Episode #6 of the “Kiss of Death” Web Series: “Get Closer”

NYCgrind.com is proud to present the 6th episode of the “Kiss of Death” web series. This series, presented by Poison 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.

In Episode #6 of “Kiss of Death” NYC Grind follows members of KOD to Master Billiards for the 7th tour stop of the Ozone Billiards Predator 9-ball Tour. Team Captain Gail Glazebrook, who runs the tour with Tony Robles, gives us the inside scoop on how the tour has progressed and what their goals for the tour are. Next, KOD heads out of the pool room, where Olga Gashkova breaks down her Tae-Bo workout routine, and the girls discuss how working out has positively affected their pool games and their lives.

Check it out below, and watch the whole series so far at www.kissofdeath.blip.tv.

The “Kiss of Death” web series is sponsored by Poison Billiards.

“Kiss of Death” is also brought to you by Amsterdam Billiard Club.

U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship Qualifier Winners List Announced – NY Area Player Frankie Hernandez Earns a Spot

Eight qualifiers were held for the 2010 U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. Produced by CueSports International (CSI), the main event is scheduled May 17-22, 2010 at the Riviera Hotel & Casino, and has attracted both men and women players from across the globe, all vying for the $89,000 prize purse.

The following eight qualifier winners will be among the 128 player field:

Gus Briseno qualified February 7th at a special stop of the Desert Classic Tour in Arizona

Manny Chau qualified April 11th at First Break Cage, Sterling, VA

Greg Harada Jr. qualified February 20th at Butera’s, Moorpark, CA

Frankie Hernandez qualified in a points spot via Tony Robles’ Predator 9-Ball Tour

Edwin Montal qualified April 25th at Sharks Billiards, Alberta, Canada

Andrew Pettenger qualified April 18th at The Wynkoop, Denver, CO

Bill Stock qualified April 4th at Pool Sharks, Las Vegas, NV

Marc Vidal qualified April 11th at The Golden Fleece, Kenmore, WA

Some of the more notable names confirmed for the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship are: Efren Reyes, Earl Strickland, Jasmin Ouschan, Mika Immonen, Ralf Souquet, Kelly Fisher, Ricky Yang, Yu-Ram Cha, Dennis Hatch, Pin-Yi Ko, Darren Appleton, and Karl Boyes just to name a few of the illustrious participants in the event.

Players will be arriving from 18 countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, England, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United States.

Continue reading “U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship Qualifier Winners List Announced – NY Area Player Frankie Hernandez Earns a Spot” »

Frankie Hernandez and Phil Davis Claim Victories in the Ozone Billiards Predator Tour at Master Billiards

The Ozone Billiards Predator 9-Ball Tour made its sixth tour stop of the season at Master Billiards on April 24-25, 2010.

This event drew a full field of 64 amateurs, including many top up-and-coming players from the Tri-State area. Several standout players included Wilson Cruz, Michael Yednak, Mike Panzarella, Derek Schwager, Yesid Garibello, Stew Warnock, Mike Davis, and Phil Davis.

The event also featured an Open/Pro tournament, which drew several top legendary NY players, including Tony Robles, “Ginky” George Sansouci, and Frankie Hernandez.

Continue reading “Frankie Hernandez and Phil Davis Claim Victories in the Ozone Billiards Predator Tour at Master Billiards” »

Matchroom Sport Announces the Player List for the 2010 World Pool Masters

In its 17 years in running, the World Pool Masters has become one of the most highly-regarded titles in pool, on par with the WPA world titles and the US Open.  Each year, an elite group of 16 pool players from around the globe were invited to take part in this prestigious event.  However, in May 2010, the game is changing.

For the first time ever, Matchroom Sport, which produces the World Pool Masters, has opened up this event up to a 64-player field, made up of both invited players, as well as those who qualified through any number of qualifier events in different parts of the world.  And once again, the Masters will be held in conjunction with the BCAPL 8-ball Championships at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Included among the field are 11 players representing the U.S., including the entire 2009 winning Mosconi Cup team, made up of Johnny Archer, Corey Deuel, Dennis Hatch, Shane Van Boening, and Oscar Dominguez.  But, the challenge will be a heavy one tor these American players, with world powerhouse players like Ralf Souquet, Dennis Orcollo, Francisco Bustamante, and defending champion Darren Appleton, among many others.

Additionally, four of the most dominant female players in the game today will also be competing for the title.  Player of the Decade Allison Fisher, 2009 WPBA Tour Champion Ga-Young Kim, 2010 European All-Around Champion Jasmin Ouschan, and 2010 Amway Cup Champion Yu-Ram Cha will be facing off against the toughest players in the world, and as we have already seen, these four women are some of the select few who have been breaking through and challenging the top male players.  At the 2009 Predator International 10-ball Championships, we saw former US Open Champion Shane Van Boening fall to Korea’s Yu-Ram Cha, who was all but unknown a few short years ago.  This will be an exciting event to see how the ladies fare in.

Read on for the player list and more details on the event in the press release from Matchroom Sport.

Continue reading “Matchroom Sport Announces the Player List for the 2010 World Pool Masters” »

One of the Greatest Pool Players in the World Thorsten Hohmann Re-Launches a New & Improved Website

Two-time World Champion Thorsten Hohmann has just re-launched his new & improved website, ThorstenHohmann.com

If you are a sports fan living under a rock, or a socialite that who is more focused on keeping your camera’s and bottles poppin… NYCgrind.com is introducing someone you need to know.  But, if you thought you knew all about Thorsten before, you will be surprised at an even more in-depth look inside the life and career of one of the world’s premier players.

Thorsten Hohmann, known also by his nickname “The Hitman” for his ability to make quick work of his opponents on the pool table, is on the highest-level of competition in pool today, and will be seen competing in next month’s World Pool Masters along with the US Open 10-ball Championships in Las Vegas.

ThorstenHohmann.com has the latest news as well as many special features that fans will love.

Read on for all the details in the press release

Continue reading “One of the Greatest Pool Players in the World Thorsten Hohmann Re-Launches a New & Improved Website” »

Breakthrough Artist Jane Bang Rocks “Mating Season” at the Gallery Bar

Emerging gender-bending artist Jane Bang get’s the cameras and bottles popping at the Gallery Bar. Mating Season II was the title of a collaborative effort to bring together a unique expression of art and music.

The party and live performance took place at the downtown NYC hotspot on Thursday, April 15th. DJ – AK had the Gallery Bar rocking, before breakthrough artist Jane Bang’s feral sound took things to the next level.

NYCgrind.com produced  2 video spotlights for Mating Season II, which you can see below.

Be sure to watch the whole video to see Jane Bang perform Live.

The party was wild!

Jane Bang: Camera’s Poppin (Live Performance)

Jane Bang: She’s Hott (live performance)

Read the story to check out an exclusive Jane Bang interview!!!

Continue reading “Breakthrough Artist Jane Bang Rocks “Mating Season” at the Gallery Bar” »

The Ozone Billiards Predator Tour Stop #6 at Master Billiards This Weekend!

This weekend, April 24-25, the Ozone Billiards Predator Tour will be heading to Master Billiards in Sunnyside, Queens, NY for its sixth stop of the 2010 season.  Both amateurs and pros from around the NYC area will taking the 7 train to Master to get in on the action.  This season, the Predator Tour features separate divisions for Open/Pro players and A/B/C/D amateur players.

Some of the best players in the Northeast like George “Ginky” Sansouci, Shaun Wilkie, Jeremy Sossei, Matt Krah, and many others, can often be seen competing on the tour.  Also, a strong contingent of ladies can be seen competing in the A/B/C/D event, including Liz Ford, Erin McManus, Diana “Snooky” Rojas, and the ladies of “Kiss of Death“.

NYC Grind’s Jerry Tarantola will be on site providing coverage of the event this weekend.  Come down to Master and get in the action or stop down to watch some great pool! 

Read on for all the details on this event from tour director, Tony Robles…

Continue reading “The Ozone Billiards Predator Tour Stop #6 at Master Billiards This Weekend!” »

Episode #5 of the “Kiss of Death” Web Series: Positive Energy

NYCgrind.com is proud to present the fifth episode of the “Kiss of Death“ web series. This series, presented by Poison 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.

In the fifth episode of “Kiss of Death” the girls continue to build momentum going into Vegas. The BCAPL 8-Ball Championships are only 28 days away, where Kiss of Death will be competing in the team masters event.

Also in “Positive Energy,” Olga shares her unique perspective on the game, and show her teammates support in competition, as Emily and Gail battle at the NAPL in NY at Barfly, and continue to build momentum and positive energy.

Finally, the episode wraps up as team captain Gail Glazebrook shares some exciting news with the team…

Click read the story to watch Kiss of Death: Episode 5 on a larger viewer, of just be sure to maximize the player.

The “Kiss of Death” web series is sponsored by Poison Billiards.

“Kiss of Death” is also brought to you by Amsterdam Billiard Club.

Continue reading “Episode #5 of the “Kiss of Death” Web Series: Positive Energy” »

Stewart Warnock Closes Out a Gritty Win at Sandcastle Billiards on the Tri-State

The Tri-State Tour headed to Sandcastle Billiards in Edison, NJ on April 17 for their A-D 9-ball tour stop which featured 39 of the areas toughest amateurs.  Player in attendance included Dan Cintron, Wali Muhammed, Stewart Warnock, John Alicea, PA’s Randy Schwager, and Gary Murgia.

Making it through the field to the final four in the winner’s side, Randy Schwager would edge out Stewart Warnock “The Scottish Lion” in a battle that ended hill-hill, while George Osipovitch outlasted William Zazor, closing out their set 7-4.  Meeting in the match for the hot seat, Randy Schwager would secure a spot in the finals, defeating George Osipovitch in a close 9-6 match.

After his loss to Randy Schwager in the final four, Stewart Warnock went back into the heat of the battle.  He went on to defeat Serrafin Serrano (7-5), who had just come off of a dominant 7-2 win over John Alicea.

To follow that up, Stewart went 8-5 over Ron Mason, who had battled through the one-loss side to finish 4th.  On of Ron’s wins came in the final eight, where he defeated Adriane Rivera in a hill-hill battle.  As one of the few female players at the event, Adriane finished with a solid 4-2 win-loss record… which is particularly impressive because she was eight months pregnant while competing!  That is some serious dedication!

Continue reading “Stewart Warnock Closes Out a Gritty Win at Sandcastle Billiards on the Tri-State” »

Mika Immonen Digs Deep to Snap off the Mezz Tour at Skyline Billiards

By Jerry Tarantola, NYCgrind.com

The seventh event of the Mezz Tour season was hosted by Skyline Billiards in Brooklyn on Sunday, April 18th.  The strongest one-day pro/am tour drew a total of 30 players, including the world’s #1-ranked pool player and Mezz Cues representative, “The Iceman” Mika Immonen.  The “Iceman” has been taking the pool world by storm over the last few years, and continues to dominate many of the regional events in New York area.

Along with Mika, the event drew a number of up-and-coming NY-area players, along with several other notable players such as “The Silent Assassin” Tony Robles, Rob Pole, “Smitty” Daniel Smith, Mike Fingers, Mike Miller, and Jorge Rodriguez, along WPBA pros Caroline Pao and Jennifer Barretta.

Tough performances were seen a number of players at this event, including Skyline house player Sammy Wu, who went through the winner’s bracket in impressive fashion, with wins over Mike Wong (7-4), Juan Peralta (7-3), Oscar Bonilla (7-2), and Mika Immonen (7-5).  For the “hot seat”, Sammy lost a tough hill-hill battle to Gregg McAndrews, 7-6.

Gregg McAndrews had a breakthrough performance at this event, with super-impressive wins over Paul Bramwell (7-4), Tony Robles (7-6), Jorge Rodriguez (7-3), and Sammy Wu  (7-6)–earning a spot in finals, undefeated.

Dan Smith also played tough in this event. After winning his first two matches over Diana “Snooky” Rojas (7-5) and Mike Fingers (7-5), he fell to “The Iceman”, 7-2.  Smitty bounced back from his loss to Mika, and defeated Mike Wong (7-0), Oscar Bonilla (7-3), and Jorge Rodriguez (7-3), before losing his battle with Mika, 7-4.  On the weekend prior to this event, “Smitty” ran a 9-pack at the Joss Tour, and has been continuing to take his game to the next level… this event showcased several top up-and-coming players from .

Continue reading “Mika Immonen Digs Deep to Snap off the Mezz Tour at Skyline Billiards” »

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