U.S. Open Billiards Event Set to Begin

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

U.S. Open Billiards Event Set to Begin
U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships / Chesapeake, VA

by Skip Maloney, InsidePOOL Staff

Van Boening will be looking to do what others have rarely accomplished-- successfully defend the U.S. Open title.

The gathering has begun in Chesapeake, VA. With top-ranked players coming from the four corners of the globe, tournament officials are expecting between 240-275 entrants in the 33rd U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships at the Chesapeake Conference Center this weekend. While some consideration is being given to sealing the entrant total at 256 (there are currently over 200 confirmed registrants), Barry Behrman, tournament founder, has committed to keeping the brackets open beyond that figure, if necessary.

Among those scheduled to appear are Johnny Archer and Charlie Bryant, who’ll follow their epic finals battle at last week’s Carolina Open with a shot at this $100,000-added U.S. Open event, which will put $40,000 dollars in the pocket of the winner. Also on hand will be Francisco Bustamante, Tony Chohan, Corey Deuel, Ronnie Wiseman, and Gabe Owen, among others.

Among the European players expected to be on hand are defending champion Shane Van Boening, Niels Feijen, and Ralf Souquet, who won in 2002. Japan will be represented by Kento Yonezu and Kenichi Uchigaki. There will, as well, be six entrants from Kuwait—the country’s national team—which will include 12-year-old Saad Al-Adasami, who, along with America’s 12-year-old Brenden Crockett, will be the youngest players in the event. To date, the youngest player to ever win the U.S. Open was Mike Sigel, who was 21 when he won it in 1976. The oldest, at 54, was Mike LeBron in 1988.

Action is set to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday morning and will entail races to 11, with winners breaking. In the finals, scheduled for Saturday, October 25, if the one-loss side opponent reaches 11 first, the match will automatically extend to 13 games.

Team Poison Races For The Cure

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Team Poison Races For The Cure

In the spirit of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Poison is taking several initiatives to help find a cure for Breast Cancer.

In addition to donating profits from the Pink Ribbon Poison cues sales, a team of Poison employees is participating in the 2008 North Florida Race for the Cure. 

The race is taking place Saturday, October 18 in Jacksonville, Florida.  We have gathered a a group of employees, friends, and family running and/or walking, to raise money in the fight against breast cancer.

If you’d like to show support for a breast cancer cure through us, you can visit our page at http://www.komennorthflorida.org/site/TR/Race/General?pg=team&fr_id=1020&team_id=4250&JServSessionIdr001=wncghvknk3.app43b and make a donation in your name or your company’s name.  Any amount, small or large, is very much appreciated.

After the event, we’ll be sending out pictures and a press release to share our experience with others, and to let everyone know how much money was raised for the cause.  Any company that choses to contribute to the Poison Team will be specially recognized as a sponsor.

Every month, Poison donates a percentage of all profits from the new Pink Ribbon cues toward breast cancer research initiatives. This October, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are donating 100% of the profits to the cause. http://www.poisonbilliards.com/poison_billiards_pink_pool_cues.php
 
Thank you for your support.
 
The Poison Team

Inside Pool Announces Interactive Interview Challenge

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

Inside Pool Announces Interactive Interview Challenge

By Samm Diep

If you have a question that you would like to ask a billiard pro, submit it to us and if we use it, you could win a free subcription to Inside POOL Magazine or a copy of "You Might be a D Player if" by Samm Diep.

What would you ask your favorite pro?  On October 19-25, the Inside Pool Xtreme News team will be reporting from Chesapeake, VA at the 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championships. This event draws the largest international field of players from all over the globe and now YOU can participate in the interviews.
Ever had a question you’ve been dying to ask your favorite pro?

Send it to us and we’ll ask it for you. If one of our reporters asks your question with your name, you will win a free 1-year subscription to InsidePool magazine or a signed copy of “You Might Be A D Player If… (101 Moves That All Pool Players Can Appreciate)”.
Submit your question(s) to:

Interviews@InsidePoolMag.com

All entries must include:
1. First Name, Last Initial
2. A valid email address
3. City, State
4. Question(s)
5. Who is the question for?

Questions will be randomly selected and may not all get asked. Winners will be notified after October 25, 2008 and all prizes will be awarded at that time.
Now that you’ve asked your questions, be sure to catch the interviews for the answers!

Johnson Scores Undefeated Victory

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

Johnson Scores Undefeated Victory
Pechauer All-American Tour / West Peoria, IL

by InsidePOOL Staff

Josh Johnson went undefeated in the J. Pechauer event at Dave's Good Times in West Peoria, IL.

The third stop of the Pechauer All American Tour was hosted by Dave’s Good Times in West Peoria, IL, October 11. The $500-added event featured 28 players in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes, with Josh Johnson marching undefeated to the finals.

In the hot seat match, Johnson managed Brad Ogborn well by a 7-3 margin. Earlier in the A-bracket semis, Johnson turned back Jamey Bowman 7-4, while Ogborn clipped Buford Pusser 7-6. In the B-side quarterfinals Brad Ogborn, saddled with an early-round loss, eliminated Bowman at fifth place 7-6, while Buford Pusser tied with Bowman, courtesy of a 7-5 decision at the hands of Rich Bideaux.

In the B-side semifinals Ogborn took another victim by ousting Bideaux at fourth place by a slim 7-6 margin. Ogborn continued his recovery in the one-loss side by clipping John Pekora in the B-side finals 7-5. Momentum for Ogborn ceased in the tournament finals, as Johnson put the clamps down in one set, to claim the title by a 7-3 margin.

Results:
1st Josh Johnson $500
2nd Brad Ogborn $250
3rd John Pekora $125
4th Rich Bideaux $85
5th Buford Pusser $50
Jamey Bowman $50

Grau Grabs First on CNY Opening Stop

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Grau Grabs First on CNY Opening Stop
CNY 9-Ball Tour / Syracuse, NY

by Skip Maloney, InsidePOOL Staff

Grau outlasted Pound winning two out of three to win the CNY tour stop hosted by Salt City Billiards in Syracuse, NY.

Dave Grau took two out of three from David Pound to win the opening event of the CNY 9-Ball Tour October 11. The $460-added, A,B-handicapped event drew 51 entrants to Salt City Billiards in Syracuse, NY.

Grau and Pound grappled first in the hot seat match. Grau had sent Dan Smith to the one-loss side with an 8-3 victory, as Pound was sending E.J. Worden over 7-5. In the first of their three head-to-head matchups, Grau sent Pound to the semifinals with an 8-1 victory.

On the one-loss side, Gary Empey and Jose Mendez were at work advancing ultimately to the quarterfinals. Mendez then dropped Empey into fourth place and faced Pound in the semifinals.

Looking for a second chance at Grau, Pound defeated Mendez 7-2 and got that chance. In a true double-elimination final, Pound made the most of it, taking the first set 7-3. Grau fought back, however, and successfully completed a one-loss day with an 8-3 victory that earned him the first-place prize.