derby City Classic and the World Team Championship. Players can still compete in the various events during the first week of the Derby City Classic, including the one-pocket and banks tournaments. But because of the one-day overlap, Van Boening will have to skip Derby City’s 9-ball event to be a part of the American squad at the World Team Championship. The WPA event will take a handful of European and Asian stars that would otherwise attend Derby City, including recent attendees like Darren Appleton, Niels Feijen and Lee Vann Corteza. While a few of the normally well-represented Filipinos will not attend Derby City, some of the biggest stars — most notably Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante — are expected to attend the Louisville, Ky.- area jamboree. “We are going to lose a few players,” Sullivan said. “But I don’t think anyone is not going to come because a player is or isn’t there.” Van Boening, Johnny Archer, Corey Deuel and Oscar
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Dominguez have agreed to represent the U.S. at the World Team event. Also, Ralf Souquet — a three-time winner for the Derby City 9-ball event — will play for Germany. Still, nothing is stopping players from attending the first week of the nine-day Derby City Classic. But the 9-ball event runs at the tail end of the event, so players planning on attending the team championship will not be able to participate in what is Derby City’s largest field. While Sullivan believes the overlap will not have a great impact financially and attendance-wise, he is wary of future conflicts with other tournaments that might draw players away from his event. “I can’t fault [the players] for going after another payday,” he said. “I just don’t see a reason why we can’t arrange these [events] so that the players can go to all of them. It’s a shame to put players in a position where they have to make a decision.” One way for Derby City to take a stronger hold of it’s late-January date would be through WPA sanctioning. But the unique Derby City format — where players are allowed to buy-back into the event after their first loss — and amount of added money ($25,000) are impediments to sanctioning. According to WPA guidelines, sanctioned tournaments must be played according to a single- or double-elimination format. Also, the WPA requires a minimum of $30,000 in added money. Both stipulations are not currently met by Derby City’s 9-ball event. “I’m not against sanctioning at all,” Sullivan said. “But the way Derby is set up, it’s not possible right now.”
ANDERSON RE-ELECTED AS WPA PREZ Manila, Philippines
DURING NOVEMBER’S World 10-Ball Championship the World Pool-Billiard Association, pool’s international governing body, convened to hold its biennial elections. WPA President Ian Anderson was elected to another four-year term. Also, American journalist Jerry Forsyth was selected as a board member and will serve as the WPA’s press officer. Other members newly elected to pool’s global governing body were Georgina Palacios of the Panamerican Billiard Confederation and Andy Chang of the Asian Pocket Billiard Union.
January 2010
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From the Publisher
Mike Panozzo
REFLECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS OT SURE what we call the first decade of a new millennium. The Aughts? (Think back to black & white movies, when an old-timer would say something like, “I survived the big earthquake in Frisco back in aught-6.”) Or the pre-teens? Or the 0’s? Regardless of what the decade is supposed to be called, it’s time to bid it adieu. And, from my perspective, it’s not a moment too soon! It was a decade that featured more low points than highlights, and a decade that has left the game and entire industry reeling. My list of the decade’s top stories? 2000 — The decade starts out innocently enough. All of the fears that the technological meltdown caused by Y2K would render poolroom table-time computer software inoperable, leading to chaos as players scrambled to loot local poolrooms and play for free, go unrealized. Not that everything works out according to plan. The Camel Pro Tour, having separated itself from the Professional Billiard Tour three years earlier, finally pulls the plug completely on pro pool. Several months later, the PBT’s lawsuit against RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co., alleging fraud and breach of contract, is finally decided. A jury awards the PBT $880,000 in damages. 2001 — In its closest brush with the Olympics, pool is put on display as a medal sport at the World Games in Akita, Japan. Pool is one of the 26 official sports at the World Games, and pool players are among the 2,300 athletes competing in Akita. Always one to seize the biggest stage, Jeanette Lee captures the gold medal in women’s 9-ball. 2002 — At 41, Earl Strickland wins his fifth, and most rewarding, world 9-ball title. In an epic battle, Strickland comes from behind to upend Francisco Bustamante of the Philippines, 17-15, at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales. Conversely, in a release of truly non-epic proportions, “Pool Hall Junkies,” starring Rod Steiger, Christopher Walken and Ricky Schroeder, spends about six minutes in movie theaters before going to DVD. In the checkered history of pool movies, producer/director/actor Mars Callahan’s vanity project nestles in somewhere between the dubious “Chalk” and utterly forgettable “Baltimore Bullet.” 2003 — Self-promoting, I agree, but Billiards Digest’s 25th anniversary year produces one great issue after another. A series of interviews, dubbed “25 Questions With…” features compelling chats with a myriad of players, actors and promoters. Each interview is anchored by an image-capturing full-page photo. In my mind, the interviews remain the best collection of Q&As ever compiled on the sport. The 25th Anniversary Special Issue includes a pair of 3-D glasses and a collection of memorable pool shots in 3-D. 2004 — Under pressure from the board of directors to focus its efforts on trade issues, the Billiard Congress of America divests itself of its amateur league program after
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27 years. The move causes a schism in the league system, which will take years to repair. 2005 — Enter Kevin Trudeau. Riding the high of his bestselling book, “Natural Cures,” the infomercial pitchman commits millions of dollars to create a pool tour. His foray into pool begins with a celebrity infested challenge match pitting his longtime pal Mike Sigel against Loree Jon Jones. Sigel beats Jones, 9-2, 9-2, to win $150,000. Pool’s savior has arrived. 2006 — After just three events, and facing spiraling production and purse costs, Trudeau pulls the plug on the International Pool Tour. Hundreds of players are owed millions of dollars. Pool’s savior has left the building. 2007 — Its debts paid off, the IPT resurfaces with livestreaming challenge matches, proving that no one forgives more quickly than pool players … particularly if there is a payday attached to the apology! 2008 — Europe dominates the world pool scene, with Finland’s Mika Immonen winning the U.S. Open, Germany’s Ralf Souquet winning the World 8-Ball Championship, England’s Darren Appleton winning the World 10-Ball Championship and Holland’s Niels Feijen winning the World 14.1 Championship. Meanwhile, the BCA, citing diminishing reserves, pulls the plug on several long-standing programs, including the annual Hall of Fame banquet and the BCA Open 9-Ball Championships. 2009 — The decade ends sadly for Billiards Digest with the news that Bill Marshall, aka Willie Jopling, has passed away at 83. A true Southern gentleman, Jopling had great dry wit and was one of the game’s best storytellers. His “Trick Shots” column had been a staple in BD for almost 30 years. Which brings us to a new decade and, hopefully, a fresh new beginning for pool. And, as always, the new year brings with it resolutions, and 2010 promises to be a cleansing year of sorts. Therefore, I resolve … … to read Kevin Trudeau’s “Debt Cures ‘They’ Don’t Want You To Know About.” Anyone who can handle a $37 million judgment against him in federal court (Jan. 2009), and still show up on television every night knows a little something about curing debt! … to spend more time with neglected kids, i.e., the men pros and the lady pros. … to werk more hard on my speling and grammer. (After all, I am a professionel riter!) … to spend less time on the phone. (And more time texting and tweeting.) … to be more upbeat and optimistic, and less cynical. I feel better already. (Especially given the fact that while I take these new vows very seriously, I historically give up my New Years Resolutions for Lent!)
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+ QUOTABLE+
“Mika Immonen is the Manny Pacquiao of pool.” COMMENTATOR JAY HELFERT, DURING IMMONEN’S WIN AT THE WORLD 10-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP (PG. 40).
THINKING GLOBALLY
Dear
JeDaenaetrte
Is the Predator World Tour a rallying point for a sport in need of one? THE BLACK WIDOW ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT POOL LIFE, LOVE AND ETIQUETTE.
I
T’S NO secret that the dearth of profes-
sional pool tournaments in the U.S. has forced the country’s top players to travel the world in search of quality competition and decent prize money. Obviously, the cost of travel and extended time away from home and family have been burdens for America’s top pros, but a silver lining is starting to emerge. It certainly could be argued that for pool to grow as a sport and an industry, the game needs to take advantage of its global appeal. And nothing could help pool’s globalization process more than a true world tour. “It’s important for many reasons,” said Germany’s Ralf Souquet, the No. 2-ranked player in the world and the sport’s undisputed Mileage Plus king. “It’s the only way that players from all over the world have a chance to compete against one another for points. And it’s very important to have a worldwide ranking system in order to make the sport globally bigger. What good is it if there are four different rankings in the world of pool?” To that end, Florida-based cue manufacturer Predator Group has its sights set on a world tour that will feature just four tournaments on three continents in 2009-2010, with plans for five events in 2010-2011. “Billiards is a global sport,” said Karim Belhaj, CEO of Predator Group. “We’ve worked hard to build our brand globally as well. Now we want to use our business partners around the world to make the professional game grow globally.” The initial Predator World Tour event drew a bevy of former and current world champions to Anadia, Portugal, in September. Despite the last-minute can-
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(Q)
You can put me in the class of players that is always wanting to help the next generation. But how do you help others make advances with their games when they’re not willing to help themselves? Dustin Crowe; Blanchester, Ohio
(A)
Alcaide won the Predator debut in September.
cellation of several Asian players, the Portugal event marked an encouraging beginning to the world tour concept. “It was a great event,” said Rodney Morris, one of only four Americans to make the journey to Portugal. “The arena and host hotel were unbelievable.” The first stage was won by Spain’s David Alcaide. In an effort to draw more players consistently, the tour is guaranteeing a $70,000 purse for fields of 64 or greater. Additionally, the top eight point-earners from the 2009-10 slate will receive free entry, travel and hotel to all five 2010-11 stops. “The goal is to ease the financial burden on the players,” said Belhaj. For its part, Predator Group has committed “substantial” capital to the 18
My advice would be to find someone else with whom to spend your time. There are so many kids that can use your support and advice. They would be lucky to have you as a willing guide. You know the phrase, “God helps those who help themselves”? It’s the same way with people: Show me a little effort, and I’ll give you my time. The worst thing you can do is to enable someone to continue being lazy. If someone shows no interest in improving as a player, pay them no attention. Make it clear that when they are ready to take responsibility for themselves and their game, you will be right there to help them. Let them know that you believe in them, but you will not allow them to give anything but maximum effort — doing so only reinforces bad habits. In the meantime, find someone else to offer your kindness to. You’ll save yourself a lot of heartbreak and hopefully, force him to help himself!
SEE THE BLACK WIDOW AT JEANETTELEE.COM
January 2010
12/16/09 3:51:33 PM
numbers
FAREWELL, MR. JOPLING
# G A M E #
Nearly three decades ago, like the Jansco brothers’ Bill Marshall (more comevents in Johnston City, monly known in the pool Ill., the U.S. Open and, world as Willie Jopling) most recently, the Derby drew up his first trick City Classic in the Loushot on the pages of Bilisville, Ky. area. When he liards Digest. was back at home, he’d But unfortunately, the often be within earshot 28-year veteran of BD when some of the game’s made his final contribulegends rolled through tion in last month’s issue. central Virginia. The Lynchburg, Va. resiOne of the most creative dent passed away on Nov. minds in the discipline of 24, 2009, at the age of 83. trick shots, Jopling speFollowing a stint in Jopling always had a trick in cialized in developing store for a fellow pool fan. World War II as part of artistic shots that could the Air Force, Jopling graduated from be made by anyone familiar with a cue the Frederick Institute of Professional (provided a suitable amount of attempts, Art. A career graphic and commercial that is). artist, Jopling never strayed too far from Jopling is survived by Anne Poe Marthe pool table. He often told stories of shall, his wife of 53 years, and his two his numerous road trips to some of the children, William Jenks and Anne Elizacountry’s greatest pool venues — places beth.
$228,320
Amount won by World 10-Ball Champion and WPA world No. 1 Mika Immonen prior to the Mosconi Cup (pg. 40).
3
Number of Classic Tour titles won by Jasmin Ouschan in 2009, capped by an unbeaten run at the season-ending National Championship (pg. 36).
17
Sarah Rousey’s current ranking on the WPBA Classic Tour (pg. 46).
YOU MAKE THE CALL: ONLY CUE BALLS? With Mike Shamos
QUESTION: You, Player A, are in a tournament game of 9ball under World Standardized Rules but without a referee. In bridging to play the 5, your finger accidentally touches the 9 and moves it slightly. Everyone in the room sees this happen. Your opponent, Player B, acting as referee, calls, “Foul. The 9 ball wasn’t between you and the cue ball. You don’t get a free pass on that one.” Your response: “We’re playing cue ball fouls only here. I’ll put the 9 back where it was, but you need to get a life.” Who’s right, and who decides? ANSWER: The old rule was that “it is not a foul to accidentally touch stationary balls located between the shooter and the cue ball while in the act of shooting.” That is, you’re not free to touch balls, except those that interfere with bridging may be touched inadvertently. Under this rule, Player A would have fouled because the 9 was not between the shooter and the cue ball. However, the new World Standardized Rules are much more liberal. Regulation 20 states that “touching or moving any ball other than the cue ball would not be a foul unless it changes the outcome of the shot.” Here you were stopped before you even shot, so no outcome occurred at all. It’s not a foul. The only right Player B gets is that he replace
the 9 in its original position if he wants to. There is no longer any restriction based on the location of the ball. Any rules dispute between the players would be resolved by the tournament director. January 2010
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CUE CRITIQUE: SAMSARA
Combining butterflies and fantails, this cue is a technical masterpiece. The Samsara duo (Dave Doucette and Jim Stadum) built this ivory, ebony and rosewood burl intarsia butterfly/fantail masterpiece. The construction technique was a geometric nightmare, built in three sections: the ivory front with ebony to the X, the butt to the bottom X, and the center section. The handle section is highlighted with four ivory ovals surrounded by 88 rosewood burl intarsia fantails that morph into butterflies, each edged by ultra-thin veneers. Beyond the fantails and butterflies, the pattern continues with 48 ebony, red, yellow, and orange fantails that progressively change angulation into butterflies. These emanate from four scalloped rosewood burl ovals, also edged with the red, yellow and orange veneers that transform from thick to very thin. The front and back of the cue is elephant ivory, the joint collar and butt plate are rosewood burl, with ivory joint protectors serving as a finishing touch.
DENO ANDREWS: The level of accuracy in the design and the precision-machining to produce this cue are achievable by very few cuemakers. The ivory nicely frames the colors, lines and shapes featured in this cue. Using the intarsia technique to produce otherwise traditional butterflies is simply genius. The flaring of the veneers and the crisp, clean lines are better than any butterfly I have ever seen. Notice how the veneers around the oval flare in thickness, evidence of a curved-bottom inlay. The choice of woods was perfect for this monster. DICK ABBOTT: Dave and Jim are in a world of their own when creating masterpiece cues. I was privileged to have this cue for a few months, and I would take it out from time to time and marvel at it. It is flawless, and the execution is surpassed only by its beauty and subtle complexity — unequivocally a monster. JIM BRENNAN: If this cue has any flaws, you wouldn’t find them. After gazing at it for three minutes, you are hypnotized. In a world where design theft has become an all too accepted practice, Samsara should be applauded for creating a new look. I love the colors and rosewood burl. This cue is not only refreshing to look at, but a monster as well. CONCLUSION: CueZilla.com experts have rated this cue a monster! CueZilla.com is a new Web site offering expert critique of custom cue sticks from the perspective of the cuemaker, historian, collector and dealer. The goal is to determine whether a cue is a “monster” or a “mere mortal.” To read more reviews and join the discussion, visit CueZilla.com.
POOL ON TV
All times EST; check local listings
2009 WORLD CUP OF TRICK SHOTS Jan. 10: 4-6 p.m................................................ ESPN ON ESPN CLASSIC... Jan. 10: ’99 BCA Championship .................10 a.m.
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JAN UARY FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS, SEE THE TV SCHEDULE AT WWW.BILLIARDSDIGEST.COM
Jan. 10: ’08 GenPool.com Champs. ...........11 a.m. Jan. 24: ’99 Tournament of Champs. ........10 a.m. Jan. 31: ’00 BCA Championship. ................10 a.m.
PREDATOR TOUR
- continued from pg. 16 -
tour, but has turned over the running of the events to established organizers. “We’re not promoters,” said Belhaj. “We simply provide the platform and connections to structure the event properly.” The Portugal event, along with the tour’s second stop in Barcelona, in January, will feature taped coverage on Eurosport and ESPN Star. The Predator World Tour is scheduled to come to the U.S. in May, with the season’s final event in Brazil in June. For now, players are hopeful, although cautious. “We’ve had only one event,” cautioned Souquet. “I’m not expecting the best tour on the planet in the first year, but you have to start at one point and try to grow from there. “I’m hopeful that in two or three years the Predator Tour might be as big as all the world events at the moment, including the U.S. Open and world championships. “I have a good feeling about it.”
WPBA TWEAKS RANKING SYSTEM So much for the yearly points race on the WPBA Classic Tour. According to a Nov. 30 press release from the WPBA office, the women’s professional tour will begin using a rankings system that will include a continuous six-tournament cycle. The WPBA will also introduce a new wrinkle to the rankings in 2010: Event points will be adjusted according to a sliding scale, giving 100% points to the most recent event, 90% to the second most recent, all the way down to 50% to the sixth (and last) event listed on the WPBA’s points rankings. Point values for each event have also been modified — awarding 20,000 points to first place, 15,000 to second and 12,000 to third. This distribution, as compared to the 2007-2009 system, rewards event winners with more points in relation to the rest of the finishers.
January 2010
12/16/09 3:51:48 PM
STROKE OF GENIUS Recounting the greatest shots in pool history C ou r t e sy o f Ac c u - St at s
PLAYER: Efren Reyes EVENT: Sands Regency Open XVIII DATE: December 11, 1993
N THE late rounds of the December
I
version of the bi-annual Sands Regency Open, Efren Reyes faced an out with four balls lined up in a straight line. So what was the “Magician” solution to this slightly tricky position play? He sent the cue ball along a path that was anything but straight to get position on the 7 ball. With a firm stroke on the 6, which was just inches away from straight-in, Reyes drilled the cue ball with plenty of follow and a touch of right English. The cue ball bounced off the 6 and into the foot rail, less than a ball’s width from the 9 ball. From there, the topspin grabbed hold of the cue ball, turning it to the left at a right angle. Diagram 1
Check out Efren’s curved road at BILLIARDSDIGEST.COM
The cue ball then bounced off the long rail, brushed the side of the 7 ball ever so slightly, and came to a stop right between the 7 and 8 balls. While the crowd cracked into a chorus of astonished gasps and disbelieving chuckles, Reyes lined up an easy stun shot on the 7 in the lower left corner. He then pocketed the 8 in the side, drawing back for perfect shape on the 9 into the same pocket that took the 6 and 7. No doubt a ridiculously creative shot, Reyes’ play on the 6 ball was one more example that the Magician was capable of tricks nobody could even imagine. By no means the simple or recommended position play, this twisted route was an example of Reyes almost getting bored with simply running through a rack of 9-ball. He could have done plenty wrong on this position shot, but he combined the perfect amount of speed and spin to get out — and looked good while he did. Video clip by Accu-Stats Video Production January 2010
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CUE & EH?
JOHN BIDDLE BIDDLE, 56, BLOGGER AT POOLSTUDENT.COM, RECENTLY LAUNCHED “POOL SYNERGY” — A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG POOL-RELATED BLOGS TO DEVELOP CONTENT ON A SPECIFIC THEME FROM MONTH TO MONTH.
CALENDAR CSI Jay Swanson Memorial Feb. 13-14 Hollywood Billiards Hollywood, Calif. (323) 465-0115
U.S. Bar Table Championships Feb. 22-28 Sands Regency Casino Hotel Reno, Nev. (866) 386-7829
How does the Internet provide an audience for this project? The Web has opened up an opportunity to have a say and participate in a community that is infinitely larger than in the past. People always talk in the poolhall, but that’s such a limited audience. Now, with the Web and different pool forums, a lot more of that information gets out. It’s so much easier to find people that play, and you can get information so you can improve. How do you see Pool Synergy developing in the near future? The composition by author will change month to month. I just want each participant to find one new person to involve in the project. Some blog carnivals have 50 or 100 members. We’re not exactly aiming for something like that, but I’d like for it to be a long-running project.
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Greenfield’s Pool
March 18-21 Valley Forge Convention Center King of Prussia, Pa. www.superbilliardsexpo.com
Jan. 23 Lakewood, Colo. (303) 989-9820
Pro Players Championships
Jan. 23 Dubuque, Iowa (563) 663-6600
March 19-21 Valley Forge Convention Center King of Prussia, Pa. www.superbilliardsexpo.com
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS European Championships
DESERT CLASSIC TOUR Wild Horse Pass Casino
How did you develop the idea of bringing pool bloggers together? I knew “blog carnivals” had been in existence for a number of years. And in the pool world, everybody is going in their own direction. I saw this as an opportunity to slowly and steadily grow and build some camaraderie. We can share our readers with each other and deal with one another and become friends.
Super Billiards Expo
Jan. 8-10 Chandler, Ariz. www.desertclassictour.com
DMIRO TOUR Gate City Billiards Jan. 9-10 Greensboro, N.C. www.teamdmiro.com
Romine’s Feb. 27-28 Milwaukee, Wis. www.teamdmiro.com
DOMINIAK NORTHEAST London Billiards Jan. 3 Worchester, Mass. www.dominiakcuestour.com
March 17-28 Zagreb, Croatia www.wpa-pool.com
J. PECHAUER S.E. OPEN Pockets Billiards Feb. 20-21 Dothan, Ala. (334) 793-9644
JOSS N.E. 9-BALL TOUR
Trick Shot Billiards Jan. 31 Clifton Park, N.Y. www.dominiakcuestour.com
EAST COAST TOUR Fats Pool Room Jan. 23-24 Derby, Conn. (203) 294-9591
Branford Cue and Brew Feb. 27-28 Branford, Conn. (203) 483-1388
EUROTOUR Dynamic French Open Feb. 10-14 Paris, France www.eurotouronline.eu
INDEPENDENT EVENTS Derby City Classic Jan. 22-30 Horshoe Casino and Hotel Elizabeth, Ind. www.dcctickets.com
Hammerheads Billiards Feb. 20 Dundee, Ill. (630) 688-1719
TRI-STATE TOUR Castle Billiards Jan. 2 East Rutherford, N.J. (201) 933-6007
Master Billiards Jan 9-10 Sunnyside, N.Y. (718) 706-6789
Diamond Eight Billiards
USBA
Jan. 30-31 Latham, N.Y. (518) 786-8048
Regional Qualifier
Main Street Billiards Feb. 20-21 Amsterdam, N.Y. (518) 705-1173
Silver Cue Billiards Feb. 27-28 Woburn, Mass. (781) 933-9771
Pool Table Magic Jan. 16 Windsor Locks, Conn. www.dominiakcuestour.com
Bulldog Billiards
KF CUES 9-BALL TOUR Capone’s Billiards Jan. 9-10 Spring Hill, Fla. (352) 688-9965
Jan. 15-17 U.S. Billiards Houston, Texas www.usba.net
Regional Qualifier Jan. 22-23 World Class Billiards Peabody, Mass. www.usba.net
Regional Qualifier Jan. 22-24 Pendennis Club Louisville, Ky. www.usba.net
USBA National Championship
Jan. 30-31 Orlando, Fla. (352) 867-8100
Feb. 17-21 Tacoma Elks Lodge #174 Tacoma Elks, Wash. www.usba.net
Strokers Billiards
VIKING CUE TOUR
Feb. 13-14 Palm Harbor, Fla. (727) 786-6683
Cornfed Red’s
Corner Pockets
Fast Break Billiards Feb. 27-28 Longwood, Fla. (407) 830-1036
LUCASI ALL AMERICAN
Jan. 1-3 Columbus, Ohio (614) 834-1000
King Street Billiards Jan. 9-10 Fayetteville, N.C. (910) 425-7665
Smokies Billiards
Fast Eddie’s
Jan. 2 Virginia Beach, Va. (757) 855-2114
Jan. 16-17 Goldsboro, N.C. (919) 759-0071
Pockets Billiards
Blue Fox Billiards
Jan. 2-3 Crestwood, Ill. (630) 399-8890
March 27-28 Winchester, Va. (540) 665-2114
Legends Sports Bar
Fast Eddie’s
Jan. 9 Clinton, Iowa (563) 243-4266
April 10-11 Goldsboro, N.C. (919) 759-0071
January 2010
12/16/09 3:52:04 PM
I NSST TRRUUCCT TI O I ONNAAL LSS IN
GET A HANDLE ON YOUR BREAK STROKE (PG. 23)
INSIDE 22 22 QUICK QUIC QU ICK HITS H TS HI S+ Tips T ip Ti pss and and nd drills dri r ll llss to to upgrade up u pgr gra gra ad de your y ur yo u game. g am ame. e. By By BD BD STAFF STTAF S AFFF
24 24 STRATEGIES S TR ST RA ATE TEGI GIEES S+ Here’s H ere He r e’ss how ho ow w you yo ou u get get et on on the th he right righ ri g ht side s i de si de of of a ball. ba b a all lll. By By NICK NIC ICK VARNER VARNER VA RN NER ER
26 26 TECH TECH CH TALK TAL ALK LK + Games nd Ga G am me es to to fifin nd out out where ou wh w her er e you you rank yo r an ra nk k against aga g iin nsstt players. pla laye yers r . By By BOB BO OB B JEWETT JE EW WETT T
28 28 SOLIDS SO SOLI OLIDS DS & STRIPES STR TRIP IP PES S+ JP PARMENTIER-MATCHROOM SPORT
Go Go for for or it it or play p pla la ay safe? ssa affe e? Learn Lear Le arn too find nd an answer. a an nsswe n werr.. By By LARRY L AR ARRY R SCHWARTZ RY SCH CHWA WAR RTT Z R
30 30 ILLUSTRATED ILLU ILL IL LUSTRA S TRA ST R ATED TED TE PRINCIPLES PR RIIN IN NC C CIP IP PLLEES + A video video vi deo catalog de catal ca talo ta log of of the tth he h e most mo m osstt important imp mpor or ta tant tant nt shots. sho hots t ss.. By By DAVID DAV AVID ID ALCIATORE A ALLC LCIA LCIA IAT ATO TORE TORE RE
January 2010
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INSTRUCTIONALS
Bite-sized bits of top-notch instruction
BD HOUSE PRO: TONY ROBLES
OpeningShot
SETTING IT STRAIGHT
with Mark
Q)
I have noticed a lot of the pros jump up when they break. I have tried to do this and can’t keep the cue ball on the table. What gives? Frank Fillicetti Jacksonville, Fla.
A)
A powerful pool stroke comes from tip speed. And tip speed is a partial result of a stroke’s length. A longer swing gives you a longer period of time to accelerate the cue into the cue ball. While body movement is a dramatic display in a professional’s break, it is only part of the equation for generating tremendous tip speed. Also, it’s important to note that the game’s top breakers also lift the cue upward near the end of their backswing, and then bring the cue back to being parallel to the ground as they transition forward toward the cue ball. With all this movement, a professional break requires great timing. Accuracy — having the tip strike the exact center of the cue ball — while using such a long swing is very complex and requires constant vigilance to maintain. Daily practice is necessary, as power and accuracy are often found as polar opposites. That all being said, I do feel that training with body movement is important for playing at a high level, but amateur-type players might be better off if they concentrate on professional-type accuracy on the break shot.
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I
N THE time you take between shots, you want to focus entirely on the shot that’s in front of you. Here are three tips to help get your mind (and body) in line with the task at hand: 1. Stick to the Plan. The key to approaching a shot effectively is to make up your mind. Some players will say to themselves, “I’m going to hit this shot with high, right English at medium speed.” But as soon as they get down on the shot, the plan for high, right with medium speed goes right out the window. They might think, “What if it’s high, left? What if it’s a harder or softer hit?” If you question yourself at this point, you are sabotaging the shot because you aren’t trusting your abilities. You have to say to yourself, “Hey, even if this shot doesn’t go where I want it to go, I’m going to hit it here. If I don’t get the result I’m looking for, I’m going to make the adjustments.” You need to learn how to build that trust. In fact, at least at this point, you will need to learn to accept the possibility of failure. If you make up your mind and miss, you will have an easier time making the appropriate adjustments. But if you switch plans while you’re down on a shot, you will have a difficult time discovering what exactly went wrong. Was it your plan? Was it your execution? Were you unsure what you were trying to do? 2. Take Your Time. Make sure you step into the shot. Don’t approach it from the side, as you move from your last shot directly into place for the one in front of you. Fight the tendency to go into “quick mode,” where you are shooting a little faster because you are comfortable with
LAWRENCE LUSTIG
Wilson
Always reach for the chalk. your stroke and you’re making balls. When you are moving quickly from one shot to the next, you may forget to step straight into your stance. If you step back and line up your body with the shot, you’ll avoid the tendency to have any side-to-side faults as you’re stroking the ball. The thing is, if you don’t line up with a shot, your body has a tendency to overcompensate, especially if you’re stroking the ball with power. 3. Find a Rhythm. One of my former coaches told me to always pick up the chalk. On every single shot, chalk up for five or 10 seconds. If you think about it, those few seconds are a great way to slow down. You can reset your focus on the shot in front of you, instead of thinking about what just happened. And, of course, chalking up will help you avoid unnecessary miscues.
January 2010
12/16/09 3:50:17 PM
Drill Bits-
SPEED DEMONS? + WHY DO IT + The drill shown here is a great way to work on the speed and angle of the cue ball when you need to go the length of the table for position.
Ball in hand
+ HOW TO DO IT + With the 1 ball on the
foot spot, place the other four balls along the center of the table as shown in the diagram. Taking ball in hand, try to pocket the five balls in numerical order, moving the cue ball from one end of the table to the other. [Larry Schwartz]
Break Stance WHEN IT comes to the break shot, Francisco Bustamante might know a thing or two. The 46-year-old Filipino legend possesses an absolutely earth-shattering opening salvo. Here are a few of his tips for building a strong break stance: • Set your feet a little more than shoulderwidth apart. Bend at the hips, so that your torso and cue are almost parallel to the ground. • Keep more than half of your weight on your front foot, with both of your knees loose and slightly bent. • Use a closed bridge, with your hand sitting about 10 inches from the cue ball. • Your bridge should be secure, but keep your grip on the butt nice and loose. Also, try to focus on keeping your back wrist from locking up.
Line It Up! FROM BD columnist emeritus Tom Ross, here is a checklist of fundamentals when it comes to your stance (assuming you’re a right-handed player): Are the toes on your right foot directly under the cue when you’re down in your stance? Is your left foot placed at a distance about shoulder-width from the cue and directly underneath your left armpit? When you are taking your practice strokes, do your right hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder all run along the shot line? Regardless how your eyes line up with the cue (centered or favoring one side), does your alignment stay consistent from shot to shot?
“
If you’re around good players, if you watch what they do, you can learn a lot.
”
— Helena Thornfeldt
STRAIGHT
TALK GURU GEORGE FELS HELPS YOU RUN 100 I’VE SAID it many times, but this lesson is worth repeating: Don’t overhit the balls. It’s a definite symptom of anxiety, decreases accuracy and is near suicidal on any table with tough pockets. But at the same time, don’t underhit them either. A ball struck too softly leaves you at the mercy of bad table rolls — and virtually every table in existence is capable of a bad roll in one place or another. Shoot hard enough that the ball rolls straight, and soft enough that you can still develop your touch.
On the Spot LONGTIME 8-BALL ACE STAN TOURANGEAU ON ADJUSTING TO 9-BALL. + How do you prepare for 9-ball? For 9-ball, I have some drills that I like to go back to. I kind of pick out shots that seem easy but are very missable, ones that can be kind of tricky [because of position]. Those are the ones I really drill. + What’s your biggest weakness? My break sucks. I practice it a lot, and I will feel like it’s working well. But I’ll come to these tournaments and see all these other guys breaking. They break so much better than I do. I try to figure out what I’m doing wrong, but I just can’t get that really powerful break. + Is there a way to practice 8-ball? For 8-ball, you just keep playing. It’s all patterns, right? The more you play, the more the patterns will come to you. Play 10,000 games and you will see the patterns.
January 2010
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+ S TR ATEG IE S + BY Nick Varner
TOEING THE LINE
The “right side” of a ball depends on where you’re headed.
ECENTLY, DURING an exhibition in Toledo, Ohio, a friend of mine, Tom Gearhart, asked a question about getting on the “correct side” of an object ball for position. Tom asked me if I could do an article on this question, so here it is. Having written on this topic before, I thought it would be good to go back and take a bit of a different approach to the subject. Being on the right side of a ball refers to an imaginary line drawn from the pocket through the center of the object ball, as shown by the red line in Diagram 1. Sometimes you need to be to the left of this line; other times the right side is ideal. And sometimes, you may need to be on the line for position on your next shot. In Diagram 1, I’ve drawn three different positions for the 9 ball. (The three 9 balls are labeled A, B and C.) There are also five different positions for the cue ball (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4 and C-5). So when are you trying to figure out where you need to fall for position on the 8 ball, what’s the best place? Well, it depends on the position of the 9 ball. For position 9-A, you need to fall slightly to the right of the straight-in position line — somewhere near C-2. This position is natural because you can cut the 8 ball slightly to the right, which sends the cue ball to the left. Contact the cue ball with draw and a half or full tip of natural English (left English in this case). Hitting the cue ball below center will keep the cue ball above 9-A. Leaving the cue ball near position C-6 is a perfectly acceptable result. The position shot from C-2 isn’t all that difficult, because you were on the right side of the 8 ball. In this case, you have a slight angle on the 8 and you don’t have to hit the cue ball too hard or too easy to get shape on the 9. But a cue ball at C-1 presents a few problems. From this position, you are a little too far to the right. You will have to shoot softly to stop the cue ball close to C-6. Anytime your speed is toward an
R
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extreme — either soft or hard — pocketing the shot becomes much more challenging. You not only need to be on the correct side of the line, but also keep the cue ball around the correct distance from the line. If you need to get position for 9-B, you want to fall on the line or very close to it. The cue ball at C-3 is the perfect position. You just need to stop the cue ball after
above center and try to keep your cue as level as possible. This eliminates any curve or deflection on the cue ball. The position that might be the next best for 9-C is to the left of the red line at C-5. In this case, you can play position on the 9 ball for pocket A. Using low, right English, you can slide off the 8 ball and bounce off the top rail to cue-ball position C-7 for an easy shot on the 9.
C
B
C-7 C-1
B
C-2 C
C-3 C-4 C-5
A
C-6
C-8
A
contacting the 8 ball. This will leave you a straight-in shot on 9-B for side pocket C. To kill the cue ball on the shot on the 8, you want to use a medium amount of draw, hitting the cue ball on its vertical axis at a soft-medium or medium speed. For position on 9-C, a few cue-ball positions could be used. C-2 is probably the best for position on the 9 ball for corner pocket B. If you are at C-2, you can leave the cue ball at position C-8 with a softly struck follow shot on the 8. The cue ball will roll forward and bounce off the side rail and in line with the 9 and pocket B. Contact the cue ball about a tip and a half
Diagram 1
C
Position C-4 is a little too close to the center line, but you can still get to C-7. It will just take a firmer stroke. From position C-3, you could follow straight forward and try to fall straight on 9-C for pocket B. At position C-1, however, you are looking at a hit too thin to roll forward for position. I hope this sheds some light on how important it is to be on the correct side of the object ball. If you can recognize which side of the ball you want to be on (and how far from straight in), you’ll be running out more often. See you in the winner’s circle.
January 2010
12/17/09 10:29:13 AM
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+ TECH TALK + BY Bob Jewett
COMPETITIVE PRACTICE Want to know your skill level? Put yourself through these tests.
O YOU wonder how you stack up against other players? On the various pool-related Internet forums, players frequently ask, “How good am I?” This may take the form of asking how impressive a recent run is, how various league rating systems work, or whether a particular level of play qualifies as “advanced” or “shortstop.” Let’s look at some ways to calculate pecking order, including some practice routines that will not only rate you, but will also give you tools to improve. Pool is best played between two players, and performance in a competitive environment is the gold standard of an accurate rating. Most of us will never appear on the top money winners’ list, but local, regional and even national tournament participation is open to all. If you haven’t tried the tourney scene yet, and you beat everybody you can lure down to your basement, it’s time to get out into the larger world. If you finish in the top eighth of the field at one level, try the next. If you don’t yet feel ready to jump into an open tournament, consider a local league. Many of these give handicaps to beginners, and the handicap (or “skill level”) will give you a direct indication of how well you do against others, as well as some measure of your improvement as your league rating rises. There are many solo systems to gauge your level. The main drawback is that they have no component of safety play, although these methods usually provide an interesting way to practice that will help the offensive parts of your game. One of the oldest of these systems is “Equal Offense,” which was developed by Jerry Briesath and introduced in the 1977 BCA Rule Book. It starts with an open break of a 15-ball rack. You then shoot any ball with the rules of 14.1 until you miss or run 20 balls. The total number of balls pocketed in 10 tries determines your score, with a maximum of 200. Around 1980, a national compe-
D
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tition with cash prizes was organized, but it ended after a year or so. One major problem — shared with all solo games — is that the table can be a large factor in your score. In the 1990s, a competition called Internet Equal Offense had 20 tournaments that involved teams from around the world. (The statistics from those events are still online at www.ieotour. com, including an analysis of how a given average ranks within those who
THERE ARE MANY SOLO SYSTEMS TO GAUGE YOUR LEVEL OF PLAY AND PROVIDE AN INTERESTING WAY TO PRACTICE THAT WILL HELP THE OFFENSIVE PARTS OF YOUR GAME. played.) Quite a range of players participated, with 10-inning scores ranging from a few balls to a record of 176 set by instructor Don “The Preacher” Feeney. If you would like try EO, here are my suggested ratings according to your average score over several sessions on a 9-foot table: 20-plus, beginner; 50-plus, intermediate; 80-plus, advanced; 100plus, top room player; 120-plus, top city player; 140-plus, semi-pro. Allen Hopkins has developed a system he calls Q Skills, which is like Equal Offense except the final five balls of each rack are shot in rotation and there is no continuing break shot. (Detailed rules
and a table ranking possible scores are available at Joe Waldron’s Web site at www.sunburstselect.com/PBReview/ Self_Assessment.htm) Mike Page — whose new poolroom in Fargo, N.D., just won the BD new room award — has added an interesting wrinkle to Q Skills, making a solo game he calls “Fargo,” which I described in my May 2000 column. Instead of transitioning from straight pool to rotation after the 10th ball, you can start rotation at any time during each rack. This tests your judgment of your shot-making ability, and penalizes over-confidence. The rules and rating table are also available on Waldron’s site. A common way to rate players is to say how they “play against the ghost.” The ghost is an imaginary player who never misses, so if you miss in a rack of 9-ball, you lose that rack, and the ghost gets a point. The ghost, being a good sport, spots everyone the break and ball in hand after the break. This also keeps him from actually having to shoot (which is awkward for ectoplasmic beings). Play as long a race as you like — the ghost never tires. A much better test is to play “Progressive Ghost,” in which you adjust the number of balls on the table to achieve an even match. For example, you could remove the lowest balls from the table after the break to leave only five. If you can win most of those games, you can beat the 5-ball ghost, and it’s time to try six balls. An easy way to keep track of your level during a practice session is to mentally number the diamonds from 1 to 15 and place a coin under the cushion at the number you are working on. After each rack, move the coin a third of a diamond toward the next higher number if you win, and toward the next lower number if you lose. If you play the number of ghost that the coin is closest to, the level will automatically adjust to a fair game. I’ve heard of someone beating the 13-
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ball ghost, but I’d have to see it to believe it. If you can beat the 9-ball ghost, you should consider entering pro tournaments. An alternative 9-ball rating drill that is a little simpler but still requires scoring is to play the standard ghost game, but you get one point per ball pocketed and two points for the 9. (This is the same scoring that the APA league uses in its 9-ball sessions.) Dave Alciatore has a score sheet and rating table for this on his Web site (billiards.colostate.edu). In Europe, a complete system for rating players has been developed by Ralph Eckert, Jorgen Sandman and Andreas Huber. The “Playing Ability Test” (or PAT) comes in three levels, which are suitable for every player, from beginner to world-class. There are three workbooks available for the three levels, and each volume includes drills and games with numerical grades according to shots successfully made. The shots include the general categories of speed, straightness, follow, draw and game situations. The diagrams explain exactly what has to be done on each kind of shot — for one drill, that’s just shooting the cue ball up and down the table in a straight line — and how the shot is to be scored. An example drill from the beginning PAT-1 level is the “ring around the side” drill that you may know from Willie Mosconi’s books: a semicircle of five balls by the side must be pocketed in order, typically using just draw and no cushions. While you can use the PAT workout books effectively on your own, they are designed as tools for coaches to use during training sessions. The system has a number of recognized ability levels given as colors, like belts in martial arts training. To get an official rating, you must be tested by a trained PAT examiner. The workbooks are available from several retailers, and you can find out more about the system at www.pat-billiard.com. Be careful when you order, though, because the workbooks have both English and German versions. Here is a brief test of your ability to draw the cue ball that you can use to approximate your position among the spectrum of pool players. It is in five levels of difficulty, so it should be able to rank just about everyone. For the first level, use the position shown in Diagram 1 (or the mirror image if you are left-handed). For
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Diagram 1
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Area 1
Area 2
Diagram 2
each shot, place the object ball as shown. Start with the cue ball at position 1. The goal is to make the object ball and draw the cue ball back at least a diamond. If you do that, try the cue ball in position 2. Continue to increase the distance by a diamond until you fail to get a diamond of draw, and then decrease the distance by half a diamond. (Mark the present cue ball position with a coin and be sure to move the coin after each shot.) Continue to shoot the shot, changing the distance half a diamond at a time until you have shot a total of 10 shots. If you end up at position 3 or better, you get the title of “beginner.” For level two, the position is the same, but the goal is to draw the cue ball back at least to the point that you start from. Keep track with the coin again and shoot 10 shots. A position of 4 or higher earns you “advanced.” Level 3 is nearly the same shot as 2, but the cue ball must
not come back more than two diamonds extra. Score over 4 and you are “room champ.” Use Diagram 2 for levels 4 and 5. In both, the cue ball starts in hand behind the line. The object ball moves away from the cue ball to make the shot more difficult. In level 4, the cue ball must end up in the blue area within a diamond of the head cushion. Get the coin to 4 or better and you are officially a “shortstop.” For the highest level, you must leave the cue ball in the smaller green box that is just a diamond on each side. Do that more than half the time when the object ball is at position 4 and you are a “pro.” Each of the tests above provides two important things: a way to measure your progress and a structured exercise to help you focus and improve. If you have a favorite structured drill, please send it in and it may appear in a future column.
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+ SOLIDS
&
STRIPES
+ BY Larry Schwartz
PASSIVE? AGGRESSIVE? A number of factors will determine the correct approach.
’D LIKE to welcome my readers to the new year with an optimistic outlook and a winning attitude. Throughout this year, I plan on giving you monthly advice that will take your pool games to higher levels. I’d like to start by looking at the different ways you can approach situations that arise in life. Specifically, when faced with a challenge or problem, you can choose to take it on with an assertive approach, or you can choose to be more conservative in your actions. The same is true when you are confronting a layout on a pool table. Depending upon many different factors, you may opt to play a given rack with aggression, going for the immediate runout of all your object balls and the 8 ball. However, with even minor differences in one or more of those factors, you may decide to play the very same rack more passively, going into defensive mode, attempting safeties right from the start. Either way, it is very important that you choose an approach before you ever take your first shot. Remember, the final objective is to win the game, so be sure to keep yourself focused on that goal. Let’s look at a few of the factors that will determine what type of approach you elect. First of all, how are you shooting? Are you in stroke? Have you been practicing, and have you been making most of the shots you attempt? How well are you controlling the cue ball? In addition, what type of opponent are you facing? Is he one who will merely try to pocket as many balls as possible each time he steps up to the table, without any clear plan? Does he ignore problem situations in the layout and just focus on one shot at a time? Or, on the other hand, is he a smart player who also knows that
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sometimes a conservative line of attack is optimal? Does he leave his soldiers (balls) on the battlefield (table) until he’s ready to win the war with a runout? These questions will help you determine what tactic you will use. Let’s take a look at the diagrams now, which both show the same rack just after the break. In Diagram 1, I am going to illustrate how to play this layout aggressively, and in Diagram 2, I’ll show
how to utilize a more passive method of play. For both situations, your opponent has declared stripes, leaving you with solids. Playing this rack aggressively, you would begin by shooting the 6 ball into the side pocket, stopping the cue ball for position on the 1 ball in the corner. This shot on the 1 ball is the key to running this rack, because you will both pocket the 1 and put the 4 in a position where it
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
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can be made later on. Hit the shot on the 1 with follow, sending the cue into the rail, bumping the 4 out gently, while still leaving yourself a shot on an insurance ball — in this case, the 5 in the side. You stop on the 5, and then shoot the 4 ball in the corner, then the 3 in the opposite corner. Next is the 2 ball in the left corner as shown, followed by the 7 in the opposite corner, and you finish up with the 8 ball in the side. The other approach you can take in playing this rack, shown in Diagram 2, begins with a safety. Because you have seven soldiers, and your opponent only has five, you would like to keep that edge by refraining from unnecessarily pocketing your object balls. Aim the cue ball directly into the 3 ball, and then hit the shot with just enough speed to send the 3 into the rail, still leaving the cue ball in such a spot that your opponent cannot see any of his stripes. Before you attempt this safety, make sure to walk over to where you plan to send the cue ball to be absolutely positive that you leave your opponent with no clear shot.
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IF YOU’RE PLAYING AGGRESSIVELY, YOU MAY HAVE TO PUT ON THE BRAKES IF ONE OF YOUR BALLS IS IN TROUBLE. IT’S OK TO SWITCH TACTICS AT ANY TIME. Now, the next move on the table is in your opponent’s hands. He has no option but to kick at one of his stripes, and so there are many different possible places he could leave the cue ball for your next turn. Each time this happens, you need to reassess the layout and decide whether you can now run out the rack, or whether you need to stay in safe mode. If you decide to continue playing
safe, the best approach is to find another one of your object balls into which you can just roll the cue ball and leave your opponent with an obstructed view of his balls, forcing him into a difficult shot. I want add that there are variations on both the passive and aggressive methods of play. Sometimes in the middle of an aggressive approach, you may have to put on the brakes, because you find that one or more of your balls are in trouble. It is OK to switch tactics at any time, depending on the layout. You may start out playing aggressively, but then suddenly find that you need to play a safety. In addition, when you are facing an open table where neither set of object balls is ready to be cleared, you will find that it is best to declare the balls that have better positioning on the table. Opt for stripes or solids by sinking a ball on your first shot, but play position so that you can go directly into safe mode on your second shot. Always remember that when you are playing in safe mode, patience is a necessary virtue. Have a happy and healthy new year. Good luck.
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+ I L L U S T R AT E D P R I N C I P L E S + BY David Alciatore Ph.D.
MAKING REFERENCE
The “Video Encyclopedia” is a catalog of pool’s many possibilities.
[Note: Supporting narrated video (NV) demonstrations, high-speed video (HSV) clips, and technical proofs (TP) can be accessed and viewed online at billiards. colostate.edu. The reference numbers used in the article help you locate the resources on the Web site. You might want to view the resources on a CD-ROM or DVD. Details can be found at dr-davebilliards.com.] AM very excited because this is my six-year anniversary issue as a BD instructional columnist. The reason why six years is an important benchmark for me is I’m a university professor in my “day job”; and in academia, six years is the amount of time you have to prove yourself for tenure. If you do a good job during those first six years, you get tenure and basically have a job for life (because you have earned it). If you don’t meet expected standards, you are “downsized” (i.e., “canned”). Now I feel like I have Billiards Digest “tenure.” I can’t believe it has been six years already, and I look forward to many more. When I wrote my first article, I had a list of about 50 topics I wanted to cover. At first, I was concerned I might eventually run out of ideas; but now, I’m sure I’ll never get to all of them. After covering 72 topics, my list has grown to about 80 topics yet to be covered! That’s more than six more years’ worth of contributions, even if I don’t think of anything else to add. I’m also excited this month because Tom Ross (a former BD columnist) and I just finished an ambitious project called, “The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots” or VEPS. We started planning VEPS over a year ago, and we spent most of the past summer filming and editing video. Over the next several months, I would like to highlight some interesting shots and “gems” from the series. Have you ever thought about how many different types of shots are both
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possible and realistic at a pool table? Well, the goal for Tom and me was to address this question — and not leave any rock unturned. We wanted to include only shots that are practical and useful in typical game situations at a pool table, but we couldn’t resist including a few proposition and trick shots. Our goal wasn’t to invent many shots, but simply to catalog everything we could find and think of, and present all of it within an organized, progressive, bottom-up tutorial framework. We drew inspiration from Ray Martin’s “99 Critical Shots in Pool,” which does a good job of summarizing many of the most common types of shots, and Robert Byrne’s “Complete Book of Pool Shots,” which is an impressive collection of 350 different shots, with many inspired by three-cushion billiards. However, our intention was to provide an exhaustive compilation — in video format — where each shot could be demonstrated on a real table. It’s one thing to see a shot diagrammed in a book, but it’s another thing entirely to see it actually executed. We also liked that video would give us an opportunity to add the extra dimensions of overlaid graphics, narration and slow-motion replay. The complete catalog of shots are organized into five major areas, which are then divided into 50 separate categories. The five main areas are: 1. Basic Shot Making and Position 2. English and Position Control 3. Safety Play and Strategy 4. Banks, Kicks and Advanced Shots 5. Skill and Specialty Shots The total number of shot types within the 50 categories amounts to over 750! (The complete list can be viewed online at dr-dave-billiards.com/veps.) Isn’t it amazing how many options exist at a pool table? That’s one of the reasons why this game is so much fun. If you look at the complete list of shots online, you will notice that many of them are designated as “gems.” This la-
bel helps us emphasize a shot or concept that we feel is particularly important to know as a pool player, whether understood explicitly or in a more intuitive way. Over the next several months, I will present and discuss some of the more interesting “gems” from each of the five major areas. If you would like to see a preview, samples are provided online. NV B.64 provides an overview of the entire series, in “trailer” format. NV B.65 discusses and demonstrates proper technique for executing long powerdraw shots. NV B.66 demonstrates the 30° rule and the peace-sign technique, along with examples of how to use them to predict the direction of the cue ball. NV B.67 presents the trisect system for draw shots, and shows how you can use a modified peace sign to help visualize the cue ball’s final motion. NV B.68 demonstrates how to plan and execute cluster break-out shots using cue-ball reference directions. Finally, NV B.69 illustrates how to aim various types of carom shots using the 90° and 30° rules. If you want more information on any of these topics, they are covered in several of my recent articles, which can be viewed at my Web site (billiards.colostate.edu). Well, I hope you enjoy and benefit from my series of articles highlighting shots and gems from the “Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots” series. I look forward to sharing as much as I can from the series, because it has been a true labor of love for me and Tom over the last year. Next month, we’ll look at selected “gems” from the first main category of shots. David Alciatore is a mechanical engineering professor at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. He is also author of the book, DVD and CD-ROM, “The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards,” and the DVD, “High-speed Video Magic.”
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PLAYING THE NUMBERS
The UPL 10-Ball event dispensed notable payouts, but not without some confusion. Story by Skip Maloney
HE UNIVERSAL Pool League 10-Ball and John Schmidt — squared off in (71 to 65), but because Morris played Invitational was not a run-of-therace-to-9 semifinal matches. fewer total games (91 to Moore’s 101), mill pro tournament. Corey Deuel, Deuel and Dechaine battled to double his PPG average was higher. who juggled roles as host and player, hill, before Deuel prevailed. Archer, in “It’s not fair and it’s not right,” said brought 45 players together for a somethe meantime, eliminated Schmidt on Kim Davenport, who ended up winning what quirky modified round-robin his way into the single-set final. the least amount of games among the tournament, which grew out of his “Johnny got out to a bit of a lead in final 20 (52), yet still finished in ninth $30,000-added event grew out of the the final,” Deuel said, “but it was pretty place, ahead of 11 other players, all of Universal Pool League (UPL), which he close. We were tied, 7-7, and we had a whom had won more games and scored created two years ago. few safeties in that game before he won more total points than he had. But Among a few dozen pros and 11 playit to go up one and then win Davenport played ers who gained entry through the UPL, that final rack.” the least amount of Johnny Archer finished on top of the fiDeuel’s novel format, games among those nal group stage, based on a points-perthough, appeared to have 11 players, giving game average, then him a higher PPG moved on to win the average (.681). title, defeating Deuel “When it came in the single-set fidown to making nal. money,” said tourHeld Nov. 18-21 at nament director the Innisbrook ReJohn DiToro, “there sort in Palm Harbor, were questions about Fla., the UPL 10-Ball [finishing order]. Invitational was con“I thought it was a ducted under the ausgood idea that needs pices of rules largely work. I liked that [the created by Deuel. event] was more of a Rather than a stanround-robin format, indard double-eliminastead of two-and-out, tion bracket, the UPL and that it developed a Invitational opened little competition as far Deuel (center) played his way into second place behind Archer (top left). with four rounds of as pushing yourself to full 15-game sets. At break and run a rack.” the conclusion of the opening round, some inequities, which worked to the As for plans to improve what both where pairings were based on a blind benefit of players who never got to the Deuel and DiToro assume will be next draw, match-ups were then determined table when an opponent cleared from year’s second UPL 10-Ball Invitational, by a points-per-game average (with one the break. Because a break and run did both were unanimous in their wish to point awarded for each game won and not count as a game for the player who see more scorekeepers. another point it was a break and run). never got to the table, the total number “It was just the finer things that The top player, by virtue of his PPG of games, used to determine the PPG needed tweaking, like maybe we do average, then played the second player, average, was different for virtually evaway with the break and run [bonus],” the third played the fourth, and so on. ery player. So, while Stevie Moore, for DiToro said. “We could have a breakAt the end of four rounds of play, the example, ended up in seventh place, and-run contest, but leave it out, so it field was cut down to 20 players based with a .702 PPG average, he actually doesn’t filter into the scoring system. on PPG averages. These 20 then played won more games (65) than Rodney “That and scorekeeping; more referthree additional rounds. After these Morris (55), who finished in fifth, with ees, because with this, we were basiseven rounds, the top four finishers — a .714 average. Moore ended up with six cally working on an honor system.” in order, Archer, Deuel, Mike Dechaine more total points than Morris, as well “It was a good try,” said Davenport.
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MIKE BASHA
NICHOLAS LEIDER
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2009 WPBA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
OUSCHAN’S TRIPLE PLAY
With her third WPBA title of 2009, the Austrian star joined elite company. Story by Nicholas Leider
ULLING OFF a WPBA-style triple crown — winning three events in a single season — sure isn’t easy. Since Allison Fisher crash-landed on top of the Classic Tour 13 years ago, she and her fellow snooker convert Karen Corr were the only two to have accomplished the feat. But the dominant duo of the last decade will have to make room for Jasmin Ouschan. With an undefeated run at November’s season-ending WPBA Tour Championships, Ouschan took title No. 3 on the year (in addition to wins at the Pacific Coast and Great Lakes Classics). No simple task, the trifecta was especially tough this season, considering the WPBA’s pared down schedule of just six events in 2009. The significance of Ouschan’s year, though, may not be restricted to trophies and fresh lines on her resume. Jeanette Lee, who lost a thrilling semifinal match to the eventual champion, sees 23-year-old Ouschan as the cover girl for pool’s next generation. “I think that she represents that next level of play,” Lee said. “There are just so many solid young players, and she is at the forefront of that. She’s young, bright, loves the game — and is willing to be a lot more disciplined. Jasmin’s and [Xiaoting] Pan’s approach, it’s so much more disciplined and professional compared to the girls of yesteryear.” By no means does this spell the end of Fisher and Corr as title contenders on a tour they dominated for sevenplus years. They both posted strong, if unspectacular, years, finishing sixth and fourth in the year-end points race, respectively. But the duo went without a win for the first time since Fisher’s arrival in 1995 — the first time she went a season without a title, while Corr’s last victory came at the tail end of 2007.
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PHOTOS BY MICHAEL NEUMANN
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Classic Rock: Ouschan (left) thrashed Pan in their second final in four weeks.
On the current tour where eight or 10 players are strong threats to win any event, the difference between a good season and one that can be deemed great is often found in a few matches going one way or another. As an example, Kelly Fisher, the 2008 Player of the Year, lost in the finals twice in 2009, with a third-place finish at the Tour Championships. Flip a match or two in her favor, and Fisher may have been a
two-time tour champ. But, for now at least, Ouschan has latched onto a winning formula. Along with coach Michael Neumann, the Austrian has won her last 14 matches for back-to-back titles. “I wouldn’t say it is a breakthrough,” she said, “but we obviously found the right strategy and preparation for the events. But we still know that it can [be] totally different next season.”
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2009 WPBA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS And even for Ouschan, fore dispatching Vivian Vilthe impressive performance larreal by the same score to that left her No. 2 in the reach the semifinal against rankings (just barely behind Ouschan. Kim) hasn’t changed her In the race to 7, Lee outlook all that much. grabbed an early 3-1 lead, “I know I am one of the before a pair of scratches on best players on tour and I the break helped Ouschan know my skills,” she said, take five of the next six “so at some point you expect to get on the hill, 6-4. Lee to win, because you know cleared the next rack thanks you are good enough.” to a fantastic kick on the 4 That expectation — and ball then cleared from her the confidence it’s built break to tie the match, 6-6. upon — pushed Ouschan to In the final rack, though, question her performance Ouschan forced Lee to foul in a handful of big-time inafter an early safe and ran ternational events. She finout to take the set. ished strong at the World In the final, Ouschan Games (second), Women’s faced a familiar foe in Pan World 10-Ball Champion— another example of a ship (third) and China Open player was a match or two (fifth), but stumbled a bit away from the top of the in the Amway Cup (ninth) rankings. Just four weeks and Women’s World 9-Ball before the Tour ChampionChampionship (17th). ship, Pan had advanced to “The Asian tournaments the final of the Pacific Coast could have been better this Classic, only to be stopped year,” she said. “And I am short by Ouschan. absolutely not satisfied with And once again, the my game in Asia. It is differ27-year-old proved she ent than in the U.S., and we had no troubles with the still have to figure out the WPBA field, except for one Lee ended a confidence-building ’09 season in the Top 10. right preparation” flaxen-haired player in parOn American soil, though, ticular. Pan easily advanced Ouschan established herself as the do business-wise and what I need to do through the winners side of the brackwoman to beat. At the WPBA Tour for my family. et, surviving her only close call in the Championship, she easily rolled into “I’m just so happy now.” quarterfinals, a 9-8 squeaker against the knock-out round of 16, sandwichAt the Tour Championship, Lee Florida’s Tracie Hines. ing a 9-7 win over Janet Atwell with a cruised through the first two rounds The final, though, ran along the same pair of blowouts. She then rolled past with wins over Dawn Hopkins, 9-1, script as October’s Pacific Coast event. Norwegian Line Kjorsvik, 9-5, and Aland Laura Smith, 9-3. One win from Ouschan, thanks to two break and lison Fisher, 9-5, to meet Lee in the the single-elimination round of 16, runs, quickly climbed on the hill, 6semifinal. though, she was upended by Kelly 2. Pan then played safe on the 2 ball, While Lee hasn’t taken a Classic Tour Fisher, 9-6. dropping the cue ball behind the 6 and title since 2001, she certainly enjoyed Lee then rebounded with a 9-5 win 7 balls. But Ouschan had no trouble a revival in 2009 with three semifinal over My-Hanh Lac to advance to single jumping the cue ball over the blockappearances — all the while showing elimination. In the redraw, where the ers and burying the 2 in the side. She flashes of the brilliance that resulted eight players who advanced through cleared the table to finish a nearly flawin 15 WPBA titles between 1994-2001. the one-loss side are randomly drawn less set, 7-2. She finished 2009 ranked No 9 overall, against the eight unbeaten players, With a great year, in the infancy of which is a bit of an understatement conLee faced Japan’s Kyoko Sone. Sone what potentially could be a magnifisidering she missed the Pacific Coast has been one of the tour’s most imcent career, Ouschan is on the right event following the birth of her daughproved players, rising to 16th in the path, at least according to one insider ter Chloe, by a surrogate mother. rankings, an improvement of more who knows a little about collecting maWhile her family continues to grow, than 20 spots in the last year. Still, she jor titles like passport stamps. Lee has still managed to find time to had to be considered among the more “Jasmin has more to learn,” Lee caudrill her game at the table. favorable matchups in a pool of untioned. “But there is nothing I would “I just have solid people around me beaten players such as Pan, Ouschan change in her game and [her apwho believe in me as a player,” she said. and both Fishers. proach]. She’s doing absolutely every“And they understand what I need to Lee pushed eased past Sone, 9-5, bething right.”
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THE VIEW
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FROM ABOVE Dominant after an early loss at the World 10-Ball Championship, Mika Immonen further distanced himself from the field as the greatest player on the planet. Story by Ted Lerner Photos by Jerry Forsyth OURS AFTER defeating Lee Vann Corteza to win the 2009 World 10-Ball Championship in Manila, Mika Immonen was still searching for answers, answers that would get to the crux of the issue that not just fans and media wanted to know, but he himself needed to know. Why does he win nearly every tournament he enters now? What exactly is it that has led him to suddenly play off the charts in the last year and a half, putting together what is the greatest run by any player in recent history? In the moments after he sank the final 10 ball, still in shock at winning this most difficult of world championships, Immonen told a TV interviewer, “I don’t know what’s going on.” After drinking in the accolades of the Manila fans, he headed for the pressroom where he again tried to search for the reasons for his all time run. This time he got a little closer. “I don’t know what’s going on,” he told the gathered media. “I can’t explain it. I was in a slump four years ago.” He shook his head, thought again and then said, “I just think the hard work is paying off. Now, mentally, I can overcome bad spots. I just brush it off. When I lose, I go to work. After making a few mistakes, I focus on what’s essential to win.” Closer, but for Immonen, it didn’t quite get to the very heart of the issue. It wasn’t until a few hours later, feeling a little more relaxed at a celebration at a local bar and surrounded by about a dozen friends and well-wishers, where the man who is single handedly taking pool to a new level could finally put his finger on it. Still dressed in the clothes he had worn through the semifinal and final, a cocktail in one hand, his gold
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medal still dangling from his neck, Immonen zeroed in. It was in the double-elimination group stages, he said. After easily winning his first match against Qatar’s Bassher Hussain, 9-1, Immonen came back the next day and lost badly to talented young Hayato Hijikata of Japan, 9-6. Notoriously hard on himself, Immonen hated the way he had played, he hated his attitude towards life in general, and he felt downright awful. So instead of rest at his hotel or practice for a few hours, Immonen headed straight to a local Gold’s Gym, where he ran a punishing 10 kilometers on the treadmill. The next day, a rested and refreshed Immonen came back and beat Malaysia’s Ibrahim Bin Amir, 9-4, to move into the final 64 knockout stage. “I had to work out the stress,” Immonen said. “It was hard, but [after the run] I felt better. If I didn’t run, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep. But my body was tired from playing and running so I could sleep. There’s a reason I lost to Hijikata. If I don’t lose to Hijikata, I don’t win the tournament.” For the new world champion, however, that was merely the trigger that led to another phenomenal accomplishment. Immonen paused for a moment, as if searching for something deeper, more meaningful — then his face brightened as if he had finally found the answer. “It’s like crime and punishment,” he said. “You commit the crime, you have to suffer the punishment. My crime was that I played badly against Hijikata. My punishment was the run.” That Immonen looks at his career in such stark and perhaps harsh terms provides the perfect window into the hows
and whys of one man dominating an entire sport. In the world of Mika Immonen, doubt and failure equal weakness, and weakness can only be overcome not by simply riding out the storm, but by constant self-examination, by punishment and pain, by sheer hard work. Doubt and failure, according to Immonen, can and will be conquered by whatever means necessary, whether it be running, biking, performing yoga, watching endless tapes of pool matches or practicing five or six hours a day. Pain is the price of victory. TV commentator Jay Helfert perhaps said it best during the broadcast of the final match, when he compared Immonen to one particular local hero known for his punishing workouts and incredible will to win. “Mika Immonen is the Manny Pacquiao of pool,” Helfert said. Immonen would gladly take that prestigious moniker, especially as he has played and won many times in the Philippines and understands the magnitude of winning in a country known for its endless supply of hardcore pool talent. “It’s especially important to win in the Philippines,” Immonen said afterward in the press room. “Everyone here brings their ‘A’ game.” And he can be doubly proud indeed, considering the circumstances surrounding this year’s championship — held Nov. 25-30 at the World Trade Center in Manila, Philippines. With the 8-ball world championship in Fujairah, U.A.E., cancelled for 2009, and 9-ball’s world championship failing to secure a sponsor for the second straight year, the World 10-Ball Championship was the
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Alcaide (left) finished an impressive year with a semifinal bid, while Lining was a few racks short of an all-Filipino final.
only WPA-sanctioned world title for men in 2009. Although the total prize money dropped some $140,000, down from $400,000 in 2008, it still reflected an amazing rise to legitimacy for the game of 10-ball. Only a few years ago 10-ball was nothing more than a fringe game — 9-ball with an extra ball — played mostly in Manila’s billiard halls, favored over 9-ball because the better players were tired of losing money matches due to the easy break patterns fostered by 9-ball’s diamond rack. And one could hardly find a better place to contest the world championship of this grueling game than the Philippines, which in recent years has become pool’s Mecca and Valhalla rolled into one. The fact that a good portion of the 128-player field included many of the great Filipino players who had boycotted last year’s event further brightened the prospects for an all-time shootout. The seemingly intractable rift that nearly paralyzed the sport in the Philippines, and beyond, finally came to an end several weeks before the tournament — at least for the most part. Managers Perry Mariano and Jonathan Sy, who look after some of the biggest
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names in the sport, such as Ronnie Alcano, Dennis Orcollo, Warren Kiamco and Corteza, finally made peace with Raya Sports’ Yen Makabenta (who also heads the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines, the country’s governing body for pool). Only Aristeo Puyat, who handles Efren Reyes, Francisco Bustamante and Alex Pagulayan, has refused to come in from the cold. The presence of Mariano’s and Sy’s boys was felt immediately, as they dominated the brutally tough qualifiers held the week before the main event, where 64-man, single-elimination events were held twice daily for five straight days. In all, 12 players who had stayed out of last year’s event, including Alcano, Orcollo, Corteza, Kiamco and Roberto Gomez, made it into the tournament. Things didn’t go according to plan for at least a few of the perennial favorites. America’s Shane Van Boening continued to slump, getting knocked out in the group stages with losses to Vietnam’s Nguyen Anh Tuan and Russia’s Konstantin Stepanov. Alcano never made it past the round of 64, eliminated by England’s Imran Majid, 9-5. Johnny Archer barely made it out of the group stages, before getting blasted out by In-
donesia’s Dodong Alwi, 9-2. Ralf Souquet limped to a 9-8 win over Mexico’s Ignacio Chavez in the round of 64, then got knocked out of the event in the next round by China’s Li He-Wen, 9-6. The story stayed on script, however, for Filipino veteran Antonio Lining. The 46-year-old lefty had just returned from Japan, where he took second place to Francisco Bustamante in the All Japan Open. Forced to try his luck in the qualifiers, he showed a resilience borne of experience that would serve him well. After placing eighth in the first qualifier, Lining came back the next day and took third, then the next day placed runner-up, before winning the next day’s qualifier for a place in the main draw. Lining, obviously in 10-ball shape, went undefeated in the group stages. In the knock-out phase, he blew out Corey Deuel, 9-4, outlasted Japan’s Naoyuki Oi, and then easily beat 20-year-old Filipino upstart Jomar de Ocampo. It was in the quarterfinals, however, that the soft-spoken Lining made his biggest statement. Down 8-7 against Kiamco, Lining won the last two racks, including a closing break and run, to book a spot in Monday’s semifinals.
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MANILA’S GEM: STAR BILLIARDS WITH ITS plethora of world-class tournaments, endless love for the sport and seemingly endless supply of talent, the Philippines is often described accurately as the center of the pool-playing world. And in the Philippines, pool loving pilgrims will find no greater paradise than at the Star Billiards Center. Naturally, as with anything as highly coveted as a place in heaven, the attainment of pure bliss doesn’t come easy. In the case of Star Billiards, finding this world-class facility can take quite an effort, and can be downright spooky, even for regular visitors to Manila. The complex sits inside the 430,000-squarefoot Star Paper Corporation, which itself is tucked inside a dank warehouse district in a remote part of Metro Manila. A trip to Star Billiards will bring you face to face with ramshackle squatter shacks lining the sides of the narrow lanes, dirty old buildings sitting behind massive cinder block walls, and container trucks barreling down the road heading to the nearby harbor. Once you chance upon the Star Paper complex, however, and step through the tall iron gates and into the low-rise building one block in, it’s as if you’ve discovered a pool oasis. Inside, the large, brightly lit room is filled with literally everything a pool player could want and more — 40 pool tables, mostly Brunswick Metros and Gold Crowns, a snooker table and a carom table, all available to play on for free, the latest in nearly every billiard accessory available at wholesale prices, free Master chalk, free baby powder, free soft drinks and snacks, a free Internet café, several repairmen waiting to fix your tip or sand your cue, even the world’s largest collection of Predator cues (worth more than $100,000) behind glass cases along the walls. Welcome to the personal pool playground of Sebastian Chua, a man who might just be the world’s biggest pool fanatic. While he has made his fortune importing and trading paper and art supplies, this eccentric Filipino-Chinese businessman’s true passion is pool. The Philippines’ official dealer of just about any and all well-known pool brand names, Chua, though, is always quick
Inside the Star Billiards Center (above), Chau (left) has built a virtual factory for developing Filipino pool talent.
to point out that he’s not in it for a profit. “For me pool is not a business,” the friendly Chua said during the qualifiers for the World 10-Ball Championship held at Star Billiards Center. “Pool is my hobby. I don’t have to earn money in pool.” Indeed, Chua operates Star Billiards not just as a dream hangout for him and his friends, but also very much like a charity for pool players. He opened the room with 10 Brunswick tables in 2002 as a place where he could enjoy nights of pool with his friends with absolutely no charge. “I just wanted to entertain my friends for free,” Chua said. “It was for my personal enjoyment.” Soon after he opened, though, he began to expand the room, adding more tables and more amenities. At the same time, he wanted to do something for the sport, so he began to open up the room to the country’s legions of pool players. Most players in the talentrich Philippines have little or no money, and often have to play on substandard equipment. Chua wanted to change that.
“I want to promote billiards,” Chua says. “If it helps the players, I will do it at no cost and even if I have to spend, no problem.” Open seven nights a week, Star Billiards is available for anyone to come and play, but, as Chua points out, “you must be [at least] a D-level player. Otherwise, my boy will come over and tell you ‘Next time, don’t come back.’” To weed out the pretenders, Star recently began a membership program and signed up over a thousand players of various levels, although on most nights of the week, plenty of open tables can be found. Even big names such as Warren Kiamco, Ronnie Alcano, and Dennis Orcollo stop by for practice. For the qualifiers preceding the World 10-Ball Championship, Chua spent nearly $50,000 to add a magnificent three-story extension onto the Star Billiard complex, complete with a wraparound viewing balcony. For Sebastian Chua, that’s what it’s all about: supporting the sport he loves, helping the players achieve their best, and, of course, having a good time playing the best game in the world. “Whatever it takes,” Chua says, “I will support the game and the players. I just want people to enjoy. As long as my friends are happy, I am happy.”
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For David Alcaide, the term “dark horse” had been quietly mentioned at the beginning of the week by fans and media regarding the talented Spaniard. But anyone in the know realized that Alcaide was already the real deal. Back in March, he won the Italian Open on the EuroTour, and then captured the Predator International 10-ball event in Portugal in September. Alcaide’s shouts of “Vamos!” (Come on!) every time he pocketed a winning 10 ball would soon become familiar throughout the arena. In the round of 64, Alcaide barely escaped the Philippines’ Antonio Gabica, 9-8. Then, after defeating Taiwan’s legend Chao FongPang, the Spaniard met up with Orcollo. The Filipino quickly found himself down, 6-2. Orcollo clawed back to tie, but Alcaide then slammed the door shut, winning the last three to advance, 9-6. Next up for Alcaide was defending champion Darren Appleton. Up until the quarterfinal round, Appleton displayed the same mettle that had carried him to the title last year. But Alcaide took the early lead and never looked back. Playing strong, confident pool, the man from Malaga, in the south of Spain, moved into the semis with a 9-6 win, as the whispers of “dark horse” became permanently drowned out with another shout of “Vamos!” The 30-year-old Corteza came into the tournament with high hopes and plenty of expectations from Filipino fans. He had recently returned from the U.S., where he placed fourth in the U.S. Open. In Manila, he won a brutally tough all-Filipino qualifier to make it into the main event. In the group stages, “Van Van” crushed Taiwan’s Yang Ching-Shun, 9-0, in what was easily the most impressive performance to that point of the event. Then, after beating Stepanov, 9-7, in the round of 64, Corteza headed to the TV table for a match with Taiwan’s Chang YuLung. Chang came out hot, and Corteza quickly found himself on verge of elimination. Down 7-2, Corteza went on the kind of run one normally sees in 9-ball, running five of seven racks, and winning a 9-8 thriller. Corteza then moved to the outside tables where he outlasted Germany’s Thomas Engert, 97, and China’s Li, 9-7, to gain a spot in the semifinals. As usual, as the field withered, Im-
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With Filipino fans hoping for a local champion, finalist Corteza couldn’t oblige.
monen remained standing. After first beating Niels Feijen, 9-6, in the round of 64, Immonen met up in a marquee television match against the Philippines’ Marlon Manalo. Immonen started off shakily and looked out of sync. With the score tied, 6-6, though, he made the kind of definitive statement that the greats always do. After a dry break by Manalo, Immonen cleared the table, and then proceeded to break and run the last two racks for a 9-6 win. Immonen then headed to the outside tables where he topped Nick van den Berg, 9-7, and junior world champ Ruslan Chinakhov, 9-6, for a place in the semis. “Like a good thoroughbred on the last lap, I’ve got that extra gear,” Immonen said afterward. “After beating [Manalo], I finally found the break. I started play-
ing better. My cue ball is smarter, more solid. Chinakhov took some fliers and I made him pay.” Clearly the favorite, Immonen headed into the Monday’s first semifinal against Lining with a clear sense that pool history was just two matches away. “If I could win this thing today, that would be like icing on the cake,” Immonen said moments before the match. “It would be one of the most dominating years in pool history.” He started out purposefully, jumping out to a 4-1 lead. Immonen, however, committed several glaring errors that allowed Lining to take the lead, 5-4. As is typical of his play over the last 16 months, however, Immonen gathered himself and hung tight. Down 7-6, the “Iceman” rebuked Lining for several
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Lifting the hardware in Manila, Immonen won an incredible five of the world’s six biggest first-place prizes in 2009.
mistakes and took the final three racks for a tense 9-7 win. The second semifinal between Alcaide and Corteza was equally tight. Alcaide found little success on the break shot, and fell behind, 5-2. But Corteza had his own problems on the break, and Alcaide came back to move ahead, 7-6. Corteza, however, seemed to have the same kind of destiny on his side. After clearing from an Alcaide miss in rack 14, Corteza sent the home fans into a frenzy by running the last two racks from the break to move into the final. Corteza didn’t have much time to consider the gravity of his circumstances, as the race-to-11 final was set immediately after his match with Alcaide. But with the way he had played during the week, if anyone was capable of taking down Immonen, Corteza was the one to do it, and perhaps it was better that the Filipino didn’t have time to think about what was at stake. Philippine fans in attendance, along with millions of who were watching live on TV, sensed that a new star was about to be born. Philippine hopes were raised further early in the final as Corteza capitalized on a bad shot and foul by Immonen to move ahead, 2-0. But Immonen wasn’t about to let Corteza write the final
chapter of this saga. As he has done to everyone, everywhere over the last year and a half, Immonen took his game to that rarefied level, punishing his opponents for every mistake, playing daring shots under pressure, and exhibiting an extraordinary will to win. After Corteza left a slight opening on the 1 ball, Immonen ran out. When Corteza fouled on the 1 ball in the next rack, Immonen ran out again. Corteza captured the next rack, but in rack 6 he left the 1 ball open and Immonen ran out. After Immonen cleared Corteza’s missed 5 ball in the subsequent rack, he held a 5-3 advantage. In the next rack, Immonen had an open shot on the 3 ball but was facing a safety shot on the 4, which was tied up with the 9 ball all the way up-table. But instead of playing for the safe, Immonen took the dangerous route by potting the 3, and spinning the cue around some traffic, careening perfectly into the 4-9 cluster to bust it open, leaving a clear path to a 6-3 lead. Corteza valiantly rallied to pull within a game at 6-5. But then came what had to be Immonen’s knockout punch. Corteza pushed out to a full-table jump shot on the 1 ball. Taking the dare, Immonen speared the shot on the 1 ball,
and rolled the cue ball back into perfect position for a 2-10 combination, which he subsequently pocketed for a quick 7-5 lead. “That jump and then the 2-10 combo was a punch to the solar plexus,” Immonen said after the match, a smile of satisfaction on his face as he spoke. “I think that was pretty much it for him after that.” Indeed Corteza slumped in his chair, sensing the inevitable. When the Filipino fouled in the next rack, Immonen ran out for an 8-5 lead. Corteza pulled to within 8-6, but then scratched on the next break shot. After running the table for a 9-6 lead, Immonen sank three on the break and cleared to get on the hill, 10-6. In the final rack, he got one ball down on the break, then ran the table for the championship. History now his, the new World 10Ball Champion basked in the satisfaction of capping one of the best years ever seen in professional pool by winning the richest and perhaps toughest tournament of them all, in the spiritual home of the game. “It’s as if the U.S. Open was just a [stop] on the way to the top,” a visibly relieved Immonen said. “I’ve proved to everyone that I can play any game.” January 2010
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Rousey Mike Geffner examines the conflicted world of a WPBA star.
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ASHI FACHLER
Sarah Rousey up one morning, lapsing into a coma during sleep and needing a team of paramedics rushing over to desperately pump her up with dextrose to revive her? “Diabetes,” says Rousey, who kept her disease hidden from outsiders for years, who has never wanted to be defined by that word or have it as an excuse for failure, “can be hell.” Rousey, 27, has been one of the WPBA’s best players since being its Rookie of the Year in 2003, ranked at one point as high as eighth. She’s a heady player with a determined heart and who possesses a wallop of a break clocked between 26-28 mph.
“IN THE POOLROOM, PEOPLE EITHER DIDN’T KNOW OR DIDN’T CARE THAT SHE HAD DIABETES.” — K ATE ROUSE Y
En route to the WPBA, Rousey found comfort at the tables of her father’s poolhall.
ARAH ROUSEY can’t help herself. She tries her damnedest not to obsess over things, she really does, but from the moment her darkchocolate brown eyes flicker open to start a new day to the time her tiny 5-foot-1inch frame conks out in bed at night, she worries like crazy about the most curious of things. She worries about blood-sugar level — hers, that is — and whether it’s too high or too low or just about right, forever monitoring it like someone measuring radioactivity with a Geiger counter making sure to steer clear of danger zones. She worries about what she ate and when she ate it, carefully counting carbs along the way, making a simple meal anything but simple. And, most of all, she worries nearly every minute of every day, especially at tournaments, about her worst nightmare:
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whether everything will suddenly go haywire on her, whether her diabetes, which she’s had since she was 10, will abruptly seize her, body and soul, and drag her to that scary, uncontrollable, dark place she’s visited countless times before and in which she knows, no matter what she does, she will find herself again. Will she begin to drip sweat, struggle to breathe, and get so woozy she’ll feel like passing out? Will she space out to where she seems like someone buzzed on something, where she’s not even sure where she is or what she’s doing, while uttering something unintelligible or totally out of left field (like when, at 14, she kept saying that George Washington was the current president of the United States and that she wanted to play soccer)? Or will it be like the time when she was 21, when, so alarmingly, she didn’t wake
But unlike the rest of her sisterhood on the tour, she’s the only one forced to constantly pack a bulky insulin pump — often confused for a cell phone or an MP3 player — and a bunch of pink, disgusting-tasting, watermelon-flavored glucose tabs. “It all kind of sucks,” she says, “but it’s better than being dead, I guess.” She pauses for a second before adding: “Or so I hear.” She was just a chubby, normal, fun-loving kid growing up in the middle of the Midwest cornfields, two hours south of Chicago and two hours north of St. Louis — in Bloomington, Ill. — when her life turned upside down for good. She suddenly, inexplicably, all at once, felt incredibly weak, developed an insatiable thirst, and kept getting strep throat. Then along came a flaming red flag of an undeniable fact: In a single month, she lost 30 pounds. And on top of that, she came down with a bad case of pneumonia. Her doctor narrowed down the problem to mononucleosis or diabetes, but considering her young age he figured it was likely the latter and not the former. January 21, 1993. It’s a date Rousey remembers with a jab to her soul, a date she can’t get out of her head, a date where the old Sarah died and the new one was born.
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She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes — or what’s commonly referred to as juvenile diabetes. “I was probably born with it,” she says, “and some trauma brought it out.” After spending a week in the hospital, she emerged unmistakably changed in so many ways. She had a new set of rules, things that she could and couldn’t do anymore. She needed to prick her fingers for blood and inject herself with a painful series of insulin shots, from twice to as much as 10 times a day. She was, without any real time to adjust, decidedly different, to where even her parents viewed her as fragile and discouraged from doing anything athletic or too taxing to the system (while her little sister, Kaeleigh, would go on to play for a national champion softball team). She lost most of her friends, who were either scared to “catch” diabetes or started making cruel jokes about her. Her friends’ parents became afraid to have her over. And teachers didn’t want her on field trips. It not only drove her into a shell but compelled her to do something that only two years earlier had completely bored her: She began playing pool. “In the poolroom,” explains her mom, Kate Rousey, “people either didn’t know or didn’t care that she had diabetes.” “It was the one place I felt like I fit in,” Sarah says. The poolroom was Ride the Nine, owned by, among others, her dad Larry, a decent amateur player, who made his daughter first prove herself on a 7-foot table, then an 8-footer, before letting her graduate to regulation size. Sarah was so small she needed to stand atop a teddy bear-adorned wooden stool to be able to shoot. “It took me only six months to get on the big tables,” she says. “The game came naturally to me, and, well, I just loved it.” “Pool lit up Sarah’s eyes like nothing else,” says her mom. Before long, Rousey had a poster on her bedroom wall of the WPBA group shot, as well as a slew of 8x10 autographed pictures of individual players, including her favorite, Vivian Villarreal. If a top professional player came through the room to do an exhibition or play in a tournament — as when Ewa Laurance and Jeannette Lee, separately, did — Sarah became all aflutter; and her first time glued to George Breedlove inspired her to copy his “Flame-
Rousey blossomed in her first full WPBA season, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2003.
thrower” 9-ball break. “I watched the way George dug his feet in and then let out this loud grunt when he came through,” she says. “I just mimicked everything he did. It was way out of control [for the] first couple of years.” St. Louis pro Mark Wilson, one of the game’s best teachers, remembers the time he was playing in one of the Ride the Nine’s monthly tournaments and spotted this adorable little girl, who turned out to be Sarah, following him around from match to match, table to table, and ultimately sitting in the front row to watch. “After one of the matches, I finally went over and said to her, ‘I see you like pool,’” Wilson recalls. “And she says, ‘Oh, yes, I love pool. I have pictures all over my room and someday I’ll be a pool player too.’ She was totally sincere and completely passionate — a tiny bundle of enthusiasm. Then, the next second, she was pulling
out a syringe and giving herself a shot. It broke my heart.” Less than a year after being diagnosed, just short of her 11th birthday, Rousey entered her first BCA Junior Nationals. “I couldn’t even make a bridge,” she says. Adds her dad: “Sarah was the smallest one in the tournament.” She eventually placed an amazing third, beaten only by champion Kara Wroldson and runner-up Tiffany Nelson. “Tiffany was real mean to me,” Sarah recalls with a chuckle. “I played her my first match and she got me on three straight fouls seven games in a row. I didn’t even know what that rule was back then. She went on to beat me, 9-0. We’re good friends now, but I still remind her about that match and that I’m still out for revenge.” Says Tiffany: “I can’t believe I did that to her. I probably just learned the three-foul rule and wanted to try it out. I know that Sarah uses [that loss] to
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this day as motivation to never lose to me — and, believe it or not, it works!” Rousey finished second in the Junior Nationals in 1996 and 1999 before finally snapping it off in 2000. She first gained respect from her fellow pros in 2002 when she finished seventh at the U.S. Open. In the time since, she’s captured a slew of top 10s and had her highest finish with an appearance in the semifinals at the 2008 Nationals. “You’ll never hear Sarah complain,” her mom says, “but I know how much she goes through to just get through a match. People have no idea. The poor kid sometimes has a blood-sugar level as low as 30 (a good level is between 100-150) and she’s suffering through these severe headaches and she’s playing as if she’s not even there.” When Rousey’s blood sugar is too low, producing the effect of having a hangover (“only worse,” she says), she’ll reach for some glucose tabs, then take a break to munch on a power bar or suck down a Coke. “Sometimes, if the attack is really bad,” she says, “I’ll feel like I’m on the verge of blacking out.” When it’s too high, she’ll become unfocused, confused, lackadaisical, as well as extremely thirsty and, at times, gasping for breath. She encountered such an incident at an important juncture during her successful showing at the 2008 Nationals. Just before playing Karen Corr in the third round of the winners bracket, her blood sugar soared to 400. “I was having trouble with my insulin pump infusion set,” she says, “and I didn’t have time to fix it.” The insulin pump, which she carries in her back pocket and, by running a small tube into her stomach, acts as a pseudopancreas, was a huge step for her. She initially, at 16 years old, rejected the idea, not only for reasons of vanity but also, she says, because she “didn’t want people asking me questions or to know that something was wrong with me.” Around six years later, she finally broke down and got the thing. It’s made her physical life easier and, emotionally, liberated her. She’s no longer a closeted diabetic, no longer ashamed of it. “I started to realize that being different wasn’t so bad,” she says. “I also figured I could help educate people on the effects of diabetes and, more importantly, become an inspiration to others who have anything wrong with them.” “Sarah is just a real person,” says Monica Webb, who has been Rousey’s close friend for nearly a decade. “She’s honest.
Standing just 61 inches tall, Rousey has powered her way into the WPBA top 20.
“I THINK BECAUSE OF HER DIABETES, AND THE FACT THAT SHE’S BEEN A COMPETITIVE POOL PLAYER SINCE SHE WAS 10, HAS GIVEN HER A RARE MATURITY WELL BEYOND HER YEARS. YOU MIGHT BEAT HER, BUT YOU WON’T SCARE HER.” — MARK WILSON She’s competitive, yet humble. And she’s centered, which I’m convinced is the big reason why she plays so well. Nothing gets to her. She could be down, 8-1, in a race to 9 and she’s playing just as hard.” Says Mark Wilson: “I think because of her diabetes, and the fact that she’s been a competitive pool player since she was 10, has given her a rare maturity well beyond her years. You might beat her, but you won’t scare her.” She’s indeed a person bold enough to dye her dark brown hair pink or blonde or red, or even buzz her style into a Mohawk. She’s also unafraid to speak her mind, as she took on Charlie Williams and Dragon Promotions after the 2009 Women’s World 10-Ball Championship, writing in her blog that it was more a beauty pageant than anything else. She’ll freely admit to being junk food junkie with major weakness for cheesecake, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and cheeseburgers. And on her right wrist, she has a tattoo of a heart — a reminder to have the “heart to keep on going” no matter what obstacles stand in her way. “I love the person she became playing pool: She has a lot to overcome and she simply fights through it,” Kate Rousey says. “She’s my hero.”
But in her most honest moments, Sarah will tell you about the bad days, the ones where she gets so depressed she absolutely hates her world, hates the fact that she has this thing called diabetes, hates whatever made it happen to her, and screams that private scream of “Why me?” And there are days she can’t help but wonder how her life would’ve been so different if she hadn’t been diabetic. Maybe she would’ve played other sports and never found her way to pool. “If I could be an inspiration at all,” she says, “I want people to know that having a chronic disease shouldn’t control you, or hold you back, or ruin your life. “I think, if anything, it’s made me a stronger person. It’s helped me deal with anything life has thrown at me.” The worries, the carb counting, the clunky pump, the horrible-tasting glucose tabs, the blood-sugar highs and lows — she wishes she could think it all away. Of course, she does. But, like it or not, it is who she is, who she’s been for a very long time. And the running from something she never wanted defining her, the fear of revealing a mere human imperfection, the internal fight to just be normal, has, at last, by her own strength of will, ended for good.
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CHRONICLES
ODDS ‘N’ ENDS
A FEW RANDOM TOPICS THAT MIGHT’VE ESCAPED YOUR ATTENTION.
APUCH ON FLICKR
HERE ARE a number of topics I’ve been itching to write about for some time, but none of them really merits a whole article on its own. So I decided to give each one its proper place in a single piece. The result may seem disconnected, but rest assured that it’s all part of the grand patchwork of billiards as we know it (or maybe didn’t know it but wanted to). What you’ll see here is evidence that there are people who are really dedicated to billiards — sometimes a really narrow aspect of it — but dedicated nonetheless. I mean people who love the game so much they want everything around them to be drenched in pool. It’s tough to beat the dedication of some collectors. But not everything collectible can be collected. That may sound contradictory, but some items decay or fall apart and therefore can’t be kept very long. Billiard cakes are an example. If you know a pool player who is totally committed to the game, there’s no better birthday present (aside from a new cue stick) than a cake decorated as pool table. Imagine the pleasure of biting into one of their favorite pastimes. In about five years of collecting pictures of such things, I’ve managed to hunt down about 200 such cakes. Take a look at Figs. 1-3. The first one only shows four pockets, but I think the chalk cube made out of icing is very cute. Cupcakes are perfect because they’re round and can decorated as pool balls. And those are only ones for which images can be found on the Internet. Imagine how many delicious examples never even get photographed! Postage stamps, of course, are the classic collectible. If you confine your attention to billiards, though, you’ll wind up with a very small collection.
By Mike Shamos
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Fig. 1: Happy birthday, Reggie! 2007 photo by apuch on Flickr.
Fig. 2 (left): Snooker cakes are popular, too; Fig. 3: Cupcakes make a comeback.
Fewer than 100 have ever been issued. You can get a dozen at once, though, on the Belgian sheet in Fig. 4, which honors modern players. A separate set from Belgium depicted nine players from the first half of the 1900s. The U.S. hasn’t put any players on stamps yet. The closest you can get here is the Babe Ruth first-day cover in Fig. 5. It was issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of
the first All-Star Game, in which Ruth appeared. You might think it funny that he’s shown shooting pool. Sports artist Joseph Catalano knew that Ruth loved pool. Well, at least he was familiar with the old photograph in Fig. 6. It’s certainly a computerized world, and billiards is no exception. Hundreds of items of pool-emulation software have been produced, and collecting
January 2010
12/16/09 11:19:21 AM
Fig. 5 (top): This 1983 first-day cover commemorates the All-Star Game.
Fig. 4: Belgium honored a dozen players on postage stamps.
them is too easy. If you really want to impress your date, you need to trot out billiard programs from foreign countries. Try Russia (Fig. 7), Japan (Fig. 8), Germany (Fig. 9) and the Netherlands (Fig. 10). Before you remodel the house, think about introducing some pool accessories. Among the most functional are doorknobs (Fig. 11). Can you image your house without them? Not pictured because of space limitations are switch plates, clocks, ceiling fans, pool carpeting, wallpaper and light fi xtures. You could probably open a whole interior design business based entirely on billiard décor. Some people, including me, festoon their residences with billiard art. What homeowner wouldn’t want the sculpture of Fig. 12, or the striking hors d’oeuvre plate of Fig. 13? Billiard clothing is another topic you probably don’t want to read a whole article about, so I’ll condense it into a few sentences. Just about everything that’s wearable has been printed or embroidered with pool images, including unmentionables and certainly things we
Fig. 6: Catalano based his cover image on this old Babe Ruth photo.
(Clockwise from right) Fig. 7: This Russian collection includes three separate forms of pool. Fig. 8: The man at the rear looks like Paul Newman in this Japanese game. Fig. 9: “Billiard Club” from Germany offers many different pool games. Fig. 10: 3D makes this Dutch game “ultra-realistic.”
January 2010
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12/16/09 11:19:52 AM
CHRONICLES
Fig. 12: This was at wine lady.com.
Fig. 11: Knobs for 16 doors. Fig. 14: On sale at www. webundies. com.
Fig. 15: Knit one, pool two.
won’t show you in a family publication. If you want to erase all doubt about what your favorite pastime is, both men and women can wear the pants in Fig. 14.
Fig. 13: This appetizer plate’s beautiful and eerie.
Fig. 16: A pug’s sweater.
If ready-made clothing seems too impersonal, you can knit your own with the kit in Fig. 15. While other aunts are busy making baby booties, you can
be preparing for your granddaughter’s teenage years. The garment in Fig. 16 is a mystery. It’s tough to imagine what part of the body it might fit or what legitimate use it might have. The explanation? It’s a dog sweater specifically designed for pugs. Couldn’t you tell? Who would put a pool sweater on a dog? Lots of folks, it turns out. People have been amused at the idea of animals playing billiards for a long time. Apes were a particularly popular subject, going back at least to the 1871 Currier & Ives lithograph in Fig. 17. It’s a very rare large folio print, of which very few have survived. I estimate that one changes hands every 20 years or so, but stay on the lookout. Notice how the shooter is careful to keep one toe on the floor in spite of the fact that his tail is being pulled. While tail-pulling rarely happens to humans, it would constitute “Outside Interference” under World Standardized Rule 1.9, so I don’t advise it. The fascination with simians
Fig. 15: Xxx xx.
Fig. 17: The shooter remains focused, despite the tail-pulling shark, in this scene that looks like it was cut from “Planet of the Apes.”
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January 2010
12/16/09 11:20:02 AM
JORDAN ON FLICKR
Fig. 19: A frog mistakes a cue for twig.
Fig. 18: This photo parodies standard tournament portraits.
Fig. 20: A puzzle titled “Minnesota Cats.” BILLIARDPHOTOS ON FLICKR
JOAO PAULO MELO
Fig. 22: Xxx xx.
Fig. 21 (left to right): Try touring in this tinted Turkish table truck; Fig. 23: “Downhill Racer” meets “The Hustler”; Fig. 23: Oh, the vanity!
continues to this day, as you can see from the tournament shot in Fig. 18. If you still have doubts about the Theory of Evolution, notice how human-like the monkeys’ bridge hands are. One of them is even wearing a watch. Opposable thumbs are quite useful in pool shooting. Continuing with the animal theme, we may not know how many angels fit on the head of a pin, but it’s pretty clear how many frogs fit on a ferrule (Fig. 19). This is an example of a one-of-a-kind photo whose existence you couldn’t predict. The frog probably won’t stay on the cue stick very long, particularly after a break shot. For something more permanent, I recommend the jigsaw puzzle of Fig. 20. It’s even possible to play while you’re moving. Vehicles are easy to decorate because they have large side panels. There’s not much doubt
about the function of the truck in Fig. 21. It’s owned by a company in Turkey, a country loaded with billiard players and fans. The go-cart in Fig. 22 seems to be adapted for use both while parked and on the road. The right license plate in Fig. 23 completes your image as the total fan. Motorcycles can be a problem because there not much surface area to paint. What happens when you take to the road in your Harley and want to let people know about your favorite game? The helmet in Fig. 24 tells the whole story and is ready for use in case World War II suddenly breaks out again. This item just reinforces my opinion that every product on Earth has at one time or another been made into an 8 ball. I don’t know whether there are more billiard items available today than there were in the 1930s (the height of
Fig. 24: Everything on Earth has been made into an 8-ball.
the game in the U.S.), but it’s certainly easier to find them now because of the Internet. Even if you don’t have a lot of room or budget for collecting, you can find photos of almost everything in this article if you spend some time with Google image search. Mike Shamos is curator of The Billiard Archive, a non-profit foundation set up to preserve billiard history.
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TOURNAMENTS
STILL THE MAN TO BEAT
Archer conquers Seminole Pro Tour finale; 16-year-old Liu tops Women’s Worlds.
JOSUE LOPEZ
Steve Mizerak Championship Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Nov. 12-14; Hollywood, Fla.
NOT THAT a player like Johnny Archer needs more motivation, but the 41-yearold Georgian found some in the unlikeliest of places: the BCA Hall of Fame. Inducted as a no-doubt selection in his first year on the ballot, Archer made no secret that he was focused on avoiding a post-induction slump — one that may be borne of the contentment that accompanies a trip into the sport’s most hallowed of places. Just weeks after his induction, Archer did plenty to prove he isn’t done competing and winning at the higest levels. At the Steve Mizerak Championship — the season finale for the Florida-based Seminole Pro Tour — the Scorpion went unbeaten through a talented 67-player field for one of two wins in the back half of November. (Archer also won the UPL 10-Ball Invitational, see pg. 34.) Held alongside the WPBA’s Tour Championship, the Steve Mizerak Championship attracted many of the country’s best with a $15,000 first-place prize, putting it among a small handful of events with payoffs on the north side of five figures. Archer cruised through his first three matches in the 10-ball event to face Rafael Martinez in the quarterfinal round. He edged the longtime pro, 8-4, while Rodney Morris sent Earl Strickland to the left by an identical score. Archer then strung together four racks — no easy feat in 10-ball — to breeze past Morris, 8-5, and into the hot-seat match. On the bottom half of the bracket, Shane Van Boening outlasted Donny Mills, surprise third-place finisher at the 2009 U.S. Open, 8-6. But in the winners-side semifinal, John Schmidt ousted Van Boening by the same score. In the hot-seat match, Archer was absolutely flawless, racing past Schmidt
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Archer orchestrated a late two-game run in the final of the Mizerak Championship.
to take his spot in the final by a count of 8-1. Schmidt couldn’t recover in the left-side final against Morris, falling to “The Rocket” by an 8-6 score. In the single-set final, both players had trouble finding success on the break, as they split the first 10 racks, 5-5. Archer then broke and ran for the lead, but promptly scratched on his next break allowing Morris to tie the set. Winning a safety battle to inch ahead, 7-6, Archer broke and ran the next rack to get on the hill, 8-6. Needing to take three straight games, Morris got a chance at the table with
Archer just a 10 ball from victory, but the Hawaiian couldn’t get out to close within a game. Morris scratched late in the 15th rack, and Archer cleaned up the final few balls to take his first title on the Seminole Pro Tour.
SHASHA SHOCKING! LIU WINS WORLD TITLE Women’s World 9-Ball Championship Sunrise International Hotel Nov. 19-22; Shenyang, China
THE WOMEN’S World 9-Ball Championship, held in Shenyang, China,
January 2010
12/18/09 10:51:07 AM
WPBA RANKINGS
TOTAL POINTS
WPBA TOUR PACIFIC COAST CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIC
COLORADO CLASSIC
WPBA U.S. OPEN
GREAT LAKES CLASSIC
SAN DIEGO CLASSIC
HOLLYWOOD, FLA. Nov. 2009 $98,000
LINCOLN CITY, ORE. Oct. 2009 $89,100
IGNACIO, COLO. Sept. 2009 $89,100
NORMAN, OKLA. Aug. 2009 $98,000
MICHIGAN CITY, IND. June 2009 $89,100
ALPINE, CALIF. April 2009 $89,100
1 (7500)
5 (3250)
2 (4000)
$42,950
TOTAL MONEY 2009
1
Ga Young Kim
26500
9 (3750)
5 (3000)
1 (5000)
2
Jasmin Ouschan
26000
1 (7500)
1 (5000)
9 (2750)
9 (3750)
1 (5000)
17 (2000)
$45,400
3
Xiaoting Pan
25875
2 (6375)
2 (4250)
3 (3750)
5 (4500)
3 (3750)
5 (3250)
$35,300
4
Karen Corr
23750
5 (4875)
3 (3750)
9 (2750)
2 (6375)
3 (3500)
9 (2500)
$25,900
5
Kelly Fisher
23375
3 (5625)
9 (2750)
2 (4000)
9 (3750)
2 (4250)
5 (3000)
$28,600
6
Allison Fisher
23000
5 (4875)
3 (3750)
9 (2750)
3 (5625)
5 (3250)
9 (2750)
$20,900
7
Vivian Villarreal
20750
5 (4875)
9 (2500)
5 (3250)
5 (4875)
5 (3250)
17 (2000)
$15,750
8
Gerda Hofstatter
19875
17 (3000)
5 (3250)
17 (2000)
3 (5625)
9 (2500)
3 (3500)
$18,950
9
Jeanette Lee
19125
3 (5250)
-
3 (3500)
9 (4125)
9 (2500)
3 (3750)
$20,200
10
Monica Webb
18375
17 (3000)
25 (1500)
17 (2000)
5 (4875)
17 (2000)
1 (5000)
$21,550
11
Kim Shaw
16500
17 (3000)
9 (2500)
5 (3000)
17 (3000)
9 (2500)
9 (2500)
$12,550
12
Line Kjorsvik
16250
9 (3750)
5 (3250)
25 (1500)
9 (3750)
17 (2000)
17 (2000)
$11,750
13
Tracie Hines
15875
5 (4875)
33 (750)
9 (2500)
9 (3750)
9 (2500)
25 (1500)
$11,200
14
Helena Thornfeldt
14500
33 (1125)
17 (2000)
17 (2000)
5 (4875)
17 (2000)
9 (2500)
$10,300
Yu Ram Cha
14500
-
17 (2000)
5 (3000)
17 (3000)
5 (3250)
5 (3250)
$12,200
16 Kyoko Sone
13725
9 (4125)
25 (1500)
9 (2750)
9 (3750)
25 (1500)
49 (100)
$8,850
9 (2750)
25 (2250)
25 (1500)
5 (3250)
$9,275
17
Sarah Rousey
12400
49 (150)
9 (2500)
18
Iris Ranola
12250
25 (2250)
9 (2750)
33 (750)
17 (3000)
33 (750)
9 (2750)
$8,125
19
Kim White
11500
25 (2250)
33 (750)
17 (2000)
9 (3750)
33 (750)
17 (2000)
$7,675
20
Melissa Little
11150
9 (3750)
17 (2000)
9 (2500)
49 (150)
17 (2000)
33 (750)
$8,000
The 2009 Classic Tour has ended. WPBA Ranking Points reflect a season-long cycle.
MICHAEL NEUMANN
boasted a field loaded with homegrown talent. Fifteen Chinese women filled the 64-player bracket, though outside of 2007 world champion Xiaoting Pan, few of the hopefuls could have been considered likely to take down the title. But unheralded Liu Shasha, a 16-yearold from Henan, a few hundred miles southwest of Beijing, proved to be unstoppable en route to becoming the youngest 9-ball world champion in the history of the discipline. Playing pool for just four years, Liu not only won the event, but she did so by ousting many of the legendary names in the field. In the group stages — where the 64 players were divided into groups of eight, with four players advancing through double-elimination brackets — Liu trounced Japan’s Yukiki Oui, 7-1, before she faced two-time world champ Ga Young Kim. In one of the more surprising results from the group stages, Liu edged Kim to advance unbeaten into the knockout phase. (Kim, mean-
while, managed to China boasted advance through three of the four the one-loss side.) semifinalists, From there, Liu with Karen Corr edged Tamara edging Zhou Rademakers, Doudou, 9-3, to 9-4, and Chen keep the hosts Si-Ming, 9-7, to from dominating reach the quarterthe semifinals. final round. FacCorr then edged ing Shin-Mei Liu, Fu Xiaofang in the perhaps Asia’s first semifinal, 9greatest female 8, while Liu faced player of all time, China’s unquesthe teenage phetioned princess nom absolutely of pool, Xiaoting dismantled TaiPan. In another wan’s best, posthill-hill affair, Liu ing a 9-1 victory edged Pan for a to advance to the spot in her first semifinal. world championWhile the sin- Liu thrived in her first world championship. ship final. gle- el i m i n at ion From the start of bracket narrowed to just four remainthe race-to-9 final, Corr looked to be in ing players, the Chinese women contincomplete control. While Corr has been ued to be the story of the tournament. in such situations before her opponent January 2010
Jan10 Tourneys.indd 57
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57
12/18/09 10:51:15 AM
POWER INDEX BD
PREDATOR 10-BALL
TOTAL POINTS
WORLD POOL CHMPS.
PREDATOR INT’L 10-BALL
WORLD 10-BALL CHAMPS.
NOVEMBER 2007 TOURNAMENT FACTOR: 1.27 PLACE (POINTS)
MAY 2008 TOURNAMENT FACTOR: 1.10 PLACE (POINTS)
OCTOBER 2008 TOURNAMENT FACTOR: 1.20 PLACE (POINTS)
Mika Immonen
945
17 (35)
13 (48)
5 (83)
17 (39)
5 (78)
2
Shane Van Boening
671
1 (141)
1 (168)
17 (41)
5 (72)
9 (54)
3
Ralf Souquet
609
9 (45)
4 (96)
17 (41)
33 (28)
9 (54)
4
Warren Kiamco
543
5 (66)
13 (48)
-
65 (17)
-
5
Lee Vann Corteza
526
17 (35)
33 (30)
33 (29)
5 (72)
-
6
Franc. Bustamante
455
5 (66)
25 (36)
5 (83)
2 (132)
-
7
Daryl Peach
455
-
49 (24)
1 (178)
9 (50)
17 (42)
8
Darren Appleton
445
9 (45)
-
-
9 (50)
1 (168)
9
Johnny Archer
432
-
13 (48)
65 (19)
25 (33)
65 (15)
10
Niels Feijen
432
9 (45)
9 (60)
9 (57)
9 (50)
3 (120)
11
Dennis Orcollo
430
3 (91)
7 (72)
33 (29)
-
-
12
Corey Deuel
425
-
7 (72)
9 (57)
49 (22)
33 (27)
13
Alex Pagulayan
404
3 (91)
49 (24)
9 (57)
5 (72)
-
14
Ronnie Alcano
394
-
2 (144)
33 (29)
-
-
15
Charlie Williams
379
25 (30)
97 (0)
33 (29)
17 (39)
5 (78)
16
Rodney Morris
321
-
25 (36)
65 (19)
33 (28)
-
17
Stevie Moore
316
5 (66)
49 (24)
-
65 (17)
33 (27)
18
Ramil Gallego
314
-
5 (84)
33 (29)
17 (39)
-
19
Karl Boyes
313
-
-
3 (114)
25 (33)
-
20
Marcus Chamat
306
49 (20)
25 (36)
33 (29)
3 (99)
17 (42)
21
Imran Majid
285
-
-
33 (29)
33 (28)
33 (27)
22
Raj Hundal
277
9 (45)
25 (36)
33 (29)
9 (50)
65 (15)
23
Thorsten Hohmann
263
49 (20)
33 (30)
97 (0)
25 (33)
65 (15)
24
Tony Drago
258
-
-
17 (41)
1 (154)
33 (27)
WPA World Three-Cushion Championship Beaulieu Exhibition Centre Nov. 11-15; Lausanne, Switzerland
THE 2009 World Three-Cushion Championship produced some upsets and surprises, but when the final point was made, it crowned a very deserving new champion in the end. From Nov. 11-15 in Lausanne, Switzerland, 48 players from 22 countries met to contest the 62nd world championship in three-cushion billiards. The event was also a celebration of the centenaries of both the Lausanne Billiard BILLIARDS DIGEST
Club and the Swiss Billiard Federation. The field included defending champion Marco Zanetti (Italy) and the 20 top-ranked players, and was filled out by 24 players selected in continental competition, two wild cards from the Swiss Federation and one wild card from the world three-cushion organization, the Union Mondiale de Billard. The 16 preliminary groups were mini-round robins of three players. All matches were best-of-5 sets, each to 15 points. Sung-Won Choi (Ko- Kasidokostas won Greece’s first world three-cushion title. rea) was the hard luck him. story in the prelims, as he had a solid 1.586 average, but was in a group U.S. entries Pedro Piedrabuena and with former champion Daniel Sanchez Hugo Patiño failed to advance. They had (Spain) who put a 2.240 average on qualified for the World Championships
JP PARMENTIER
KASIDOKOSTAS RALLIES FOR SURPISE WORLD TITLE
Jan10 Tourneys.indd 58
OCTOBER 2007 TOURNAMENT FACTOR: 1.20 PLACE (POINTS)
1
could even make a bridge, Liu appeared unsettled early on. Corr raced to a 5-1 lead, before missing a backward cut on the 6 ball. Liu cleaned up that games, then broke and ran five consecutive racks to claim a 7-5 lead. Winning a safety battle to get on the hill, 8-5, Liu then buried four balls on the break to set up an easy out to cap an unbelievable run to the world title.
58
MAY 2007 FACTOR: 1.01 PLACE (POINTS)
U.S. OPEN 9-BALL
January 2010
12/18/09 10:51:22 AM
PREDATOR INT’L 10-BALL
GALVESTON WORLD 10-BALL
MAY 2009 TOURNAMENT FACTOR: 1.10 PLACE (POINTS)
SEPTEMBER 2009 TOURNAMENT FACTOR: 1.01 PLACE (POINTS)
1 (160)
17 (36)
1 (141)
1 (157)
1 (168)
17 (40)
33 (28)
5 (71)
9 (56)
97 (0) 17 (39)
U.S. OPEN 9-BALL OCTOBER 2008 TOURNAMENT FACTOR: 1.14 PLACE (POINTS)
U.S. OPEN 9-BALL OCTOBER 2009 TOURNAMENT FACTOR: 1.12 PLACE (POINTS)
WORLD 10-BALL CHAMPS. OCTOBER 2009 TOURNAMENT FACTOR: 1.2 PLACE (POINTS)
17 (40)
2 (132)
-
2 (134)
3 (103)
3 (99)
2 (121)
-
5 (78)
7 (68)
33 (28)
25 (30)
4 (90)
2 (144)
9 (51)
-
4 (80)
-
-
9 (51)
17 (36)
-
65 (17)
9 (54)
25 (34)
17 (36)
-
25 (34)
5 (78)
4 (91)
5 (72)
5 (71)
9 (56)
33 (27)
65 (17)
49 (22)
-
25 (34)
33 (27)
-
1 (154)
25 (30)
-
9 (54)
5 (74)
9 (50)
9 (51)
17 (39)
33 (27)
-
3 (99)
7 (61)
-
-
2 (137)
-
13 (40)
65 (17)
33 (27)
25 (34)
5 (72)
33 (25)
13 (45)
33 (27)
5 (74)
9 (50)
25 (30)
5 (78)
-
33 (29)
17 (36)
17 (35)
7 (67)
65 (15)
25 (34)
33 (28)
9 (51)
25 (34)
65 (15)
-
5 (72)
-
7 (67)
33 (27)
33 (29)
-
-
97 (0)
9 (54) 17 (39)
25 (34)
5 (72)
-
9 (56)
17 (40)
49 (22)
13 (40)
129 (0)
-
7 (68)
17 (36)
-
49 (22)
17 (39)
-
17 (36)
-
-
-
in August at the Pan-American Championships in Argentina with first- and sixth- place finishes, respectively. The tournament then transitioned to single elimination, and the round of 16 produced two major upsets. Dick Jaspers (Netherlands), ranked No. 1 going into the tournament, lost to Tayfun Tasdemir (Turkey), 3-1. Sanchez lost in straight sets to wild-card entry Eddy Leppens (Belgium), as the underdog scored his 45 points in only 18 innings (2.500). Also in the first round of the knockout phase, Filippos Kasidokostas (Greece) had a scare as Kyung-Roul Kim (Korea) ran 10 from the break in the first set. The Greek, a former junior world champion, then played the best game of the championship to win, 3-1, with a blistering 3.058 average including a run of 13. The round of eight saw two more giants fall as Kasidokostas beat Torbjörn Blomdahl (Sweden) in five sets and Zanetti beat Frédéric Caudron (Belgium) in five sets. Both matches demonstrated a quirk of set play as both
winners had lower averages than the losers in their matches. Blomdahl was eliminated with a 2.076 average while Caudron was out with a 1.878. Four Belgians advanced to the quarterfinals, with Merckx and Leppens moving into the semifinal round. In one semifinal Eddy Merckx (Belgium), who was champion in 2006, outlasted Zanetti in a five-set match, while Kasidokostas beat Leppens in straight sets in the other semifinal. Both winners were lucky to get through with averages around 1.400, which usually doesn’t win in the later rounds of three-cushion turnament these days. The finalists stepped up a level for the championship match, though, as Kasidokostas scored a 2.667 average to Merckx’s 1.950 for a championship-clinching 3-1 win. This is the first time that Greece has claimed the three-cushion crown, and Kasidokostas did it in style with the best match, the best general average (1.869) and a tie for high run (13).
TOP
Finishers
WORLD 10-BALL CHAMPS. Manila, Philippines. + Nov. 23-30 1. Mika Immonen $60,000 2. Lee Vann Corteza $30,000 3. (tie) Antonio Lining, David Alcaide $15,000 5. (tie) Ruslan Chinakhov, Warren Kiamco, Li Hi-Wen, Darren Appleton $7,500 9. (tie) Daryl Peach, Jomar De Ocampo, Elvis Calasang, Nick van den Berg, Thomas Engert, Wang Ming, Marcus Chamat, Dennis Orcollo $4,000
WOMEN’S WORLD 9-BALL Shenyang, China + Sept. 12-13 1. Liu Shasha $30,000 2. Karen Corr $15,000 3. Xiaoting Pan $10,00 4. Fu Xiaofang $7,000 5. (tie) Shin-Mei Liu, Yu Ram Cha, Xue Chen, Zhou Doudou $5,000 9. (tie) Allison Fisher, Gerda Hofstatter, Chou Cheih-Yu, Tsai Pei-Chun, Chen Shi-Meng, Han Fang, Gao Meng, Gao Shu-Pin $3,000
WPBA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP Hollywood, Fla. + Nov. 11-15 1. Jasmin Ouschan $14,100 2. Xiaoting Pan $8,500 3. (tie) Kelly Fisher, Jeanette Lee $5,600 5. (tie) Vivian Villarreal, Tracie Hines, Allison Fisher, Karen Corr $3,100
UPL 10-BALL INVITATIONAL Palm Harbor, Fla. + Nov. 18-22 1. Johnny Archer $8,000 2. Corey Deuel $5,500 3. (tie) John Schmidt, Mike Dechaine $3,650 5. Rodney Morris $3,000
STEVE MIZERAK CHAMP. Hollywood, Fla. + Nov. 12-14 1. Johnny Archer $15,000 2. Rodney Morris $10,000 3. John Schmidt $7,000 4. Shane Van Boening $5,600 5. (tie) Rafael Martinez, Corey Deuel $3,500
WORLD 3C CHAMPIONSHIP Lausanne, Switzerland. + Nov. 11-15 1. Filippos Kasidokostas $7,117 2. Eddie Merckx $4,745 3. (tie) Eddy Leppens, Marco Zanetti $2,373
— Bob Jewett
January 2010
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12/18/09 10:51:29 AM
BD’S MONTHLY WRAP OF REGIONAL TOUR ACTION
Strickland Soars AT THE last stop of the year on the Texas-based OB Cues Ladies 9-Ball Tour, 49 women hoped to finish the 2009 season with a bang. In the hot-seat match, Amanda Lampert faced hot-shooting Orietta Strickland. At first, Lampert looked poised to take her spot in the final, working her way to a 5-3 lead. Strickland, though, rattled off the next four racks to win the set, advancing to her first OB Cues Tour final of the year. Lampert bounced back in the thirdplace match, soundly beating Tara Williams, 7-1. But in the final, Strickland kept her hot hand, racing to a 7-1 titleclinching victory, her first tour victory of the year. Despite finishing in 13th in the season finale, Lisa Marr captured her second consecutive Player of the Year award, edging Lampert by a healthy margin in total points.
OB Cues Women’s 9-Ball Legends Billiards Nov. 21-22 + League City, Texas 1st: Orietta Strickland $750 2nd: Amanda Lampert $560 3rd: Tara Williams $405 4th: Julie Comitini $270
Lone Star: Bryant Wins Sixth Title Lone Star Billiards Tour Bogie’s Billiards Dec. 12-13 + Houston, Texas 1st: Charlie Bryant $860 2nd: Andy Jethwa $560 3rd: Mike Alonzo $390 4th: Sylver Ochoa $300
Star Tour’s No. 2-ranked player, Sylver Ochoa, and Mike Alonzo, 9-7, to take his spot in the hot-seat. But Bryant was still at work Bryant won a two-set final to take the LSBT finale. on the one-loss side, coasting THE END of the Lone Star Billiards past Jim Henry, 7-1. He then eked out Tour’s 2009 season was only fitting, a pair of hill-hill matches against James with Charlie Bryant, far and away the Davis and Jason Bacon, before matchpoints champion in the Texas circuit’s ing up with Ochoa. Bryant overpowered first year, taking home his sixth title out the highly regarded Texan, 7-1, and then of 10 total stops. stomped Alonzo by the same score to But at the season finale — held Dec. earn a spot in the final and a second 12-13 at Bogie’s Billiards in Bryant’s shot at Jethwa. backyard of Houston — the “Hillbilly” In the true double-elimination final, didn’t have that easy of a time at the Jethwa couldn’t keep up with Bryant in $1,200-added event. After stringing the first set, 9-6. The second match, together a trio of victories, Bryant was this time reduced to a race to 7, was a bounced to the one-loss side by Andy rerun of the first, with Bryant coasting to Jethwa by a surprisingly one-sided score a 7-4 lead for the $860 first prize. Along of 9-4. with finishing the year with a victory, BryJethwa continued to roll through the ant also earned free entry into the 2010 75-player bracket, ousting the Lone Derby City Classic.
Belanger Tops Ashton at CWPT Season Finale ANNE CRAIG-WPBA
way to the VIP Snooker Club in Scarborough, Ontario. Denise Belanger played flawlessly on her way through the winners bracket. Ranked 37th on the WPBA Classic Tour, Belanger easily topped Hanna Kwon, 8-2, before blanking Leanne Amable, 8-0, in the hotseat match. On the one-loss side, Joanne Ashton, ranked directly behind Belanger on the Classic Tour, caught her stride after an early loss to Kwon. Ashton squeaked Belanger outlasted the field in the season finale. past Kwon in a hill-hill rematch. AT THE last stop of the year on the She then trounced Grace Nakamura, 8Canadian Women’s Pool Tour, Brittany 1, in the fourth-place match to meet AmBryant and Naomi Williams, the top two able in the left-side final. ranked players, were off chasing internaWhile Amable has developed into a tional glory at the Women’s World 9-Ball threat to upset the standing powers on Championship. But lucky for the CWPT, the CWPT, she couldn’t keep pace with plenty of talented players found their Ashton, who coasted to an 8-3 win for a
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Canadian Women’s Tour VIP Snooker Club Nov. 21 + Scarborough, Ontario 1st: Denise Belanger $680 2nd: Joanne Ashton $420 3rd: Leanne Amable $250 4th: Grace Nakamura $170
spot opposite Belanger in the true double-elimination final. After dropping seven of the first eight games to let Belanger on the hill, one rack from the title, Ashton sprinted back to take the first set, 8-7, with an absolutely stunning comeback. But as the two WPBA exempt pros battled in the second set, Belanger pulled ahead to a 6-3 lead with control of the table. After a 16-hour day at the table, Ashton conceded the match, giving Belanger her first CWPT title of the year.
January 2010
12/16/09 11:20:55 AM
REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Leyman’s Tri-State Tour Rolls into New Year
first four events he entered and began a three-year reign in 1991 as the tour’s Player of the Year. “I thought it was a fluke,” he said of that first win, “but the next thing you know, I won it again. I remember asking myself if it was possible for someone to get lucky twice. “The Tri-State helped me solidify the confidence level that I needed to become a top player, and that first win? I’ll never forget it.” Eventually, the magazine and tour were sold, and the tour went its separate way under the leadership of Dave Pontbriand in the mid-’90s. During this time, Paul Hampl, who was running the tri-state portion of the tour for Pontbriand, asked John Leyman, the tour’s current co-director, to help him run a few of the Leyman has headed the Tri-State for 15 years. region’s events. Leyman, in turn, brought Todd Fleitman, now also POOL TOURS come and go. Their life co-directing the tour, on board (more cycles are generally as unpredictable as recently, Leyman and Fleitman have the popularity of pool itself. For almost been joined by Bill Focaccia). The tour a quarter of a century though, as the continued along this path until 1995, sport has struggled with varying degrees when Hampl abruptly disappeared from of popular and commercial support, the the tour. Leyman took over and what was New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania known simply as “The Tri-State” continTri-State Tour has been, and continues ued. to be, a model of consistency. Differences between Pontbriand and Launched in the late 1980s, the tour his tour directors led to the tour’s diswas an outgrowth of “All About Pool” solution in the late ’90s, so Leyman and magazine, created by Dawn Hopkins, Fleitman sat down to discuss the notion then the wife of BCA Hall of Famer Allen of just continuing what they’d been doHopkins, who became an early, frequent ing all along. They officially changed the competitor. name to the Tri-State Tour, though nei“It was sort of an incentive for a room ther of them has a specific recollection to hold an event,” said Hopkins. “I was of doing so. playing a lot of pool back then and it was “There was never really any transitional like today, if you had Johnny Archer come point,” said Leyman. “No spot where we to your room, it’d be a draw.” sat down and said ‘OK, this is now offi Tony Robles, who now runs the Predacially the Tri-State Tour.’ We just basically tor 9-Ball Tour in the same region, recalls kept doing what we’d been doing.” being in the first event of that All About Fleitman, who at one time held aspiraPool Tour. He went on to win three of the tions of playing professionally, saw the
tour as more than just a showcase for top talent in the sport. For him, it was all about developing players. “It started as a way to provide some kind of level format for people to compete more fairly and develop as players in the sport,” said Fleitman, “as opposed to the old method, where they either went into open tournaments and got torn to pieces or they had to match up with people and gamble and get unfair games.” The Tri-State Tour’s current schedule — played out over 51 weeks from mid-July of one year to late June of the next, with an invitational tournament in between — reflects that developmental philosophy. Where the Tri-State Tour once featured regular open and pro tournaments, it is now almost exclusively a handicapped series of events. At the same time, its few pro events do continue to attract top names, like Mika Immonen, who defeated George SanSouci at the Tri-State stop in March 2009. Its continued success is not just about its regular schedule, though. It’s also about the consistency of its format. “There are no differences in anything,” said Leyman. “If you show up at a B/C/ D event one week and then show up at a B/C/D event two months later, everything’s the same; the payouts are basically the same.” While it was not the only game in town when it got started back in the late ’80s, the Tri-State emerged as a survivor, and a breeding ground for a long list of players who survived. “There were other tours out there going around at the time, but not in the tri-state area,” said Hopkins. “In other areas, there were some tournaments going on, not so much tours, but [the TriState] was one of the first that got going in this area and it helped pool a lot.” — Skip Maloney
Abbink on Fire at Sunshine State Championship RANKED NO. 23 on the WPBA Classic Tour, Megan Smith entered the Florida State Women’s Championship as the prohibitive favorite. And early in the 24player event, she looked like the woman to beat, trouncing her first three opponents by a combined 21-5 count. But matching Smith’s hot start, Rachel Abbink cruised through the winners side, edging Smith in a 7-6 thriller for a spot
in the hot-seat match. Facing Niki Rasmussen, the Canadian continued to roll, posting a 7-0 shutout for a spot in the final. On the left side, Vanessa Seaver eliminated Smith in fourth place to meet Rasmussen in the left-side final. Rasmussen posted a 5-2 win over Seaver. But in the final, she couldn’t keep pace with Abbink, who posted a 7-2 win.
Fla. Women’s Champ. Capone’s Billiards Dec. 5 + Spring Hill, Fla. 1st: Rachel Abbink $750 2nd: Niki Rasmussen $575 3rd: Vanessa Seaver $425 4th: Megan Smith $200
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BILLIARDS DIGEST
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TOUR RANKINGS (AS OF 12/3/09) Bay Area Amateur Tour
WEB: www.flamingobilliards
AREA: Tampa Bay, Fla. TOUR DIRECTOR:
tour.com 1. Michell Monk 640 2. Jeannie Seaver 530 3. Helen Caukin 480 4. Stephanie Mitchell 450 5. Sabra MacArthur Beahn 395 6. Niki Rasmussen 290 7. Christine Nevins 240 8. Christie Cloke 225 9. Mimi McAndrews 210 10. Amy Poutler 200
Stephanie Mitchell WEB: www.baattour.com
1. Michell Monk 1,315 2. Stephanie Mitchell 1,000 3. Melissa Morlan 990 4. Sabra MacArthur Beahn 810 5. Bettina Chase 730 6. Jamie Toennies 705 7. Niki Rasmussen 670 8. Stacey Lantz 580 9. Lisa Parsons 530 10. Barbara Ellis 450
Jacoby Carolina Tour AREA: N.C. TOUR DIRECTOR: Doug Ennis CONTACT: admin@rockcity
Desert Classic Tour AREA: Ariz. TOUR DIRECTOR: Dennis Orender CONTACT:
info@desertclassictour.com WEB: www.desertclassictour.com 1. Gus Briseno 935 2. Mitch Ellerman 685 3. Dennis Orender 590 4. George Teyechea 540 5. Scott Frost 515 6. Pete Lhotka 470 7. Mike Pankof 445 7. Brett Huth 445 9. Paul Grande 415 10. Ronn Rutan 325
promotions.com 1. Chris Vollmar 13,290 2. Keith Bennett 10,170 3. Sidney Champion 9,930 4. Sam Monday 8,490 5. Mike Davis 8,340 6. Michael Fuller 8,010 7. Arnold Hamlett 7,260 8. Willie Simpson 6,720 9. Tony Morrison 6,420 10. Cary Dunn 6,180
JPNEWT AREA: N.Y., N.J. TOUR DIRECTOR: Linda Shea
Peach jumped into the EuroTour’s Top 10 with a win in Portugal.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 9.
Julio Del Pozo 230 Chip Dickerson 225 Danny Sheldon 205 Bill Stoll 200 Eddie Wheat 190 Jimmy Sandaler 170 George Saunders 165 Jimmy Bird 160 Wesley White 160
OPEN DIVISION
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 5. 7. 7. 9. 9.
Mike Davis 300 Tony Crosby 210 Butch Croft 190 Richard Broumpton 175 Dan Lavoie 160 Justin Hall 160 Bobby Livrago 140 Richie Richeson 140 Eddie Wheat 130 George Red 130
Lone Star Billiards Tour AREA: Texas TOUR DIRECTOR: Kim White CONTACT: info@lonestarbilliards
tour.com 1. Charlie Bryant 1,700 2. Sylver Ochoa 725 3. Dennis Strickland 600 3. Lanny Herrin 575 5. Zaid Thweib 450 6. Bobby Pacheco 425 7. Nick Hood 350 7. Manuel Ayala 350 7. Jui Lung Chen 350 10. Sparky Ferrell 275
NWPA AREA: Wash., Ore.. DIRECTOR: Tamre Greene-Rogers WEB: www.nwpatour.com
1. Liz Cole 970 2. Cindy Sliva 820 3. Suzanne Smith 635 4. Carissa Biggs 440 5. Mikki Small 440 6. Suwanna Kroll 430 7. Shelby Locati 420 8. Tamara Rademakers 400 9. Eve Stockstill 395 10. Shari Ross 390
EuroTour
WEB: www.jpnewt.com
OB Cues Ladies 9-Ball
AREA: Europe TOUR DIRECTOR: Gre Leenders CONTACT: info@eurotour.nu WEB: www.eurotour.nu
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 7. 9. 9.
AREA: Texas, Okla. TOUR DIRECTOR: Melinda Bailey WEB: www.obcuestour.com
1. Ralf Souquet 2,700 2. Niels Feijen 2,560 3. Marcus Chamat 2,390 4. Imran Majid 2,375 5. Daryl Peach 2,105 6. Mateusz Sniegocki 2,060 7. David Alcaide 2,010 8. Darren Appleton 1,985 9. Mark Gray 1,980 10. Oliver Ortmann 1,960
Flamingo Billiards Tour AREA: Fla. DIRECTOR: Mimi McAndrews
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Pamela Cimarelli 600 Megan Smith 465 My-Hanh Lac 455 Karen Corr 400 Briana Miller 370 Linda Shea 285 Julie Kelly 260 Rhio Anne Flores 260 Borana Andoni 250 Emily Duddy 250
KF Cues 9-Ball Tour AREA: Fla. TOUR DIRECTOR: Natalie Crosby CONTACT: natalie@strokeitwear.com WEB: www.kfcuetour.com AMATEUR DIVISION
1. Mike Delawder 455
1. Lisa Marr 975 2. Amanda Lampert 890 3. Tara Williams 675 4. Orietta Strickland 620 5. Lisa Henderson-Major 525 6. Kyu Yi 420 7. Julie Comitini 410 8. Ashley Nandrasy 400 9. Melinda Bailey 365 10. Michelle Cortez 360
Predator 9-Ball Tour AREA: N.Y., N.J., Conn. TOUR DIRECTOR: Tony Robles WEB: www.predator9balltour.com
1. Tony Robles 990 2. George SanSouci 760 3. Oscar Bonilla 750 4. Marc Vidal 690 5. Lionel Rivera 650 5. Sean Morgan 640 7. John Alicea 620 8. Jerry Tarantola 620 9. Mhet Vergara 590 10. Rene Villalobos 540
Seminole Pro Tour AREA: Fla., N.C., Ga., N.Y. TOUR DIRECTOR: Kevin Pickard WEB: www.seminolesports
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 9.
management.com Tony Crosby 510 Mike Davis 505 Stevie Moore 480 John DiToro 445 Corey Deuel 430 Ronnie Wiseman 300 Manny Chau 265 Justin Hall 245 Jose Calderon 230 Raymond Linares 230
Tri-State Tour AREA: N.Y., N.J., Conn. TOUR DIRECTOR: John Leyman CONTACT: jleyman@
thetristatetour.com WEB: www.thetristatetour.com A DIVISION
1. Daniel Cintron 860 2. John Alicea 570 3. Scott Simonetti 485 4. Mark Pantovick 425 5. Stewart Warnock 375 6. Beau Baer 360 7. Michael Wong 195 8. Corey Eulas 150 9. Adam Kosmin 135 9. Jerry Tarantola 135 WOMEN’S DIVISION
1. Rhio Anne Flores 650 2. Amy Triolo 320 3. Pamela Ogarek 295 4. Emily Duddy 275 5. Michele Li 260 6. Yomaylin Feliz 235 7. Jessica Cycak 190 8. Christine Liotti 160 9. Naomi Fingerhut 125 9. Borana Andoni 115
USBA AREA: United States TOUR DIRECTOR: Jim Shovak CONTACT: jimshovak@usba.net WEB: www.usba.net
1. Hugo Patino 479 2. Pedro Piedrabuena 364 3. Mazin Shooni 284 4. Miguel Torres 275 5. Sonny Cho 268 6. Michael Kang 266 7. Felipe Razon 189 8. Min Jae Pak 175 9. George Ashby 171 10. Young Gull Lee 152
January 2010
12/16/09 11:21:48 AM
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Tips & Shafts
George Fels
AVOCATIONS OT LONG ago, an Internet colleague (to use the term terribly loosely) published an agonizing rant because I had somehow forgotten that his mentor, Bob the Destroyer, was never quite the same one-pocket player again after Joey the Gigolo broke his jaw. If those names suggest a junior high-school production of “Guys and Dolls” (or “Family Guy,” for that matter), that is not the case; these were bona fide pool players in New York in the late ’50s, and a fairly broad consensus considered the Destroyer (real name Myers) to be even more accomplished at one-hole than the far better-known Jack “Jersey Red” Breit. Now I will readily confess to not giving a gnat’s fart in a typhoon about the specific timeline during which some imbecile got violent over a pool game. Indeed, I’d be astonished if the number of people who were concerned with such a dandy detail exceeded one. Still, what’s fair is fair, so here it is for posterity, once and for all: Joey the Gigolo was single-handedly responsible for Bob the Destroyer’s losing his mantle as New York’s finest. There, now. But I will also confess that the Gigolo, about whom I know absolutely nothing, did intrigue me briefly. He is assuredly not the first to raise a pool bankroll merely by redirecting his blood flow; knowing Chicago insiders will recall a corpulent cue maker who staked an earlier existence that way. But let’s assume that Joey came by his moniker legitimately. That would mean that his working hours would be pretty well dictated by the dalliance herself, so any other employment (except more of the same) would be out of the question. In those fleeting moments when the lady required space, she’d presumably pat him on the head (above the neck) and send him out to play, with his new toy of folding money. Whether Joey’s clientele ranged to include Park Avenue society matrons is not broadly known; a poolroom and its inhabitants would be approximately as welcome on Park as a synagogue would be in Pakistan. But imagine the good lady’s private musings if her liege ever announced that he might just need a new stick. Especially if he added that he was considering a source named Paradise. So how do pool players churn up a stake, except by waiting for deep-pocketed (and often naïve) backers? The two Brooklyns, Johnny (Ervolino) and Jimmy (Kassas), relied on an obsession with equine thoroughbreds; both men were known, in their New York hustling days, to regularly quit winning pool sessions because the track beckoned. Ervolino was a superb handicapper but a horrific money manager, and although he did make decent dough as a blackjack dealer in Vegas later in his life, he pretty much scuffled most of his days. Jimmy, by contrast, built his roll up to close to a mil, and then immediately invested that in a parlay with New York’s bustling diamond trade, where it increased manifold. Ervolino was considered world-class at 14.1, and the few who had ever seen Jimmy
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trot out his best swore he was just an eyelash underneath that, yet both men were trap artists in the poolroom. Jimmy customarily demanded handicaps from even the most ungainly of non-players, explaining later, “I love to see the larceny come out in people.” Ervolino carefully picked those exceedingly rare spots where he would show true speed, such as in situations where the backer would likely kill him if he did not. But neither man cared a fig for pool except as an access to racetrack betting tickets. The walking putrefaction who called himself Detroit Whitey sold his own kids to raise a roll, although it would be nice to think that was a one-time proposition, and it’s not unimaginable that he subsequently dumped the ensuing match anyway. Whitey was so vile that to merely use the male pronoun in creating any relevant sentence is to overpraise that male creature considerably. He was a wretched drunk who would dump even backers who had done him life-saving favors; he cheated; he sharked (including getting his German shepherd to growl on hand-command in the middle of an opponent’s backswing); and he stiffed any and all debts shamelessly. That this revolting mound of human flesh was extremely skilled at pool — no one has ever claimed to best his record of 10 consecutive racks of 10-ball, achieved in a six-handed $50 ring game yet — is the sort of black eye from which the game may or may not ever recover. It’s an old story just making the rounds now, but the late “St. Louis Louie” Roberts once funded himself by pawning the same cue to multiple investors in the manner of “The Producers,” only sans “Springtime for Hitler.” Instead of that tender ditty, the investors were treated to yet another exhibition of Louie’s God-awful game-making skills. Lou, managing to hold on to the stick for the match, gave away the mortal nuts yet again and predictably got drowned. As the backers closed in simultaneously to claim the cue and recoup their losses, Louie, no fool he, simply demolished it as though in anger. Only at that point did the investors learn the identity of their hitherto-silent partners, but what could they do? After all, where exactly was the crime? Nobody in that ring of all-world schmucks had lost any more than anyone else. Players who raise a pool stake through honest labor? You’ll find more white rhinos in Texas. But what you’ll also find in Texas is perhaps the great gentleman gambler Billy Incardona, who, apart from his sports betting and stellar video commentary, has landed financially on his feet more times than the entire acrobatic troupe of Cirque Du Soleil. Long may he cash. They’re some cunning rascals when they need dough, those pool players. For all anyone knows, the same diligence and creativity applied to less frivolous causes could probably have cured dread disease and achieved world peace by now. But then, after all, they are pool players.
January 2010
12/17/09 9:52:19 AM
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