March 2003
The Pool Players Best Source of Information
Mighty Max Takes T.O.P. Prize By Melissa Herndon
Photo courtesy of Diana Hoppe
Northridge, CA - February 10, 2003 Have you ever wondered what it would be like if every player in a tournament had to face the exact same table lay-out? Have you ever thought to yourself that it would be great if there was no opponent to miss a shot and accidentally leave you safe? If so, then welcome to T.O.P. - Total Offense Pool. T.O.P. - created by John Bryant and Joe Porper - held their inaugural tournament this weekend at Billiard Connection in Northridge, CA. The prospect of an exciting new format drew such notables as Ernesto Dominguez, Morro Paez, Mike Massey, Max Eberle and Dave Hemmah. Also in attendance were many of the top local players, such as Francisco Galindo and Gerardo Jamito. In the T.O.P. tournament, players did not have to face an opponent. Every player played the exact same pre-defined table layouts of 10 precisely positioned balls per table. If a player ran out perfectly without missing a ball, he scored a 10 1 point for every ball made. If he missed, then 1 point would be added for every miss so if he missed once, then he scored an 11, if he missed twice, then he scored a 12, and so on. One point would also be added for any Max Eberle scratches made.. Saturday started with a buzz of excitement because none of the players knew exactly what to expect. All ten tables were set-up with different lay-outs, but none of the players knew exactly what was in store for them. Gerardo Jamito started off the first-round with a perfect 10, drawing applause from the spectators and other players, but faltered on some of the later racks scoring a couple of 13 s and 14 s. Dave Hemmah had a great day, scoring 2 perfect 10 s. Max Eberle finished in 1st place for the day, scoring one perfect 10 and several close-to-perfect 11 s. When everyone had finished every table on Saturday, the tournament director, Ron Wishnack tallied the total scores and the top half of the field was invited back on Sunday to play another 10 tables to determine the final placements/payout. The Sunday round saw the return of all the top players, plus some local players who deserve a quick mention. Congratulations to Derek Kim, Amir Shoshan, John Fields and Steve Chaplain for hanging in with the big guns and making the cut! Max Eberle once again played a near flawless game all day, and continuing his run of high tournament finishes, won the first ever T.O.P. event. With only 2 tables left to play, it looked like Dave Hemmah would be the runner-up in this event, but Dave s last 2 racks didn t go as smoothly as hoped, and his total score ended him in 3rd place, propelling Gerardo Jamito into 2nd place. Morro Paez and Ernesto Dominguez rounded out the top 5. John Bryant created T.O.P. with the idea in mind of gearing it specifically for television. He believes that this format will be easily understood by the general public since every player has to face the exact same challenge just like in golf. He feels that this event was a success even though it did not draw as many players as hoped. All the players expressed their enjoyment of the new format and plan to participate in future events. John Bryant and Joe Porper would like to express thanks to everyone who helped bring this tournament to fruition: Laura Friedman, Dave Belgium, Ron Wishnack, Mark Yamato of Billiard Connection and all the sponsors and players. For information on future T.O.P. events, of if you have questions about T.O.P. in general, please call John Bryant at 661.478.2171. Max Eberle $1400 1st 2nd Gerardo Jamito $ 900 3rd Dave Hemmah $ 600 4th Morro Paez $ 450 5th Ernesto Dominguez $ 375 6th Billy Palmer $ 350 7th Mike Massey $ 325 8th Arturo Rivera $ 300 9th Francisco Galindo $ 275 10th John Fields $ 250 11th Amir Shoshan $ 225 12th Derek Kim $ 200 OTB 13th Steve Chaplain $ 100
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Where s Sarge
Ken Sarge Aylesworth - ARTISTIC POOL EXHIBITIONS (206) 719-2695
Sarge s Pool School
Instructional Seminar: Stroke Development & Consistency Date & Time: Mar 8th, 1-5 PM (4 hours) at City Lights, 445 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA (253) 383-3301 See Mike at City Lights to sign-up. Cost: $50 per student, pay when you sign-up. Seminar limited to first 12 paid students. Each student will be video taped shooting the stroke consistency drill. At the end of class instruction each student will receive a video analysis of their stroke while watching themselves on television. You will learn how to improve the mechanics of your stroke. Handouts and drills will be given to each student. Instructional Seminar: Basics of Pocket Billiards Date & Time: Mar 22nd, 1-5 PM (4 hours) at Sunset Family Billiards, 2814 NE Sunset Blvd, Renton, WA (425) 255-7225 See Rick or Sean to sign-up. Date & Time: Apr 12th, 1-5 PM (4 hours) at Far West Billiards, 1001 West 1st Ave, Spokane, WA (509) 455-3429 See Patrick to sign-up. Cost: $45 per student, pay when you sign-up. Seminar limited to first 16 paid students. Each student will receive a six page handout. For more details on these seminars call Sarge at (206) 719-2695
FREE Co-Sponsored TRICK SHOT EXHIBITION AT 2PM by Grahams Family Home Recreation APRIL 12TH AT FAR WEST BILLIARDS - SPOKANE, WA
Private Lessons available at:
Harvey s Billiards, 4100 E Valley Hwy, Renton, WA (425) 251-9851 Dr. Cue s Billiards, 14713 Bothell Way NE, Shoreline, WA (206) 365-1187 City Lights, 445 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA (253) 383-3301 Java Billiards, 2812 Auburn Way N, Auburn, WA (253) 939-6690 Sunset Family Billiards, 2814 NE Sunset Blvd, Renton, WA (425) 255-7225
Up, Over, Around and Through is to shoot the cue ball with a jump
Here we are again this month with a great Artistic Pool Shot/Challenge. This
shot has been named, Up, Over, Around and Through . This shot is from the Prop/ Novelty/Special Arts Discipline and has a Degree of Difficulty (D.O.D.) of 7. Object ball letters coincide with corresponding pocket letters. To set this shot up position B ball as shown, not quite centered over pocket B. The B ball should be one half balls width out from the long rail. The C ball is frozen to B ball with allowance for throw effect on C ball to pocket C. The D ball is centered between pocket points. The cue ball is in hand, or as the diagram suggests. Put the bridge on rial tops as in diagram with a chalk cube under the handle on rail. Make sure C ball will go under the bridge, if not put something under bridge head to raise bridge higher. The C ball edge closest to bridge is flush to back edge of bridge. The objective of this shot
stroke into B ball. The cue ball then jumps up and over the bridge, goes around three cushions, and goes under the bridge to D ball. Make all three object balls as pocket letter designated. The cue ball may hit the bridge on the way over and may contact an extra cushion by D ball. A scratch is also allowed. Here are some helpful hints on executing this great shot. On new cloth place the cue ball closer to ball B. With the cue ball jumping into B ball understand that the carom angle of the cue ball off the B ball would not be the same as if aiming without the jump. Why? Because you re contacting B ball in the air and hitting the B ball thinner. If the cue ball goes under the bridge on its way to D ball don t use the cube of chalk, it is optional. Most people hit the shot too hard and jump the balls off of the table. This shot is executed with a moderate jump stroke. The last helpful hint, get the owner s permission to try this shot before you attempt it. Most places don t allow jump shots. If it is your own table, GO FOR IT! Next month s shot will be a D.O.D. of 7 from the Draw Discipline.
Keep Strokin Sarge OTB
$1500
Only
$29.95
based on 64 entries
Added
plus S & H
April 11-13, 2003 $40 Entry - $10 Green Fee ($50 Entry - $10 G.F. after Apr 7, 2003)
LADIES DIVISION $20 ADDED PER ENTRY
$30 Entry - $10 Green Fee ($40 entry - $10 G.F. after Apr 7, 2003)
Entry Deadline: 6:30 PM April 11, 2003 Calcutta: Open & Ladies Divisions 7PM Sharp - TJ s Lounge Apr 11, 2003 Play Begins: Open Division 9PM Apr 11, 2003 - Ladies 10AM Apr 12, 2003 Send Entries to: T J s Lounge 1308 10th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405 or call
(406) 727-1800
Precision made circular billiard rack
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