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SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE ISSUE 41

CONTENTS

INSTRUCTION ARTICLES

PLAY BETTER WITHOUT CHANGING YOUR STROKE BY ANTHONY BEELER ONE POCKET, THE BREAK BY RICK PRINCE EMBRACE THE LOSSES AND SETBACKS BY STEVE JENNINGS HOW TO FILE DECISION MAKING IN POOL BY ERIC NARETTO NO MORE FANCY-PANTS SHOOTING BY DOMINIC ESPOSITO

SEVEN STEPS TO COACHING TEAMS BY JACKIE KAROL

06 09 10 30 34 50

BILLIARD NEWS

12 DON’T EVER UNDERESTIMATE THE HEART OF A CHAMPION BY STEVE RAU 16 THE ADVENTURES OF CONNOR BENSON VOLUME III BY TOMMY HILL 22 JAYSON SHAW LANDS FIRST MATCHROOM MAJOR IN HANOI BY ADAM C. 26 JAYSON SHAW SIGNS SPONSORSHIP BY IWAN SIMONIS PRESS 37 THERÈSE KLOMPENHOUWER SIGNS SPONSORSHIP BY ARAMITH PRESS 39 INSTRUCTION ACROSS THE GLOBE BY CHAD BROWN 41 ARMY VS NAVY PATRICK NICKS CHALKBOX PRODUCTION BYKAT DAY 49 HORO TIPS & KELLY FISHER MAKE MAGIC BY KELLY FISHER & HORO

FROM OUR EDITOR Greetings everyone! We hope this message finds you well. Another month has passed, and we are pleased to announce that the latest issue of SPM Billiards Magazine is now available. It has been an exciting month for billiards enthusiasts, with some major tournaments taking place around the world. The Inaugural Hanoi Open was a huge success, and Jayson Shaw claimed the championship title in Hanoi, Vietnam, a fantastic new venue for Matchroom. Meanwhile, Aloysius Yapp won a well-deserved championship at the 2023 US International 9 Ball Open, and Ko Ping Chung emerged victorious at the 2023 Formosa Cup. Shane Van Boening also added another title to his impressive collection, winning the 2023 World 8-Ball Championship in Austria. Congratulations to all the winners!

In Women’s billiards, Kelly Fisher brought home the bronze medal in the Women’s World 10-Ball held in Austria, as well as winning both the Women’s 10-Ball Michigan Open and the WPBA at Iron City Billiards in Birmingham, Alabama. Chezka Centeno was crowned the Women’s World 10-Ball Champion!

Finally, we would like to remind you that the 2023 Mosconi Cup is coming up soon. We can’t wait to see some of the world’s best players compete in this prestigious event. Stay tuned for more updates!

A CHAMPION FOR THE MIDDLECLASS PLAYER BY KEITH SHANER

SOFIA MAST PINK DAGGER ON THE WINNING TRAIL BY SOFIA MAST

Yours sincerely,

HELLO FROM HANOI MATCHROOM STRIKES GOLD IN VIETNAM

Kat

68 THE EARL STRICKLAND EXPERIENCE BY ALBERT CHARBONNEAU 76 LESS DELFLECTION WITH MORE ENGLISH BY CHIP KLEIN 72

BILLIARD NEWS

BY KEITH SHANER

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

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ANTHONY BEELER

PLAY BETTER WITHOUT CHANGING YOUR STROKE

he mental game of pool is often overlooked. Practicing running balls is much more fun than working on your concentration skills. Like most sports, the mental side of pool dramatically impacts how you play. Have you ever been beaten by someone who had a terrible stroke? Perhaps their superior mental game skills were a contributing factor leading to your demise. Let’s have a look at some things you can work on that will improve your performance without changing your stroke. First, I recommend that you create a game plan. This is quite fun once you know how to do it. Think of it as 6

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studying before a big test, but it’s for pool, not history. You would never take a test without studying, right? Well, those times you did study, I bet you got a better grade. Creating a game plan is all about exposing your opponent’s weakness areas and highlighting your strengths. If he isn’t very good at strategy, then you will want to use sound defense to outmaneuver him. In 8-Ball, break off the side cushion and hit the second ball. This will create more clusters and will turn each game into more of a strategic affair. You may even have to block the pocket a few times to keep your

opponent off-balance and create openings for yourself. In 9-Ball, you should slow down and play the percentages on every single shot. No matter what game you play, always use the P.A.S.S. formula to make good decisions: P - Look for POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. A - Determining the ANGLE you have on your current shot. S - Determine what SPEED the shot needs to be struck with. S - Determine what SPIN you need for desired position on you

next shot. Always, think at least 3 shots ahead. From there, you should subconsciously execute the shot exactly as you planned it. Don’t let your stroke or any mechanical thoughts get in your way. Just do it! Good mental game skills aren’t about calculating how to “run out” every time. Your best matches will be played when you learn to ‘manage’ the table well. If you can gain a 2 percent advantage playing one shot over another, always play the percentage. When all things are equal, always choose the offensive shot over the defensive shot because it will give you a chance to win. Work on your alignment: All too

Practice pocketing balls: Being confident in your ball pocketing ability will take the pressure off the rest of your game. This will allow you to focus primarily on your position play and making the decisions you need to make. When practicing, always shoot easy shots first. This will help you build your confidence. One thing I like to do is spread 15 balls and pocket them in any order. The more balls you pocket, the better feel you will have for the table and the more confidence you will have. While pool is a very technical sport, the most challenging part about the game is developing the right mindset. A great deal of your performance has to do with making quality decisions. Use the tips above to comfortably prepare for your next match while eating lunch or sitting in a

While pool is a very technical sport, the most challenging part about the game is developing the right mindset often, pool players are misled by the results of their shots. If you are striking the cue ball off-center, the problem doesn’t always necessarily have to do with your stroke. Players generally assume it’s their stroke mechanics, and generally, their alignment doesn’t even cross their mind. Pros work on their alignment almost every outing. At the end of the day, it’s a lot easier to adjust your alignment than your stroke. If you are having problems shooting straight, focus on your alignment.

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 competitions. 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 competitions.

recliner. Hopefully, this article will help you to shoot your best during your next match – or maybe at least it will help you have a more enjoyable time the next time you are on the slate.

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RICK PRINCE

ONE POCKET THE BREAK

i guys! Welcome back; when last we met, we to hit between the second and third ball, causing the discussed one of my favorite pocket Billiards balls to gravitate towards the right-hand side of the Games...One Pocket. table and your pocket and leaving the cue ball inside the pile of balls, leaving virtually no shot for your I want to take the time to discuss the One Pocket opponent anywhere near his left corner pocket. It Break and what worked for me and allowed me to will initially feel awkward, so you may want to spend pay my home off in full in only a handful of matches. some time adjusting to this break But, it paid off for me! Once you’ve reached a certain level of confidence in your ability to pocket balls and have a sound mental A little tip on your Stroke pool I.Q., you will agree that the Break, if not the most critical shot, is one of the top shots you always Don’t “Overlook Your Stroke” need to be consistent with. As we all know, your stroke is the pentacle that There is the “power break” that we call the drives your whole game. It’s yours, and no one else “offensive break” and then the “finesse break,” has one exactly like it. It sets you apart from anyone which is more directed toward the “defensive play.” you’ll ever play. It’s literally your fingerprint in pool. It’s also the only thing you must execute flawlessly In the game of One Pocket, the finesse break is a every time. solid advantage to the breaker. This is why there are generally alternate breaks in One Pocket. The breaks One thing could turn that perfect stroke into a in One Pocket vary from ultraconservative to very terrible shot: your vision during the stroking process. aggressive and many variations in between. Your eyes are like the lens of a camera, and they must adjust to each distance. They adjust in and out. Say, for instance, you have the upper right-hand When you look at the object ball and then back to pocket. You’ll want to place the cue ball alongside the cue ball, it takes a fraction of a second to adjust. the left side rail, gently try to split the first two balls I see so many people looking back and forth until in the rack, and leave the cue ball alongside the left they fire the shot. This could cause you to see the side rail behind the rack, leaving no shot into the shot a little blurry and miss by a fraction. opponent’s left corner pocket. Find the spot on your object ball you need to If, by chance, you have the left corner pocket, you’ll contact. Then, once, no more than twice, check shoot from the right side- rail. Now, the break, I was where you want your tip to connect to the white ball, very successful at using what is called a kick break. then keep your eyes on the object ball and follow through with your shot! Part of your pause before Say, I’ve got the right corner pocket, OK? Then I put you fire technique, is to give your eyes time to adjust. my cue ball alongside the right-side rail, the same side as my pocket, then shoot into the left-side rail with about a 2-3 speed (out of 10) and hit the rail Until we meet again, As Always, Happy Shootin at the first diamond above the side pocket. I hit the Rick” White Wolf” Prince white with a touch of center low as it will divert to “running English” after contacting the rail. You want SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

STEVE JENNINGS

EMBRACE THE LOSSES AND SET-BACKS

his month I want to talk about winning and losing at pool. When we are competing at anything, human nature is geared toward winning. We want to do our best, and ultimately come out on top. First place is the ultimate goal. Being crowned champion gives us a sense of self

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worth. We place a high value on being the best. It’s the stuff we dream about. Okay, here’s the harsh reality. You won’t always win. In fact, statistically, if you win half the time, you’re doing very well. If you are playing in a weekend

tournament with 32 players, 31 of them are not going to win. When I was a team captain playing league, I would sometimes have a new player join the team. On the first night, I could sense nervousness as they entered the room and saw so many players getting ready for the evening’s competition. I would usually take them aside, look out at the room and ask them how many players do you think are here. After they answered I would say to them “This is a fact. Half of these people will lose their match tonight.” Wow! The odds of winning at pool are 50% on any given night. Loosing at pool is a reality. It’s going to happen. Don’t misunderstand. Winning is great! It’s fun. It makes us feel good about ourselves. It can even put some money in our pocket. But it doesn’t do much for our journey. Our journey is about moving forward, improving our skills, and increasing our knowledge. We don’t learn anything with a win. Losing gives us lessons to help us get better. When we embrace a loss, we embrace the opportunity to grow. There are many lessons to be learned whenever we fail to win. What did I do wrong? Why did I miss getting shape on the 8 ball? What went wrong on that safety I tried to execute? These things highlight the weaker parts of your game. These weaknesses should be your point of focus at the practice table. Whether you need to improve your speed control, fine tune your aiming skills, correct a flaw in your mechanics, solidify your shooting routines, or something else, it’s important to understand the problems, and develop an action plan to turn your weak points into strengths. Practice with a purpose. Pick one area, and let your practice session focus on addressing one specific part of your game. Take what was a weakness and turn it into one of your strong points. It’s an ongoing process for continuous improvement. At the end of every tournament, one player raises a trophy. All the others go to the practice table to work on their problems . Competitive pool is like every other sport. The ones who put in the work before competition are usually the ones who come out on top. Knowing where to direct your energy during practice will lead to greater success in competition. Finally, don’t misunderstand the point of all this. When you enter into competition, your goal should always be to win. But know that losses are going to come. Take advantage of those learning opportunities to improve your chances to win the next event. Until next time Steve Jennings ACS/PBIA/SPF Master Instructor

SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

KELLY FISHER & HORO TIPS

HORO TIPS & KELLY FISHER MAKE MAGIC

THE WORLD CHAMPION AND BILLIARDS LEGEND KELLY FISHER REVEALS WHY SHE DECIDED TO BECOME A FAMILY MEMBER OF THE INNOVATIVE BILLIARD HANDMADE TIPS BRAND. “THE HORO TIPS PRODUCTS DEFINITELY IMPROVED MY PERFORMANCE.”

ince the World Champion and billiard legend Kelly Fisher, also known as KwikFire, tried Horo Tips for the first time a year ago, she has fallen in love with them. That’s the reason why she is now an official member of the Horo Tips family. “I decided to become part of 12

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the Horo Tips family because I truly loved the products. I was given a sample one year ago at the World Games. I then went to Austria, where I met Nelson (one of the Horo Tips owners) along with some other Horo Tips family members. I remember thinking, these are genuine, lovely people who want to enhance

their products to the best, using practical knowledge, innovation, and the highest quality materials to do so. I felt a strong connection because they share the same love and passion that I have,” Kelly explains. The World Champion from the United Kingdom started by trying

out Horo’s dedicated break tip and was so surprised by the big difference she noticed that she never stopped using it: “I put one on and sampled it, and I really, really liked the feeling of the hit that the tip gave me on my break.” Kelly Fisher adds, “I saw a significant improvement, not only in the control but also that I didn’t need as much power to create more force. I feel that it really improved my overall break immensely. Later, I was provided with a jump tip, and again, I noticed a huge difference. It definitely helped by making jumping easy and again with more control. I have no doubt that

the Horo’s ‘White Storm’ certainly improved my jumping skills!”

that all the time, but it’s certainly improved my accuracy and consistency in jumping. As for the Asked to detail more about these Black Storm break tip, yeah, my tips, Kelly assures: “If I were to break has improved immensely describe each of them, I would with the control and the power start by explaining the White behind it.” The world champion Storm jump tip, being much easier goes further in her explanation, to jump with less effort and also mentioning what she truly feels greatly improving the control I when using the Horo break tip: “If have within the jump. You can I were to break at a power level six see that clearly in my latest video break speed with the Black Storm, from the last tournament; it was it would generate the power of hill hill and I played the most a seven or eight. Even if my arm perfect jump, not only making speed were at a level six, if you the shot but also landing in the know what I mean! So, it definitely perfect position for the new next generates more power and speed ball, which won me the match. for the cue ball with less effort Don’t get me wrong, I can’t do needed. There’s also excellent SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

BRIAN PAULEY

control over the cue ball, which is the most important thing.”

player, regardless of the level they are at.”

Kelly has been trying out all the Horo tips, and soon, she will also be trying out the new ones for playing. She says, by the way: “I have tried them all. I have tried the Gold Rush (a discontinued product) also. I actually liked the Gold tip, but I do see a big improvement in the Black Storm. I have not tried the playing tips yet but I will be doing so very soon.”

To conclude, we asked Kelly Fisher about her plans for the future in the world of pool and to what extent she thinks Horo Tips can help her achieve them. She replies: “I’m planning to continue for as long as I can. And whilst I am still winning & most importantly, still performing well. For that, I need every bit of help I can get; having very good quality playing, break, and jumping tips is very important. Breaking is even more crucial in the game of nine and ten ball.

KELLY FISHER

Asked whether all the differences she notices with the Horo Tips products are useful for only professional pool players or also for amateurs, Kelly replies without As we all know, a big important any hesitation: “They will make part of the game is to be happy a significant difference to any with your equipment, and Horo

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Tips has definitely increased my confidence in my equipment. I feel that they will help me achieve all my goals, which are to keep winning tournaments and play well. If I perform well, I can reach any goal. Horo Tips will help me to do that.” About Horo Tips: Horo Tips is a brand of 100% premium handmade tips that was born in 2020 from the knowledge of highly experienced players and craftsmen that span more than a decade with the goal of producing the best tips for the game. After investing many years in understanding the needs of players and the game itself, conducting hundreds of experiments to refine precise

techniques, Horo Tips is proud to have developed game-changer products able to significantly boost players’ breaking, jumping, and playing abilities at all levels. Despite being a relatively new brand, Horo Tips has quickly become the top choice for renowned pool players due to its products’ state-of-the-art quality and innovation. Find out more at www.horotips.com Media Contacts: Kelly Fisher and horotipsmkt@gmail.com Press Kit (Kelly Fisher photos and Horo Tips assets) at Press Kit Kelly Fisher-HT table to show some cool shots. Every player was down front and center to watch the legend do his thing. Many of us do artistic pool because of Mike, so it was an honor to have him at the event. The rounds and matches can be watched on www.railbirldstv.com.

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STEVE RAU

“DON’T EVER UNDERESTIMATE THE HEART OF A CHAMPION” BY STEVE RAU OF STEVE RAU PRO BILLIARDS, MANAGER OF ‘KWIKFIRE’ KELLY FISHER AND WEI WEI ‘THE WAVE’ -WEI TZU CHIEN The definition of a world champion is someone who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition, especially in sports.

on’t ever underestimate the heart of a CHAMPION” is a quote from NBA Hall of Fame coach Rudy Tomjanovich of the NBA’s Houston Rockets. The definition of a world champion is someone who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition, especially in sports.

Secondly, this quote resonates with me because it shows me that I do not have to stay there when I am down, whether in a competitive sport or life. The heart of a champion kicks in, where, despite all odds, they wholeheartedly believe they This quote resonates with me in a couple of ways. can win. They have this builtThe first is that for one to be a champion, one’s life is in, innate instinct to look for confronted with obstacles, challenges, distractions, an opening from their opponent, to not only walk fears, doubts, and unbelief—no doubt about it. Every into but to take control and ultimately change the champion in their respective field has gone through trajectory of the match. this myriad of emotions and trials. Trust me. The difference is they allowed three things to happen I want to take you back to 1988. I was in 6th grade to themselves. To be trained, to be disciplined, to and attended Bertha Neal Elementary School in be motivated. Similar-sounding words with entirely Durand, MI. My teacher was Mrs. Montroy. In this different definitions. class, we wrote in our daily journals. The topic 16

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for the day was, “Who would you like to meet one day?” I was so excited about this topic. It was the most excited I had been to write in my journal all year. The people’s names were coming faster to me than my 12-year-old self could write. I wrote down Lou Ferrigno because I absolutely loved the Incredible Hulk TV show. I wrote down the pro wrestling tag team, the “Road Warriors,” and then wrote down Henry Winkler, who played Fonzie in the iconic TV show Happy Days.

As my life has progressed, recently turning age 48, I can look back now and say that God must have read my journal from 1988. Lol. I really mean that. On Nov. 1st, 2023, I celebrated my 20th anniversary since my first ever pro wrestling show, where I worked with none other than the Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions, The Road Warriors, and another event with “The Incredible Hulk” Lou Ferrigno, where we promoted his new book, My Incredible Life as The Hulk. I recently met Henry Winkler in 2023, too. As a student, I struggled big time through school. I had plenty of friends and a great family, so I didn’t SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

struggle because I felt alone in school; it just wasn’t for me. I’d rather play basketball or football with my friends. Watching sports was at the top of the list, too. I found that I loved to cheer others on to victory. In fact, all the names in my journal were people I cheered for. While watching the Road Warriors in pro wrestling, I cheered them on, watching them eventually become tag team champions on every continent in the world. One reason I cheer for Lou Ferrigno is that he didn’t allow his hearing loss to distract him from being a champion in the sport of bodybuilding and pursuing a career in acting. Likewise, I cheer Henry Winkler on because he didn’t allow his severe dyslexia to discourage him from a career in acting. He fought and overcame his reading and comprehension struggles. He was undiagnosed until age 33. Even though he felt like a failure while trying to deliver his lines during filming, he never gave up. A true champion to me. So, to reiterate, these champions from my journal allowed themselves to be trained, disciplined, and motivated. I have been fortunate in my life to work with champions from pro wrestling, pro bodybuilding, and now pro billiards. Why pro billiards? To be honest, I did not see this coming at all, but I am so glad it happened. Kelly and Wei Wei bring me great joy. I love to cheer these champions on. The only exposure I had to the sport initially came from my other grandpa, Jim Kelly. He loves pool. In fact, we just celebrated his 90th birthday with a surprise party at the Eagles 18

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Club in Houghton Lake, MI. While traveling to it, I was on a phone call with Kelly Fisher and mentioned where I was going. I told her of my grandpa’s love for pool, and she was so gracious she sent him a happy birthday video message. He absolutely loved it! When I was ten years old, my grandpa owned a farmhouse in Elsie, MI, and had a lovely pool table in the family room. It was so cool. He didn’t allow us kids to play on it, but watching him play against my dad and Uncles was fun. Occasionally, he would have a pro pool training video on TV that I would watch. To think that 38 years later, I would be working in pro billiards and writing an article for a billiard magazine, I would have never believed. Even though I am no longer in Pro Wrestling, when I first started talking to Kelly about my background, one thing we had in common was Pro Wrestling! My worlds collided for a moment. I quickly learned that her dad was a pro wrestler in the United Kingdom. My eyes lit up. I couldn’t wait to hear more about him. Occasionally, people tell me about wrestling events and projects that are coming out. One of the projects I learned recently was a new documentary on the history of wrestling. I was invited to the movie premiere by a friend of mine named Patricia. She wanted the director and I to meet. Her daughter Corisa is dating the director/wrestler named Curran Jacobs. Even though we lived in the same county, we had no knowledge of each other. I learned that Curran was the captain of Michigan State University’s wrestling team and wrestled in different disciplines of the sport. His love for the sport is contagious, much like Kelly and Wei Wei’s love for pool.

Curran and others poured their hearts and souls into Kelly Fisher and Wei Tzu Chien have for this sport. I the creation of the documentary called For the Love have watched both overcome so much. I will never count either of them out in a match. No matter the score. We can all learn from their grit and

of Catch. When reading the documentary’s title, I even thought to myself, “Why in the world is it called that?” Let me explain. You will learn from watching the documentary that in the early Egyptian days, there was a style of wrestling called “catch wrestling.” It is the original style of wrestling, meaning to grapple. Essentially, you do whatever it takes to catch your opponent. Then you will learn that Pro Wrestling as we know it today really began in England. To tie this story together between billiards and pro wrestling, Kelly Fisher’s dad, being from England, was integral in keeping the sport of wrestling alive over there, just about the same time popularity grew in the United States. I would have loved speaking to him to learn first-hand about his wrestling experiences in the U.K. The documentary does a great job covering the rich history of wrestling but also features exclusive interviews from champion fighters like retired fighter/ actor Randy Couture, Josh Barnett, Dan “The Beast” Severn, and arguably one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, Dan Gable. It’s a great watch. This documentary would make a great Christmas or birthday gift, too. It is available to stream online or purchase the DVD on Amazon Prime Video. In closing the article “Don’t Ever Underestimate the Heart of a CHAMPION”, I must say how much I admire the dedication, commitment, and love that SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

determination. To Curran, stay grinding. You have a lot of great things happening. Don’t get discouraged when life throws a curveball. Just put a submission, move on it like no other, and keep moving on. To SPM Billiards magazine, thank you for continuing to promote this sport we love by showcasing the champions to come. I want to encourage everyone who took the time to read this that there is a CHAMPION in you no matter where you are in life’s journey. Be trained, be disciplined, be motivated.

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TOMMY HILL

THE ADVENTURES OF CONNOR BENSON VOLUME THREE SOMETIMES, THE HARDEST PART OF GETTING THERE IS WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR

tanding and staring at the door, Connor was so overcome with a nervous tension that he could hardly move. He didn’t know exactly what was waiting on the other side of the door. He knew he didn’t have to play anyone if he didn’t want to, and after all, this was just another pool hall, and he was just another pool player. He took a deep breath and said to himself, “Here we go.” Then he opened the door. As he walked through the door, he thought, “Just another pool hall,” and chuckled. To his right were a few dart boards, three billiards tables, then a sea of Gold Crowns. He walked up a couple of stairs to see the bar, with a pass through to a kitchen and a large seating area. There was an opening at the end of the bar, then on the other side was the ball check-in-check-out counter. This place was huge; Connor had never seen anything like it. He was amazed at the size of the place, so he decided to go ahead and check out a table to hit some balls. As he walked towards the counter, the opening turned into a hallway. Connor stopped to look, and to his

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amazement, he could see that there were more tables. He took just a few steps through the short hallway to see eight more Gold Crowns and a huge set of padded bleachers. All eight tables were going, and the bleachers were quite full as well. There was action everywhere, two of the tables hosted ring games, there were a couple of one-pocket games going on, and plenty of nine ball. Connor went back to the bar and ordered a coke, then returned to the tournament room, where he took a seat in the bleachers. Less than 5 minutes went by before a tall, slender man approached him and crisply barked out, “scoping out the action” with his tone of voice, Connor wasn’t sure if he was asking a question, telling him what to do, or just plain yelling at him. Connor quickly decided that he had better be nice. He didn’t know this fella, and he was all alone. He introduced himself to the man and said he was from Fresno and had always wanted to come check this place out. The gentleman’s name was Joe, he

told Connor that he ran all of the tournaments there. He let Connor know that there was a USPPA handicapped nine-ball tournament that night at 7.

Gene ten dollars for the entry fee. Gene asked if he had an established USPPA handicap and asked for his last name so he could look it up. The look on Joe’s face changed a bit when he saw Connor was happy, he knew that Connor’s rating. 108, I guess you playing in a weekly tournament really are a road player Joe said was a good way to get his feet wet with a tinge of respect. and get to know a few folks. He formed a plan to order something Joe had a microphone hooked up to eat from the bar and then to a fairly large portable speaker practice in the main room for he used to call out the matches a couple of hours. Depending and table assignments. Of course, on the time, he would then go Connor, being from out-of-town rest in the truck until it was time people were looking at him and for tournament signups. At the talking about him which is normal bar, he ordered a Willie Mosconi behavior in a pool room. The third burger and fries, got a refill on his match called out was “Connor Coke, and sat down at a table Benson and Kenny Baker table to eat. three; this is a 5-3 match.” No one thought much about that. Kenny The alarm on his watch beeped, was a regular weekly player. His waking him at 6 p.m. As he rating was in the seventies, and he stirred around the inside of his often gave up two games to five. truck, he noticed the parking Then came, “Connor goes to 5, lot was full. Walking back into Kenny goes to 3.” At that point, the pool room, he immediately Connor was no longer flying noticed a difference from earlier under the radar. that day. The music was louder, and there was just a buzz in the It seemed like everyone in the room. Waitresses hustling around, room was looking at him as he two bartenders working, and it made his way to table 3. Who’s seemed like every table on the this guy, where is this guy from, main floor was rented out. and did I hear that right? were a few of the things Connor could He strolled into the tournament hear from the crowd. room with his George case slung over his left shoulder. He felt a bit Connor won the lag and racked nervous yet confident and excited his own balls. Kenny didn’t think to play in his first tournament there was any way he could lose away from his hometown. to a teenage kid getting two Connor was a good tournament games to five and asked Connor player with aspirations of being if he wanted to put a hundred on a professional player someday. the side. He asked loud enough Standing in this room, listening for the railbirds to hear, which to the chatter of the players, and pissed Connor off, and without looking at the stands, he knew this hesitation, Connor barked right was the place to start his journey. back, “You bet I do.” Joe said, “Well, there’s the road player from Fresno,” as Connor Connor made two balls with an approached the counter to sign explosive break and parked the up. Connor smiled and said, “I cue ball just an inch or two from may be from Fresno, but I’m no dead center table. Whatever road player.” Connor handed nerves he had walking into the

room were no longer there. The balls had spread out nicely, and Connor ran them out effortlessly. The second game was a repeat of the first, and Connor now had two beads on his side of the marker. On the third break, he again made two balls, but unfortunately, one of them was all white as the cue ball got kicked into the side pocket. With ball in hand, Kenny ran the one, two, and four ball with the three already pocketed on the break. With the five and seven ball tied up, he hit the five down the table, leaving the cue ball right behind the seven. Connor kicked two rails but missed giving Kenny ball in hand once more. Surprisingly to Connor, Kenny was looking to three-foul him instead of going for the run-out with only five balls on the table. The five ball was about 8 inches or so from the six. Kenny hit the five towards the eight ball that was on the opposite end rail and rolled the cue ball up behind the six. His speed was just a little off, and he bumped the six leaving the five ball exposed. Connor played a nice safety right back, leaving the cue frozen on the eight. After the missed kick, Connor ran out to go up 3-0. He then snapped the nine on the break and won the match with his third break and run of the match. Kenny graciously shook Connor’s hand and handed him a hundreddollar bill. Connor made his way to the hot seat, and at 3:15 in the morning, he offered to split with the fella who made it to the finals with him. Joe handed Connor $120, which was his half of the split, and said that everyone was talking about him and that if he wanted some action, there would be plenty for him. Well, folks, be sure to check in next month to see how Connor SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

TOMMY HILL

fairs against the big boys. Once again, I’d like to thank you all for reading my stuff, and I sure hope you are enjoying the continuing saga of our young man as he matures. Thank you all, and until next month, folks, be safe out there and, as always, keep that cue ball rollin’.

Tommy Hill - Bio Tommy is a master instructor with both the PBIA & AMP; ACS. When he was a younger man Tommy played on the Men’s Professional Billiards Tour and the Camel Pro Tour. Like many un-sponsored pro players of that era he also played on the road in order to keep the dream alive. Tommy has spent 40 plus years in the billiards industry. The adventures of Connor Benson are fictional short stories of a road player. Although fictional, some stories may derive from his own experiences, stories he had heard or things he witnessed along the way.

SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

ADAM CLAPHAM

JAYSON SHAW LANDS FIRST MATCHROOM MAJOR IN HANOI

JAYSON SHAW BECAME THE FIRST-EVER HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPION AFTER DEFEATING ALBIN OUSCHAN IN A HILL-HILL EPIC FINALE – LIVE ON SKY SPORTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND AND EXCLUSIVELY ON VIETCONTENT IN ASIA.

haw trailed the two-time world champion throughout the match after some excellent safety play allowed the Austrian to build up leads of 4-0 and 10-5. But roared on by a packed Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium, with over 2,300 fans in attendance for the crowning of Hanoi’s first champion, the Glaswegian delivered an epic comeback to land his first major piece of silverware 26

SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

on the World Nineball Tour. After a string of consistent last 32 and last 16 appearances, Shaw has overturned his form at the business end of the campaign. Buoyed on by a run to the quarter-finals at the 46th US Open Pool Championship, in beating Sanjin Pehlivanovic in the semi-finals, Shaw was confirmed as Team Europe’s

JAYSON SHAW HANOI OPEN PHOTO BY VIETNAM BILLIARDS PROMOTION

third automatic qualification spot for the Mosconi Cup. Shaw leveled the match at five-all after a routine 8-ball miss from Ouschan, but the Austrian demonstrated his superior safety play to regain a two-rack buffer. Irritation was on full display on the face of the Glaswegian after a two-ball jump attempt left him shaking the short stick in frustration. Ouschan would clear up, and a break and run saw him take a 10-5 lead – three from his first Matchroom major title since the 2022 European Open Pool Championship. Back at the table after his opponent scratched on the break, Shaw would deliver consecutive break and runs before attempting a masse escape. The racks continued to fall until the match was leveled at 11-all. A cross-table bank into the middle pocket on the blue two-ball had the crowd on their feet as the Scotsman ran out to level at 11-all.

Luck has been a factor for many throughout the week, and it hit the Austrian like a sucker punch at the worst time. Breaking for the match, a double kiss kicked the cueball into the middle pocket, and with ball in hand, Shaw could clean up for his first major title since the 2017 US Open Pool Championship. A historic week for Asian pool was aptly marked with a trophy presentation from the great Efren Reyes, who had wowed fans in two exhibition matches across the weekend against Vietnamese star Nguyen Anh Tuan and local hero Do Khai. Meanwhile, AJ Manas of the Philippines dominated the Vietnam Junior Open, dropping just 11 racks all week en-route to claiming the title 9-2 against Liao Hung-Fen of Chinese Taipei. NEXT MATCHROOM EVENT

The momentum of the World Nineball Tour continues with the 30th Anniversary Mosconi Cup from Alexandra Palace, London, taking Breaking and running to get onto the hill and breaking for the match, Shaw was oozing confidence place between December 6-9th. Fans can expect with the crowd firmly behind him, but when looking additional news of the first Captain’s picks from Ralph Eckert for Team Europe and Jeremy Jones for like running out to seal the win, a missed five ball allowed Ouschan to force a decider – a fitting finish Team USA within the coming week. for a modern-classic final. SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

HANOI OPEN

HANOI OPEN PHOTOS BY VIETNAM BILLIARDS PROMOTION

SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

ERIC NARETTO

HOW TO FILE DECISION-MAKING IN POOL When considering how much of the mind a player uses in any billiard game, one must think about what separates the professional player from the amateur player.

do, per the situation given? Does the player want to stop the cue ball and pocket a ball? Does the player want to send the cue ball five rails to get shape on another ball? Maybe the player wants to play safe? Whatever the situation, many players go into this question with the least thought process, resulting in the most mistakes. If you missed my previous article in SPM issue 40 entitled “The Fundamental Checklist,” check it out, as the information presented there flows right into this article. As players, we must take a step back in this crucial step and learn to “Look the part.” By looking the part it helps a player begin to slow down and analyze, therefore allowing the filing cabinet principle to unfold. SECOND DRAWER- WHY are you wanting to do what you want to do?

One of the most interesting topics of Pool is the decision-making part of the game. There are books to read, clips to watch, and presentations to listen to on organizing an individual’s thoughts to create a stronger and more efficient mindset. When considering how much of the mind a player uses in any billiard game, one must think about what separates the professional player from the amateur player. When students ask me about the mental game, I talk with 30

SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

students about creating a mental four-drawer filing cabinet. Each drawer will be named a particular question. The top drawer will be named “What?” The second drawer will be named “Why?” The third drawer will be called “How?” and the fourth drawer will be named “Percentages?”. FIRST DRAWER- WHAT are you wanting to do in the situation? This first title might be the most important component in Pool. What is the player wanting to

After a player determines what they want to do, the first drawer closes, and this drawer opens. Why did the player decide to do what they were choosing to do? This is the part of the game when the player starts to determine different cue ball routes through their run. The answer to “Why?” can be straightforward, such as “I am choosing to shoot the 6 in the corner and stop the cue ball because the seven ball is straight in if I stop the cue ball shooting the 6.” As a player improves, the “why” gets more specific as the

ERIC NARETTO

brain starts considering multiple leaves and cue ball movements to get into position for the upcoming object balls. THIRD DRAWER- HOW will you do what you choose to do?

Each drawer houses mental papers that are now neatly filed and have a specific order. Each piece of mental paper represents a shot the shooter knows.

Example: What do I want to do? - Bank The most important physical the 8-Ball to the bottom right trait of playing pool is inside this pocket. Why do I want to do drawer. HOW will I move the cue this? - Because I feel the cut ball from one side of the table is too difficult, and I am to the other? What kind of spin concerned about scratching in will be on the cue ball and/or the the side pocket. object ball? Am I going to use one How am I going to do this? - I am rail with low outside English? Am going to shoot the 8-ball with I going to use three rails with high low, outside inside English? Am I going to draw English on the cue ball, so the the ball straight back? All the 8-ball makes its way toward the questions asked in this segment corner pocket. Because of the low are focused on execution. As we outside spin on the cue ball, I will dive further into this drawer, we want to hit the cue ball softer so can ask ourselves how we will the maximum amount of spin is move our cue stick. The pendulum transferred to the 8-ball. stroke (freezing the elbow) and What are the chances this is going the full table stroke (dropping to happen? - Hmm, the more I the elbow) are the most common look at this shot, ways to deliver the cue stick to the it seems the 3-ball will be in the cue ball. way of the 8-ball bank. Maybe I should check to see if the 8-ball FOURTH DRAWER- What are is cuttable to the corner again the PERCENTAGES the shot before I bank the ball. I feel the is successful? bank has a high percentage chance of going in, where I feel This drawer holds the final the cut has a much lower chance decision-making process for the player. In my opinion, this is the part of the cabinet that is often not thought about. A player decides and shoots the ball in more instances than not. The strong mental player can put this idea to practice to make sure that their decision is the best solution to the issue they have on the table.

of going in. I am going to bank the 8-ball. This method has created massive changes in my game throughout my career as a player. This method helps a player see many options on the table, improving the chances of a well-executed shot. As the new shooter improves throughout his or her career, more mental papers are filed into these drawers, allowing the player to think clearly, concisely, and strategically. This structure creates a stronger mental player that plays the game trying to figure out solutions to the game instead of focusing on distractions. This is another way a player can “look the part” and move toward a more professional way of playing the game. The difference between players who are better than we are (or not as good as we are) is the number of papers in their filing cabinets. Get out to the table and start organizing your cabinet! Or you can email him at: ericnaretto@gmail.com

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DOMINIC ESPOSITO, A.K.A., THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR

NO MORE FANCY-PANTS SHOOTING! Y

ou know precisely what I’m talking about; over-doing a shot to the point that you get yourself in trouble or missed your shot, and give up the table. Oftentimes, you know full- well that you shouldn’t do what you’re about to do, but you think, while you’re down on the cue ball, “Hey, if I can pull this one off, I’ll really show them, plus I’ll win this game in style.” Then, while you’re not focusing on the shot, you shoot, and it’s a disaster! This first table diagram is a perfect example of a shooter who is trying to be a Fancy-Pants player. The shooter has to make the last striped ball on the table and pocket the Eight-Ball to get the win. Feeling good about running the last five balls, you figure that a two-rail power draw shot, with a touch of bottom left, would bring the cue ball back and park it right in front of the Eight-Ball for the win. So you load up, and WHAM! We’ve all been there. The object ball makes six rails, the cue ball gets somewhat close to the intended position, and the shooter will usually say something like, “Look at that, I got perfect position.”

SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

What you needed to do was simply pocket the last striped ball with a 5 speed shot stroke using Center ball allowing the cue ball roll off the cushion, and then you shoot the winning ball. That’s it! Let’s face it: if you have the skill to pull off the first idea about power drawing two rails back, then you indeed have the skill to make the slightly longer cross-table shot.

I’m giving you one of a thousand examples so you can understand my point. The drill needed to break the habit of shooting unprofitable and often stupid fancy-pants shots is this: when you’re down on a shot, and you know you’re about to attempt a fancy shot, ask yourself, “Am I using the KISS principle?” In this case, it stands for: Keep It Simple & Smart. Sometimes, you should only use two rails instead of three, or one rail instead of two, or none instead of one if doing so still got the job done. If the choice between using English or not using English means you’d have a small cut on the next shot, drop the English. KISS! Using English usually complicates a shot. No More Fancy Pants Shooting! It just might keep you at the table longer. If you have a question about playing a shot and want to explore another way to play it using the KISS idea, write or call me, and we’ll work it out together. Until then, Aim Straight, Shoot Straight, and Split the Pocket; That’s The Drill Instructor Way.

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IMPROVE YOUR GAME THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR WAY!

WATCH AT: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/35KRII4M3ES?SI=J7BA-FERJEBBA9B8 WATCH THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR‘S “THE CLINIC” ON YOUTUBE AND FOLLOW HIM ON HTTPS://WWW. FACEBOOK.COM/THEDRILLINSTRUCTOR/ IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING SOON! STAY TUNED! 36

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ON BEHALF OF SIMONIS®, ARAMITH® AND STRACHAN®

CONSIDERED AS ONE OF THE BEST OF ITS GENERATION, THE SCOTTISH PROFESSIONAL POOL PLAYER WANTS TO REACH NEW HEIGHTS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE WORLD’S LEADING BILLIARD CLOTH AND BALL MANUFACTURERS.

orn in Glasgow in 1988 and the son of a professional pool player, Jayson Shaw attended his father’s tournaments from an early age. He started playing for Scotland’s juniors and quickly knew he wanted to become a professional player. After winning the junior and youth pool championships, his passion for pool began to take most of his time, and his path to becoming a professional player was inevitable. Jayson Shaw started playing in the US early in his career and participated in international tournaments. 2016 was a turning point with major wins in 9-ball, including the Kuwait Open and the Mosconi Cup for the first time. The following year, he won the US Open and the Mosconi Cup once again, which he won 5 times so far, including twice as MVP. He won the International 9-ball Open in 2019 and 2022. Regarding his other main achievements, he won 9 times the 9-ball Turning Stone Classic and three times the 10-ball Derby City Classic. In October, Jayson won the inaugural Hanoi Open Pool Championship in an incredible manner: down 10-5 during the final against Albin Ouschan, he finally defeated him 13-12. He is also qualified for the 30th SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

PHOTO COURTESY OF SIMONIS PRESS RELEASE

JAYSON SHAW SIGNS SPONSORSHIP CONTRACT WITH IWAN SIMONIS AND ARAMITH

edition of the Mosconi Cup, which will take place in December in London. Jayson Shaw: “I’m very happy to announce this partnership with Simonis and Aramith, two of the Top companies in the billiard industry. They are by far the world’s best billiard cloth and ball manufacturers. My goal is to represent both companies as professionally as I can all over the world and to keep winning as many competitions as possible.” Jérôme Poncelet (Group Commercial Director): “Jayson is a very talented player. His confidence and determination in each tournament are remarkable. As official and exclusive cloth and ball suppliers of the Matchroom ranking events, it seemed obvious to have a Top player like him join our group of ambassadors. Jayson Shaw meets our values in terms of excellence and consistency. He can count on both our brands to support him in the coming years to help him reach new heights and to win many other titles.” For further information, please visit our websites https://iwansimonis.com/ & https://www.aramith.com/ or contact our Marketing & Communication manager at arthur.broudehoux@SimonisAramithStrachan.com

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ON BEHALF OF SIMONIS®, ARAMITH® AND STRACHAN®

THERÈSE KLOMPENHOUWER SIGNS SPONSORSHIP CONTRACT WITH ARAMITH SPONSORED BY IWAN SIMONIS SINCE 2019, THE DUTCH 3-CUSHION CHAMPION, WHO IS CONSIDERED AS A LEGEND IN HER SPORT, WILL NOW BE SPONSORED BY BOTH THE WORLD’S LEADING BILLIARD CLOTH AND BALL MANUFACTURERS. Born in Nijkerk in 1983, Therèse Klompenhouwer discovered billiard in the café her father owned. She started really getting into it at the age of 8, using a stool to climb and hit balls. She first played Libre, and at the age of 19, she switched to 3-cushion. She was quickly selected for the National Dutch team by the KNBB, the Dutch Billiards Federation. In 2004, she won the Dutch championship, her first main title. From there, Therèse Klompenhouwer started piling up titles, and the Legend was born. The one called “The Queen” by the public and opponents has won 4 Grand Prix titles,16 National and 11 European championships, and has been 5 times World Champion in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022. In 2016, Therèse Klompenhouwer became an Honorary member of the KNBB, and in 2019, she received the Royal Award knighted “Ridder in de Orde van Oranje Nassau” from the Dutch government. Therèse Klompenhouwer: “I have a partnership with Simonis for several years now. Simonis has been manufacturing highquality cloths for decades. It is the best and most consistent cloth for me. Now with Aramith also as a partner, I am sure that I can always train with the best equipment. The Pro-Cup Prestige balls always give me the right control over my shot. They always roll perfectly and correctly, and they last longer than any other balls… THE perfect combination! I look forward to my collaboration with both Simonis and Aramith! I am grateful for their belief in me and for their support. Let’s claim many more titles together!” Jérôme Poncelet (Group Commercial Director): “It has been a honour to have Therèse as one of Simonis ambassadors these last 4 years and we are glad to renew this partnership for the coming years. As Simonis 300 is the main Carom cloth used worldwide in tournaments, it is important for us to have this kind of collaborations with very talented players who make the History of their sport. Regarding Aramith, It is a privilege for us to start this partnership with Therèse. Super Aramith Pro-Cup balls are used in most amateur and professional Carom events worldwide. We will follow closely her future achievements and she can be assured to have the support of both our brands to win many more titles.” For further information, please visit our websites https://www.aramith.com/ & https://iwansimonis.com/ or contact our Marketing & Communication manager at arthur.broudehoux@SimonisAramithStrachan.com SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

CHAD BROWN

INSTRUCTION ACROSS THE GLOBE

Beeler’s Virtual Billiard Academy is a worldwide operation. The academy’s founder, Anthony Beeler, has taught pool for 14 years. During that time, he has had the opportunity to work with some of the very best players in the world. Beeler currently has students enrolled in all 50 states and 20 foreign countries. One of the more exciting students he worked with was a student from China who specialized in Chinese 8-Ball. Shortly after several months of online instruction, the student won one of China’s most significant Chinese 8-ball events. Students also fly to Kentucky from across the globe to learn one-on-one from perhaps the best instructor in the business.

Beeler offers in-person instruction nearly every weekend at his home in Jacktown, Kentucky. Online instruction is provided through a self-paced environment so that students can “work on what they want when they want.” Beeler offers both in-person and online instruction so he can meet the needs of any player and follow up with a player throughout the year after they complete his inperson course. He has written several books that supplement his training methods. Beeler’s online course offers a multi-tiered approach to learning. The online class provides over 250 video lessons, numerous related magazine articles, and progress monitoring tools. Beeler states that it’s essential for SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

students to monitor their progress so they know how much they have improved. Obviously, his methods are very effective. Beeler has trained 10 APA Regional Champions, 6 BCAPL National Champions, the winner of the Memphis Open, and several other professional players. He recently trained Sam Ryne Henderson, who won two of the three Billiards Education Foundation Junior National Championships he entered this year. Sam also represented the United States at the Junior World Championship held in Germany just a few days ago and finished 5th at the men’s pro tournament in Wisconsin just a few months back. Beeler has also instructed pro player Janet Atwell. She is a top WPBA professional. Janet recently enrolled in his in-person and online courses for the premiere curriculum on mechanics, mental game, aiming, shot selection, etc. Beeler also trains and certifies other pool instructors through the PBIA and ACS instructor’s program. All around, Beeler is a billiards aficionado’s teacher, and has been doing it for the last fourteen years. That is why he won the SPM Instructor of the Decade Award a few years back. Beeler has worked in public education since 1999. He holds two master’s degrees, writes billiards articles, works as the Director of Pupil Personnel in his local school district, and has won over 300 tournaments. In addition to that, he has gone hill-hill with Shane Van Boening at the Derby City Classic. McDermott cues sponsor him, but his main aim has been to help players improve. With his online course, he offers one-on-one feedback; he has players send in videos from related lessons, analyzes their games, and then tells them what to work on -- guiding them rapidly towards billiards proficiency. Beeler is also the primary author/ contributor of the ‘ACS National Billiard Instructor’s Manual.’ When you author the instructor’s manual, that shows another level of understanding and

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commitment to the game. He is at the apex of instructors in billiards circles, well respected, walks it like he talks it, immersed in billiards, steeped with a plethora of pool prowess for players to rely upon. And again, he not only teaches other players how to play better -- he also teaches other teachers of pool players. Not only a pool teacher but a pool teacher’s teacher. One of the most satisfying accomplishments is that he has been coaching his son for the past seven months. “I have really enjoyed working with him. Every day, he gets a little bit better, and that is satisfying to see,” Beeler said. After laying off for nearly seven years, Beeler’s son Cameron convinced him to play at a big tournament near Cincinnati. Even after the 7-year lay-off, Beeler finished second place behind Shannon Murphy and defeated some of the better players in the region. Beeler has taken his instruction worldwide with poolteacher.com. Combined with his writer’s mind to articulate the

game, his stroke mechanics to break down the game, his contributions to developing instructional tools, all the articles he writes, the classical educator’s training and work experience he commands, and the championships and accolades he has personally won and achieved. With Beeler as your billiards instructor, you have an instructor who will move your game forward. To read more about Beeler, check out his website, poolteacher.com

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JACKIE KAROL PBIA INSTRUCTOR

7 STEPS TO COACHING TEAMS S

ports psychologist, Dr. Jerry Lynch, has created an exercise called. “Zero Regrets”. It can be A team is a reflection of their leader. Follow these 7 Steps to coach your team to success with their best chances of winning!

1) Credibility: Establish trust, credibility & build rapport. Get to know each person individually. For example, find out their likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, and habits. Demonstrate your credibility and list your resume and background as to why you are an expert on coaching. If you don’t have a lot of experience coaching, let them know how committed you are to their success. They must also feel and know that you really do care about them. Once they see how committed you are to them and their success, their commitment rises. 2) Meeting: Call a meeting and state the general goal of the meeting. For example, to get in the money in your league, win a championship, or move up to the top 30% in the league, etc. 3) Questions: Ask the following questions. Go around the room and let each person speak. Just listen. Write down people’s responses on a whiteboard. Question #1: What’s there for them regarding achieving the general goal? How do they feel about it in general? For example, they worry that they don’t have enough time to practice, don’t know what to practice, get too nervous during competition, have low confidence, etc. Question #2: How do they want to be perceived by other competitors, spectators, family, and friends regarding their pool game? What do you want people to say about you? For example, they want their competition to see them as a threat or dominating, their family and friends to see them as a winner or hardcore badass. Question #3: What concerns and requests do you have? For example, they don’t feel like they are good enough, or don’t like some of their teammates, or don’t like the equipment, etc. Question #4: How can they make their goal quantifiable as a specific, measurable result? For example, if they want to win the championship, how many balls would they be able to run in a particular drill? Question #5: Ask everyone to do the ‘Zero Regrets’ exercise from the book called ‘The Way of the Champion’ by Jerry Lynch. Imagine it’s game day or the day when your results will be measured. Imagine you kept doing things the same way you’ve been doing them, and you lost… Now, imagine you are on game day, and specifically, imagine looking back into time. What would you have done differently? For example, would you practice more, have a more positive attitude, invest in a better pool cue, hire a coach, or were you too hard on SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

yourself or didn’t allow yourself to have fun? 4) Positive: Be positive. Rephrase any negatives into positives. For example, if someone says they are afraid they won’t practice enough, rephrase it, and ask how many hours per week they will be committed to practicing. First, you must inspire your team to be more committed. Another example is they say don’t feel confident. Rephrase and ask how many hours a week would make you feel confident. What if you were given specific things to practice, and you actually practiced them? Another example is that they are afraid they or their teammates will drink too much. Ask them to agree as a team on how many drinks you will have during practice and play. Maybe limit to 1 or 2 drinks and then agree to go out and celebrate AFTER the matches. Have a penalty if someone does not follow this or other rules, such as if they have more than 1 drink, they have to pay for everyone’s drinks afterward or have to do 30 pushups, etc. 5) Motto: Decide on a Motto that everyone can be inspired by. Use specific examples that will engage and inspire emotion. For example, the players in the men’s team I coached to the Championships were from many different backgrounds and didn’t share much in common. Individually, they all played very well but as a team, they argued a lot and blamed each other for mistakes made. I had to think of a common thread that we could all share. After listening to everyone’s answers in the Questions section, I learned something they all had in common: they all really liked and were inspired by Stacy, our sponsor and owner of the poolroom. Stacy had made a meaningful impact on each and every person on the team in one way or another. So, we agreed on our motto: “Play for Sta.” And we had a 2nd motto, too, because there was a major rivalry going on with the other poolroom, which was “If You’re Not With Us, You’re Against Us”! These mottos united and inspired us! The women’s team I coached to the Championships was up against some rough women. By “rough,” I mean women who were more interested in fist fighting, arguing, and cheating rather than playing. We decided on a motto of “AYC” from the movie, Kick Ass, meaning, “Alright, You Cnts”! It doesn’t matter what it is as long as everyone is inspired by it, and it can even make you laugh. Creating rapport and asking questions help you come up with an inspiring motto and help form a list of specific rules needed to commit to be successful. “AYC” was funny and helped us keep our killer instinct, motivation, and commitment to making each shot. In another scotch doubles match league team decided on a motto, “I made MY shot.” It was cute, fun, and focused on making just that one ball before you rather than winning or losing. Although winning is the goal, you can’t win unless you take it one ball at a time. 6) Agreements: Everyone must agree to be coachable and do what the team as a whole decides regarding rules, practice, drinking limits, and showing up on time. Otherwise, this team is not for you, and there is the door… 7) Rules: These rules are specific to your team. The more detailed and helpful they are to your particular group, the better their chances of succeeding. Ask for an expert’s advice if you have limited knowledge in this area. It’s OK if you don’t have all the answers. Just be responsible for doing your best to get the answers and have your entire team agree. Here are some examples: Be there. All players must be there at the start, even if they are not playing. Showing up to support and watching your teammates benefits your team. It not only helps your teammates, but it can be intimidating for the other team. Also, wearing your team shirt inspires people psychologically to be a better team. After all, why 46

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do you think the army has a uniform? Help teammates and anticipate their needs. Support and believe in teammates, use positive encouraging words, and focus on what TO DO, not what to NOT TO DO. Another way to bring your team closer to one another is by planning some social events together. Plan to have lunch or dinner or drinks. This has a unique, exciting effect on team chemistry, which is vital to a team being successful. Stay sober. Don’t drink too much! Want to know who the player typically is that is ordering drinks? The LOSER. They drink not just because they want to lose inhibition but because they don’t have the guts to sit, observe, and take responsibility for their game. Instead of being hard on yourself, have the courage to ask yourself precisely what you need to do differently to make the shot and commit to doing that next time. Did you jump up? Did you not plan your next shot? Were you not fully committed to your decision? Did you not take enough time to make a decision? Did you not walk around the table and see all the possibilities or plan your runout properly? Well, drinking more is not going to help you win. In fact, at best, studies have been done that say 1 drink can help nerves or confidence, but NOT more than that! Give yourself your BEST chance of winning! Give it your BEST effort! You’ll be happy you did. Sit down! Sit in a chair while not shooting. It’s the rule, whether it’s enforced or not. Plus, it conserves energy and helps you mentally because you can relax, breathe, and plan your next shot, keeping focused on the game. In addition, standing makes you look nervous and amateur. Have you ever seen a pro match with the other player standing there? Most likely not ever! Keep your head in the game while sitting and waiting your turn by anticipating your detailed shooting plan. Relaxed Focus. No fraternizing! The other team may try to engage you in conversation. Whether they are trying to distract you consciously or just trying to calm their own nerves, it does no good for your game. It’s a distraction. Have the balls to watch the game and be there in the moment, feel the pressure, breathe, support your teammates. Be polite and acknowledge the other team when they try to involve us in conversation, but stay calm and focused. Breath. Do breathing exercises in your chair between shots. Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 8 seconds, and out for 4 seconds. Stay still. Players most commonly miss because they jump up or move too soon during a shot. Therefore, commit to exaggerating and staying still. For example, agree to all stay still until ALL the balls stop rolling. Now you have a Game Plan and the best chance of succeeding! The key to coaching teams is loving your team and following these 7 steps.

Jackie JACKIE KAROL | The Best Damn Billiards Instructor! www.AngelofBilliards.com National Champion 8 Ball PBIA Instructor | ACS Instructor (503) 820-9000

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KAT DAY

ARMY VS NAVY PATRICK NICKS OF CHALKBOX PRODUCTIONS TALKS WITH MARK WHITE Patrick Nicks owns ChalkBox Production, a live-stream platform that Patrick developed a couple of years ago to showcase billiards in the Pacific Northwest. Patrick started a livestream out of his home to promote the sport in his area! Patrick has quite the set up in his home with a commentating booth and all the works to showcase the sport of Pool! The livestream started with a few friends several years ago and has grown and expanded! Nicks talks about an upcoming event that will be pretty exciting! They will be doing a special on Army vs. Navy, and this year has gotten more prominent, with the Marines wanting to jump in! The reigning champion from 2022s Army vs Navy and the reigning champion was the Navy in 2022! Now, the Marines have jumped in and want to play in the 2023 Army vs Navy event! It will be an exciting event that you won’t want to miss! Anyone that is active or retired military is allowed to play! There will be team captains, and the games or format will be played with a 9-ball race to 15! Winner break with one on the spot! This will be a 2023 Veterans Day event! Nicks likes to commentate on the matches from his home and has been playing pool his whole life! His fulltime job is in Software sales, but he wishes he could play pool full-time! Eightball is Patrick Nicks’s favorite Game, and Shane Van Boening is his favorite player! Diamond tables are his favorite table to play on; he plays with Taom Chalk and loves Ox Billiards! It was a great interview as Mark White and Patrick Nicks discussed the players in the Mosconi Cup. Patrick Nicks gives his prediction of 11-8 USA, and Mark White gives his prediction of 11-9 Europe! They also discuss how technology and livestreaming help to promote and grow the sport. They also discuss the WPA and Matchroom and then move on to pool, the Olympics, and Scotch Doubles! It was just a great interview discussing the issues in the spirit of billiards! The links for ChalkBox Productions are Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100090503145558 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTcLfhodm6uwpIt6GEJe4Fw The big event that is coming up is the Army vs. Navy on November 11th, you can watch the event on their channels above! The sponsors for the ARMY vs NAVY: OX Billiards https://www.oxbilliards.com/ JamUp Apparel http://jamup.com/ Moonlighting Billiards https://moonlightingbilliards.com/ Salotto https://salotto.app/ poolballart.com https://poolballart.com

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PATRICK NICKS TALKS WITH MARK WHITE INTERVIEW

WATCH AT HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/XY5QKTCXF7M?SI=_LSBG58EX31GXCXO

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KEITH SHANER

A CHAMPION FOR THE MIDDLE-CLASS PLAYER

Ohio is well-known in the pool world. It has produced many fine players, been home to a few more, and held some very important events over the years. We have some of the biggest junior programs for our young players.

e’ve also had our share of fine cue makes as well. From Toledo to Cleveland to Cincinnati to Dayton to Youngstown and just about all stops in between, pool has been big in Ohio. In fact, it’s easy to get lost because of the size of the Ohio pool community. Who can forget names like Don Willis, Kenny McCoy, or Joe Kerr? Other names like Chris Bartram, Dee Adkins, and Corey Deuel made headlines for a long time in the pool scene. Alex Olinger, Nathan Wallace, Cody Myers, Ryan Stone, Adam Martin… the list goes on. 52

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But who are they really? Who are these players whose skills we admire? Who are they beyond the great shots, the focus and determination, and the ability to put a cue ball on a string? Today, I get to reveal some of the mystery as I have the pleasure of talking with another name in Ohio pool. Well known in central Ohio and, I’m sure, beyond the borders but perhaps not as recognizable. Although he has won state championships. Competed and placed high in events like the Maryland State 9-Ball Championship and the NBL. He has faced off in tournaments with guys like Earl Strickland and Eklent Kaci. He has played challenge matches with players rising stars like Shane Wolford and Pijus Labutis. He has seen the road and the rooms. He’s played the public names and the ones that had the skill but not the spotlight. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Shane Albaugh. KS: So, let’s start off with where are you from, Shane, and what was it like for you growing up? SA: I’m from a small town, well, not even a town, but a township called Nashport, Ohio. It was a basic childhood filled with competitive sports. KS: What other sports occupied your time besides pool? SA: Mostly baseball and a little football. KS: When did you first get interested in pool, and where did you start to learn once you began taking

the game seriously? SA: Me and my dad went to the bowling alley in Zanesville some Sundays, and we always passed the pool table. I finally asked if we could play a game. It grabbed me from the first ball. It wasn’t until about four years later, when we got a table at the house, that I began to take it seriously. KS: Who are some of the players that had an early influence on your play and approach to the game? SA: There was a lot of local talent in my area that I watched and looked up to and learned a lot from. Probably the player that I learned the most from was Ronnie Crozier, just because I played a lot with him at a young age. KS: What is your favorite game to play, and has that changed over the years? Are there any other cue disciplines that you like? SA: My favorite game to play was eight-ball because it had a lot of strategy to it. Over the years, I’ve grown more into ten-ball for some of the same reasons. I really like 3-Cushion, and I actually quit playing pocket billiards for a few years because of it. KS: Do you prefer big tables or bar box, and do you have a preference for tournaments or head-to-head challenges? SA: I like to play on any size table, and for me pool is pool. KS: What was the first tournament you entered, and how was that experience? SA: So, when I was about six months into it, they had

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a tournament at Buckeye Lake in a game room. I remember being super excited and nervous, but lucky for me, everyone else played worse than I did, and that win felt like nothing else I had ever felt before. 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? SA: My first big event was the Muskingum Open, and I beat Tim Robert’s in the finals to win, and back then, Tim could really play. KS: Who are some of the toughest players you have faced in competition? SA: Dee Adkins, Chris Bartram, Earl Strickland, Shawn Putnam… there are too many to mention. KS: What match stands out for you in your career? SA: My first Viking Tour win stands out for me when those events were tough. I spent a lot of time on my game at that point, and it felt good to see it all come together. KS: You’ve played in events with a lot of name players, you’ve played a lot of regional and local events, and you’ve played challenge matches, including upcoming stars like Pijus Labutis and Shane Wolford. How have you seen the pool landscape change and evolve over the last five years, and how does today compare with how it was when you began coming into your own as a young man? SA: I don’t think it’s really evolved, hardly any. There 54

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are more people playing the game, but mostly not at the poolrooms. Many people play at their house or league at the local bar or at their friends’ houses. They don’t really practice at the poolroom anymore like they did back when I started. KS: What are your thoughts on what Matchroom has done with increasing the number of events on the calendar and trying to improve production values for fans? SA: I think Matchroom is bringing it back to where it used to be finally. Hopefully, they can take us beyond that. KS: What are your thoughts on the recent announcement of Fedor Gorst being added to the US Team for the Mosconi Cup and his status as an American player for events like The World Cup of Pool team event? SA: Our sport is about competitive play, and everybody is out there spending money and spending time on their game to try to be the best that they can be. I understand some people being upset, but I also agree with the time and effort Fedor has put in. He’s undeniably an outstanding player, and if these other players out there worked and outperformed him, they would be getting their shot also. It’s the nature of competition. KS: What’s your take on the controversy surrounding

the recent ban coming down from the WPA? SA: I understand what they are trying to do with the ban, but the ban is only good if the players were the product and the WPA was paying for that product. They haven’t structured it in any way where the ban is effective. KS: Do you have any expectations for how the WPA and the WNT can coexist and have productive roles and responsibilities in the pool world? SA: I’m sure there is a way to coexist, but right now, it reminds me of the WWE and the WCW. They are competing with each other, and that would be okay if they were actually paying for the players to play for them. KS: How do you think fan interest in the game can be increased, and what will it take to begin bringing in outside sponsorship to the sport? SA: Well, for starters, there has to be a middle-class players field. What I mean is we have beginner-level play and pro-level play and nothing in the middle for players like me. KS: What are your thoughts on the increase in junior events by both the JIC and Matchroom? Do you think junior interest can grow, and what are some of the ways that you think the game can grow for the young

player? SA: I think it’s great for the junior players, but I don’t think we will retain a lot of them because of that missing mid-level. They go from junior to pro, and if they can’t make money, they will move on to something else. KS: As a player, do you still enjoy watching pool as a spectator? Live, old video, or when streamed? What changes in the presentation of pool through media and live would you like to see that makes the experience more enjoyable to fans, particularly attracting more casual fans? SA: I think streams are cool to promote pool to people who are already fans of pool players but not to grow the sport. I don’t think so… for example, how many times do you look up skateboarding? I never do, why, because I don’t skateboard. I think the junior leagues and tournaments will do more than streams ever did. We just have to try to retain those players once we have them. KS: If pool continues to grow with more junior programs and more professional tour events, what do you think is needed to establish a better-defined path from Junior to Amateur to Professional level play? SA: They have to be able to make money. Not every

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kid has million-dollar backers. A lot of talent out there has been thrown away because you can’t make money. You can play for fun, and that’s okay, but as a sport, it’s just not there yet. KS: What role, if any, do you think leagues play in either adding new players or creating a larger fan base for professional-level players? SA: Leagues are the number one way of gathering new players, period. There is no structure though for players to get better. It’s all geared around bad play and the lower the handicap the better. Again, the structure is terrible. KS: As a niche sport what can players and promoters do better to present players to fans and create a “public face” for pool? How does the sport find and promote its own “Tony Hawk”? Is it someone with a big history like Shane Van Boening or a current star like Fedor Gorst? Is it a younger star like Savannah Easton or Joey Tate? Maybe a bit of all three, appealing to different levels of people? SA: I would just encourage players and promoters to build a relationship with one another regardless of player status. KS: When you’re not working or on the road traveling and playing, what are some things you like to do outside of pool? Give us a glimpse of Shane Albaugh at home with your family, friends, and hobbies? SA: When I’m at home, I get so much encouragement to play. I have family time don’t get me wrong, but my wife encourages me to play a lot. some of my greatest times are when I’m practicing, and my granddaughter gets sat up on the table and she slings balls around and enjoying just sucking at it [laughing] I want to thank Shane for sharing his thoughts on the game and hopefully you guys got a little bit of insight into this (in his own words) middle-class player, who continues to work not only on his game, but ways in which he can try to improve local players and events as well. Thanks everyone!

PHOTOS OF SHANE ALBAUGH BY KEITH SHANER

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SOFIA MAST

SOFIA MAST PINK-DAGGER ON THE WINNERS TRAIL

Sofia Mast was recently at the WPA World Junior Championship that concluded on October 22, 2023. Sofia came home with a Silver Medal in the Girls Under 19. We asked Sofia to write up a little something about her time in Austria! Here it is! My trip to Austria was terrific, from the scenery to all the old buildings and fantastic food. At the end of July in Quincy, Illinois, for the BEF qualifier, I finished 5th-8th and was one win away from qualifying

for worlds. I lost Hill Hill to Kennedy, and I was devastated and disappointed in myself because I didn’t play my best or finish when I had the chance. I didn’t think I would have any chance to play in worlds, but out of nowhere, I got a message from USA Coach Samm Diep-Vidal saying that I was chosen as the wild card and I would be able to compete for Team USA in Austria. I was the happiest person ever, and I started to cry because it meant so SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

much to me. I qualified for Junior Worlds in Austria 2 years ago when I was 13, but my parents decided not to take me because of COVID reasons and restrictions. After I received this message, I worked so hard to get ready to compete. I changed my eating habits, doing more stamina-related things such as working out and a lot more practice. I felt so ready to go to Austria, and who was the person that helped me with my changes? It was coach Samm whom I visited in Denver to help me focus on winning a world championship, and she was so awesome. It was a long trip to Austria, but it was so worth it because out of 24 amazing girls from all different countries, I ended up placing 2nd. Even though winning a 1st place gold medal was my goal, I still couldn’t express my excitement to receive the silver medal at Worlds for junior girls. I was told I’m only the 3rd different USA girl to compete in a finals. I thought that was really amazing. I played fairly well throughout the whole tournament and didn’t lose a match coming into the finals. 58

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Earlier in the tournament, I defeated the girl I was playing in the finals 6-2, so I had some confidence. She played very well in the finals, and I couldn’t catch my groove, but it was still a great experience. I thought I had some momentum when I three-fouled her to make it 4-5 in a race to six. I missed the fourball on the next rack, and she ran out for the win. It was such an honor to represent Team USA and receive one of the two worldwide wild cards. I still have some years left to win that gold medal, and I will never stop grinding. Thank you to everyone cheering for me from the US, staying up until 3-4 a.m., and watching. I definitely felt the love through messages and texts that everyone was behind me. Now, my focus is on continuing to improve, and I’ll be ready for 2024!! Soon after Sofia wrote her story on Austria, she won the Junior International Championship in Norfolk, VA, held on November 2-4, 2023. Sofia played against Savannah Easton in the final and won the match 9-5. Savannah came in second, and Bethany Tate took third place!

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MARK WHITE

A PICTURE PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS, HERE ARE 3

It was just a short two hour trip across the North Sea to an event 0rganised with the help from two Ouschan’s in Klagenfurt, Austria. Two hundred sixteen cueists, 96 men, 48 women, and 72 juniors screwed their Cues together for the WPA Predator Men’s World Eight Ball Championships, the Women’s WPA Predator 10 ball Championships, and the WPA Girls and Boys Under 17 and Under 19’s WPA Predator World Championships. There were a few noticeable absentees from the lineup for the Men’s event, one of the Reasons, I’m sure, is the ongoing battle between Matchroom and the WPA, but it was still a stellar field with the likes of reigning champ Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and his brother from another Mother David Alcaide, Shane van Boening, Fedor Gorst, Joshua Filler, World Champion 10 ball champ Eklent Kaci and a strong Polish contingent, as always, including 2022 WPA World champion Wojciech Szewczyk and former world 8 ball champions Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann.

I’m sure there would have been more chasing the huge 75,000-dollar first prize, but the struggle going on between promoters Matchroom and world governing body the WPA meant some players chose not to attend to show solidarity to the Matchroom team, including the CEO of Matchroom Multi Sport Emily Frazer. From what I can make out, the disagreement began when the Brentwood-based promoters sought sole control of the game of 9 ball, including owning outright ownership of the 9 ball world rankings. In addition to that, it seemed Matchroom was also arranging events over other events already on the calendar of events and making players choose between one or the other. I must hold my hands up and admit I knew very little about the WPA’s role in cue sports. All I had heard was they take membership fees from the players and sanctioning 60

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fees from the various tournaments taking place. Some of the player’s grievances were board members taking first-class flights worldwide and staying in lavish hotel rooms.

accomplished with unwavering support from our sponsors, local NGBs, and dedicated pool clubs.

Ensuring fair play and upholding the sport’s standard, the WPA mandates the issuance of I was contacted recently by Stuart Rogers, who has licenses for players wanting to participate in its been put in charge of marketing and media events. Only players holding these licenses by the WPA, he has already had a new and up-tocan compete. Each license stands as a bilateral date, state-of-the-art website designed and built, agreement between the WPA and the player, which will be launched very soon, and other changes safeguarding the interests of players, sponsors, include a new President Ishaun Singh and new board clubs, and NGBs. member multi-world champion Kelly Fisher, who joined Shane Tyree going forward. These licenses come with specific conditions, ensuring that the standards of the game and its I had the pleasure of traveling to the Klagenfurt stakeholders are upheld. Non-compliance with these Sportpark Halle for the second year running but not conditions may lead to license revocation as a commentator. I had a couple of guys following or non-renewal. me around with a camera and mic to conduct a few interviews with the players, which will be available Players are encouraged to understand that on the new WPA website and Instagram page. It participation is not an entitlement. It’s vital for was interesting getting the player’s views on the them to respect the rights and interests of fellow current state of pool and hearing their thoughts players, clubs, sponsors, and NGBs. Choosing not on where the game might be come March 1st when to adhere to the set standards and conditions is a the WPA ultimatum comes into force, which will choice made by the players, not an outright ban. see players choosing between the promoter and the world governing body, which could see players The WPA is dedicated to nurturing and expanding being banned from WPA events for six months and the sport of pool-billiards worldwide. We are incurring a $500 fine if they choose to participate committed to maintaining a standard of excellence, in Matchroom events. I must admit, though, since ensuring the sport continues to grow and inspire learning more about what the WPA actually stands future generations. for, I realize that more players and fans of cue sports really deserve to know the whole story and the whole The World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA): role the WPA plays in the sport we love, in all the Established with a vision to develop pool codes games we love, not just 9 ball. worldwide, the WPA stands as the paramount body that governs and regulates the sport, The World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA), the ensuring its sustainability, growth, and global reach. leading authority in pool code development across the globe So, as you can see, there is a lot more to what the governing body actually does. There are no At the heart of the WPA are its six essential salaries paid, it’s all voluntary, it’s like a full-time job continental members. These continental at times dealing with so many things to do when affiliations further encompass National Governing sanctioning an event. Bodies (NGBs) from a vast majority of countries worldwide, amplifying the WPA’s reach and The WPA, along with their partner for the World influence in the sport. Championships in Klagenfurt and other organisers and sponsors put on an incredible show. Besides working closely with NGBs, the They crowned 5 world champions in total. WPA extends its partnerships to various international federations that oversee cue Predator Men’s World Eight Ball Championship sports, including Heyball, Blackball Artistic Pool, and Russian Pyramid. Shane Van Boening won his first-ever 8 ball World title after being sent to the one-loss side by Chang One of the cornerstone activities of the WPA is Yu Lung in his very first match. Sina Valizadeh bore organizing world championships and other the brunt of SVB in his first one-loss side match as pivotal international events. This mammoth task is Shane served up a donut. Hsieh Chia Chen and SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

Daniel Gutenberger were Shane’s next victims as he looked unstoppable as he carved his way through the rough terrain of the scenic route. A tougher match was to come next for the South Dakota Kid as Albin Ouschan pushed him hard but the Austrian who seemed a little weary after his exploits in Hanoi just days before finally succumbing 8 - 10. Albin had been picked up from the airport by his good friend and fellow Austrian Max Lechner just a few hours before his first-round match after flying in from Vietnam.

a very resilient Roman Hybler 10-8. Hybler incidentally was responsible for knocking out Viktor Zielinski 8-1 in an earlier round. Sanjin had a Pole in his sights in his next round defeating Konrad Juszczyszyn 10-3. Mario He was the next to fall to the Bosnia and Herzigovinian in the quarter-final going down 7 – 10, and Max Lechner, who is having a fantastic run of results lately, just fell short in his semi-final as he was cheered on by his home crowd, just missed out, and Sanjin was in his first-ever World final.

Alex Kazakis Kazakis was next in 5 times US Open winner firing line and went down 10-4 Reigning champion FSR was Shane’s next opponent to feel the strength of Captain America’s wrath going down 5 - 10 and Wojciech Szewczyk almost ruined the American dream, but a stray positional shot on the final 8 ball allowed SVB to fall over the line 10-9.

The final was a tale of dry breaks and tremendous runouts, particularly from who I consider to be the best 8-ball player in the world, which turned out to be the case as the American won by Ten racks to 7. It was his first ever 8-ball world title, and as I watched him clear the final rack I along with the packed crowd, wondered how he would celebrate. He didn’t disappoint, nor did he mount the Predator Apex 9-foot table. He did, however, do something much more poignant, he punched the air several times on his way round to

His opponent in the final had a shorter route to the final but by no means easier as he overcame

SHANE VAN BOENING PHOTO BY COINFLIP FOR PREDATOR

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the pocket in which it potted the final winning 8 ball, put it to his lips, and gave it a tender kiss. those lips would later tell the audience in his winning speech about how 8 ball is his favourite game, and there is no better feeling than being a world champion. It was an amazing event where dry breaks, lucky runs here and there, and the odd skid along the way where at the end of all the exciting matches and close fought battles, the best man won, the best 8-ball player in the world won, and the sport of pool won. I almost forgot to mention he also won the biggest prize in pool at the moment for a world title, 75,000 USD.

compete for the first time in a long while. Former twice world Champion Rubilen Amit made the journey from the Philippines along with the Puerto Rico Women’s Medalla light runner-up Chezka Centeno, the 24-year-old who is the the only player I know quicker than Kwikfire, Kelly Fisher, is a scary prospect for anyone, and Chezka had beaten Jasmin Ouschan in the semis of the Puerto Rico event in 2022. She had also more recently beaten Kelly at Sharks in Manila in a race to 90 over three days, 90-70. Wei Tzu Chien was also hungry for a title. Her last success was against Chezka in San Juan in that final, and other players making waves in the Women’s pool scene at the Women’s WPA Predator 10 Ball Championship moment are players like Kristina ‘The Zlayer’ Zlateva from Bulgaria and the little Russian with huge talent In the Women’s 10 ball the favourite and reigning Kristina ‘The Krystal’ Tkach. Jasmin was also there, champion Chou Chei Yu was once again the Lady of course, but as organiser it’s always a difficult to beat, but there were another 47 who made the situation to be in; wearing two hats is tough, and journey to Austria with the hope of putting their it showed in her first match as she was knocked name on the 2023 WPA Predator Women’s World 10 to the one-loss bracket by Indonesian Silviana Lu ball winners trophy. 7-4. Slovenian Ana Gradisnik pushed the Austrian athlete hard in the next round, and Ana led 4-1 and Two of the surprise entries looking to get their hands 5-2 before Jasmine caught a much-needed gear and back on a world title were Han Yu and overcame the deficit to recover and win 7-5 Siming Chen showed up at the Sportpark Halle to

CHEZKA CENTENO, WORLD 10 BALL CHAMPION PHOTO BY COINFLIP FOR PREDATOR SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

Reigning champ Chou, ‘Big Eyes’ or ‘Rita’ as she is known in Taiwan, had a tough first round against the 2009 and 2013 champion Rubilen Amit, losing on the hill 7-6 and finding herself having to go the long way around if she was going to retain the title she won here last year and on the B side, she overcame two Germans, first beating Yvonne Ullmann-Hybler 7-1, then the up and coming Veronika Ivanovskaia was convincingly beaten 7-2 and, in the losers qualification, overcame the little bundle of talent Yuki Hiraguchi 7-3. The long-awaited return of Siming Chen saw flashes that the champion had shown in the past, but Chou was too strong and match fit for Chen, who went out 9-7. Rita’s reign wouldn’t last much longer, though, as the Filipino ‘Flash’ sent the reigning champion crashing out in the next round 9-2.

updates to her friends back home. It was almost as if she couldn’t bare to look at times, then as Chezka was just two balls away from the title of World Champion, Rubilen reached into her bag and pulled out the Philippines flag, and as the ten ball disappeared, Rubilen appeared in the arena brandishing the flag, and Chezka accepted it proudly and wrapped it around herself with great pride, the tears began to flow, and she could hardly speak when asked how she felt, no words were needed, the picture spoke a 1000 words, and the new WPA Predator Women’s World 10 ball Champion would leave Austria 50,000 dollars richer, a world title, and a load of new fans.

Han Yu quietly progressed through her first few matches with big wins against Mayte Ropero, Amber Chen 7-1, and a close one against Yuki Hiraguchi. Han Yu would go unbeaten right up until the final; she played great in her semi against Kelly Fisher and went 5-1 up, Kelly decided to go for a timeout, and as players leave the arena, a clock counts the time the players are away, they have 5 minutes to get back to the arena, and as the clock passed the 5-minute mark Kelly still wasn’t back, we could see the referee going over to the desk and picking up a yellow card and as not so KwikFire Kelly strolled back into the arena and the clock showing 5 minutes 30 seconds she was shown the yellow card and also her opponent was awarded a rack, and Kelly lost her break also. The multiple world snooker and pool champion never recovered, and Yu went through to the final 9-2. After the match, Kelly told me that was the weirdest match she can remember, “I felt really good but don’t really know what happened, it was weird, I felt I played ok, I was feeling food, if I went on another table now I would play great”.

There was a good showing from the United States in the junior divisions, in the under-19 boys Category, team USA had Payne McBride and Joey Tate playing for the last time as Juniors but after both getting beat early on, Mika Van Berkel, the promising Dutchman beating Joey 7-3, and Payne losing early on to the boy from Poland, Paweł Boguszewski by the same score. Their defeats meant they were to face each other on the one-loss side, and something had to give. It was Payne who would have to keep the US’s hopes alive as he beat Joey 7-5.

I was sitting next to Rubilen Amit during the final, and ‘Binkay’ was on her phone, constantly texting

In the Junior Girls division, once again, the Americans weren’t short of representatives cheered

JUNIORS — WPA Girls and Boys under 17 and under 19’s WPA Predator World Championships

Other American’s Garrett Vaughan and Sam Henderson were also making appearances for the US but went out at the losers qualification stage, reigning champion from Estonia Karl Gnaderberg lost out to the semi-finalist from Hong Kong Huan Fu, Kledio Kaci, yes, the younger brother of 2-time world 10 ball champion Eklent showed that great pool runs in the Kaci genes as he reached the semifinal, but it was double Dutch as Van Berkel and Yanick Pongers contested the final. Pongers claimed In the final against Chezka Han Yu was outclassed in victory and the 2023 WPA World Junior under 19 every department by the 24-year-old champion title. potting machine, I wondered if Chezka might get frozen out by the experienced safety game In the under-17’s, Adrian Prasad was in great form, of Yu but the flash matched her and outwitted her. always looking classy and assured at the When she has the slightest chance of a pot The table went undefeated and, on the way, beat she goes for it, it’s fair to say sometimes it can be her fellow American Grayson Vaughan in the semis downfall but when she in on song there and, in the final, came up against a huge talent is no better-sounding music than the balls cracking from Indonesia, Derin Asaku Sitorus, who played into the back of the pockets. amazing pool throughout and won the title 6-4.

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on by the FEB’s Sam Diep-Vidal and all the parents that made the journey across the pond, Bethany Tate and Noele Tate, yes, they are related to Joey. There are 12 Tate’s in total, and most, if not all, can hold a cue. Then there’s the Roadrunner Savannah Easton, who is ranked 14th in the WPBA rankings, Sofia Mast, ‘The Pink Dagger’ who is carving her way through the rankings also, and the reigning champion was back for her last chance in the under-19 division Xin Yu Hong and Hong would reach the final for the 2nd year running, where she would play the Pink Dagger. After a closely fought match, the tiny Taipeian retained her title 6-4.

the promising Dutchman, beating Joey 7-3, and Payne lost early on to the boy from Poland, Paweł Boguszewski, by the same score. Their defeats meant they were to face each other on the one-loss side, and something had to give. It was Payne who would have to keep the US’s hopes alive as he beat Joey 7-5. ______________________________________________________

The highlights for me in Austria were Shane Van Boening’s delight at winning his first-ever, WPA World 8 ball crown playing his “Favourite game,” that kiss on the 8 ball said it all. He spent more time on the practice table than anyone; he was There was a good showing from the United States in there for at least 5 hours before his final showdown the junior divisions, in the under-19 boys. with Pehlivanovic, and that dedication paid category, team USA had Payne McBride and dividends, 75,00o of them. Joey Tate playing for the last time as Juniors. Still, after both getting beat early on, Mika Van Berkel, Xin Yu Hong is no longer a junior but will certainly be

YANNICK PONGERS , HONG XIN YU & DERIN ASAKU SITORUS JR. CHAMPIONS PHOTO BY COINFLIP FOR PREDATOR SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

around the Women’s game for a long time. Joey Tate and Payne McBride move into the Men’s game full-time and leave Adrian Prasad to fly the flag in the Juniors. Sofia Mast and Savannah Easton will clash many times over the coming years for sure, but watch out for ‘Knowledgeable Noele Tate. She is one to watch. Danke, once again, Klagenfurt, you were amazing. Verabschied

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HONG XIN YU DEFENDS THE WORLD JUNIOR GIRLS TITLE PHOTO BY COINFLIP

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KEITH SHANER

HELLO FROM HANOI! MATCHROOM STRIKES GOLD IN VIETNAM

ON OCTOBER 10TH, 2023, MATCHROOM KICKED OFF ITS NEWEST EVENT, THE HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP. IT WAS HELD IN HANOI, VIETNAM, AND AMID ALL THE CRAZINESS GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF POOL RIGHT NOW, WE COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR ANYTHING BETTER.

n October 10th, 2023, Matchroom kicked off its newest event, The Hanoi Open Pool Championship. It was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, and amid all the craziness going on in the world of pool right now, we could not have asked for anything better.

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To begin with, players were met at the airport by fans and supporters handing out flowers, giving hugs, and taking photos. Shane Van Boening, Ko Ping Chung, Jayson Shaw, Fedor Gorst… They were treated like sports royalty, and seeing a hint of how well the host city would be for this event was amazing. Next, we began

HANOI OPEN CROWD PHOTO BY VIETNAM BILLIARDS PROMOTION

hearing about the pool culture in Vietnam and photos and videos of upscale poolrooms with 70-plus tables, and they still had waiting lists! I heard numbers as high as 1500 for places that offered pool to the public. We here in the US haven’t known that kind of prosperity since the 1920s. As play began, we saw the usual Matchroom arena and setup. What went beyond that was the fans. It was the closest thing to a Mosconi Cup atmosphere outside of The Cup itself. These fans were attentive, appreciative, and knowledgeable. They supported the home team players but also their own international favorites. In between matches, players were doing photo ops and signing autographs for fans who were lining up down the block. This had to really make these players feel appreciated in a way that they don’t see often enough. We saw a great turnout of players from Vietnam itself, and many of them put on a fine show for the fans. We had a good turnout for the US, with many Mosconi Cup hopefuls in attendance. With the announcement of Fedor Gorst joining Team USA, the stakes were raised even higher for the likes of Shane Wolford, Billy Thorpe, Tyler Styer, BJ Ussery, and Oscar Dominguez. That does not mean that Team Europe had it any easier. With two spots to fill, a ton of talent, and the injury to Eklent Kaci, Captain Eckert really had to hope for some players to separate themselves to give him some insight into who to choose this year. We got to see Dennis Orcullo in action, as his visa issue has kept him out of the States for quite some time, and it was great seeing him competing again in the big event. The huge surprise was Matchroom bringing in Efren Reyes for an exhibition match against Do Khai, and now the talk of a Reyes Cup is heating up again. The event got underway on Tuesday. The weather conditions were a bit warm for some of the players, but SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

you are in Vietnam, so I am sure most were not surprised. These guys are the best and can adapt to conditions on and off the table. The first round had few surprises, but after that, well, things began to get very interesting. Luong Duc Thien fell to Kyle Amoroto, and this would not be his first surprise victim. Ko Ping Chung took a loss, as did Carlo Biado, Warren Kiamco, BJ Ussery, and Ralf Souquet. Styer, Wolford, Dominguez, and Thorpe continued on the winner’s side. In the next round, we saw Billy Thorpe moved to the B side of the stage I qualifier, and he was soon joined by Johann Chua, David Alcaide, Jeff De Luna, Lee Vann Corteza, Sanjin Pehlivanovic, Dennis Orcullo, Shane Wolford, Shane Van Boening, and Tyler Styer. SVB was another name cut down by Kyle Amoroto. By Friday, we had finally reached the final sixty-four players, and the single elimination stage began. Francisco Sanchez Ruiz downed Carlo Biado in the round of 64 after Carlo fought back from the B side. Ralf Souquet redeemed himself and defeated Anthony Raga in a hill-hill victory. Sanjin Pehlivanovic knocked out Aleksa Pecelj to go on to the last thirty-two. Jayson Shaw won his match 10-2 over Bui Trong An. Michael Feliciano

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was also a winner, along with names like Chua, Jan Van Lierop, Ko Pin Yi, Aranas, Gorst, Lee Vann Corteza, David Alcaide, and Shane Wolford, who had a very nice win over Moritz Neuhausen, Kazakis, Ouschan, SVB, Ko Ping Chung, Oscar Dominguez, Niels Feijen and Kyle Amoroto. Other notable names that were knocked out in this stage were Sky Woodward, Tyler Styer, Dennis Orcullo, Chris Melling, John Morra, Roland Garcia, and Mario He. The round of 32 saw Oi, Wolford, SVB, Feijen, Dominguez, De Luna, Homann, Chua, and Aranas among

the defeated. FSR, Pehlivanovic, Gorst, Ko Pin Yi, Jan Van Lierop, Ko Ping Chung, Lee Vann Corteza, Albin Ouschan, Max Lechner, Aloysius Yapp, and Kyle Amoroto. Things really heated up in the sweet sixteen as Francisco Sanchez Ruiz fell to Sanjin Pehlivanovic, Michael Angelo Feliciano defeated Ahmad Taufiq, Jayson Shaw topped Jan Van Lierop, Fedor Gorst downed Ko Pin Yi, Lee Vann Corteza was taken out by David Alcaide, Ko Ping Chung sent Max Lechner home. Albin Ouschan sidelined Alexander Kazakis, and Kyle Amoroto continued to beat up on the big names as he had a 10-5 victory over Aloysius Yapp. The quarterfinals began with Jayson Shaw taking on Fedor Gorst, and we get to see a little preview of some Mosconi Cup showmanship with Fedor being pressed for time and making a critical miss celebrating, which led to an early celebration by Shaw and Gorst conceding the final three balls. There was a minor controversy on the fact that they were verbally announcing the time, and the five-second call came a hair before Gorst began his backswing. I’m sure this will add to the already growing hype for Fedor at The SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

KEITH SHANER

Mosconi Cup. Next, we saw Ko Ping Chung taking on the hot-handed Kyle Amoroto. The match was attended by none other than Efren Reyes himself as he watched his fellow countryman make his first foray into a big international event. They stayed close, but Ko was able to gain control late in the match and take it 10-8. Sanjin Pehlivanovic continued his winning ways as he downed Michael Feliciano 10-3. Sanjin played very well and controlled the match throughout. The last match could have been a final pairing, with Albin Ouschan taking on David Alcaide. Albin, who was looking for a place on Team Europe, caught a gear when he needed

KO PING CHUNG WITH BROTHERS PHOTO BY VIETNAM BILLIARDS PROMOTION

it and defeated Alcaide 10-3 to secure his place in the semifinals. The semifinal round saw a David versus Goliath-type match as Jayson Shaw went up against the young Sanjin Pehlivanovic. Jayon got out to a quick 5-0 lead. Sanjin secured the next two racks, but Shaw was in beat mode as he took the final six racks to win 11-2. Next up, a nearly identical setting as former World Champion Albin Ouschan stepped in to play the hungry Ko Ping Chung, who just came off of a win at the US Open for his first major title. In a déjà vu experience, Albin took racks one through five, with Ko finally getting the next four. At 6-4, a misplayed safe by Albin let Little Ko run to an early 5-9 combination to pull within one. Ouschan took the next game, but a scratch let Ko have another early 9-Ball. Some speed control issues by Ko and a couple of unfortunate rolls led to Albin getting to 9-6. Ko was able to secure game sixteen, but Albin took the next rack to get on the hill first. Ko played flawlessly in the next two and pulled to within one at 10-9. Albin had a chance to close it out, but Ko was able to make it hill-hill. Ko’s break put a ball down, but a miss on a long open two-ball let Albin Ouschan back to the table, and he closed the match out at 11-10. The finals were set as two of the big guns of the European pool were ready to battle it out for the title in this inaugural event. Jayson and Albin lagged in front of a very large and enthusiastic crowd, with Shaw winning 72

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to get the right to control the opening break in this race to thirteen. Jayson got comfortable with the break right away with two balls down and what looked to be a fairly routine runout, but the tight corner pocket got him on the four-ball, and Albin stepped to the table and started a safety battle with Eagle Eye. Jayson got the hit, but Albin got the rack and led 1-0. Ouschan also took rack two, but in the third rack, he missed a bank

ALBIN OUSCHAN PHOTO BY VIETNAM BILLIARDS PROMOTION

attempt on the two-ball that let Shaw back to the table. Jayson misplayed a safe attempt, and Albin was able to move out to a 3-0 lead. In rack four, Albin locked up Shaw very tight with a safety, but Eagle Eye played a three-rail kick that backcut the three-ball into the corner that got the crowd roaring. Unfortunately, he missed a shot with the shooting with his right hand, and Albin was given life once again. Jayson was finally able to get on the board in rack five, and he ended up taking the next two racks as well. At 5-4, Albin played a power draw for position that came up short, and he missed the eight-ball in the side, allowing Jayson to tie the match at 5-5. Albin made a 6-9 carom in game eleven to retake the lead and followed it with four more to stretch the lead to 10-5. Jayson came out on top in a safety battle in rack sixteen, and with a tricky run, he takes the win. Another safe would also get him the next rack, and he was now within three of the lead. Breaking and making a ball in the next rack, he got an unfortunate kiss, and the cue ball was locked up with no shot, and he was forced to push out. The shot was given back, and Jayson made a great masse attempt but fouled, giving Albin ball in hand. Albin missed a long eight-ball, and Shaw fired in the tough cut that he was left to win it and move one more up the wire. In rack nineteen, Jayson played a wonderful six-ball into the side with draw going up and down the table to get shape on the seven for a break and run win, and he was now within one of Albin. Albin had another crucial miss in the next rack but got back to the table and secured the win, making it 11-9. In rack twenty-one, Jayson made a great shot on the two after a kick-safe attempt by Ouschan and ran out, securing the win. In the next rack, he makes a tremendous two-rail kick on the two-ball into the side and ties the match at 11-11. The crowd noise growing with every shot. Jayson drilled ball after ball to take the lead and get to the hill first at 12-11. The crowd pumping up Jayson as he moved around the table. He broke rack twentyfour to a roar as the one fell, and the nine-ball nearly dropped. He drew an even bigger one as he fired in the SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

two-ball on a great bank and drew the cue ball two rails for shape on the three-ball. A tough rack, he missed a thin cut on the five-ball. The enthusiasm in the crowd carried in for Albin as his name was chanted repeatedly as he stepped up to the table and made it a hill-hill final! Rack twenty-five began with Albin breaking and making the one ball, but a kiss off the rolling two-ball knocked the cue ball into the side, giving Jayson Shaw ball-in-hand and an open table. Smooth and patiently, Shaw runs out the rack. The roar from the crowd as the nine-ball dropped was incredible! Jayson Shaw was cheered as the Hanoi Open Champion as if he had won the World Championship! What a win for Jayson Shaw and what a win for Matchroom, Vietnam, and pool fans around the world. I don’t think you could have scripted a better result for this maiden event. The crowd was unbelievably great. The players and the matches were just fantastic, and the event atmosphere took pro pool to a new level. I hope we see more events like this, and I hope the fanaticism of the crowds here spreads far and wide as Matchroom has set a new gold standard for pool.

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ALBERT CHARBONNEAU

THE EARL STRICKLAND EXPERIENCE & POINTS

he Earl Strickland Experience debuted in South Carolina this past month & it was a resounding success! The V.I.P. offer was extended to 20 people per day. Players were treated to an exclusive one-on-one coaching lesson with the legend himself. They all got a selfie

with Earl. The 20 V.I.P. players each brought personal items to be autographed. Each player had the opportunity to video their challenge match against Strickland & they all got front-row seats to the Trickshot show!

offering The Earl Strickland Experience to other cities throughout the country. Our next stop is in Jacksonville, Florida in November. For booking information, Contact Albert Charbonneau through Facebook or email at Alfu2u21067@ aol.com.

Player’s Place Billiards & Smitty’s Place Billiards were the establishments that hosted the Earl Strickland Experience. Both Billiards rooms received promo commercials cut by Earl and many items signed by the master 9-ball player.

My personal time with Earl Strickland was nothing short of amazing. No. I didn’t receive any coaching or lessons from Earl. I did have him sign a couple of shirts. (one for me & one for my good friend Tommy Jones) & he signed my personal McDermott cue, which has its own story.

The players had their 15 minutes of fame! A chance to get coached & play against one of the most recognized professionals of our generation. The positive testimonials that the players provided spoke loudly to the whole experience. Thanks to the tremendous success we were able to deliver, we are now 76

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I wanted time with Earl Strickland to introduce him to the billiards game I invented, Points. Like most other players, it took only three racks to convince him that Points is a special game. At first, Earl wasn’t going to even try the game. He wanted time to warm up on the table before the V.I.P. players arrived. He was setting up some trick shots & fine-tuning the table so it played to his liking. One shot he did was a double carom & potted two balls. He heard me score the shot as if he was playing Points & that got his attention. “Ok, Al. Let’s give your game a try.” That was all I needed to hear! I got up & started to rack as I was explaining the basic scoring & how the game is played. His first break was strong.

Sending the balls every which way, but life dedicated to just a few passions it ended up dry. He scored a zero on & billiards is one of the biggest. To that first break playing Points. have a true billiards legend like Earl Strickland not only playing my game Earl dropped a few easy straight-in but to be genuinely enjoying it has got shots for a point here & there before to be placed right up there with the he caught onto how the scores can births of my children. It’s something I really add up. His first run was a will never forget. 42, placing him right in the middle of average. Until next time... By Albert Charbonneau - Inventor I knew he could do better, so I racked & author again & this time, he scored 3 points on the break. This second run had Earl calling everything just like he was supposed to & he even made a 10-point shot during that rack. I said to Earl. “Now that you get how to play. Let’s see what you can put together one last time.” Well. That third rack was all Earl! He broke with real force, dropping two balls. He began that rack by calling two half-table bank shots. Earl was playing Points as though he had been playing it his whole life! Calling everything & he was constantly looking for more points! Earl scored 70 points on that third rack. That beat Max Eberle’s score, which he put up at last year’s US Open of 66 points on his third attempt. That was it! I knew Earl liked the game. What he said about Points, the game I invented, was all I ever wanted to hear. Earl Strickland said. “This is a really good game.’ It might not read as anything special & you usually could assume that Earl was being kind to his host, but something in his voice was so honest & genuine. I knew he meant it. Even now, as I write this article, I can feel it within my soul. I have spent my entire SPM BILLIARDS MAGAZINE

CHIP KLEIN

LESS DEFLECTION WITH MORE ENGLISH? “LESS DEFLECTION WITH MORE ENGLISH? “Compression deflection” can change things a bit. This can be true if we gauge zero point deflection a little differently and understand increased force near center mass of cueball. US OPEN champion John Schmidt and I had a good discussion about this one night in Pittsburgh. He had mentioned he felt he got more deflection with one tip of english and noticed the more english he put on the ball the less he over-cut the shot with inside english. He said he tried to tell people this for years. He is right! Sort of. If we aim at the one, and then apply one tip of inside center english using backhand english (front hand never moves), firm stroke, we miss the one completely. Now repeat: only this time go maximum english. Black shaft in picture. The one is cut into the pocket! Hitting near center mass of cueball causes an explosive compression and release of energy from the tip causing deflection.

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By hitting more english the stick bends and energy circles the cueball causing rotation instead of sending that energy to center mass. DISCLAIMER: This was taught to me by a professor of physics. This has been many years ago if my explanation is not on the pic, green shaft will miss the one completely. Black shaft, with 2 to 3 tips, will cut it right in. When you see a player miss with inside english and he over-cut it and someone says “you missed cause you used too much english”, he may have needed more!! We guage our deflection from original line of aim before we apply backhand spin. Let me know your results.

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