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January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 3

About StrokeStroke is a monthly publication, dedicated to the advancement of the sport of pool and to promoting enthusiasm and encouragement among the players at all levels, regardless o f the i r league affiliation, in addition t o r e c o g n i z i n g those businesses who support them all. Covering the Eastcoast and adjoining states. Look for Stroke by the 10th of each month.T h e o p i n i o n s e x p r e s s e d a r e those of the author or advertiser and do not necessarily reflect the views of Rackem 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 or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher. © 2012 Stroke

DEADLINE: 25th of each Month - CALL IF LATE

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Currently ESPN is not showing any pool or billiard listings for the month of January.

Cover Photo Courtesy of: JP Parmentier / Matchroom Sport

Lucky

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New Year

We can get the word out Pool players want to know Who you areWhere you areWhat you are doingAnd when you are doing it

Our pool publication is not an industry driven media. Our publication goes to the pro and amateur pool players and the destinations where the pool players play.

We are an ad driven media. The Break, Rackem and Stroke go to pool halls, bars, taverns, leagues and tournament players.We cater to our advertisers!If you want your business associated with the pro players you sponsor, what better way to get the players to know that - Put an ad in our magazines which is put directly into the hands and mailbox of the pool players! Why Not?

3 Pool Magazines the Players Read

On The Break News Group

BACK2BACK

WPBAPRESIDENT

TALKS 2012

2011

Darren Appleton

Reasons Why Successful Pool Locations Increase Advertising During Slow Economic Times

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 Locations Advertising during slow times Increase Market Share.4. Locations That Cut Advertising Will Lose Market Share. Some Will Even Go Bust.5. Advertising works over time because it builds name AWARENESS.6. It works because without it the pool players believes 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 companies 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 spouses to your location.

What You Get When you advertise

WE CATER TO OUR ADVERTISERSWe will promote your Events, Location, Pool Tournaments and your Pool players

We will make every effort to place your ad on the same page as your results/events or the adjacent page.

We specialize in getting pool tournament results to our readers before anyone else both pro and amateur.

We have articles, results, photos, instructional layouts, league info and much more each month, all from the previous month’s action. All up to date BEFORE any other pool magazine.

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4 Stroke Magazine - January 2012

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 5

“The Rack Starz 2012-2013 Limited Edition Collector Series 18-month Calendar” is now available for purchase from the Rack Starz website. What better way to celebrate the New Year than by keeping track of all your events in 2012 with this calendar

Calendars can be purchased online at http://www.therackstarz.com/store.htm

6 Stroke Magazine - January 2012

RESULTS

Hammerheads Billiards Lounge, Holiday Florida hosted the Fl State Amateur championships weekend of 11,19,2011 57 players showed up for $2000 Added main event and 29 players for the 2nd chance $500 added. The $2500 Added FL State Open Championships will be held December 10th-11th at the same venue.

Florida’s Chris Gentile would prove to be the man to beat as he went about his business on winner’s side with strong wins over Jason Sheerman 7-6, Poison Amateur tour player of the year Jim Sandaler 7-3, Walter Blacker 7-3, Bryan Davalos 7-5 and then Mark Wathen 7-2 to find himself in the hotseat match where he would meet 2009 Fl Amateur state champion David Uwate. Uwate made his way to the hotseat match with wins over Valerie Dukic 7-0, Louis Altese 7-3, Julio Del Pozo 7-2, Jarred Schlauch 7-4 and then Paul Mullins 7-4 to set up the hotseat match with Gentile. The hotseat match would not disappoint with both players keep the pressure on bye trading racks all the way to 6-6, at this point Uwate was looking in control until a position error from 7 to 8 would leave him too tough on the 8 with a miss leaving Gentile with a tap in 8 and 9 to take the Hoteseat.

While all this was going on 2010 US Amateur Champion Raymond Linares was wreaking havoc on the one loss side after a 1st round loss to Jarred Schlauch 7-6, Linares would go onto defeat Wesley white, Bill Delisle, Dan Whitten, Prescott Buckwold, Bryan Davalos, then very strong wins over Paul Mullins 7-0, Jeff Mabry 7-6, David Uwate 7-0 would see him make it

to the final.

Linares run of 9 matches on the one loss side would come to an end with Gentile looking fresh and strong to take his 1st and biggest title on the Poison Amateur tour and be crowned 2011 Fl Amateur State Champion and take the $1000 first place prize money. Please note that this is not the Chris Gentile that finished 2nd in the US open one pocket.

Brett Lykins would go onto win the 2nd chance event which came down to a 1 rack shootout with Jason Sheerman.

The Poison Tour would like to thanks Hammerheads room owner Peter Shabo and his staff for hosting these great

events. If you are interested in playing the Fl State Open Championships contact Tony Crosby @ tonyc9ball@yahoo.com for more info. Also a big thank you to Poison bye Predator cues out title Sponsors.

1st $1000 Chris Gentile2nd $700 Raymond Linares3rd $550 David Uwate4th $450 Jeff Mabry5th-6th $350 Paul Mullins, Mark Wathen7th-8th $250 Bryan Davalos Ob Cirilo9th-12th $150 Stephen Richmond, Julio Del Pozo, Jarred Schlauch, Felix Luna

Gentile Crowned AmAteur ChAmpion

Peter Shabo, Chris Gentile, Raymond Linares, Tony Crosby

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 7

Lucky in Action In Vegas Continued……………….We snoozed, watched some NBA Basketball on TV and had some “quark” and crackers in the room for a couple of hours and then returned to the action. There were new faces in the room gambling. Lucky was right. If he got action this way, very few people would remember him. I found a couple of folding chairs along the wall for us, and right away a kid came along and asked to gamble cheap. I said no thanks and Lucky shook his head and said, “No, maybe later. I don’t want to get in over my head.” He hooked the kid by the extra comment. The kid had a high-pitched laugh, “Yeah, you would lose, old man. I’m pretty good. You want none of me” How arrogant I thought!! Lucky tilted his head up at the kid and asked him if he played chess. The kid chomped his gum, eyes roving around the room restlessly. “I am here to play pool, old man. Not some other game” “Well, maybe I’ll play you later on,” Lucky said. “I might learn a thing or two from you.” We watched the room action for a few minutes and here came the kid again, back after catching no fish to try Lucky again. Lucky was patient and declined politely. He knew that when they played they would play under Lucky’s conditions. An older guy listening nearby leaned over and said, “Say, fella, I saw you playing in here earlier. How’d you come out?” “Oh, it was okay,” said Lucky, “I got lucky and won a few games.” The kid interrupted, “Come on, old man, what are you here for? I’ll play you for a few bucks. Fifty a game, that’s cheap.” He tried a little intimidation, “What, are you afraid of me?” “Chess?” Lucky queried. “Pool,” the kid said, and muttered something under his breath. Lucky stroked his beard and his mustache and finally said, “Oh, all right. That’s cheap enough.” So I went over and got my cue again, while the kid fooled around, chopping the cue ball with his hand, back spinning it all over the table. As I handed the cue to Lucky, he whispered to me, “Ok, here’s where I have to beat him flat out to take the cash, whereas in a set I could lose a few games and still win the money. Don’t leave. This will be quick.” This was going to be interesting. The kid, just happy to be playing somebody, finally, was practically bouncing from one foot to the other, nervous energy crackling. “C’mon, let’s flip,” he urged. Lucky won the flip. They agreed to pay on every four games. The kid racked the balls and you could see he was acting as if he racked tight. Now Lucky knows better than most that there is no perfect rack. He takes a look at the rack, but only to see how the balls lie, so he knows how to break them. He broke and made the nine. The kid racked about the same way again. Lucky broke, the nine going into the same pocket as before. I could see the smirk on the young hustler’s face as he racked yet again. Lucky took a look at the rack but said nothing, and returned to break. Most players will change something about the rack to keep the nine from going

in again, and this rack was no exception. Lucky broke and pocketed the nine -- in a different pocket. The kid slammed the rack onto the table, muttering something about ‘lucky b*****d.’ Lucky broke game four and I could hear a different cracking sound off this break. The nine disappeared in the headstrong right corner pocket. I saw the kid’s eyes burning, but he only clenched his jaws as he handed over $200 to Lucky. “Again?” Lucky inquired politely. With only four people, including myself, watching the match, Lucky got loose and put another four nine balls down quick. The kid didn’t know what to do, he was so angry, and was unable to speak. Lucky took the proffered $200 and shook his head, “Eight nine-ball breaks! Son, I love your racks. That was something!” I could hear the kid saying, as he slammed his cue case together, “Ah, the old fart (nicer word than he really used) was just lucky. He couldn’t even play. Lucked in the nine on the break a few times.” Lucky walked over to where I was sitting. He had kind of a strange look to him. He said the next strategy was going to be different. He wanted to get everyone lined up to play like he had back in his hometown that time I first met him there. I wondered how he planned on accomplishing that in here. He said, “Watch,” and went straight over to a small crowd watching a match and tapped one person on the shoulder. “Play cheap? Fifty a game?” “Ok!” exclaimed the stranger, Mexican looking heavy set guy beer in one hand and cue in the other with a blue sun hat. Named Sebastian. He had his cue off his shoulder and out of the case before Lucky finished saying the words, “Fifty a game.” I settled back, expecting to be here for a while. Lucky then proceeded to lose game after game after game. He lost $1,000 so quick it made my head spin. I sat there, stunned. What was happening? I never saw him lose this kind of money before. And then, on top of that, he up and said, “I quit, for now.” I couldn’t believe my ears! I never saw this coming. The player who took Lucky’s money, grinning from ear to ear, bragged to his buddies and onlookers, and then turned back to Lucky, saying, “Maybe we can play some more later.” Lucky, normally a very polite and laid back person, ground his teeth, flexed his hands, and, in general, looked pretty darned upset. “Look, mister, I have plenty of money. You tell me where and when. You won’t win next time.” He yanked out his bankroll and I about had a heart attack. He flashed it under the guy’s nose and exclaimed, “See? Just so’s you don’t think I’m kidding you.” At that point I grabbed Lucky by the arm and steered him away, where I said, “What the hell are you doing? You have got to be out of your mind!” Lucky shrugged off my hand with an angry look. “I’ll play anyone in here for $500 a game, right now!” he said loudly. I regained my grip on Lucky’s arm, my cue, and walked Lucky out the door. A few people were barking at Lucky to play them as I hurried him out. Needless to say, I was puzzled by how Lucky

was operating. This was not the Lucky I knew, the gentleman pool player, the class act. I was just about to say something to him, when he calmly turned to me and said, “Everyone knows me now. When you’re in the fish tank you have to act like the other fish sometimes.” He waved his arm at a taxi. “Where do you want to eat?” We rode a short distance to a casino that offered a great all-you-can-eat seafood buffet. Over lobster and crab legs and an array of exotic seafood, Lucky said that he was going to play only sets for high money from now on, unless one game was $500 or better. I said nothing, focusing instead on a great dinner. Finally, over coffee and dessert, I said, “Look, Lucky, I don’t know where to start, exactly, but I don’t think I can…” “Son,” he said, “Let me explain something to you before you go wasting all that energy you need to digest what you just ate. Now, normally, you would not see me doing anything like what I just did today, would you?” “No, I wouldn’t,” I said. “I know you are better than that.” “Well, consider this. This place we are at, this amateur event, have you ever seen such a bunch of wannabe’s in all your life? It would take me a long time to find the high stakes games if I didn’t make some noise. Shake the trees to see what falls out. You know I don’t have that kind of time. Let me tell you about fish, Drew. Small fish lose their lives to bigger fish and those fish lose theirs to even bigger fish. And it’s always the big fish you want to catch. And if you’re in a hurry -- well, you’ve heard of using dynamite? Not exactly a sporting move, but it does the job quickly -- stuns them all and brings them to the surface of the water.” Lucky smiled, with a little glint in his eye, and stabbed into another scallop. “There are times when you just have to create your own show and throw in some dynamite. You might say I just issued an invitation. Great food! I’m going for seconds on these scallops – maybe some more lobster, too. You coming?” Went down to the action room in the Riviera, Sebastian Franco, Charlie Peterson, Ronnie Allen, Tony Banks, John Evans, King Kong and Bucktooth All was barking up a storm But Bucktooth was trying to get Shane in a game with Pots and Pans who some think can’t play. Shane just won the US Open10 ball Championship. The game they were trying to get were they both played one handed. Shane had to play left handed $2000 a game. Boy there was barking. After saying how unreasonable the game was Shane disappeared only to re-emerged 10 minutes later with his cue. It looked as if the game was on. Bucktooth had wrenched up the heat wanting to bet more. Shane was trying to get a different game with Bucktooth as he knew Pots and Pans could still play some even at his age. We have a couple more days at the event. We heard there were a group of Taiwanese players playing and beating everyone they have booked no losers. They always pool their money every time they are all are in on every match. Heard even Atwell lost to one of them. I know Lucky has a plan………more on Vegas next issue

STORY

Lucky #10 BY: ANDREW MONSTIS

8 Stroke Magazine - January 2012

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 9

JUNIOR BILLIARDS...PLAY. SPONSOR. GET INVOLVED WWW.BILLIARDEDUCATION.ORG

JUNIOR PLAYER PROFILE: BRIANA MILLERHOME TOWN: Allentown, PA

BIRTH DATE: 09/18/1995

SCHOOL YOU CURRENTLY ATTEND: Allentown Central Catholic High School

GRADE: 11

FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: Math

AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START PLAYING POOL? Age 8

TITLES: • 2011 BEF Junior National 9-Ball Champion, 18 &

Under Girls’ Division• 2010 WPA World Junior 9-Ball Championships,

Runner-up, Girls’ Division• BEF Junior National 9-Ball Champion 2007,2008,

2009 and 2010, 14 & Under Girls’ Division• 2010 Women’s Valley Forge Super Billiards Expo

9-Ball Champion• 2009 Women’s Valley Forge 8-Ball Bar Box Champion

OTHER NOTABLE AWARDS: • Unites States representative to the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World Junior 9-Ball Championships 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011• JPNEWT Regional Tour points leader in 2009, 2010 and 2011• 2011 New York State 9-Ball championships, 2nd place• 2011 WPBA Regional Tour Championships 4th place• 2010 Maryland State 9-Ball and 10-Ball Championships, 2nd place• 2009 New York State 9-Ball championships, 3rd place• 2009 Qualified to compete in the WPBA U.S. Open at age 13

WHAT KIND OF CUE(S) DO YOU USE? Jacoby (playing cue), Predator (Break cue)

LEFT OR RIGHT HANDED: right-handed

SPONSORS: Jacoby Custom Cues

FAVORITE BAND/MUSIC: I like a lot of different music

HOBBIES: pool, shopping, hanging out with friends

MEMORABLE POOL MOMENT: winning my first junior nationals at age 11

FAVORITE FOOD: pizza

REAL-WORLD HERO: my grandfather because he taught me how to play pool

FONDEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY: going fishing with my grandfather when I was little.

GOALS- PERSONAL AND/OR CAREER: I would like to attend college, but I am not quite sure what I would like to major in yet. I would also like to continue to play pool on a competitive level.

RESULTS

10 Stroke Magazine - January 2012

Boynton Beach, Fla. (Dec. 3, 2011) – Amazing grace, great talent and good cheer made for an exciting day of competition at the Flamingo Billiards Tour Holiday Open 9-Ball Event on Saturday at Slate Billiards in Boynton Beach, FL. At the end of it all, Anthony Meglino edged out David Broxson for his second Flamingo Billiards Tour Open 9-Ball victory.

Competition abounded with notable pro players “TK” Tommy Kennedy and “Iron” Mike Davis in town. Filling Slate’s holiday décor of familiar South Florida competitors was Meglino, Broxson, John Foster, Randy Epperson, and Javier Chirino. Topping it all off was the revered, feared, and respected Toby Sweet.

In one of the day’s great matchups, Meglino went toe-to-toe with Sweet to stay on the winner’ side. Like a master testing his young grasshopper, Sweet, down 5-1, gave Meglino a few lessons in the art of billiards. Sweet came back to win the next four racks and just when it looked like Sweet would tie the match, Sweet got a bad roll as the cue ball froze up on the five, leaving Sweet with no shot and a difficult safe that cost Sweet the match. Meglino continued on, outshooting Randy Epperson only to be stopped by David Broxson, who shot strong through to the hot seat.

Broxson came up through the winner’s side finishing off another exciting and nail-biting hill-hill match with Tommy Kennedy. After that, Broxson sent veteran player John Foster west. Foster later matched up with Meglino in yet another exciting and hotly contested double hill match attempting to make it back to the finals. However, Foster would have to settle for third.

In the final race to 11, Meglino got off to a late start, trailing Broxson 4-0. Meglino finally got on the score board and Broxson responded equally, giving himself

a 5-1 lead. In game seven, Meglino was faced with a jump shot, and in true form Meglino not only jumped but amazingly jump-banked the one and ran the rest of the rack, score 6-2. What may have been the turning point in the match, before long Meglino was up 8-7. Broxson then missed a key five-ball shot in rack 16, giving Meglino a 9-7 lead. Broxson was left with a kick shot in the next rack which he barely missed, leaving Meglino out and on the hill, 10-7. However, Broxson wasn’t going to be stopped easily, as he broke and ran the next rack, score 10-8. Meglino broke next but came up dry. However, he got back to the table and proceeded to run out, but uncharacteristically overcut the six leaving Broxson a tough long rail shot which he made along with the remaining rack, score 10-9. It was Broxson’s turn to break and it looked like he would tie the match, as an easy 4-9 combo was begging for attention. But he didn’t get shape on the three, and left himself with a difficult rail shot because the cue ball stopped just in front of the eight-ball, forcing Broxson to shoot over the eight. Broxson shot the three and got shape for the combo, but the three bobbled in the corner and refused to drop. Meglino pocketed the three and proceeded to make the 4-9 combo match-winning shot.

Other notable matches included Mike Davis’ loss to John Foster. Davis was favored to win the event. Another upset included Tommy Kennedy’s double-hill loss to Broxson and then being knocked out of the event by Davis.

Some of the event matches can be viewed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/flamingo-open-9-ball and http://www.ustream.tv/channel/billiardcommunity-com.

The FBT, a WPBA-Recognized Regional Tour, is the stepping stone to the WPBA for women in Florida who want to qualify for Women’s Professional Billiard Association events.

The 2011 Winter Open was the second 9-Ball event open to both male and female players.

Many thanks to everyone who came out to play, to room owners Mike Bradford and Joe Sistarelli, (www.slatebilliards.com), for being great hosts and to Boynton Billiards (www.boyntonbilliards.com) for their support of the Flamingo Billiards Tour.

Kelly Coyle was the highest finishing female, winning a paid entry for the 2012 FBT Kick-off event.

MEGLINO wraps up SECOND WIN38 PLAYERS SQUARE OFF AT THE $500-ADDED WINTER OPEN 9-BALL JAM!

David Broxson, second; Mike Bradford, room owner;Anthony Meglino, winner; John Foster, 3rd.

1st $700 Anthony Meglino 2nd $400 David Broxson 3rd $300 John Foster 4rd $200 Mike Davis 5th/6th $100 Randy Epperson Brian Rosenberg7th/8th $75 Javier Chirino Jeremy Brooks 9th/12th $50 Tommy Kennedy Toby Sweet Trey Jankowski Mike Bradford

A DREAM MATCHUPWe had a good turn out and including Toby Sweet whom I had the pleasure meeting because he was my first match. When I heard my name and Toby’s called, I did not know at the time who he was. So both of us arrive at the table and Toby said “I usually don’t play in these tournaments nor at this time in the morning”. I replied with “So I have a chance then?, with a smile”. I won the break and got a ball in and then missed. Toby had a few misses, but ended up taking the first game. Then he break and took next game. As I was sitting waiting for my turn, and friend said to me, Jan you are playing a legend. As I watched him move around the table and I didn’t get much when I did get a chance, I understood what my friend said. Tody was spot on with his cue ball control and his stroke was a thing of beauty to watch. Tody ended up wining his first match with me 7 to zip, and I must say it was a pleasure watching him and getting beat by and legend and will respected pool player. Watching a player like Toby just makes me want to practice more and get ready for my next big tournament.

BY: JANIS SESSIONS

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 11

C O L U M N I S T

San Francisco Billiard Academywww.sfbilliards.com

Bob JewettSan Francisco Billiard Academy is a BCA Certified Master Academy.The academy offers:Private InstructionBasics ClinicEight Ball ClinicNine Ball ClinicIntroduction to Billiard InstructionBCA Recognized Instructor CourseBCA Certified Instructor Course

BY: BOB JEWETT

Two STroke ShoTSWhen you’re playing well, all your shots will be simple and if you’re playing really well all your position plays will also be easy. When things are not going well, you better have a wide repertoire of shots and moves to help get back on track. Here are two shots that every player should be ready to use in a pinch. Both shots are from a hypothetical game of nine ball.

In the first shot the challenge is to pocket the 1 and get position on the 2 ball. The 8 ball is blocking the standard three- or four-cushion path which is played with right draw off the cushion and then to the cushions at A and B. The alternative is shown: use left follow and get the cue ball tohook forward after hitting the side cushion. This is definitely the sort of shot you have to experimentwith. If the shot is nearly full and the 1 ball is very close to the side pocket you should have no trouble getting the cue ball back to the cushion and you might even be able

to scratch in the side after hitting up on the cushion.

Once you have the right action to get back to the cushion, try making the shot harder by moving the object ball farther from the pocket. This will cause the cue ball to use up more of its follow on the way to the cushion so that there will be less follow after the bounce unless you crank up the power and spin.

Another major factor in getting the shot to work well is the angle of the shot into the cushion as shown by the angle of the cue stick. If it is not pointed at least partly up-table, the shot will be

nearly impossible.

The more it is pointed straight

towards the cushion, the easier it will be to get back to the cushion but you also need the follow to help move the cue ball towards the other end of the table. Remember that follow tends to move the cue ball in the same direction as the cue stick is pointed even after contact with a cushion.

There are also some bank shots where this idea can be used. For example, if the 8 and 9 are the last balls left on the table (with the cue ball as in Shot 1), it is possible to bank the 8 cross-side and get the cue ball to follow the double-the-rail path.

In Shot 2, the problem is to get from the 3 ball to the 4. You might be able to get the path shown to work without any spin on the cue

ball, but I think it’s a lot easier with left side spin. In the position shown follow and draw will not help much, so hit the cue ball on the equator. You need enough left spin that there is still a fair amount left on the second cushion.

It will take a few tries to find the easiest angles to make the shot work. Feel free to adjust both the cue ball and the object ball slightly. And be sure to start the cue ball with plenty of left english.

Once you have found the sweet spot for the shot, see if you can make it work from less favorable positions.

These two shots are not the sort that you want to encounter in a game, but when you do be prepared to deal with them.

REJ

1

2

3

4

56 7

8

9

Shot 1Left follow

Shot 2Left center

A

B

12 Stroke Magazine - January 2012

C O L U M N I S T

Tim Miller

This is not a feel good program. This is the real deal. You will be working with the monk for over four months. You will be working step by step to build the skills at nine ball that your opponent does not have. You will master the important moves this game calls for. You will become a master nine ball player and play better nine ball than you have every played this game before.

May all the rolls go your way,

The Monk

Big Daddy’sBilliards

7954 Baltimore Annapolis BlvdGlen Burnie, MD 410-760-1332

Watch for Upcoming Events

Call for Info

THE SHOT, MINUS THE INTERFERENCE EQUALS THE STROKE

BY THE MONK

CALL THE MONK TODAY

1-603-566-6229

More detailed information available onlinehttp://www.monkbilliardacademy.net/9-balltrainongprogram.html

ROAD PLAYERS 9-BALLWORK WITH THE MONK,

STEP BY STEP WITH NO RISK FOR $300.00!!!!

WOULD YOU PAY $300.00 TO BECOME A TOP PLAYER IN YOUR TOWN?

In my book Point the Way I talk about how the shot minus the interference equals the stroke. What is the interference?

When you lean over the, table focused on a shot that could win or lose the game you must be free to deliver the stroke. Without a good stroke you miss and lose.

Your concentration must be clear. Concentration is the narrowing of your focus on the object of your desire. You narrow your focus on something you are deeply interested in. If your attention is divided your keen interest is challenged.

In my program THE ROAD PLAYERS NINE BALL TRAINING I work with you in the art of concentration. I show you how to connect to the shot. This connection is a vital part of your interest. Interest equals concentration, concentration equals success. We are not interested in avoiding a loss or winning a game. We are interested in the cue ball making contact with the object ball.

You must see the shot. Your interest must be on the shot and nothing else. The connection part of this process involves the letting go of all interference. You are one with what you want to accomplish. Connect to the shot. See the shot, feel the shot, sense the shot and become one with the shot. You must know the stroke you are going to use, and be able to anticipate how it will sound when you deliver the cue tip through the cue ball.Your opponent will talk to you during the connection stage because he knows that this is the time to break your concentration thus to cause interference with your stroke. Do not respond to your opponent. Ignore him/her. Stay in your own world.

Interference comes in many forms. One popular form is “fear of failure”. This fear interferes with our ability to deliver the pure stroke each shot requires. I have missed a shot because I knew my next shot was going to be tough. Or I missed because I did not know how a clump would break apart. Now I “make the shot”.

2. Fear of success. How many times have we become nervous as we finish our run out for the victory? This nervousness is interference.

3. Fear of the shot. Your perceptions form your mind set. When you face a shot you have missed before, this past experience comes back to you at the exact moment you try to connect to the shot. That mind set is interference. When I designed the ROAD PLAYERS NINE BALL TRAINING I paid a lot of attention to the identification of the shot at hand. When you

face an important shot you must see it as it is. The series of shots I take you through are set up so you can deliver one hundred per cent of your stroke. This gives you a much better chance for success.

4. Inability to compete. Sometimes it is just plain hard to compete. After a tough missed shot you feel down and defeated. The score should have been two to two but instead as a result of your mistake it is three to one. You have lost your competitive spirit. I get that way during a long tough match. We must learn to build those competitive skills so we are at one hundred per cent all the time. We do this through training. Specific and deliberate practice helps us to narrow our focus on the shot at hand. When we can break it down to connection to the shot we are then able to deliver the pure stroke. That is why training is so important.When we are not performing well others will say we are out of rhythm. This is caused by interference, not so much with the shot at hand but with the match. We may be over our head, or close to winning a tournament or far behind in a match. The interference is constant.

STEPS TO TAKE TO AVOID INTERFERENCE.In the ROAD PLAYERS TRAINING PROGRAM I work specifically on a series of shots that come up in the game of nine ball. Not many players recognize this when it happens so we want to master the ability to focus on what the shots require. All the shots in the series are designed to build your skills at nine ball. This is why the training program carries a money back guarantee. I am the only teacher in this game who guarantees you will improve or your money back!

We also need to build our competitive skills. In all matches we connect to composure. This enables us to be in the proper rhythm for each shot. Concentration, composure is linked to courage. Courage exists when we have the ability to connect to each shot with total purpose. In a serious training program all the components need to be present.

2012 is the year for you to put it all together. Make it your time to shine. You will be faced with all the same old challenges you faced in the past but this time you approach them in a different light. If I am to bring your game to a higher level I must bring you to a higher level. You need shot recognition, pattern recognition and game discipline in order to become a first class nine ball player.

Go to my web site, www.monkbilliardacademy.net and click on ROAD PLAYER NINE BALL TRAINING. You may also call me 1-603-566-6229. I am here to help.

GOLD CROWN BILLIARDS

(Oldest Pool Hall in Broward, FL)2233 Hollywood Blvd, FL 33020

(954) 921-8439Open: Sun-Thurs 11am to 2am

Fri-Sat: 11am to 4am(11) 9 ft. Tables & (1) Golf TableTues Night - 9 Ball Tournament

Variety of Soft DrinksBeer Bucket Specials - Hot Food

>>> Under New Management <<<

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 13

The Predator Pro-Am Tour has now completed its fourth season running, after the 2011 tour finale was held on December 10-11 at Raxx Pool Room, Bar & Grill in West Hempstead, NY on Long Island. A total of 84 players showed up for both events!Under the leadership of tour owner Tony Robles as well as Predator Cues, the Predator Tour has continued to grow and has become one of the strongest pillars of the competitive pool circuit in New York City and surrounding areas. While many of the region’s top pro and amateur players regularly appear on the tour, this year’s finale event also attracted internationally-known names from elsewhere, such as Earl “The Pearl” Strickland and WPBA pro Melissa Herndon. However, the Open/Pro 10-Ball finale event would see some of the tour’s most familiar faces lock into the final rounds of this event… where Tony Robles highlighted the top half of the bracket, defeating Gregg McAndrews, Jorge Rodriguez 8-5, and Zion Zvi 8-5 to move into the hot seat match. Meanwhile, in the other half of the winner’s bracket, Maryland pro Shaun Wilkie took down Ruben Bautista 8-3, Mhet Vergara 8-4, and Mike Miller 8-6 to face off against Robles for the hot seat at noon on Sunday, December 11. Wilkie would continue to stay strong through this match to win 8-4 and guarantee himself a spot in the finals.After his earlier loss to Tony Robles, Zion Zvi got back on his feet on the one-loss side, knocking out Earl Strickland 8-4 and Mike Miller 8-4, before taking vengeance against Tony Robles, who he defeated 8-2 in the semifinal. As he moved through the championship match, Zion Zvi kept closely tied with undefeated Shaun Wilkie as the two players worked their way to a hill-hill tie-breaking game. “The final match was a gut-wrenching battle all the way to the last game,” said Wilkie, who had no other opponent make it to the hill against him throughout the event. Wilkie and Zvi stayed within two games of one another throughout the match… and the case game was also not without some twists and turns. After a short safety battle at hill-hill, Zvi left Wilkie an opening in the rack, but Shaun Wilkie came up short in his position on the 6 ball, forcing him to play a pinch draw shot to hold the cue ball for position on the 7 ball. Wilkie missed the shot, leaving Zvi a chance to runout the rack. In a strange turn of events, Zion Zvi left the cue ball frozen on top of the 10 ball, and had to play safe, leaving the cue ball up table. Shaun Wilkie had another unexpected chance, but the cue ball’s

position made for a challenge…wherein Wilkie had to bridge over the corner pocket on a long straight shot, and missed.Wilkie left a rail shot for Zion, in a good position to shoot the 10 past the corner of the side pocket. Zvi

looked to come out the victor, but hung the 10-ball in the pocket and handed over the victory to Shaun Wilkie. This win made for Shaun Wilkie’s third straight victory in the Predator Tour Finale at Raxx. Shaun Wilkie mentioned that he would like to thank Tony Robles & Raxx owner Holden Chin for putting on an awesome event, along with his fans and sponsors for their support, including Lucasi Hybrid.Congratulations to both Shaun and Zion for their hard-fought battle through the finals!In the Amateur 9-Ball Finale event, a field of 68 turned out to fight for the title at Raxx. Out of this field of many

of the area’s toughest amateurs, four players remained undefeated at the start of the second day. In these two final four match-ups, Frank Ramos defeated Romeo Singh, while Chris Giannakouros defeated Robert Gipp.Chris Giannakouros then moved on to defeat Frank Ramos 7-4 to take the hot seat. On Giannakouros’ successful run through the winner’s bracket, he also claimed wins over Steve Way, Mike Hertz, Christian Cabrera, and Daniel Dagotdot, before winning the final two matches to guarantee his spot in the finals. On the left side of the bracket, Shawn Sookhai was busy grinding through the final rounds. After a first-round bye, Sookhai had made it through the following three winner’s bracket rounds, defeating John Mazes 7-4, Raphael DaBreo 7-5, and Matthew Harricharan 7-4, before heading west after a 7-5 loss to Robert Gipp. Shawn Sookhai made it through to the

one-loss side to then defeat Christian Cabrera 7-5, Daniel Dagotdot 8-7, and Steve Way 7-3 before moving into the semifinals, where he eliminated Frank Ramos 7-2. Ramos had previously lost the

hot seat match to Chris Giannakouros and took home the 3rd place prize. Undefeated Chris Giannakouros was then met by Shawn Sookhai, who had finished off five opponents beforehand. Sookhai & Giannakouros had a hard-fought match that ended in Shawn Sookhai’s favor after meeting at hill-hill. Congratulations to both Shawn Sookhai & Chris Giannakouros, along with 3rd place finisher Frank Ramos on their great finale finishes!The 2012 Predator Tour Season Opener will be taking place January 14-15 at Steinway Billiards in Astoria Queens, NY! For more information please visit www.PredatorProAmTour.com Happy Holidays!

WILKIE & SOOKHAI

Above: Pro Winners: L-R, 2nd Place: Zion Zvi, 1st Place: Shaun Wilkie, 3rd Place: Tony Robles

Below: Amateur Winners: L-R, 1st Place: Shawn Sookhai, 2nd Place: Chris Giannakouros, 3rd Place: Frank Ramos

RESULTS

PROS:1st: $1,000 Shaun Wilkie 2nd: $700 Zion Zvi 3rd: $550 Tony Robles 4th: $350 Mike Miller 5th/6th: $110 Jorge Rodriguez, Earl Strickland

AMATEURS:1st: $1,500 Shawn Sookhai 2nd: $1,000 Chris Giannakouros 3rd: $600 Frank Ramos 4th: $425 Steve Way 5th/6th: $300 Robert Gipp, Romeo Singh 7th/8th: $200 Daniel Dagotdot, Patrick Meyers 9th/12th: $110 Christian Cabrera, Matthew Harricharan, Bob Schlott, Omar Alli 13th/16th: $70 Scott Murphy, Steve Mack, Carrie Metz, Niko Berzenishvili

Cap Off the Season With FINALE WINS

BY ALISON M. FISCHER, NYCGRIND.COM - PHOTOS BY HENRY CHAN

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: JP PARMENTIER / MATCHROOM SPORT

MIKE DECHAINE (RHODE ISLAND)“This is definitely one of the best moments of my life. I’m having a great time and everyone has a positive attitude, even though we were 4-1 down after the first day,”

SHANE VAN BOENING (SOUTH DAKOTA)

SHAWN PUTNAM (GEORGIA)

RODNEY MORRIS (HAWAII)

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 14

JOHNNY ARCHER (GEORGIA) “We lost a couple of matches we should’ve won and they blitzed us in a few matches.“We all gave it our best and will do it again next time. Hats off to their team, they hung in there when things didn’t look good.”(PHOTO BY: DON “CHEESE” AKERLOW)

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 15

TEAM U.S.A.BY: LUKE RICHES

AFTER the first day’s play at the 2011 PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup, Team Europe holds a commanding 4-1 lead as they cashed in on some tentative play from the Americans at the MGM Grand.Aside from Archer and Putnam’s solid show in the first doubles match of the tournament, none of the Americans were firing on all cylinders and captain Charlie Williams will have a job to do for tomorrow.Europe by contrast looked like thoroughbreds with big names like Souquet and Feijen looking the part and rookie Chris Melling pulling off a stunning win in the last game of the day.Watched by his father, who was celebrating his 60th birthday, the 32 year-old Melling looked superb as he came from 3-0 down to steal the final match of the day from Shane Van Boening with a hill-hill win.It was a bitter pill for the Americans to swallow as the difference between 3-2 and 4-1 is immense, and they will need to dig deep tomorrow if they are to reverse their fortunes.Earlier, the Europeans drew first blood as they took the opening team match which featured all ten players. The format differed from previous years, in that each rack was contested by just two players rather than the alternate shot method involving all five.It was Chris Melling who took the deciding rack against Mike Dechaine for the point but the Americans looked a little nervous throughout.2010 MVP Darren Appleton was delighted with the win; “I’m really happy with the start. The format had changed a bit and it adds more pressure. You’re a bit cold and have no help from your friends. I played the first rack and was shaking really badly.“Chris didn’t get a shot in the first game but he managed to win the rack that won us the point and I think he will go on and play very well.“We don’t have to gel as we just come together and are a lot more relaxed than ever before. We’re playing really good, feel calm in ourselves and pretty sure we’re going to win.”The American pair of Johnny Archer and Shawn Putnam – close

friends off the table – dug their heels in to overturn a 3-1 deficit and beat the Euro duo of Chris Melling and Nick Van den Berg.It was a big point for the Americans as Archer and Putnam grew in confidence as the match went on and they came with the critical shots in the closing stages. The communication between the pair was excellent as they kicked on for victory.“Representing your country is the most pressure you will feel,” said Putnam.“Everyone is used to playing for yourselves but when you play for your country the nerves are about ten times more and your friends on the team are looking for you to come through.Archer added “It’s early but any match can turn anything around. We were 3-1 down and the momentum was in their favour but a bad break gave us a bit of a lifeline and we started creeping back.”Rodney Morris, for so long a stalwart of the US Mosconi Cup side, looked a forlorn figure as he slumped to a 6-0 defeat at the hands of Niels Feijen. The Dutchman looked clinical throughout as he capitalised on Morris’s lacklustre display.“That match was great,” said a delighted Feijen.“In the first team match it was the most nerve-racking match I’ve played in so it was nice to settle down in the singles match.“I played really well and it was a lot of fun. It’s a big confidence boost, especially against someone like Rodney Morris who has a super record in the Mosconi Cup.”The USA suffered a huge kick in the teeth in the fourth match of the day as Mike Dechaine and Shane Van Boening relinquished a 4-0 lead to lose 6-4 to Darren Appleton and Ralf Souquet.The critical moment came in the seventh rack when Dechaine needed a tricky 9 ball cueing off the rail to take the US to the hill at 5-2, but his head came up far too early and the chance went begging.What should have been 5-2 became 4-3 and Appleton and Souquet had shifted the momentum in their favour. From there, they never looked back as they took Europe into a 3-1 lead and it was left to Melling to complete the route.

EUROPE ENJOY SUPERB OPENING DAYEurope 4 – 1 USA

Europe6-4USA Melling/VandenBerg3-6Archer/Putnam NielsFeijen6-0RodneyMorris Appleton/Souquet6-4VanBoening/Dechaine ChrisMelling6-5ShaneVanBoening

CHARLIE WILLIAMS

JERRY FORSYTHPHOTO BY: JP PARMENTIER

CHARLIE WILLIAMS (USA, CAPTAIN): “It wasn’t our week. Things didn’t go to plan. We ate together and the chemistry on the team, even though we were losing every day, didn’t break our spirits. We still believed we could win today.“No disrespect to them but we feel you got the rolls sometimes. To win a tournament you need rolls to go your way. But they played good and Chris Melling was awesome.”

MIKE HOWERTONAZBILLIARDS.COM

PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY DON “CHEESE” AKERLOW

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2011 Mosconi C

up

KEN SHUMAN

(Mosconi Cup continued on page 16)

2011

Mos

coni

Cup

TEAM EUROPE

TEAM USA recovered from a first day hammering at the PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup as they put themselves right back into contention, winning three matches to Europe’s two at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.Stellar performances from the Americans saw them level the match at 4-4, before the Europeans derailed their momentum to take the final two games and move into the fourth day with a two point lead.There was plenty of Mosconi Cup drama as debutant Mike Dechaine overcame Ralf Souquet 6-1 and Rodney Morris had an outburst that he will be happy to forget in a hurry. However, coming into the day three points down, Team USA will be happy to have reduced the deficit.The opening match of day two was a must-win situation for the Americans and win it they did as Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening edged past the Dutch duo of Feijen and Van den Berg. With the racking changed from the opening day – a regular rack was used instead of the Magic Rack - the balls were spreading nicely and both pairs took advantage with succession of break and runs.With the USA having won the lag, they reached the hill first and had a great chance to win 6-4 but Van Boening left Archer in the lurch with just the 8 and 9 balls left on the table and the Dutchmen eventually took the rack to make it hill hill.Archer dropped four balls into the pockets from his break shot and himself and Van Boening went on to claim a nerve calming win.“We’re not doing anything different. Our execution yesterday meant we over ran a few shots and we’ve just tightened it up. We had chances to win matches yesterday,” said Archer.There was more USA joy in the second match as Mike Dechaine – a heavy underdog – put in a perfect performance to overturn Ralf Souquet by 6-1 and reduce the European lead to just one point.The 24 year-old Dechaine looked a bundle of nerves and adrenaline prior to the match but he made it all work in his favour as he ran through his racks with precision and cashed in on a couple of errors from Souquet. “This is definitely one of the best moments of my life. I’m having a

great time and everyone has a positive attitude, even though we were 4-1 down after the first day,” said a delighted Dechaine.“We had a couple of unfortunate events yesterday but today we’ve put up a good line-up and it’s going to be a great day.”There was plenty of drama and controversy in the next match as Team USA drew level, winning their third consecutive match of the day as Rodney Morris and Shawn Putnam beat the English pair of Melling and Appleton.6-5 was the score line as the US stole it at the last when Appleton left Melling a tough pink 4 ball and he overcut it to give the table and subsequently the match to the Americans.The real drama came at the start of the sixth rack when Morris’s temper boiled over and he used some regrettable language. Some of the rowdier elements got to him and he told Darren Appleton, in no uncertain terms, to tell them to be quiet. It then escalated as Morris then audibly offered the Englishman to step outside.Things calmed down as the Americans went on to take the match and afterwards Morris was highly embarrassed by his outburst as well as apologetic.In the fourth match of the day, Nick Van den Berg put in a superb performance to beat Johnny Archer 6-1 and restore European supremacy. Similarly to Mike Dechaine’s defeat of Ralf Souquet, it was the underdog who came with all the shots, taking full advantage of a tired-looking Archer.“Today’s been awful - we wanted to go and win the session but we were 3-0 down. When it’s like that you’re just trying to give your best and I didn’t make a mistake.“Johnny Archer was probably the best American player so far but he didn’t get a chance so I’m very happy with the way I played. We tried to keep our heads up.”In the final match of the session, Chris Melling and Ralf Souquet reinforced European supremacy as the played excellently to defeat the Shane Van Boening / Rodney Morris axis 6-2.That left the Europeans with a two point lead going into day three of the event but the Americans still have every chance.

USA RIGHT BACK IN ITEurope 6 – 4 USA

Van den Berg / Feijen 5-6 Archer / Van Boening Ralf Souquet 1-6 Mike Dechaine Appleton / Melling 5-6 Putnam / Morris

Nick Van den Berg 6-1 Johnny Archer Souquet / Melling 6-2 Van Boening / Morris

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 16

BY: LUKE RICHES

JIM WYCH & ANDY GOLDSTEIN LUKE RICHES JOHN MCDONALD

PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY DON “CHEESE” AKERLOW

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MICHAELA TABB

(Mosconi Cup continued on page 18)

www.TheBreakMagazine.com January 2012 - The Break 21January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 17 PHOTOS COURTESY OF: JP PARMENTIER / MATCHROOM SPORT

NIELS FEIJEN (HOLLAND)“This (being the Most Valuable Player) is something I’ve been dreaming about this for seven years, every year I’ve played in it.”

CHRIS MELLING (EUROPE): “It was unbelievable. There’s a lot of pressure and people back home don’t realise how much pressure you’re under as you have the whole continent and your friends to play for.”

DARREN APPLETON: (ENGLAND)“But we played well at the end and had a lot of fire inside us - Niels is a fantastic player to play with.”

RALF SOUQUET (GERMANY): “It’s not over until the fat lady sings and we want to win the next two and finish it off. We have quite a comfortable lead but it’s still a long road.”

NICK VAN DEN BERG (HOLLAND): “Johnny Archer was probably the best American player so far but he didn’t get a chance so I’m very happy with the way I played. We tried to keep our heads up.”

18 Stroke Magazine - January 2012

EUROPE has successfully defended the PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup following a convincing 11-7 victory over the USA at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It was Holland’s Niels Feijen, in his seventh Mosconi Cup, who downed the winning 9 ball which sparked mayhem as his team mates flooded the arena.It also delivered Feijen the Most Valuable Player award, achieved for two singles and two doubles wins: “It got a bit shaky but they went in,” he said of his 6-3 victory over Rodney Morris to seal the Mosconi Cup.“I just want to thank the crowd, the British and Europeans and you need them to make it. There were some immense moments and thanks to the coach for doing a super job. He gave us speeches every morning and kept us sharp.”The Americans, who had trailed 10-5 at the start of the day, won the opening two games to leave the Europeans looking a little edgy.“Even this morning, there was pressure on us and we knew they would come out strongly. There was some heat to get over the finish line but these guys are just so good,” continued Feijen.“Being the Most Valuable Player is something I’ve been dreaming about this for seven years, every year I’ve played in it.”Johnny Archer, playing in his 15th Mosconi Cup was stoical in defeat; “We lost a couple of matches we should’ve won and they blitzed us in a few matches. We all gave it our best and will do it again next time. Hats off to their team, they hung in there when things didn’t look good.”The opening match of the day saw Shane Van Boening put in an excellent performance to keep US hopes alive as he comfortably beat Nick Van den Berg 6-2. The South Dakota Kid kept his team in the competition on Saturday night when he beat the same opponent in a close match but this time he pulled away from 2-2 to take the victory.

Still fighting, a dogged display from veteran Johnny Archer kept USA fires alight as he put paid to Darren Appleton’s hopes of a repeat MVP trophy.It was left to Niels Feijen to bring home the bacon for Team Europe as he faced off against Rodney Morris. The Hawaiian had not been at his best this week but had showed flashes of his best form at times.A poor safety from Morris gave Feijen an opportunity in the opener but he scratched, drawing the ball down table and into the centre pocket and Morris, with ball in hand, ran out. Feijen took the next with a tidy run out and went into a 2-1 lead when Morris scratched on the break and handed him an open table.Another excellent run out, this time from Morris, levelled the scores at 2-2, before Feijen took the lead, thumping a tricky 9 ball into to the top corner pocket. He increased that lead as he was given ball in hand after a Morris foul and Europe were two racks away from glory.That became one rack as Feijen took the next before a dry break from the Dutchman gave Morris a chance in what was a high quality match, and the Hawaiian ran through the table to reduce arrears to 5-3.Morris broke in the next and with the table open, he missed a horrible pot on the 2 ball. Feijen though, with nerves creeping in, missed it himself. Finally a shocking safety from Morris on the 5 ball was to prove to be the Americans last contribution to the event as Feijen ran out for a glorious victory.

Europe 11– 7 USAFEIJEN BRINGS IT HOME FOR EUROPE

TEAM EUROPE is now one match away from retaining the PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup after a one-sided blitz on the American team in front of a standing room only crowd at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.After getting the better of things yesterday, the Americans entered the day with high hopes but were battered from start to finish with only Shane Van Boening contributing some red to the score board.Needing a great start to the day, the USA lost an exciting opener as Appleton and Feijen got the better of Dechaine and Putnam by 6-3. That restored the Europeans three point lead that they held at the start of day one, but the final rack of the match was one of the best safety battles in Mosconi history as all four players took turns to leave the cue ball tucked up.It was Feijen who broke the deadlock as he made a table length bank on the blue 2 and from there the Europeans ran out to take the match.“Yesterday we lost the first doubles match 6-5 but Niels and Nick had played well. You need a bit of luck at the right time and we had a couple of rolls there,” said Appleton.“But we played well at the end and had a lot of fire inside us - Niels is a fantastic player to play with,” he added.There was more misery for Putnam in the next as he was easily beaten by a fired-up Darren Appleton as Europe moved into an 8-4 lead. The tone was set in the opening rack as Putnam looked to be heading for a run out but missed a howler of a 9 ball to hand the rack to Europe. The big man never really recovered from that and further errors sealed his fate.The third match featured Johnny Archer and Rodney Morris against Niels Feijen and Ralf Souquet and for the American side it was desperate stuff. 8-4 soon became 9-4 as the lacklustre American pair failed to make any sort of dent in the confident Europeans’ armour.

“When we had a training camp we played with each other and figured out what teams were working out and Johan then picked the pairings,” said Souquet.“It’s not over until the fat lady sings and we want to win the next two and finish it off. We have quite a comfortable lead but it’s still a long road.”Feijen added “When everyone is scoring points in front of you it takes the pressure off. We’ve clicked really well and have a great team spirit and a great team.”It was Shane Van Boening who finally stopped the rot and ensured a final day of play as he endured a torrid match against Nick Van den Berg that went all the way to a decider. Van Boening had led 5-2 at one stage but the plucky Dutchman fought back to level it at 5-5 and breaking in the final rack he found himself favourite.A dry break got the American back to the table and he played a superb slow roll on the 1 ball to set up a difficult run out which Van Boening completed to keep his side in the competition.Finally it was left to Chris Melling to turn the screw and put his side on the hill as he beat Mike Dechaine 6-2 in a clash of the rookies.Melling looked as confident as ever and his win leaves him in the running for MVP honours.“It was unbelievable. There’s a lot of pressure and people back home don’t realise how much pressure you’re under as you have the whole continent and your friends to play for.”

Appleton/Feijen6-3Putnam/Dechaine DarrenAppleton6-2ShawnPutnam Feijen/Souquet6-2Archer/Morris NickVandenBerg5-6ShaneVanBoening ChrisMelling6-2MikeDechaine

Europe 10– 5 USAEUROPE ONE AWAY FROM GLORY

NickVandenBerg2-6ShaneVanBoening DarrenAppleton3-6JohnnyArcher NielsFeijen6-3RodneyMorris

BY: LUKE RICHES

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 19

2010: EUROPE 11- 8 USA (YORK HALL, BETHNAL GREEN, LONDON) Europe: Darren Appleton (England) (MVP), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Nick Van den Berg (Holland), Mika Immonen (Finland), Karl Boyes (England) USA: Johnny Archer, Shane Van Boening, Rodney Morris, Dennis Hatch, Corey Deuel2009: USA 11-7 EUROPE (MGM GRAND, LAS VEGAS, USA) USA: Johnny Archer, Shane Van Boening, Corey Deuel, Oscar Dominguez, Dennis Hatch. Europe: Ralf Souquet (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Niels Feijen (Holland), Darren Appleton (England), Thorsten Hohmann (Germany)2008: EUROPE 11-5 USA (HILTON HOTEL, VALLETTA, MALTA) Europe: Ralf Souquet (Germany), Niels Feijen (Holland), Mika Immonen (Finland), Mark Gray (England), Tony Drago (Malta) USA: Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Jeremy Jones, Shane Van Boening2007: EUROPE 11-8 USA (MGM GRAND HOTEL, LAS VEGAS) Europe: Ralf Souquet (Germany), Niels Feijen (Holland), Konstantin Stepanov (Russia), Daryl Peach (England), Tony Drago (Malta) USA: Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Corey Deuel, Shane Van Boening2006: USA 11-11 EUROPE (CRUISE TERMINAL, ROTTTERDAM, HOLLAND) Europe: Nick van den Berg (Holland), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Niels Feijen (Holland), Imran Majid (England), David Alcaide (Spain) USA: Johnny Archer, Corey Deuel, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, John Schmidt, Mike Davis2005: USA 11-6 EUROPE (MGM GRAND HOTEL, LAS VEGAS) Europe: Alex Lely (Holland), Mika Immonen (Finland), Niels Feijen (Holland), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Raj Hundal (UK), Thorsten Hohmann (Germany) USA: Johnny Archer, Shawn Putnam, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Charlie Williams, Jeremy Jones2004: USA 12-9 EUROPE (HOTEL ZUIDERDUIN, EGMOND AAN ZEE, HOLLAND) Europe: Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Niels Feijen (Holland), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK), Thomas Engert (Germany) USA: Johnny Archer, Gabe Owen, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Charlie Williams, Tony Robles2003: USA 11-9 EUROPE (MGM GRAND HOTEL, LAS VEGAS) Europe: Oliver Ortmann (Germany) non-playing captain, Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Nick van den Berg (Holland), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK), Thorsten Hohmann (Germany) USA: Nick Varner non-playing captain, Johnny Archer, Jeremy Jones, Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, Charlie Williams, Tony Robles2002: EUROPE 12-9 USA (YORK HALL, BETHNAL GREEN) Europe: Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Nick van den Berg (Holland), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK) USA: Johnny Archer, Nick Varner, Jeremy Jones, Corey Deuel, Earl Strickland, Charlie Williams2001: USA 12-1 EUROPE (YORK HALL, BETHNAL GREEN) Europe: Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Niels Feijen (Holland), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK) USA: Johnny Archer, Nick Varner, Jeremy Jones, Corey Deuel, Earl Strickland, Charlie Williams2000: USA 12-9 EUROPE (YORK HALL, BETHNAL GREEN) Europe: Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Thomas Engert (Germany), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK) USA: Johnny Archer, Shannon Daulton, Jeremy Jones, Corey Deuel, Earl Strickland, Michael Coltrain1999: USA 12-7 EUROPE (YORK HALL, BETHNAL GREEN) Europe: Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Alex Lely (Holland), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Steve Davis (UK) USA: Johnny Archer, Kim Davenport, Jeremy Jones, Jim Rempe, Earl Strickland, Michael Coltrain1998: USA 13-9 EUROPE (YORK HALL, BETHNAL GREEN) Europe: Ralf Souquet (Germany), Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Steve Davis (UK), Fabio Petroni (Italy) USA: Kim Davenport, Johnny Archer, Earl Strickland, Reed Pierce, Nick Varner, Jim Rempe1997: USA 13-8 EUROPE (YORK HALL, BETHNAL GREEN) Europe: Steve Davis (UK), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ronnie O’Sullivan (UK), Tommy Donlon (UK) USA: Earl Strickland, Kim Davenport, Johnny Archer, Jim Rempe, Nick Varner, Reed Pierce1996: USA 15-13EUROPE (GORESBROOK LEISURE CENTRE, DAGENHAM) Europe: Steve Davis (UK), Vincent Facquet (France), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Oliver Ortmann, (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ronnie O’Sullivan (UK), Andy Richardson (UK) USA: Earl Strickland, Mike Massey, CJ Wiley, Roger Griffis, Shannon Daulton, Allen Hopkins, Danny Harriman1995: EUROPE 16-15 USA (FESTIVAL HALL, BASILDON) Europe: Daryl Peach (UK), Steve Davis (UK), Alex Higgins (UK), Lee Kendall (UK), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Tom Storm (Sweden), Jimmy White (UK) USA: Lou Butera, Mike Massey, Robert Hunter, Dallas West, Mark Wilson, Mike Gulyassy, John DiToro1994: USA 16-12 EUROPE (ROLLERBOWL, ROMFORD) Europe: Ralf Souquet (Germany), Steve Davis (UK), Lee Tucker (UK), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Tom Storm (Sweden), Jimmy White (UK), Franziska Stark (Germany), Allison Fisher (UK) USA: Lou Butera, Paul Gerni, Bobby Hunter, Dallas West, Mark Wilson, Mike Gulyassy, Jeanette Lee, Vivian Villarreal

MOSCONI CUP HISTORY

(Mosconi Cup continued on page 20)

20 Stroke Magazine - January 2012

TRACK RECORDS

Johnny Archer (GA) (1997 thru 2010) 14 69 36 (52%) 33Earl Strickland (NC) (1996 thru 2008) 13 60 39 (65%) 21Rodney Morris (HI) (2003 thru 08 & 2010) 7 35 20 (57%) 15Corey Deuel (OH) (00,01,02,06,07,09,10) 7 32 18 (56%) 14Jeremy Jones (TX) (99,00,01,02,03,05,08) 7 33 17 (52%) 16Charlie Williams (FL) (01,02,03,04,05) 5 21 12 (57%) 9Shane Van Boening (SD) (07,08,09,10) 4 19 8 (42%) 11Nick Varner (KY) (97,98,01,02) 4 19 8 (42%) 11Kim Davenport (CA) (97,98,99) 3 14 8 (57%) 6Jim Rempe (PA) (97,98,99) 3 14 7 (50%) 7Dennis Hatch (NY) (09,10) 2 10 7 (70%) 3Lou Butera (CA) (94,95) 2 11 6 (55%) 5Bob Hunter (NV) (94,95) 2 11 6 (55%) 5Shannon Daulton (KY) (96,00) 2 10 6 (60%) 4Reed Pierce (MS) (97,98) 2 10 5 (50%) 5Dallas West (IL) (94,95) 2 9 5 (56%) 4Michael Coltrain (NC) (99,00) 2 10 4 (40%) 6Mark Wilson (MO) (94,95) 2 9 4 (44%) 5Mike Gulyassy (FL) (94,95) 2 7 4 (57%) 3Mike Massey (NV) (95,96) 2 10 3 (30%) 7Tony Robles (NY) (03,04) 2 9 3 (33%) 6Vivian Villarreal (TX) (94) 1 5 5 (100%) 0C J Wiley (TX) (96) 1 5 4 (80%) 1Gabe Owen (OK) (04) 1 5 4 (80%) 1Jeanette Lee (IN) (94) 1 4 4 (100%) 0Mike Davis (MD) (06) 1 6 3 (50%) 3John Di Toro (FL) (95) 1 5 3 (60%) 2Oscar Dominguez (CA) (09) 1 5 2 (40%) 2Shawn Putnam (OH) (05) 1 5 2 (40%) 3Roger Griffis (TX) (96) 1 4 2 (50%) 2Allen Hopkins (NJ) (96) 1 4 2 (50%) 2John Schmidt (FL) (06) 1 6 1 (17%) 5Danny Harriman (MO) (96) 1 4 1 (25%) 3Paul Gerni (KS) (94) 1 3 0 (0%) 3

Total Cup Wins: U.S.A. 12 - 6 EUROPE

USA EUROPERalf Souquet (DE) (94,96 thru 03,06 thru 10) 14 71 42 (59%) 29Mika Immonen (FI) (96 thru 06,08 thru 10) 14 70 37 (53%) 33Steve Davis (UK) (94 thru 04) 11 52 22 (42%) 30Oliver Ortmann (DE) (94,95,96,97,98,99,02,04) 8 40 18 (45%) 22Niels Feijen (NL) (01,04,05,07,08,09) 6 27 15 (56%) 12Marcus Chamat (SE) (00,01,02,03,04,05) 6 26 11 (42%) 15Nick Van den Berg (NL) (02,03,06,10) 4 20 8 (40%) 12Steve Knight (UK) (98,99,00,01) 4 18 8 (44%) 10Thorsten Hohmann (DE) (03,05,09) 3 14 6 (43%) 8Thomas Engert (DE) (00,04,06) 3 16 4 (25%) 12Tom Storm (SE) (94,95) 2 11 7 (64%) 4Darren Appleton (UK) (09,10) 2 9 4 (44%) 5Ronnie O’Sullivan (UK) (96,97) 2 9 4 (44%) 5Tony Drago (Malta) (07,08) 2 8 4 (50%) 4Daryl Peach (UK) (95,07) 2 11 3 (27%) 8Jimmy White (UK) (94,95) 2 8 3 (38%) 5Alex Lely (NL) (99,05) 2 8 2 (25%) 6Karl Boyes (UK) (10) 1 5 4 (80%) 1David Alcaide (ES) (06) 1 6 3 (50%) 3Imran Majid (UK) (06) 1 6 2 (33%) 4Tommy Donlon (IE) (97) 1 5 2 (50%) 3Lee Kendall (UK) (95) 1 5 2 (40%) 3Konstantin Stepanov (RU) (07) 1 5 2 (40%) 3Fabio Petroni (IT) (98) 1 5 1 (20%) 4Franziska Stark (DE) (94) 1 5 0 (0%) 5Lee Tucker (UK) (94) 1 4 2 (50%) 2Raj Hundal (UK) (05) 1 4 1 (25%) 3Vincent Facquet (FR) (96) 1 4 1 (25%) 3Alex Higgins (N IR) (95) 1 4 1 (25%) 3Andy Richardson (UK) (96) 1 4 1 (25%) 3Mark Gray (UK) (08) 1 3 1 (33%) 2Alison Fisher (UK) (94) 1 3 0 (0%) 3

Cups

Played Matc

hes

Played

WonLost Cups

Played Matc

hes

Played

WonLost

1994 - 2010 Does Not Include 2011 Scores

Players Yea

r(s)

Played

Players Yea

r(s)

Played

From

From

RESULTS

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 21

Ed Hugh wins A/D 9 Ball Tri-State at Cue Nine Billiards. Ed, winner at Amsterdam's A/D in September, repeated his performance in grand style. With a strong break, outstanding kicking and fearless play, he clearly, earned his way to the winner's circle. His tournament trail included wins over Mark Parel 7 - 3 and Charles Eames 7 - 3, before suffering a loss to Beau Baer 7 - 4. Undaunted by the loss, Ed went on to defeat Mark Perel for a second time 7 - 4; Eddie Perez 8 - 5, avenged himself against Beau 7 - 5, and in the Final against Hector Ruiz, cinched first place with a 10 - 4 victory. Not to be denied his due, Hector Ruiz is to be congratulated for his fine play. Having gone undefeated to the hot seat, after defeating one of the strongest players in the field, Beau Baer 8 - 7. Expect to hear more from him in the future. The next Tri-State event is a $1250 Added B/D to be will be held next week, December 3rd. Please provide a thank you to Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Ron Tarr Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics for their sponsorship leading to this event.

1st $610.00 Ed Hugh2nd $300.00 Hector Ruiz3rd $180.00 Beau Baer4th $120.00 Eddie Perez5th - 6th Mark Perel, Tony Ignomirello 7th - 8th Gary Murgia, Keith Diaz 9th - 12th Charles Aemes, Alex Platonov Mike Strassberg, Quin Y. Chen

Left to right: 2nd Place Hector Ruiz; 1st Place Ed Hugh; 3rd Place Beau Baer

HUGH WINS in GRAND STYLE

Shane Van Boening added another entry to his already impressive resume, with a win at the last major event of the year; the Joss NE 9-Ball Tour's Turning Stone Classic XVIII at the Turning Stone Casino & Resort in Verona, NY.

Van Boening took an early trip to the one loss side in this event, as he dropped a fourth round match to Shawn Putnam 9-8. Putnam would then lose his next match to Rodney Morris 9-5 and join Van Boening on the one loss side.

Morris would continue through the winners side, until he lost to Raj Hundal 9-4 in a lackluster hot seat match.

Hundal was having a great tournament with notable wins over John Morra, young gun Dustin Morris and Ralf Souquet on his way to the hot-seat match with Morris.

Meanwhile, Van Boening was running through a very tough one loss side. Van Boening notched left side wins against Larry Nevel, Joss Tour points leader Bucky Souvanthong, Earl Strickland, Dennis Hatch, Mike Dechaine and Ralf Souquet before eliminating Rodney Morris to set up the match with Hundal in the extended single set finals.

The final race to 13 match between Hundal and Van Boening went back and forth, with neither player able to capture a significant lead. With the score tied at 8-8, Van Boening started to take control of the match. Hundal would only manage one more rack as Van Boening won the match 13-9.

VAn BoeninG WINS Turning STone ClaSSiC XViii

- BY AZB STAFF - AZBILLIARDS.COM

Resu

lts1st $8,000 Shane Van Boening

2nd $5,000 Raj Hundal 3rd $3,600 Rodney Morris4th $2,600 Ralf Souquet5/6th $2,000 Mike Dechaine, Darren Appleton 7/8th $1,600 Dennis Hatch, Brandon Shuff 9/12th $1,200 Jason Klatt, Shawn Putnam Earl Strickland, Dustin Morris 13/16th $850 Bucky Souvanthong, Johnathan Pinegar Erik Hjorleifson, Stevie Moore17/24th $550 Mike Davis, Oscar Dominguez Zion Zvi, Dan Thompson, Larry Nevel Chris Lynch, Oscar Bonilla Shane Winters25/32nd $300 Brian Brekke, Randy Labonte Dave Fernandez, Louis Ulrich Ruben Bautista, Dan Heidrich Joshua Ulrich, Russ Philp

22 Stroke Magazine - January 2012

SHANE VAN BOENINGPhoto by: Don “Cheese” Akerlow

RESULTS

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 23

Dan Cintron split win in A/D 9 Ball Tri-State at Cue Bar. His tournament trail included wins over Basdeo Sookhai 8 - 6; Ed Hugh 7 - 4; Carl Yusuf Khan 8 - 6; Steve Wade 10 - 8; and a split decision for the win against Carl Yusuf Khan "The Warrior". Carl was a major threat to win having blazed a trail through a tough draw. Some of his victories included Ed Culhane 7 - 5; Keith Adamik the strong "A" from Eastern NY 7 - 1 and Gary Murgia 7 - 3. Both Steve Wade and Rene Villalobos deserve praise for their strong finish placing 3rd and 4th respectively. Enough can not be said about the beautiful conditions at Cue Bar and the congeniality of Sammy, Nikko and Richard. The next Tri-State event is $2000 Added A/D with Double Points to be held at Gotham Billiards in Brooklyn, NY , January 7 & 8, 2012. Please provide a thank you to Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Ron Tarr Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics for their sponsorship leading to this event.

Left to right: 1st Place Dan Cintron; 2nd Place Carl Yusuf Khan

1st $610.00 Dan Cintron2nd $400.00 Carl Yusuf Khan3rd $250.00 Steve Wade4th $150.00 Rene Villalobos5th/6th $90/$90 Gary Murgia, Keith Diaz7th/8th $70/$70 Keith Adamik, Vincent Morris9th/12th Ed Hugh, Raul Reyes Thomas Shuler, Anthony Mattia

CINTRON geTS SpliT DeCiSion

WIN

24 Stroke Magazine - January 2012

$250 Added GuaranteedBar 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

Coming

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players-hxt-final-7-26-11-PB.indd 1 7/26/2011 5:54:37 PM

BISON BILLIARDS SCOREBOARDMONTHLY BAR BOX 12-3-11

1st Mark Hatch $250.00 plus $100.002nd Bobby Schroeder $125.00 plus $50.003rd Santo Merlo $75.004th Nick Brucati $30.00

ONE POCKET 12-4-11 Fran Imburgia beats Mark Hatch!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1st Fran Imburgia $100.002nd Mark hatch $35.00Thanks to Tim Majors(Alabama), and Ralph Tate(Ohio) for their participation. It was great having you guys here for the one pocket tournament. Stop back next time you’re in town.

PEOPLE INCORPORATED’S CHRISTMAS PARTY

Along with good food, fun, and good conversation, People Inc. had a “draw your partner” 8 ball tournament. There were 14 teams competing for 1st place and a pair of trophies.!st place Joe and Ian2nd place Stacy and Kevin3rd & 4th Nick and Kathy Jen and BronsonBISON BOYZ WIN AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bison Boyz finished in 1st place in the Monday Night APA league.This was a real team effort led by the strong play of Dave Wright, who also won the “top gun” award for the session. Congrats to Danny Kolacz, Dave and Cheryl Wright,

Shawn McCluskey, Tom Scherrer, Vicki Schara, Brent Karamanos, and Mike Shriver. This was a tough race, 9 points seperated all the teams.

Have you ever heard of a tournament with multiple divisions being played in multiple locations by players spread out across the country simultaneously? Behind The Rock Tour (BTRT) pulled it off for the third time this year with participants hailing from Cues Billiards in Marietta, Georgia, Black Diamond Billiards in Spokane, and Malarkey’s in Tacoma. Using the scored game “211” developed by BTRT, handicaps, and the internet, all three rooms played at the same time. The competition started with a videotaped “throw down” by the East Coasters to the Westies. The tournament lasted two days and resulted in some very strong play by the top shooters. The big-talking Georgia clan came close to the money, but the Washington rooms took home all the loot!Players qualified by participating in eleven prior “211” matches over the four months leading up to the weekend event. “211” is defined as 10-Ball versus The Ghost with some minor variations and with scoring which allows statistical handicapping. The tournament consisted of three rounds: Preliminary, Sudden Death, and Finals. The Preliminary Round consisted of each player posting two match scores with only the top 75% advancing to the Sudden Death Round. Sudden Death was just that – each player plays one match with the top third net scorers moving to the Finals Round. The Finals Round was a battle on Sunday where each person plays two matches with only the best net scores determining the final rankings.The tension built right away as players finished playing their Preliminary Round matches and the scores were uploaded to the website. Players watched the web page with anticipation waiting to see if they played well enough to make the cut to the next round. Three personal bests (PB) were posted in the Open Division as the top five scores combined with handicaps went to Eric Sawyer (PB=84) 178.41, Leon Thomas (PB= 76) 175.99, Brian Dietzenbach (85) 175.05, David Holloway (PB=62) 167.17, and Larry Francisco (65) 161.30. The top five finishers in the Intermediate Division were Giselle Cole, Linda Thompson, Pat Pilgrim, Clara Silvas, and Elaine Eberly.The Sudden Death round started immediately after the 1st round. Again the anticipation grew quickly as the players finished their matches and scores were uploaded to the website. Players huddled around the monitor at each location

waiting to see if their match was good enough for a chance to play in the Finals Round on Sunday. The fight for the last two qualifying spots in the Open Division was a difference of just 2.08 points separating 4 players. Mind you, all players in these divisions have handicaps that go out to the one one/hundredth of a point. Clark Smith slid into the 4th position by 0.24 of a point over Ren Hone who just squeezed by Seth Cumby by 0.34 of a point with David Holloway only out by less than two points. The Intermediate division came down to Pat Pilgrim pushing Giselle Cole out of the Finals Round by a mere 1.53 points. On Sunday, the Finals Round finishes in the Open division were:1st Robert Colby (89) 168.56 Malarkey’s, Tacoma WA $408.002nd Deby Welfringer (52) 151.14 Malarkey’s, Tacoma WA $200.003rd Ren Hone (45) 148.01 Black Diamond, Spokane WA $130.00(Ren is our second eldest and wisest member on the tour who is, let’s say senior. Happy Birthday, Ren!)4th Dennis Hostak (51) 146.27 Malarkey’s, Tacoma WA $87.00(Just for the record Dennis is our eldest and wisest player on the tour)5th Clark Smith (50) 142.25 Malarkey’s, Tacoma WA $43.00Intermediate Division1st Linda Thompson (29) 147.17 Black Diamond, Spokane WA $165.002nd Pat Pilgrim (29) 143.53 Malarkey’s, Tacoma WA $110.00Congrats to all who made it to the finals. The next BTRT Tri-Annual Event will be held March 30-April 1, 2012. Currently over 50 new players are establishing their averages and another 100 or so are qualifying in variety of rooms across the country. This next event could have as many as a dozen participating rooms and a hundred players in the simultaneous tournament event. Check out www.BehindTheRockTour.com to find out more about the tour, “211”, and the Tri-Annual Tournaments. Whether you’re interested in playing or own a pool room, contact them through the website or call 253-226-3594. BTRT would like to thank the Event Coordinators and all tour members for their support and participation. The Tour is growing week by week resulting in bigger and more payouts each week. Get involved!

EAST COASTERS vs THE WESTIES

January 2012 - Stroke Magazine 25

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26 Stroke Magazine - January 2012

DATE CITY LOCATION PHONE EVENT / RULES ENTRY ADDED TIME

Call First - All Tournaments are subject to change without notice

Jan 7 Buffalo, NY Bison Billiards (716) 632-0281 8-Ball Bar Box $35 (incl g.f.) $250 Guar NoonJan 7 Raleigh, NC Brass Tap & Billiards (919) 876-2382 9-Ball / AA-A-B-C Ranks $25 $100 w/32 1:00PMJan 7-8 Lynchburg, VA Club House Billiards (434) 851-4100 9-Ball Amateur Call $1,500 CallJan 7-8 Brooklyn, NY Gotham City Billiards (718) 714-1002 9-Ball tri State Tour A-B-C-D Call $2,000 CallJan 14 Holiday, FL Hammerheads (727) 939-9494 Tiger SE Open $45 $1,000 Guar 11:30AMJan 14 E Rugherford, NJ Castle Billiards (201) 933-6007 9-Ball Tri State Tour A-B-C-D Call $500 CallJan 14-15 Raleigh, NC Brown’s Billiards (919) 878-9092 9-Ball Amateur Call $1,500 CallJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 9-Ball Banks - $50 buy back $100+$10 reg. $10,000 Guar NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 One Pocket - $75 buy back $125+$10 reg. $15,000 Guar NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 9-Ball - $100 buy back $150+$10 reg. $10,000 Guar NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 9-Ball Minis $25+$5 reg. $1,000 NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 9-Ball Bank Minis $25+$5 reg. $1,000 NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 One Pocket Minis $25+$5 reg. $1,000 NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 14.1 Challenge $100. $8,500 NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 FATBOY Challenge $500 $10,000 NoonJan 20-28 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 One Pocket Challenge $50 $12,500 min NoonJan 24 Elizabeth, IN Horseshoe (812) 288-7665 Bank Ring Game Call Call 10PMJan 21-22 Raleigh, NC Brass Tap & Billiards (919) 876-2382 9-Ball / AA-A-B-C Ranks $25 $100 w/32 1:00PMJan 28-29 Palm Harbor, FL Strokers Billiards (727) 786-6683 9-Ball Amateur /Open 10-Ball Call $2,000 CallFeb 4 Buffalo, NY Bison Billiards (716) 632-0281 8-Ball Bar Box $35 (incl g.f.) $250 Guar NoonFeb 4-5 Bellflower, CA CSI (702) 719-7665 9-Ball Jay Swanson Mem. $80 $3,000 Guar CallFeb 12-19 Reno, NV CSI (702) 719-7665 10-Ball Bar Table Open Call $6,000 CallFeb 12-19 Reno, NV CSI (702) 719-7665 10-Ball Bar Table Women Call $1,000 w/16 CallFeb 12-19 Reno, NV CSI (702) 719-7665 9-Ball Bar Table Open Call $6,000 CallFeb 12-19 Reno, NV CSI (702) 719-7665 9-Ball Bar Table Women Call $1,000 w/16 CallFeb 12-19 Reno, NV CSI (702) 719-7665 8-Ball Bar Table Open Call $6,000 CallFeb 12-19 Reno, NV CSI (702) 719-7665 8-Ball Bar Table Open/Wmn Call $1,000 w/16 CallFeb 18-19 Winter Park, FL Cue-Phoria Billiards (321) 972-1867 9-Ball Amateur/Open 10-Ball Call $2,000 CallFeb 25 Ft. Pierce, FL Ultimate Billiards (772) 464-7665 Flamingo Billiards Tour Call Call CallMar 3-4 Tallahasse, FL Zingales Billiards (850) 224-8644 9-Ball Amateur/Open 10-Ball Call $2,000 CallMar 10-11 Lafayette, LA White Diamond Billiards (337) 989-9889 9-Ball Mini Tournament $20 Call CallMar 10-11 Lafayette, LA White Diamond Billiards (337) 989-9889 9-Ball Bar Table - Race to 7 $40 $1,000 w/128 9AMMay 9-20 Las Vegas, NV BCAPL (702) 719-7665 BCAPL Nationals Varies $800,000 payout CallMay 10-13 Las Vegas, NV CSI (702) 719-7665 U S Open One Pocket Call $10,000 Guar CallMay 14-19 Las Vegas, NV BCAPL (702) 719-7665 U S Open 10-Ball Call $25,000 Guar Call

Live Streaming of Pool Tournaments Call 4 Info 406.285.3099

Presents

Presents

“Come Celebrate the Life of a Gentle Giant”

Tournament Entry

ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE AT WWW.CTSONDEMAND.COM

17450 Bellflower Blvd., Bellflower, CA 90706 (562) 867-7733

No Checks After January 21, 2012

All mailed entries must be received no later than January 31, 2012

On-site entries will be accepted in CASH ONLY.

Make Checks payable to: CueSports International or CSI

Mail to: CueSports Intl, 2041 Pabco Rd., Henderson, NV 89011

Fax Entries to: (702) 719-7667. CSI Phone: (702) 719-7665

www.hardtimesbellflower.com

Open to All Players / Doors Open at 9 a.m. Play Begins at 10 a.m.(includes $20 reg./green fee + $5 late fee)

(includes $20 reg./green fee)Race to 7 winner side ~ 6 one loss side (final 48 one loss side to 7)

Final Single Race to 11 ~ Double Elimination.

Field Limited to 192 Players. Early Sign-Ups Encouraged.

(we reserve the right to modify races to accomodate tournament time restraints)

$3,000 Added Guaranteed

$4,000 Added With Full Field

February 4 - 5, 2012$80.00 Entry Fee

$85.00 Day of Event

Hard Times Billiards

The 16th Annual Jay Swanson

Memorial 9-Ball Tournamenthosted by

20

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the

GR

AN

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RES

OR

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nd

CA

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Open Division

10-Ball ($6000 Added)

9-Ball ($6000 Added)

8-Ball ($6000 Added)

Women’s Division

10-Ball ($1000 Added*)

9-Ball ($1000 Added*)

8-Ball ($1000 Added*)

*Based on Minimum 16 Players

All Around Bonuses*

Open: 1st - 3rd Point Leaders

Women’s: 1st - 2nd Point Leaders

*Must compete in all 3 divisions (Open or Womens)

to qualify for the All Around Bonus Points and Awards.

to reach CSI call (702) 719-7665

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