Author: Paul

Photos courtesy of Justin Collette of The Action Report)

After a 3 year hiatus from the world pool stage, legend Earl “œthe Pearl” Strickland is back and in prime form. “œThe Pearl” will once again be representing the United States in the World 8-Ball Championships February 19-26, 2011 in the United Arab Emirates.

Sponsored by Mike Gulyassy Custom Cues, Ice Breakers Billiards, and CueSports International (CSI), Strickland received his well earned invite to the world 8-Ball event due to his stellar comeback throughout the past year. In 2010, he started the year winning the 8-Ball division of the U.S. Bar Table Championships and ended the year winning the Steve Mizerak Championship and tied for 7-8th in the Turning Stone Classic XVI.

Ouschan Defeats Karen Corr in a 7-6 Thriller!
MT. PLEASANT, MI – The WPBA Masters enjoyed a thrilling conclusion when Jasmin Ouschan of Austria defeated veteran professional and #3 ranked Karen Corr, the “Irish Invader” by the narrowest of margins! With a title on the line, Ouschan broke and ran the rack to the eight ball. Then, for a terrifying second, the eight hung in the pocket… The crowd sucked in a collective breath… and the ball fell in!

Dynamite Darren is POY
Darren Appleton has won the 2010 Player of the Year honors from AZBilliards. He was the number one money winner for the year and took home in excess of  $118,000 for his efforts, but it was his consistency and his ability to come through with clutch shots when they were needed most that truly made him the undeniable choice for the year.

Appleton’s year began with a team loss in the Asia Vs Europe Challenge but he quickly bounced back with a victory in the World Team Championship in Hanover, Germany. He took second place honors in the 8-Ball division at the US Bar Table Championships and then traveled over to the UAE for a third place finish in the World 8-Ball Championships.

It is less than 6 months before thousands of pool players from around the world compete in the 35th Annual BCAPL National 8-Ball Championships in Las Vegas (May 11-22, 2011), widely recognized as “œThe Greatest Pool Tournament in the World!”

2011 Tour Season Kick Off to Feature World’s Top 48 Women Pool Players
MT. PLEASANT, MI – The Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort will host the best female billiard players in the world January 5-9, 2011 when the Women’s Professional Billiard Association WPBA Masters kicks off the 2011 Women’s Pro Billiard Tour season.

Between Thursday, January 6, and Saturday, January 8, the top 48 players will cue off during two sessions each day in double elimination play. The tournament will culminate on Sunday, January 9 at 1 p.m., when the final four players remaining will compete for the title of WPBA Masters Champion. These final-round matches will be taped by ESPN for future television broadcasts, beginning in January.

Corey Deuel Takes Win at Turning Stone XVI Corey Deuel has defeated Stevie Moore to claim the champions spot at the Turning Stone Classic XVI in Verona, NY. This week featured some of the most memorable matches of the year with Johnny Archer coming from behind to narrowly escape Karen Corr 9-8 and Dennis Hatch and Earl Strickland shooting at lightning speed in a match that found Hatch emerging the winner.