Author: Paul

(Fujairah, UAE)–The World 8-ball Championship turned into a wide open race on Wednesday in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, as some of the games biggest names, including defending champion Dennis Orcullo, last year’s runner up Niels Feijen, and semi-finalist Darren Appleton all were sent packing barely after the knockout stages had gotten going.

Other big names, like former champions Ralf Souquet and Karl Boyes were also handed their walking papers. In all it amounted to a proverbial one day bloodletting in one of the sport’s biggest championships.

SAVING THE DAY FOR THE US
A GRITTY FIGHT BACK LEAVES MAX EBERLE THE LONE AMERICAN LEFT AS THE 2012 WORLD 8-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP MOVES INTO THE KNOCKOUT STAGES IN FUJAIRAH

(Fujairah, UAE)–Facing elimination, and bearing the burden of having to carry the hopes of the United States squarely on his shoulders, Max Eberle proved his mettle tonight at the Fujairah Tennis and Country club, pulling out a hard fought come from behind 7-4 win over Singapore’s Kwang Chan Ken to advance to the round of 64 knockout stage at the 2012 World 8-ball Championship.

Eberle, who originally hails from Ohio but now resides in Las Vegas, is now the sole American left in this year’s World 8-ball Championship. The single elimination knockout stage begins on Wednesday at 2pm(GMT +4). All matches will be race to 9, alternate break.

(Fujairah, UAE)–With a long day one in the books here at the 2012 World 8-ball Championship in Fujairah, UAE, certain trends are already becoming crystal clear.

The break shot is going to play a massive factor throughout the week in determining who stays and who takes a walk. With super tight pockets and responsive rails, the seven Knight Shot tables inside the Fujairah Tennis and Country Club are playing extremely difficult.  Which translates to any player not playing with an extra fine touch can forget about contending for the title.

All this clearly means that only those with the most developed skills, and the deepest experiences handling extreme pressure will be standing towards the end. And this is at it should be at the World Championship of 8-ball.

Named for beloved southern California player, Jay Swanson, the 16th Annual Jay Swanson Memorial 9-Ball Tournament (“œthe Swanee”) was hosted February 4-5 at Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, California. A tournament steeped in tradition, the event is a virtual who’s who of west coast US and Pacific Rim players. Produced by CueSports International (CSI) and sponsored by Hard Times Billiards, CSI and the Magic Ball Rack, the event is known for being a two day grinder with a heady 192 player field of heavy hitters.

The Rack in Memphis, TN had thier 29^th annual Super Bowl 9-Ball tournament and what a great tournament it was. With 98 players, the event encluded minis that ran all weekend.  Winner was John Hennessee, who also won last years.

Total payout was over $24,000.00 in prize money.

Not bad for a $35 tournament, HUH!

Laurel Highlands TAP in Western Pa. started the new year out in grand fashion with a 57 teams from three states attending the Titleholder event at the Cooperstown Vets in Derry, Pa. It was held on January 27 thru the 29th. The event has been the largest pool event in Western Pennsylvania for the past 12 years. The total prize pay out was over $13,000.
This year marks LH TAP’s 15th anniversary. The league was the first TAP league in the state of Pennsylvania back in 1997 and is one of TAP’s oldest leagues.
Teams were split up into two brackets.The 1st bracket or championship board was for the top teams in each of their respective league divisions. They were playing for the top prize of $4,000 and the Morgan Cup. The 2nd bracket was for lower placing teams in the fall session. Play off spots for TAP’s nationals in Charleston, S.C. this November were also awarded.
The Cooperstown Vets played host to a packed house of players and onlookers for the 3 day event. The Coop, as it is known locally, also kicked in to the winners an added $400.
The championship bracket saw for the first time ever, four teams that were all new to the Sunday final four. AMS Maxson from Greensburg, Pa. took it down led by their ace in the hole, Adam Maloney, the 2009 national collegiate champion. They bested Minersville PNA from Johnstown, Pa. in the finals. They were led by one of TAP’s original charter members, Rob Barmoy. Rob competed in the very first TAP Titleholder held way back in 1991. The prize pool then was $700! TAP has come a long way from that first one held in Virginia.
In the 2nd bracket Slovak Our Gang from Mt. Pleasant, Pa. and led by former TAP Valley Forge singles champion, Delbert Hall got the best of the Solomon Run Fire Hall from Johnstown, Pa.

2012 WPA WORLD 8-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS MONDAY IN THE ONLY PLACE TO EVER HOLD THE EVENT..FUJAIRAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.

BY TED LERNER

The international pool scene finally kicks off this February as the best pool players from all corners of the globe descend upon  the mountainous emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates to contest the WPA 2012 World 8-ball Championship.

The tournament will begin Monday Feb. 13 and run through the final on Feb. 17 at the Expo Centre in central Fujairah and offers a total of $156,000 in prize money with $20,000 going to the winner.  A stellar cast of 96 pool greats will make up the main field beginning on the 13th.

Fujairah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, and the only one on the Gulf of Oman in the country’s east instead of on the Persian Gulf (the other six emirates). Fujairah is the youngest of the seven emirates that make up the country. It is located in the central part of the Al Hajar Mountains. The capital of the emirate is the city of Fujairah.

Epic Battle of the Hall of Famers!

MT. PLEASANT, MI – The WPBA Masters at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort has now concluded, and the winner is none other than Ewa Mataya Laurance (right), defeating #2 ranked Allison Fisher (left) in an epic battle of two veteran champions!

BCA and WPBA Hall of Famer and former Grand Ledge, Michigan resident, Ewa Mataya Laurance took an early 2-1 lead in the short televised race to 7 against fellow BCA Hall of Famer, #2 ranked Allison Fisher. Ewa then extended the lead to 3-1, 4-1 and 5-1… And then Allison mounted a comeback!

Story & Photo by Ricky Bryant

Sunday January 23^rd, day three, of the 2012 Derby City Classic saw 312 players in the opening draw for One-Pocket.  Four days later on Thursday after 13 rounds and 503 matches the new champion would be crowned. The One-Pocket format is a race to three.  The final four in round 12 were Darren Appleton vs Joseph Gray and Efren Reyes vs Shane Van Boening.  Joseph Gray went the deepest into the tournament without a loss and suffered his lost to Efren Reyes in round 11. All Players going into round 12 were on one loss.