SPM Billiards Magazine Issue 34

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What’s in SPM Magazine Issue 34 I want to shoot all their livers out ~ Earl Strickland

Interview with Junior Player Eli “The giant” Zahvi

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Page 46

Ally Bally

Jeffrey Torunaments De Luna An upcoming Name to know Marianne’s

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“the68 bull” Page

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Tournament Preperation Anthony Beeler

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Meet Matchroom’s Photographer ~ Taka wu Dr. Dominic Esposito a.k.a. The Drill Instructor

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The Cutting Edge

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I want to shoot all their livers out ~ Earl Strickland Mosconi Cup Exclusive Patrick Sampey

Rick “White Wolf” Prince

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Spnsorship Garret Troop

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Nathan Wallace Kieth Shaner

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Ally Bally Mark White

The Carbon fiber craze Garret Troop

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Taka Wu Photography ~ Mosconi 2022

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Interview w./ 2X World champions in English 8Ball Borik Bidakovic

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Marianne’s Tournaments An upcoming name to know Brad Swain

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Dennis Hatch Patrick Sampey

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Meet Matchroom’s Photographer ~ Taka wu Kat Day Editor in Chief/Content Creator 3

Interview with unior Player Eli “The giant” Zahavi Linda Carter

TOURNAMENT PREPARATION

By Anthony Beeler

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1. COME PREPARED Being an effective tournament player means doing a lot of work before your match begins. No matter your level of play, there is an opportunity to survey the pool table to determine your conclusion to several variables that affect match play.

You might ask the following questions: What size is the table that I am playing on? What type of cloth is on the table? Is the cloth fast or slow? Does the table roll to one side or the other? Are the pockets loose or are they tight? What distractions are nearby that I may want to avoid? Am I playing with a standard sized cue ball or is it oversized? You can also do some test break shots to see which side of the table you pocket the most balls from.

2. FOLLOW YOUR GAME PLAN Once you have developed your match strategy. You will want to follow it. It’s one thing to do an in-depth analysis and follow it completely. However, during match play things can become complicated rather quickly.

For example, if you break dry a couple of times you may be tempted to change your breaking position. If you overshoot position, you may be tempted to shorten up your stroke. In a tight match there can be quite a bit of pressure. Pressure is the number one reason players alter their game plan. Generally, pressure makes you tighten up and that alone can make you indecisive at the table.

3. KNOW YOUR PERSONAL LIMITATIONS Pool is a game of decisions. You should take into account the risks and rewards of the shot that you have decided to shoot. As a whole, amateur players are way too aggressive and take unnecessary risks because they are not being honest with themselves about their true abilities.

How many times have you tried to pocket a difficult bank shot or make a backward cut only to jaw the ball in the pocket? Just because a shot is possible does not mean you should shoot it.

Professional players weigh the percentages. They ask themselves questions such as: • Am I more likely to be successful playing an offensive shot or defensive shot?

• Can I easily attain position on my next shot?

• What is my success percentage of shot 1 compared to shot 2?

• Given various options, which shot will my opponent like the least?

• Can I play a two-way shot?

• If I mishit the shot, am I better off shooting a little too hard or a little too soft?

The best players in the world are brutally honest with themselves. They have a true understanding of their personal abilities, and will only play a shot when they know they can execute it a high-percentage of the time.

4. IMPLEMENT A HIGH-POWERED OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE GAME Professional pool players are masters at making high-runs that are supplemented with a smothering defense. The smartest players in the world understand when to play aggressively but also understand when a good safety is needed. You have heard the old saying, “There is more than one way to skin a cat.” The same is true for pool. There is no single “right answer” on how a layout balls should be played. Players should develop their strategy around their knowledge of the game coupled with an honest self-assessment of their personal abilities.

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5. MAKE QUALITY DECISIONS Being able to make quality decisions is perhaps the most important piece of the gamewinning puzzle. While it’s not a guarantee, if you are second-guessing a decision before you execute it, it is going to prevent you from delivering a confident stroke.

The time to think and analyze each shot occurs before you get in your stance. When you’re standing over the ball, ready to execute the shot, the best players in the world are totally committed to delivering a smooth straight stroke subconsciously.

Anthony Beeler is the current Billiards Instructor of the Decade and is a former BCAPL National Champion. He has numerous “Top 25” national finishes and is the primary author of the ACS National Billiards Instructor’s Manual. He 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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The “Cutting Edge”

By Rick “The White Wolf” Prince

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here are many Shots in Pocket Billiards. Straight shots, Banks, Kicks, and Cuts are the most common. In this edition, I’ll be going over my cutting technique.

It’s like my friend “The Drill instructor” says..., “Sometimes you just “See the Shot” after years and years and many hours Rollin’ the Rock.”

That’s certainly the case with me after 51 years of play, but there is one technique that gives you a very good advantage on cut shots. The “Edge to Edge” cutting system.

Understand that your Ferrule is not just there to hold your Tip on. It’s Your Sight!

Looking at it as your sight, just like you would a sight on your rifle, you would be more inclined to keep it very clean. I hate to see a guy or gal with a “Dirty Ferrule” it tells me right away that there most probably not using the “ Tip Ferrule” sighting Method.

Which, in my opinion, gives you an edge. Using the edge-to-edge sighting method is very simple. Imagine a ball 2 Diamonds off the foot rail and only an inch or so off the rail.

Your cue ball is also 2 Diamonds off the foot rail but a few inches off the opposite rail.

You’re almost straight with the object ball.

You’re cutting the ball to the right to pot it in the corner pocket.

You simply go through your stroke routine the same way you always do, but you line up the Right side of your Ferrule to the Very Outer Edge of your object ball. Shooting through the cue ball, oftentimes, it will appear that it doesn’t line up.

This is because you’ve been just trying to “See the Angle” and estimating in the past.

Try it a few times with very easy cut shots to start. Then practice using the edge of your Ferrule to shoot “ Full table cut shots”!

Of course, if you’re cutting to the left, you’ll employ the left side of your Ferrule.

This technique has been proven time and time again to me when I’m not stroking at my best, i.e., nervous or tired, etc., and has allowed me to make almost impossible Cut shots to win many matches over my 35 some odd years of Competitive pool.

It’s definitely a shot you’ll want in your Bag! So, if you want to “Have an Edge.” on cutting, use the edge-to-edge sighting method. I Am Sure it will “ Up your Game and improve your cut Shots.

Until Next Time “Happy Shootin” From “The White Wolf “

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Sponsorship

By Garret Troop

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o, you want to get sponsored and rep for a company, be one of the elites?

Yeah, you and every other player. We all want that status and want the perks of getting stuff for free. You want to play and rep for a company and have them give you equipment and pay for expenses. When you get down to it, what do you truly desire?

You may ask yourself, “What is a company hoping to get out of sponsoring me?” There is more to being sponsored than being a good player! Companies are looking to get advertising and have the people they support to sell their product and essentially be a walking billboard for the company. They want their initial investment to pay for themselves and continue to make money.

Everyone wants the dream, but it takes hard work. Companies wish for more from you than just slapping their patch on your shoulder.

In today’s world of social media, you need to be highly proactive in what you post and how interactive you are on many platforms.

You need to be a source of inspiration for the community and be knowledgeable about the companies that sponsor you. It would help if you had pages and posted on them often, went live and had Q&A’s, post-tournament updates winning or losing, and kept the community positively interested in you. That’s huge!

There are different levels of sponsorship as well. Not all are equal. For example, some companies will only or primarily do product flow to get their name out there and get the

most bang for their buck. Others are far more selective about who they have representation from and only sponsor a few of the highest players out there. I’m getting at that when you hear the word sponsor, and you need to understand that there are many different levels, and everyone wants to be on that list where they get more for less than everyone else. The other part of this is you need to see that companies “Sponsor” a lot of children for the sport to grow and keep their name on the tips of everyone’s tongues. We all want our jerseys full of names that help you reach the top.

Remember, you can be the best shooter in the world, but if no one sees you play and you are not in the limelight, are you a good player?

You don’t have to be a pro; you must play well and be active, traveling to events. You need to be a people person and be able to answer questions about the company that sponsors you and what they are selling. You can also go to media sources and get them to interview you and have them publish it. From your local newspaper to Billiard magazines and podcasts that are out there. “SPM offers all that, by the way.”

Look at Florian, for example. He is a cleancut successful businessman. You never see him in a negative light. He carries himself at a higher level than many. Many of his videos have gone viral and have millions of views and shares. And when he left Mezz and went to Cuetec, he did it with grace and was a gentleman about the entire affair.

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Nathan Wallace Renaissance Road Man

By Kieth Shaner

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he image of the “Road Man” in pool is steeped in legend, myth, glamor, and seediness. In his iconic book The Hustler, Walter Tevis gives us the young Fast Eddie Felson, a young talent hustling in California until he is ready for the road, taking on bigger and bigger opponents until he hits Chicago and takes on Minnesota Fats.

Today, while there are remnants of that life here and there, they are few and far between.

Those who try to hide in the shadows and move from town to town to pick the pockets of the local champions usually have a short shelf life. The internet and cell phones make it a lot more complicated. Unless you’ve stayed in the sticks, out of major rooms, tournaments, leagues, and money matches, somebody knows you. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Maybe it’s time to look at the road in a different kind of way. As pool seems to be resurging and having growth, especially among younger players, perhaps the idea of the Road Man has a renaissance as it transitions from the idea old hustler/conman into the modern traveling player.

Let me introduce you to a man who embodies the spirit of that transition, Nathan Wallace.

Nathan is a strong regional player, and he has had some terrific finishes in the last few years, including a GSBT Amateur win to a top 20 finish at The Derby City Classic Banks event, third place behind Dennis Orcollo and Sky Woodward Nathan in an Ohio event and a top 20 finish at the 2022 Texas Open.

He was kind enough to take the time for an interview this month; here is our conversation: KS: So, tell me a little bit about your background, where you’re from, and how you got started in pool?

NW: I was born and raised in rural southeastern Ohio. When I was around ten years old, I would go camping on the Ohio River with my grandfather. Up the road from our campsite was a small bar with good food and a couple of pool tables. We went in to eat one day, and a couple of guys were playing

pool and invited me to join. I jumped on the opportunity. Every week that summer, I would save quarters, and we would go camping on the weekends. I’d make sure my grandpa took me to the bar to play. I asked for a pool table that Christmas and my parents bought me a Sportcraft table. My father and I played on it for a few months, but my excitement for the game eventually dwindled. When I turned 15 or so, I went to my friend Kalen Patterson’s house down the road to hang out. He had a pool table, and we played a bit. I had a knack for simply pocketing balls. He told me that our local bar had a Tuesday night tournament and that my dad should take me.

I think it was a week or two later that my dad took me to the tournament, and I got second place, making about $25. From that point, I was super intrigued. Around six months later, I went to a few bigger tournaments and was drawn for a break and run. I broke and ran out a 9-ball rack for $3,500; from that moment forward, I was hooked for life!

KS: Who gave you your first bit of instruction in the game, and in what room did you first begin to play seriously?

NW: My first bit of instruction was certainly from my father. Before I was born, he played in the Busch League and was a mid-level player. He quit when I was born and only started to wield a cue again when I found my interest. My father quickly realized that I had some natural ability and started taking me to more small weekly tournaments. From there, I met a couple of local guys named Matt McCormick and Matt Whiteman. They started taking me to bigger tournaments and introduced me to Sportsmen’s Billiard Club in Columbus, Ohio. My father would drive me a couple of times a week—three hours round trip—to the pool room for practice, where Jerry Conkel and some others would help me further my practice. My father has always been older; he retired when I was young. I was very fortunate to have that freedom and extra time with him. I would take advantage of every opportunity that I had to play. My 13

father, McCormick, and Whiteman would take me places to play whenever they could.

Eventually, I turned 16 and obtained my driver’s license. Even after that, though, we found ourselves going together from place to place.

KS: Who are some of the players whom you admired and followed when you first took an interest and did any of them have an early influence on your approach to the game?

NW: One local player I certainly admired was Dee Adkins. I knew Dee was a professional player; whenever I saw him, I would observe him from a distance. I was a shy kid and didn’t say much, but I was a great visual learner. I didn’t ask “why” often. I just knew that it had to be the right way if professionals were doing things a certain way. My biggest influence was definitely Allison Fisher, who is now a friend of mine. She dominated the women’s tour, and I recorded every match of hers on ESPN that I could. I would watch and

rewatch those matches many times, learning her stance, stroke, approach, and anything else that I could soak up and use in my own pool game. Of course, the “Matts” also played a role in influencing me because I was around them so much, and they took me to and from so many different places.

KS: What is your favorite game to play, and has that changed over the years?

NW: My favorite game to play is short rack banks. I’m not saying it’s my best game, but it is my favorite! While growing up, I often could not afford to play 9 ball and pay for quarters all day and night. So, the buddies I’ve mentioned, another best friend of mine, Jayson Canter, and I would play bank pool to make our money last longer. Even to this day, that’s the game we find ourselves playing the most. For being guys who do not play much pool anymore, they still play banks pretty well, and when we all hang out, that’s what we gravitate toward.

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KS: Do you prefer a big table or bar box, and do you have a preference for tournaments or head-to-head challenges?

NW: When I turned 16, my parents helped me get a 9-foot Olhausen. For years, I preferred a big table over a small table. Nowadays, unfortunately, most of my events are on bar tables. I certainly think I play bar table better, but my heart is definitely with the big table.

There’s nothing like letting your stroke out and sending the balls in with authority on the big table. I’m a firm believer that the only game that is really meant for the small table is 8 ball. As a player, though, we just have to adapt.

KS: When did you enter your first tournament, and how was that experience?

NW: I was 15 when I entered my first tournament. It was at Club Vinton in Allensville, Ohio. That place is still open and as friendly as ever. When I set foot in the place, someone almost always greets me with

a warm welcome. I appreciate those folks to the fullest! My first tournament there was, like most, as fun as could be, and I couldn’t wait until next Tuesday for the next one! My father paid for my entry to those events for a few weeks. Shortly after, I started placing or winning and paying my own way. The three top guys around were Kess Nixon, Shorty Walls, and Wayne Baker. Those guys gave me some trouble on the table for a bit but also introduced me to ring games, where I learned quickly that I could double or triple my profits even faster than in tournaments.

KS: What was the first “big” event that you entered, and what was it like compared to how you felt in that first time in any event?

NW: My first big event was in Sandusky, Ohio.

It was a Fury Tour Stop. My parents took me four hours up north to play. I went two and out. I remember Art Rivera was my firstround draw, and he sent me to the one-loss side very quickly. It was the longest four-hour drive home. I was absolutely crushed and 15

embarrassed. I knew then that I needed to keep improving and working on my game.

KS: What are some of the events you have played in over the last few years, and which have been your favorites?

Also, what rooms come to mind as personal favorites?

NW: For time’s sake, I’ll just list my top three: Derby City Classic Bank, US Open, and the Texas Open. No, I never won these events.

These are major events and players from all over the world attend. Nevertheless, in these events, I performed pretty well and was able to sneak by or play well against a few of the champions from other countries. I was also narrowly defeated by some, and that left me humbly proud. We learn more from the losses than we do the wins. Maybe that’s why they come to mind first.

My favorite pool rooms are certainly The League Room from Parkersburg, WV which sponsors me, The Poolhall in West Virginia,

Q-Masters Billiards in Virginia Beach, Michael’s Billiards in Cincinnati, and Mad Apple Billiards in Appleton, Wisconsin.

KS: You have had some great finishes in recent times with some very big names in the mix. What has that been like, competing with some of the best in the world and being competitive with highlevel players?

NW: I’m an oddball pool player. I like to win the money, but even after playing in a couple of big-money matches, my favorite wins and losses come in tournaments against true, proven champions. For instance, the last winner of The Texas Open was Vitaliy Patsura from Ukraine. He beat me in that event 9-7 and went on to win the tournament.

That 9-7 loss means more to me than going undefeated in a regional event. I’ll never forget that match. It definitely stung, but I know I played some of my best pool ever. One mistake in a key rack kept me from prevailing.

Vitaliy was a true gentleman in that match,

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and I’ll always enjoy that memory overall. I’ve played Johnny Archer in an event and won, and somehow beat legendary Mark Jarvis in derby bank a few years back, but still, some of my losses are my favorite matches. I lost 9-8 to Roberto Gomez a couple of years back and learned more from that than from my wins as well. A great guy, Roberto! I must admit, I did defeat him in a bank tournament a year or so later, and we still pick on each other about both of those matches! He is one of the coolest top-tier players out there. He represents the Philippines with pride!

KS: What types of relationships have you developed in pool over the years with players around the country and the world?

NW: I truly have made friends and acquaintances all over the world. Almost all of my friend’s stem from pool now, in some way. I have best friends who live fairly close by to friends across the world in, let’s say, the Netherlands, who I would also trust with my last dollar. I can’t imagine not playing this game and developing the relationships I have. It has allowed me to get out of my small town, see the country, and meet people from all over the world. I’ll forever be thankful for pool, in general. There’s nothing like gathering in a pool room with players from all over the world who speak different languages but still being able to communicate through the game of pool. It’s a common interest and passion that overcomes any language barrier. It’s a feeling like no other, and it has helped me grow as an individual.

KS: As a player, do you still enjoy watching pool as a spectator? Live and on streams?

NW: I absolutely love watching pool. I probably watch more pool online and in person than almost any player my level that I know. I’m the oddball who can sit for 15 hours to watch a match and enjoy every second.

Again, being a visual learner comes into play here.

KS: What are some things that can be done to make the viewing experience better for spectators?

NW: Personally, I would like to see more of a focus on the players and their backgrounds and more interviews before and after matches to make them more relatable to the public. Interviewing spectators about who they are there to watch and why they like them would also be interesting!

Certainly, building relationships between the players and their fans would help gain interest. As far as the games go, even though the players may not like it, I think missing has to be forced upon us. Fans like emotion and suspense in all sports. Watching us run out again and again, is not suspenseful enough.

We need misses to be involved more often at a higher level, whether this is with shot timers, tighter pockets, or tougher equipment.

I also think the alternate break format is must. Trust me, I love running a few racks in a row, but it’s just not fair for players to travel across the world and never get to show their skill while their opponent runs out. I don’t believe it’s good for pool, as a sport. In tennis, for instance, every player gets their serve. The best things to bring more interest and fans to pool might not be what the players want, but we will just have to deal with that for the longevity and success of the sport. Let’s grow the game to better it and to make it more rewarding for the up-and-coming juniors.

An example would be the shootout in the Predator Pro Billiard Series. When tied in sets, the players face off with a single shot over and over to decide the winner. As a player, we don’t enjoy this much. However, from a fan point of view, the crowd loves it and gathers around. They engage with that more than any other part of the event. It’s a great success, overall.

KS: How do you think pool as a sport can grow? Do you think it lies in youth programs and building not only players but a fan base from the younger generation?

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NW: I think players of all ages should be engaging in social media professionally and trying to grow a following. Bringing others from outside of pool into the game is one way of growing it and making it more profitable for everyone. You can follow me on TikTok and Instagram, NathanWallacePoolPlayer, if you’d like! I love posting the journey. It’s a relatively random lifestyle that many people ask about and find intriguing!

I think pool, as a sport, is on the rise. With larger events from Predator and Matchroom, players are given a future to look forward to, which is increasing interest from the juniors, as well. I can only hope that the sport rises to its full potential and, one day, allows the great players to plan for some sort of true retirement. It is no longer a “bar sport.” Pool is as professional as golf and tennis on the larger stage. For those who are unaware, tune into the Predator Pro Billiard Series events or Matchroom events and see what I mean! Everything is done professionally and it’s a great thing to witness. I believe it’s better now than it has been in my entire career.

KS: What do you think can be done to promote the faces of the sport to the public? Pool is a niche sport and like other niche sports, it needs a public face to help connect people to the sport. Skateboarding is not skateboarding without Tony Hawk, snowboarding had Shaun White, so who are some people who can be that for pool and how do you think they should be marketed? Someone established like SVB or someone coming up, getting ready for that big breakout, or both?

NW: I absolutely think sports fans get excited about the youth. When those young players evolve into champions, they have a following for their entire careers. Right now, I believe players gaining a following online is 100% the best way to promote the faces of our sport.

For instance, Joe Burrow, quarterback for the Bengals, was a name we all heard in high

school, college, and now in pro football. He will have a following forever.

There are many youth players that are exciting and unique in their own ways. I have to mention one of my best buddies, Kashton Keeton, from Kentucky. Just recently turned 16 and on the rise, Kashton is as rural and country as they come. He’s entertaining both on and off the table, from being 6 feet tall to having the deep voice and country twang.

He has tons of potential and plays well beyond his years. There are so many other great junior players. Joey Tate, for instance, shows a professionalism like you wouldn’t believe. Then there’s the super exciting and fun, Savanah Easton! She’s currently 12 and nicknamed “the Road Runner.” She truly plays very well for her age, and everyone loves to see her come into the pool room.

Our biggest ambassadors of the sport need to be promoting these junior players’ names and faces! Give the fans someone to latch onto and create a buzz around. These players also need to be promoting themselves and giving the fans some content to relate to and follow along with. Savanah and her family do excellent at this and should certainly be applauded for it.

KS: When you’re not on the road traveling and playing, what are some things you like to do outside of pool?

NW: Outside of pool, my main hobby is definitely fishing. I keep tournament fishing to a minimum; I get my competition from pool! Fishing is more of a leisure activity. I am country born and raised. Everyone likes to comment that I’m a “pretty boy” and it makes me laugh. At home, behind the scenes, you’d be surprised! You’ll find me elbow-deep in grease, working on cars, boats, or building something—dressed in stained clothes and loving every second of it. I love being outdoors, whether 90° F or 30° F. I am not the type to sit inside all day. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that lifestyle. It’s just not for me. Those who find this out are usually pretty shocked. I credit my mother and father 18

for this. They are extremely hard-working, blue-collar folks who’ve had me outdoors from the time I could crawl. I’ve been blessed my entire life to have, what I consider to be, the best parents anyone could ever ask for!

KS: Thank you, Nathan!

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about Nathan Wallace. He’s a genuine positive face in pool.

All photos in artice on Nathan Wallace by Kieth Shaner

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The Carbon Fiber Craze

By Garret Troop

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s technology progresses and the industry rides the waves of the demand for Carbon Fiber, many companies have capitalized on this trend. Every company has its version of these shafts, which all have a different feel, just like their wood counterparts. You can get different tapers and shaft diameters, and any pin will fit. These shafts have many advantages, and I don’t see them going anywhere soon.

That said, some companies specialize in making carbon fiber shafts. For example, the Wheat State carbon fiber shaft is just that. So you can get a great combination of a beautiful butt with any carbon fiber shaft you like.

White carbon is a new arrival, and it has a unique feel. I played and won countless games with this shaft and have a good feel for what it can do. I had John Bartone get me an 11.75mm with a Kamui hard tip on it, and the shaft plays amazingly. Very low deflection and a great stiff hit. I need less energy with my stroke to get the ball to do what I need to do.

The shaft that I got was black, but they offer different colored shafts for those who are having trouble adjusting to the black trends of the industry. The shaft comes standard with a 16” pro taper. The shafts come with an “insert” that allows you to change the pin to another pin. It’s an incredible thought, but when I think about it, it’s solving a problem that doesn’t exist. I.E., if you have a different butt, you want to put the same shaft on. That doesn’t happen. From the consumer’s standpoint, it’s not as effective. But from the retailer’s standpoint, I can see the advantage of this. Say you’re buying from Alberto Trujillo from Fort Worth Billiards. He can buy a handful of the Whyte Carbon tubes and fit your cue with any insert you need to fit your threads. From a retailer’s standpoint, it’s excellent, so you don’t have to keep as much stock.

Cool from that shaft point, but they took the average of every butt thread end diameter and ran with it. For the majority of pool players, that’s fine.

Talking with John Bertone, he explained that this entire shaft’s assembly takes place in Washington, DC, USA. They are about four to six weeks from when you order until it is delivered. The end of the year is coming, and I’ll get your order in soon. Just the end of the busy season for the slight wait but consider this is the busy season and all the trade shows.

The way they make these shafts is a bit different as well. Most carbon fiber shafts are made on a mandrill; Whyte Carbon’s process is called fiber winding, where there is no seam. The marketing behind this is that the seam of a Mandrill-created shaft has a seam, and that “can” make for 21inconsistent playing. However, I feel this is more

marketing than anything else, but as far as the actual shaft, it plays excellent. I have never heard of any complaints about a seam on a carbon fiber shaft, but I know this shaft plays very consistently.

Whyte Carbon carbon fiber shafts come in an array of sizes: 11.75mm, 12mm, 12.25mm, 12.5mm, and 12.75mm. The insert is a grey color and goes along with their logo lettering. It’s a different contrast that you don’t see very much in the blackness of the carbon industry. This shaft cost the consumer $570. But it’s an investment in your future as a pool player.

All in all, this is a feat shaft, and I love it. It’s stiffer than most I’ve played with, and I like that feature. The little grey ring at the bottom is a welcomed change from the black carbon shafts we all get. Looking at the pros and cons of this product, I’d say that they put a lot of R&D into the development, which is why it has the hearty price tag. I can’t wait to see what they come out with next, and I hope you keep up the excellent work.

This product gets the SPM seal of approval.

You can buy from here. https://whytecarbon.com/

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Dennis Hatch Talks to SPM

SPM Writers

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efore the Mosconi Cup 2022, SPM just had an insightful conversation with Dennis “Hatchetman” Hatch, former MVP for team USA 2009, 1991 US Open finalist at age 20, then ranked 24th in the world, the youngest player to ever reach the finals, a thrilling match hill-hill match, Buddy Hall, then age 46, ranked 6th in the world at that time. Hall would go on to win it off a dry break on the final rack by Hatch (Mike Sigel commentating on the match), and Buddy Hall ran it out, clinching the match and title 9-8 – if not for a little bad luck, not making a ball on the break, Hatch may have been the youngest player ever to win a US Open title. But luck was on Hall’s side that day, the pool Gods smiling down on him – Hall collapsing down on the table in relief, having squeaked out his race to the finish line just a nose in front of Hatch in a thrilling billiards contest for the ages.

Throughout the course of our discussion, Hatch talked about how the game has changed over the years since he played in the ‘80s and, ‘90s, early 2000’s – his battle with alcohol, for which he is now over seven years sober, enjoying his life, successful in his business outside of pool, his good friend Earl Strickland’s struggle with bipolar disorder, some of his picks for the upcoming Mosconi Cup and US Open fast approaching this year, 2022 – and picks for players to win, whom he

believes are the top players in today’s pool game.

Dennis Hatch on the differences from the game back in the 80s and ‘90s, as compared to today’s playing conditions and equipment: “In the 80’s and ‘90s, we played on Steven’s thick, slow cloth, and you had to have a stroke to get the ball around the table. Every match you played was like Paricaric, Buddy, Varner, Archer, Seagal, Strickland, there were so many…Everybody that played could beat you; there was no easy drawback in the day...Mark Wilson. There were players that you know; honestly, everybody played great, just like they do now, but if I had to compare, here’s my example: If you took today’s players and put them in our time back then, on that cloth with those balls and tables, we would Rob them. Filler and Shaw, and no offense to them, their Champions are great players, but on these tables, it was a whole different ball game. It was like playing on mud with tight pockets, and you had to hit everything hard to make the cue ball move around the table…If you took those players now, and you could move them forward until this time, these kids would Rob us.

Filler’s a great player; they have great 25

Strokes…but the conditions favor everyone and anyone; you don’t need a stroke to play anymore because the rails are so bouncy, and the cloth is so fast…When we went to tournaments, the tables were not as nice as they are now; they weren’t as new as they are now; we were playing on Old cloth, beat up balls, you know, just it was a little tougher back then is all I’m trying to say.

I think that if you took the players from back then and tried to put them in today’s ERA, with these tables, in these conditions, they would probably be able to compete somewhat, but again, I mean, are you bringing them back in their Prime, and bringing them against these guys, are you bringing me back when I was in the 90s like the best player in the world two or three times to play these guys now, or are you bringing them back, you know, at 40 or 50 like me and playing them?

“Back then, it was at the US Open, all the Filipinos, you know; the US Open has always been International, and it just might be a little bigger now, but it’s hard to decipher, for example, what was it like then compared to now because everything has changed, the conditions, the cloth, the table, the size of the pockets, the balls back when we played; God! I sound so old!” – Dennis Hatch.

Suffice it to say, Hatch, standing as one of the pillars of pool for all of time, documented for 26

today’s readers and posterity.

Also, we now have both teams for the Mosconi Cup selected. The big underdog, team USA, was bested many times in this modern era of billiards by team Europe – Europe up on team USA over the course of the Cup, with Europe currently having a one-game advantage, 14-13 for the life of the event, beginning in 1994 – pool’s equivalent of Golf’s prestigious Ryder Cup. Hatch highlights Shane Wolford as one player to look to for the future, SVB, and talks about how he feels like Strickland is the greatest nine-ball player in the history of pool, his friend, and his struggle with Bipolar Disorder, for which this writer also suffers, and I for one don’t believe Strickland gets upset at times NOT merely to cause a commotion – I honestly feel that Strickland, like myself, is so often struggling with demons no one can see, and that is the source of his pain. Check the video interview to see what Hatch says about his friend Earl “The Pearl” Strickland, coming to his defense and saying before the fact, and you heard it here first, that was one of Hatch’s possible picks for the Mosconi Cup 2022; let’s get ready to rumble!

Check out the Hatch interview and what SPM has cooked for December! Play on, Players! Will the USA take the Cup back home this year and tie the series 14-14? With Earl on the team now, anything is possible.

Hatch also made another announcement! He will be returning to pool in January 2023! Check out the interview on SPM TV.

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Meet Matchroom’s Photographer ~ Taka Wu

By Kat Day

What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever,impossible to reproduce. ~ Karl Lagerfeld

T

hat quote says it all when it comes to photography. Capturing the precious moment that cannot be duplicated except through the lens and a memory card and keeping it timeless!

During the US Open, I had the privilege to get acquainted with the man behind the lens Taka Wu! I was working on articles for the Ko Brothers and desperately needed photos of Ko Ping Chung. I believe it began when Ko Ping Chung placed third in the US Open. But we had gotten stories on all three brothers and called it the Ko Brother’s Blowout Edition!

Taka Wu was Matchroom Multisport’s photographer at the 2022 Mosconi Cup! He captured emotion, excitement, and all the expressions in between!

I do photography but have yet to start attending Billiard events and catching those Wow photos of players. I have gotten one great photo at La Cultura Cigar & Social in Kansas City of one of the owners playing pool with the cue coming out of the man’s beard on the table! Anyhow Taka Wu’s photography is amazing!

When I started researching Matchroom’s photography and photographer, I emailed Taka, and he got back to me. It was an honor for me to be in communication with such a talented photographer. Taka Wu covers Matchroom’s Multisport events and has some amazing photos! You can check out his work at https://www.takaimages.com Here are some of the questions that I asked 28

Taka: First, let me start with a short biography of Taka Wu of Takaimages and Matchroom Multisport.

I’m a freelance News, Sports, and Editorial photographer. Originally from Shanghai, China. Ever since I was a child, I always have had an affection for the arts and photography. I would make photo collages by collecting pictures from newspapers and magazines. After years of dead-end jobs, I decided to follow my passion and attempt to become a professional sports photographer and went freelance ten years ago.

I have been fortunate enough to photograph the world’s best events, from Athletics, Boxing, Darts, Diving, F1, Figure Skating, Gymnastics, Hockey, Netball, The Paralympics, Rugby, Snooker, Swimming, and

Table Tennis. My work has been published in worldwide Newspapers, magazines, and Online News.

How did you get noticed by Matchroom?

I first met Matchroom in 2018 when I went to the World Cup of Pool in Shanghai and worked for another photo agency back then as a freelance. After the event, they wanted to see my work, and they liked my work ethic and principles and fast turnaround time (i.e., from taking the photos to finishing up ready for media publication). In 2020 they offered me to be their official photographer. By the way, I’m still freelance, working for several agencies outside of the MMS Pool events.

How long have you been shooting for Matchroom Multisport?

Since 2019

All photos courtesy of Matchroom Multisport by TakaImages.

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What type of gear do you use?

I always used Nikon ever since I started photographing. My current gears are as follows: 2x Nikon D5 1x Nikon Z9 1x 14mm-24mm f/2.8 Nikon Z mount lens 1x 24mm-70mm f/2.8 Nikon Z mount lens 1x 70mm-200mm f/2.8 Nikon F mount lens 1x 400mm f/2.8 F Nikon mount lens What other types of companies have you done freelance work for?

News and editorial agencies Do you strictly cover sports?

Apart from sports, I cover News and editorial events. I also do portraits for corporate and private clients.

Have you always done Sports photography?

About 70 % is Sports events.

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Photos courtesy of Matchroom Multisport by TakaImages.

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What other types of photography do you enjoy doing?

Any sports Please tell me a little bit about yourself and your educational background. Are you self-taught in photography, or did you go to school?

I’m self-taught in photography. Ever since I was a child, I always have had an affection for the arts and photography. I would make photo collages by collecting pictures from newspapers and magazines.

One of Shanghai’s prestige art schools after primary school selected me to study art, painting, etc., while continuing my high school education. I learned painting and art techniques there. I think that played a big role in my late photography.

I went to Japan to continue my higher education after art school in China. After graduating in Japan and got a job working there. I bought my first Nikon FM2 manual camera. I started street photography and sometimes just shot for local sports events, friends, birthday parties, etc.

What was your very first pro camera?

Nikon FM2 manual camera How did you get started in photography?

See above Do you play billiards, or are you involved in any sports personally, or do you love capturing that moment from your subject’s sports?

No, I don’t play billiards, but my maternal grandfather does.

However, I’m an avid cyclist. I did many cycling tours worldwide, including the one in Colorado’s rocky mountings (I cycled through the Windy Gap, Hoosier, and many other passes and all the way to the summit of Mt. Evans).

I also did and completed many triathlons in my age group. The last one was ten years ago, but I’m still cycling from time to time or taking a long-distance walk when I’m free to keep fit.

You said you like art. Are you also involved in any design work?

I’m currently learning design following adobe online learning.

Taka’s favorite sports to photograph are Winter sports, Moto racing, Swimming, Gymnastics, and Rugby.

Taka Wu currently resides in London, UK. Follow Taka on his Facebook page if you are a fellow photographer or love great photography. https://www.facebook.com/takaimages 33

How to Put Yourself “In the Zone”

By Dominic Esposito, a.k.a. The Drill Instructor

D

id you know that The Drill Instructor is giving away 5 FREE Gifts guaranteed to impact your pool playing skills?

How often have you missed an easy shot and then lost concentration?

How do you regain lost confidence, especially when playing an opponent that you should beat?

Most pool players don’t realize that this sport is 50% psychological.

You’ll always be better off when you’re not being self-critical and afraid of losing. However, every player at some time point has a moment when confidence weakens and concentration wobbles.

Years ago, I created the solution to this problem. Working with a friend and fellow pool player who is a certified hypnotist, my eyes opened up to the very thing I had been searching for.

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Experts have long established that hypnosis is a fast and effective way to learn something new. It’s also a great way to relearn or unlearn harmful habits and patterns.

It’s simple; hypnosis essentially involves a willing focus of attention on a hypnotist’s suggestions. The hypnotist guides a client to use the right outer portion of the cerebral cortex – the frontal portion of the brain. This is termed the subconscious mind because the right hemisphere controls our imagination, faces, place recognition, and multi-tasking just to name a few of its functions.

The left hemisphere, or conscious mind, controls speech and rational decision making, it is how we are critical, analytical, and can only do one task at a time.

The two sides of the brain process information differently and function independently. For instance, when you are playing flawlessly “in the zone,” you’re using the right, subconscious side of your brain.

There’s more. Hypnosis derives its power from being a subconscious state of mind. The subconscious does not analyze like the conscious mind, so suggestions heard enter the unconscious mind that houses our habits and memory, and controls all the physiological functions of our body.

Without going to a hypnotist or playing a hypnotic message, you can, right now, use the power of your subconscious to tap the wealth of pool training that you have engrained deep inside your unconscious mind.

YES! And I created a drill for doing this.

To get back in the game requires tapping into your memory of some past excellent performance.

It could be a well-played shot, game, match,

or remembering the exhilarating feeling you once had while playing at the top of your game.

Hypnotists call this method or technique anchoring. You dig into your memory and use that as your anchor to get back into being “in your personal zone of excellence.”

Here’s how you do this.

1.

Take a break and go to the restroom or sit somewhere quiet and alone.

2.

Find something that you can stare at and see yourself. Use a mirror or anything that you can see a reflection of your face.

3.

Speak out loud the words, “EveApple.” You can say it to yourself if you’re not alone. Eve-Apple is the key anchor to go into your memory, back in time, to when you experienced that moment you played flawlessly, had a perfect strategy, executed accurate aim, felt your stroke was perfectly in line, and you had total cue ball control.

When you vividly get into that recall state, neurotransmitters in the brain will send this message to every cell, nerve, and muscle in the body. This is what literally transforms how you think, feel, and act!

The mind can only entertain one mood at a time. So, by anchoring back to a positive and winning feeling all the losing thoughts and feelings disappear.

To make this work you have to practice doing this.

I train my players to do this four times a day, every day for one month. They take a few seconds to recall, feel, and get as vivid as possible about a previous experience.

The most effective time to practice is during a time when you’re tired. This can be right before you go to sleep.

Once you have conditioned the unconscious mind to totally respond to your keyword, you have a fabulous psychological tool to restore 35

the confidence, concentration, and execution of “in the zone play.”

I created using the words Eve-Apple because I wanted to create a strong memory jogging anchor that says exactly what we’re doing.

What’s the words Eve-Apple stand for? It’s an acrostic that simply means: E - Enjoy V - Visualizing E - Executing A-A P - Pool P - Playing L - Life E – Experience The Drill Instructor is a Master Pool Instructor of Pool Instructors. He works with players around the world at every level. Don’t hesitate to call or write him. He can be reached at dominic@thedrillinstructor.us or just visit the website at https://www.thedrillinstructor.us to get access to him and his world-class training.

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‘I Want To Shoot All Their Livers Out!’ – Earl Strickland 2022 Mosconi Cup Exclusive!

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hat a treat we have for you today, pool fans! We at SPM have been lucky enough to get some answers to our questions to the Pearl, and what a gem he has produced for the game fans! Strap in players and fans of world 9 ball, Earl is pulling no punches, shooting from the hip, providing the collective pool world a show, and the billiards firepower to possibly prop the collective Northern American Continent by a pool proliferation of ‘Legends Of The Fall,’ quite simply, Strickland’s legacy in the game is tantamount to anything this Earth has ever witnessed – and the hits keep coming!

This Tallahassee Squirrel snuck in approximately 10 questions to the Pearl just moments before this year’s Cup begins tomorrow, with a press conference set by Matchroom Pool / Mosconi Cup here to kick off in a few hours, and we at SPM are clamoring to cover the story of stories, within the story, Strickland! Earl “The Pearl” Strickland, a pool player unlike any other you’ve ever seen play, a player that lets you know exactly how he’s feeling, and man, oh man, when his game is in top form, you better hope you play like Reyes in prime form and hope that’s enough to win the contest at hand players, fans of the game, figures in the game, witness the prowess of a pool playing professional, my personal number one pick of all times!!!

Oh, yes, I’m definitely a fan of Strickland, a man on a mission to heave up the collective pool world of the USA on his back, if for one final push!!! I don’t have enough exclamation points for this article!!!

Okay, let me try to cool out for a minute, but back to the title of this article for a second: ‘I Want To Shoot All Their Livers Out!,’ that’s what that Pearl said, players! It’s on! Earl has called the US dogs on those European players, and he comes to sling mud on their collective championship shoes!

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USA may be the “underdog,” but this dog has fight, bite, and we are coming for blood! With all due respect to team Europe, of course.

That was the last question I asked, “Who would you most like to beat 1v1 in the Cup?” Or something to that effect. Perhaps I misquoted myself, but that’s not the main point, the point is what Strickland said. He is coming for that cup, and that’s what I like to hear!

So, we have his “Dawg Pound,” namely SVB (Shane Van Boening), Woodward, Dominguez, and Styer – and they all need to perform well for the Pearl, to show respect for the greatest USA player to ever live, and show him there’s still hope for pool in USA, and to show them they don’t always need side pockets or jump cues, and let them shim in those pockets to 3 and ¾” size, and watch as that Pearl shoots the eyes outta them balls! Seriously, all jokes aside, we all know, worldwide, that Pearl is one of the absolute best, if not the best, to ever play the game – it is arguably the truth that is.

That Pearl has now garnered himself a new sponsor with JFlowers cues and cases I believe, and I want to see him break those cues in, unless he’s just got a case sponsorship, but either way, to see him represent his new sponsor with lights out run outs, and steamroller precision, to crush these brazen European ballers!

Now, without further adieu, the “ten” questions for Earl “The Pearl” Strickland: Q. How does it feel to be a new sponsored player by JFlowers, and can you describe your interaction with their company?

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Earl: I am very excited to be working with J. Flowers and what the future holds. All good Q. How does it feel to be back in action representing the USA for the Mosconi Cup? Earl: It is hard to believe that I am back! I didn’t think this chance would come again at times.

Maybe this will be my last chance. I am going to lay it all on the line. I am honored at my age to get this opportunity to represent the USA, especially after this year.

Q. How have you been training for this year’s Mosconi Cup? Earl: A lot of hours of practice and hitting the gym at 6 am doing 500 pushups, 700 sit-ups & running 4 miles a day. Also playing a lot of endless hours of straight pool and making my training video “Straight Pool Earl’s way,” going on sale on December 5th on www.

Earlstrickland.com for purchase as DVD or Digital download.

Q. Do you feel like the USA has a good chance of winning the Cup, with many placing team Europe as a strong favorite?

Earl: Hopefully, we can win! We are the underdogs, but we do have fight in us, and if we can

Photos courtesy of Matchroom Multisport by TakaImages.

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play to our capability yes we can win.

Q. Do you feel like the crowd at the Cup is a big factor? How will you deal with tough fans and hecklers, if any, this year? Are you prepared for that if so?

Earl: The crowd is a huge factor, and we need to have a strong U.S.A Homefield presence to help combat the hecklers looking to stir me up! Of course, I know I need to wear my armor and be prepared to go to war!

Q. You are such an icon in pool, arguably the greatest player in USA history in pool. Do you feel like your experience and leadership will help the team win?

Earl: Yes Q. You and SVB stand tied at 5 US Open wins a piece and are two of the most dominant forces the pool world has ever seen. Can you describe the contrast between your game and his, and perhaps talk a little bit about that, and perhaps other players in the game you respect or would like to say something about?

Earl: SVB is a great friend and a strong competitor, and I have a lot of respect for his game and determination to win

especially being the current 9-ball World Champion. Every time I play or he is at one of my exhibitions. He is there watching and supporting me.

Q. Everyone on team USA, I believe, has been on winning USA teams. How do you feel this helps the team as a whole, and what do you think Jeremy Jones needs to do to help the team get the “W” at the end of the event?

Earl: Jeremy has to be strong as a captain and keep the team together and be our leader. Even though we all have won before, that was the past, and this is the now.

Hopefully, we have learned to deal with the pressure, which will allow us to play at our peak performance!

Q. How big would it be for you to be on another winning USA team? What would that mean to you? Can you please describe it in detail?

Earl: Everything to me. It would put me with the most wins of any professional player in the Mosconi cup. Who would of thought?

Q. Who on Team Europe would you most like to beat 1v1?

Earl: That’s a tough call. I want to shoot all their livers out!

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Interview with Junior Player Eli “The Giant” Zahavi

By Linda Carter

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ecently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Eli Zahavi (pronounced Ellie Zuhhah’-vee), an up-and-coming junior player, who resides in a small town outside Boston, MA., with his parents and siblings. Eli is a very mature and self-possessed 16-yearold who is making a name for himself on the junior circuit.

Eli got his start in pool in an unusual way.

None of his family members play pool, but one day they all went out to play pool at The Billiards Cafe in Ayer, MA, just for fun. Eli was only 11 years old at the time but found he had an affinity for the sport. On the way out, an older man approached them, asking if he was interested in joining a Junior Pool league. With no prior experience, Eli thought he would try it. It was that fateful decision that led Eli to where he is now. The older man that approached him happened to be the renowned coach, Roy Pastor.

Roy is still his coach, and Eli plays in a Sunday junior league and a Wednesday Master 10

ball league. Being in both leagues gives Eli the opportunity to perfect his skills and practice with other players.

After about a year of playing in the league, Eli convinced his parents that he was committed to this new sport, so they bought him a pool table. Having a pool table at home has been very helpful, because Eli puts in about 12 hours a day, 6 days a week at St. Mark’s School, a private prep school in Massachusetts.

He then has mandatory sports practice and then hours of homework before being able to put in some time on his table. Being a student at a highly competitive Prep school means a grueling and exhausting schedule, but Eli manages to practice a half hour to an hour every day.

While it’s not much time compared to other juniors, he feels that consistency and focus are important while doing drills, and practicing is the key to his success. In the 46

summer, the absence of school and sports practices allows him to practice more, around two to three hours a day. His focused practice during summers and the school year has brought him closer to his dream of becoming a pro.

In his family, education is of paramount importance, and while Eli has not decided what path he will follow, he’s sure it will involve Math and Science. Currently, he is considering Engineering or Medical School.

Speaking of his family, Eli’s mom is his unofficial manager and, more importantly, his number one fan. Eli is highly appreciative of her handling his travel and social media accounts. Alongside Roy, Eli’s Mom is someone who pushes him toward being the best player and person he can be.

Photo by Mari Cartagenova at SVB Junior Open 47

Eli’s favorite player is definitely the Terminator, Niels Feijen. His online video’s at Terminator College have been very helpful to Eli’s growth. He also admires Efren Reyes, Jayson Shaw, and Earl Strickland. As far as other young players, he admires and respects Joey Tate because he’s kind and humble even after making it to the pro circuit. When asked about another upand-comer, Savannah Easton, he said she is a strong player, considering she beat him at the Matchroom Open Tournament in Atlantic City. Eli adds that he beat her in the 2021 CSI Junior 9 Ball where he took 5th in the 16 and Under division. He believes they both have a lot of potential for the future.

Like most good players who have innate hand-eye coordination, Eli plays other sports. He excels at football and baseball. Standing at 6’8” with a massive frame, Eli uses that size to his advantage as a lineman in Football and, with his giant reach playing first base in Baseball. I asked why he was not playing basketball, and he said he was slow, and his whole family was slow. I got a kick out of his candor. These sports make up another part of his busy schedule.

Photo by Adam Richins -. Eli is #70 lineman There have been other challenges to his pool career besides time constraints. Like most people, Covid isolated him, and he was not able to practice in person with anyone. This was certainly a frustrating and challenging chapter. Even now, he finds it hard to meet other junior players of a similar skill level because there are very few junior leagues and competitions in his area. However, Eli makes sure to break through this adversity by keeping up his practice, meeting with his coach, and trying to get better every day.

His best games are 9 and 10 ball. He believes he could improve on 8 ball, but most 48

tournaments he plays in don’t include this game. This leaves him time to specialize in rotation games. He’s also dabbled in snooker and one pocket just for fun. He has run four consecutive racks of 9 ball and three racks of 8 ball. His Fargo is 450, but it is truly not indicative of his skill level because there are no Fargo rated leagues or tournaments close by.

He said his strongest shots are his break, where he routinely pockets 2-4 balls, his spin, his power, and jump shots. He would like to work more on his thin cuts and banks. He says he doesn’t use an aiming system, except for kicks, where he uses the mirror angle system for banking.

Eli is sponsored by Predator, and he plays with a Predator Revo 12.4 shaft with a Pechauer/ Predator collaboration butt. He also must play with a 6” extension on both his playing and break cues due to his height. He breaks with a BK Rush and jumps with a Predator Air 2. Eli loves the Predator equipment, and he feels it helps him perform at his best.

This young man is a hard worker, humble, eschews gambling, and spends his limited free time as a volunteer for the Special Olympics. His advice for other aspiring pool players is to be patient with themselves, appreciate incremental progress, and never lose sight of your goal.

Eli “The Giant” Zahavi has a bright future and is one to watch as he reaches for his next goal of competing in the BCA Junior Worlds.

If you would like to sponsor Eli or invite him to a tournament, he can be reached through Facebook - Eli Zahavi Billiards, or Instagram @elizahavipool.

Photo by Kyle Theodoridis (photographer for Predator) 49

Ally Bally

By Mark White

J

ust to clarify a few things from the start, although I’m European, ultimately, I am a pool fan, I want to see as many racks as possible, whatever the tournament. It’s the same when in the booth. I actually get upset when anyone loses, and I was hoping the 2022 Mosconi would gogo hill-hill too.

There had been more hype about this year’s battle than any I can remember, there was just as much interest from the Americans, if not more, about whom Alex Lely or Emily Frazer hadn’t picked, as Fedor Gorst was left out in the cold, and El Matador was thrust back into the bull ring at Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas.

The highly fancied team Europe was an odds-on favorite to make it a hat-trick of wins as the pundits gave what seemed like a makeshift team of misfits making up team USA zero chance of upsetting the trend of the previous two years in the gambling capital of the world.

Team USA had a good first day winning the team match 5-3. In the 2nd match, the dream team of the Spaniards FSR and David Alcaide swept aside Dominguez and Earl the Pearl 5-1 as the capacity crowd of red, white, and blue led by one of their Mosconi cup winners Billy Thorpe as he kept the crowd upbeat and the bars in Bally’s busy.

Next up, we had a treat in store as one of the great Mosconi rivalries were pitched against each other Bad Ass Blue Grass, against the Killer from Germany, Joshua Filler, and what else would you expect from these two legends? I use the term legends although they are only 50

kids, Sky, only 29, and Josh, a baby at 25. It followed a typical script, just like a Christmas movie on Hallmark, and went to hill-hill with a fairytale ending for America as Sky put the underdogs 2-1 up in a race to 11.

Josh Filler was up next against SVB in his 15th Mosconi cup, which saw Van Boening completing his 100th match in the event, but it wasn’t to be a celebration as SVB lost to Filler 5-3, and we were all square at 3-3.

That would be a hard act to follow, but there are few bigger stars in the world of pool than the next four protagonists, Tyler Styer and Shane Van Boening, against Albin Ouschan and Jayson Shaw, and again, this went all the way with Tyler and SVB closing out day one with team USA leading 3-1.

Ouschan and Filler then put Europe ahead for the first time in a scotch double beating Dominguez and Styer 5-3, and then a bizarre incident when the main feed around the world, crashed not only on DAZN but Sky TV also, with Sky leading Francisco Sanchez Ruiz 4-2, we were all left in the dark, and the match was held up until the feed was restoredallowing the 2 players to leave the arena and go to the practice tables. When they returnedit was Sky who came back the strongest and secured a massive point for the Americansand we were again level at 4-4.

Day 2 began with fans’ choice singles, and it came as no surprise when Earl Strickland and Jayson Shaw received the most votes, and it looked like a shock was on the cards as the Pearl raced off to a 3 zero lead, but that was to be Earl’s last rack as the Scot residing in West Haven, Connecticut, but is residency to one side by celebrating with such veracity it had the Americans damming him for overzealousness. however, the comeback was onand the gap was closing at 3-2.

Match 9 was held over to the following day because of the power outage which meant play overran and next up was a titanic battle between Strickland and SVB against Eagle eye and El Matador. It seemed

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like Shane assumed the position of babysitter to Earl as shot after shot went awry. The 61-year-old could be heard on the player’s mics ruing his bad run and could often be heard complaining, ‘I have never seen so much badluck in all my days playing this sport’. It all came out all right in the end, Shane puffing out his cheeks as he’d just been through hell, and with that team, USA again regained the lead at 5-4.

Mercurial Alcaide then put on a Matador master class taming Tyler 5-2 to level once again.

The oldest man was back at the table for the 3rd time tonight with Sky in a doubles

Then just when you thought it couldn’t get any better SVB and Sky clash with Shaw and Filler and it got off to an absolute flyer as Filler overcut a long one ball, and with the nine-ball hanging on the edge of the middle pocket Sky played an outrageous billiard on

against Ruiz and Filler, and it was fitting that it was the golden boy of the moment to make a golden break into the side pocket that secured a 5-2 win for Europe and take them back into an overall lead again 6 to 5.

Earl looked tired and drained, although he did start off going 2-0 up, but Albin rattled off 5 in a row and dealt out a 5-2 win to go 7-5 up, and it was starting to look like team USA’s challenge was beginning to fade, not even the Thorpedo could put a dent in Team Europe’s sturdy structure, but you could certainly bank on Billy having a good night, whatever the score, love that guy; surely he is team Americas Eagle eye.

the nine and team Europe never really got a look in after that, and the ‘Beached whale’ was served up a donut, I’m sure Earl will get Jayson on the sit-ups, yes Earl had a go at Jayson, but it was all in good fun between 2 former house mates. I’m not sure if you have 52

‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here in the US, but if the producers get to see Earl in action, he is a perfect contestant for the jungle.

So, 7-6 behind, it’s up to Oscar to play a leading role and level up this year’s Mosconi but Jayson was too strong for Dominguez, and the man from Glasgow shows true grit and takes Europe just 3 from the magic 11 points.

The final day started with the fan’s choice doubles, and they wanted to see Sky and Shane once again, but this time, they’d be up against the current US Open champion and just weeks before the Mosconi, he added the Predator World 8 Ball title to that taking his

earnings for just 2 events to $110,000, and if he could add the Mosconi title, he would take his personal earnings to $140,000 in 3 tournaments, there is money in pool if you are good enough and are willing to sacrifice everything else and every other temptation in life.

Van Boening and Sky managed to win a hard-fought battle to get back to 8-7, but you just got the feeling this was all leading up to a possible Filler Fairytale, and when Alcaide made an excellent recovery from behind to beat Sky, if Jayson could beat Shane, it would all come down to Filler versus Tyler, with the man from Oshkosh having to beat the Killer to keep America’s hopes alive, but in a bizarre 8th rack with the match poised at 4-3 to

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Joshua and Tyler at the table; the American was feeling the heat and played 2 of the craziest shots I have ever seen. An attempted four-railer when there was an easy safety alternative, a thunderous attempt at a full length of the table bank and then an 8-ball, you’d expect any BCA league player to make blind drunk.

So, it was left to Joshua Filler to make the winning 9 ball and, at the same time claim the title of MVP.

As expected, Europe defended the Mosconi cup trophy, and it’s now 3 in a row, but it wasn’t an easy win walkover like many people predicted. It must be said the US put up a brave fight, but I think team USA was a couple of players short at handling those big crucial moments, to be honest. Europe had quality all the way through their team, and even with a very biased loud crowd, Europe handled the pressure when it mattered most at those key moments.

way, but uncharacteristic misses from Sky, particularly on that 5 ball then he hooked himself and had to jump and lost the cue ball off the table, having said that El Matador took the bull by the horns and came with some great clearances to beat Sky after being behind.

Neither team really took hold of the match by the scruff of the neck, and there were times when it looked like it was going all the

I think it’s back to the drawing board for team USA, Earl, I’m sure has played his last Mosconi cup. I don’t think we’ll see Oscar

The singles matches were where the cup was decided this year, with Team Europe winning all but 2 of them.

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traveling around the world to hopefully get a shot at 30,000 next year, he has a very successful business and a lovely family, and I’m sure he will pick up a few dollars gambling in those longer races which I think suits him a lot better than races to 5 alternate breaks.

A few words about the break, I actually love this break as a fan, I’m not sure the players do, it has turned the break into a bit of a lottery, but that adds to the excitement for the viewer.

Breaking from the box, nine on the spot with the triangle rack, it’s really tough to make a ball on the break and get position on the lowest ball. It leads to some great safeties, jumps, and kicks, and more often than not, there is a little cluster or a ball that needs nudging out, so I think this format for Mosconi is perfect.

I loved Emma, the main presenter for

Matchroom; the MC was lively and fun, and the coverage was good, although I’m not a fan of having to pay for it, it’s not the money as I did pay for it, but I just think you reach more people if they can just stumble across it.

I still think there is a divide in pool, with various organizations not wanting to work with others, Matchroom clearly wants to run the sport and use their own ranking system, I thought it was ridiculous the way the commentators failed to mention Ruiz winning the Predator World 8 ball Championship just days before, and they don’t want to admit that there is any other game played with a cue other than nine-ball.

But take nothing away from them; they know how to put on a show. I liked hearing Allison Fisher, M.B.E., in the booth. She is super knowledgeable, very eloquent, and delivers well. I liked Karl Boyes doing the interviews in the practice room, and the one with JJ and Alex Lely was fun. The event 55

certainly was never boring, apart from when that guy kept shouting out BORINGGGGG every time a safety was played but overall, a terrific event.

As for Team USA’s chances next year, well, I honestly don’t know where the players are going to come from; Bergman, the guy everyone always talks about when the word Mosconi is mentioned, is a definite no for Ally Pally, as he won’t travel, I’m guessing SVB, Sky, and Tyler, as he travels to most of the tournaments, and you’d think he’ll pick up enough Matchroom vouchers, but who else? Is Chris Reinhold back? What about a youngster, Joey Tate, Shane Wolford, or Nicolas De Leon?

I really think it’s time to start introducing some younger players, the next generation, especially while we have greats such as SVB, Sky, and JJ around to teach them, but Greg Hogue has promised to fight again for his spot, and what about a change in captaincy?

I’m not saying JJ isn’t the man for the job, but there have been some social media chats offering this as an option, but let’s face it, whoever captains the Americans, they have

a limited number of players to choose from.

I’d be interested to see what Alex Lely would change if he were USA’s captain, and with news out of Lely’s resignation, maybe he will captain America next year, or how about Sky Woodward moving up from vice-captain?

And it leaves another question unanswered, what about a return of Johan Ruysink?

It’s clear something has to change in the whole American pool infrastructure, I think they need to look at what some European countries have done, setting up academies and giving financial support to players, but the American players really need to start taking technique, fundamentals, and proper training more seriously if they are to quell the European invasion from across the pond.

If you want my advice, take advantage of a lot of good coaches who have instigated the European onslaught in recent years, not just in 9-ball but 8-ball, 10-ball, one pocket, and banks. We may not have the moves just yet, but they shoot straighter and more consistently, and there lies our advantage.

The Europeans are looking strong, with plenty of other youngsters eager for a Mosconi team 56

spot. Wiktor Zielinski will surely be one of the favorites to swap that famous red T-Shirt for a blue one next year if he has another season as he did in 2022 if he does get in, and presuming Fedor will as well, whoever takes over will have a different type of problem, whom to leave out? Albin, David, Jayson, Josh, Ruiz?

It’s going to be an interesting 2023. All said and done, it was tighter than last year’s event, it was hugely entertaining, and the US fans were loud and entertaining too.

I thought I would mark both team’s performances out of 10 Shaw, I thought, was under par overall but came with the goods when needed 7 Ruiz, the rookie overall, I thought was our most consistent 8 Alcaide also came with a good win when needed 7 Albin is always Albin, steady a deserved 8 Star of the show and MVP Josh Filler, a 9 As for the USA, I felt Earl was a liability; he needed a lot of babysitting a poor 4

Oscar is a great player, but, in this format, he fell short 5 Tyler had his moments on day 1, but I got the feeling he got a little overconfident, was always out in between racks trying to do Sky’s job 5 SVB, I thought, had quite a good tournament marking his 100th match in Mosconi cups 7 Sky was the best of the Americans and, apart from that, missed five and a couple of small positional errors; I thought he gave everything. 8 USA 29 Europe 39 So, it’s off to Ally Pally next year, but who will make the trip across the pond for Team USA? I’m guessing Team Europe will be more or less the same; maybe Fedor will be in for Alcaide if he doesn’t turn red. Leave your comments on this post, guys, and thanks for watching.

Happy holidays and see you in 2023 Eurooopppppppe Eurrrrooopppppe

Photos From Matchroom Multisport by TakaImages 57

Photos From Matchroom Multisport by TakaImages

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Mosconi Cup 2022

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Mosconi Cup 2022

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Photos From Matchroom Multisport by TakaImages

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Photos From Matchroom Multisport by TakaImages

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INTERVIEW WITH 2 X WORLD DOUBLE CHAMPIONS IN ENGLISH 8 BALL

By Boris Vidakovic It has been several years since I have been to Malta. I heard that my friends, Clint Azzopardi & Lydan Debono, had won their second and consecutive World Doubles Championship title in the English 8-ball pool. I have decided to run from cold and rainy Belgrade to spend some sunny days in Malta and celebrate their achievement.

It would be selfish on my side not to publish what they had to say about their life story, so

I decided to conduct an interview with them so I can share it with you.

Lydan, when did you start playing together?

Clint and I started playing with each other when I was 13 years old. I used to go to the same club Clint used to play at and watch him play so I could learn. From there onward, I started to practice each day, so I could start playing on the same team that Clint plays on.

What was your first success as a double?

After one year, we started to play together and won the Premier League for the first time in my career.

Have you continued playing together after that?

We are still playing with each other to this day. We won every team trophy together in Malta, and we also won the National Champion, both of us. Currently, I am the National Champion.

Congratulations to both of you; that is an amazing result, knowing how strong the 64

competition is in Malta!

But our best moment came in 2018 when we were crowned the New World Doubles Champions for the first time. Along the way, we’ve beaten some great teams, which included Zhang Kunpeng, one of the best Chinese 8-Ball Players & Liam Dunster’s team in the Quarter Final.

It was an amazing feeling for us to be crowned with that title.

How does it feel that you “did it in a row” when several years are between your first double title and your new title?

After two years, we had to defend our title, but because of COVID-19, we couldn’t go to Australia. So we had to wait another two years. In 2022 we went to France to start our title defense which we already knew was going to be hard to retain.

We started off very well by beating a great Morocco team and Catalunia’s team 3-0

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respectively.

In the last 16, we were facing a very strong companion’s Malta team, Clayton Castlaldi and Maverick Zammit. We defeated them 4-3.

It was a close match which we could have lost.

Quarter-final, in our opinion, was our most difficult match. It was against two English professionals, Jimmy Carney & Ian Ali. We started the match horribly and went 3-0 down. From there onwards, we started to play some good pool, and we managed to turn it around & win 4-3.

In Semi-Final, we played against the Welsh duo, and we were too good on the day as we beat them 4-0 with three breaks and a clearance.

How did you feel when you qualified for the

finals again? Have any teams defended their title so far?

After that game, we started to realize that we could make the impossible possible and defend the title, which was never done before.

In the final, we played against a Maltese duo again, and we started the game by losing the first frame. The second frame took about 43 minutes to finish as it was tactical, but in the end, we managed to win that tight match.

In the 3 & the 4th matches, we broke and cleared, so that meant we were one match away from history.

They had a great chance in the last match, but they couldn’t capitalize on our dry break.

So we cleared the remaining balls on the table to be declared the World Doubles Champions once again.

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It was a proud moment for us both as to defend the title in France is something we could only dream of, but we, as a team, are really strong.

WOW, great achievement; as I said before, it is very hard to become a Maltese Champion since competition in Malta is so strong. You had to play twice with the Maltese team. Big shout out to the Maltese pool!

Have you had any support from the local community, government, etc.?

I would like to take this opportunity to mention our sponsors: Kencar, Lourdes Pharmacy, Mattress Collection, GP Borg, Bro’s Barber, Nick’s Snackbar, Benzing Mobile shop & Victons Radiators.

Last but not least, we would like to say a big “thank you” to our supporters and to, Clint’s wife, Mandy Azzopardi, and my girlfriend, Daniela Borg, for their continuous support.

Nicely said, behind every successful man is a caring woman. Since you have such beautiful

support, what are your plans for the future?

Hopefully, we can defend the title again in 2 years’ time. We are looking forward to the European Championships, which are going to be held here in Malta next November.

Wouldn’t it look like magic if you won it again? Except for love for pool, hard work, dedication, and support of your beloved, what are your “secret weapons”?

Clint and I both use John Parris Cues with an 8.5mm tip. We also both use TAOM Chalk as we think it’s the best. ***** Here are some words from 2 x World Double Champions in English pool that we spoke during our dinner. Clint and Lydan have written their names in the “Book of Pool Champions,” and we expect to hear about their new achievements soon. Now, let us focus on these delicious lampuki, famous fish in Malta. We don’t want them to get cold!

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Marianne’s Tournaments – An upcoming Name to Know

By Brad Swain

I

feel blessed to experience the various pool tournaments and events for four decades.

As well as partake in the different types of pool scenes throughout the country. The way that poolplayers and the pool communities are coming together and evolving is excellent to watch. Over the years, I’ve seen some pool communities that were well-run, friendly, and promoted good healthy sportsmanship. I’ve also seen a lot of scenes that were quite the opposite, but the best pool scenes are the kind in which everyone just worked together as one unit. Every Marianne’s Tournaments event I have attended has felt like one big family that loves to play pool together.

What can I say about Marianne and her pool tournaments? What comes to mind when I think of Marianne? I think of a woman that has kept the wants and needs of the players and railbirds in mind to create events to bring mutual benefits to pool players, pool room owners, local fans, and sponsors alike! I think Marianne’s strong integrity and devotion to all parties involved make her a unique commodity in the billiard scene.

When I spoke with her, she repeatedly expressed how grateful she is to have so many players placing their trust in her. Trust was earned by listening to the players and what they wanted to see in the events they would play in. The way that she puts others first has been serving her much success.

Marianne’s Tournaments team and volunteers are all about the love of pool, playing pool, healthy competition in the game, and most importantly, camaraderie– a billiards family of people that come together for one common passion: the love of pocket billiards.

“If even a single team member were missing, then Marianne’s Tournaments would have a part of itself missing because everyone at each event always has their own contributions that they uniquely provide,” stated Marianne Raulerson.

Their events are created and put together, and often, at a Marianne’s Tournament event, decisions are made by the entire tournament team, not just one individual. The events have 68

Photo Credit Erwin Dionisio adapted to what the players in that event want, which is a welcome thing for so many, andanother reason for Marianne’s continued success and growth in the game at large.

Marianne’s vision is to help others, for the players, to continue the grand tradition of pool. Pool tournaments that give back to the players and pool community. She’s not in it for the money;she’s here for the passion of the game. She wants to make it to where everyone can win synergistic type thinking.

She doesn’t believe that owners must lose large sums of money to host huge events.

She knows there’s a way to run her events to where everyone wins. It’s essential to Marianne that she maintains her integrity, not compromising her fundamental core values.

She is very transparent in her operation of events; everything is above the table,nothing

is hidden, and everyone knows the rules, format, and how the event runs.

Marianne got her start when she found herself as a single parent, she was working multiple jobs at the time, and decided to try her hand bartending at Park Avenue Billiards in Orange Park, Florida. With that position came running local weekly tournaments. A very close friend Kit Kat saw that Marianne wanted to learn how to run the tournaments properly and took her under her wing. As the tournaments grew, and with the help of Samantha Williams and MikeLear, she created a brand.

Marianne recalled the day that she witnessed local pro-Butch Croft playing the very interesting game of one pocket. “All I can 69

say is that I had no idea that chess could be played on a pool table, but that’s exactly what it was!” Intrigued by a game that opened a new world, Marianne set out to give the players just what they wanted. Her first one pocket event in 2013 saw such names as Dennis Orcollo and Warren Kiamco. Peter Ghostine supported Marianne by making her first big money added event, the Derby Shootout in 2018, held at 9ball Heaven in Jacksonville, Fl, to give the players a warm-up for the Derby City Classic. Through the years and many tournaments, James Adams and Butch Croft encouraged Marianne to start running bigger events, and then they mentored her through the execution of putting it all together. The Derby Shoot Out has since evolved into the Southeastern Triple Crown held at Zingales Biliards in Tallahassee, Fl, every year.

Marianne was shocked to see such names as Dennis Orcollo and Warren Kiamco show up at her first major event. Still, I suppose this happens when you listen to the players, and she’s always looking out for the people that help her put the events together.

At this point, Marianne has added a few significant events to her annual schedule, such as the Larry Gayle Memorial Tournament/Juniors for Larry Gayle Clinic, and The River City Open. She was also the tournament direction team that ran Omega’s Diamond Open in Aiken, SC. Most recently, she was the tournament manager at Matchroom’s US Open, working directly with Emily Frazer. Matchroom is working with her to host future events, such as the UK Open, which is substantial and highlights how big her role in billiards has become global. “Working with Matchroom Pool is a dream come true, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for all of us, Marianne’s Tournaments and Matchroom Nineball”, stated Marianne Raulerson.

Photo from River City Open by Marianne’s Photographer Rodman Cleveland All in all, Marianne has created a magical pool environment; the players love it, and if they love it, so will everyone else. It’s that simple. She gets it, really gets it: you keep the players happy, then the game thrives, and if the game thrives, it’s easier to keep the players happy.

The cycle continues, adorned with pool balls being pocketed, and you hear that distinctive “click” when they hit the bottom, a reward for a shot well made.

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In essence, Marianne has helped build a positive pool community, hosting top-notch events that welcome the input of the players, and Marianne is truly a gift to the pool scene and to all of us that love the game and culture.

In conclusion, Marianne Raulerson is one of the people in pool that get it and what it’s all about the game, and the players are the game, and she always listens to the players, what they want, and how they want their tournaments to run. It’s all about building a billiards community and network worldwide, just as Barry Hearn of Matchroom envisions himself as he sees the game growing.

Marianne is growing the game, one tournament at a time; people like her, working diligently behind the scenes, host tournaments that function like well-oiled machines.

I am Brad Swain, reporting to you, the pool fans, for SPM – New York and Worldwide; Thanks for reading, and happy hitting ’em, everybody!

In June 2022, Marianne’s Tournaments held a junior’s clinic and memorial tournament for the late great Larry Gayle, who wanted to see more juniors learning to play pool at a young age.

As a father of one of the kids in attendance, I have to say that I’ve never seen a better value offered to our kids than this event. For three days, the kids were trained by top pros Jeremy Jones, Jeanette Lee, and Joey Gray, and I watched over 30 kids mentored to come into their own. Precisely what the future of pool needs!

I’ve been supporting Marianne’s tournaments since day 1! About a couple of years back, she came to me with an opportunity to join her team and help referee matches. I couldn’t say no!

The impact that she’s had on our community is impressive, allowing juniors to have clinics and play in tournaments! Anytime we can give back to the juniors, I am all for it. Marianne has worked hard for this opportunity, and I know she will take full advantage of it. She’s a great person and an even better friend that I’ll do anything for!” – Justin LaMont.

I find myself lucky enough to be part of the next stepping stone for this sport, part of Marianne’s Tournaments Team. I say ‘stepping stone’ simply because we’re not the next ‘big thing’ or ‘what’s in.’ Marianne’s Tournaments is changing the face of billiard events, both grassroots & professional, for good; working with Marianne and putting on an MT event lights a fire in you. The amount of time & effort she pours into her events is astonishing and makes you realize that THIS is what pool needs. Someone who researches, plans, and executes a stellar event no matter the time, tears, or heartache sacrificed. She’s managed to build a network & company that’s respected across the country. Not to mention she’s managed to do this without pulling greens fees. She does what she does out of pure love for the game and the surrounding community. I count myself extremely lucky to be counted as a member of the team today, and I’ll be here for years to come.” – Justin Rigsby Logos from some of Marianne’s Torunamnets that she runs!

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