SPM Magazine Issue 26

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-What’s Inside This Issue of Sneaky Pete Mafia MagazineArticles Page 3

Patrick Sampey

Countdown to Mosconi Cup 2021 David v. Goliath

Page 7

Patrick Sampey

Iwan Simonis Ride the 9 Tour The Gloria Jean Interview

Page 13

Tim Chin

Triangle Tilt

Page 17

Dominic Esposito

The Tip Kick System Part II

Page 21

Patrick Sampey

Legends of the Mosconi Cup 1924-2021

Page 25

Anthony Beeler

8 Ways to Benefit from the Covid-19 Shutdown

Page 29

Patrick Sampey

Ralf “The Kaiser” Souquet The Interviw Erased

Page 33

Brad Swain

Does Shane Van Boening Really Belong in the Mosconi Cup?

Page 39

Page 43

Anthony Beeler

Unwanted variables

Patrick Sampey

Shane Van Boening - Over a Decade of US Open Domination

Page 47

Chris Reinhold

Mosconi Cup 2021 Requim USA Not Getting the Rolls

Page 51

Patrick Sampey

2022, The Future of the Mosconi Cup

Page 55

Rhonda Royal

Casey Cork - The Ginger Assassin

Page 59

Patrick Sampey

Pool Therapy

Page 61

Dominic Esposito

Meet Dominic Esposito, The Drill Instructor

Page 63

Carl Stewart

Mistakes

Page 55

Anthony Beeler

Keys to Winning on Pool’s Biggest Stage

Page 63

Garret Troop

Wisconsonite Pool Scene

Advertisements Page 1 Black by Jacoby

Page 15 Peri Cues

Page 11

JB Cases

Page 12

SPM Holiday Wish

Page 16

Brad Swain

Page 20

MOAB-1

Page 23 Knight Billiards Club

Page 24

Liquid Weight Cues Page 28

Poolteachers

Page 32 Sneaky Pete Mafia

Page 36

Pete SPM

Page 37

Aramith

Page 38 Pechauer

Page 42

Poolteacher.com

Page 46

SPM New Year

Page 50 JB Cases

Page 62 www.cuesport.ca

Page 53

Stickermafia

Page 61

iCue

Page 65

JB Cases

Page 66

Gsiney Q’z\

Page 6 7 AngelofBilliards

Page 68

Knight Billiards

Page 69

SPM 2022 Media Kit

Page 73 SPM Advertising

Page 77

Wolf Den Media

Page 78 Simonis

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Countdown To Mo David vs

by Patrick

Friday, December 3rd, 2021 -- With the Mosconi Cup set to kick off next Tuesday through Friday, December 7th through the 10th, Sneaky Pete Mafia magazine continues to update the players and fans here with a smorgasbord of Mosconi Cup stats, data and players from both team Europe and Team USA throughout the years. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:APalace_1. jpg The Mosconi Cup, dubbed after straight pool legend

Willie Mosconi, began in 1994 with a male and female cast of colorful characters from both Europe and USA. While the format was a bit different back then, the bold spirit of consummate competition from both sides was felt from day one, Mosconi Cup ground zero.

Team USA won the first cup and dominated in the early years, being that not as many Europeans played 9 ball back then, and notably, team Europe had many professional snooker players -- legends like Jimmy White, Steve Davis, Allison Fisher, Alex Higgins, Daryl Peach, and others. Then, in 1995, with one of 3

Mosconi Cup 2021 Goliath Sampey the most prolific snooker savants of all times, Alex Higgins on team Europe, they took the win.

Fast forward to present day, and team Europe and Team USA stand locked, tied at 13 wins a piece, with one tie over the entire history of the event, an incredible rivalry that provides the most electric pool atmosphere the world has ever seen -- a true 9 ball clash of Titans.

And this year we have perhaps the best American 9 ball player the USA or world has ever seen -- namely Earl “The Pearl” Strickland.

Strickland in a recent interview with Matchroom, “...I got some scruples about me. I haven’t given up. I can’t stand the heckling. Of course, I’m in good shape, in case they want to heckle me, I’ll be able to handle it. That’s why I train, is for the hecklers, so that they can’t get in my head, and screw me up. But at the same time, the cheering and the audiences, they’re supposed to be there, okay. But, unfortunately you guys think it’s a carnival, and it’s some kind of side show. I ain’t trained my whole life to be treated like that. I wish they’d do golfers like that, and tennis players, heckle them and just call them names, squeak noises, clown noises, and dog barking when you miss a shot. They got all these goofy little instruments in the audience here (Alexandria Palace, London). But, like I said, I’m in really good shape, you won’t get to me this year.

You won’t ever get to me again until I’m dead. Yeah, that’s something I can cherish, as I get older, or one day when I can’t play, but you know, I plan on getting another US Open or something too, something like that, but...to get 10 Mosconi Cups would be something, and you know, I’m ready to play! I don’t know about the rest of these people. I can only take care of me, you understand? And if you look at me real good, I ain’t no joke. And I’m ready to play, I just hope my teammates are ready to play, and I hope we get some breaks. And I still think the pockets should be smaller (they are 4” this year). I think it should be three and a half inches.

And I want to see a guy beat me on those tables.” -https://www.facebook.com/matchroompool Matchroom Multi Sport now hosts, promotes, and runs the Cup -- led by Emily Frazer, managing director, who was the COO (Chief Operating Officer) before being appointed to her new title spearheading the new permeation of Matchroom that just came into existence around July 3rd, 2020.

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A look at 2021 Team Europe: Albin Ouschan, Eklent Kaci, David Alcaide, Jayson Shaw, and Joshua Filler, and team coach, Alex Lely. The cast of players -- all current or former world champions -- one of the strongest teams Europe has ever touted -- a true “Goliath.” https://poolplayers.com/european-fan-favorite-jayson-shaw-named-to-5th-mosconi-cup-team/

A look at 2021 Team USA: SVB (Shane Van Boening), Skyler Woodward, Earl “The Pearl” Strickland, Tyler Styer, and Chris Reinhold, with Jeremy Jones on as coach, and SVB as playing team captain -- the clear underdog from my perspective: “David” in this scenario. https://matchroompool.com/news/van-boening-confirmed-team-usa/ 5

Pool players and fans of the Cup worldwide are all fired up in anticipation of the event to be held in just a few days, many of the players having already arrived in London at Alexandria Palace where this veritable billiards war will waged -- the countdown to 9 ball history being made, the cast of characters complete -the event as large as it has ever been, gargantuan.

Who will win? Who is your pick? Do you pick team USA, the obvious underdog from this reporter’s perspective? Or do you choose team Europe, and that massive “Deathstar” looming ahead -- seemingly without any weaknesses -- team USA up against a true Juggernaut, the “Goliath” in this billiards fable come to life!

Will Earl Strickland make all the difference? Who will rise to the occasion and who will falter and fall short of the goal? Who will take the 14-13 lead and the upper hand in this Mosconi Cup team tie we are currently locked in? Will Earl Strickland win his 10th

team Mosconi Cup win and show that he still has all the chops, if just for one final run at 60 years old, his longevity in the game tantamount to a star studded, cascading waterfall of billiards brilliance -- one of the most raw, fiery pool personalities to ever entertain billiards fans with his cue artistry?

I pick the upset, the underdog, team USA. I pick my home, my country, my people, have nothing but respect for team Europe, but I served with the best of the best in the US Army: the 101st Airborne, 1st Cavalry Division, and the Second Infantry Division; I’m all team USA. Let’s get ready to rumble! The Tallahassee Squirrel out for now. More to come...

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Iwan Simonis R The Gloria Je

By Patrick Sampey

has been hosting virtual billiards tournaments.

Anyone can get a tour card for $40 and receive tournament discounts and perks related to being a tour member, players can compete virtually from anywhere, playing the ghost against one another live through the internet; this has been going on the last year and a half. Gloria Jean implemented these virtual pool tournaments as a result of the pandemic, since people weren’t able to get out, discouraged from congregating in groups and spreading COVID-19.

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hursday, November 18th, 2021 -- Gloria Jean is grinding, making waves in the pool scene, tidal waves. Having just interviewed her just last week, she regaled me with her billiards life amidst the canvas of a pandemic: Covid-19.

The pandemic has changed the game, literally, and Gloria Jean has adapted with a worldwide landscape of Global unrest, uncertainty, fear, vaccines, virtual pool tournaments, face masks, hand sanitizer, political unrest and so forth -- as we each seek to cope with all the stressors of our modern age.

Gloria Jean’s is a story of victory -- one about adapting to the conditions of one’s environment, the reality we live in -- and overcoming the obstacles.

Gloria Jean is a billiards influencer and the founder and President of the Iwan Simonis Ride The 9 Tour,

Gloria Jean sends her gratitude out to Iwan Simonis and all they do for the game.

The Ride The 9 Tour has been going on since 2007, for approximately the last 14 years. But with the new, virtual tournaments, I wanted to get the inside scoop on her, what she is bringing to the sport of pocket billiards, maybe even eventually sign up myself, get into some virtual events (I love to play the ghost. Call me “ghostbuster.”).

Here is a link to the ‘Ride The 9 Tour’ website where 7

Ride The 9 Tour ean Interview

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players can find out more about this cool, virtual tournament format: https://rt9t.com To sign up for the tour, get your tour card and begin to compete in these events, go to: https://rt9t.com/membership-checkout/?fbclid=IwAR1zcw_A9pZpsb8dedl9c0pK3xO81ncXwd8AQcNM1uCX2DEbuTVUK8lv4qw

say you would go to the table, and say the ghost was worth 10 points, right -- which our racks were worth 13, so if you didn’t take ball in hand and made the next ball, you would get a plus 3. That’s our way of handicapping for the lower players. You get up to the table. You get ball in hand. You break. Whatever you make on the break, you keep. You try and run out the table. So, you would play 5 racks.” -- Gloria Jean said, concluding that the player with the most points playing the ghost that way would advance to the next round.

“And then it would do that until we got to the finals.

But we would have 10 people a night...and then how you get to the next round, we would go off a night, and then back on. This would last a month long. We were paying out like two thousand, five hundred -- three thousand a tournament.”

“So the ride the 9 tour has been around for 14 years as of November first of this year, 2021, and we basically started with small venues, and started with little races to two to test the water, see how things would potentially go. The interest was so great that our very first real tournament, we kept at it, 48 players, and then we had a full field; we had a waiting list of 25 people... I then ask how many would be in the tournament total. we accommodated handicapping,” Gloria Jean Said.

“It depends tournament to tournament, because we did a different format. We would have as many as 90 “Before the Pandemic, we were doing New participants, per tournament,” -- Gloria Jean said.

Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts -- we were going to travel to Connecticut, but didn’t have a “So what they (players) would do, is be able to play chance. But there were multiple venues,” Gloria Jean from the comfort of their own home,” Gloria Jean added, then listed off any number of pool halls in concluded. “I would live stream from Facebook. So we those areas where they held tournaments for players in have the last year and a half on Facebook. We’re going those localities. to upload them to YouTube.”

“Now there are a lot more venues, but back then we would just travel to 7 or 8...When the pandemic came around, the pool halls were shut down right? So, around March/April (of 2020), I wanted to try a break and run pot to see how that took virtually. And we did 100% payback of the break and run pot. So, we’d go live once a week with the break and run pot,” -Gloria Jean said.

I then asked her if it was some kind of virtual interface, like with some type of computer-simulated pool, and she explains more: “So basically, what I did was bought four thousand dollars in equipment: camera, microphone, boards, everything that you would need, and what we would do -- I went and got a subscription to Zoom. And we would connect via Zoom, to you, to the person playing pool. And we would watch them on their table as they played the ghost. We came up with our own type of ghost format, and modified the ghost rule. They’d be playing verses the ghost, verses each other. So,

“We had an opportunity to help the pool community by doing this. Who wants to sit in their basement or attic and shoot alone?” -- stated Gloria.Jean.

What a wonderful pool idea! Pool players playing the ghost verses each other remotely during a tough time, the game continues. Pool Is Alive!

And we need recreation in these times more than ever, if just for a moment now and then to get some respite from the slings and arrows life throws at all of us.

Sure, we must work, and be responsibly civically, take care of our families, but we must each and every one of us also find joy, happiness, and entertainment to endure -- we must always play the game; we must find a way. That’s exactly what Gloria Jean has done with her Iwan Simonis Ride The 9 tour. And the billiards world will never be the same.

This has also been a way for players to connect, people to connect from different regions of the country. “We have people from Ohio traveling to our 9

Florida tournaments. And people in Florida, they all met in person. So they had people from Carolina, Florida, Ohio, and New York all go to the Efren Reyes Tournament. They met in person for the very first time after playing virtually,” Gloria informed me. “It’s really bringing the pool community together. That’s why this is so important to me. You have to adapt and evolve, and that’s what we have done.”

How cool. How avant garde! Welcome to the future of the game! Welcome to the Ride The 9 Tour! Sign up now and play from anywhere players. The game continues. We must continue and endure despite the global calamity we face. And Gloria Jean has provided the platform needed at a dark time in human history.

Gloria Jean is a billiards writer as well, having interviewed many legends in the game.

Gloria Jean also would like to thank her sponsors: Iwan Simonis, Diamond, Kamui, Aramith, Illuminated Cueing Arts Training System, JFlowers, Bullet Proof Break Tips, Narragansett, Littman Lights, and Tony Russell (TR) Custom Cues.

Charles Lakey -- international trick shot artist -- is the ambassador to the Ride The 9 Tour as well. He does things on the table no one has ever done.

Play on players! Keep on hitting them balls! For Sneaky Pete Mafia, the Tallahassee Squirrel out for now. Check us out for our continued coverage of the game, and don’t play alone in your basement, garage, attic, or den -- sign up for the Ride The 9 virtual pool tournaments and play from anywhere!

Additionally, the Iwan Simonis Ride The 9 Tour hosts in person events around the country.

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TRIANG

By Tim Chin

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his is a complete novelty shot, but its elegance should not be understated. It’s one of the inventions I’m most proud of because of the innovative use of the rack. Both balls end up going into pocket E, the first one directly and the second one after the triangle tilts over, which sends the second ball to the other side of the rack and then rolling off the lip.

The setup is straightforward and simple. The E1 ball is on the centerline between pockets E and B. Depending on how fast the table is rolling, it can be up to 1.5 diamonds away from pocket E. Then, stand a rack up on edge 13

GLE TILT and balance it on the E1 ball with the other corner of it on the table. It can help to shade this corner of the rack towards cushion 4 just a bit.

Next, balance the E2 ball inside the rack. This should also be pushed towards cushion 4. The cue ball placement isn’t important but a straight shot is easiest!

Execution is obviously simple – just play a stop shot or small draw to pocket the E1 ball and hope for the best. The rack will tilt over (and remain standing), while the E2 ball will roll along the bottom of the rack, hit the other side, and roll off heading into the pocket. A decent amount of this shot is luck. At least I haven’t figured out any sure fire way to make it 100% of the time. Sometimes the E2 ball will stay stuck in the rack after rolling over; sometimes it will roll off the other side. But I think if you can make sure the E2 ball is on the E side of the rack and the corner of the rack is pushed towards cushion 4, it will go in only a few attempts.

If you want to do an advanced version, you can hang a ball in pocket B and draw back for it. I think it distracts from the simplicity and elegance of the main focus of the shot though.

You can learn more at my website http://www.trickshottim.com.

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A Fabulous System

The Tip-Kic

By Dominic Espo The System Count Is

The latest action from Dominic Esposito, “The Drill Instructor.” The DI will get you moving this month with Part II of his phenomenal and easy-to-absorb Tip Kick System.

This is the second part of the Drill Instructor’s Tip Kick System that I started teaching you last month. Remember, the entire system is showcased in THE 52 ADVANCED SHOTS books and 2 DVDs set.

A Stunning Kick Scenario

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n this month’s scenario your opponent has executed a skillful safety that blocks the cue ball. Unlike last month when the kick is within 3 Diamonds, the object ball you must now hit is further than three diamonds down the length of the table. Like the previous introduction to the system, however, the typical approach path is blocked by an enemy object ball that prevents using natural angle in to angle out direction.

Last month as discussed, marking the diamonds from the shooting side of the table made your shot calculations a breeze. This month you need to learn numbers 17

ck System Part 2

osito

Simple to Learn

the long rail and the diamonds 7, 8, 9 and 10 run from the pocket up the short rail toward the top corner pocket. I call these the DSP or “Diamond Starting Points”.

The markers numbered from 0 to 11 opposite your cue ball, at the top end of the accompanying illustration, are the DCP, the Diamond Contact Points.

Don’t panic! Compare top and bottom numbers and you can see the DTP count is in half-diamond increments or two numbers per diamond length along the table.

Get ready because now comes the kind of secrete skills I’ve used extensively as both a playing and teaching billiards pro. Let’s kick for the 1-ball now located at DTP 4 or Diamond Target Point #4. Yes, I took the DTP #4 from the DSP #4 (bottom rail) diamond.

Do you see the cue balls with numbers on them, 0, 1, 2 and 3? These are the tips of English to apply on the cue ball.

Two examples show the system. A cue ball resting anywhere is to be stroked from Center Ball up to 3 Tips’ depending on the pact you choose. Use the formula’s I teach you and it will become easy-to-remember.

on the far side of the table.

Count in half-diamond increments and the cue ball’s location starts our count at ZERO.

The system count in this kick method is easy and you’ll have it memorized in minutes.

Easy Counting with My Tip Kick System Start with the diamond markers on your side of the table at the cue ball as shown on this page. 0-6 is along

Which direction of English, you ask? Always use inside English, that is, the same direction you’re Object Ball is at. In my diagram, the English is 0, 1, 2 or 3 Tips of Right English.

Here’s the Drill from The Drill Instructor Place the cue ball in front of DSP 0, about 6 inches from the cushion as shown or shoot from a cue ball along any line in the diagram, of course. The 1-ball sits along the rail at TDP 4 as diagrammed.

Add The Secret Formula. REMEMBER, THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS. One I teach you on the accompanying video and the other here, and according to the 18

markings on my diagram.

The secret recipe for this PART 2 Tip Kick Shot is as follows: Tips of English + DCP = DTP You’ve probably already figured out this correlation, The 1-ball is at “4” or 4 diamonds away from the cue ball: • 0 tips of English or center ball shot through DCP 4 or 0 + 4 = 4 • Shooting 1 tip of English through DCP 3 or 1 + 3 =4 • 2 tips through DCP 2 or 2 + 2 = 4 • 3 tips of right English through DCP 1 or 3 + 1 = 4 On the Video, I teach you the Second Counting Method. You can decide which is easiest for you to use yourself. Personally, I use the one on the that I’m teaching on the video. The diagram shows the other as I describe above in the bullet points.

Let’s go on, what if the cue ball is in a different location? Simply take its new diamond and the diamond opposite on the rail as your new zero points for the number count you choose to use.

Depending on your table conditions such as, all these strokes require a no more than a 4 to a 6 Speed Shot Stroke on my 10 speeds of stroke scale. You can learn my 1-10 Stroke Speed System from the same 52 ADVANCED SHOT DRILLS Book. Just like my kick drills, there is no guesswork involved on any shot. The math is always simple and perfect to execute from.

The Power for Your Game You now have 4 different paths you can take to kick at the same ball from the same cue ball position. The amateur panics when an easy path is blocked, the professional makes a quick calculation and returns an outstanding safety or even kicks for the 1-ball. Plus, your options and knowledge increase when you add this system.

There is a vast difference between taking a wild guess on the next shot or hoping for a lucky roll and knowing stone cold where the cue ball and object balls will wind up even before you bend to shoot.

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Legends Of The ~1994-202

riday, December 17th, 2021 -- The Mosconi Cup is all but over, except the crying for team USA this year, however, we at SPM would like to review the Cup from the beginning, 1994.

Before we delve into the diversity of players that have graced the grand stage on the Mosconi Cup, let’s highlight a few of the most prolific pool addicts, professional billiards cue artists, these great ‘Legends Of The Fall’ we all love to watch -- billiards aficio-

nados such as myself. For team Europe, the “Kaiser,” Ralf Souquet has appeared a record 17 times, tied with Johnny Archer for team USA, with 17 appearances himself. Souquet represents Germany (16 different European countries have been represented to face off against USA since the inception of the Mosconi Cup.) After Souquet and Archer as the two most picked players for team Europe and USA respectively -- then, we have Mika Immonen, representing Finland, at 15

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e Mosconi Cup 21~ By Patrick Sampey appearances. Also, Neils Feijen of the Netherlands stands at 13 Cups played, the third highest number played, representing Europe. Then, the fourth most selected player for Europe is snooker star Steve Davis at 11 Cups played.

As for the top four player appearances for team USA, with Archer at the top (17), we then have Shane Van Boening (SVB) with 15 -- after that, there’s Earl Strickland at 14 -- then we have the fourth slot filled

by Corey Deuel at 11.

Meanwhile, Earl Strickland stands as the most winning Mosconi Cup American player percentage wise, for eight or more Cup appearances. He has 9 wins for 14 appearances, a 64.3 percentage win record against some of the toughest players Europe has ever assembled. Then, we have Archer tied with Strickland at 9 wins himself, but with 17 appearances, and a 52.9 percent win ratio, a decent run in his own right.

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For team Europe, Darren Appleton stands as the most winning player for either team Europe or team USA for the number of appearances, having 7 wins for 8 appearances at a whopping 87.5 percentage winnings at the event. An amazing run, and top performing player the cup has ever seen for the number of Cup appearances. Incredible.

For team Europe, Steve Davis has been their “Shane Van Boening,” logging 11 Cup performances, but only 2 Cup wins -- a disappointing 18.2% win record, and one of the worst, if not the worst, showings the cup has ever seen -- perhaps highlighting the conversion from snooker to pool early on, and the growing pains inherent to learning professional level pool.

Shane Van Boening (SVB) has had 15 Mosconi Cup appearances, but has been on only 3 winning teams, and unfortunately, although he has remained arguably the world’s best player since 2007 when he broke out on to the pool scene, winning the US Open and other top events, and has been atop the billiards world worldwide ever since, always in the top 5 world players throughout -- dominating with a monster break, and run-outs of the highest caliber, arguably that the game has ever seen. However, SVB has the worst winning record at the Cup for the number of appearances, at a dismal twenty percent win record. Does the raucous Mosconi Cup crowd rattle SVB’s constitutional fortitude?

At this juncture in time, the Cup stands with 12 wins for team Europe, and 11 for team USA, with one tie overall. What will next year hold for the event? Will Earl Strickland be invited back for one more go? Will SVB break his curse and win one for “The Gipper”?

We will have to wait and see.

What an amazing event! Great for the fans and game, the Mosconi Cup stands as pool’s most bombastic tournament of world champions. This reporter can’t wait to see what happens in 2022! Vegas here we come.

Get your Cue Tip Shaper from Knight Billiard Club at: https://www.knightbilliardclub.net 23

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8 WAYS TO BE THE COVID-19

By Anthony Beeler

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nthony Beeler is the 2011-2020 Billiards Instructor of the Decade and is a former BCAPL National Champion. He has numerous top 25 national finishes and is one of only 8 ACS Master Instructors in the world. He is the primary author of the ACS National Billiards Instructors Manual and has also authored the book Unstoppable! Positive Thinking for Pool Players. Anthony currently has the highest established Fargo Rating of any Master Instructor. He has won over 300 tournaments and has defeated numerous professional players in tournament competition.

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ENEFIT FROM 9 SHUTDOWN Acceptance is the first step in activating our coping strategies.

Next, we must choose the best course of action and seize control of the situation.

1. SET LONG-TERM GOALS If you’ve read any of my books on positive thinking, you’ll know that an underlying factor in a player’s success is being able to set realistic goals and work to achieve them. In every setback there is an opportunity to improve. Players should use these challenging times to learn more about themselves and become more resilient to the stresses of competition. These are worthwhile skills to learn and they will enable us to be more successful over the long-term.

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n the age of COVID-19, we are all having to deal with the challenges of very uncertain times. Most pool tournaments have been cancelled. No one knows when normal life will resume. This month, I’ve spent a lot of time speaking with students and learning about how COVID-19 has affected their life. I’ve also thought a lot about how to deal with this myself, and recently I decided to put together this article to help you get the most of your shutdown experience.

Most of the players I’ve talked to are disappointed, frustrated, and saddened about what has come to pass. We are all feeling the effects of uncertainty in different forms and the anxiety it causes is a real thing.

2. REMAIN POSITIVE We will get through this difficult time, but your perspective will determine how well you do. In pool, the players who are generally more successful are able to see things from a more positive perspective and they don’t get as affected by the negative things that other players spend a lot of their time worrying about. Try to view the shutdown as something that can positively influence your future and benefit you in the long-term. How can you turn this “negative” time into something positive?

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3. BE STRUCTURED WITH PRACTICE Now that many of us are working from home, our kids

6. EVALUATE AND REFLECT Take time to reflect upon your last few practices and think about what you need do differently in the future – what bad habits you would like to leave behind and which good habits you would like to embrace? What do you plan to do differently in future practices, and how will you work to improve?

are off school, and tournaments have been cancelled, the normal daily structure that we were used to has totally disappeared. Routines have always been an important part of life and all of these changes are calling out for us to adapt. To help matters, I have asked students write down what they will be practicing 7. TAKE TIME TO STUDY AND the following day and I ask them to hold themselves LEARN accountable for meeting their practice expectations.

4. USE STRESS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES Anxiety and stress cause us to react instead of respond. The uncertainty of the stress caused by COVID-19 gives us a good opportunity to learn how to manage it better, which will help you in your upcoming matches. Now is a great time to start practicing positive self-talk, mantras, and deep breathing - all of which will help you reduce stress.

5. PRACTICE WITH RIGOR If your pool room is still open, or if you have a table in your home and you can still practice, try to keep the same level of intensity you would normally have during match play. Just because we don’t know when pool will return doesn’t mean you can get lazy about the way you practice. Always remember to practice with a purpose. Make sure you have a good routine, set daily goals, and hold yourself accountable for completing all of your scheduled sessions.

Spend your free time reading instructional material and watching videos of top players. Be sure to keep in shape. You don’t have to go to a gym to work out.

There are plenty of good free workouts available.

Check out all of the free resources available on YouTube.

8. SET DAILY GOALS As part of my daily routine, I set a personal goal each day. Whether its mental game related or working on a specific task that I need to complete, I set at least one goal for the day. It’s almost like making a checklist.

This is also something I encourage my students to do.

Remind yourself of your intentions each day, write it down and put it somewhere you can see it. At the end of the day, reflect and see whether you were able to do what you originally planned. By repeating this process daily you will develop more playing skills and more confidence in your playing ability.

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Ralf “The Kaiser The Interview Er

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aturday, Oct 9, 2021-- I began an exchange with Souquet years ago -- sometime around 2004 I think -- long before Facebook took off like it is today, contacted him through his email, which I found online at his website I believe. He responded to me, and I wish I had the exchange, as it was cool to me that he took time out to respond personally to me; that’s how Souquet is, a gentleman and straight-shooter of the highest order.

I forgot what I had asked him...Oh yes! That’s what it was! I had heard that Souquet had a winning record on Efren Reyes, and he had

said that he did. He had said that apparently he was Efren’s “boogyman,” that was the term I believe he used. Think about that, Souquet has a winning record against arguably the best to ever wield a cue, namely Efren Reyes! That speaks for itself about not only of Souquet’s pool game, but also his mental tenacity to win against the best of the best like that, and be up on them.

Years later, sometime shortly after 2014 I believe it was, I actually interviewed Souquet, and unfortunately the interview got erased from my phone before I could listen, get 29

r” Souquet -rased By Patrick Sampey quotes and write the article -- Souquet being one of my favorite players of all times, I was flabbergasted. I had to contact Souquet and let him know what had happened. So I did, and it went fairly well. He was very understanding.

Now Ralf and I are friends on Facebook, though I don’t really know him in a close way. We have a very amicable relationship.

I told him that I was going to make it right recently, write up an article on him, all he has brought to the vast smorgasboard of billiards pontification throughout the wonderful, colorful history of this diverse endeavor we dub pocket billiards.

So, let’s take a look at some of Ralf “The Kaiser” Souquet’s billiards accolades: 1. “Souquet began playing billiards at the age of six in his parents’ pub, practicing up to five hours per day. He won his first German Championship title at the age of fourteen in the juniors division. In 1985, Souquet cowon his first European Championship team title with the National Team, and in 1986 won his first individual title at the European Championship (juniors division).” -- https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralf_Souquet 2. “Since 1981, he has won more than 200 tournament titles, including 41 German Championship titles, 23 Euro Tour titles and 19 European Pool Championships.

[2] Souquet is a two-time world champion,

winning the 2008 WPA World Eight-ball Championship and 1996 WPA World Nine-ball Championship.” -- https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Ralf_Souquet 3. Souquet is sponsored by Predator Cues at: https://www.predatorcues.com/usa/proteam/ralf-souquet.html 4. Souquet is a BCA Hall Of Famer, 6 time World Pool Masters champion, two time WPA world champion, played for team Europe from the Mosconi Cup between 2002 through 2017, winning it with his team on eight occasions, placed 33rd in this year’s US Open, and keeps grinding.

5. Again, Souquet has a winning record on Efren Reyes! Incredible.

And Souquet has so many more wins on his resume. Check out the Wikipedia links to see all his accomplishments in the game.

A man of few words, he lets his game do all the talking and it booms on the loud speaker -- he seems like a mentalist of the game, his presence always felt.

“RALF SOUQUET says he has logged nearly 3 million miles in his 20-plus years as a professional pool player. Over the long travels, taking his unique craft to all corners of the globe, collecting more than 250 titles, Souquet has always chased after one thing on the pool table: absolute perfection…’Every time, every rack is different and something 30

new,’ Souquet said. ‘It’s a constant challenge, a puzzle that you have to solve as quickly as possible. The older you get, you actually forget some things about the game. But you never get bored with the game.’” -- From a great article on Souquet by Billiards Digest here: http:// www.billiardsdigest.com/new_current_issue/oct_11/souquet_index.php The little snippet from an article by Billiards Digest above highlights Souquets illustrious billiards career and hits the nail on the head, Souquet seeks “absolute perfection” on the pool table, which no one actually achieves, but that is to highlight the standard Ralf sets for himself, and the lengths he’s willing to go to achieve it -- so many hours logged in practice on the table green.

Yeah, Souquet is one of the best of the best and it appears to be a direct result of his consummate work ethic to always keep improving in his game, no matter what his age, now 52 and still getting in events around the globe.

Ralf has been a globetrotting pool playing professional billiards player his whole life! What a story of greatness to behold, and mine and his worlds collide upon the grand stage -- but I only had a tiny role to play in this great champions life. Well played Kaiser. Well played sir.

P.S. -- Tuesday, October 12th, 2021 -- Add on edit to this article. Ralf contacted me through Facebook Messenger to update this piece and highlight the fact that Wikipedia may not always be exactly right. His accolades go a little beyond what it says therein. Check it: Souquet said, ’ Patrick, I have corrected a few things and now it’s ready for the official release Thanks and best regards, Ralf.’

‘Since 1981, he has won more than 300 tournament titles, including 44 German Championship titles, 23 Euro Tour titles and 37 European Pool Championships (Team and Individual) Souquet is a BCA Hall Of Famer, 6 time World Pool Masters champion, two time WPA world champion, played for team Europe in the Mosconi Cup 17 times between 1994 through 2017 winning it with his team on seven occasions, placed 33rd in this year’s US Open, and keeps grinding.

Souquet is sponsored by Predator Cues, Simonis Cloth, Aramith Balls, Dynamic Tables and the Veith-Group of Germany.’”

Here are the links to some of his sponsors for anyone interested: https://www.predatorcues.com/ http://www.simoniscloth.com/ https://www.aramith.com/ Thanks again to Ralf for helping me keep the article current, up to date, accurate, and served up on time just before Halloween. Souquet is the consummate perfectionist in life, as in his pool game; that is why he stands as one of the very best to ever play the game.

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Doe Boe Bel Mos

By Brad **In my best Chef Gordon Ramsay voice**

O

f course, SVB belongs in the Mosconi Cup, you donkey! But now that I have you here let’s talk about some things that I do not think that most pool players understand.

I believe that a large portion of amateur players have a warped sense of how top-notch pool works. Many of today’s most popular streamed tournaments have formats that either destroy momentum (such as alternating breaks in a short race) or nullify the stronger player in one way or another. This rule dramatically nullifies players from maintaining control of the match, effectively turning that match into a bit of a toss-up amongst elite players.

in the Facebook groups popular among pool players that made me think that those players just don’t understand what the mental game is all about! I saw many people who ultimately gave up on Team USA at the end of the selection of players, but every player in the Cup was capable of beating one another. The lack of support amongst fans showed me that those people just don’t understand the power of heart and unrelenting determination in this game! Performing in front of a crazy environment like the Mosconi Cup can be a real grind.

When the pros are playing short races, then you can pretty much expect anything to happen, especially when adding alternating breaks into the mix. So, unless someone attends the big events, then these exhibition match formats would be all they know about pool, but there is so much more behind the scenes of the prestigious events.

The pros step up and execute anyways because they have mastered their own mental management. So, the “pressure” that we see translates differently for them.

Many top players like Sky Woodward and Jayson Shaw seem to feed off that pressure and prosper from it, whereas that very same environment would make most ordinary players fold in an instant! Whether or not a player can grind it out and prevail from seemingly dire situations separates the great players from the urban legends.

During this year, I saw a lot of posts and comments

This year I read many comments after the cup 33

es Shane Van ening Really long in the osconi Cup? Swain questioning if SVB truly deserved to play in the Mosconi Cup due to his poor track record this year and some years in the past. However, at the pro level, it can be argued that a race to 5 hardly determines victory, and it certainly won’t determine the better player. Anything can happen in a short quick race, and only in a longdrawn-out race will the stronger, brighter, and more consistent player win more times than not. Frequently you will see the pros playing challenge matches of a race to 100 games or maybe more.

ability to continue doing as you always do without altering in any manner. To stick to the strategy that you started with, not willing to change anything nor falter, just constantly persevering forwards with a calm and clear head regardless of the current circumstances

Of course, it’s not just the pros who like to be all that they can be! Those players usually have massive respect for each other’s game and a huge desire to prove themselves the superior shooter. I have seen numerous unknown, but hungry shooters play in hard action for days until they became an unbeatable monster. That’s probably how your favorite player got started in their professional career!

Nothing out there will catapult your game quite like purposefully sticking yourself into the pressure cooker and firing back with everything you have! When the pressure is stacking up, there is actual power in the 34

holds a power that creates champions! Now that is what the grind is all about!

a realistic standpoint on player standings, they should consider the points of this article.

Another element to consider is that most players put too much faith in the Fargo rating system in the sense that they fail to recognize that a player’s Fargo rate is simply a recording of the past and not a prediction of the future. The Fargo Rating is a simple measurement of unforced errors averaged into the number of shots a player has taken. Still, it cannot measure the level of skills in strategies used or shot selection. If both players’ skills are past a certain level, then the numbers become irrelevant as it becomes a matter of whom can remain calm and grind the pressure out until the very end. Here are two fascinating fun facts about this year’s Mosconi cup:

The Mosconi Cup was never meant to be an actual test of skill. Still, rather it was intended to grow the game by giving the fans and players an intimate chance to let loose and banter a little.

1. SVB performed the best in the entire Cup with a Fargo Rating of 830.

2. SVB performed (arguably) the worst of the tournament with a record of 1W-6L. So, which is it? Did he perform the best or the worst?

The best answer I can give is that wecannot definitively answer that question based on a tournament with an exhibition-based format. A single victory can hardly determine the better player amongst world-class players. It takes many wins against a single opponent to claim true dominance against them. If fans want to take

At the same time, their teams play for bragging rights, so if a fan wants to see an accurate measure of success, they should look for the players out there on the grind from city to city. Often, the players are forced to fund their entire trips on their own, making the grind more difficult!

Your pool game starts in your mind, so it would only make sense to train your mind to be unbreakable and unbeatable. If America wants to reclaim its former dominance in the global pool scene, then we’re going to have to re-adopt the mindset of a Grinder. Good luck and happy hitting ’em, everyone!

*****************************************************

“Not to pick on SVB, but he made a great example of how a short race can nullify an outstanding performance.

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UNWANTED

By Anthony Beeler

P

ool is a complex game to master because the technical aspects of the game are not simple to execute subconsciously. However, the more you can reduce the variables, the simpler the game of pool becomes, and the easier it is to play the game with a positive attitude. In fact, most beginners try to figure out things on their own. Some are too proud to seek help and it’s that kind of spirit that often leaves them playing pool at the same “speed” for many years.

There are some things players can control and some things they cannot. This month let’s examine the variables we can control.

ment when most players are getting physically tired.

STRATEGY is the art of playing a game within your limitations. Generally speaking, pool players are limited by both their physical and technical abilities.

During a game, you have to be realistic about your playing ability. You should know what you can and can’t do. Everyone has a unique set of talents and being able to manage those talents is an important part of the game. However, sometimes our ego gets in the way. It’s that little voice that tells you that you can play like Earl Strickland even though you really can’t.

You know—the same voice that tells us that we would look really cool cutting the nine ball backward into the corner pocket rather than playing a simple safe. Great players know that if they try to run out before the time is right, the game usually ends in disaster. Be realistic with what you can actually do and as Dirty Harry would say, “A man’s got to know his limitations.”

HEALTH is also very important and this aspect requires us to exercise regularly. It also requires us to eat healthy foods and follow a strict diet. Being in good physical condition is an important part of performing well. It helps us to remain positive and gives us that extra edge we need to repeat a quality pool stroke over and over again, especially near the end of the tourna-

Jerald Clem and Anthony Beeler Photo Courtesy of Kendra Peek & The Advocate Messenger Today, the best players in the world are “athletes.”

They understand the importance of being in shape.

It wasn’t that way fifteen years ago, but today you generally have two options: get in shape or suffer the consequences.

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VARIABLES MENTAL GAME is another variable that we can control. It is a known fact that having a positive attitude affects the chemistry in our brain and allows us to think and perform on a higher level. In order for us to do that, players should consider “reprogramming” their mind so it can better optimize their physical abilities. Three ways to reprogram your mind include the use of hypnosis, positive affirmations, and subliminal messaging.

Hypnosis is the use of hypnotherapy by a licensed potential. It is a form of mental training for the subconscious mind. Hypnotherapy can enhance your performance on the pool table by transforming negative thoughts into positive ones. Hypnotic suggestion often has a positive effect on the way players think and perform during highlevel competition.

Positive affirmations work to reprogram our route guidance system, which significantly affects our performance on the pool table. The idea here is that your brain is going to talk to you, so you might as well train it to talk to you in a positive way. You can practice positive self-talk by making up a list of things you want to believe about yourself (see the appendix for an example). Once the list is made, you can train yourself by repeating (out loud) each of the statements on a daily basis.

Pool is a mentally draining game that can change your attitude from one ball to the next. How you react will ultimately affect your performance. In the words of Thomas Paine, “The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.” Yes, pool is an emotional roller coaster, but a positive attitude will allow you to remain optimistic even in the face of adversity.

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Anthony Beeler is the 2011-2020 Billiards Instructor of the Decade and is a former BCAPL National Champion. He has numerous top 25 national finishes and is one of only 8 ACS Master Instructors in the world. He is the primary author of the ACS National Billiards Instructors Manual and has also authored the book Unstoppable! Positive Thinking for Pool Players. Anthony currently has the highest established Fargo Rating of any Master Instructor. He has won over 300 tournaments and has defeated numerous professional players in tournament competition.

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Shane Van Boeni Decade Of US Op

By Patrick Sampey

“You better lose yourself in the music, the moment You own it, you better never let it go You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.” -- Eminem

S

unday,Aug 29, 2021-- Shane Van Boening used to have them play ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem before his matches I read -- a song that speaks about seizing the day, taking your shot, and running with it, and Since 2007 SVB has been on top of the pool World, dominating every aspect of billiards, inside and out right up until present day -- he definitely has lost himself, and taken every opportunity to win.

SVB, now is tied with Earl Strickland for a record 5 US Open titles in nine ball (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) -- and holds 3 US Open titles in eight ball (2013, 2016, 2018), 4 US Open ten ball titles (2011, 2016, 2017, 2018), 2 US Open one pocket titles (2012, 2018), 2 US Open bank pool titles (2018, 2019), and one US Open straight pool title in 2019.

That’s a whopping 17 US Open titles in approximately 13 years, and compelling evidence to show that SVB has owned the US Open for over a decade, and the US Open has players from around the world every year, which is why I say that SVB is the best player the world has seen in modern times -- unparalleled.

With over 50 major tournament wins in the US and around the world, SVB is arguably the best the 43

ing ~ Over A pen Domination game has seen in modern times, against some of the toughest competition from around the globe -- winning again and again since 2007 -- just last month, July 10th, having put a record 26 back to back racks on team USA, Mosconi Cup MVP Skyler Woodward, and kept him to no balls pocketed too, which is unheard of. The score began as 62-70, in favor of Woodward, then ending 88-70 SVB -- early in the race to 150 in Tulsa Oklahoma. This is to highlight that SVB is still in top form.

(CHECK THIS LINK TO THE MATCH): https://youtu.be/ZX1QaV30HDc

since then, he’s been winning, and even though he struggled at the Mosconi Cup, has three wins: 2009, 2018, and 2019 -- so with the aid of Woodward and other top US players, has won back to back years 2018 and 19. Incredible tenacity.

And SVB comes from a pedigree of champions in billiards: “His grandfather, Gary Bloomberg, was a trickshot artist; his grandmother, Jeanne Bloomberg, a VNEA national champion; his mother, Timi Bloomberg, a BCA national champion; and his aunt, Gari Jo Bloomberg, a three-time VNEA national champion.” -- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Shane_Van_Boening But his record of wins speaks for itself. He is arguably the best US player we have ever had, though there are other possibilities -- just SVB is a billiards beast, and pool juggernaut is the problem any player worldwide is going to have, when they get run over by that freight train.

SVB...IS...A...BEAST...a billiards beast.

Can he win one, two, perhaps more US Open titles?

Seems very likely. Will he win more world titles?

Having begun his run in 2007 in this style of massive-firepower pool -- winning the Predator World Ten Ball championship, Sands Regency Reno Open, and the US Open 9 ball for the first time. Ever

Hail to the king: https://youtu.be/DelhLppPSxY In addition, SVB had to beat Filipino sensation Ronnie Alcano, in his prime, playing lights out his first US Open win 2007. That’s just 44

one of the many great champions he had to beat to take the title.

Furthermore, SVB is just 38 and could be rocking it at 48...pool isn’t necessarily like basketball. He could have ten more years of winning ahead, it is possible -- maybe more.

He doesn’t appear to be slowing down from my perspective, seems to be gaining momentum.

I can’t wait to see SVB and company play team Europe this December 7th-10th in the Mosconi

Cup. Hopefully it is broadcast where I can watch, but I’m afraid the odds may be against it. Fingers crossed though.

In conclusion, SVB, in my opinion, is the greatest US player in modern times, since 2007. We can’t say how things would have turned out had SVB and Strickland both had to play each other in their primes, and there are arguments for either side, but it is a legitimate debate to say SVB is arguably the best US player of all times.

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Mosconi Cup 2021

Not Getting The R

By Chris “No Excuses” Reinhold

Friday December 10th, 2021 -- With this continuing bill Reinhold from his Facebook post jus

**his post sponsored by JFlowers cues...Check out JFlo anything but sit in my chair and cheer on the team after losing back to back points for them. The flag on the back of my jersey means a lot to me. The name on the back of my jersey means a lot to me. And the USA fans for coming all the way over here in this covid climate to support and cheer us on especially.

““No excuses here from me. I’m proud that even though we didn’t win, we fought really hard for every point. I’m disappointed with my performance and could have gotten a few really big points for the team. I couldn’t sleep at all last night because it was weighing heavy on me the fact that I couldn’t do

I’ve been getting a lot of hate comments and rightfully so. It’s the position you are put in when you accept the job offer of representing your country in the Mosconi Cup. Everyone gets critiqued at their job as I am in mine. I prepared and prepared for this event and I thought I was ready. The crowd wasn’t that big of a factor for me in all honesty. I loved it and felt comfortable.. sometimes you just have those moments that don’t go the way you’d like them to. Not only in pool but in life as well.

It’s time to evolve as a person but especially as a player. I need to get back with getting in the grease (gambling, action etc) constantly getting in games and playing all the 47

1 Requiem -- USA

Rolls

liards coverage of the Mosconi Cup, we bring you Chris st three hours ago -- his own words:

owers Only $300 /included with carbon fiber shaft!*** time. It’s when I was getting better and better. This past few years I’ve mainly focused on tournaments only and I’ve gotten soft, and a little weak mentally.

Time for me to find another gear.

Because this one ain’t cutting it at this high of a level. Sure i can win semi pro tournaments and a few low level pro tournaments. Maybe cash high in a few elite level pro tournaments. But it won’t cut it at the elite level.

I owe it to myself to get there. And I for damn sure owe it to that flag on the back of my jersey as well.

‘During your transformation, you might feel like everything is falling apart, but in reality everything is coming together.

You’re being pushed to evolve and get out of your comfort zone so you can live and experience your true greatness.

Welcome, change.’

Thank you to my sponsors for everything and for their support throughout the year. It’s been a tough one for me. But I’ve realized a lot about what I have to do moving forward.

Predator Cues Salotto Taom Billiards Stixx and Stones Billiards Fort Worth Billiards On The Wire Creative Media” -- Reinhold Said.

Well said Chris.

And this reporter was one of the detractors of team USA, frustrated that Earl “The Pearl” Strickland wasn’t in the Cup -- amidst a COVID-19 scare just a day or two prior to the event.

(Billiards in the age of face masks and pandemics... uncertain times. But we all stand strong together; the show must go on.).

Early on I said they should cancel the Cup because the Pearl couldn’t be on the team, but you have to understand, Strickland is my favorite player, and I still lament him not having one more shot at billiards glory (perhaps next year…). The Cup must go on, and really I personally think that team USA gave it a run, ending day 2 up 5-4, but unfortunately falling day 3 5-0 -- going 48

in down 9-5 the final day, backs against the wall. Jeremy Jones went 4-4 in that final match against Alcaide, then the fabled cue ball cleaning as time ran out -- foul hill-hill, loss on a mental error

by Jones. Disheartening. So instead of a fighting chance and 8-6 going into day four...the dismal 9-5, 5-0 for the day beat down, instead of the 4-1 (8-6) chance.

It just seems like team USA couldn’t get the rolls, even before the event, losing Strickland days before-- a hard hit for the team to take in my opinion... seems like it would mess with the team’s group psyche. And Reinhold just happened to miss a shot he’d probably make ten out of ten if he set it up again (happens to the best of them…).

All in all, if team USA had just a few more rolls go their way, they may have actually won the event, which is to say, team USA still had a chance to win despite everything. Woodward played very well, as did Jones, and Styer came through at points.

Now I realize I was being unreasonable, diminishing Styer and Reinhold, because those guys were out there giving it all they had, and Reinhold will be back next year I bet to show me and all the other skeptics that he has

returned to represent! Fingers crossed.

I really want team USA to do well, but we didn’t have many options this year for whatever reason, and these guys gave us an 11-6 loss, which isn’t that bad considering Jones had to step in at the last minute.

Jones had moments of greatness out there representing USA on the table, almost put the beat down on Alcaide, had the ball cleaned, not realizing he had no extension, running out of time, subsequently losing the match. That was a tough mental error. But he was stoic throughout the event, exhibiting a ‘Cool-Hand Luke’ type disposition JJ (double J).

It would be Skyler Woodward to win the final point 6 for team USA against Jayson Shaw with a 9 ball combination -- Woodward that gave team USA that spark it needed, but we just didn’t get the rolls. Sometimes pool is like that. ***This post sponsored by JFlowers cues*** Check out JFlowers Cues for the best value buy out there! Only $300 inc a carbon fiber shaft!***This post sponsored by JFlowers cues*** Check out JFlowers Cues for the best value buy out there! Only $300 inc a carbon fiber shaft!

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2022, THE F THE MOSCO

By Patrick Sampey

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aturday, December 11th, 2021 -Jeremy Jones has been coach for the Mosconi Cup for a couple years now, but has captained losing USA teams in 2020, and now 2021.

Mark Wilson captained teams that struggled, but had a good dynamic.

Johan Ruijsink captained winning teams for both team Europe and Team USA in years past -- 2018 & 2019 specifically for team USA.

Coaching and strategy appears to be a big part of winning the Mosconi Cup, great play, and a little luck -- getting “the rolls,” doesn’t hurt either. But having a good captain appears to be tantamount to a winning combination.

I believe team USA needs to consider having a new direction for their leadership. I believe that Charlie Williams, Johnny Archer, Tommy Kennedy, Nick Varner, Earl Strickland, and other great US champions like that should have a crack at it, with 51

FUTURE OF ONI CUP Mark Wilson on as assistant coach and rock-solid moral fiber to instill into the team’s collective consciousness.

Shane Van Boening (SVB) has been the world number one player for well over a decade and a half in my opinion -- not always maintaining the #1 rank, but always being in the Top 5 it would appear, steadily grinding year after year since approximately 2007 -- one of the greatest runs in the history of the pocket billiards, ending up tied with Earl Strickland at 5 US Open titles. Unprecedented.

However, SVB has struggled in the Cup, having performed below his level of play this year, and in many others.

Even with SVB’s struggles in the Cup through the years, I still say he should be included in any team USA assembles unless his game begins to drop off, but it hasn’t; SVB is playing as well as ever -- having bested Orcollo and others in recent times in heads up, one-on-one money matches, race to 120 and the like, highlighting the fact that SVB is in top form to take on any player worldwide.

Also, Skyler Woodward has shown year after year that he gets key points

and wins consistently under those conditions in the Mosconi Cup, an extraordinary, durable grinder for team USA. He should be included year after year for years to come, if he continues to improve and play top level pool as he has.

Beyond that USA hasn’t appeared to have a lot of options in recent years.

Billy Thorpe did well on winning USA teams in recent times, so perhaps he could be considered as a possibility, but I believe it was Strickland that posted on Facebook that Thorpe was excluded from this year’s Cup for allegedly smoking marijuana, which is ashame if so. Is marijuana a performance enhancing drug? I wouldn’t think so. But I digress…

Tyler Styer has both come through for team USA and has also, struggled and dropped matches he should have won.

So, from this reporter’s perspective, Styer may be included as a wild card pick next year if the other options are limited.

Chris Reinhold is a top player, but was ranked 38th on the top US Fargo rated players -- that seems a little low on 52

the level of play to be included in the Cup, but perhaps other players weren’t available this year, and Reinhold obviously did the best he could. I believe Chris to be an ambassador to billiards, and all class, and hope he plays better, wins more individual tournaments, and qualifies to play with team USA again next year. However, if he doesn’t make the cut, I don’t believe we should select a US player below the top 20 Fargo rated players in the USA ever again. The level of play for team Europe far supercedes anything below that; this must be considered when team USA is selecting players.

Actually, I believe pro players should have to compete in Mosconi Cup team USA qualifiers each year, a new captain put in place every two years, change it up to adapt with the times and players.

At the end of the day, team Europe is just one win better than team USA -- the two rivalries standing locked at 12-11 overall at this juncture in space-time, with one tie -- in this billiards ‘War Of The Roses.’

So, to recap: 1.) Team USA needs a new Captain for 2022.

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Casey C The Ginge

By Rhonda Royal

Lesson) Red hair is caused by a rare mutation in the (MC1R) gene. But this is not the only special thing about this ginger girl. Keeping her mutant powers a secret can’t be easy.

Growing up in Greensboro North Carolina, daughter of John and Jennifer Cork, Casey would tagalong with her parents to pool league. It was there that she was bitten by the bug! By the time she was nine years old there was no denying it and John gave Casey her very first pool cue. Although not named as such yet, this was the birth of The Ginger Assassin.

Casey Cork Photo by Chad Snody With one look around the room you can’t miss this tall, fiery redhead. Casey Nicole Cork was born into a very exclusive club. Redheads make up only about 1% of the world population. (*WARNING: Genetics

Photo by Chad Snody 55

Cork ~ er Assassin These days, Casey is having fun and working hard, playing on multiple teams in the APA and USAPL pool leagues. One of her USAPL teams even went all the way to the finals in 2021. When asked about her league teams she said, “In league it’s all about having fun and that’s what we do in both!”. (I don’t know about you, but I know a few people who could learn something from Casey.) Don’t let her lightheartedness about league fool you. When this girl plays, she’s out to win as seen in 2018 when she placed 5th at BEF Junior Nationals. She followed that up with a near miss placing 2nd in 2019. Pretty strong by any measure.

biggest supporters. They help her attend any big tournaments she can play in. Age is a factor because Casey is 19 (almost 20) and so many tournaments are restricted to ages 21 and up. No worries! She has plenty of events she’s looking forward to. We should be seeing her at the Pro-Am events in season two of The Junior International Championships along with the USAPL event in March 2022 just to name few.

The year 2019 led our Ginger Assassin all the way to the Republic of Cyprus.

(If you don’t know where that is, it’s worth looking up. I did.) She was invited to Cyprus to play for Team USA in the Junior World 9 ball Championships where she placed 9th in the world! Again, strong by any measure. It’s clear that her dreams of one day being number one in the WPBA, are rather, more of a goal.

Casey attributes her parents with being her

Casey Cork Photo by Chad Snody 56

Casey Cork Photo by Bob Beaulieu Outside of pool Casey loves spending time with her family. I can confirm that they are a blast! In the summer you can expect to find them on the water deep sea fishing and during football season you’ll see them at several college football games, especially Wake Forest games. Go Demon Deacons! Ironically

Casey too was once a Demon, The Ginger Demon.

Named by a former team captain. But Jake Lawson had another idea when he commented on one of Casey’s posts with the hashtag #GingerAssassin. It stuck. Welcome, Casey ~The Ginger Assassin~ Cork!

Casey Cork Photo by Bob Beaulieu 57

When I first met Casey her love for shoes was apparent. Mostly high-top Nikes. Nike should be sponsoring this pool girl. I think she bought 3 pair in Vegas on that trip. Maybe there was a pair of Converse All Stars in there too. I would call them all basketball type shoes. Let’s just say, I wasn’t surprised when she told me she keeps the books for both varsity basketball teams at the local high school. Football and basketball games, pool league and tournaments, traveling, deep sea fishing and she does it all with her nails on Point! If you see her, ask to see them. She always has something cute going on.

When talking about her idols, Jeanette Lee and Skyler Woodward’s names came up. Her appreciation of these professional players goes far beyond their play on the table. She spoke of things like kindness and strength.

I wonder if she knows that what she admires most about them are the same things people admire about her? A kind, caring soul with a fighter inside. That’s what I see. Thanks to Jeanette and Skyler for being the ultimate role models they are. It’s working! And Casey will, for sure, carry on this tradition. She already is.

says of Jacoby, “They have amazing products. Best in the game.” and says of Off the Rail, “They have the best apparel in the game for sure.” She wants you both to know how much she appreciates you and your products! Companies like these, supporting our youth, are helping to keep pool alive. Consider checking them out and buying something awesome.

I’ve learned a lot about this Ginger Assassin in the short time I’ve known her. She will light up any room.

Nike and Nails will be on point. She’s an assassin on the table. She puts her heart into everything she does.

She’s pretty funny too. Last and most importantly, she has an incredible family backing her up. I wish her all the love, happiness and success the world has to offer.

I don’t know where her story will take us next but I for one will be watching.

Casey wants to give a big shout out to her sponsors, Jacoby Custom Cues and Off the Rail Apparel! She

Casey Cork Photo by Chad Snody 58

Pool Th

By Patrick Sampey

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aturday, December 18th, 2021 -- (Pool is therapy) Today I have 127 days in recovery from Alcoholism. I’ve had much longer periods of abstaining from drinking that intoxicating nectar I came to love back in my youth, Army days and nights. I should have over a year of sobriety at this point, but slipped up a few times, few times too many through the years.

Hopefully I’m done with all that now, but I’ve said, “never again” too many times to say that again. Now I agree to the “one day at a time” adage from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). And I believe, though 127 days is nothing more than a start, I feel that my drinking more recently was minimal, though risky, hence the reason I abstain now.

In AA they give you a white chip the first day, when you give your will over to a “higher power,” which some call “God,” but people that focus on the “God” aspect of AA miss the point I think. The point is to give your will over to the universe, advanced space aliens, God, the Sun, Karma, the Tao, Science -- whatever you would consider a “higher power.” Why? Because going under our own will, we alcoholics found ourselves “powerless” over alcohol.

So when you give it over to a “higher power,” that is a powerful thing,

empowering -- even if it is the “placebo effect.” The AA book references God as a “higher power,” which can be anything above and beyond humanity.

What’s all this have to do with pool?

What does billiards have to do with it?

Well, a year ago around this time, I was just out of 12 Oaks Recovery center down in Navarre, FL for alcoholism and mental health treatment -- 30 day in patient; and I’ve swam in the bottom of so many beer cans, but somehow I’m still here to tell the story, and pool has actually helped me not drink, and helped my mentality as well. Pool for me has been therapeutic.

In 12 Oaks, we had days with “music therapy,” and I was thinking how music is good therapy for mental health -- and how much I enjoyed the music therapy days. But all that said, the music 59

herapy therapy had me thinking “Could pool be therapy for me?” The answer that loomed ahead in the Myst of my mind’s eye was a resounding “YES!!! POOL IS GREAT FOR MENTAL HEALTH!” For me personally, pool is therapy. For some perhaps not. Some people I’ve seen break their cues, lose their rent money, and worse -- but for many like myself, pool is a positive, cathartic mental strengthening practice that builds character, and helps one excel at one aspect of living, namely playing pocket billiards.

I’ve read a little bit about ‘Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance,’ but for me personally, pool is my zen, my center.

For me personally, playing pool tournaments, cheap money sets, and things like that isn’t stressful, or bothers me usually. Normally I feel like a kid at Disneyland, and that is just good medicine -- just what the doctor ordered. And I have no desire to drink and pollute my game with alcohol either when I play, so that is to say that playing pool actually helps me to not drink, as well as helping my mental health.

PTSD, Bipolar, ADHD, Alcoholism, whatever your mental health concerns are, playing pool can help you find your balance I believe, as it has for me.

I find the most joy (therapy) putting on my Bluetooth headphones and practicing pool by myself, constantly seeking to improve my consistency, and subsequently my overall game.

That is where I find my center, and tap that infinite well, that “core” that Tesla said he knew existed but couldn’t penetrate the secrets to, but that his brain was just a “receiver” to. I just plug in to Pandora radio with some Mozart, Lil Wayne, Ozzy Osbourne, or any number of other artists I have come to love. And play the game I love, the ‘Pleasures Of Small Motions,’ (Dr Bob Fancher).

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Wisconsinite Pool Scene

By Garret Troop C

oming from the beaches of the Californian central coast and spending my entire 31 years there, I never thought that I would end up in Wisconsin of all places. I was a person that played pool but didn’t become a pool player until I moved to the northern states of the United States.

tournament almost every night of the week. Due to my central location in the state, I can drive three hours in any direction and be in another State.

Wisconsin is the state of beer, cheese and I had no idea that places like this existed, and I’am entirely proud to call myself a true Wisconsinite as I grew up in California but call Wisconsin my home. The place where you can bring your children into the bars while you are playing pool. The people and culture out here are way more laid back and willing to reach out a helping hand to all newcomers. The beer is always cold, and they are crazy about their cheese, but the pool drew me here.

Wisconsin has seven leading cue manufacturers in this small state alone. There is Jacoby, Viking, McDermott, Schmelke, Schon, Jackson and Pechauer. These incredible and impacting cue makers have a heavy hand in this industry that I love, and I want to tell my story. You can find a 63

Wisconsin is the heartland of the industry. The people here are more down-to-earth than on the west coast, where I can meet new people. I love that about this area. Wisconsin is the land of milk and honey for the pool players from the Nevis to the 800 Fargo’s. It’s bar box land with a few exceptions that stand out. Everyone is willing to show you their cues and talk about the game at length. In the bigger cities, there are so many different cues and players.

The cue smiths take great pride in their work and put it back into the community. Anywhere you go, you will find proud cue owners and proud cue makers. Each cue maker has its unique craftsmanship, and they like to make cues ranging from entry-level cues to the cues that look like they should be on display somewhere. You can tell what cue manufactures are close to that area based on the scenes at the local bars. I have personally given my friend my playing cue while his gets

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repaired. That’s something you don’t find in other parts of the region.

The pool tournaments are long, with lots of better players than me. Lol, I feel that this industry needs more Wisconsin in it. Caring, professional, friendly, and proud! Many cues’ makers love and are very willing to help the industry and the newcomers. By that, I mean the youth in this sport. They areall willing to help it grow by helping the young ones improve their game and get better.

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