Moran and Kennedy Crush Southeast Open Fields

Posted by admin as Billiard News

Moran and Kennedy Crush Southeast Open Fields
Southeast Open 9-Ball Tour / Gulfport, MS

by Lea Andrews

Tommy Kennedy juggled both tournament director and player duties at the March 6-7 installment of the Southeast Open 9-Ball Tour, getting past last stop’s winner John “Mr. 403” Schmidt to top the open division, while Jason Moran topped Sunday’s amateur division. The $1,000-added open event drew 29 players to Skeeters Billiards in Gulfport, MS, while the $500-added amateur event drew 25.

Kennedy edged out Cliff Joyner 9-8 to meet Schmidt for the first time in the hot seat match. Schmidt, who was coming off a 9-4 win over Johnny Armstrong, notched up another one against Kennedy, who went west to fight for a rematch. On the left side of the bracket, Jay Bird took care of Jason Moran and Neil Alexander before coming up on Joyner, whom he held to seven games to reach the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Greg Hagin notched wins over Josh Charbonnet and Luc Detierne to face Armstrong. Allowing Armstrong just three games, Hagin advanced to the quarterfinals, but the four games he marked up there against Bird put him in fourth.

In the semifinals, Kennedy was ready for his rematch with Schmidt, and he dropped Bird into third 9-6 to earn his chance at revenge. In the single race-to 11 final match, the two veterans stayed close, trading games until Kennedy reached the hill 10-9. Schmidt was on his way to tying it up, but an unlikely miss on the 6 ball brought Kennedy back to the table, and he took care of what was left to earn his victory 11-9. Other open event winners were Neil Alexander, who earned $50 as the highest-finishing senior; Jessica Penick, who pocketed $25 as highest-placing lady; and Johnny Armstrong, who took home an extra $25 as the top junior.

On Sunday, Moran’s 5-2 win over Jim Sterling put him into the hot seat match against Tracy Guernsey, who’d shut out Luc Detierne. Against Moran, though, he managed just one game, and he moved over to the semifinals. On the other side of the bracket, Steve Kuhnau, who’d suffered an earlier loss to Sterling, was making his way through the field, getting past Steve Neil Alexander and Mike Trawick for another crack at Sterling. Meanwhile, Ken Black pushed his way past Brandon Goudreau and James Faison to reach Detierne, whom he put in fifth 4-1 to reach the quarterfinals. There he faced Kuhnau, who’d exacted his revenge on Sterling 4-3. Another 4-3 victory put Kuhnau up against Guernsey in the semifinals, and a 5-3 win put him into the single race-to-7 final match, but that was where his run ended. Moran took control early and kept it, finishing up his undefeated event 7-2.

Open Results:
1st Tommy Kennedy $700
2nd John Schmidt $475
3rd Jay Bird $350
4th Greg Hagin $250
5th Johnny Armstrong $150
Cliff Joyner

Amateur Results:
1st Jason Moran $470
2nd Steve Kuhnau $300
3rd Tracy Guernsey $200
4th Ken Black $100
5th Luke Detierne $45
Jim Sterling

Nevel Tells Archer “The Truth”

Posted by admin as Billiard News, Jacoby Cues Carolina Tour

Nevel Tells Archer “The Truth”
Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour / Wilmington, NC

by Lea Andrews

A late loss at the March 6-7 stop of the Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina tour did nothing to slow down Larry Nevel. “The Truth” rebounded to top the tough field that gathered at Break Time Billiards in Wilmington, NC, for the $1,000-added event.

After handing Nevel his 7-4 loss, Keith Bennett moved into the hot seat match against Johnny Archer, who’d just shut out Trey Greene. Archer claimed the hot seat 7-3, while Bennett moved over to semifinals. On the west side, an early victim of Nevel’s, Michael “Bulldawg” Fuller, notched a 7-4 win over Zach Wilson and a shut-out win over Greene to reach the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, another one of Nevel’s victims, Shawn “Big Bubba” Putnam, who’d reached the finals in each of his three Jacoby appearances so far, found his streak come to an end at his fourth event as he faced Nevel once again. Nevel dropped Putnam into fifth 7-2 to meet back up with Fuller, and another 7-2 win put him into the semifinals against Bennett. Earning his revenge 7-3, Nevel advanced to the single race-to-11 final match.

Though Archer got out to a 3-0 and 5-1 lead, Nevel was able to take advantage of a scratch on the break and a dry break to gain momentum and tie it up at six games apiece, but when he made nothing on the break in the next rack, Archer regained the lead 7-6. It was his last lead, though. Another scratch on the break allowed Nevel to tie it up, and two more racks in a row put him on the hill 10-7. Archer marked up the next rack, but after pocketing three balls on the break in the final rack, he found himself without a shot on the 2 ball. Archer’s well-played safety left Nevel hooked, but Nevel’s unbelievable kick shot put the 2 ball in the pocket and left the path to the 9 ball open. Nevel pocketed the rest of the balls to earn his victory 11-8.

Nevel also took first in Friday’s 16-entrant early bird tournament, earning $150 for his 7-1 win in the finals over Zach Wilson, who took home $95. Hindu Williams earned $50 for third, while Kenny Chin earned $25 for fourth. Patty Sutherland won the ladies’ division on Saturday, while Caleb Grissom topped the juniors’. In Sunday’s second chance event, Kenny Chin earned $80 for edging out Barry Irving 7-6, while Irving earned $20. Karl Deweese took home $80 for beating out five others in the break contest, and CJ Genta became the owner of a new Jacoby Custom Cue after her name was drawn in the raffle.

Results:
1st Larry Nevel $1,000
2nd Johnny Archer $400
3rd Keith Bennett $100

McDermott Gambler Pro Tour Inaugural Event

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McDermott Gambler Pro Tour Inaugural Event
Sharkbite Classic at Hammer Heads May 15-16, 2010

The McDermott Gambler Pro Tour has announced its inaugural event to take place this spring. The first annual “Sharkbite Classic” will take place May 15-16, 2010 at Hammer Heads Billiards in Holiday, FL.

Nora Nelson owner of Hammer Heads said, “I am very excited and proud to be asked to hold the first McDermott GPT event. After talking with Dan Dennis, and looking at the format, it is my belief that this will be a wonderful tournament for years to come. Pasco County has recently increased the number of hotels in the area, so players will have no problem finding a room that will suit their needs. Thank you Dan, for giving us this opportunity, It is going to be a great weekend of play.”

Hammer Heads Billiards has been a prime spot for tournaments and tours in Florida for several years. A 15,000 square ft upscale billiard room with 24 Diamond pool tables and a built in arena. Hammer Heads also hosts a first Saturday of the month $500 added mixed 9-Ball/8-Ball tournament and a second Saturday of the month $500 added 10-Ball tournament. You can log onto www.hammerheadsbilliards.com for more information.

“The McDermott GPT is pleased to have the inaugural event being held at Hammer Heads. It’s definitely a great place to host a tournament. Hammer Heads was designed with tournaments in mind. It has a great drop down arena and a nice viewing area for fans to come watch top players play tableside. I’m really looking forward to a pristine event and the first annual “Sharkbite Classic” at Hammer Heads.”

The event at Hammer Heads will host an Open 9-Ball Event May 16th, Semi-Pro/Amateur 9-Ball Event May 15th and a Ladies 9-Ball Event May 15th. For a complete lists of events, formats, tour schedule, player rankings, handicaps and more log onto www.GamblerProTour.com. The McDermott GPT would also like to thank the following sponsors; McDermott Cues www.Mcdermottcue.com, Gambler Clothing, Team Gambler, BilliardScoop.com, X-treme Vision Studios, Inside Pool Magazine and AZBilliards.

Moore Mows Down Joss Field

Posted by admin as Billiard News, Joss Northeast 9 Ball Tour

Moore Mows Down Joss Field
Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour / Syracuse, NY

by Lea Andrews

Making a rare appearance on the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour, Steve Moore went undefeated through the 25-player field, taking down reigning champ Dennis “The Hatchet Man” Hatch in the finals. The $1,500-added Mary Capotto Memorial event was held March 6-7 at Cap’s Cue Club in Syracuse, NY.

Moore blew by Chance Chin 9-3 to reach the hot seat match against Dave Grau, who’d just edged out Hatch 9-8. Grau managed just five games against Moore, though, and he moved over to the semifinals to try to fight his way back.

On the left side of the bracket, tour bigwig Bucky Souvanthong was plowing through the field, ousting Lyn Wechsler 9-4 to meet up with Dwight Dixon, who’d eased past Brian Holmes 9-8. Taking care of Dixon 9-7, Souvanthong moved on to Chin. Meanwhile, Bruce Carroll got past Geoff Montgomery 9-6 to face tour director Mike Zuglan, who’d just knocked out Mike Renshaw 9-5. Holding Zuglan to four games, Carroll moved on to Hatch, who dropped him into fifth 9-3. In the quarterfinals, Hatch went up against Souvanthong, who’d advanced over Chin 9-7. Against Hatch, though, he managed just four games, landing in fourth. Hatch moved on to a rematch with Grau, which ended in his favor 9-7, putting him into very familiar territory: the finals. The true double-elimination final match didn’t go the usual way for Hatch, though. Taking control from the beginning, Moore earned his decisive victory 9-4.

Results:
1st Steve Moore $1,000
2nd Dennis Hatch $800
3rd Dave Grau $600
4th Bucky Souvanthong $400
5th Chance Chin $250
Bruce Carroll
7th Dwight Dixon
Mike Zuglan

Inaugural Virginia State 14.1 Championships a Hit

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Inaugural Virginia State 14.1 Championships a Hit
Virginia State 14.1 Championships / Newport News, VA

by Brian Keller

As a lifetime student of the game, tournament director Joshua Dickerson has always had an interest in straight pool. After successfully running the Virginia State 9-Ball Championships for the past six years, he decided it was time to add something new. Thus, the Virginia State 14.1 Championships were born.

The inaugural event took place February 27-28 in Newport News at the Obelisk Billiards Club, a room with a rich straight pool culture that includes a 20-year-old league and annual room championship. When Dickerson looked for a venue, he didn’t have to go far to find it.

The event began Saturday morning with 25 players vying for a first-place prize of $1,280, part of which was paid entry into the Predator World Straight Pool Championship. Obelisk also supplied a gorgeous, solid crystal trophy for the winner. The high run during the event would net the winner a Nick Varner Signature cue and case.

Play began shortly after 10 a.m. and the players immediately could see that the room’s nine tables with tight pockets were going to play tough. By the end of the first day, six players remained with a high run of only 40 in the races to 100.

The six finalists included John Elvidge, Greg Ferguson, Ozzy Reynolds, Dave Perry, Eric Moore, and Bobby Chamberlain.

In the hot seat match against Dave Perry, Chamberlain laid down the one of the tournament’s long run of 40 to help move him towards the finals. He also had the longest run of 72 in the prior match. While he waited, Eric Moore defeated Ozzy Reynolds and then moved on to play Perry in the semifinals, where he won 100-48, setting up the final race to 150 for the title.

In the title match, Eric Moore started things off with a run of 38 to take the early lead. Chamberlain battled back as the players traded off medium-length runs. Finally, with both players over the century mark, Chamberlain with his very aggressive break shot, was able to string some racks together and get out to win 150-108.

After the event Dickerson noted that the field had been 80% full, an excellent showing for a first time. He feels confident that this event is in for a long run. Every participant was very excited to be there and play the grand old game; as players were knocked out of the tournament, to a man, they were already looking forward to next year’s version. Straight pool is alive and well in the Old Dominion.