ZEROING IN ON STARDOM
Former World Junior Champion Aloysius Yapp of Singapore Grew Up in a Hurry During A Busy Summer in the U.S.
PLUS HE MAN: Another Austrian Makes A Point NOVEMBER 2021
$ 5.95
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DATE DEBATE: In Search of the Best Buyers
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CONTENTS
Vol. 43, No. 11 N O V E M B E R
2 0 2 1
38
Features 32 TWO-TIMING Seeking an earlier marketing window, a group of billiard manufacturers align with an outside-industry expo. by Nick Leider
38 SINGAPORE SLING Young Aloysius Yapp completes his summer roll with his first title. by Keith Paradise
44 EUROPEAN FLAVOR
44
32
Men, women and juniors converge at Austria Open. by Mike Panozzo
48 SUPER MARIO Austrian Mario He finally makes his mark in the U.S. by Keith Paradise
Columns 10 FROM THE PUBLISHER
Pulling In The Same Direction by Mike Panozzo
56 TIPS & SHAFTS
Johnny, Marching Home by George Fels
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On the Cover Former Junior World Champion Aloysius Yapp of Singapore had been knocking on the door throughout a rigorous series of events in the U.S., before storming it down at the Michigan Open. Cover photo by Matt Porinsky
November 2021
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COMPLETELY
AMERICAN
LEGENDARY
QUALITY
OMAR AL SHAHEEN
BOB MEUCCI AND MEUCCI CUES welcome 2021 World Pool Championship runner-up Omar Al Shaheen to its roster of top professionals! Omar captured the fancy of the pool world with his second-place finish at the World Pool Championship, but he’s a known force among top players as an all-around star, excelling in banks, 10-ball and 9-ball. To celebrate the occasion, Meucci has unveiled the first in a three-cue line for Omar — the Omar Al Shaheen Special Design Diamond Cue.
FOR INFORMATION: FACEBOOK MESSENGER — OMARALSHAHEEN INSTAGRAM — @MEUCCICUES
An ebony masterpiece with green Paua shell inlays and green and red veneer accents, the OAS Special Design Diamond Cue also features four diamonds in each diamond, totaling 72 diamond inlays in an all-ebony background. The cue comes with an 11.75mm carbon shaft. A carbon break cue and three-piece jump cue are also available for this set.
PRICE: $3,950 ONE SHAFT W/ EXTENSION
PHOTO BY GREGORY HAIRSTON
Contact Meucci Cues at 662-895-3230 or email to sales@meuccicues.com
MEUCCICUES.COM
ORDER DIRECT!
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CONTENTS
Vol. 43, No. 11
N O V E M B E R
Departments
2 0 2 1
BD
The Premier Billiards Magazine since 1978
FOUNDER
PUBLISHER
MORT LUBY JR.
MIKE PANOZ ZO EDITOR
MIK E PANOZ ZO
6 FREEZE FRAME Pool through the lens of JP Parmentier.
ART DIRECTOR
MARK TATAR A CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
MIK E SHAMOS
8 YESTERYEAR
SENIOR WRITER
Jayson Shaw makes his mark.
NICK LEIDER SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
J P PARMEN TIER
12 WING SHOTS
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jeanette Lee climbs out of bed, finishes seventh.
13 YOU MAKE THE CALL Lucky sevens.
14 CUEZILLA
DAVID ALCIATORE DARREN A PPLE TON R. A . DYER BOB JE WE T T JE ANE T TE LEE TED LERNER K EITH PAR ADISE TON Y ROBLES L ARRY SCHWART Z NICK VARNER MARK WILSON
PRESIDENT
Close looks at monster cues.
15 STROKE OF GENIUS
KEITH HAMILTON CIRCULATION MANAGER
K EITH HAMILTON
Ouschan takes a jump.
52 CHRONICLES by Mike Shamos More billiards in the movies.
Practice Table Instruction 16 18 20 22 24 28
Quick Hits: Tidbits to Up Your Game Nick Varner • Strategies Larry Schwartz • Stripes & Solids Darren Appleton • Perfect Practice Bob Jewett • Tech Talk David Alciatore • Illustrated Principles
LUBY PUBLISHING INC.
47 W. Polk St., Suite 319, Chicago, IL 60605 (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., 47 W. Polk St., Suite 319, Chicago, IL 60605 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 $28; international, $53. 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, 47 W. Polk St., Suite 319, Chicago, IL 60605.
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (ACT OF 1970: SEC. 3685, UNITED STATES CODE) 1. TITLE OF PUBLICATION: BILLIARDS DIGEST. 2. PUBLICATION NO. 0164-761X. 3. DATE OF FILING; OCTOBER 1, 2021. 4. FREQUENCY OF ISSUE: MONTHLY. 5. NUMBER OF ISSUES PUBLISHED ANNUALLY: TWELVE. 6. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $ 28.00. LOCATION OF KNOWN OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: 47 W. POLK STREET., STE. 319, CHICAGO, IL 60605. 9. NAMES AND ADDRESS OF PUBLISHER, EDITOR AND MANAGING EDITOR: PUBLISHER, MICHAEL E. PANOZZO, 47 W. POLK STREET., STE. 319, CHICAGO, IL 60605. EDITOR AND MANAGING EDITOR, MIKE PANOZZO, 47 W. POLK STREET., STE. 319, CHICAGO, IL 60605. 10. THE OWNER IS LUBY PUBLISHING, INC., 47 W. POLK STREET., STE. 319, CHICAGO, IL 60605. KEITH C. HAMILTON, 55 E. JACKSON BLVD., STE. 401, CHICAGO, IL 60604. MICHAEL E. PANOZZO47 W. POLK STREET., STE. 319, CHICAGO, IL 60605.11. KNOWN BONDHOLDERS, MORTGAGES AND OTHER SECURITY HOLDERS OWNING OR HOLDING 1 PERCENT OR MORE OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF BONDS, MORTGAGES OR OTHER SECURITIES: NONE. 12. THE CORPORATION STATUS FOR INCOME TAX PURPOSES HAS NOT CHANGED IN PAST TWELVE MONTHS. 13. PUBLICATION NAME: BILLIARDS DIGEST. 14. ISSUE DATE FOR CIRCULATION DATA BELOW: OCTOBER 2020. 15. EXTENT AND NATURE OF CIRCULATION: POOL PLAYERS AND POOL HALLS. AVERAGE NO. COPIES EACH ISSUE DURING PRECEDING TWELVE MONTHS. A. AVERAGE NUMBER OF COPIES PRINTED: 3,184 . B. PAID CIRCULATION: 1. PAID/REQUESTED OUTSIDE-COUNTY MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS: 1,971. 2. PAID IN-COUNTY SUBSCRIPTIONS: 0. 3. SALES THROUGH DEALERS AND CARRIERS, STREET VENDORS: 58. 4. OTHER CLASSES MAILED THROUGH USPS: 94. C. TOTAL PAID SUBSCRIPTION: 2,123. D. FREE DISTRIBUTION: 1. FREE DISTRIBUTION BY MAIL: 950. 2. FREE IN-COUNTY: 0 3. FREE MAILED AT OTHER CLASSES: 0. 4. FREE DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE THE MAIL: 8. E. TOTAL FREE DISTRIBUTION: 958. F. TOTAL DISTRIBUTION: 3,081. G. COPIES NOT DISTRIBUTED: 104. H. TOTAL: 3,185. I. PERCENT PAID: 68.91%. ACTUAL NUMBER OF COPIES OF SINGLE ISSUE PUBLISHED NEAREST TO FILING DATE: A. TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES: 3,300. B. PAID CIRCULATION: 1. PAID/REQUESTED OUTSIDE-COUNTY MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS: 2,074. 2. PAID IN COUNTY SUBSCRIPTIONS: 0. 3. SALES THROUGH DEALERS AND CARRIERS, STREET VENDORS: 67. 4. OTHER CLASSES MAILED THROUGH USPS: 97. C. TOTAL PAID SUBSCRIPTION: 2,238. D. FREE DISTRIBUTION: 1. FREE DISTRIBUTION BY MAIL CARRIER: 876. 2. FREE IN-COUNTY: 0 3. FREE MAILED AT OTHER CLASSES: 0. 4. FREE DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE THE MAIL: 100. E. TOTAL FREE DISTRIBUTION: 976. F. TOTAL DISTRIBUTION: 3,214. G. COPIES NOT DISTRIBUTED: 86. H. TOTAL 3,300. I. PERCENT PAID: 69.63%. 16. THIS STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP IS PRINTED IN THE NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE. 17. I CERTIFY THAT THE STATEMENTS MADE BY ME ABOVE ARE CORRECT AND COMPLETE. KEITH C. HAMILTON, PRESIDENT.
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Point Made Moment to remember.
For Austrian teens Lena Primus (left) and Sarah Kapeller (right), claiming Junior World 9-Ball Championship medals in their home country was a source of enormous pride and led to a mutual admiration moment at the medal ceremony. Primus took home the gold, while Kapeller earned bronze.
PHOTO BY JP PARMENTIER NIKON Z6, Z 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR S 1100 ISO, 1/200s @ f/3.2, 85 mm
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YESTERYEAR
Shaw Scores Major Win + 5 Y E ARS AGO +
+ 10 Y E ARS AGO +
After finishing third at the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships and fifth at the WPA World 9-Ball Championship, Jayson Shaw claimed his first major title at the Kuwait Open in Kuwait City. The 28-year-old transplanted Scotsman, living in New York, defeated nemesis Jung Lin Chang of Taiwan, 13-10, in the title match to grab the $50,000 top prize. The win over Chang made the title all the more special for Shaw, since it was Chang who defeated him in the U.S. Open semifinal. Shaw’s major win came on the heels of the Steinway Classic title and immediately preceded titles at the Ocean State 9-Ball Championship and MakeIt-Happen 8-Ball Invitiational.
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Darren Appleton capped an undefeated run to his second consecutive U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships crown with a devestating performance in the title match, defeating Shawn Putnam, 126, at the Chesapeake (Va.) Convention Center. In topping the 246-player field, Appleton ran his match winning streak at the U.S. Open to 16. Appleton also rolled unbeaten in the 2010 U.S. Open. Having earned $30,000 for the U.S. Open crown, Appleton upped his total for the month of October to $55,000 by defeating reigning World 10-Ball Champion Huidji See in the final of the $25,000 winner-take-all Challenge of Champions.
JAYSON SHAW EARNED HIS FIRST MAJOR TITLE AT THE KUWAIT OPEN.
+ 15 Y E ARS AGO + Just two events into a proposed sixevent season, promoter Kevin Trudeau’s ambitious International Pool Tour unraveled, leaving events canceled and players unpaid. Trudeau, an infomercial king and best-selling author, launched the IPT in 2005 with a $250,000 Challenge of the Sexes match, followed by a King of the Hill event with Efren Reyes picking up $200,000. In 2006, Trudeau promised six events and $8.5 million in prize money. But following just two events, Trudeau pulled the plug, alleging that an eventual sale of the IPT to Asian billionaire Stanley Ho had been scuttled by the passage of internet gaming laws.
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From the Publisher
Mike Panozzo
TWIST AND POUT T
HE HALF-DOZEN or so close relatives that regularly read
this page will attest, my leanings are almost always to advocate on behalf of the players. Woefully unorganized and inadequately represented, their survival and well being are customarily the last things taken into consideration by the billiard industry, room owners and even tournament promoters when events are being planned. “Just post the money and they’ll show up and play bumper pool,” has been a common joke amongst insiders. That’s not to say that players don’t sometimes (all right, a lot of the time!) leave me scratching my head. Take “The Summer of ’21,” for instance. After nearly 18 months of thumb-twiddling, ghost-playing, income-challenging inactivity, the competitive pool world suddenly found itself flush with opportunity and added money. From the World Pool Championship in June through the Predator Pro Billiard Series FargoRate Open in October, players had access to eight tournaments, which totaled more than $1 million in prize money, nearly $700,000 of which was added money. Of course, with unbridled enthusiasm, players around the globe (at least those that could travel) rejoiced and raced to the pay window for their piece of the pie, right? Well, not exactly. A number of events struggled to fill fields, despite no event guaranteeing less than $25,000 added to the prize fund. That every one of those eight events didn’t pack full fields (with waiting lists) is beyond puzzling. We hear year after year about how few legitimate pro tournaments there are, and here we had a summer with the best string of events since the heydays of the Pro Billiards Tour. Instead, not even the mighty U.S. Open filled its 256-player board, an event that filled beyond capacity months out in 2019. What was particularly disheartening, though, was the lukewarm response the Predator Pro Billiard Series received — especially from the U.S. player base. Nothing but kudos and support should have been afforded the U.S.-based company that dropped $200,000 of added money into five domestic tournaments in a 10-week span. What was the response? Players — primarily American — moaned about the format and chose instead to play in smaller events or not play at all. And just what were these egregious demands the promoter foisted on the players? Predator unveiled a 10-ball format that took a few risks in the name of building fans. They chose short sets, unconventional rules, and sudden death shootouts to determine
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match winners. They allowed a pocketed 10 ball to count on the break and in combinations. Matches were two sets, races to four. Split sets resulted in spot shot shootouts, some of which went to more than 10 innings to determine a winner. The rationale is easy to understand. Detractors of pool as a televised sport have long argued that the game — even slam-bang 9-ball — needs to be more attractive and exciting to the average sports fan. Predator opted to experiment with alternate formats that might, indeed, engage viewers and draw new fans. To coin a cringe-worthy phrase, it’s called thinking outside the box. Is it perfect? No. But it wasn’t bumper pool. And would supporting the effort be so difficult? Top prize was at least $12,000, and eighth place earned $2,000. Not bad for a $350 entry fee in cost-friendly cities. In the meantime, players could have been working with the decision-makers at Predator to discuss changes going forward in 2021 or in 2022. And I’m not naïve. Of course, the promoter is investing in the game as a means of building customers and developing brand recognition. Pool is not an industry of philanthropists. But without companies within the industry funding and promoting events, pool would have no events. In case you haven’t noticed, nonendemic sponsors aren’t exactly beating down the doors to have their products and services linked to the sport. Remember too, support runs both ways. Do respectable promoters drop added money when the players don’t fill the field? Do they cancel the event and blame the players for lack of support? Nope. If it wasn’t for the two dozen or so European players who came to the U.S. in late August and have stayed through October to avoid the travel restriction hassles of flying back and forth (thank you, COVID), the fields would have whittled away to nothing. And that would have been too bad. Shame on players in the U.S. Not that players in the U.S. were the only culprits here. Interestingly, the Predator Austria Open — the first $25,000-plus added tournament in continental Europe in ages — failed to fill its 64-player chart, while EuroTour events draw 200 players vying for a $4,000 top prize, a medal and a bouquet of flowers. Go figure. Players across the globe would do well to consider the consequences of turning their backs on companies willing to invest in them. Each of these companies could find other ways — many of them smarter and more reliable — to invest their money to grow their bottom line.
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+ QUOTABLE+
“I still have lots to learn, but I definitely trust and believe in myself a lot more now.” MICHIGAN OPEN WINNER ALOYSIUS YAPP ON HIS CONTIUAL RISE ON THE PRO CIRCUIT. (PG. 36).
Dear
Jeanette
LEE CUES UP
Ailing Hall of Famer finishes seventh in S.C. women’s event. THE BLACK WIDOW ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT POOL LIFE, LOVE AND ETIQUETTE. PHOTO BY JAY CHIU
A
GAINST ALL odds, Jeanette Lee, seven months removed from a medical diagnosis of Stage 4 ovarian cancer and just weeks removed from the last of her six chemo treatments, climbed into her car, drove from Tampa to Aiken, S.C., and screwed together her courage and her Jacoby cue to participate in the multi-division Omega Diamond Open. For the 50-year-old Billiard Congress of America Hall of Famer and pool celebrity, four days of exhaustive competition was not so much about winning matches as it was about finding joy during a physically and emotionally trying time. “Pool is what I love,” Lee said. “I wanted to feel that joy again and see my friends.” Lee participated in both the Scotch doubles division, teaming with men’s pro Billy Thorpe, and the Women’s 9-Ball division. Lee and Thorpe went two-andout in Scotch doubles, but Lee won three matches in the women’s event, losing only to finalists Allison Fisher and Kristina Tkach, while finishing a surprising seventh in the 38-player field. Participation, while therapeutic, came at a price. “I’ve been in bed since I got home,” Lee said a week later. “That event really beat me up pretty good. After hours and hours walking around the table on those concrete floors and bending to shoot, my legs and feet and shoulders and back all hurt. Every morning I woke up in pain. My bones and joints hurt so much.” Not even the chronic pain, however, could keep Lee away from the tables. “I wanted to keep playing because it was so much fun,” she admitted. “And BILLIARDS DIGEST
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Was there a particular moment at which everything clicked and you felt like you understood the game?
(A)
Determined Lee was back in action.
it was so great seeing all these people that have given me so much support … the fans and fellow pros, both men and women.” Despite being bedridden following the tournament, Lee insisted that playing did far more good than not. “My spirits are still really high,” she added. “I’m a happy girl. Playing really helped my spirit. Even though I’m a fighter, some depression definitely had creeped in. I know that because when I got to South Carolina to play, my spirits just soared. I really didn’t think that playing would have that dramatic of an effect. “I get joy in my kids,” Lee said. “But playing also helped me find joy in each day. I’m happier to get out of bed in the morning.” 14
12
(Q)
I learned the game playing straight pool, and my goal at the start was to run 100 balls. For a long time I was stuck at around 30. I finally broke through and ran 54 and felt like I had an epiphany. It wasn’t so much that the shots got more difficult as I ran more balls; it was my mental approach. Running a lot of balls means maintaining focus. The same goes for any pool game. I realized that it was just as important for me to work on my focus as it was to work on pocketing balls.
(Q) (A)
How can I improve my consistency?
I believe that consistency in competition comes from consistency in high-level practice. Practice should be challenging and difficult. Fundamentals are key. All consistent players have solid fundamentals. Fundamentals and focus should be critical parts of your practice regimen. The great thing about that kind of practice is that when you see improvement, you get even more motivated to practice.
WRITE JEANETTE AT BILLIARDSDIGEST.COM
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numbers
BD IN BRIEF
# G A M E #
$75K
Added money to the open events in the recent string of three Predator Pool Series tournaments (pgs. 38-50).
MOSCONI CUP SELECTIONS STILL UP IN THE AIR WITH JUST seven weeks until the kickoff of the 2021 Mosconi Cup, selections for the final three spots on Team USA and Team Europe had yet to be announced. According to Team USA captain Jeremy Jones, no specific timeframe had been given to him by event promoter Matchroom Sport. Jones said he did expect that his final pick for Team USA might wait for the conclusion of the International Open 9-Ball Championship in Norfolk at the end of October. “I’m still working on the picks,” Jones said in early October. “The last pick might come at the International Open. And, of course, we will have an alternate or two selected.” Due to COVID-19 protocols that con-
Who will join Van Boening in London?
tinue to affect international travel, both squads will be required to have last-minute substitutes ready in the event that a positive test of one or more of the starting team prevents them from participating. Automatic spots based on events and rankings have been secured by Shane Van Boening (who will also serve as vicecaptain) and Skyler Woodward for Team USA, and reigning World Pool Champion Albin Ouschan and Spain’s David Alcaide.
$50K
Tournament earnings for 25-year-old Aloysius Yapp in the month of September (pg. 38).
2006
Last year the billiard industry hosted a spring trade show (pg. 32).
YOU MAKE THE CALL: LUCKY SEVENS? With Mike Shamos
QUESTION: You’re the referee in a pro nine-ball match being played under the World Standardized Rules (WSR). Player A broke the first rack and pocketed the 9 on the break, leaving the position shown. Her opponent, Player B, notices that there are two 7 balls on the table and no 3 ball. Player B says, “Invalid rack. The rack doesn’t count and Player A should break again with a proper rack.” Player A responds, “I sank the 9. The numbers on the other balls had nothing to do with it. We should use a correct set of balls going forward, but I’m ahead 1-0.” What do you do? ANSWER: You never should have let this happen, but it did. There’s no rule covering the point, but Rule 2 reads, “Nine-ball is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine and the cue ball.” Whatever the contestants were playing during the first rack, it wasn’t nineball, so it can’t count as a nine-ball game. My decision would be to void the first rack as not being nine-ball and have Player A break again with a suitable rack. This may seem unfair, as it’s true that the ball numbers did not affect the break shot. But consider what you would have done if the 9 hadn’t been pocketed on the break. You could not let the rack continue and would have to force Player A to break again. November 2021
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CUE CRITIQUE:
A SLICK SCHICK STICK Veteran cuemaker not afraid to take risks, break rules. BY DENO ANDREWS
For more information on this and other high-end cues, visit CueZilla.com, where you can read other cue critiques and join the discussion yourself.
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- continued from pg. 12 -
So much so, in fact, that Lee said that she intends to keep playing to the extent that her body will allow. “I know I can’t play four or six hours a day,” she said. “And I know I’m not going to be able to play at that top level. But for my own joy and because I can, I’m going to try to put in a little time at the table every day. “ Ever the competitor, Lee went on to analyze her play in South Carolina. “What I learned from the tournament,” she summarized, “is that I had lost some of my discipline in the PHOTO BY JAY CHIU
Bill Schick is a legendary cuemaker who has mastered both traditional and contemporary cue designs. Design diversity requires taking risks and occasionally breaking the rules. This month’s example is a stunning Schick cue design from 2008 that mainly makes us rethink proportions. Cues traditionally have a forearm, a wrap, a butt sleeve, and a butt plate, which are generally standardized with some exceptions. Inlays are typically most prolific in the butt sleeve sections, and secondarily in the forearm and points. Schick created an optical illusion of sorts by framing the black lizard wrap section with ebony blocks, in which a majority of the traditional inlay designs live. Slender ebony points protrude, piercing the highly figured and contrasted maple forearm. Each point is adorned with a diamond tip and two round inlays, each playing a part in drawing the eye from the darkness of the wrap area. In the butt sleeve, similar points drop down and connect a subtle, yet genius element — a black ring beneath the maple that encapsulates the maple and ties the entire design together. At the connection point are the same round inlays from above, again catching the eye. The cue is finished with simple and elegant metallic rings. Breaking from tradition, Schick took a giant risk in breaking up the butt and forearm sections in such proportions. Yet the departure from tradition, under Schick’s masterful design control, is refreshing and inspiring.
LEE BACK IN ACTION
Lee and Fisher renewed their rivalry.
preshot routine and execution. I was jumping up on the shot. I was dropping my elbow. I was clenching the cue too tight. That’s not surprising when you’re not competing all the time. But when it had been so automatic for so long, it still surprised me. “So, now I’m driven to play for joy and work on different parts of my game. I find joy in that.” As for the tournament itself, Allison Fisher won both the women’s title and Scotch doubles title, teaming with Shane Van Boening. Tkach finished second in both events, losing to Fisher in the women’s final and in the doubles finale with partner Fedor Gorst. The Diamond Open also featured open competition in 10-Ball, won by Roberto Gomez; 9-Ball, won by Oliver Szolnoki; Banks, won by Justin Hall; and One-Pocket, won by Dennis Orcollo.
November 2021
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STROKE OF GENIUS Recounting the greatest shots in pool history
Ouschan jumps into a backward cut at BILLIARDSDIGEST.COM
V ide o pr ovide d by M atchr oom Pool
PLAYER: Albin Ouschan EVENT: U.S. Open Pool Championship LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nev. DATE: April 24, 2019
T
HE JUMP shot may still be a topic
of disagreement among the purists of the game. (Folks who can kick and bank with the best of them may also be against aerial maneuvers.) But short cues are in the cases of the game’s best rotation players for the foreseeable future. At the 2019 U.S. Open Pool Championship at Sin City’s Mandalay Bay, the first organized and promoted by Matchroom Multisport, Albin Ouschan was working his way through the one-loss side of the bracket, when he ran into former back-toback U.S. Open champ Darren Appleton in the 33rd-place match. In the fourth set, Ouschan broke the rack with a 2-1 lead and buried the 1 and 8 balls. Unfortunately, he
had a tricky angle on the 2, forcing him to play safe. Appleton returned with a defensive shot, before a safety battle left Ouschan in the position shown in the diagram. With the 6 proving to be a tricky obstacle, the Austrian two-time world champion opted to go vertical to start his run. With little more than a diamond between the cue ball and the 2, Ouschan used a quick, firm stroke to pop the cue ball over the blocker. It made nearly full contact with the 2, which sprinted directly toward the top left corner. The cue ball, meanwhile, pulled back toward the footrail, boucning off into a difficult but playable position on the 3. Making another difficult shot on the 3, Ouschan cleared the rack en route to an 11-7 win over his British rival. But only a round later, Ouschan would be sent packing by eventual U.S. Open winner Joshua Fuller, finishing the event in 25th place.
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INSTRUCTIONALS
Bite-sized bits of top-notch instruction BD HOUSE PRO: TONY ROBLES
OpeningShot with Mark Wilson
Q)
What was your analysis of snooker champion Judd Trump’s performance in the U.S. Open? And why does it seem that a snooker player could excel at pool much quicker than a top pool player could at snooker? Bernie Malcos, Pa.
A)
Naturally, pro snooker players are not great at some facets of pool, such as breaking, bank shots, shot selection and game strategy. What Trump is great at is execution due to a much more precise stroke delivery than most pool players possess. Snooker demands tremendous accuracy, while pool puts more emphasis on power and spin. That accuracy can negate some of the deficiencies in position play and strategy. They can simply shoot their way out of positional errors. That allows them to win a pool match, whereas a pool player could never win a professional snooker match. The accuracy requirements at the top levels of snooker require years of commitment. Most snooker players took up the game in their early teens. Snooker is also bolstered by huge prize funds. Were pool to have those prize funds on a regular basis, the skills of pool players would develop beyond what we see today.
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READY OR NOT
I
T WAS exciting to be back out there playing in the U.S. Open in Atlantic City. It was a great event. But one of my takeaways from the tournament was that you could tell that there were a lot of players unprepared for the difference in equipment from what they normally play on. Even if they play on Diamond tables at home, they weren’t prepared for the huge difference that new cloth makes. “Ginky” San Souci used to call the promoters of events and ask which balls and which cloth they were going to use. And he would look for that equipment to practice on, even if it meant going to someone’s house and having new cloth put on. If you’re serious about the event, you owe it to yourself to practice on the equipment you’re going to compete on. The difference between old cloth and new cloth and one ball set versus another is night and day. You have to play position differently. A shot that you would normally use follow on at home, you find that you need to use stun or the ball will slide too much. If you have, say, a ball by the first diamond on the long rail and a 45-degree cut, you can’t use the same right draw that you use on old cloth to get past the side pocket. On new cloth, that cue ball is going right into the side pocket or it’s going to come short of the mark. Now, your entire thought process for position changes. Instead of playing for the 45-degree angle you use on a normal table, you would want to get straighter
and hitting it fuller so that the ball follows a straighter line coming off the rail. It’s not going to be as wide. In fact, overall, I don’t think most players realize or understand the amount of preparation that you need to put into an event like the U.S. Open to have any success. Buddy Hall once told me that to be at and stay at the elite level, you need to practice at least five hours a day. Then you see players come to the U.S. Open and shake their heads that they didn’t play better. I guarantee they just didn’t prepare properly. Stamina is a big thing if you’re going to be playing in an event that may force you to play two or three matches in a day. Are you physically ready for that? If not, your concentration and focus will not be as sharp when you start getting fatigued. Even simple things, like the shot clock. You know going in that Matchroom uses a shot clock. Still, I watched players who lost racks and matches because they spent too much time looking over the table and chalking, and then rushing to get their shot off. So many of them said to me, “Man, that shot clock got me!” There is no way that should have happened. The same is true of the Predator Series. If you go to one of those events and you’re not really prepared to shoot the spot shots, you’re not going to do well. Players should be practicing them until they’re dizzy. Know the rules and formats. Even if it’s just league play, know what to expect.
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Drill Bits-
CENTER FIELD
Simple starter drill to practice cue ball speed control. + WHY DO IT +
Place a ball one diamond over and one diamond up from each corner pocket. Starting with the cue ball in the boxed center portion of the table, pocket a ball, in any order, sending the cue ball back into the box. When you pocket all four, place four new balls and continue for as many balls as possible. + HOW TO DO IT +
Choke Hold WHY DO players miss shots in competition that they make 99 percent of the time in practice? Why do they “choke?” According to Dr. Richard Dean Smith, author of “Pool: It’s Mental, It’s Physical, It’s Mystical,” self-awareness is a leading factor. “The presence of a crowd or other players causes attention to be focused on one’s self,” Smith wrote. And heightened selfawareness can disrupt performance.” Smith suggests that players would do well to focus on other things. “Directing one’s attention away from the immediate, self-involved feelings allows for better performance under pressure.”
Riding Rails MANY AMATEUR players struggle with consistency on long, thin cuts down a rail. According to instructional author Jack Koehler, the fear of missing the ball entirely, and thus fouling,
“
Be true, follow through.
”
— BCA Hall of Famer Eddie Taylor’s playing motto.
STRAIGHT
TALK
GURU GEORGE FELS HELPS YOU RUN 100 ON STRAIGHT pool break shots that require you to cut a ball thin, it is helpful to redistribute your weight in the
causes most players to overcompen-
opposite direction of the shot. A right-
sate and hit the object ball too thick. In
handed player cutting a ball sharply
his book, “Upscale Nine-Ball,” Koehler
to his left should have the lion’s share
suggests a “cut-kick” shot. “Use inside English as insurance,” Koehler writes, “so that if the object ball is missed the cue ball will go into the cushion and
On the Spot
of his weight on his right, or rear, foot and should lean forward to put extra weight on his left foot when cutting balls thinly to his right. (Reverse all this if you’re left-handed, of course.)
PHENOM JESUS ATENCIO ON HIS PREPARATION + At 23, it is a good bet that you practice a lot every day.
I do. I practice every day for 8-10 hours.. I spend a lot of time working on my break. It is the most important part of pool. If you control the break, you control the table. + What drill is your favorite?
Any cue ball control drill. I work on patterns playing 15-ball rotaiton. And I play the ghost. He’s the best player. You can’t miss. + As a young player, how do you develop your mental game?
I talked to Dennis [Orcollo] and Shane [Van Boening] and they said to enjoy your moment. If pool is your job, you need to be happy with your job. You need to enjoy it. I enjoy my time at the table. If you miss, that’s okay. Everybody misses. Getting upset is not good for your mind.
rebound back into the object ball.” November 2021
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+ S TR ATEG IE S + BY Nick Varner
A KICKER’S BEST FRIEND Diamond systems can take the guesswork out of kicking.
N
OT LONG ago, I solicited “Friends” on Facebook for suggestions on topics they would like to hear more about in my monthly articles. It was interesting to see the various subjects that fans were interesting in. Among the responses was one from top-flight instructor Mark Wilson. Mark suggested that an article on the Diamond System would be enlightening. A lot of players rely on instinct to kick, feeling that there are too many variables — difference in age and condition of the cloth, difference in cushion rubber, humidity, etc. Of course, you do sometimes have to make slight adjustments, but once you take your first couple of test shots you’ll know whether the table is running long or short. And if you know a system, simply watching the cue ball and object balls rebound off the rail during play (whether you or your opponent are shooting) will reveal a lot about how the table is playing. My first experience with diamond systems was in the early 1980s, when Robert Byrne’s “Standard Book of Pool and Billiards” came out. There were two systems that caught my attention: the track system and the plus-two system. They were in the book’s section on threecushion billiards. I found them interesting and wondered if they would work on the pool table. I was amazed by how well those systems worked in pool, particularly in 9-ball because of the amount of kicking that you are required to do. I’ve used both over the years and they’ve not only helped me win many games but helped me get to the finish line in a hillhill final of a major championship. Diagram One shows a good starting point for the track system, a kick shot out of the corner. Shooting at the diamond marked 3 on the first rail will lead to a 2 track return. Notice that aiming for diamond 3 on the first rail means aiming through the diamond, not at the point on the rail opposite the diamond. The “track” numbers are shown to the left of the “cue ball” numbers. And, again, the
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First Rail Aiming Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
8
7
6
Cue Ball Number 1.5 Track Number 1
2 2
2.5 3
track points are through the diamonds. The cue ball is at cue ball position 5. You must aim at a first rail number to accurately get a cue ball number. The cue ball number is subtracted from the first rail number to give you the track number. In this case, it is 5 (cue ball number) minus 3 (first rail number) to give you 2 (track number). Notice that from cue ball 5 through first rail 3 will bring the cue ball through track 2. (The cue ball numbers along the opposite rail drop by a halfdiamond and when the cue ball goes to the right corner pocket they go up by a whole diamond.) In three-cushion, the diamond system is used to determine where the ball will go after it contacts three rails. In 9-ball, however, you might need to hit a ball anywhere along the path after the cue ball contacts the first rail. So, you need the path the cue ball takes to the second and third rails. (It doesn’t hurt to know where the cue ball contacts the fourth rail, which, in this case, is usually about a half-diamond from the corner pocket.) I thought my instinct was pretty good in the beginning but soon learned that the cue ball path off the rails was a lot different than I thought. To become consistent, you have to
3 4
3.5 5
4 6
4.5 7
5
contact the cue ball with the same amount of English every time, and the angle of your cue needs to be as close to level as possible. In the diagram, you can see where I am contacting the cue ball. Being this high on the cue ball, it’s tough to get more than a tip of English on the shot. (Be sure to chalk up!) Contacting the cue ball lower will make it go longer. Cue ball speed also needs to be consistent. Change cue ball speed and/ or contact point and the ball’s path will change. Some players do the math right and then forget the shot requires precise aim on the rail and the proper contact point on the cue ball. If you are on a time clock, of course, you have to count the numbers quickly. With some practice and confidence that you are figuring the math correctly and your aim point is accurate, learning a system becomes a lot of fun. Plus, you’ll know you will make a good hit on the object ball most of the time. Over time, figuring the aim point on the first rail will come quickly. Remember, cue ball number minus the first rail aiming number gives you the track number. If the object ball is on that track, you’re in business. If not, adjust the first rail aiming number.
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+ SOLIDS
&
STRIPES
+ BY Larry Schwartz
OUTREACH PROGRAM Options to bail you out of those hard-to-reach shots.
S
O, YOU’VE mapped out your master plan for the entire table layout. As an integral part of this plan, you have determined exactly how you want to take the current shot — the English, speed, follow through, path and final cue ball position. You’ve visualized the perfect execution of the shot. You get down on the shot and visualize it once more. You take your practice strokes and hit the cue ball with perfect speed. The object ball sails toward a pocket and drops, and the cue ball reacts just as you’d planned, coming to rest in perfect position for the next shot. With bolstered confidence, you prepare to repeat the process. Any serious player recognizes and appreciates that euphoric feeling that comes with flawless execution. However, anyone who has played the game has also had that feeling shattered upon closer inspection of the next shot. The reason? While position is perfect, you realize that there is no easy physical way to bridge and reach the shot. It’s a common trap. What now? Should I reach for the shot? Use an extension on my cue? Use the mechanical bridge? Shoot with the opposite hand? All are viable techniques, and you may be better suited to one than another. Perhaps you shoot well opposite-handed. Perhaps you are proficient with a mechanical bridge or are tall enough where a cue extension will suffice. Of course, the best technique is to avoid such situations by taking your body position into account when determining your run-out path. As you chart that path in your head, visualize getting down over the shot. That would certainly help. Regardless, however, you can still find yourself with a difficult reach. It’s even possible your cagey opponent leaves you with such a shot, knowing that it will be difficult for you to reach.
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Diagram One Shot 2
Shot 1
Diagram Two Shot 3
Shot 4
The diagrams show four shots that could make life difficult for you, even though the shots themselves are relatively easy. Keep in mind that all of these shots are based on the shooter being right-handed. In Diagram One, Shot 1 would be best with a mechanical bridge, especially with the variety of bridge heads available today. When I started playing, there was one mechanical bridge. Now, there are bridge heads that are stackable, allowing you to heighten the bridge if
there is an obstructing object ball between you and the cue ball. I would definitely suggest that all players buy a bridge head that they practice with and carry in their cue case. Familiarity and confidence play big factors in using something like a mechanical bridge, regardless of how infrequently you’re called upon to use it. Depending on your height, a cue extension might do the trick here as well. Most cues today are made to accept an extension on the end. In fact, some
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pros like Shane Van Boening and Jayson Shaw have adopted longer playing cues to reach distant shots. Shot 2 in the first diagram would be a good shot to practice using an extension. The close proximity of the balls make this otherwise impossible-toreach shot relatively easy. If you don’t have or like a cue extension, the mechanical bridge would also work. Of course, the ideal way to handle this particular shot — requiring no attachments to you cue and no second cue (mechanical bridge) on the table — is to shoot it opposite-handed, in this case left-handed. In fact, I always recommend that players just starting out spend a good amount of time every day shooting with the opposite hand. While it takes some time to get used to, shooting with the opposite hand is not difficult. It requires that your grip on the butt of the cue is feather-light, but that your bridge is tight. Concentrate on keeping your bridge hand firm and relaxing your shooting hand, using fluid movement with your wrist and elbow when you stroke. Always take several practice strokes to make sure you’re not gripping the cue too tight. The perfect practice drill to start when shooting opposite-handed is Shot 3 in Diagram Two (again, assuming the shooter naturally shoots right-handed.). As a side note, with a shot like this, you should also at least consider practicing a behind-the-back stroke. It’s always good to try shots as many ways as possible so that your arsenal of techniques is varied. Shot 4 in Diagram Two is a little more difficult to shoot opposite handed, but once you are comfortable with Shot 3, give this one a try. Practice these shots until you are comfortable with them. At first, simply focus on your technique and making the shot. After you are comfortable with that, start playing the shot for various position areas around the table. No one is expecting you to draw the ball three rails with your opposite hand, but you should get to a point where you can play decent position for the next shot. Again, ideally, your pattern planning should be done so that you don’t run into these testy shots but that doesn’t always work. And these shots could also be left to you by your opponent, so you’d better know how to handle the situation.
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10/20/21 10:20 AM
+ PERFECT PRACTICE + BY Darren Appleton
LOOK, MA! NO RAILS! Learn to negotiate tight spots and master kill shots.
T
URNING THE cue ball loose and watching it zip around the table is exciting. But one of the most important shots in pool is the kill shot, being able to play into tight spaces and prevent the cue ball from moving very far. Here is a no-rail drill that is great for cue ball control and negotiating those tight spaces. It’s great practice, especially for 8-ball, straight pool and one-pocket. This drill requires trust in your touch and your ability to pinch the pockets. It’s also very good for little draw shots, flicking the ball with a little side and rolling the ball in. This is all about keeping close control of the cue ball, not traveling around the table. I use this drill all the time with my students. They often quit on the shot or are too heavy handed. That makes pattern play difficult. The No Rail Box Drill isn’t easy. Planning is required and, like most games, you need to stay three balls ahead in planning your shot selection. Like 8-ball, when I get to the last six or so balls, I start planning backwards from the last ball. My students sometimes get stuck towards the end because they don’t look ahead. This drill forces you to think all the time and maintain total focus and concentration. The rules for this drill are simple and it’s easy to set up. Just follow the setup in the diagram. Like all drills, the cue ball can’t contact any other ball, and can’t contact a rail. Start with cue ball in hand and shoot the balls in any order. I’ll give you a head start by showing you my opening shot selection. Starting here takes a tricky ball out of the equation and gives me an option for my second shot — taking the next ball either into the corner pocket (9 ball) or into the side pocket (10 ball). While you have to plan at least three balls ahead, the beauty of this drill is that it con-
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Diagram One
Diagram Two
stantly offers you options. In that way, it’s a lot like straight pool. On a lot of shots in this drill, the side pocket, is a good option because the wider opening allows you to cheat the pocket — aiming the object ball to enter one side of the pocket or the other. That gives you the ability to create less or more angle on the shot, which, in turn, determines differing paths for the cue ball. In the case of this drill, creating less angle would be preferable because that will allow you to kill the cue ball.
Don’t be afraid of trying this method. It will get you out of a lot of tough spots in all games. This isn’t an easy drill but it’s not overly difficult if you’re focused and thinking through every shot. It is a good challenge. And like all challenges, see how far you can get and keep working to improve your score. And the more you practice this and the better you get, the more tight spots you’ll be able to negotiate in actual match play.
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+ TECH TALK + BY Bob Jewett
WAGONS GALORE
Circle your wagons with this great practice exercise.
I
RECENTLY had a first session with a new student. A check of his fundamentals showed excellent mechanics and stroke as well as good aiming. A positive start but it soon appeared that knowledge of position play — where is the cue ball going to go? — was almost completely lacking. Fortunately, there is a great exercise called the Wagon Wheel to both introduce cue ball control methods and to practice them. The idea is due to a Sacramento-area author named Ted Brown. In Figure 1 is the cover of a booklet he published about 1990. The booklet was intended to help aspiring one pocket players, but it is very useful to students of all levels and all games who want to perfect their control of the cue ball. The basic version of the Wagon Wheel drill is shown in Diagram One. The object ball is placed straight out from the side pocket preferably on a paper reinforcement donut for repeatability. For the first version of the drill, the cue ball is in hand on each shot. The Figure 1 goal is to pocket the object ball and have the cue ball just touch the 1 ball. Soft follow without side spin will do the trick. When you have done that, play to touch the 2 ball next. You will probably find that a different cut angle on the object ball works better for the 2. On each shot, try to get the cue ball to just touch the ball which really represents the place you want to put the cue ball as if you were playing precise position. You are not allowed to use cushions — the cue ball must go straight to the target. The
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paths of the cue ball form a pattern like the spokes of a wagon wheel giving the drill its name. The first four shots can be made with a simple, rolling cue ball. The 5 ball requires something else. Since you are not allowed to use cushions, you will need to stun the cue ball with a little draw. The later shots require significant draw. All of the shots have a best cut angle which makes the shot as easy as possible. For examples, the 1 ball needs a nearly full hit while the 3 ball is easiest with about a half-ball hit or 30-degree cut angle. The 8 ball is easiest with about a half-ball cut and your best, soft draw, while the higher balls will require smaller and smaller cut angles. The 1 ball through the 4 ball should be easy and you should fairly quickly find the angle and speed that lets you land softly on them, so your goal should be to get a near-perfect hit. You may want to relax your goal for
Diagram One
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+ TECH TALK + BY Bob Jewett the other balls, such as landing within half a diamond of the target. Here’s a trick to speed your progress. Since the cut angle is critical, place a coin on the rail under your stick before each shot. If you miss the shot, and it is due to the wrong angle, move the coin to adjust your approach path. The second version of the drill for Diagram One is to experiment with the range of cut angles that will work for each target. For example, with a nearly full shot you should still be able to get to the 4 ball with more power and only partial follow on the cue ball. For such quite full hits, you will notice that it is critical to pocket the object ball in the part of the pocket you plan for. A small error in aim will make a huge difference in the path of the cue ball. In Diagram Two the goal is to learn where the cue ball goes with only follow and draw — no side spin yet. You have cue ball in hand for each shot. Again, use a coin to help you remember the cut angle you are trying. Develop a feeling for how the fullness of the shot changes the forward path of the cue ball. You may have a strong desire to use side spin, but you need to suppress it for now. In Diagram 3 you do get to use side spin. The object ball is just a little off the center of the end rail. The cue ball is played from a fixed position as well. To determine the position for the cue ball, see how far from the rail you can place it and still get the cue ball to touch the 1 ball with heavy running English. If you shoot softly, you should find that center right or even slight draw with maximum right side spin gets the flattest angle off the cushion. Of course with a slow shot, the draw will have changed to follow by the time
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Diagram Two
Cue Ball In Hand Draw and Follow Only
Diagram Three
Cue Ball Not In Hand
the cue ball gets to the object ball. Once you have the position for the cue ball figured out, use a donut or coin so it can be repeated. The remainder of the drill is similar to the main Wagon Wheel drill with the cue ball just touching each of the target balls. Note that the final ball in this set is not opposite the 1 ball. On most tables getting back to the rail with outside draw is harder than following forward with inside spin, so what would be the final ball in the pattern is omitted. For many of the shots in this group there is more than one way to get there. For example to get to the 9 ball, plain “dead” draw could work or you could hit higher on the cue ball and use a
November 2021
little outside (left) English. One way to extend all of these drills is to go for more speed as if you were breaking up a cluster at each target spot. You could try to move the target ball at least two diamonds rather than barely touch it. Is there a particular shot that baffles you for cue ball control? Maybe you can make your own version of the Wagon Wheel for that kind of shot. For a video of the Wagon Wheel being done with useful suggestions, visit Dr. Dave’s YouTube channel (DrDaveBilliards) and search for “wagon.” That drill and many others are available in the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Practice, a 5-DVD set that Dr. Dave and I made together.
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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.
BYE, DOOFUS
If you commit common mistakes, it’s time to say goodbye to bad habits.
[Note: Supporting narrated video (NV) demonstrations, high-speed video (HSV) clips, technical proofs (TP) and all of my past “Illustrated Principles” columns can be accessed and viewed online at billiards.colostate. edu. The reference numbers used in the articles help you locate the resources on the website.]
I
RECENTLY posted an online video (NV J.94) that discusses and demonstrates the important technique changes I have made to my game over the years Image 1 that resulted in the most improvement. These changes might help raise your game to the next level too. As shown in Image 1, the video features “Doofus Dave” (on the left), who demonstrates how poorly I did things in the past, and “Dr. Dave” (on the right), who demonstrates the effectiveness of the new techniques.
Align Vision Properly I used to align my head with the cue close to my dominant eye because that is what came naturally. But what comes naturally isn’t always the most effective. I often missed shots because of this, especially long shots. I noticed the problem one day when I was
doing a stop-shot drill when I was sending the cue ball (CB) to the right on every shot, even though they looked straight to me. Once I found my true personal “vision center,” I immediately started missing fewer shots. (See the videos, articles, and other information on the “vision center” resource page at billiards.colostate.edu if you want to learn more about how to find your own vision center.) Many people think that the cue should always be centered between the eyes or directly under or close to your dominant eye, but your personal vision center position can be unique and completely unrelated to which eye might be dominant.
Find Personal Best Stance I used to stand like the old pool books and videos told me to, using a closed stance and bending at the waist with the back leg locked. But this posture caused me lots of neck, back and hamstring discomfort and chronic pain, especially when I played often or in long sessions. Once I found my personal best stance using the “stance dance” procedure demonstrated in the videos on my resource page, I no longer had discomfort. It also became much easier to position
Image 2
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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. my vision center accurately and consistently. This improved my play and made pool more enjoyable. (Again, all resources mentioned in this article are linked in the YouTube video description of NV J.94.)
Aim While Standing I used to get down in my stance too quickly, before I carefully aimed the shot while standing. When I aimed in my low stance position, I often missed, especially long backcuts, because I wasn’t correctly perceiving the shot angle. It is much more effective to aim and align while standing, where you can more clearly see the shot, the line to the pocket, the ghost ball position, the shot angle, and the required line of aim (see Image 2). I learned to aim while standing like most top players do. I also learned to trust and maintain the required mental shot picture as I dropped straight down into my stance. Aiming while standing might be the single most important thing that has helped my game the most.
to have still and intense focus (see Image 3). All these things resulted in better accuracy and consistency.
Keep Elbow Still In my early pool days, I was a “rail banger,” where I would move my shoulder and drop my elbow during shots, causing the cue to sometimes slam into the rail, making a clanking sound. (I’m guessing you’ve heard this before.) This
Control Shot Speed with Stroke Length
Use Smart Eye Pattern In my early days, I had a terrible eye pattern, where I was not focusing very well on things that are important. I used to move my eyes back and forth quickly while moving the cue during my pre-shot routine. I also didn’t Image 3 lock my focus on the OB target before my final stroke. Because I wasn’t checking the tip position and cue alignment carefully and I wasn’t developing intense focus on my target, I was not very effective. Once I learned to quiet my eyes and focus on the things that are important, I immediately got better. I now keep my cue still at address, carefully checking the tip position and making sure my cue is aligned with the line of aim I established in my mental shot picture while I aimed in the standing position. I also now lock my focus on the OB target as I drop down into my stance to help guide me down straight while maintaining this shot picture. Additionally, I also lock my eyes on the OB target before my final stroke
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scratching or I actually scratched. I couldn’t hit carom and kiss shots effectively, and I had poor position-play skills. Now I use the 90-degree and 30-degree rules, and the three-timesthe-angle system (for draw shots) to accurately predict and create the CB motion I want over a wide range of shots. For more information and system demonstrations, see the CB Control resource page. To be a good player, you must have excellent CB control. You need to be able to pocket a ball, but you also need to be able to position the CB well enough to be able to keep pocketing balls.
motion made draw shots very difficult and inconsistent because the elbow drop before the hit can cause the tip to come up, resulting in much less or no backspin. As demonstrated in the video, despite having a low tip position at CB address, it is easy to hit the CB above center, resulting in a follow shot. I also sometimes miscued on follow shots, with the tip rising above the ball. Once I learned to keep my shoulder and elbow more still with a pendulum stroke, my accuracy and consistency improved on every shot, especially stun, draw and follow shots.
Learn CB Control Principles In the past, I used to worry about
I used to try to control shot speed using the same full-length stroke with different speeds. Sometimes it would work; but other times, my finesse and consistency were terrible. A much better approach is to pull back less for slowerspeed shots and more for shots that require more speed, still accelerating smoothly the same way on every shot. Changing stroke length can automatically create the desired speeds. It is like putting or chipping in golf, where you control the ball’s distance by the amount you pull back the clubhead. Everything mentioned in this article is clearly demonstrated in online video NV J.94, so be sure to check it out. More importantly, give everything a try at the table, especially if you think something might help your game. Also, if you want to learn more, the resource pages mentioned in this article and linked in the YouTube video description cover everything in great detail with lots of good examples. I hope you enjoy the video, and I hope the things that helped me so much over the years help you too. David Alciatore is a PBIA Advanced Instructor, dean of the Billiard University, and author of the book, “The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards,” and numerous instructional video series, all available at: DrDaveBilliards.com.
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T H E G R E AT D AT E D E B AT E
Luring the best buyers at the right time of the year is a challenge for any industry trade show.
TWO TIMING?
A bloc of billiard manufacturers and distributors has latched onto an earlier show with adjacent industries. Will the move mean others in the business have two viable options for pool’s trade show? By Nicholas Leider
C
ONSIDERING THE uncertainty in everyday life for the past 18 months, it’s comforting to say — with absolute certainty — the billiard business is booming. Pandemicrelated lockdowns have fueled demand for in-home entertainment options, which has helped pool rediscover a footing as a go-to activity for both families and individuals. Sales of tables, cues, cloth and accessories can’t entirely ameliorate the impact of a once-in-a-lifetime global health crisis, but an industry in search of a shot in the arm still hopes to make
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the most of an upturn in activity. “There’s no other way to say it besides business is booming,” said Steve Orner, owner of Jay Orner & Son’s Billiard Co. in Indianapolis. “If someone says business isn’t good, they’re doing something wrong.” Despite continuing challenges to the supply chain and sourcing materials, the major players in the industry — including manufacturers, distributors, retailers and poolroom owners/operators — all have plans to ensure the good times keep rolling. And a return to in-person trade shows is one area that
has created two distinct camps within billiards. In August, nine companies — including stalwarts like Brunswick, Imperial and Legacy Billiards —announced the formation of the Billiard Industry Group (BIG). This bloc of “like-minded companies serving the billiards and gameroom industries,” according to its founding letter, is to attend an earlier trade show to take advantage of an allimportant longer sales cycle. “In normal times, before [COVID-19], we definitely had six months lead time from receiving an order to getting that product,” said Roger Blank, director of sales and business development at Brunswick Billiards. “Doing a show in March always made a lot of sense. Instead of having a show in June or July, where that means that anything we sell there, we have to already have in stock, we can see what products will be successful with our dealers. The BCA, meanwhile, has been steadfast in its commitment to a midsummer show, citing preferences across its membership from manufacturers to retailers and poolroom operators. “We will not make everyone happy with every decision we make, but it’s the role of [the BCA] board and myself to make the best decisions we can in the interest of our membership,” said Rob Johnson, CEO of the BCA. “With regard to this issue, we are holding the BCA Expo during the right time of year.”
Dating Game The summer-or-spring debate on the BCA Expo has been a discussion that’s been around for at least 20 years. An earlier show, the thinking goes, gives exhibitors time to meet buyers and get feedback on products in development. Whether orders are placed at the show or over the summer, manufacturers and distributors can then adjust production based on their feedback from a spring show. Summer show advocates, meanwhile, want to attend the show, place orders and ensure they are stocked for pool’s busiest season by closing business roughly 90 days before business ticks upward. The BCA Expo moved to the spring from 2004 to 2006. The Las Vegas shows in 2004-2005 were in line with previous years in terms of exhibitors,
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In 2017, a small group of industry booths and buyers. But the Houston n Among 197 retailers, 35 percent veterans put together a presentation expo in 2006 saw a 32 percent decline preferred July, 12 percent preferred for Brunswick’s Blank to present to the in buyer attendance, to 1,843 from the June, and 10 percent preferred May. BCA Board, hoping to persuade the asprevious year’s 2,729. n The most popular first choice secsociation to explore an earlier window Was that dip because buyers weren’t ond choice combination for retailers for the annual expo. Members of the lured by the bright lights of Las Vegas? was July and June (51 percent), folboard voted against pursuing an invesOr was the industry tiring of an earlier lowed by July and August (46 percent). tigation of a spring show. show that didn’t make sense to signifin Among 45 manufacturers/dis“In business, when your biggest cuscant demographics? tributors, July was the most popular tomer asks you for something, you typWell, how you remember that expermonth (38 percent), followed by June iment with the calendar may (18 percent), March (11 perlargely depend on how you cent) and April (11 percent). feel about the BCA Expo’s n The most popular first current mid-summer timeschoice-second choice comlot. bination for manufacturers/ “We’ve been around distributors was July and enough where we rememAugust (60 percent) followed ber being very successful by June and May or June and in spring,” said Cris Gould, July (27 percent each). president of Legacy Billiards. “The results of the inde“Those April shows allowed pendent survey were overour customers to make large whelmingly clear that the buying decisions and schedsummer period is the preule purchases to be received ferred time to hold the BCA toward the end of the year. It Expo by all involved — manallowed us to combine all our ufacturers, distributors, reorders, manufacture all that tailers and room operators,” product, and get it shipped Johnson said, noting that his and delivered on time.” organization’s decision “has “I also remember back in been validated with indepen2004 and 2005 when [the dent, professional research.” BCA] moved the show to Fred Cohen, president of April and it tanked,” said Championship LLC and a Shane Bouchard, owner of longtime advocate for an earMaine Road Recreation and lier show, questioned that remember of the BCA Board search’s validity. of Directors. “Retailers hated “I said, ‘Well, you surit and manufacturers hated veyed the wrong people,’” it, so there’s a history that he said. “You have to talk to shows it doesn’t work. the exhibitors — they are the Regardless of an individones taking the orders, taking on the expense to be at ual’s or company’s thoughts the show, determining what on that experiment, the BCA is best for their business. The Expo was a different entity retailer and buyers will acafter the Great Recession. Af- The BCA Expo last held a spring show in Houston in 2006, commodate their schedule, ter the bottom fell out of the and the turnout was less than inspiring. what’s best for them.” economy in 2008-2009, the ically listen,” Blank said. “And when I show was effectively a third of its size was representing some of the biggest from the prior two decades. Booths Spring Forward companies [in billiards], I asked the dropped from 1,200 per year to 465 in With COVID-19 shutting down the BCA to listen, and they emphatically 2010 and 292 in 2015. Attendance for convention business for the better part said no.” buyers fell from 2,700 a year to 833 in of the past two years, 2022 will be a Following that meeting and contin2010 and 904 in 2015. year where many industries will look ued questions about expo timing, the All the while, advocates for a spring to capitalize on pent-up demand to BCA commissioned a market survey to show continued to ask questions. meet in person, face to face, as close to gauge interest in potential dates for the Would it make sense to partner with a “the normal” of conventions from beexpo. Released in July 2019, the report larger show? Would an earlier date refore the pandemic. showed strong support for July among invigorate attendance from major comFor the BIG, 2022 will be the first for bother retailers/dealers and manufacpanies that started to reduce or elimithe group at the Hearth, Patio, & Barturers/distributors: nate their presence? becue Association’s show in Atlanta on November 2021
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T H E G R E AT D AT E D E B AT E
March 3-5. The group of nine companies have agreed to exhibit at the HPBExpo, which typically attracts nearly 400 exhibitors in some 1,250 booths with 6,000-7,000 registered attendees. Gould’s Legacy Billiards had exhibited at the show in previous years, which lead to an ongoing conversation with the association’s leadership. “Chris had reached out with some questions about the show, because he was interested in participating and knew others who might be too,” said Kelly VanDermark, VP of exhibitions and events with HPBA. “They were looking for a show that would be a better fit, timewise, and I thought we could be a natural partner.” The pool and spa industry has long been seen as adjacent to billiards, so the outdoor leisure and fireplace business seems like a logical fit as well. “[The HPBA] was excited to talk to us because we could bring a significant number of booths,” Gould said, “We felt comfortable going with the HPBA because there was mutual interest there. We are a fit for retailers who are looking for high-ticket items for discretionary dollars.” Expanding its offerings is nothing new for the HPBA either. The original association focused primarily on hearth and patio before eventually merging with the barbecue group. While the first show for BIG is months away, both sides hope that billiards will be a fit with retailers looking to attract business throughout the year. “We want to show our retailers what products are out there, what options they have,” VanDermark said. “They want customers coming into their stores year-round, so billiards as a luxury entertainment product could make sense for our members.” Since the onset of COVID-19 in March 2020, many retailers, no matter their acronymic affiliation, have had to get creative in connecting with customers when travel and in-person meetings were not possible. Championship LLC, for example, held its own virtual show for its customers. “We did four times our usual sales volume in our own show,” Cohen said. “At this point, how do I justify the expense of a trade show without getting something new out of it?” Unprecedented times mean unusual
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BCA TRADE SHOW HISTORY YEAR 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2006-2 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
CITY Fort Worth, TX Fort Worth, TX Fort Worth, TX Louisville, KY Louisville, KY Nashvillle, TN Louisville, KY Nashvillle, TN Kansas City, MO Kansas City, MO Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV Minneapolis, MN Las Vegas, NV Orlando, FL Las Vegas, NV Kansas City, MO Las Vegas, NV New Orleans, LA Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV Houston, TX Baltimore, MD Las Vegas, NV Charlotte, NC Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV Schaumburg, IL Schaumburg, IL Louisville, KY Las Vegas, NV Schaumburg, IL Las Vegas, NV New Orleans, LA Las Vegas, NV VirtuALL Expo VirtuALL Expo
LOCATION EXHIBITORS Tarrant County Convention Center 79 Tarrant County Convention Center 84 Tarrant County Convention Center 89 Commonwealth Convention Center 85 Commonwealth Convention Center 124 Nashville Convention Center 152 Commonwealth Convention Center 183 Nashville Convention Center 178 Bartle Hall Convention Center 211 Bartle Hall Convention Center 224 Sands Convention Center 252 Sands Convention Center 252 Minneapolis Convention Center 236 Sands Convention Center 224 Orange County Convention Center 262 Sands Convention Center 260 Bartle Hall Convention Center 300 Las Vegas Convention Center 275 Ernest Morial Convention Center 243 Las Vegas Convention Center 295 Las Vegas Convention Center 273 Las Vegas Convention Center 299 George Brown Convention Center 234 Baltimore Convention Center 103 Sands Convention Center 234 Charlotte Convention Center 178 Las Vegas Convention Center 116 Las Vegas Convention Center 132 Las Vegas Convention Center 100 Schaumburg Convention Center 98 Schaumburg Convention Center 84 Kentucky Int’ Convention Center 71 South Point Hotel & Casino 87 Schaumburg Convention Center 78 South Point Hotel & Casino 85 Ernest Morial Convention Center 74 South Point Hotel & Casino 83
situations, though, like an industry that is experiencing once-in-a-generation demand when meetings have to be virtual and handshake deals are replaced by Zoom calls. “I think we have to ask if trade shows are as important as they once were in a digital age,” offered Zach DiMotta, president of Imperial International. “But they serve an undeniable purpose. I enjoy the enthusiasm, the energy, the excitement. It will always be important to meet with customers and colleagues to do business and to just socialize.” After two summers stuck inside and/ or in isolation, the billiards industry is
BOOTHS 184 205 204 205 322 400 459 475 566 619 701 711 781 828 933 1007 1135 1220 1112 1262 1286 1281 1272 278 1003 628 412 465 388 293 301 268 292 277 301 282 272
BUYERS 740 1015 1016 1106 1034 1598 2045 1927 1457 1551 1810 1598 1434 2840 2389 2766 2407 2776 2738 2705 2774 2729 1843 413 2156 1111 867 833 708 965 749 740 904 740 870 850 957
hoping to harness the optimism that could come with a waning pandemic and continually strong business. “Coming out of COVID, I want to return to some sort of normalcy,” said Nick Baron, general manager for the billiards division at Escalade Sports, parent company of Cue & Case and American Heritage. His company is not affiliated with BIG, but he plans on attending the HPBExpo in March, while he will exhibit at the BCA Expo in June. “I want to see the BCA give the industry a shot of life as we reemerge from the pandemic.” The BCA, after two years of all-
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T H E G R E AT D AT E D E B AT E virtual trade shows, knows 2022 will be a different year, one with an opportunity to show why an in-person trade show is still vital to its members. “Just like our industry, we are tasked with utilizing technology as part of the BCA Expo to enhance the expo and as a marketing tool to bring new exhibitors and attendees to the BCA Expo,” Johnson said. “We’re also discussing providing education on new tools to use to remain successful. Our industry has been transformed and we fully intend to embrace the changes and help our membership to not only navigate the changes but to find greater success in the process.”
Browsing or Buying? Executives with the BIG companies cite a lack of new faces at the BCA Expo as a contributing factor to their move to the HPBExpo. The consolidation of the show after the Great Recession left some feeling like a small show was getting a bit too claustrophobic. “For any trade show, I’m always a fan of quality over quantity,” said DiMotta. “But the BCA show, frankly, has delivered neither. We are talking with customers throughout the year, so it’s nice to see everyone and be together, but it’s the same folks over and over again.” The pool and spa industry has long been seen as a potential untapped reservoir for new buyers. But with business booming in the summer months, retailers from that industry are unable to attend a three-day show in Las Vegas at that time. “Every couple of years, we would make a one-day trip [to the BCA Expo],” said Marc Rush, managing partner of the Great Escape, a 25-store chain of pool, patio and spa outlets in the Midwest that sells in the hundreds of pool tables each year. “But the timing doesn’t work with our buying cycle — we need to be stocked and ready to go much earlier in the year. “But I like [what BIG] has done, merging with another show, because it brings more eyeballs [to] and awareness of the industry. The timing alone makes it more appealing to us, where we can discuss new items and strategize with exhibitors.” Other retailers in the billiard space prefer to handle business on the expo floor in summer, just as they gear up
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for the traditional buying season. “As a retailer, when I go to a show, I am there to buy,” Bouchard said. “I want to see what’s new, I want to discuss it, and I want to order a lot of it. March and April are traditionally the worst months for retailers, so if the industry ever decided to move the show, I’d still support it. I’d still go, but I’m not going to be placing orders.” Even with instability in the supply chain not seen in decades, however, some retailers prefer to place orders earlier to ensure delivery for the fourth quarter. “It’s been getting harder and harder to get the important products we sell,” Orner said. “If we wait until July or August to make an order, we may only
similar public stance with those companies in BIG, noting that attending another show for a company in the billiards industry isn’t anything unique. “Several of our BCA Expo manufacturers and distributors exhibit at more than the BCA Expo,” Johnson said. “This group of exhibitors has stated they are exhibiting at the HPBA specifically due to the timing of the event, [because] they think that’s the best timing for their customers.” While the HPBA and BIG are hopeful that the partnership at March’s show will prove successful, the two sides have nothing firm beyond that first show. BIG members, meanwhile, remain hopeful that a spring show will prove worthwhile, but a return
NPBA TRADE SHOW HISTORY 2015 - Nashville 2016 - New Orleans 2017 - Atlanta 2018 - Nashville 2019 - Dallas
Exhibitors 375 367 411 377 383
get one, maybe two [shipping] containers. But if we have the show in April or May, that may be doubled, if not more.” The question of buyers is key to Escalade’s Baron. “For me, it’s as simple as follow the buyers,” he said. “If the spring show is a complete hit and everybody was there and they’re writing massive orders and everybody’s asking, ‘Where’s Cue & Case and American Heritage?’ then we’re going to have to consider that for 2023. But, right now, I know that people are going to go to the BCA Expo.”
Is BIG Better? The companies that formed BIG are clear in their intentions to advocate for those in the billiards industry who would prefer an earlier show. While the group remains a bit of a nebulous collection of businesses, it wasn’t founded as a competition to the BCA or as an alternative to the industry trade group. “[The BIG] is certainly open to dialogue with the BCA,” Gould said. “We are not trying to dissect our industry, but we feel it is important to promote our business and try something new in the name of progress.” The BCA, meanwhile, is taking a
Booths 1281 1282 1292 1255 1238
Buyers 8145 6759 6778 7673 6520
on investment is not something that can be measured in sales or even after one year. “We are committed to partnering with the HPBA,” DiMotta said. “We are going into March with measured expectations, and we are aware it might take three years to fully appreciate the value of this move.” “I recognize there is a risk, absolutely,” Blank said. “But frankly, it would be riskier for us to go to the BCA [Expo] in June. We need to do something earlier in the year, maybe something on our own, but we see the potential in being associated with BIG at a retail show.” Risks and rewards will be somewhat subjective in 2022 in relation to trade shows in billiards. But on a long enough timeline, the companies that comprise pool will need to make a decision for the future of the industry. “We will see how things go [in 2023],” Baron said. “Maybe we split and go to both or follow the buyers to one or the other. At the end of the day, the only thing we can measure is the dollars in business we do in a given time. We just need to be ready to do what’s best for our customers and our industry.”
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The 2020 pandemic allowed Yapp to focus on believing in himself. In 2021 he’s got everyone believing in him.
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
It was only a matter of time before Aloysius Yapp broke in the winner’s circle. In Michigan, the 25-year-old Singapore star served notice that his time is now.
By Keith Paradise • Photos By Matt Porinsky
A
S SUMMER transitioned into fall, it started to become apparent that Aloysius Yapp was on the verge of breaking into the winner’s circle. After starting the summer with a top17 finish in the 256-player World Pool Championships, the 25-year-old from Singapore added a top-10 performance at the Diamond Las Vegas Open and tacked on a top-three placing at the World 10-Ball Championships a few days later. Yapp then traveled crosscountry to Atlantic City where he reached the final of the U.S. Open Pool Championships, jumping out to a sizable advantage against Carlo Biado early in the title match before Filipino caught
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him down the stretch to earn the coveted crown. “I still definitely have lots to learn but I would say I definitely trust and believe in myself a lot more now than before,” said Yapp after the event. “I could feel I was thinking and seeing things more positively.” Yapp definitely saw a lot more positives a week later at the CSI Michigan Open, as he battled back from the oneloss side to earn his first career professional victory, avenging a previous loss to Roberto Gomez Jr. of the Philippines in straight sets in the title match. Earning the championship in the four-day, 51-player double-elimination event put
a capper on what was a very lucrative month for the young man, who earned $50,500 in tournament earnings for September, nearly surpassing nine years of career winnings in a single 30day stretch. “It gives me confidence for sure that I am playing my game and thinking well,” said Yapp. “I didn’t think too much even though the past few tournaments before that I did well. I just looked at this as a fresh start and looked forward to enjoying the tournament and doing my best.” The fact that Yapp ever discovered the game at all is a bit of a happy accident. As a young boy his first real love had been soccer, with the sport
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CSI MICHIGAN OPEN being easily accessible. Many days he would come home from school, click the television to local sports channel and a live match would be on. One afternoon, the 10-year-old Yapp arrived home to find that his favorite game had been replaced for the afternoon with pool. The colorful balls, the green cloth. He was mesmerized. “It just looked like a new game at the time, and I Yapp’s star has been on the rise, with a final-16 berth at the 2019 U.S. Open earning TV time. guess I took a lot of Diamond Las Vegas Open hours before Yapp earned international recogniinterest from there,” Yapp said. COVID-19 hit the pause button on biltion in 2014, when he won the WPA That’s putting it mildly. Yapp iniliards and basically the world. Yapp reWorld Junior 9-Ball Championship. He tially quit classes at St. Patrick’s School turned to Singapore and decided to use made a quick transition to the profesin Singapore in 2011 to focus more on the time wisely, working with coach sional level, placing ninth as a 19-yearpool, ultimately enrolling in a program Toh Lian Han on strengthening funold at the 2015 World Cup of Pool at Coleman College that allowed him damentals as well as his mental game and ninth at that year’s World 9-Ball to work on his game and studies with — which, it turned out, needed a shot championship. He added a top-five a more flexible schedule. As a result, of confidence. finish at the China Open in 2018 and Yapp has become Singapore’s first full“I felt like I couldn’t believe I could earned top-10 finishes at the following time professional pool player, earning play at a high level,” said Yapp. “I kept year’s U.S. Open 9-Ball championship, income from not only tournament windoubting myself and during matches China Open, Japan Open and World nings but also funding from the counwhen I knew I had a chance to win or 9-Ball. He opened his 2020 season try’s Sports Excellence Scholarship take the lead, I would choke.” by struggling to a top-25 finish at the program. In Michigan, Yapp opened with victories against Filipino Warren Kiamco and Michael Schneider of Switzerland. Gomez then ushered him to the loser’s bracket in straight sets in the race-to-four, two-set format. “I struggled with my break and made a couple of mistakes because I couldn’t get used to the table conditions,” said Yapp. “He broke really well and played almost flawless.” Facing elimination, Yapp faced Tony Robles, with a berth in the single-elimination knockout phase hanging in the balance. The competitors battled back and forth in both sets, fighting to a match-deciding rack in each. Luckily for Yapp, Robles made mistakes Austria’s He had Gomez on the ropes in the semifinals, but fell short in the shootout. in both deciding racks which November 2021
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CSI MICHIGAN OPEN of a missed shot by his opponent in the allowed him to survive for another day, next rack to increase the lead but failed 4-3, 4-3. to pocket a ball on the break in the fol“I was really lucky,” said Yapp. “Tony lowing game. Trailing 3-0, the Filipino played well, and I had a tough time in seemed to be on his way to his first win that match. I made a couple of silly of the match but missed the 7 ball in mistakes but also had some good shots the corner pocket which allowed Yapp when I needed to stay alive.” to close out the set, 4-0. After gutting out straight set vicThe second set was a mirror image of tories against Greece’s Alex Kazakis the first, as Yapp used a missed 2 ball in and Poland’s Konrad Juszczyszyn durthe opening game and misplayed safeing the final day’s single-elimination ties by Gomez in the next two racks to phase, Yapp faced Hungarian upstart build a 3-0 lead. Gomez returned to Oliver Szolnoki in the semifinals and the table in the fourth game after his jumped out to a quick 3-1 advantage. opponent again failed to pocket a ball That lead evaporated, with the Hunon the break and appeared to have a garian pouncing on every mistake to workable table layout but missed the 3 tie the match. Szolnoki had a chance to ball. Yapp had a chance to close out the close out the set, but failed to pocket a match but gifted Gomez control of the ball on the beak, allowing Yapp to clear the table. “The decisive factor was that I left him a shot more times after the break,” said Szolnoki in discussing the differences between racking with a template rack versus a triangle. “I was 13 when we started using magic racks at every tournament, so I never practiced like this. The balls can’t be racked so precisely and frozen with the triangle, even Szolnoki is another young star who’s stock has soared in ’21. with a referee, so table again when he scratched in the it’s more like a matter of luck.” side pocket while attempting to secure The Hungarian jumped out to an position on the 8 ball. Gomez pocketed early 3-1 advantage in the second set the remaining balls to climb onto the after Yapp scratched in the first and scoreboard, then took advantage of a third games, but Yapp took advantage misplayed safety from Yapp to cut the of another Szolnoki dry break and a lead to 3-2. victorious safety exchange to tie the At the table with a chance to tie the score. After Yapp broke dry in the descore, this time it was Gomez who ciding game, his opponent appeared could not pocket a ball on the break. to be closing out the set and sending Yapp slowly and methodically worked the match to a sudden death shootout his way through the rack, sending the but missed the 2 ball, allowing Yapp to cue ball three rails after pocketing the close out the rack and the match, 4-3. 8 ball to secure position on the 9 ball, Yapp’s breaking struggles continued then slyly cracking a smile when he into the finals, but he fought his way to landed straight in position on the 10 a 2-0 advantage thanks to a misplayed ball for the win. After pocketing the safety by Gomez coupled with his lonegame-winning ball, an overjoyed Yapp break-and-run. He then took advantage
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raised his cue in triumph with a large smile on his face. The smile may have been out of relief as much as happiness, with Yapp surviving the final day as much as earned the win. In all, Yapp would fail to land a ball on the break six times during the championship match. “I didn’t think too much even though the past few tournaments before that I did well,” said Yapp. “I just looked at it like a fresh start and looked forward to enjoying the tournament and giving my best.” The runner-up finish for Gomez was one more accolade in a year that’s been chock full of them, with the Filipino placing in the top-five of regional, national or worldwide events 15 times — including a top-four finish in the Arizona Open, a fifthplace finish at the World Cup of Pool and a victory in the Diamond Open 10Ball division. After an opening round bye, Gomez took down American Dominic Brikho and Yapp to qualify for the tournament’s final 16 single-elimination phase. The Filipino then defeated Thorsten Hohmann and reigning World 10-Ball champion Eklent Kaci to qualify for the semifinals — where he would have a bit more work to do than Yapp to reach the finals when he faced Mario He of Austria. He pitched a shutout in the opening set, using a missed 6 ball from his opponent along with tactical safeties to win four consecutive games. Gomez responded by winning the first two games of the second set thanks to a run out after a safety coupled with a break-and-run. The Austrian cleared the table and climbed onto the scoreboard in the third rack after his opponent missed the 3 ball, then took advantage of another Gomez miss in the next game to tie the match. Gomez reclaimed the lead when He missed the 1
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CSI MICHIGAN OPEN Grabe during the singleelimination portion before falling to Gomez. He’s steady play would continue in the weeks following, as he turned in fourth place finish at the Diamond Open’s 10-ball contest and would win CSI’s FargoRate Ohio Open a few weeks later. Also turning in a topfour finish in Michigan was
money’s worth out of the format, surviving shootouts in both of his first two matches against American Kang Lee and Canadian John Morra to qualify for the final 16. “I made all shots in every shootout, so I handled the pressure well,” said Szolnoki. He then defeated Morra again as well as Singapore’s Toh to qualify for the semifinals against Yapp where his breaking struggles contributed to a defeat.
ball in the fifth rack, then closed out the set and forced a shootout when He failed to pocket a ball on the break in the sixth game. The Filipino was perfect in the shootout, pocketing all four spot shots while He could only Gomez (above) kept the pressure on in the title match, but Yapp (left) held his nerve. manage to land three of four atSzolnoki, a 24-year-old from Hungary “I played solid overall but I also tempts. who has been hanging around near the made some mistakes I wouldn’t expect In all, the third-place finish was antop of leaderboards since breaking out myself to make,” he said. other solid performance for the Auswith a semifinalist performance at the A week later in South Carolina, the trian, who has notched two top-five World Pool Championships in June. Hungarian’s hot streak continued as he placings in EuroTour competition this “For sure it gave me confidence so won the Diamond Open’s 9-ball conyear and at a top-10 at the U.S. Open I believe that I can win tournaments, the week before. The Austrian opened test and placed seventh in the 10-ball said Szolnoki. “But my game didn’t play with victories against Americans competition, bringing his year’s tourchange after that. So, I guess even if Justin Martin and Tyler Styer during nament earnings to $30,758 — which it helped it’s more like some mental the double-elimination phase of the is more than double the $12,501 he had thing.” tournament, then took down Lithupreviously earned in his entire profesThe Hungarian definitely got his sional career. ania’s Pijus Labutis and Estonia’s Denis
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AUSTRIA OPEN
Fisher struggled but survived to win the Austria Open.
ON THE GRIND
Kelly Fisher had to rely on her experience to grind her way to the Austria Open Women’s title, while Eklent Kaci dominated the Open division. Three Junior World Champions were crowned as well.
By Mike Panozzo • Photos By JP Parmentier
O
N THE surface, the Austrian Open in small, picturesque Klagenfurt, the European stop on the 2021 Predator Pro Billiard Series, looked to be a virtual benefit event for reigning Women’s World 9-Ball Champion Kelly Fisher. After all, the field checked in at a manageable 20 players, with no Asian competitors, a single American and without former world champion and local/national hero Jasmin Ouschan off practicing her rumba while participating in the country’s “Dancing Stars” program. What’s more, at the event-launching press conference, officials from the local government — which has long proven to be one of the most active supporters of pool events in Europe — announced that it would add money to the women’s event to bring its prize fund in line with the men’s prize fund. For Fisher, that meant playing for a $15,000 top prize instead of $10,000.
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“I was really up for this event,” said Fisher. “I was playing well going into it and was excited to play.” Fisher was also among the top eight players who received a first-round bye, making the road to the final a mere four matches. Naturally, Fisher proceeded to drop her opening match in the two-set, race-to-four Predator format, losing in straight sets, 4-2, 4-0, to Sara Rocha of Portugal. “I wasn’t on my game at all,” Fisher understated. “And she played really well. A lot of people looked at it as a shock, but not me. I didn’t play well and didn’t deserve to win. And with the cutthroat format, I knew that the road from there was going to be a grind.” Fortunately for Fisher, the next two opponents were Austrian junior players Anna Riegler and Sarah Kapeller, both competing later in the week in the Predator-sponsored World Junior 9-Ball Championships.
“They are good young players,” Fisher qualified, “but I was able to relax a little more and try to get a rhythm going.” Dispatching both in straight sets, Fisher moved into the elimination bracket qualification round, a win away from advancing to the final eight single elimination and a redraw. For the first time, Fisher faced an established European tour competitor, Margaret Fefilova of Belarus. “The tables were slick, and we both had patchy parts in the match,” Fisher recalled. Fisher claimed the opening set, but Fefilove responded to win the second, forcing a spot-shot shootout. Players alternate shots for four rounds, with sudden death rounds tacked on if the first four fail to produce a winner. “It was my first shootout and it was nerve-wracking,” Fisher admitted. “I feel confident with shootouts because of my snooker background and long potting ability, but it’s still scary. I managed
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to pinch that one, 5-4.” Fisher opened the final eight with a straight set win over Spain’s Amalia Matas, but never felt solid at the table. Still unhappy with her game, Fisher placed a call to longtime coach Lionel Payne. “He convinced me that I had to dig in deep and grind,” Fisher said. “He told me to use my experience, and that’s what I relied on.” In the semifinals, Fisher faced Germany’s Veronica Ivanovskaia. The pair split the two sets, forcing another shootout. Both players missed the first shot, after which Fisher and Ivanovskaia traded successful shots for the next three rounds and three more after that. Finally, Fisher scored and Ivanovskaia missed. “It really was exciting,” Fisher recalled. “But I still wasn’t playing well.” That trend would actually reach a head in the title match against unknown Serbia Bojana Sarac. Ironically, Sarac also lost her opening match to Matas, battling through five matches to reach the finale (all but one in straight sets), including a 2-0 win over fancied Russian star Kristina Tkach in the semifinals. As it turned out, the title match was more a war of attrition, with both Fisher and Sarac missing shots and making numerous tactical mistakes. Indeed, it was Fisher’s experience that allowed her to slog through and reach the finish line, winning in straight sets. “It was my worst match of the tournament,” Fisher admitted. “I was just happy to get through. It’s always nice to win, no matter what. And it was an absolutely fantastic event from the organization and arena standpoint.” Meanwhile, the open event staged in Klagenfurt, the fourth in the Predator Pool Series, drew 59 players. And while a 59-player field would normally be considered adequate, the fact that
With a Team USA spot still unclaimed, Styer (left) posted his best finish of 2021, while Team Europe pick Kaci (above) was an unstoppable force.
a $25,000-added event in Europe (the largest open event on the European mainland in decades) would not fill a 64-player chart, when $4,000 top prize EuroTour events can draw 200, was quizzical. Missing was a large contingent of EuroTour mainstays that elected to stay in the U.S. following the World 10-Ball Championship and spend multiple months in the tournament-rich summer and fall, largely due to the hassle with traveling back and forth during the COVID era. Still, the Austria Open featured a solid European field, a trio of Americans and several players from travelfriendly Asian countries. Unpredictable as the format can be in the Predator Series, the runaway talent
in the tournament was recently minted World 10-Ball Champion Eklent Kaci of Albania. Kaci stormed through six consecutive matches without yielding a single set to claim the title, defeating surprising American Tyler Styer in the title match, 4-1, 4-0. Carving his own path through the winner’s bracket to reach the title match, the 26-year-old from Wisconsin mowed down Germany’s Niklas Dohr, Poland’s Mateusz Sniegocki, Serbian Aleksa Pecelj, Norway’s Emil Andre Gangflot, Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and Jan Van Lierop of the Netherlands, requiring a shootout to outlast Sniegocki, Sanchez Ruiz and Van Lierop. And while Kaci dominated their meeting in the final, Styer’s performance likely solidified his third appearance for Team USA in the upcoming Mosconi Cup. “To say this tournament was a grind is an understatement,” Styer said in a Facebook post following the event. “I probably broke and ran three racks the entire event. This format brings out all aspects of the game.” Sniegocki, just one of the powerful Polish contingents, tied for third with Van Lierop. Not to be outshone, junior players
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AUSTRIA OPEN took center stage in Klagenfurt following the Open and Women’s events, with world titles being awarded in Boy’s Under 19, Boy’s Under 17 and Girl’s. The Boys Under 19 event, while just 10 players, yielded a repeat winner, with rising star Germany’s Moritz Neuhausen once again claiming the crown. The German raced unbeaten to the title, squeezing past Poland’s Szymon Kural, 11-9, in the finals American Riley Adkins placed third, with both his losses coming at the hands of Kural — 9-1 in the second round and 11-5 in the final eight. Also finishing third was (L-R) Primus, Neuhasuen and Jastrzab claimed Junior World 9-Ball Championship titles. Norway’s Gangflot, who had match, while countrywoman Sarah loss to American Ladnon Hollingplaced a strong ninth in the Open diKapeller finished third. Primus had sworth, 7-5. Hollingsworth finished vision. lost her second-round match against tied for fifth place. The 18-player Boys Under 17 diviAmerican Hayleigh Marion, 7-2, beThe host country did itself proud in sion was won by Poland’s Dominik fore rebounding to win the world title. the Girls’ division, posting two players Jastrzab, who defeated Dutchman YanDominika Pawelczyk of Poland also on the podium. Lena Primus defeated nick Ponger in the final, 9-2. Jastrzab finished third. Korea’s Hyerim Kim, 9-7, in the title fought back from an opening round
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F A R G O R AT E O H I O O P E N
PANDA EXPRESS Austria’s Mario He battled to the title in the Ohio Open, claiming his first pro title on American soil. By Keith Paradise • Photos by Matt Porinsky
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T’S EASY to forget that Austria’s Mario He is only 28 years old. After all, he’s been a EuroTour staple for a decade already, and has won a half-dozen events — four on the grueling, talentladen European 9-ball tour and two victories with countryman Albin Ouschan in the World Cup of Pool. One sticking point for the burly “Panda,” however, has been his lack of success in U.S. events. “I’ve won a lot in Europe, but I’ve never won in the United States and I don’t know why,” said He recently. “I wanted to win here so much. Maybe that’s why.” With this year’s reshuffling and rescheduling of events resulting in six professional tournaments in seven weeks, He found himself with plenty of chances to win on American soil. After
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a ninth-place finish at the U.S. Open Pool Championship in Atlantic City, He reached the semifinals of the CSI Michigan Open and added a fourth-place finish at the Diamond Open’s 10-ball division later in the month. Once again, he was knocking at the door but had yet to jimmy it open. “I was playing good, and I was feeling good,” said He. “That’s why it was important to me that I win. It was feedback that you did something right.” He got the feedback he was looking for at the FargoRate Ohio Open at Roberts Centre in Wilmington, where he earned his first title on U.S. soil with a straight sets defeat of Filipino Roberto Gomez Jr. The victory in fourth and final tournament of the 2021 Predator Pro Billiard Series was not only his first
in the U.S. but also his first championship overall since the 2019 Veldhoven Open. “Everything went well but it was not my best game,” said He, conceding that his stellar play was met with the occasional fortunate break during the fourday event. “You need some combination of all to win a tournament because there are so many good players.” After opening round wins against Gregory Hogue and Evan Lunda, He lost to Japan’s Naoyuki Oi with a spot in the single-elimination round of 16 at stake. Given one more opportunity on the loser’s side, He secured his spot in the final phase with a victory against New Yorker Kang Lee. After opening the final day of play with victories against American
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“The cue ball didn’t fly around the table Within about a span of five minutes, Jeremy Sossei and Switzerland’s Daniel but I didn’t make a ball so I couldn’t do He had a 3-0 lead. Schneider, the Austrian wasn’t exactly anything.” “I was feeling pretty bad for my opoverflowing with confidence when he He would do more than avoid a ponent, honestly,” said He. reached the final stages. The matches shootout in the finals against Gomez: His opponent wasn’t feeling so great were played on the event’s main table He avoided playing some racks comeither. which has more intense lighting since “What happened when he broke and pletely. it is used for video stream broadcasts. made the 10 broke my focus,” said GoIn an attempt to make competition The intense wattage gives the equipmez. quicker and more intriguing, the rules ment’s cloth additional slickness and The sympathy was more-than-likely at the Pro Billiard Series events — the can make rail rubber a little more malshort-lived, as He failed to pocket a brainchild of equipment manufacturer leable, factors that the Austrian strugball on the break in the fourth rack Predator and amateur league operator gled with early on. As a result, He’s and Gomez battled back to tie the set. CueSports International — are a bit plan of attack throughout the day was to avoid the extra-frame shootout. Facing Ruslan Chinahov in the semifinals, He received so many fortunate breaks from his opponent that he should have considered purchasing a lottery ticket. The Russian matched the Austrian throughout the two-set match but faltered in key situations in the set deciding rack and allowing He to escape, 4-3, 4-3. “I’ve been having trouble with my nerves and my hand was shaking,” said Chinahov. “I was trying to fix it, but it was difficult to shoot straight.” “When he missed in the last rack in the first set, it was a shocker to me,” said He, who cleared the re- For the second consecutive Predator Billiard Series U.S. stop, Gomez fell just short. maining balls and won the different than standard 10-ball tournaAfter his break in the set-deciding rack, set, 4-3. “The only thing that I could do Gomez was faced with a tied up 3 and ments. Long sets are eschewed for two is take it and not get relaxed. If your 4 ball, which he attempted a combinaset races to four, and a 10 ball pocketed opponent starts missing sometimes tion shot on but missed. He ran out for on the break or a combination shot you start missing as well. I just tried to a 4-3 set win. counts as a victory. focus on my game.” “I didn’t see a safety available, so I Throughout his day of play on the He swiped two of the first three went for the shot,” Gomez said after the table, He noticed that his break shot racks of the second set but lost control match. was causing a ball from the last row to of the table when he pocketed the 1 He cruised through the second set, kick the 10 ball towards the side rail. ball in a pocket he did not call. Chitaking advantage of more loose play by The Austrian decided on hitting the nahov had a chance to tie the set but Gomez, to secure the title, 4-0. cue ball at slightly less than full power missed a sharp cut on the 8 ball in the “What happened in the first set to try and unleash solid contact. What corner pocket. The Russian would rally broke my focus,” said Gomez. “When I he ultimately unleashed was not one, in the fifth rack after a He foul, then came back in the first set and still lost, but two, “golden breaks,” with the 10 tacked on a break-and-run to even the it kind of broke me in the second set.” ball kicking into the far corner pocket score. Once again, Chinahov was at the The runner-up finish was Gomez’s for one win and trickling into the side table with a chance to close out the set second in the Pro Billiard Series, havpocket for another. He broke a third and once again he could not capitalize, time and watched as the 2 and 10 balls ing also placed second in the Michigan failing to pocket a ball on the break. He lined up for a combination shot near Open. methodically ran the table to advance the side pocket, which he cleanly pockAfter an opening round bye, Gomez to the finals. defeated Jeremy Seaman in a shootout, “I hit the balls good,” said Chinahov. eted. November 2021
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F A R G O R AT E O H I O O P E N Seaman before falling in the semifinals. “I felt very comfortable in my match, but Roberto played well,” said De Luna. Turning in a trio of under the radar but impressive fifth-place finishes were Americans Seaman and Devin Poteet along with Switzerland’s Daniel Schneider. After defeating Poteet in his opening round match, Seaman would give Gomez everything he could handle, battling back from a first set defeat to claim the second frame Chinahov held his nerve for a third-place run. De Luna was the second-best Filipino in Ohio. and force a sudden death shootout which he lost. Now playing Russian dropped his opening round then handled Jonas Souto Comino to on the one-loss side, Seaman elimimatch to Poland’s Mieszko Fortunski, secure a spot in the final 16. The Filinated Cole, Abdullah Al-yousef and before topping Owen Miller, reigning pino opened single-elimination play by Poland’s Mieszko Fortunski to advance Kremlin Cup champion Tyler Styer, defeating Mika Immonen and Devin to the single-elimination phase. The Demi Jelatis and Poland’s Wiktor ZiePoteet, then met fellow Filipino JefAmerican wasn’t finished challenging linksi to qualify for the single-eliminafrey De Luna in the semifinals. Gomez the world’s top players as he eliminated tion final phase. The Russian opened jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the Japan’s Naoyuki Oi in his first match of the final day of first set before the final day before falling to De Luna. play with victoDe Luna battled Paducah, Kentucky native Poteet enries over Gerback. At 3-3, De tered the one-loss side of the bracket many’s Thorsten Luna misplayed a and defeated Hunter Lombardo, MoHohmann and safety, leaving just hammad Ali Berjaoui and Hungarian Mickey Krause enough room for Oliver Szolnoki to reach the singlebefore falling to Gomez to pocket elimination knockout phase, then deHe in the semifithe shot and run feated Kiamco before falling to Gomez. nals. out. Gomez rolled Meanwhile, Schneider opened play “I’m happy to a 4-1 win in the with defeats of Abdullah Alshamabout my game second set to admari and Michigan Open champion and to finish third vance to the final. Aloysius Yapp before falling to Morra. even though I “Overall, I’m Schneider qualified for the second made a couple of happy with how phase by eliminating Poland’s Konrad stupid mistakes,” I played and the Juszczyszyn, then took down Morra said Chinahov. event,” said Goin a rematch in the single-elimination Joining Chinamez, adding that phase before falling to He in the quarhov in third place he wasn’t a fan of terfinals. was De Luna, who the 10 ball countA familiar face in the Predator Bilhad been undeing on the break liard Series — as well as pretty much feated in the event and voiced his all professional events in the month of until his defeat concern to tourSeptember — who did not qualify for at the hands of nament organizthe final day of play was Singapore’s fellow countryers. Yapp. After his loss to Schneider in man Gomez. De Finishing tied the second round, the U.S. Open Pool Luna opened the for third was Championship runner-up and World event with victoChinahov, who He bid farewell to his streak of U.S. 10-Ball Championship semifinalist ries over Jeff Cole, returned to comtournaments without a victory. staved off elimination by defeating ErHunter Lombardo petitive play afnesto Dominguez and Allen Bain, but and Wiktor Zielinski to qualify for the ter nearly a year away from the game missed out on a chance to qualify for second phase of the tournament, then thanks to the pandemic. As he strugthe final 16 when he was defeated by defeated reigning World Pool Masters gled with nerve issues that extended Finland’s Mika Immonen. champion Alex Kazakis and Jeremy from his neck through his back, the
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BILLIARDS IN THE MOVIES – THE NEVER-ENDING SEQUEL
By Mike Shamos
THE COLOR OF MONEY IN 1986 GAVE RISE TO POOL FILMS OF THE 1990S IN THE U.S, EUROPE AND ASIA.
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by Robert LaBrosse, comes HEN HOLLYWOOD back to his hometown and finds a successmeets the beautiful Linda ful franchise, it (center), played by Krishangs on to it tine Rose. They fall in love like a bulldog. Consider (at least Jeff does), but it Fast & Furious, a series so turns out that Linda is famous that its 2021 enmarried to Jeff’s brother, try is just called F9. Why and the two plot to kill waste ink? In case you’re the brother, kind of a Douworried about it ending, ble Indemnity idea with nothing succeeds like billiards thrown in. You excess, and deals have say you haven’t seen this been signed for F10 and one? Maybe because the F11 (maybe not by those dialogue is in Italian and it names). Following in Vin was released in South KoDiesel’s tire tracks, I presrea. La Brosse shot pool in ent you with a fourth in another movie, Three for our billiard series. For those not taking 1. In Passion’s Flower (1991), a murder plot develops over a pool table. One, in 1990. I’m amused by the website IMDb’s one Prevagen, I remind you sentence outline of its that we tied up the 1980s plot: “Three chauvinistic this past August, so we hunks get their comeuponly have about 30 more pance by the same womyears to go until the presan.” It may or may not be ent. This will not require redeeming that one of the as many sequels as Fast chauvinistic hunks was & Furious, but we can’t a pool player. A review finish this month because called it a “tawdry Italthere was a virtual exploian sex comedy.” Oh, yes, sion of pool films starting the original title, loosely in 2010. translated from Italian, After The Color of Monwas “Three fish and a cat ey in 1986, pool was cool in a hot bed.” I guess in again. In 1991, Steve that one pool was “hot.” Rushin published “Pool 2. Crime drama Duplet (Bank Shot) is set in Riga in 1992. 1992’s Duplet (Double), Cool,” a brief and breezy Latvian film, was much more serious. and game rooms, chalking up their cues primer on the game, its vocabulary and (Fig. 2) The backdrop is at a Russian and rediscovering the excitement and players. It also had a section on cool billiards tournament that took place in strategy of playing pool.” Whether it places to play. Apparently, “hot” is a Riga, the capital of Latvia. It’s really a was hot or cool, it was once again chic synonym of “cool,” because one of the crime thriller, dealing with ecological to have pool scenes in movies. book’s reviews declared that “Suddencrimes with containers of toxic chemiDirectors wasted no time. In Passion’s ly, pool is hot – and people across the cals being smuggled from Germany Flower (1991) (Fig. 1), Jeff (left), played country are heading to local pool halls
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to Latvia. One of the players gets kidnapped and another tries to foil the operation. The title is shown in Russian in the poster. Latvia was formerly a Soviet republic, and a large proportion of its population speak and read Russian. It’s useful to remember that the Soviet Union fell in December 1991, so this was one of the first films made in the 3. This scene was deleted from 4. Kelvin Han Yee in Chalk (1996). newly independent Latvia. The word Groundhog Day (1993). “duplet” in both Latvian and Russian indeed means “double,” but it’s also the Russian (and Latvian) term for a bank shot. The word “double” has the same meaning to English billiards and snooker players. In 19th-century English books, a bank shot was called a “doublet,” almost the same words as “duplet.” The movie’s not easy to find, but it’s on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzzqpGAyQuI. Groundhog Day (1993) was based on the sublime notion that a person might be destined to live the same day over and over again until they improve their character enough to deserve to be released from eternal repetition. The victim is Bill Murray, playing Phil Collins, a jaded weatherman from Pittsburgh assigned to cover the annual Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, Pa., about 90 minutes northeast. He even5. Ford and Pitt faced off in Devil’s Own (1997) tually becomes a nice person, falls in In 1995, Denzel Washington shot pool years. And “Punxsutawney Phil” is love, and is then freed from his dreaded in Devil in a Blue Dress, but wasn’t until the name of the celebrated groundhog monotony. You might remember that 1996 that we had another entire movie who emerges each year to look for his the film has no pool scene. However, devoted to pool. It’s Chalk, by Rob Nilsshadow. If you haven’t seen the original such a sequence was filmed but cut durson (Fig. 4), a talented director who movie, wait until the actual Groundhog ing editing (Fig. 3). You can find it on won a prize at Cannes in 1979. The BilDay on February 2, and then tune to YouTube if you search for “Groundhog liard Archive has a copy of the original American Movie Classics (AMC). In a Day Pool.” Murray is shooting pool in screenplay, which is very gritty, kind of stroke of self-referential brilliance, the a local room. Since he plays every day, like chalk. It takes place in a decrepit network plays the film over and over he has gotten quite good, sinking two, room near some railroad tracks in San again all day. three or four balls on each shot. He Francisco. Many of the is approached by two cast members were lotough guys who say, cal street people, which “Hey, Mister – who are lends an atmosphere of you, anyway?” He anauthenticity to the film, swers, “You don’t know which is remarkably me? – I’ve been playing powerful. It’s a complex in here every day for tale of newcomer meets months … they call me established player, and Punxsutawney Phil.” battles ensue. SlowFor the curious, “Punxpaced at nearly twosutawney” is a variant and-half hours, there’s of “Ponsutenik,” meanplenty of time for faming “town of the sand ily troubles, a cancer flies,” so named by the diagnosis, love and vioLenni-Lenapie indiglence. One of the characenous people who lived there for thousands of 6. Elizabeth Hurley played a female devil in Bedazzled (2000). ters disparages another November 2021
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CHRONICLES
7. Piper Perabo made Coyote Ugly (2001) a cult classic.
by saying he’s “all talk and no chalk,” an insult reminiscent of the Texas saying, “all hat – no cattle.” The “cool” theme continues, with Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford shooting in The Devil’s Own in 1997 (Fig. 5), Elizabeth Hurley in Bedazzled (2000, Fig. 6) and Piper Perabo’s breakout role in Coyote Ugly in 2001 (Fig.7). In the meantime, some more serious billiard movies were produced in Europe. A Tres Bandas, (“Three Cushion”) from 1997 (Fig. 8) is about a former billiard titleholder who angered the Mafia by refusing to dump in a tournament. Finished as a professional, he coaches a woman (Ruth Gabriel) to the level of champion and together they exact revenge on the Mob having her win a tournament on which there has been heavy betting. Stickmen was a New Zealand product in 2001. It was nominated for 12 awards there, including Best Film, and was one of that country’s most profitable movies of all time. The “stickmen” are guy who shoot in pubs but enter a tournament run by a gangster, in a way remi-
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8. In A Tres Bandas (Three Cushion), billiard players beat the Mob.
9. These actresses practiced 10 hours a day to prepare for Stickmen (2001).
10. Poolhall Junkies (2002) had a great cast but bombed with critics.
niscent of A Tres Bandas. Two of its actresses, Simone Kessell and Anne Nordhaus (Fig. 9), spent 10 hours a day for six months to learn pool well enough for one two-minute sequence. The film resulted in the founding of New Zealand’s first open 8-ball tournament. On the heels of Stickmen came Running Out, also in 2001, a low-budget film about three hustlers, two of them women, loaded with intense pool scenes and throbbing music. It was shown at some minor festivals and won an award at the Riverside (Calif.) International Film Festival. By contrast, Poolhall Junkies in 2002 was an expensive project with Chazz Palminteri, Rod Steiger (who runs a pool hall) and Christopher Walken, directed by Mars Callahan (a strong player himself), who also stars. Fig. 10 shows Allison Eastwood (yes, Clint’s daughter) at the table. It’s a familiar setup – the former hustler Palminteri takes Callahan under his wing and develops his talent. Callahan breaks away from Palminteri, who turns his attention to another upand-comer, played by Ricky
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12. What did Efren do in this position in Pakners (2003)?
in 1989. When his mother dies, he enters a pool tournament to settle family debts but forfeits when he shows up 16 minutes late. The Russian winner agrees Reyes and his partner spend some time to a private match for 100,000 Euros, in jail and he receives a black eye, the and bedlam ensues, including Zucker movie has a generally light tone. In the faking a heart attack. Everything turns climactic final sequence, Reyes faces out alright when the Russian offers to the position in Fig. 12. If he manages to split the stake with Zucker. It’s much hit the 8-ball without sinking it, there 11. Pakners (2003) is a Filipino pool more complicated than I have let on, ina good chance his opponent will run romp with Efren Reyes. volving a rabbi, awkward sex and some out. If he doesn’t, his opponent gets ball bar pool. I don’t know who dreams up in hand. What to do? He plays a fiveSchroder. This leads to a great showthis stuff, but it’s inherently funny. The cushion bank, pockets the 8-ball gracedown between Schroder and Callahan. original is in German and its opening fully and leaves himself in shape to win. Rod Steiger was no stranger to pool weekend box office receipts in the U.S. The crowd goes wild. You can view the scenes. He shot in The Sergeant (1968) were a stupefying low $2,130. I’ve never whole movie on YouTube. It has a lot of and W.C. Fields & Me (1976). Hall-ofseen it and don’t want to. set-up trick shots, but you do get to see Famer Mike Massey appears as “St. Having hit botLouie” Roberts and tom, there was no some trick shots place to go but up. were executed by The year 2004 was Robert Leblanc, saved to some exwho wrote “Content by Up Against fessions of a Pool the Eight Ball, (Fig. Hustler.” Reviews 14) in which two of Junkies were not coeds at a Black good. One called college hustle pool it the “cinematic in Las Vegas to equivalent of a train pay their tuition, wreck.” It conkind of redeeming tinued: “You also goal. It’s not a litcan’t help but feel erary masterpiece, embarrassed for evbut it deserves a eryone involved in prize when comthis billiards-based pared with Zucker. dramatic thriller, Its advertising tag especially the cast. line was “Life is a It makes you wonhustle.” der if some black- 13. The lot of El Juego de Zucker (2004) 14. Up Against the Eight Ball (2004) Next time we’ll mail material was defies description. featured women hustling to pay tuition. finish out the seused to get [them] ries with a flurry of entries after 2010. Reyes’ smooth work at the table. to appear in it.” For those of you interested in billiards One of the strangest billiard films is Possibly you never thought of Efren in the movies, I strongly recommend El Juego de Zucker (2004) a fractured Reyes as an actor. He was inducted the website www.billiardsmovies.com, Spanish translation of “Go for Zucker,” into the BCA Hall of Fame in 2003 and which tries to be comprehensive on the which is itself a translation of “Alles auf appeared the same year in Pakners, a subject. Zucker” (Fig. 13). Let’s see if you buy Filipino pool movie (Fig. 11). The title Mike Shamos is Curator of The Billiard the premise. A Jewish newspaperman means “partners,” and it gave Reyes a Archive, a non-profit foundation set up to (Zucker) in Germany decides he has to chance to wield his magic in several preserve billiard history. leave the country for political reasons long nine-ball matches. Even though November 2021
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Tips & Shafts
George Fels
JOHNNY, MARCHING HOME
[Reprinted from June 2000]
I
T’S BEEN said, often enough, that you don’t choose pool; pool chooses you. In John Ervolino, then, the game probably made its ultimate casting call. It’s not just that his straight pool was national class at a time when America was virtually the only nation playing the game, and it’s not merely that he was one of the greatest hustlers ever. In looks, demeanor and even voice, Ervolino is pool. The man is so street smart that he even had the good sense to be born in Brooklyn, in the spring of 1935. The setting and date have pool significance because his formal education did not extend into the ’50s; instead, he went whooping and hollering into streets that surpassed all others in the world when it came to teeming with pool life. In Ervolino’s formative period, the late ’40s, and for the next 20 years or so, the New York metro area was pool’s version of Mecca (with the added advantage of already being east). Two hundred-ball runners could be found in each of the five boroughs, with a healthy surplus in New Jersey. And the suckers; O, Lord, the suckers, and in delicious droves, as innocent in the poolrooms of Times Square as they were at the hands of the three-card-Monte dealers and Rolex salesmen just outside them. A player of Ervolino’s speed, even as a teen, could make thirty or forty dollars a day practically just for falling out of bed. The less he cared about the game (his real passion was horseracing, and to this day he claims to know more about it than any living human), the better he seemed to play — but only for money. Like his dear friend, the late Jack “Jersey Red” Breit, and a few others in a small sub-sub-culture, Ervolino was ferocious for the cash but only lukewarm in tournaments. He won a few straight-pool invitational events in and around New York and competed in several U.S. Opens with undistinguished results. But he did not warm to the pomp and circumstance, nor to the dress codes, and least of all to the silence, which locked down one of the deadliest weapons in his arsenal: his voice. Ah, that voice. Always a throaty croak (insiders called him “The Velvet Foghorn,” borrowing liberally from the late jazz singer Mel Torme; at that, certainly more creative than “Brooklyn Johnny”), its pitch has risen with the years, rather than deepening as might be expected. Today he sounds a bit like a streetwise Walter Brennan. But he was (and still is) a Rickles-class needler, always managing to bring off his scams without getting his prospects too angry to participate. “I can tell you’re no player,” he rasped at a selected schmo once, “I can tell by the shape of yer head.” “What the hell are you talking about?” the befuddled mark managed. “What’s wrong with my head?” “I di’n’t say nothin’ was wrong with it. I just said it ain’t a player’s head, is all. Good players got certain shaped heads. I do. You ain’t. It’s dat simple,” Ervolino explained,
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massaging the mark’s scalp as tenderly and expertly as any qualified phrenologist would. “Looka dis here. How do you even expect to play? Lumps! Bumps! Bah! It’s hopeless.” At that point, the prospect had determined that what he had on his hands was not a qualified phrenologist but a certifiable loon and agreed to pool combat. He departed a few hours later, somewhat fortified by the notion that there might be something to this head-shape business after all. Despite a nearly universal reputation for skullduggery at pool for stakes, Ervolino is immensely enjoyable company away from that arena. He has a keen sense of human nature, an even better sense of humor, and, of course, a gazillion stories to tell. Divorced but a deeply loving father of two adult daughters, this tough old bird has survived both a stroke and double lung surgery and seems aware that the cocktail hour of life will be announcing last call soon. In that regard, he has reached an odd pact with one daughter who has married. “Make me a grandfather for two years,” he requested of her. “Just two years with one grandbaby and I don’t give a bleep what happens to me after dat.” Tender and raffish at the same time, the plea captures the man better than any outsider ever will. But a spark still burns, and at the just-completed BCA U.S. Open 14.1 event in New York City, Ervolino was a constant fixture, guaranteeing anyone who would listen that his failure to qualify for the tournament cost its promoters at least 400 paid admissions. In a brief, friendly one-pocket scuffle on the practice table with ace cue repairman Ted Harris, he fully restored the image of the ’50s, with tough action, rooms so smoky you couldn’t see the wall, and chatter, chatter, chatter. “Dis guy’s smokin’ funny cigarettes!” Johnny jabbered. “Dis guy’s nuts! You’re dead now. You hear me? Dead. Dead! If you ain’t dead from here, I’m quittin’ pool.” And with an elegant little one-rail kick that barely traveled a few inches, he transformed a passive 6-6 layout into one which would almost certainly win the game for him. On a nearby TV monitor, Mike Massey, one of pool’s all-time showmen, was doing his thing inside the arena. It was a wondrous clash between dominant personalities of two distinctly different eras; it was also no cinch determining who was more entertaining. If your pool obsession is such that you gaze at the skyline of any strange city and wonder where the hustlers are lurking, then this is the man you’ve probably been fearing all along. But he still has an incredible grin, and he flashes it at me with a cheery, “You take care a y’self, George,” and toddles off merrily into the Manhattan streets, vaguely in the direction of the Times Square area where once he was king. Seen through a pure pool-lover’s eyes, New York City is, finally, truly New York City once again: Brooklyn Johnny’s come marching home.
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