CSI (Cue Sports International) comes to NJ for 14.1/Straight Pool Championship Qualifier
July 31, 2009

The NCS (National Championship Series) offers a chance for players from across the country to qualify for high-quality national events in the fields of 9-ball, 10-ball, 8-ball, one pocket, and straight pool.
The (NCS) National Championship Series is hosted and promoted by CSI (Cue Sports International). You can find out more info visiting their site - www.playcsipool.com
This weekend (August 1st and 2nd), pool player friendly Comet Billiards will host the 14.1/Straight Pool qualifier for CSI’s Straight Pool Championships.
Comet Billiards is a great room that supports the emerging sport of billiards, and boasts the very impressive Accu-Stats Arena. The Accu-Stats Arena has sparked pool in the NY/NJ area offering professional Billiards productions that supports many NY/NJ area tours as well as their famous “Game Show” with Break and Run Jackpot.

The Accu-Stats Arena at Comet Billiards
NJ has a rich history of straight pool, and will also host this years Straight Pool World Championships, which is coming up this August (24-29th). The World Straight Pool World Championships will also take place at Comet Billiards.
The CSI qualifier will be a great warm up for players looking to participate, or looking to rub shoulders with some of the players who will be playing in the event.
Cuetable Interview with Tony Robles + Photo Gallery from the Predator Tour at Amsterdam
July 30, 2009

Tony Robles interviewed by Jerry T
At the Predator Tour event at Amsterdam Billiards last weekend, Tony Robles was faced with a less-than-desirable layout after making a ball on the break. After finishing out the match, Tony spoke with NYC Grind’s Jerry T and Wei Chao of Cuetable.com about how he decided to play out that table.
In this post, you will find the CueTable diagram with the table that Tony approached, as well as a video of Tony speaking with Wei about the decision he made.
Our photo gallery from the tournament is also posted. Click Here to check it out.
For the story from the 10th Predator Event, which Mika Immonen won and Zion Zvi came in second… Click Here.
Continue reading “Cuetable Interview with Tony Robles + Photo Gallery from the Predator Tour at Amsterdam” »
Mezz Classic is a Hot Ticket (Straight Pool + 10 Ball)
July 30, 2009

Dragon Promotions has recently announced that Hotticket.tv will be streaming the upcoming Mezz Classic Live.
The Mezz Classic is the first Pro event that the Japanese based cue manufacturer is sponsoring, with the intention to promote the sport of pool in the US.
Big names like Shane Van Boening, Mika Immonen, Rodney Morris and Thorsten Hohmann, will be battling with some of the best up an coming pool players in the US.
Read the story to read the announcement.
Continue reading “Mezz Classic is a Hot Ticket (Straight Pool + 10 Ball)” »
Mika Immonen Dominates at the Predator Tour’s Amsterdam Billiards Stop
July 28, 2009

Zion Zvi & Mika Immonen
A full field of 64 pool players quickly sold out the Predator Tour’s 10th event of the season. Even though it was a beautiful summer weekend, the field was filled in 40 minutes. The popular Manhattan locale drew top local and regional players to come out to show NYC’s knowledgeable crowd that they’ve got game.
Standout names that were in attendance were Frankie Hernandez, Tony Robles, Mika Immonen, “Ginky” George Sansouci, Al Lapena, Zion Zvi, “Spain” Marc Vidal, Matt Krah and Bobby Blackmore.
Amsterdam Billiards has a history of hosting pro events and exhibitions, as well as bringing celebrities around the game of pool. While there were no notable celebrities in attendance, each of the 64 players were looking to make a statement at the NYC hotspot.
Click Here to check out our photo gallery from this event.
Continue reading “Mika Immonen Dominates at the Predator Tour’s Amsterdam Billiards Stop” »
Revive Da Live – NoiseMakers w/ Peter Rosenberg featuring Raekwon at 92Y
July 28, 2009

NoiseMakers w/ Peter Rosenberg
Featuring Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan
+ A Special Musical Tribute presented by Revive Da Live
w/ The Cypher Wednesday//July 29, 2009//7pm
@ 92Y Tribeca
200 Hudson St.
New York, NY, 10013
Limited Tickets Still Available Here
More Info: www.rosenbergradio.com
Media Guestlist Info: mspence@soulrebelmedia.com
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 at 92Y Tribeca in New York City (200 Hudson St., NYC, NY), Noisemakers with Peter Rosenberg returns!
This time around, legendary lyricist and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon joins Peter Rosenberg to discuss his life, music, influences and legacy.
Raekwon joins a distinguished short list of previous Noisemakers guests – DJ Premier, ?uestlove and Q-Tip. You don’t want to miss this! A limited amount of tix are still available here now!
Read the story for video from previous NoiseMakers events.
Continue reading “Revive Da Live – NoiseMakers w/ Peter Rosenberg featuring Raekwon at 92Y” »
WPBA Touring Pro Sarah Rousey Joins PoolDawg.com
July 27, 2009

Sarah Rousey
Recently, PoolDawg.com has announced its sponsorship of WPBA Touring Pro, Sarah Rousey. Sarah is based in Bloomington, Illinois, and has been working hard on the WPBA tour since 2003, as well as touring internationally
Sarah Rousey is definitely becoming of the most recognized players on the WPBA, and is currently ranked #13 on the tour, after finishing #12 for the 2008 season. Sarh competes at the international level in women’s events, as well as a number of men’s pro events, and is a great representative for the sport of pool. To learn more about Sarah Rousey, visit her website: sarahrousey9ball.com and her blog: www.sarahrousey.blogspot.com
Along with their support of Sarah, PoolDawg has also been very active in supporting other areas of pool recently, including the live streaming of all of the WPBA’s events this year, as well as the upcoming Shooting Star Classic on September 4-7, in Mahnomen, Minnesota.
Check out the story to learn more…
Continue reading “WPBA Touring Pro Sarah Rousey Joins PoolDawg.com” »
Find NYCgrind.com on Facebook… And “Thank You” To Our Readers!
July 27, 2009

NYC Grind's new Facebook page
Greetings from the world wide web, pool fans! NYC Grind has just launched it’s new fan page on Facebook, you can click here to check it out. It’s a great way to connect with other people who hang out “On the Grind” and get the latest news.
And from all of us at NYC Grind, “THANK YOU!” to all of our readers & viewers (both old and new) for your support. We’re always evolving and working hard to provide a unique perspective on what’s going on, so we welcome your comments and feedback!
Summer may be dwindling, but the pool scene will be staying hot on NYC Grind!
- AF
Pool Instruction: CueTips #9 – Preparing for Tournament Competition
July 26, 2009

George San Souci competing at the Predator Tour at Comet Billiards
By NYC Grind Contributor, Mark Finkelstein
I just finished playing in the latest event on the Predator Tour. What a great tournament, well run, lots of great players, and excellent equipment. I haven’t played in too many tournaments lately, and had a lot of fun relearning the lessons that competition teaches us.
I was planning on picking out a shot or two that I saw at the tournament and writing about that, but instead, I thought it might be useful to talk about practicing and preparing for a tournament.
The focus of this article is: how do you prepare for a tournament?
Continue reading “Pool Instruction: CueTips #9 – Preparing for Tournament Competition” »
Lake of Stars Fundraiser and Breakthrough Artist Jasper James “Rocket” Release Party @ F Word
July 26, 2009

Breakthrough Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter, Jasper James celebrates the release of her new single “Rocket” on August 1st in NYC. Jasper James is going to be performing as part of a fundraiser for the Lake of the Stars Festival.
LAKE OF STARS is an award winning three-day music festival that takes place in the heart of Africa on Lake Malawi. The event promotes Malawian music and tourism and raises funds for charity in the tradition of Live Aid and WOMAD. Proceeds from the festival are donated to charitable projects in the festival site area.
It has been said that you can feel the rythym of the earth in this place.
Togetherness, Love, Spirit, and Dance… sounds like what we need a little more of around NYC as well.
Jasper James has a unique sound, that flows from the heart… that gives the world a little more bounce for the ounce.
To get up to speed on all the details about the breakthrough artist Jasper James, and see promo video for the Lake of Stars festival, read the story.
ACUI National Collegiate 9-ball Champions Presented by Ozone Billiards Crowned at University of Illinois
July 25, 2009

Women's Champion, Shari Cui (left)
Every year, collegiate pool players from across the country compete to win a chance to participate in the ACUI Collegiate National 9-ball Championships. If you are a student in the U.S., you can attend one of the regional tournaments for a chance to qualify for this national event, held every summer.
Pictured above (left) is this year’s Women’s Division Champion, Shari Cui from the University of Illinois – Chicago, who won the Region 8 qualifier tournament to land a spot in the event. (Photo courtesy of the ACUI Region 8 website.)
Each year, the winners are awarded with scholarships, and this year Ozone Billiards joined the ACUI 9-ball Championships as the supporting scholarships sponsor.
After 48 hours of fierce, spirited competition, the 2009 ACUI 9-ball Championships are officially in the history books at Illinois State University. Fifty-three students representing 41 schools across the United States participated in this annual championship, dating back to 1937.
Read on for more the results from Betsy Sundholm of the ACUI.




