stroke pool magazine october issue 2015

36

Upload: stroke-magazine

Post on 23-Jul-2016

221 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

DESCRIPTION

Read the latest results from the Labor Day Shootout, Eastern States Championships ... all your favorite tours and more ... Don't forget to read our instructional columnists.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015
Page 3: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

Founded upon unwavering principles of quality and value, 2013 marks our 333rd continuous year in business.We are the oldest company in the billiard industry.

Being the oldest didn’t make us the best... being the best has made us the oldest.

Premium products with premium value. Iwan Simonis.

Our 333rd year...and we hardly look a day over 200.

w w w . a r a m i t h . c o mw w w . s i m o n i s c l o t h . c o m

A u t h e n t i c . A c c u r a t e . A l w a y s .

®

®

PERFORMANCE CUSHIONS byKLEMATCH

8 0 0 . S I M O N I S 8 8 8 . A R A M I T H

Page 4: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

4 Stroke Magazine - September 2013 www.StrokeMagazine.net www.facebook.com/onthebreaknewsLike us on Facebook

Page 5: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

2015

CONTACT US:***NEW ADDRESS***On The Break News

P.O. Box 1566Bozeman, MT 59771Phone 406-285-3099

[email protected]

DEADLINE: 25th of each Month - CALL IF LATE

On Th

e Cove

rPh

oto

by: D

on A

ker

low

COLUMNISTS

12 Tom Simpson

13 Michael Glass

14 Bob Jewett

15 Anthony Beeler

16 C J Wiley

17 Stefano Pelinga

COVER ARTICLE18 Labor Day Shootout

WEEKLY TOURNAMENTS33 Eastern U.S. Weekly Tournaments

34 Eastern U.S. Tournaments

Stroke is a monthly publication, dedicated to the advancement of the sport of pool. The opinions expressed are those of the author or advertiser and do not necessarily reflect the views of On The Break News or its staff. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted for publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced.

Publisher

Do

n “

Ch

eese

” A

ker

low

FEATURES

6 Eastern States Champ

8 GSBT UPS Leagues

9 Corner Pocket Champ

10 Mezz Tour

11 Tri State

19 First Invitee

20 U. S. Juniors

22 Rogers Wins

23 Norris Repeats

24 Corr Elevates

25 Gate City 9-Ball Hollinsworth & Tickle

26 Ko KO’s SVB

27 Predator Tour

OctoberPL ACES PEOPLE PL AYAmy’s Billiards Stuart, FL 22Bison Billiards Williamsville, NY 10Chandley’s Chalk & Cue Statesville, NC 7Corner Pocket Billiards Martins Ferry, OH 9Crooked Cue Clearwater, FL 29Diamond 8 Latham, NY 28Gotham City Billiards Brooklyn, NY 11Gradys Lexington, SC 28Lucky 7 Billiards Hollywood, FL 20Michael’s Billiards Fairfield, OH 29Premium Billiards Syracuse, NY 10Sandcastle Billiards Edison, NJ 11South Florida BCAPL Davie, FL 22Steinway Billiards Astoria, NY 29Union Station Billiards Portland, ME 20UPA Broward County Florida 8Zingale’s Talahassee, FL 28

BILLIARD SUPPLIES Aramith Libertyville, IL 3CueStix International Lafayette, CO 36McDermott Menomonee Falls, WI 2Mueller Lincoln, NE 19Simonis Libertyville, IL 3Tiger Products Burbank, CA 4Valhalla Middleton, WI 21Viking Cue Middleton, WI 35

INSTRUCTION/SERVICES Anthony Beeler 15Bob Jewett 14Michael Glass 13National Billiard Academy 12C J Wiley 16Stefano Pelinga 17Subscription 32

POOL TOURNAMENTS Tournament Trail 34Weekly Tournaments 33

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 5

We want a photo of the winner from your pool tournament email

[email protected]

Serving Pool Players in the U.S.A. all 50 States and Online Worldwide

STROKEThe Pool Players Magazine

© 2015 Stroke Pool Magazine

Page 6: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

6 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

Eastern States Championship at Snookers

PROVIDENCE, RI On Labor Day weekend, to a growing list of 2015 victories that has included two Turning Stone events (XXIII, XXIV), the Ginky Memorial, two events on the Predator Tour, a Joss Tour win and a challenge match versus Corey Deuel, Jayson Shaw added a win in the Eastern States Championships, held under the auspices of the Predator Tour, the New England 9-Ball series and the Ride the 9 Tour. The $2,000-added Open/Pro event of the championships drew 27 entrants to Snooker’s in Providence, RI. A concurrently-run, $1,000-added Amateur championship drew 98. Shaw’s journey to the winners’ circle took a little left hand turn in the battle for the hot seat against Nelson Oliviera, and he was forced to play a loss-side opponent in the semifinals - Sylvain Grenier - who’d won seven on the loss side to reach those semifinals. He took both circumstances in stride to claim the victory. He’d sent Jorge Rodriguez to the loss side in a winners’ side semifinal 8-2, while Oliviera sent Tony Robles over 8-5. Oliviera claimed the hot seat 8-6. On the loss side, it was Rodriguez who had the misfortune of running into Grenier, who was five wins into his seven-match, loss-side streak, that had included wins over Brent Boemmels 8-2 and Tom D’Alfonso 8-6. Robles picked up Kevin Guimond, who’d gotten by Peter Bowman 8-4 and Rick Sleeper 8-6 to reach

him. Grenier downed Rodriguez and Guimond eliminated Robles, both 8-6. Grenier then defeated Guimond in the quarterfinals 8-5. Then, he ran into Shaw, who was, to put it mildly, anxious to get back into things for a second shot at Oliviera in the hot seat. Shaw gave up a single rack to Grenier in the semifinals, and put an exclamation point on his event victory by giving up only two to Oliviera in their re-match. Predator Tour Director Tony Robles thanked his fellow TDs from the New England 9-Ball Series (Marc Dionne) and Ride the 9 Tour (Gloria Magnano), as well as Snooker’s owners, Stephen and Regina Goulding and sponsors, Predator Cues, Ozone Billiards, and Delta 13 racks.

RESULTS:

1st $1500 Jayson SHAW (GBR)2nd $1100 Nelson OLIVEIRA (USA)3rd $800 Sylvain GRENIER (USA)4th $500 Kevin GUIMOND (USA)5/6 $200 Jorge RODRIGUEZ (USA) $200 Tony ROBLES (USA)

— Skip Maloney AzBilliards.com Staff Sept 8, 2015

Shaw winS

Page 7: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

Chandleys Chalk and Cue1415 Wilkesboro HwyStatesville NC 28625

980-635-1109

Largest Diamond table room in the world61 Tables

36 Diamond 7 footers new - 16 Diamond 9 footers new - 1 Diamond 10 foot Bigfoot table newDiamond Lights - 8 Valley bar boxes

Over 30,000 sq ft room with beautiful 100 linear foot granite full bar and restaurant.Large parking lot

Open: 10am - 2am Monday thru Thursday and 24 hours on the weekend

RUNNING LATE CALL AHEAD!As usual- Great Food and Full Bar on hand!

• $60 ENTRY• AUCTION STARTS AT NOON• RACE TO 7 BOTH SIDES–DOUBLE

ELIMINATION• PLAY ON 7 FOOT DIAMOND BAR TABLES• FINAL ONE RACE TO 11• LAG FOR FIRST BREAK• ALTERNATE BREAKS THEREAFTER• RACK YOUR OWN• 2 BALL GOES IN BACK OF THE RACK• 9BALL DOESN’T COUNT ON BREAK IN

BOTTOM 2 POCKETS• NO 3 FOUL RULE• TOP FEMALE PLAYER GETS ENTRY BACK

*3MIN MUST PLAY• ANY CLOSE HITS WITHOUT A REFEREE GOES

TO THE SHOOTER• TOURNEY PAYS MIN 6PLACES• AUCTION PLACES DETERMINED BY AMOUNT

ADDED

HALLOWEEN 9BALL OPEN $1,000 ADDED!

SAT OCTOBER 31ST & SUN NOVEMBER 1ST

Page 8: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

8 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

3 and 5 person teamsShort sessionsSmall divisionsCash prize every session for 1st. and 2nd place Check us out @ UPABroward.comFREE Special Marketing Program for Bars andFREE Special Marketing Program for Bars andPool Halls in Broward County Florida

For more complete information pls. write to [email protected] benefits are offer by UPA Broward L.O

chris MITCHELL Corner Pocket Champ for September Skip Maloney - AzBilliards.com Staff Sept 16, 2015

Matt Collins had gotten as close as third in his attempts to win a stop on the Great Southern Billiard Tour. Returning to the site of that third-place, April 2014 finish, Shore Thing Billiards in Myrtle Beach, SC, Collins took a short, loss-side route to the winners' circle; losing the hot seat match, and returning from the semifinals to double dip hot seat occupant, Wendell Thompkins, a veteran GSBT competitor with a few victory notches on his GSBT belt. The $600-added event drew 27 entrants to Shore Thing Billiards on the weekend of September 5-6.

Collins earned his spot in the hot seat match with a 6-4 win over Scott Crane. Thompkins had defeated B.J. Hucks 8-4 to join him. Thompkins claimed the hot

seat 8-4, and waited on Collins' fateful return.

On the loss side, Hucks drew David Tootle, who'd defeated Phillip Britt 6-6 (Britt, racing to 9) and Tony DeGuzman 6-2, to reach him. Crane picked up Gatlin Askins, who'd eliminated Zach Baker 8-2 and Melody Duval 8-1. With Askins racing to 8, Crane defeated him 5-7, as Tootle downed Hucks 6-4.

Collins Thompkins

Shannon Daulton, Matt Collins and Wendell Thompkins

double dips

Crane then came out on the right side of a double hill quarterfinal against Tootle. He came out on the wrong side of subsequent double hill semifinal versus Collins, who got a second shot at Thompkins in the hot seat. Collins locked up in his second straight double hill match and won it to force a second set. They came within a game of another double hill match, but with Thompkins racing to 8, Collins completed his first GSBT victory with a 6-6 win in the second set.

1 COLLINS Matt 5002 THOMPKINS Wendell 3003 CRANE Scott 2004 TOOTLE David 1005 HUCKS BJ 755 ASKINS Gatlin 757 DE GUZMAN Tony 507 DUVAL Melody 50

results

Page 9: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 9

High Lady - Shannon Dunn

3rd - Cumbo

L-R: Tom Purich, Chris Mitchell

Results & Payouts

1) Chris Mitchell $14502) Tom Purich $9253) Cumbo $5254) Rob Krull $3005) Steve Helline $606) Bill McCullim $60

Next Huge event is the WOMEN’s 8-BALL Challenge Oct 10th!

Corner Pocket Billiards Club, out of Martins Ferry, Ohio, had their Monthly Event Sponsored by S & S Motorsports on Saturday Sept 19th! 36 players came out for the $500 added 9-Ball event. The top 4 auction

players battled it out with many local and out of state players, with 3 of the 4 making it to the semifinal battles! Chris Mitchell beat Rob Krull hill hill 7-6 while Tom Purich Beat Steve Helline 7-5. Chris Mitchell then won the hot seat after a big start up 4-0 only to see Tom Purich tie it 4-4. It only took 2 small mistakes for Chris to win 7-5. The talk of the night was local player Mike Cumberledge coming through the loser bracket after a second round hill/hill loss to Jeff Finnicum who placed in last month’s event. Cumbo ran off 6 straight wins with the last 4 being hill/hill matches. He got through Willy Sanchez, Curtis Walker, Shane Jackson, Steve Helline, and Rob Krull to meet Tom Purich for a spot in the final! He was up 4-0 this time only to see the fatigue setting in as Tom took advantage of one last mistake to seal the chance to the final. After a battle to 4-4 both players decided to split the money and take the long drive home.

chris MITCHELL Corner Pocket Champ for September

CORNER POCKET BILLIARDS CLUB56731 Colerain Pike

Martins Ferry, Oh 43935740-738-0357

New Location

WEEKLY TOURNAMENTSTues: Straight 8-Ball $8 entryFri: Hcp 8-Ball $15 entrySat: Chip Tourney $15 entry

Page 10: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

10 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

Bar Box 8-Ball 1st Saturday of the Month

$35 entry includes green fee - Double Elimination - Race to 3Doors open Noon - Calcutta 2pm - Starts 2:30pm

AddedMoney

premium-billiards.com

Maz

on T

akes Down Magic 8 Cue Club Mezz Tour Sto

p

Picture from left: 2nd Mike Davis, 1st Jundel Mazon, 3rd Brandon Shuf with Owner Trevor Dentz

Sept 20, 2015Mezz Pro-Am made its way to Magic 8 Cue Club in Cockeysville MD. A strong field came out to play palyers like: Jundel Mazon, Mike Davis, Brandon Shuff, Steve Fleming, Shaun Wilkie, Matt Krah and Nicole Fleming to name a few.Leading the top of the bracket was Mike Davis with wins over Tyler Adolini 7-3, Matt Krah 7-6, David Hennessy 7-4 and Brandon Shuff 7-6. Leading the bottom half of the bracket was Jundel Mazon with wins over Kevin Gilbert 7-0, Lee Kang 7-5 and Michael Wong 7-4.Playing for the hot seat was Mike Davis Vs Jundel Mazon this was a good match that had Mike Davis pulling away late in the match to win 7-5 sending Jundel Mazon to the one lost side. Waiting for Jundel on the one lost side was Brandon Shuffthis match was one side as Jundel Mazon shuts out Brandon Shuff 7-0 to get to the finals.In the finals it was Mike Davis Vs Jundel Mazon, first set the race was to 7 the second set is one game sudden death. In the first set it was all Jundel Mazon as

he won easily 7-2 to force a one game sudden death decider. This was a great game with both players having their chances. But, in the end, it was Jundel Maxon winning the game and the Mezz Pro-Am event. I would like to thank all the players that came out to play as well as sponsors Mezz Cues, Gamblin Clothing, Kamui Chalk & Tips, JD Custom Cues, Allen Hopkins Super Billiards Expo, John Barton, JB Cases, Jabcues and Things, Billiard Life, Howitzer Break Cues, and Steve Klapp Custom Cues, Billiard Life USA, and Mike Ricciardella.

RESULTS

1st $775 Jundel Mazon2nd $400 Mike Davis3rd $275 Brandon Shuff4th $200 Michael Wong5th/6th $50 TJ Moore, Matt Krahn

Page 11: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 11

RESULTS

Place Player

Points

1st Henri Hernandez

100

2nd Alison Fischer

90

3rd Xavier Romero

80

4th Miguel Laboy

70

5/6 Lidio Ramirez, Michael Aro

60/60

7/8 Judd Parker, Ralph Ramos Jr.

50/100

9-12 Andrew Jacobs, Juan Guzman

40/40

Jessica Lynn Greibsland, Tom Kennedy 40/40

13-16 Amir Uddin, Michael Corona

30/30

Mike Davie, Bob Toomey

60/30

By Alison Fischer

Astoria, NYCongrats to Henri & Xavier! Henri made it to the final twice in three weeks...and won after taking second in the stop at Amsterdam two weeks ago, where I took 4th.

Tri-State Tour Stop #3

September 13, 2015 Steinway Cafe & Billiards

Photo above, L to R: Alison Fischer, Henri Hernandez, Xavier Romero. Photo courtesy of TD Dan Cintron.

Page 12: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

Tom Simpson

Mast

er In

stru

ctor

, Nat

iona

l Bill

iard

Acad

emy,

“Bea

t Peo

ple W

ith a

Stic

k!”

12 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

Tom

Simp

son

One of the things that makes pool challenging is that what the cueball is doing changes during the shot. While the cueball is moving, it’s doing some combination of rolling, spinning, and sliding. Exactly what that combination is changes over the course of the shot, as the ball collides with rails and other balls, and as it slows and eventually comes to a stop.Why is this important? Understanding what exactly the cueball is doing – and when – is critical to developing the shot planning knowledge and shooting finesse you need to play at a high level. If we’re paying attention, and invest our attention in watching & shooting many thousands of shots, we gradually get a sense for cueball behavior, and what we see happening on the table begins to be what we expect. However, if we have clear knowledge of how things actually work, we can “get it” much more quickly.Let’s focus on the much misunderstood Stun Shot. Many instructors (myself included) consider the stun shot to be the most important shot in pool. Here’s my definition: A stun shot is any shot where the cueball is sliding at the moment of impact. Sliding means skidding – not draw, not forward roll.“Oh, stun is another name for the Stop Shot,” players say. No, the stop shot is a stun shot that happens to be straight in. The key issue is – and this is my main point – what matters is what the cueball is doing at the moment of impact. Let me say it another way: What matters is not how you hit the ball (draw, center, follow, whatever). What matters is what it’s doing at the Moment of Impact. How do we control that?Continuing with the example of a stop shot, imagine two straight-in shots, one with the CB and OB a foot apart, and the other with the balls four feet apart. A lot of instructional material will tell you to ‘Hit center ball.’ Maybe, for the longer shot, they will tell you to ‘Hit center ball, firmly.’ While this might work if your stroke and idea of “firm” is the same as theirs, it doesn’t reflect what really matters – Moment of Impact. Instead, if you clearly understand that your job on

a stop shot (and all stun shots) is to deliver that CB to its target without any forward or backward spin, you

can deal with it more effectively. In our example shots, for the short one, you can actually use center ball because, unless you hit it really softly, the CB will not have time to start rolling before it hits the OB. In other words, it will be skidding at the Moment of Impact. For the longer shot, you actually have to hit below center (draw) because as the ball travels toward its target, friction with the cloth gradually wears off the backspin. The general requirement for any Stun Shot is that you have to shoot at a speed and with an amount of backspin that results in the backspin wearing off just at the Moment of Impact.There is a range of ways to accomplish this. Cueball speed and draw combine to determine what the CB will be doing at any moment in its travel – spinning backwards, skidding, or rolling. You can shoot a Drag Shot, which is maximum backspin and low speed. You can shoot a Clobber Shot, which is center ball and high speed. You can shoot any appropriate combination of speed and backspin in between. If it’s not a straight-in shot, the speed will determine how far the CB moves after impact. Weigh the trade-offs and shoot whichever combination fits your purposes and your skill.So why is the Stun Shot so important? It’s the only shot in pool where we know for certain the direction the cueball will take after it strikes an object ball. If the CB is sliding at the Moment of Impact, it will run down the Stun Line (sometimes called the Tangent Line) every time, regardless of speed. The Stun Line is the line that’s perpendicular (90 degrees) to the line through the centers of the two balls at impact. This is the key to position play. We know where stun shots will go, and if we want to adjust to make the CB go forward or back relative to the Stun Line, we can accomplish that with draw or follow – at the Moment of Impact.So, when someone tells you to use Center Ball, they probably mean Stun, but it’s hard to be certain. Consider the result you want. Consider what the cueball must be doing at the Moment of Impact to accomplish that result. Decide how you are going to make that happen and hit accordingly. Have I said “Moment of Impact” enough times?

THE MYTH OF CENTER BALLTom Simpson © Janurary 2002 – All Rights Reserved – PoolClinics.com

Page 13: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

TABLE TALK

Michael K GlassMichael Glass has been teaching pool for close to 10 years. He is a Recognized PBIA Billiards Instructor, taught by none other than Bob Jewett of the San Francisco Billiard Academy. Michael has been playing pool almost all of his life (except when he was in the Navy — it’s hard to install a pool table on a rocking ship!). He managed to stay away from the hustler life; he doesn’t believe in being dishonest in order to win money. He will, however, occasionally play for a beer or two at the local watering hole. Michael teaches all levels of pool players, from beginner to pro, and works on all aspects of the game, from fundamentals, to pattern play, to trick shots. He can be found playing in his home town of San Ramon, CA at Crown Billiards. Visit his website at billiardsprofessor.com for pool tips or to schedule a lesson!

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 13

I am a very lucky man. My gal is very supportive of my love of pool, and goes with me to every tournament, and every league night. She keeps track of my pool lesson appointments for me, and even gets on me to make sure I get my articles submitted on time every month.Before we met, she knew nothing about pool, and had no desire to play or watch it. Since we have been together, she has learned to love pool. She gets most excited about 9-ball. In her words, she loves to see the ball “zooming around the able” to get into position for the next shot.She also enjoys 8-ball, but I strongly suspect that is because I play 8-ball in a local BCA league, and she loves socializing with our friends at the local pool hall (Crown Billiards in San Ramon, California).Pool takes up a lot of our free time, and she’s pretty gracious about it, for the most part. Often, I will tell her about a tournament I want to play in, and she’ll tell me OK, and put it on the calendar.Unless it’s One-Pocket. She hates One-Pocket.I am sure most of you are familiar with One-Pocket. If not, head on over to onepocket.org for a detailed description of the game. Essentially, you and your opponent battle it out to be the first person to pocket eight balls in your assigned pocket. A simple premise, to be sure, but the nuances involved are very deep, and take a very long time to master.One-Pocket is a very different animal from most other pool games. There is a lot of maneuvering and safety play, and very little actual shot-making. I think that is where her boredom comes from: “I want to see balls go in the pocket!” If you are in the same camp, and really don’t see the appeal of the game, I invite you to watch a match or two. You can find some good matches on YouTube by searching for “One-Pocket.” Find a match with Scott Frost, and pay attention to the following:Do not leave a clear shot for your opponent. Most of the time, you’ll want to leave the cue ball near your opponent’s pocket. In doing so, you are forcing him to shoot away from his pocket, making it very difficult for him to score a pot. Of course, you also want to make sure that you don’t leave a relatively easy bank shot for him, either.You don’t always need to leave the cue ball near his pocket. If you tie the cue ball up with other balls, you can not only leave him a difficult shot on his own pocket, you might make it difficult for him to play safe on you. In most games, there is a cluster of balls near the foot spot, called the

“stack.” If you put the cue ball next to the stack on his side of the table, he will have tremendous difficulty getting the upper hand on you.

Positioning balls near your pocket. One of the keys to doing well in this game is to ensure that you have some easy “ducks”

sitting in front of your pocket, ready to be potted. The more you have sitting there, the more pressure it puts

on your opponent, because if he misses a shot, you are going to be able to earn some points, and possibly even run out!If you leave a ball on the long rail and one on the short rail, your opponent will have a difficult time leaving the cue ball in a position where you cannot put one of them in your pocket. But don’t just leave a bunch of balls near your pocket. Make sure they are in position for easy pots. If you tie some of them up, you might hinder your chances of making easy shots.Remove balls from near your opponent’s pocket. This is really a corollary to the previous point. In fact, the game really boils down to these two things: remove balls from your opponent’s pocket, and reposition them near your own. This is where some of the “wow” factor can come in. If you realize that a player is attempting to remove balls from his opponent’s side, and his shot ends up clearing 4 or 5 balls away, only to leave them near his own pocket, you have to recognize the tremendous skill that takes. Seriously, watch Scott Frost’s matches. He does this on a regular basis. He’s a beast!Don’t just blast those balls away, and put them on your side, though. It’s not enough to put balls near your pocket; you must also protect them. Leave the cue ball in a position that a) leaves no shot on your opponent’s pocket, and b) is hidden from your ducks by other ball(s). The stack is very useful for this!One-Pocket has often been compared to chess. While chess obviously requires much more strategy, the analogy still holds up. Often, you will move your pieces around, building up a strong defense around your king, while simultaneously forming a strong attack. Don’t approach One-Pocket with the intention of potting 8 balls. A game can last over an hour, and with that perspective, it’s VERY boring. Instead, approach it like a battle, and position your “men” in the best spots to give yourself the overall advantage.As a spectator, don’t watch for the players to pot balls. Instead, watch how they maneuver the balls around the table, and pay particular attention to their cue ball control. 95% of the time, they are focused mainly on putting the cue ball in the PERFECT position.It takes tremendous skill, and some of the best players are masters at their craft.If you would like to share some of your success stories (or even the failures), or have suggestions for future articles, please feel free to drop me a line at [email protected]. I can also be found hanging out with fellow billiards enthusiasts at reddit.com/r/billiards. Come on by and join the discussion!

LEARNING TO LOVE ONE POCKETLove it or hate it, it’s a very challenging game

Page 14: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

Bob

Jew

ett

Bob Jewett

San Francisco Billiard Academywww.sfbilliards.com

PBIA certified instruction is available for all levels from beginners to instructor training.

14 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

I’m a big believer in fundamentals. I think that if your mechanics (basic motions of your stroke) are simple and repeatable, the game will be easier for you and your improvement will be a lot faster for however much time you put in to develop your game. I have several problems with my own fundamentals. When I was starting to play, there was almost no pool instruction. Those starting to play today don’t have that problem -- there is plenty of pool instruction around.Very good indicators of the state of your own fundamentals are shots that can be played without sidespin and are straight in. To play such a shot all you have to do is set your cue stick up along the line through the centers of the two balls and the center of the pocket and then bring the cue stick straight forward through the cue ball. Simple.Well, not really so simple. Most players find this very hard to do perfectly. Either they line up at an angle to the correct line or their cue swerves during the shot or the cue stick is parallel to the right line but offset to one side or the other. There are various causes for these problems, but let’s first check whether you have a problem.Set up Shot 1 as a perfectly straight shot into the side pocket. You will be doing this shot for a while so to make it easy to repeat the correct setup precisely, there are some learning tools you can use. The best is to mark a line on the cloth between the centers of the two pockets. If you use a tailor’s chalk to do this it will be easy to remove the line later. Add two paper reinforcement donuts for the positions of the two balls. If you can’t mark the table -- maybe the owner is overly protective-- just use the donuts with a third donut exactly in line with the others and close to the left side pocket.Note that I have shown a striped ball as the cue ball. This is so you can see whether you have side spin on the ball. A training cue ball is best, but a stripe will work.The goal is to make the shot in the side with draw and bring the cue ball straight back to the other side to scratch. A secondary goal -- and a main point of the drill -- is to do this without any side spin so you know your hitting the cue ball in the center. If you have a line drawn on the table, it can be used to check your cue alignment. When you are down on the shot and think you have the line right, before you pull the trigger look down and see if the cue stick

follows the line. If you don’t have a line, check your cue stick versus the third donut.

As the striped cue ball draws back, the stripe should be rolling like a tire and not wobbling or slanted.

Spend at least 10 to 15 minutes on the shot. Set a goal such as three consecutive shots with a scratch and no significant side spin.Shot 2 is a similar shot with follow. The goal is to make the cue ball scratch in the same pocket as the object ball. As shown the shot may be too long for your current skill level, so make it shorter until you can do three in a row with minimum wobble of the cue ball.A last tip to check your centering: as you make your last stroke, fix your eyes on the ferrule/tip of your cue stick. Does it go straight through the center of the cue ball and finish straight ahead?

FINDING THE CENTER

REJ

1

2

Shot 1Draw to scratch

Shot 2

Follow to scratch

Page 15: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

Anthony Beeler is a 2013 BCA National 9-Ball team champion. He also finished 9th out of 1086 players in the 2013 BCA National 8-Ball Championships. He is a certified Level 3 instructor for the American CueSports Alliance and is the founder of Maximize Your Potential Billiards Academy located in Bradfordsville, Kentucky. Beeler is also a fully licensed Kentucky Educator having, received his bachelor’s degree at Campbellsville University and his master’s degree in Education Leadership at Eastern Kentucky University. Throughout his pool-playing career Anthony has won over 300 tournaments and has defeated numerous professional players in tournament competition.

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 15

Bill “Weenie Beenie” Staton once said, “Pool is 70 percent mental.” Over the years, you have probably made enough poor decisions to believe this is true. Why, then, do we associate our playing ability with physical skill? Honestly, some players are more definable by the way they think than by the way they

stroke the cue ball.Take the big breaker who crushes the rack but throws a temper tantrum every time he scratches: Yes, he’s got

a powerful stroke, but before long his emotions are completely out of control. Next, consider his polar opposite, the guy who strikes the one nice and solid with a firm speed: He has roughly half the physical talents of the big breaker, but he knows his limitations and plays within them. Physical abilities only create potential in pool; it’s application that makes the difference.So why are some pool players measured by their physical talents? It’s because their physical abilities are far more visible than their mental ones. You never hear someone say, “It was the right decision to play safe from there,” or “You never shoot until you are ready.” These factors get little recognition, yet they often pave the way to success, sometimes having a greater effect on a shot’s outcome than the stroke itself.In fact, by thinking positively, you may be able to

immediately play a stronger, more effective game of pool. One thing is certain: Without a strong mental game, you will never reach your true potential as a player. No doubt, it’s hard to play “in the moment” and stay focused. In pool, there is a natural tendency to look ahead or dwell on shots you’ve missed. If you have trouble putting mistakes behind you, it’s probably time to take a hard look at yourself. Many players are

shocked by the errors they make; for instance, they may miss a shot and let their negative emotions consume them for five games. If this sounds like you, look at your past. If history shows that you occasionally miss a ball, then don’t blow up when it happens. For many players, the game consumes their life. It’s what they do in their free time, what they read about and watch on the Internet, what they dream about at night when they go to sleep. Take a moment to ask yourself the following questions: Does a bad tournament ruin your day? Does your last match affect your relationships with family and friends? These could all be serious indicators that pool controls your life. If this is the case, I suggest for you to take a short break. Sometimes, getting away from the game can give you a fresh perspective.On the other hand, maybe your perspective is fine, but when you play, you try to be like someone you’re not. For instance, you may want to shoot like Earl Strickland, pocketing ball after ball at a blistering pace. But if your personality is more conservative, shooting fast can throw your game out of balance. The key is for you to be honest with yourself. Figure out what your game should look like, and play within your limitations. Moreover, you must understand that your limitations are based upon your individual ability and your pool game has to fit with your God-given talents. Every match you play has its ups and downs, whether it be pocketing an impossible bank shot or playing a safety that comes back to haunt you. This sets the stage for bumpy road, which can completely take you out of your game.By reading and understanding this monthly column, you can learn to get away from negativity and play pool with a positive outlook. You can also learn to improve your game by benefitting from your nervous energy. Above all, you will learn that a positive mind will figure out a way to win, while a negative mind looks for all the reasons that you can’t. Don’t limit yourself with negative thinking. Be unstoppable…even from yourself!

KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS!

Page 16: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

16 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

On The Road with ... C J Wileyhttp://www.cjwiley.com

He hustled pool for a while and made a living, then turned pro and made a killing. Clearly, Dallas’ CJ Wiley is on the ball.By Michael P. Geffner

DVD LIST:Million Dollar Challenge Package of Three1) ‘Billiard’s Greatest Shot’ Documentary

2) PCA’s 2nd Tour Stop at the Hollywood Park Casino - Semi Finals between David Matlock and Oliver Ortmann and Finals between Matlock and Allen Hopkins.

3) PCA Million Dollar Challenge Semis with Earl Strickland vs CJ Wiley and Finals with Earl Strickland vs CJ Wiley (highlights from CJ Wiley vs Paul Potier).

Million Dollar Challenge ‘Billiard’s Greatest Shot’ DocumentarySemi-Finals & Finals Million Dollar ChallengeSemi-Finals & Finals PCA on TV at Hollywood Park

CJ Wiley’s Master Collection8 Videos on 6 DVDs$99.95 $49.95Order online atwww.cjwiley.com

There is a transition time with every player, it’s just a matter of how abbreviated it is. We call this “The Gathering of the Shot”....and players like Buddy Hall do it beautifully - this is one of the reasons he was known to have the best cue ball control in history. It requires energy to take the cue back and it takes more energy to redirect the cue. Mentally (usually sub consciously) there’s a calculation that must take place to equate the forward movement of the cue with the speed and length of the shot. I like to practice exaggerating this technique so that there’s a distinct forward motion of the cue......after all, we never hit the cue ball with our back-swing, it’s just used to coil the cue back before the moment of release - or they say “the moment of highest tension”. There is one school of thought that the follow through doesn’t matter because the cue ball is already gone. This may be true in one respect, especially if you just look at the stroke mechanically. However, from my experience it’s vital to control the after contact movement of the cue ball WITH the length of the follow through. This is what gives the player that high degree of touch and feel for the game that’s essential for top

notch performance under pressure......when you are in that “do or die” situation. When I want the “after contact” movement of the cue ball to be exaggerated I exaggerate the follow through, when I want the “after contact” movement to be compat, then I compact my follow through.....even if I want the cue ball to jump slightly I’ll use a “staccato type” follow through that creates that movement.If I didn’t have a very good understanding of how the cue moves FORWARD from the top of the back-swing I would not be able to play at the champion’s level of performance. Whether a player is aware of it or not the follow through must connect to the “after contact” reaction of the cue ball....or you’ll always be playing a “guessing game,” and it really shows up under the pressure of a high dollar match or tournament.The cue ball’s reaction, at the highest level is a reflection of what the cue is doing......the more you can calibrate the cue’s motion to coincide with the cue ball’s “after contact” reaction the better off you will be.......this is one of the essential “differences that make a difference” in winning or just coming close. ‘The Inner Game is the Teacher’

‘THE GATHERING OF THE SHOT IN POCKET BILLIARD’

11/7/2013

Page 17: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 17

Stefano Pelinga (born 1964) hails from Rome, Italy, where he has served since 1985 as a police officer for the Italian government (Polizia di Stato), until his retirement in 2011. He began to play pool at the age of 12, drawing inspiration from his favorite singer and actor, Dean Martin.Stefano, currently a 5-time World Champion in Pool Trick Shots, won several titles in Italy in straight pool and nine-ball throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. In 1990, he devoted himself entirely to “Artistic Pool,” commonly referred to in its practice as “Trick Shots.”Due to his outstanding achievements, Stefano is recognized worldwide as one of the greatest Trick Shot champions in the history of the sport, and has earned a spot in ESPN’s Trick Shot Magic Hall of Fame.Most importantly, on November 17, 2012, Stefano was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. In the presence of approximately 500 VIP guests and many sports stars such as Tommy Lasorda, Mike Piazza, Tony Esposito and Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Stefano was awarded this honor, becoming a member of this group of legendary Italian Americans.

STEFANO PELINGA stefanopelinga.com

THE MARVELLOUS TOP SPIN

A

I personally like to use top spin a lot. So should any pool player since it is simply an enhancement of a ball’s natural forward roll. “Top spin” or “Follow” should be preferred to any other option in order to play position as it makes it easier to control the speed. The trajectory of the cue ball hit with a follow stroke is easier to predict and the billiards players know it well. This month’s trick shot has been around for a long time and it will help you understand the huge potential of follow shots. It is fairly easy, provided you are accurate in delivering the tip of your cue onto the exact spot of the cue ball. Start by placing a ball somewhat centered between the jaws of a corner pocket (in my diagram I used the red ball). Then place a couple of “obstacle balls” perpendicular and frozen to the long rail close to the side pocket (I used two green balls). Finally place the 9-ball by the other corner pocket on the same side of the table and your cue ball close to the short rail behind the dotted middle line. Now your goal is to pocket the red object ball and sink the 9-ball at the same time, to win the game. Aim 3/4 to the right of the red ball using a good amount of top spin on the cue ball. Use a 2.5 speed on a new, sleek cloth and a 3 speed on an old, slow cloth (I remind you that I gauge my shot’s speed/power 1 to 5, 1 being the power necessary to make the cue ball travel one length of the table, and so on). Make sure you keep your cue leveled and use a smooth follow-through. After making the red ball, the cue ball will hit the long rail then, still spinning with forward motion, will curve around the obstacle balls and head towards the 9-ball to pocket it, with or without hitting an extra rail. I also added in my diagram a blue ball to let you know you can use the same principle to win a 9- or 10-ball game, even if the lowest numbered object ball on the table is not by a corner pocket. As far as it is either frozen to the long rail or at no more than a couple balls away from it (1.5 balls on an old cloth), you can still hit it almost full but never thinner than 3/4 of it, with a lot of follow to make the cue ball hug the long rail (in other words bouncing off of it 2-3 times) and you’ll have pretty good chances of pocketing the 9- or the 10-ball provided

it is fairly close to the corner pocket. Another necessary condition though is that the cue ball should be placed quite frontally in regards to the object ball and the long rail, ideally within the “A” area in my diagram. As an important adjustment, keep in mind that by using a little left English (an 11-11:30 hit on the cue ball, like I did), your cue ball will curve more but it will also lose speed more quickly.I like to play aggressively so anytime I have the possibility of closing a game in one shot, I go for it. In my career I did win a few games by using the above mentioned shot, and a few others by slicing the blue ball on its left side using some left English on the cue ball in order to have the cue ball travel 3 rails before making the billiards and pocketing the winning ball. Try both solutions and see which one you feel more confident with.

Page 18: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

Skip Maloney AzBilliards.com Staff

The last time Shaun Wilkie and Matt Krah met in the finals of an event was back in February during the VA State 10-Ball Championships, held under the auspices of the Action Pool Tour (APT). They had met, as well, in the hot seat match of that tournament. Wilkie shut Krah out to grab the hot seat, and survived a double hill battle in the finals to complete his sixth straight win on the APT. At the 4th Annual Labor Weekend 9-Ball Shootout in Cambridge, MD, the two clashed in the hot seat match and finals again. This time, though, Krah survived a double hill hot seat match, only to have Wilkie come back from the semifinals to defeat him in the finals. The $500-added event drew 58 entrants to Great Slates Billiard Cafe in Cambridge.

Wilkie ended up playing 10 more games than Krah, 83 to Krah's 73, and prior to the finals, Krah had the better winning percentage - 72.4% over Wilkie's 70.5%. When it was over, those percentages had shifted (obviously). The addition of six game losses dropped Wilkie's percentage down by two points to 68.6%, but with the addition of nine losses, Krah's dropped by about seven points, down to 65.7%. Together, they recorded a total of five shutouts in 15 matches; two by Wilkie and three by Krah.

Wins over Will Johnson, Coen Bell, Steve Cahal, Jr. and Joe Stem put Wilkie in a winners' side semifinal against Kevin West. Krah had defeated Rick Winpigler, Brandon Welch, John Moody, Sr. (back-to-back shutouts), and Jason Kochenour to meet up with Josh Brothers in the other winners' side semifinal. Wilkie sent West west 7-4, while Krah was sending Brothers over 7-5. The hot seat battle went double hill, eventually sending Wilkie to the semifinals.

Over on the loss side, Joe Wright, having been sent there by Brothers in a winners' side quarterfinal, was working his way back to a re-match in the event quarterfinals. Wright got by , TJ Moore and Kochenour, both 7-4, and picked up West. Brothers drew Rick Winpigler, who'd defeated Joe Stem and Danny Greene, both 7-5. Wright and Brothers advanced to their re-match; Wright 7-5 over West, and Brothers in a shutout over Greene.

Brothers downed Wright a second time in the quarterfinals, by the same score he'd chalked up on the winners' side 7-5. By that same score, Wilkie stopped Brothers' run in the semifinals. Wilkie then claimed the event title with the single race 9-6 victory in the finals.

Shaun Wilkie

Wilkie downs Krah in finals of Labor Day 9-Ball Shootout

results1 WILKIE Shaun 1,0002 KRAH Matt 7503 BROTHERS Josh 5504 WRIGHT Joe 3805 WEST Kevin 2755 WINPIGLER Rick 2757 GREEN Danny 1757 KOCHENOUR Jason 1759 MOORE T.J. 1009 STOTTLEMYER Brett 1009 STEM Joe 1009 SCARLATO Rick 100

18 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

Page 19: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 19

Jayson ShawFirst Invitee

Pat Fleming Sep. 23, 2015EDISON, NJ

A total of six superstars will compete in the 2015 “Make It Happen” 10-Ball Invitational, scheduled for December 17-20, 2015. Three-peat Turning Stone Champion Jayson Shaw was recently invited by Accu-Stats. Four more will be voted in by supporters like you who purchase a “Make It Happen” package. After that, Accu-Stats will invite one more player to fill the field. This will guarantee you a show with six of the best 10-ball players in the world.This is Accu-Stats’ first 10-ball tournament, and the seventh “Make It Happen” event in the popular Aramith/Simonis Arena series. Considering that the six players pay no entry fee, pay no travel expenses, pay no lodging expenses, and will be guaranteed prize money, the “Make It Happen” event is one the players can’t pass up. The chosen six will play in a round-robin format where everybody plays everybody else.The only reason this kind of event has succeeded six times, and will continue to do so, is because of those supporters who purchase the “Make It Happen” package. As always, 100% of the support money goes into the event. Accu-Stats takes nothing! This is a home run for six talented 10-ball specialists.This four day round-robin event will be staged in the Aramith/Simonis Arena at Sandcastle Billiards in Edison, New Jersey. In addition to an all expense paid trip, each player will receive $1,000 for each win and YOU are guaranteed that every match will be of “finals” caliber.Sixteen matches, all races to thirteen, will be played on a regulation 9-Foot Diamond Pro Am Table with Simonis 860 Cloth and Aramith Balls. The best commentators in the business, Bill Incardona, Danny Diliberto, and Kenny Shuman will provide the play by play.To find out more, go to accu-stats.com and see what you’ll get by supporting this event. You may even win $1,000 for yourself. Don’t hesitate and feel free to call me personally at 800-828-0397. Only you can “Make It Happen”.

Page 20: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

20 October 2014 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

272 St John St - Portland, ME 207-899-3693

---- All Day Every Day ----Bud & Bud Light 16 oz Draft - $2

19 Pool Tables(16 - 9’ & 3 coin op)DartsFoosballPing PongArcade GamesPub Style MenuDaily Food SpecialsFull Bar

Every Friday Night 8-Ball at 8pm$8 buy-in - Race to 2

Happy Hour:

Mon - Fri 3 to 7pm

($5 hr pool/table)

Hours: Mon-Fri 3pm to 2am Sat-Sun Noon to 2am

Lucky 7 BilliardsHollywood, FL 954-239-8254

Home of the Pink Table (pinkie)

Smoke Free Environment

4850 South State Road 7

14 Pool Tables - 1 Snooker Table - Weekly Pool TournamentsAPA - TAP - Player Leagues

www.lucky7billiards.com

The following players will proudly represent our country this year:1. Chris Robinson, age 17 (Ventura, CA)2. Joshua Franklin, age 17 (Creve Coeur, IL)3. Zachary Gurganus, age 18 (Marrieta, GA)4. Nickolas Kline, age 17 (Prescott Valley, AZ)5. Manny Perez, age 17 (Kansas City, KS)6. Jacob Watson, age 17 (Tyler TX)7. April Larson, age 15 (Bloomington, MN)8. Emily Herpel, age 15 (Freehold, NY)

9. Hannah Hohn, age 17 (Ethan SD)10. Michelle Jiang, age 15 (Harvard, MA)11. Hailey Fullerton, age 15 (Lake Park, MN)12. Ashley Fullerton, age 14 (Lake Park, MN)13. Nathan Childress, age 14 (N. Chesterfield, VA)14. Kaiden Hunkins, age 13 (Waukesha, WI)15. Lukas Fracasso-Verner, age 15 (Wallingford, CT)16. Daniel Sardoncillo, age 14 (Puyallup, WA)

September 23, 2015 (Denver, CO): The 2015 Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) Junior National 9-Ball Championships qualified 16 billiard student-athletes to represent North America as part of Team USA at the upcoming WPA (World Pool-Billiard Association) Junior 9-Ball Championships. The prestigious annual world event will be held in Shanghai, China November 13-18, 2015.Through the support of the Billiard Congress of America, the BEF continues to

coordinate international travel and participation for this tournament for the past two decades.Fundraisers are being held around the country to support these fine players on their quest for a world title. For more information on the ways you can help them on their journey, contact the BEF office at (303) 926-1039 or [email protected]

16 U.S. Juniors Head to Shanghai

Page 21: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke September 2015 21

Page 22: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

AZBilliards.com staff

Jason Rogers worked his way undefeated through a field of 39 to capture the August 22-23 stop on the Q City 9-Ball Tour. The event was hosted by Breaktime in Cary, NC.

Rogers worked his way into the hot seat, by first defeating Paul Swinson 8-2 in a winners' side semifinal. Steve Page, in the meantime, was busy sending Matt Fralin to the loss side 10-6. With Page racing to 10, Rogers claimed the hot seat 8-8, and waited on Page's return.

On the loss side, Fralin picked up 13-year-old Peter Abatangelo, who'd defeated Andy Bowden 4-3 (Bowden racing to 6), and J. T. Ringgold 4-4 (Ringgold racing to 8). Swinson drew Bobby Clinton, who'd defeated Jason Best and Jackson Jeffrys, both 7-3, to reach him.

Fralin eliminated Abatangelo 7-2, while Clinton and Swinson locked up in a double hill battle that eventually sent Clinton against Fralin in the quarterfinals. Clinton ended up on the losing end of his second straight double hill match, which gave Fralin a second shot against Page in the semifinals.

Page and Fralin also locked up in a double hill fight, which ended with Page heading back for his second shot against Rogers in the hot seat. Rogers defeated Page a second time, by the same score he'd chalked up in the hot seat match - 8-8 - and claimed the event title.

results1 ROGERS Jason 5502 PAGE Steven 3503 FRALIN Matt 2254 CLINTON Bobby 1505 ABATANGELO Peter 1005 SWINSON Paul 100

rogers Wins

22 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

SOUTH FLORIDA BCA POOL LEAGUELeague Operator: Janis Sessions - 305-903-4029 email: [email protected] Play out of Lucky 7 Billiards in Davie, FloridaNIGHTS OF PLAY: Mon - Thurs In-house

Come Join the FUN!

at Break time Billiards

JASON ROGERS

Page 23: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

The Press Box in Charlotte, NC, one of the most beautiful pool rooms in the country, was host of the Charlotte 9-Ball Classic September 12-13, 2015. Tiger SMART kicked off its Fall season in style. Owner, Chris Babilonia and family, again showed utmost hospitality as they continue to add features designed for functionality and aesthetic.

During the players meeting, Tiger SMART members paid homage to Emma Stewart Davis, OB Cues Tour member, with a moment of silence to honor our dear sister in pool who was unexpectedly taken last Wednesday. Our prayers go out to the family.

The field may have been the toughest thus far. Day 1 saw Tiffany Finnan and Kathleen Lawless make it to the final four on the winner’s side with wins over Marianne Merrill 7-5 and Lisa Cossette 7-3 for Tiffany and wins over Caitlin Elie 7-1 and Buffy Jolie 7-2 for Kathleen. Joining Finnan and Lawless in the final four in the winner’s bracket were Belinda Calhoun and Dana Aft with wins over Holly Sholes 7-6 and Teresa Moore 7-0 for Belinda and wins over Cheryl Pritchard 7-4 and Christy Norris 7-4 for Dana. This left two matches which were won by Finnan over Lawless 7-3

Christy Norris

Norris RepeatsAt Charlotte Classic

and Calhoun over Aft 7-4.It would be Norris and Cossette who would make

it back for Sunday with wins over Merrill 7-3; Teresa Moore 7-3; and Kathleen Lawless 7-2 for Christy and wins over Pritchard 7-6; Sholes 7-6; and Dana Aft 7-6 for the trifecta of hill-hill matches for Lisa.

The first round saw Norris defeat Cossette 7-0 leaving Cossette in fourth place. In the hot seat match, Calhoun defeated Finnan 7-3 setting up the semi-final match between Norris and Finnan won by Norris 7-2.

The final is one set, race to 9. Norris got off to a quick start and led 3-0. Calhoun tied it at 3. Racks were exchanged for 4-4. Norris then went in the lead by two 6-4 and Belinda cut it to one 5-6. It was Norris all the way from there for a 9-5 victory and a successful defense of her Charlotte 9-Ball Classic title.

The final in the second chance event final was played by Buffy Jolie and Marianne Merrill. Jolie won 5-1 over Merrill.

1st Christy Norris $310 2nd Belinda Calhoun 2053rd Tiffany Finnan 100 4th Lisa Cossette 60

results

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 23

Congratulations to all the players for such fine performances. Tiger SMARTs next tour stop will be October 24-25 in Hickory, NC at Randolph’s Billiards.

Many thanks to The Press Box, Tiger Products, Simonis Cloth, Aramith Balls, Ozone Billiards, and Quick-Clean for your continued support and for allowing Tiger SMART to grow.

Who is Christy Norris?• Spouse- Charlie Norris (Married 21 years)• Children - One son at Nascar Technical Institute in

Mooresville, NC and two daughters in high school; All three play pool.

• Occupation- Pool player working as a Certified Pharmacy Technician at Medicine Mart in Tabor City, NC to pay the bills.

• Practices at Corner Pocket Billiards & Entertainment in Whiteville, NC and at home.

• Loves a good ring game. My motto is “The more the merrier.”

• Currently giving lessons at home to Ethan Edwards.• Looking for a sponsor. (Where’s Waldo?)• Successfully defended my NC Classic title in

Greensboro at Gate City Billiards and my Charlotte Classic title at The Press Box. I have won 4 of the last 7 tournaments on the Tiger Smart Tour.

• Inside my case- a 25 year old Joss Custom and a Player Jump/Break Cue.

• Goals- Being successful on the WPBA tour. I don’t want to be like “Mike,” i want to be like Efren!

• Hobbies- Pool, pool, and more pool! Did I also mention pool?

• Resume- Good work ethic, fairly organized, can draw the cue ball the length of the table, jumps like a jack rabbit, and kicks like a mule! Plays strong safes and actually likes long shots. (This resume has never helped me to land a great job. The reason alludes me!)

• I would like to be able to play pool for a living. How great would it be to do what you love everyday for the rest of your life? Dare to dream.

Photo courtesy of: Teresa Moore

BELINDA CALHOUN, LISA COSSETTE , MICHELLE JEFFERSON, CHRISTY NORRIS

Page 24: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

Corr Elevates Her Game

Reporting that Karen Corr has won a stop on the J. Pechauer Northeast Women’s Tour is getting to be a little like informing people that the sun came up. On the weekend of September 19-20, Corr not only won her eighth straight stop on the tour, she did so by giving up only two racks in 44 games. She shut out four of her opponents, one of whom, runner-up Nicole Monaco, was also one of the two players who chalked up a single rack against her (Carol Clark, second round, was the other). The $1,000-added ($500-added by Coins of the Realm) event drew 27 entrants to the Top Hat Cue Club in Parkville, MD. Two shutouts and the middle 7-1 win over Clark put Corr in a winners’ side semifinal against Kia Sidbury. Monaco and Meredith Lynch squared off in the other one. Corr chalked up her third shutout, versus Sidbury, and in the battle for the hot seat, faced Monaco, who’d sent Lynch to the loss side 7-4. Corr gave up her second and last rack of the tournament defeating Monaco to claim the hot seat. Over on the loss side, where a total of 24 matches were played, only two of those resulted in either a shutout or 7-1 score. Sidbury came over and met up with Borana Andoni, who’d chalked up the loss side’s only 7-1 victory, over Eugenia Gyftopoulos, and defeated Judie Wilson and Nicole King, both 7-2. Lynch drew Kim Whitman, recent winner over Jacki Duggan and Dawn Fox, both 7-4. Lynch and Andoni advanced to the quarterfinals; Lynch 7-3 over Whitman, and Andoni 7-2 over Whitman. Lynch downed Andoni 7-4 in the quarterfinals, providing her the opportunity to meet the opponent who’d sent her to the loss side, Monaco, in the semifinals. Monaco defeated her a second time 7-4 and got a second shot at Corr. Corr shut her out to claim her eighth straight JPNEWT title.

Results 1 $700 Karen Corr 2 $350 Nicole Monaco 3 $280 Meredith Lynch 4 $130 Borana Andoni 5/6 $100 Kim Whitman, Kia Sidbury 7/8 $70 Nicole King, Dawn Fox 9-12 $50 Kathy Friend, Jackie Duggan Judie Wilson, Boye Lu

Skip Maloney AzBilliards.com Staff Sept 22, 2015

(L TO R) BORANA ANDONI, KIA SIDBURY, KAREN CORR, KIM WHITMAN, DAWN FOX, MEREDITH LYNCH, NICOLE MONACO, NICOLE KING

24 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

Skip Maloney AzBilliards.com Staff

Page 25: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

September 15 at 2:49pm · GREENSBORO, NC

This past weekend we were at Gate City Billiards Club. Great crowd with a lot of strong players. Big thanks to don liebes for hosting. Always a great event.

Gate City Billiards 9 Ball Tournament

Terry Lawson

1ST TERRY LAWSON2ND DANIEL ‘PAPA JOHN’ ADAMS3RD MIKE MCPHERSON4TH MORGAN SUTHERLAND5-6TH MARK DALTON, JEFF BEAN

RESULTS

Skip Maloney AzBilliards.com Staff

The Q City 9-Ball Tour held a double header weekend; commencing with a Saturday, September 19 event that drew 59 entrants, and concluding with a $300-added event that drew 37, which actually began on Saturday night and finished up on Sunday, September 20. Neither event saw a final match, as all four competitors opted out of a final and split the money. The top prize in both events included qualification for a North Carolina 8-ball Championship, scheduled for November. The events were hosted by Chandler’s Chalk and Cue in Statesville, NC. Ryan Hollinsworth went undefeated in the Saturday opener, and finished in the tie for fifth in the Sunday event. David Tickle, who finished in fourth place on Saturday, was defeated in the hot seat match of Sunday’s event, and returned from the semifinals to face Colin Hall. The match didn’t occur. Tickle and Hall split the top two prizes, and while the undefeated Hall would normally have been declared the winner, Hall deferred to give Tickle the qualification prize to November’s 8-Ball championship.On Saturday, Hollinsworth advanced to a winners’ side semifinal against Matt Shaw, while Terry Ringgold met up with Scott Lewis. With Lewis racing to 10, Ringgold defeated Lewis 4-7, as Hollinsworth was downing Shaw 7-4. Hollinsworth claimed the hot seat, and for all intents and purposes, the event title with his 7-3 win over Ringgold.Lewis and Shaw moved to the loss side and were immediately handed their second straight loss. Lewis fell to David Tickle 8-7. Shaw ran into Brian Bryant,

whom he’d sent to the loss side in an earlier round. Bryant faced and defeated Shaw 8-3 while in the midst of a seven-match, loss-side run that would propel him into the finals. Bryant moved on to defeat Tickle 8-4 in the quarterfinals and punctuated what proved to be his final match by shutting out Ringgold in the semifinals. He and Hollinsworth opted out of the final and split $1,330.On Sunday, Colin Hall and Tickle would have met twice had they opted to play a final match, but they met only once, in the battle for the hot seat. Hall had sent Johnny Walker to the loss side 6-5, as Tickle was defeating Hollinsworth 8-5. Hall claimed the hot seat with a 6-2 win over Tickle.Like Shaw and Lewis in Saturday’s event, Walker and Hollinsworth moved to the loss side and were immediately defeated for the second straight time; Walker, 8-3, by Mike Bumgarner, and Hollinsworth 6-3 by Jamie Fells. Fells eliminated Bumgarner 6-4 in the quarterfinals, but was himself eliminated 8-4 by Tickle in the semifinals. Tickle and Hall split the top two prizes, amounting to $880.The next stop on the Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for Saturday, September 26, will be hosted by Breaktime Billiards in Winston-Salem, NC1 USA HOLLINSWORTH Ryan $8002 USA BRYANT Brian $5503 USA RINGOLD Terry $3754 USA TICKLE David $2505 USA LEWIS Scott $1005 USA SHAW Matt $1007 USA SHELTON Travis $507 USA HAWK Rocky $50

Hollinsworth and Tickle claim double header titles

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 25

Page 26: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

Ko beats SVB in the 2015 World 9 Ball Championship

Ko Pin Yi

Ted LernerWPA Press OfficerSept 18, 2015

Doha, Qatar)--Showing why he is not only one of pool’s most talented performers, but perhaps its most hardcore player as well, Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi captured his first World 9-ball Championship tonight in Doha, trading blows with the USA’s Shane Van Boening for two and a half hours before pulling away in crunch time to win 13-11.

Both players put in gritty, high quality performances, with brilliant shot making under pressure, coupled with just a handful of errors from both superstars. The outcome was in doubt right down to the dramatic end, but it was Ko who seemed to will himself over the finish line for the historic win.

The win is the 26 year old Ko’s second world championship this year, after capturing the 10-ball world title in the Philippines back in February. That victory seven months ago served to fulfill the former teen pool prodigy’s long cherished dream of winning his first world title. Tonight’s win puts Ko in the pantheon of all time pool greats.

For Van Boening the loss in his first ever World 9-ball final has to be a massive disappointment, especially considering that he had literally lapped the field in his prior matches, playing some of the most scintillating 9-ball seen in many years. But the American’s mastery of the break shot came to end against Ko, and he was forced to duke it out with the Taiwanese. Van Boening had more than enough chances to pull out the match, but with the pressure mounting late and the wear and tear taking its toll on both players, Ko had just that little bit extra to get the job done.

Under normal circumstances a match up in the world finals between greats like Ko and Van Boening would be expected to be a tight slugfest from beginning to end. But prior to the final almost nobody in the Al Arabi Sports Club, and the tens of thousands tuning in around the world on the live stream, was giving Ko a chance. That’s because up until that point the American had been in a rarefied zone that few pool fans had ever seen, winning his five previous race to 11 matches by the almost preposterous total score of 55-14. Having figured out the break shot, Van Boening simply couldn’t be stopped and he carried an air of confident invincibility that made him appear untouchable.

The day began with the two semi-finals and the contrast couldn’t have been more different. Playing on the TV table against Pin Yi’s younger brother Ko Ping Chung, Van Boening again hit every break shot perfectly—wing ball down and open shot on the one. He quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead before the 20 year old Ko got one on the board. But then it was straight back to the race track and before anyone knew it the American had won the match 11-1. Van Boening was making 9-ball look like child’s play.

On the adjacent table Ko Pin Yi and former World 9-ball Champion Wu Jia Qing, as expected, put on a show for the ages. Wu had Ko pinned down at 6-2, but Ko clawed his way back to 6-5. Leading 7-6 Wu played an errant safety and Ko got his first tie, and a shot of confidence to boot and he soon went ahead 8-7.The pair then took their games to the next level, trading pressure packed break and runs, safeties and clutch pots. Wu would never lead again as the two Taiwanese were tied at 8, 9 and then 10. Having won the lag, Ko had the last break and broke and ran for a well deserved spot in the finals.

An hour later the race to 13 final began and, based upon thumping Van Boening had given to Ko’s younger brother, and everyone else he had faced this week, almost nobody had picked the Taiwanese to pull off the win. Ko, however, is clearly not ‘everyone else.’

The Taiwanese won the lag and after a safety battle, grabbed the first rack to go up 1-0. Van Boening notched the next rack, and the pair traded frames with each holding serve until the score reached 4-4. But one thing was vastly different for the American in this match compared to all his previous matches. Although he was having some success on the break, he wasn’t nearly as flawless on that break as he had been throughout the week.

Then in rack 9 Ko was the recipient of several lucky rolls that would be the first of nearly a handful that would help propel him forward throughout the match. Ko scratched shooting at the 7-ball but was fortunate that the same ball ended up married to the 8-ball, leaving Van Boening only a difficult bank, which he missed. Ko then missed the subsequent shot, but this time the 7-ball got snookered. Ko eventually took a rack that he had no business winning to move up 5-4.

26 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

Page 27: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

Shane found his break and ran the next rack to tie it at 5-5. Then in the next frame Ko got lucky again. He went for a 2-9 pot, missed, only to see the 9-ball drop in the side for a fluke win and a 6-5 lead.

To his credit Van Boening kept his composure and it served him well. Two break and runs sandwiched around a Ko scratch brought the American his first lead of the match and an 8-6 advantage.

Just as he did against Wu earlier, however, Ko used the deficit as his motivation to stage a fight back. At the same time Van Boening lost his momentum and several mistakes cost him plenty. Ko won two straight to tie the match at 8-8.

Ko looked to be going up 9-8 before a shocking scratch while shooting an easy 8 gifted Van Boening the rack and a 9-8 lead. But then the American gifted one back in the next frame, losing position on the 7 and leaving a jump shot in the jaws. The match was now tied at 9-9 and the world title looked like it was going to come down to a flip of the coin.

With the pressure palpable Ko took back the lead in the next frame. Van Boening pounced on an errant 4-ball and tied it again at 10-10. Ko responded with a break and run. And then Van Boening did the same to tie it at 11-11. Showing incredible moxy, Ko then fired back with yet another break and run. The Taiwanese was one away from the crown.

The final frame served as a metaphor for Van Boening’s one and only match in the tournament where he experienced breaking struggles. With no open shot after the break, the American had to push out. Ko declined the shot and Van Boening’s attempt at the two-ball went astray, leaving an open table for Ko. A battled hardened Ko took his time and picked off the remaining colors and claimed his very first World 9-ball Championship.

After soaking up the accolades and posing with his winner’s trophy and $30,000 check, Ko basked in the quiet satisfaction of a job well done. Yes he had made a few mistakes. Yes he had gotten some lucky rolls. But he had persevered. And that, above all, made this win that much more special.

“When I won the World 10-ball in the Philippines, that was great,” Ko said. “But winning the World 9-ball Championship, this is unbelievable. I’m really happy because before I came to Doha I wasn’t playing that good. But I worked really hard on my game, especially my break shot.

“I definitely didn’t play perfect in the final. But I played really good in the semi-final and of course that is more important because that got me to the final. I was 7-6 behind when Wu made one safety mistake, and after that everything changed.

“In the previous matches I was playing perfect, just like Shane, who is such a great player, a real gentleman. But it’s the final of the World 9-ball championship and

you know so many things can happen. I think we both played good and both made some mistakes. I feel that I got a few lucky rolls to help me win the match. There was a lot of pressure especially from 8-8 on. But at the end of the match I played good and I am happy I was able to stay patient. You just never know in 9-ball. The ball is round and you have to wait until the last 9-ball drops.”

An obviously gutted Van Boening knew he hadn’t played in the same swashbuckling style that had brought him to the finals, especially with the break shot. The American, however, still played a brilliant match. He also took the loss like a man, gave credit where it was due, and promised his fans he’d snap a world title off soon enough.

“He got a lot of fortunate rolls and he got lucky to hook me a couple of times after misses,” Van Boening said. “But I also made a couple of mistakes that I should have never have made. He played great and really didn’t make that many mistakes. I think I made more mistakes than he did and that is what cost me.

“He was breaking good and I was breaking bad. There were more people in here(the Al Arabi Sports Club) which changed the temperature and the break a little bit. I really think that was the difference. My break wasn’t working for me. I was having trouble getting a clear shot to run out. That’s the way the game plays.

“There’s nothing I can do. I’m not that disappointed. It’s an honor to play in the world championship finals. I know I can’t win every tournament. Either way if I win or lose it was fun to play in the finals. I’ll be back.”

**The 2015 WPA World 9-ball Championship was sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association(WPA), the governing body of pool, and promoted and hosted by the Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation(QBSF).

The winner of the 2015 World 9-ball Championship received $30,000. The runner received $15,000. The total prize fund was $200,000.

Shane Van Boening

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 27

Page 28: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

28 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

GRADY’S BILLIARDS

850C South Lake Dr - Lexington, SC803-957-7665

FULL BAR - FOODWEEKLY POOL TOURNAMENTS

LEAGUES - CUE REPAIR

Hours: Mon-Thur: 2pm-2am / Fri-Sat: 1pm-2am / Sun: 6pm-2am

1861 W Tennessee St.Tallahassee, Florida

22 - 9’ pool tables - HD TVs Darts - Liquor - Full Kitchen

10,000 Sq FeetTournaments weekly and monthly

850 224-8644

• Pool Tables • Great Food • • Full-Service Elevated Bar • Drink Specials •

Lottery & Quickdraw • Electronic Darts • • Foosball • Video Games • Pro Shop And More!9 Johnson Road Latham, nY • 518-786-8048

www.diamondeight.com

Mon - Thurs : 5pm - 1am

Fri - Sat: Noon - 2am

Sun: Noon - 1am

On the weekend of September 19-20, the Predator Pro Am Tour headed back to Steinway Billiards in Astoria, NY for its 19th stop of the season. While summer in New York City winds down, the area top amateurs came out in full force for this event—packing the house with 86 top amateurs who competed over the course of both days, along with top area open players for the single-day 10-ball event on Sunday. The amateur 9-ball division would see Irish transplant Stephen Dempsey score his second tour win of the season. At Steinway, which was also the location of his first win at Stop #9, Dempsey started out strong…marking wins over some of New York’s most accomplished amateurs on the scene today. In the upper half of the winner’s bracket (comprised of B+ through A++ ranked players), Dempsey defeated former tour stop winner Miguel Laboy (7-6), 2014 A+ Player of the Year Koka Davladze (7-5), and A++ Player of the Year Raphael Dabreo (7-4). It was then that Stephen Dempsey would be re-routed to the loss bracket by B+ rated player Gene Hunt, in a near-shutout, 7-1. In Hunt’s next battle, he would take on player-on-fire Henry Hernandez. Hernandez, who is new to the tour, had just come away with a Steinway win in the Tri-State Tour on the previous weekend, along with

a runner-up finish at Amsterdam Billiards to start September. Hernandez would continue to stay strong, defeating Gene Hunt 7-5 to put himself into the “hot seat” match. Meeting him there would be the top player to emerge from the B/C/D bracket, longtime tour player Bob Toomey, who punctuated his run through the bracket with a hill-hill win over Abel Rosario, 7-6. However, Toomey would not be able to get past Hernandez, who secured his place in the final by a score of 8-4. Stephen Dempsey, meanwhile, had gotten back to the grind on the loss side of the bracket, where he would earn redemption and a trip to the final. Along the way, he knocked out Juan Guzman (7-1), Elvis Rodriguez (7-4), and got back at Gene Hunt, winning 7-1 to continue through to the quarterfinal. Dempsey would then have a close match against Ambi Estevez. His closest match of the tournament would then be against C player Bob Toomey—as it went all the way to 9-9 before Dempsey sealed his place in the final. The final was then set between Dempsey and Hernandez, who waited in the undefeated position. Hernandez, rated a B+, would get two games spotted on the wire in the modified-race format. With no loss on his record, Hernandez would

Zvi Takes the Open 10-Ball on

Page 29: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 29

11 - 9’ tables (3 - Diamonds)Darts 8 - TV’s

Round Robin Tournaments 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month

$5.00 8-Ball tournament every Wed. at 1:00pm

(727) 539-7665

www.michaelsbilliards.com

Steinway Cafe & Billiards

Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-4am3525 Steinway St. Astoria, NY 11102 (718) 472-2124

9-Ball Tournaments at 8pmEvery Monday & Wednesday

Take Lessons with Earl Stricklandand other World Champions

win if he got to seven first, but if Dempsey reached it first, the race would be extended to nine. Hernandez would put a few games on the board, but the finish line belonged to Dempsey…as he soundly won the match with a final score of 9-5. Running concurrently with the second day of

the amateur event was the Open/Pro 10-Ball division, which featured a short field of New York’s elite names. Despite the fact that he lost his opening match to veteran pro Frankie Hernandez (7-5), it would be Steinway-based pro Zion Zvi of Israel to emerge at the top. After his slow start, Zvi moved on to take out Michael Yednak (7-2) and Mhet Vergara (7-4), before getting his revenge against Frankie Hernandez (7-3) in the quarterfinal. Zvi then faced player who lost the final of the winner’s side of the bracket—Gotham City Billiards house pro Jorge Rodriguez. Rodriguez had earlier success against Michael Yednak and Frankie Hernandez, but was brought down in the “hot seat” match by tour founder and Amsterdam Billiards house pro Tony Robles, 7-6.In the semifinal, Rodriguez would suffer another hard-fought loss, as a 7-6 winning score by Zvi would eliminate him. On the heels of that gritty win, Zvi powered through final—where he rose above Robles with a winning score of 7-4. Zvi took home a $600 prize while Robles took $385 for runner-up. The Predator Pro/Am Tour would like to give special thanks to its sponsors for their support: Predator Cues, The National Amateur Pool League, Delta-13 Billiard

his home turFat steinwaycafe & billiards

By Alison M. Fischer

Rack - The True Triangle, Robert Staskowski of PoolOnTheNet.com, Ron Mason of Gotham City Technologies, and Ozone Billiards.Last but not least my wonderful wife Gail Glazebrook Robles, William Finnegan and Predator Pro/Am Tour Assisitant Director Mandy Wu and also Irene Kim!For more tour information, visit PredatorProAmTour.com

Page 30: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

CONNIE O’HERON, CHRISTY DICKERSON AND REBECCA VENSON

A gorgeous, modern backdrop, European Global 9-footers, and big screen TVs set the stage for MLRT Stop #6 where 18 of the area’s top talents battled at Plush Pocket in Warren, MI. Coming out strong, and making it to the quarter finals were Debbie Cervantes v Connie O’Heron, Trish Vermule v Rebecca Venson, Curtisha Alford v Christy Dickerson, and Angela Mears v Jaki Lovrince. Surprisingly, Rae “Young Gun” Norgaard struggled in the first round, losing to Vermule 4-7. Competitors who also didn’t play their best in the early day were Sherrlyrodaka Latterel, Angela Williams, Lupe Harpster, Shari Ross, Julie Hunter, Adina Pelletier, Janice Kumagai, and Ali Seattle. However, Harpster and Pelletier showed great stamina and skill, blasting through the B-side. Harpster defeated Kelly O’Heron (6-3); Cervantes (6-4), and Williams (6-4) before losing her match against Mears 3-6. Lovrince showed her experience, beating out Norgaard 6-5. Pelletier beat out Kumagai (6-2) and Alford (6-4), but then lost to Lovrince 2-6. On the winner’s side, Christy Dickerson gave nothing away as she barreled through the competition, beating Mears 7-4 and Connie O’Heron 7-1. Rebecca Venson showed up, too, beating Vermule 4-7 in the quarter finals, and put up a valiant fight against O’Heron, who came out on top 7-4.After being defeated in the semi-finals, Venson beat Lovrince 6-2, then ferociously battled Mears, winning the set 6-4, for her chance to get back to O’Heron. The second meeting of these two powerhouses was extraordinary. Subtlety and sheer willfulness beamed from both women, each going tit-for-tat during the semi-finals on the B-side. In the end, tied 5-5, O’Heron made a fatal

error, and Venson swooped in for the kill! The finals match was simply an annihilation. Dickerson hit every stroke perfectly, pocketing each ball dead-center. Venson started strong, but her confidence faltered in the second game, giving the lead 2-1 to Dickerson. Dickerson then broke and ran the next game, only to scratch on the 9, tying the match 2-2. That was the last game Venson got. Dickerson cleaned table after table, Venson only getting up to break on her turn. Each miss by Venson was a victory for Dickerson, who finished the set 7-2, undefeated the entire day!Special thanks go to Kevin Ross for taking action shots! For more of Kevin’s work, find him on flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/k_c_ross/. MLRT Stop #7 will take place on October 17, 2015 at Michael’s Billiards in Fairfield, OH. For more info, see their website at www.midwestladiestour.com and/or contact the tour directors at [email protected].

1 USA DICKERSON Christy 5702 USA VENSON Rebecca 3203 USA O’HERON Connie 1804 CAN MEARS Angela 1005 USA HARPSTER Lupe 555 USA LOVRINCE Jaki 55

30 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

Page 31: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 31

Successful Pool Locations Increase Advertising During Slow Economic Times

Give us a call 406.285.3099

WE CATER TO OUR ADVERTISERS!!!

9 Reasons to Advertise

withSTROKEPOOL MAGAZINE

1. Your Competition Is Likely To Cut Back On Advertising.

2. The Frequent Ads of Successful Locations Become More Visible to the Pool Player.

3. Studies Prove That Pool Locations Advertising during slow times Increase your location’s traffic.

4. Locations That Cut Advertising Will Lose Pool Players. Some Will Even Go Bust.

5. Advertising works over time because it builds name AWARENESS.

6. Advertising works because without it the pool players believe all products, services and locations are the same.

7. When you don’t advertise a pool player quickly forgets your location. And, they don’t know why you are better than your competition.

8. Research has shown that the best-performing locations in the long term are those that continue advertising during an economic slowdown.

9. Your budget may seem tight right now, but the current slowdown may be an ideal opportunity to bring in new pool players and their friends to your location.

Michael Corona victorious at Cue Bar’s Tri-State following his win last week at Amsterdam Billiards & Bar. Michael’s tournament trail included wins over Lidio Ramierez 7 - 5; Gene Ok 7 - 4; Steve Kaminow 7 - 6; and Mike Esposito 7 - 3 for the Hot Seat. While Michael Corona was in the Hot Seat and Mike Esposito awaited another shot to play in the Finals, Tony Ignomirello defeated Nigel Francis 8 - 7 only to fall short against Mike Esposito 6 - 5. During the Finals, Mike Esposito started with a 2 game lead. Michael Corona tied the match at 2 - 2 and never looked back winning 7 - 3. Thank you to Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics and Bloodworth Ball Cleaners for their sponsorship leading to this event.

PAYOUTS1st $630.00 Michael Corona2nd $320.00 Mike Esposito3rd $190.00 Tony Ignomirello4th $120.00 Nigel Francis

Michael Corona Victorious

MICHAEL CORONA

MIKE ESPOSITO TONY IGNOMIRELLO

Page 32: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

12 issues of stRoke PooL magazine foR onLY $30. aLL 3 magazines foR $54.95send check oR moneY oRdeR foR $30 oR $54.95 (u.s. deLiveRY onLY) on the BReak news - P o Box 1566 - Bozeman, mt 59771

name

addRess

citY state ziP

oR caLL 406.285.3099 to oRdeR BY Phone --- cRedit caRds onLY

Subscribe Today!12 Issues of Stroke - 1 year for $30Only

Order online at: http://www.onthebreaknews.com/Subscription.htm - Offer subject to change without notice

Order all 3 Pool Magazines - 1 year for $54.95Only

32 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

Page 33: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

Mondays Astoria, NY Steinway Billiards (718) 472-2124 9-Ball - Handicapped $25 7PM Statesville, NC Chandley’s Chalk & Cue (980) 635-1109 9 Ball on 9’ Diamonds-Hdcp $20 Break & run 7PM Warren, MI Ultimate Sports Bar (586) 751-2222 9 Ball $20 $100 w/32 7PM Warren, MI Hall of Fame (586) 939-8880 Open 9 Ball $10/$20 Call 8PM Dayton, OH Airway (937) 274-1230 Open 9 Ball $5 Call 7PM Hilliard, OH Bankshots (614) 777-0022 9 Ball $10 Call 8PM Akron, OH Crown Billiards (330) 644-3985 Open 9 Ball $8 Call 7:30PMTuesdays Edison, NJ Sandcastle Billiards (732) 632-9277 9-Ball Hdcp/DE/Race to 5/4 $25 Call 7PM Bowling Green, KY Cue Time (270) 782-2740 8 Ball $5 Call 8PM Martins Ferry, OH Corner Pocket (740) 738-0357 Straight 8-Ball $8 Call Call Wednesdays Tallahassee, FL Zingales (850) 224-8644 9-Ball Handicap $10 8PM Clearwater, FL Crooked Cue Billiards (727) 539-7665 8-Ball $5 Call 1PM Astoria, NY Steinway Billiards (718) 472-2124 Open 9 Ball Am/Pro $20/$40 7PM Lexington, SC Grady’s Pool Room (803) 957-7665 8-Ball 7’ Tables race to 5 $15 $100 w/16 6:30PM Martins Ferry, OH Corner Pocket (740) 738-0357 9-Ball $10 Call 7:30PM Statesville, NC Chandley’s Chalk & Cue (980) 635-1109 9 Ball on Diamond bar box 3-4-5 $15 Break & run 7PM Dayton, OH Airway (937) 274-1230 8 Ball $10 Call 7PM Columbus, OH Player’s (614) 239-7665 8 Ball - No Pros $5+$3 g.f. $100 7PMThursdays Edison, NJ Sandcastle Billiards (732) 632-9277 9-Ball - Handicapped Call 7PM Williamsville, NY Bison Billiards (716) 632-0281 10-Ball Handicap-SE $15 Call 7PM Lexington, SC Grady’s Pool Room (803) 957-7665 9-Ball 7’ Tables $15 $100 w/16 8PM Statesville, NC Chandley’s Chalk & Cue (980) 635-1109 1 Pocket on 9’ Diamonds-Hdcp $20 Break & run 7PM Bowling Green, KY Cue Time (270) 782-2740 9 Ball $5 Call 8PM Lansing, MI Coaches (517) 882-2013 8 Ball $5 Call 7:30PM Warren, MI Ultimate Sports Bar (586) 751-2222 9 Ball $20 $100 w/32 7PM Vernon, IN Phat Guy Birds (812) 346-0870 Open 9 Ball $5 Call 7:30PM Columbus, OH Player’s (614) 239-7665 9 Ball on 9’ tables - No Pros $5+$3 g.f. $100 7PM Columbus, OH 8 Ball Sports Bar (614) 436-2948 Open 9 Ball $10 Call 7PMFridays Decatur, AL 6 Pockets Billiards 256-686-3171 9-Ball $13 8PM Hollywood, FL Lucky 7 Billiards (954) 239-8254 9-Ball $5 Matching w/20+ 8PM Greensboro, NC Gate City Billiards Club (336) 856-8800 Scotch Doubles 8 Ball/9 Ball Call 8PM Syracuse, NY Premium Billiards (315) 488-4888 Open Bar Box 8 Ball-SE $20 7PM Lexington, SC Grady’s Pool Room (803) 957-7665 9-Ball Handicap $20 $200 w/16 8PM Martins Ferry, OH Corner Pocket (740) 738-0357 8-Ball $15 Call 7:30PM Portland, ME Union Station Billiards (207) 899-3693 8 Ball - Race to 2 $8 Call 8PM Fairfield, OH Michael’s (513) 860-0044 8-Ball $1 $5/player 7:30PM Statesville, NC Chandley’s Chalk & Cue (980) 635-1109 8 Ball on Diamond bar box-Hdcp $20 Break & run 7:30PMSaturdays Decatur, AL 6 Pockets Billiards 256-686-3171 9-Ball $13 8PM Hollywood, FL Lucky 7 Billiards (954) 239-8254 8-Ball-Race to 2-DE $5 Match w/20+ 8PM Greensboro, NC Gate City Billiards Club (336) 856-8800 8 Ball/9 Ball (1st Sat) Round robin Call 7PM Lexington, SC Grady’s Pool Room (803) 957-7665 9-Ball Handicap $20 $300 w/24 7PM Statesville, NC Chandley’s Chalk & Cue (980) 635-1109 9 Ball on Diamond bar box-Hdcp $20 Break & run 7:30PM Leitchfield, KY Scooters on Main St (270) 230-1879 8 Ball 7PM Martins Ferry, OH Corner Pocket (740) 738-0357 Chip Pool $15 Call Call Grand Rapids, MI The Break Room (616) 454-0899 9 Ball $5 Call 6PM Grand Rapids, MI The Break Room (616) 454-0899 8 Ball $5 Call 6PM Battle Creek, MI Brickyard (269) 968-0692 8 Ball $20 Call 1PM Battle Creek, MI Brickyard (269) 968-0692 9 Ball $20 Call 7PM Columbus, OH Player’s (614) 239-7665 9-Ball on Diamond Bar Boxes $5+$3 g.f. $100 1:30PM Columbus, OH 8 Ball Sports Bar (614) 436-2948 8 Ball $8 5 Chip Elim. 7:30PM Reynoldburg, OH Scotty’s (614) 755-9407 8 Ball Call 200% payout 3PMSundays Clearwater, FL Crooked Cue (1st Sun) (727) 539-7665 8-Ball ‘B’ Only Mod. Rnd Robin $10 $200 1st 6PM Clearwater, FL Crooked Cue (3rd Sun) (727) 539-7665 8-Ball Open Mod. Rnd Robin $10 $200 1st 1PM Edison, NJ Sandcastle Billiards (732) 632-9277 9-Ball - Ladies (1st Sun) Call Noon Edison, NJ Sandcastle Billiards (732) 632-9277 10-Ball (3rd Sun) Call Noon Statesville, NC Chandley’s Chalk & Cue (980) 635-1109 10 Ball on 9’ Diamonds-Hdcp $25 Break & run 3PM Jackson, MS Rack (601) 372-6576 9 Ball $10 6PM Jackson, MS Rack (601) 372-6576 9 Ball $10 8:30PM Orlando, FL Clicks Billiards (407) 275-6064 Mixed 8 Ball & 9 Ball $7 2PM Syracuse, NY Premium Billiards (315) 488-4888 9 Ball - 10-Ball Break Pot $20 7PM Portage, MI Play Time (269) 323-2295 9 Ball $15 Call 4PM Livonia, MI Snookers (734) 422-9510 8 Ball - bank the 8 $10 Call 2PM Vernon, IN Phat Guy Birds (812) 346-0870 8 Ball Call Call 7:30PM Dayton, OH Airway (937) 274-1230 Alt 8 & 9 Ball Call Call 7PM Columbus, OH Cushions (614) 882-5986 9 Ball $10 Call 8PM Fairfield, OH Michael’s (every other Sun) (513) 860-0044 8 Ball - Race to 3 $10 Call Call Mansfield, OH Sundown (419) 564-4538 8 Ball $7 1/3 pot 5:30PM

DATE CITY LOCATION PHONE EVENT / RULES ENTRY ADDED TIME

WE

EK

LY

TO

UR

NA

ME

NT

SIf you have any changes to your weekly pool tournaments EMAIL: [email protected]

Call to see how to list your weekly pool tournaments 406.285.3099 OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews Stroke October 2015 33

Page 34: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

DATE CITY LOCATION PHONE EVENT / RULES ENTRY ADDED TIMECall First - All Tournaments are subject to change without notice

Oct 3 Clifton, NJ Clifton Billiards 973-928-6622 9-Ball A-B/C-D Call $1,000 CallOct 3 Decatur, AL 6 Pockets 256-686-3171 9-Ball $35 $500 7PMOct 3-4 Tallahassee, FL Zingales 850-224-8644 9-Ball Call Call CallOct 3-4 N Syracuse, NY Salt City Billiards 315-454-8643 9-Ball $120Pro/$70Am $1,500/$500 CallOct 4 Williamsville, NY Bison Billiards 716-632-0281 8-Ball Bar Box $35 incl g.f. $250 Noon Oct 2-3 Warrington, PA Warrington Billiards 215-491-0615 9-Ball ABCD $60 Call 7PMOct 4 Warrington, PA Warrington Billiards 215-491-0615 Pro-Am 16 Player Invitational $200 Call CallOct 4 Abington, MA Stix and Stones 339-788-9381 9-Ball $25 to $45 Call 1PMOct 8 Lincoln City, OR Chinook Winds Open 360-703-4081 Warm-up Men-Limit 64 $30 incl g.f. $1,000 7PMOct 8 Lincoln City, OR Chinook Winds Open 360-703-4081 Warm-up Women-Limit 32 $30 incl g.f. $500 CallOct 9-11 Lincoln City, OR Chinook Winds Open 360-703-4081 Open 10-Ball Men-Limit 96 $175 incl g.f. $12,000 CallOct 9-11 Lincoln City, OR Chinook Winds Open 360-703-4081 Open 10-Ball Women-Limit 48 $175 incl g.f. $5,000 CallOct 10 Martins Ferry, OH Corner Pocket Billiard Club 740-738-0357 Open Women’s 8-Ball $40 $250 1PM Oct 10-11 Edison, NJ Sandcastle Billiards 732-632-9277 NJ State 9-Ball $50 to $100 $1,000 CallOct 10-11 Amsterdam, NY Sharpshooter’s Billiards 518-627-4634 9-Ball $120Pro/$70Am $1,500/$500 CallOct 11 Rockaway, NJ Rockaway Billiards 973-625-5777 9-Ball A-B/C-D Call $1,000 CallOct 11 Talahassee, FL Zingale’s 850-224-8644 9-Ball Amateurs Only $60+$10 g.f. $500 11AMOct 11-12 Astoria, NY Steinway Billiards 718-472-2124 Open/Pro/ABCD 9-Ball Varies $1,000 Noon Oct 17 Stuart, FL Amy’s Billiards 772-232-9966 Women’s 9-Ball Call Call 11AMOct 17 Martins Ferry, OH Corner Pocket Billiard Club 740-738-0357 Open Men’s 9-Ball $40 Call 1PM Oct 17 Wallingford, CT Yale Billiards 203-294-9591 9-Ball $25 to $45 $500 1PMOct 17 Cary, NC Buck’s Billiards 919-467-5411 9-Ball Call Call CallOct 17-18 Syracuse, NY Premium Billiards 315-488-4888 9-Ball $120Pro/$70Am $1,500/$500 Call Oct 17-18 Brooklyn, NY Gotham City Billiards 718-714-1002 9-Ball Pro Classic $210 $11,000 Call Oct 18 Cockeysville, MD Magic 8 Cue Club 410-628-2965 9-Ball ABCD Varies $1,000 w/50 10AMOct 24 Virginia Beach, VA Inland Reef 757-471-9471 Men’s 9-Ball-Limit 48 Varies $400 9AMOct 25 Virginia Beach, VA Inland Reef 757-471-9471 Ladies 9-Ball-Limit 48 Varies $300 9AMOct 24 Jacksonville, NC Anytime Billiards 910-455-9988 9-Ball Call Call CallOct 24-25 W Hempstead, NY Raxx Pool Room 516-538-9896 9-Ball $120Pro/$70Am $1,500/$500 CallOct 25 Astoria, NY Steinway Billiards 718-472-2124 9-Ball A-B/C-D Call $1,000 Call Oct 25 Drexel Hill, PA Drexline Billiards 610-259-9144 9-Ball ABCD $60 $1,000 CallOct 25 Salem, NH Grand China 603-893-9124 9-Ball $25 to $45 Call 1PMOct 31 Raleigh, NC Browns Billiards 919-878-9092 9-Ball Call Call CallOct 31-Nov 1 Statesville NC Chandley’s Chalk & Cue 980-635-1109 Halloween 9-Ball Open $60 $1,000 NoonOct31-Nov 1 Astoria, NY Steinway Billiards 718-472-2124 Steinway Classic Varies $1,000 Noon Oct31-Nov 1 Norristown, PA Markley Billiards 610-278-1595 PA State 9-Ball ABCD $60 $1,000 CallNov 1 Clifton, NJ Clifton Billiards 973-928-6622 9-Ball A-B/C-D Call $1,000 CallNov 1-3 Astoria, NY Steinway Billiards 718-472-2124 Steinway Classic 10 Ball $200 $7,000 10AM Nov 7 Decatur, AL 6 Pockets 256-686-3171 9-Ball $35 $500 7PMNov 7 Hickory, NC Randolphs 828-326-7005 9-Ball Call Call CallNov 7-8 Talahassee, FL Zingale’s 850-224-8644 FL Pool Tour 9-Ball Amateur Call $5000 CallNov 7-8 E Rutherford, NJ Castle Billiards 201-933-6007 Open/Pro/ABCD 9-Ball Varies $1,000 NoonNov 7-8 Yorkville, NY Hippo’s 315-768-0218 Al Conte Memorial $120Pro/$70Am $1500/$500 Call Nov 8 Somersworth, NH Busters Billiards 603-692-7926 9-Ball $25 to $45 $500 1PMNov 8 Jackson Hgts, NY BQE Billiards 718-779-4348 9-Ball A-B/C-D Call $1,000 CallNov 14-15 Edison, NJ Sandcastle Billiards 732-632-9277 NJ State 8-Ball $50 to $100 $1,000 CallNov 14-15 Portland, ME Union Station 207-899-3693 9-Ball $120Pro/$70Am $1,500/$500 CallNov 15 Rockaway, NJ Rockaway Billiards 973-625-5777 9-Ball A-B/C-D Call $1,000 CallNov 21 Greensboro, NC Gate City Billiards 336-856-8800 9-Ball Call Call CallNov 21-22 Astoria, NY Steinway Billiards 718-472-2124 9-Ball A-B/C-D Call $1,900 CallNov 21-22 Providence, RI Snookers Billiards 401-351-7665 Ocean State 9-Ball $125 $5,000 CallNov 21-22 Brooksville, FL Capones 352-688-9965 10-Ball $350/$450 $5,000 1st CallNov 22 Drexel Hill, PA Drexline Billiards 610-259-9144 9-Ball Pro/Am Varies $1,000 CallNov 27 Cockeysville, MD Magic 8 Cue Club 410-628-2965 Black Friday Pro/Am Event Varies $1,000 10AMNov 28-29 Astoria, NY Steinway Billiards 718-472-2124 Open/Pro/ABCD 9-Ball Varies $1,000 NoonNov 28 Orange, CT Corner Pocket Cafe 203-891-0777 9-Ball $25 to $45 $500 1PMNov 29 Clifton, NJ Clifton Billiards 973-928-6622 9-Ball A-B/C-D Call $1,000 CallDec 5 Decatur, AL 6 Pockets 256-686-3171 9-Ball $35 $500 7PMDec 5 Rockaway, NJ Rockaway Billiards 973-625-5777 9-Ball A-B/C-D Call $1,000 CallDec 6 Somersworth, NH Busters Billiards 603-692-7926 9-Ball $25 to $45 Call 1PMDec 5-6 Lindenhurst, NY Mr Cue Billiards 631-226-9486 Open/Pro/ABCD 9-Ball Varies $1,500 NoonDec 12-13 W Hempstead, NY Raxx Bar & Grill 516-538-9896 Open/Pro/ABCD 9-Ball Varies $5,000 + NoonDec 13 Cockeysville, MD Magic 8 Cue Club 410-628-2965 Christmas Classic Pro/Am Varies $1,000 10AMDec 13 Abington, MA Stix and Stones 339-788-9381 9-Ball $25 to $45 Call 1PMDec 17-20 Edison, NJ Sandcastle Billiards 732-632-9277 Make it Happen 10-Ball Invitational CallDec 20 Hamden, CT Towne Billiards 203-281-7665 9-Ball $24 to $45 $500 1PMDec 27 Astoria, NY Steinway Billiards 718-472-2124 9-Ball A-B/C-D Call $1,000 CallDec 27 Plaistow, NH Crow’s Nest 603-974-1686 9-Ball Partners $25 to $45 Call 1PMJan 7-10 Verona, NY Turning Stone 518-356-7163 Turning Stone XV 9-Ball $200/$150 $25,000 Call

34 October 2015 Stroke OnTheBreakNews.com www.facebook.com/onthebreaknews

Page 35: Stroke Pool Magazine October Issue 2015

See what’s

NEW! 2016 Viking CatalogAvailable now at yourlocal Viking Dealer or online at vikingcue.com

Stuck behind the 8 ball?

Fly VIKING.

©2015 Viking Cue Manufacturing, LLC. All rights reserved. | Viking Cue Manufacturing, LLC • 2228 Pleasant View Rd. • Middleton, WI 53562 | [email protected] | 800.397.0122 | vikingcue.com

Plain and simple, the Viking jump will get you out from behind the 8-ball,

or any other ball that may be in the way of making that crucial shot. With it’s stiff, conical taper V-CRUSH shaft, and the NEW phenolic ferrule and tip, the Punch efficiently transfers energy so your ball strike creates some serious air.

Visit us at vikingcue.com to learn more about the Viking , as well as

our entire 2016 custom line-up.