The WPA World Junior 9-ball Championships is in the Heat of Battle in Reno

Right now, the WPA World Junior 9-ball Championship is deep in competition in Reno, Nevada at the Peppermill Resort.

The top junior champions from around the world have worked hard to qualify in one of the most prestigious events in the world for young players.

Currently, the event is being streamed live by Two Cushion Club Live, you can watch it on Ustream here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/twocushionclublive

There are some exciting matches scheduled for tonight and tomorrow.  Among the players to be featured are American players Jesse Engel, whose stock has been on the rise since his big wins over Earl Strickland and Mike Sigel, along with Briana Miller, who has been tearing it up at many of the women’s pro/am events in the Northeast including the JPNEWT Tour.

Boys Semifinal: Ruslan Chinahov (Russia) vs Jesse Engel (USA) at 10pm EST this evening (7pm Pacific)

Girls Hot Seat Match: Brittany Bryant (Canada) vs Briana Miller (USA) 12:00 midnight EST this eventing (9pm Pacific)

Visit www.WPA-pool.com for more information about this and other WPA events.

Borana Andoni and Caroline Pao Take Top Mezz Honors at Skyline Billiards

Story & Photos by NYC Grind Contributor, Charles Eames

Though the turnout was low spirits were high as five competitors took to the tables in this mini Mezz event at Skyline Billiards. Caroline Pao, Linda Cheung, Denise Reeve, Susan Williams and Borana Andoni were in attendance for this exciting five way shootout.

First round action saw a nail biter in the match between Denise Reeve and Linda Cheung as they went hill hill in a race to seven. Neither player seemed to be able to get started or gain momentum in this match as racks went back and forth one by one. An unforced error in the last rack however with a scratch in the bottom corner pocket led to Denise’s downfall against Cheung. Another great matchup was Caroline Pao against Susan Williams who is on her way to the WPBA event in Niagara Falls. Caroline herself is no stranger to WPBA play and the spectators at Skyline Billiards were buzzing about this one. Although Caroline played great it wasn’t to be as Susan went on to win the match with a score of 7-4. Some fantastic position play and shot making led to this win and would send Susan into the winner’s side final.

On the loser’s side, Caroline Pao was itching to take her revenge out on anybody who came to the table and her first victim was the outmatched Denise Reeve. Caroline’s experience was evident in the match, and at no point did she seem concerned as she took Denise down 7-1.
Next up would see winner’s side action with the “Killer B” herself Borana Andoni taking on first round winner Linda Cheung. Borana had sat waiting with a bye in the first round and the time away from the table did not deter her from the mission at hand. Borana looked like a woman possessed as she steamrolled this match 7-1. By the fourth rack the frustration was evident on Linda’s face as she hadn’t taken a game away from the hot handed Andoni. In the sixth rack, Cheung would take a game and try to mount a comeback but it was too little too late as Andoni would take the next two games and the match.

Continue reading “Borana Andoni and Caroline Pao Take Top Mezz Honors at Skyline Billiards” »

The 1994 Mosconi Cup: Allison Fisher’s Gateway to the U.S. and the WPBA Tour

By NYC Grind Contributor, Geoff Conway

After recently learning that Hall of Famer and former World Champion Allison Fisher was a member of the first European Mosconi Cup Team in 1994, I was prompted to contact her to ask the question:

“What do you remember from that first Mosconi all those years ago, and is there anything memorable from it that comes to mind.”

Allison replied, “Well Geoff, I do remember it quite clearly and remember not playing that well, as I did not really know how to play nine ball in those days, as snooker was my game of choice at that time.  But nonetheless, it was a great honor at the time to be chosen, and I of course had no idea that the event would turn into what is probably the biggest event of the year, and the one that every player wants to make the team.

As you know, the first year the Mosconi Cup was played, two women were included in each of the teams of eight, and I have always hoped that one day that they would reintroduce that format into the event. I think it would be interesting and would be something that the fans would enjoy.

In reply to your asking if I remember anything memorable coming from the event…. I actually remember Vivian Villarreal, who was also on the USA team that year, talking to me in-depth about the WPBA 9-ball Tour that was thriving in the States at that time. You know I actually think that it was that particular conversation that lead to me packing my bags and moving to the States with a one way ticket, six months later.”

Well there you have it folks, the Duchess of Doom probably became one of the most widely-recognized pool players in the world, by her own admission, following a not-so-good showing in the first Mosconi Cup way back in 1994. Who would have thought that the young snooker import would in the next two years become World Champion, and repeat the achievement many times over in her career… a career in which she still shines to this day.

Allen Wong & Richard Ng Share Top Honors at the Master Billiards Tri-State Tour Stop

All good things must come to an end, and last weekend on Saturday, November 20th, Master Billiards hosted its final Tri-State Tour event, as it will be closing its doors, at least temporarily, on November 30th.  Sadly, room owner Ben Minn has fallen ill and will face major surgery soon, so he will be unable to continue running the pool room.  All of us at NYC Grind, along with the Tri-State Tour would like to thank Mr. Minn for his support of billiards in New York and we wish him a full and speedy recovery, and best of luck in his future endeavors.

A field of 34 players came out to compete in this A/B/C/D Tri-State event and show their support for the Master Billiards in one of the last tournaments to be held there.  Two of the Tri-State’s young up-and-coming players, Allen Wong and Richard Ng would prove to be the top players at this event.  While both Allen and Richard hail from Sandcastle Billiards in Edison, NJ, and when the two met to face off in the finals, they decided to call it a day and celebrate with their friends.

Allen Wong would go to the hot seat undefeated, after wins versus Yomaylin “Smiley” Feliz 6-3, Andrew Cleary 7-4, Alex Borukhovich 6-2, Antonio Navarro 6-4, and Basdeo Sookhai 7-3.  On the one-loss side, Richard Ng successfully won five consecutive matches to land in the final match.  Richard fought through a number of close matches including wins against Alex Borukhovich 6-5, Arturo Reyes 7-6, and in the semifinal, Basdeo “Shawn” Sookhai 7-5 to land in the finals… As the undefeated player, Allen Wong was declared winner after the two decided to split for the finals.  Congratulations to both Allen and Richard for their top showings at this event!

Continue reading “Allen Wong & Richard Ng Share Top Honors at the Master Billiards Tri-State Tour Stop” »

Mike Miller Masters the Mezz Tour at Castle Billiards

The Mezz Pro-Am 9-ball Tour made its way to Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday, November 21st.  Players including Mike Miller, Josh Brothers, Manny Chau, Jeremy Sossei, Victor Nau, Matt Krah, and Scott Simonetti were among the toughest in the field at Castle, and the action would get tough as they battled it out for a first prize of $872.  The Mezz Tour would like to give special thanks to Castle Billiards’ owners John & Minnie Trobiano and their wonderful staff for hosting the event.

Leading the top half of the bracket in this event was Mike Miler, who escaped with a hill-hill win over Spanky Kaba 7-6, followed by John Trobiano 7-2, Shaun Dobson 7-2, and Jeremy Sossei 7-5.  In the bottom half of the bracket, Josh Brothers was in control with wins over Frankie Ramos 7-4, Tippy 7-0, Matt Krah 7-4, and Victor Nau 7-3.

This set Mike Miller and Josh Brothers up for the match do determine the winner of the winner’s bracket.  This was a great match that went hill-hill, but when it was all said and done, Mike Miller walked away as the winner at 7-6, and sending Brothers to the one-loss side.

Continue reading “Mike Miller Masters the Mezz Tour at Castle Billiards” »

The 2010 Mosconi Cup is Almost Upon Us – Will Home Ground Advantage Help the Euro Team Avenge Last Year’s 11-7 Loss?

By NYC Grind Contributor, Geoff Conway – Pool Junkie

The Mosconi Cup this year will be held at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, which many think of as the home of the Mosconi Cup, having hosted the event from 1997 through 2002–six years. The very first Mosconi Cup took place at the “Rollerbowl” in Romford, near London in 1994, with a team of eight format, comprising of six men and two women. The European team was made up of mainly famous snooker players, along with the now world-famous Allison Fisher, who was still two years away from becoming a star on the US pro 9 ball scene.

To date, the score line on this prestigious event is Team USA 11 to Team Europe 4, with one draw (12-12 in 2006). Following the tied match, in 2006 the European side won the next two years running…11-8 in 2007 and 11-5 in 2008, and went into last year’s Mosconi at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as clear favorites. Well, things did not go their way and the USA side came out the victors with a score line of 11-7 in their favor.

This year, the European team will be out to avenge that loss, and will definitely have the home crowd advantage. The York Hall is noted for showcasing World Championship boxing matches, and is famous for its partisan crowds. It was very noticeable at last year’s Mosconi that the crowd was almost 100% American, in addition to the help of Dennis Hatch firing up the crowd while earning himself the title of MVP (Most Vocal Person on team), was definitely a major influence in the USA winning the Cup.

Continue reading “The 2010 Mosconi Cup is Almost Upon Us – Will Home Ground Advantage Help the Euro Team Avenge Last Year’s 11-7 Loss?” »

Virginia Tech Sweeps the University of Michigan Team Pool Championships

Last week, NYC Grind announced one of the most exciting events in the country for collegiate pool players–The University of Michigan Team Pool Championships.  We got the inside scoop on how the tournament went down from U of M’s Elizabeth LaBelle… read on for more!

The 7th Annual University of Michigan Team Pool Championships kicked off with a full field of 16 teams hailing from nine states and one Canadian province.  The three-day event started Friday afternoon with the Modified Straight Pool competition.  The Virginia Tech Hokies handily won the event with 215 balls run.  Captain Mike Robertson had a personal score of 70 (highest single inning run of 26), securing 100 bonus points for his team.  Coming in second place was the University of Illinois’ United Nations (161 balls run) with the University of Michigan taking third (156 balls run).

The Scotch Doubles 9-Ball event also meant victory for Virginia Tech.  Partners Mike Robertson and David Mudre worked through the one-loss side to face Michigan’s Ryan Lawrence and Winston Seow.  The race to eleven was a nail biter Virginia Tech took the lead early, but Michigan battled back, eventually tying at 6.  Virginia Tech reached the hill first, but Michigan fought back in a series of defensive struggles, bringing Michigan’s number of wins to 8.  In the 19th game, Mudre hooked teammate Robertson behind the 8; he successfully navigated around it, only to later scratch out of a safety left by Lawrence.  Robertson later redeemed himself, winning the match for his team, when he sank the 9-ball left for him by Seow.

Continue reading “Virginia Tech Sweeps the University of Michigan Team Pool Championships” »

Spanky Kaba Snaps off the Mezz Tour at Rockaway Billiards Undefeated

The Mezz Pro-Am Tour’s 28th stop of the season was hosted by Rockaway Billiards in Rockaway, NJ on Sunday, November 14th.  The Mezz Tour would like to thank Rockaway Billiards’ room owner Bob Guerra and his wonderful staff for hosting the event. The some of the notable players who competed in this event included Josh Brothers, Mike Miller, Spanky Kaba, Bob Guerra, Mike Watson, Carl Khan, and Wali Muhammad.

Leading the top half of the bracket was Bob Guerra, wins over Carl Khan 7-2, Jay Brotherton 7-5, and Mike Watson 7-6.  Meanwhile, the player who took charge in the bottom half of the bracket was Spanky Kaba, with wins over Devil Dave 7-2, Mike Miller 7-5, and Josh Brothers 7-3.

Spanky Kaba then faced off against Bob Guerra as the final two players in the winner’s bracket… this was a great match that had Guerra winning 6-3 only to see Spanky come back and steal the match on the hill at 7-6 and sen Guerra to the one-loss side.  Waiting for Bob Guerra on the one-loss side was Josh Brothers, who would win easily 7-3 to move on to the finals.

Continue reading “Spanky Kaba Snaps off the Mezz Tour at Rockaway Billiards Undefeated” »

Accu-Stats Game Show Jackpot Kicks off Tonight at Breaker Billiards!

This week, starting this evening, Pat Fleming and the Accu-Stats team will be featuring some great live shows from Breaker Billiards in Clifton, NJ on www.Accu-Stats.com.

Below is This Week’s Game Show Schedule:

Tonight, Wednesday, November 17th: 9-ball Game Show, start time 8:15 with $1,200 towards the 9:30pm and 11:00pm jackpots.

Thursday, November 18th: 8-ball Game Show, start time 8:15pm with $1,600 towards towards the 9:30pm and 10:30pm jackpots.

Friday, November 19: 10-Ball Game Show at 8:15PM with $4,200 towards 9:30pm and 11:00pm Jackpots.

Also, on Pay-Per-View at Accu-Stats.com, “Pat’s Straight Pool Lessons #2″ is scheduled for 11pm Thursday, Nov. 18.  No fee at Breaker Billiards.  $5 fee for Pay-Per-View.

Matthew Harricharan Bounces Back to win Predator Tour Stop #17 at Castle Billiards

By NYC Grind Editor, Alison M. Fischer

The Ozone Billiards Predator Tour 2010 season is winding down, and only one tour stop remains before the $3,000-added Tour Finale on December 11-12, which will be held at Raxx Pool Room, Bar & Grill in West Hempstead, NY.

For their most recent tour stop on November 6th, The Predator Tour held an A/B/C/D-only 9-ball event at Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ.  Tony Robles & the Predator Tour would like to thank the Castle Billiards staff & owners John & Minnie Trobiano for their hospitality in hosting this event.

A field of thirty-seven players made their way out to Castle to compete for top honors, as well as points towards the 2010 Player of the Year standings.  This event would be the last event of the season worth double points, and the finalists would definitely see some swings in the standings with the conclusion of this event.

One of the tour’s young breakthrough players, Matthew Harricharan, showed his best game in this event.  As fate would have it, after a first-round bye, Matthew would have to go to battle against friend and tournament road partner, Troy Deocharran, who he defeated 7-3.  From there, Matthew went on to beat Andrew Kane 7-2, Luis Novas 7-5, and Erin McManus 7-4 to make it to the winner’s bracket final in the C/D half of the bracket.

Meanwhile, in the A/B bracket up-and-coming PA player Derek Schwager would dominate.  After a first-round bye, Derek took wins over Thomas Wan 7-3, Scott Simonetti 7-5, Jack Smith 7-4, and finally Juan Guzman 7-6 to go to the hot seat match vs Matthew Harricharan.  Derek won this match handily, with a final score of 7-2 to guarantee him a spot in the finals.
Continue reading “Matthew Harricharan Bounces Back to win Predator Tour Stop #17 at Castle Billiards” »

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