Charlie Williams Sweeps (14.1) Tournament at the Super Billiards Expo + Wins Facebook Race Challenge!
March 31, 2010
Charlie Williams
Prior to the Super Billiards Expo, Charlie Williams was challenged to a race on Facebook by an aspiring player and pool fan. So at the Expo, Charlie found the time in his busy schedule to race the player…
While at the Super Billiards Expo Charlie also made a statement by defeating “Team CSI” member John Schmidt, in the finals of the first-ever Expo Straight Pool Challenge. Congratulations to Charlie for showing the world his speed, in more ways than one.
Be sure to read the story for the story by Long Island player and pool promoter, Charles Eames.
Check out the YouTube video produced by “Jerry T” NYCgrind.com
Unlikely Favorites Dominic Noe and Josh Brothers Meet in the Finals of the Mezz Tour at Riley’s Concord Billiards
March 30, 2010
Room Owner Chris Riley with Josh Brothers & Dominic Noe
With many of the area’s players still in high gear from the Super Billiards Expo and ready to stay on the grind, it’s no surprise that the Mezz Tour’s fifth event of the season had a strong turnout of 41 players from around the region roll in to Riley’s Concord Billiards in Boothwyn, PA.
However, what may come as a surprise to some is that Riley’s did not see Eddie Abraham, Matt Krah, Joey Testa, or Adam Kielar in the finals, although they all attended. Instead, going to the finals undefeated in the winner’s bracket was Dominic Noe from Arlington, MD. Meanwhile, Josh Brothers took the long way to the finals… after an early loss to Brandon Slualis, Brothers defeated Adam Kielar, Joey Testa, Marty Ciccia, Brandon Slualis, and Bob Burt (7-0) to get to the finals.
Read on for the entire story and from the Mezz Pro-Am 9-ball Tour…
Megan Smith wins 2010 Season Opener on the JPNEWT Tour in Frederick, Maryland
March 30, 2010
Briana Miller (2nd), & Megan Smith (1st) with Champions Billiards room owner.
Last weekend, March 27-28, the top female pool players from across the East Coast came out to compete in the J. Pechauer Northeast Women’s Tour’s opening event of the 2010 season, at Champions Billiards in Frederick, MD. This tour has a strong tradition of drawing some of the toughest talent to compete in the region’s premier WPBA qualifier tour, and this event was no exception, brining in 31 players from as far as Florida.
This event featured a number of NYC players, including Erin McManus, Neslihan Gurel, Yomaylin Feliz, and Kiss of Death team members Gail Glazebrook, Michele Li, Borana Andoni, and Olga Gashkova, who finished tied for 7th in this event.
Standing out with a breakthrough undefeated win at this event was Reading, PA WPBA Pro, Megan Smith. Megan had two second place finishes in 2009, but put her stamp on 2010 with this first place finish in the season’s opener. Read on for more details in the press release from tour director, Linda Haywood-Shea.
Continue reading “Megan Smith wins 2010 Season Opener on the JPNEWT Tour in Frederick, Maryland” »
Expo Overview by NYC Grind Contributing Writer Geoff Conway
March 26, 2010
Shane Van Boening (Photo by Don Hettriachy)
By NYC Grind Contributor, Geoff Conway
First, let me say there is a reason why this mammoth event is has the word “super” in its title. This event, which caters for both the pros and amateurs alike, is run in such a slick manner that all of the people involved in its operation, of course including Allen Hopkins Sr. and Allen Jr, should all take a bow. It really is a SUPER event. Click here to check out all of our photo galleries from each day of the Expo.
This year’s Super Billiards Expo was even bigger than last year, yet ran its course without a glitch. As I have said before, this event draws amateurs from the most far-flung parts of the USA, and it is looked upon by many as their yearly pool pilgrimage. They get to meet old friends, buy that stick they have been promising themselves, and see if they can get one round further than last year, in what ever discipline they are playing in.
A new event was added to the proceedings: a warm-up 9-ball event that was held on Wednesday evening at 7pm to get the players ready for the main events, beginning on Thursday. Allen thought it might bring in 64 players, but to his surprise he got over 200 entries. Allen is proposing to run the event again next year, but start it earlier on Wednesday, to cater for the higher number of entrants.
The format of this event was the first to win two out of three races to 3. The entry fee was $55, and Allen told me that he paid out over $14,000 in prize money to this event, and he expects it to be even bigger next year.
Continue reading “Expo Overview by NYC Grind Contributing Writer Geoff Conway” »
Episode #1 of “Kiss of Death”: KOD Team Dynamics
March 25, 2010
Team "Kiss of Death" (Photo by Jonathan Smith)
NYCgrind.com Launches the “Kiss of Death” Web Series
Press Release by Alison M. Fischer
March 25, 2010, New York, NY:
NYCgrind.com is proud to present the first episode in our new web series, “Kiss of Death“. This series, presented byPoison Billiards, will follow the ladies of team “Kiss of Death” throughout the weeks leading up to the BCAPL National 8-ball Championships, where they will compete in the Masters Team Division for the first time, after going undefeated in the Women’s Open Championship in 2009 in a field of 143 teams.
Each episode of the 12-week series will be five minutes or less, and will hit the web at 8:00 pm EST every Thursday on YouTube and Blip.tv, with the exception of the first episode, which will go live at 9:00 pm. In the first episode, “KOD Team Dynamics“, NYC Grind will take you inside Kiss of Death’s first team meeting of the year, and introduce each of the players: team captain Gail Glazebrook, Michele Li, Emily Duddy, Borana Andoni, Olga Gashkova, and Alison Fischer, who joined the meeting via Skype.
The big news for Kiss of Death in this episode is that teammate Emily Duddy had just qualified for a spot on the WPBA women’s pro tour after finishing in the top nine at the WPBA Regional Tour Championship, making her the first girl on the team to get a tour card for the WPBA… definitely cause for celebration. We will also get a look at KOD’s trip to Raxx Pool Room in Hempstead, NY for the Predator 9-ball Tour’s Empire State Amateur Championship, where a number of the KOD girls competed.
NYC Grind founder and “Kiss of Death” director/producer, Jerry Tarantola says, “The ‘Kiss of Death’ web series is the first of its kind, and has all of the elements to educate, inspire, and entertain. In 2009, ‘KOD’ was coined the “Hottest team in Vegas“, and the girls proved that they really have game by winning the event, undefeated. This team of girls have a really fun and interesting dynamic, and their progress as players will surely build their already-impressive buzz.”
NYC Grind would like to give special thanks to the Kiss of Death players, Poison Billiards, Tony Robles & The Predator 9-ball Tour, Amsterdam Billiard Club, Jonathan Smith, and William Fuentes for their contributions to this project.
To learn more visit www.NYCgrind.com
The “Kiss of Death” web series is sponsored by Poison Billiards.
Poison Billiards - Killer Engineering
“Kiss of Death” is also brought to you by…
Amsterdam Billiards, NYC - Not Just a Pool Hall
NYC Grind’s “Kiss of Death” Web Series to Launch Today at 9:00 pm
March 25, 2010
KOD team members Alison Ficher, Gail Glazebrook, Olga Gashkova, & Borana Andoni at the Expo (Photo by John Yee)
Another one of the most-anticipated pool events in the U.S. is coming up on the horizon: the BCAPL National 8-ball Championships. This event is known not only for its fierce 8-ball competition, but it is also known as hosting one of the toughest team pool events in the country.
Many, many teams from around the country, including NYC, are now gearing up for this event, held annually in May at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Among them will be my team, the 2009 Women’s Open Team Champions, “Kiss of Death.” However, after making it through the field of 143 open division teams, we must now return to play in the Women’s Masters division, and take the competition to a higher level.
Along with this new challenge, NYC Grind will be following Kiss of Death’s progress in a new web series, sponsored by Poison Billiards, as we prepare in the nine weeks leading up to Vegas. The show, initially set to launch on Tuesday, will be hitting the web with its first episode later today, Thursday, March 25, at 8pm EST. This will be a 12-week series that will take an inside look at Kiss of Death’s progress and preparation as a team, and as individual players.
Check out our latest video from the Super Billiards Expo with a little preview to the series…
You can also watch the video in full size on NYC Grind’s YouTube page…
New Super Billiards Expo Mash-Up Video… Plus a Preview of NYC Grind’s New Web Series featuring “Kiss of Death”
March 23, 2010
"Ginky" George SanSouci at the Super Billiards Expo
After four long days in Valley Forge at the Super Billiards Expo, the players have all returned back to their respective hometowns and get to evaluate how their performances went… or maybe they’re headed back with a great new cue from one of the many cue makers at the Expo.
However, if you didn’t get to make it out to Valley Forge this year, and you’re wondering what you missed out on, NYC Grind can fill you in. To give you a feel for what the Expo was like this year, we are presenting a series of short videos… the first of which is a “mash-up” video combining different elements of the event, from the tournaments, to the vendors, to the interaction with pro players like Mika Immonen, who is one of the players you’ll see in the video.
Also, in this video, you’ll get a sneak peek at the new web series, “Kiss of Death“, that NYC Grind is launching later this evening, sponsored by Poison Billiards. As you may know, “Kiss of Death” is the New York-based female team that claimed the title of BCAPL National Women’s Open 8-ball Champions in 2009, comprised of Gail Glazebrook, Borana Andoni, Olga Gashkova, Michele Li, Emily Duddy, and myself, Alison Fischer. This 12-week documentary-style web series will chronicle Kiss of Death’s path to the 2010 National Championships in Las Vegas, coming up in May.
Check out the “mash-up” video from the Super Billiards Expo below…
“Kwikfire” Kelly Fisher Tears Through the Women’s 10-Ball Event at the Super Billiards Expo
March 23, 2010
Kelly Fisher (Photo by Raphael Dabreo)
In the invitation-only Women’s Pro 10-Ball Event at the Expo, sixteen players were called on to compete for a $2,500 first prize… however, only one player stood head and shoulders above the crowd.
This would be 5-time WPBA champion, “Kwikfire” Kelly Fisher, who dominated this single-elimination event to finish off with a final win against Canada’s young rising star, Brittany Bryant.
Although Brittany is a relative newcomer to the WPBA and only 18 years old, for the 2009 season, she finished in the top 30, above the ranks of many tour veterans. Prior to landing a spot on the pro tour, she claimed name to the 2008 World Junior 9-ball Championship and is the reigning Canadian Women’s 8-ball and 9-ball Champion.
Shane Van Boening Makes a Statement in Claiming His Second Win at the Allen Hopkins Super Billiards Expo
March 23, 2010
Allen Hopkins, Shane Van Boening, & referee Frank Del Pizzo (Photo by Don Hettiaratchy)
SUPER BILLIARDS EXPO SATURDAY NIGHT PRO ACTION
By NYC Grind Contributor, Geoff Conway – Pool Junkie
Saturday evening saw the last four players standing on the winner’s side. The players left standing were John Pinegar against Shane Van Boening, and Thorsten Hohmann up against Corey Deuel, to find who would play for the hot seat.
Waiting on the one-loss side was Dennis Hatch after his win against Mike Davis, which he won with a score line of 9-7, and Shawn Putnam, who ended Rodney Morris’s chances of taking down the title.
Johnathan Pinegar came out the winner in a close game with Shane, and continued his fine shooting to deposit Shane into the waiting arms of Dennis Hatch. This match was always fairly close, with Shane being down 5-3 three in the earlier stages of the match, only to turn it around to 7-5 in his favor at one point. However, Mr. Pinegar never got the memo that Shane should get the win at this point. He dug in and took every game from this point on to end up the winner at 9-7.
I have been impressed with not only the skills of Mr. Pinegar all week, but his coolness at the table. No matter how hard the shot he always kept his composure, and came up with the correct solution. This now put Pinegar in the hot seat on the winner’s side, to wait for his finals match on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 pm.
Click here to go to the photo gallery from the final day of the Expo…
Jonathan “Hennessee” Pinegar Secures the Hot Seat in Valley Forge
March 21, 2010
Jonathan "Hennessee" Pinegar
The three professional events at the 2010 Super Billiards Expo are now getting into the final day… the Diamond Open 10-ball Pro Championships, the Women’s Pro Challenge, and the Artistic Pool Masters Championships.
Here is the breakdown on how things played out in the Diamond Pro Championships event yesterday, written by the Geoff Conway.
Click here to go to our photo gallery from Day 3 at the Expo…
SATURDAY MORNING 11:30 AM MATCHES AT THE SUPER BILLIARDS EXPO
The 11:30 am matches on Saturday were all from the loser’s bracket, here is the breakdown of the results…
Jamie Baraks ended his week in this round when he came up against Marlon Manalo. This match looked as though it would go the way of Baraks, when the score got to 5-2 in his favor. An hour later it was a different story, when Manalo fought back to take the win.
The next match up was the pairing of Mike Dechaine against Ralph Eckert from Germany. There was no holding back Mike in this match, and he just outplayed Mr. Eckert, to end his run in the event by a score line of 9-4.
Continue reading “Jonathan “Hennessee” Pinegar Secures the Hot Seat in Valley Forge” »
