Category: Features

Jeanette Lee Visits Memphis at Highpockets

By Bob Hunt

It has to be something special to pull me out of semi retirement and put me back behind this typewriter.  Some experiences are just too good to miss.  On (May 25, 2011) at High Pockets poolroom in Memphis Tennessee, Jeanette Lee performed on tour.  Jeanette is a very special gift to the world of pool.  Her Black Widow flair, her long sensual black hair, and leather attire present her unmistakable trademark.  The poolroom was set up with television flair with no vacant seat visible an hour before show time.  A full house of players and fans were on hand to welcome the Black Widow and the Widow Maker as we sat in expectation to witness a night of pool heaven magic.

Melling won $40,000 and, in the process, declared loud and clear that he will be a force to be reckoned with among an already strong heap of English and European  pool players for the foreseeable future.

(Shanghai, China)–Playing virtually mistake free 9-ball, and seemingly immune to the pressure,

Fu Xiao Fang defeated fellow Chinese and defending champion Chen Siming 9-3 to capture the China Open championship Sunday afternoon in Shanghai.

Tropicana Las Vegas A Hit With Players!

USA and Canada Share Honors at the 2011 Lucasi Hybrid Cues ACS Nationals in Las Vegas
Moving the 2011 ACS National Championships to the newly-renovated Tropicana Las Vegas, May 7-14 – at the urging of the ACS board of directors ““ proved a shrewd move, as the service-oriented property bent over backwards with its friendliness and attention to detail to host the American CueSports Alliance most major Championships! When the heat of competition in twenty-four divisions of play in 8-ball and 9-ball had cooled off, players and teams from both USA and Canada merited similar overall successes.

In the Men’s 9-Ball Singles Houston’s undefeated Nick Hood took advantage of his handicap rating to dispatch Bill Mason (Virginia Beach, VA) in the one-set finals, 7-5. The Women’s 9-Ball Singles crown was hoisted by Jessica Frideres (Ft. Dodge, IA), who spotted opponent Leslee Davis (Lutz, FL) one game and fell behind 0-3 before recovering to take the division by a 7-4 margin! In 8-ball singles, Ike Runnels (Kankakee, IL) comfortably dispatched the always dangerous Glenn Atwell (Gig Harbor, WA) in the first set of the finals, 7-3, to claim the Men’s Advanced 8-Ball Singles top spot; while Canadian Sherry Warren (St. John’s, NL) and Kit Dennis (Ridgefield, WA) ““ more than 3,000 miles apart in residences ““ dueled to a final’s 7-6 climax in favor of Warren for the Women’s Advanced 8-Ball Singles laurels.

Charlotte, NC – June 1, 2011

Fury Cues is proud to announce the addition of their most recent pro player representative, Xiao-Ting Pan. Pan’s talent and growing list of achievements have made her one of the most famous female players in China.

Pan burst onto the American pool scene in 2006 with a number of wins in regional tournaments, and even secured WPBA Rookie of the Year honors. The following year, 2007, she proceeded to win the WPBA Great Lakes Classic event and the WPA World 9-Ball Ladies Championship. In 2008, she captured the Generationpool.com Open 9-Ball Ladies Championship, and then went on to win the 2010 WPBA Tour Championship.

More divisions and events were created for players at this year’s (35th) BCAPL National 8-Ball Championships. With the addition of the Men’s and Women’s 9-Ball Open Singles divisions, two new 9-ball team divisions were added to the end of the 10-day extravaganza so players could have more events in which to participate. A new 8-Ball Mixed Advanced division was also created to allow more teams to compete as well.

Of the nine total 8-ball and 9-ball team divisions, three of the winning teams came from the Chicago area. In the Men’s Mixed 8-Ball Open Team division, the Chicago team Off Constantly was not off at all. They went undefeated through the field of 618 teams with only a couple close matches. In the finals, they bested The Little Rascals from Downey, California by a devastating score of 13 to 4. “œThis was our first time playing nationals together,” said Off Constantly team captain Tony Gahala.

(L-R) Muslim Sarfaraz (2nd) and Joe Girdpool (1st)

Stop #8 on the 2011 United States Snooker Association (USSA) Tour, sponsored by Aramith Billiard Balls and Strachan West Of England snooker cloth, was won by Joe Girdpool who claimed his second Las Vegas tour win of the year, including this one at his host room, 4 Kaz Snooker Club & Bar, May 21-22.

The finals of the 3rd U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship was between two highly decorated professionals from both sides of the Atlantic. After 6 days the field of 96 player, representing 10 countries, whittled down to U.S. favorite Shane Van Boening and Spain’s David Alcaide.  Held at the Riviera Hotel & Casino and produced by CueSports International (CSI), in front of an enthusiastic crowd, Van Boening was crowned the 2011 champion winning 11-6.

Starting the day four players returned for day six of the event. The first match featured Spain’s David Alcaide versus relatively unknown player, Dennis Haar from Terre Haute, Indiana. This was Haar’s first professional 10-ball tournament and his best finish in any big event. Haar cleared a path to the final four by way of defeating top players James Baraks, Mitch Ellerman, Mike Dechaine, and Jonathan Pinegar. Unfortunately, his efforts fell short against Alcaide who jumped ahead at 6-5. Haar jumped and hung a 1-ball for Alcaide to get on the hill. At 7-5, Haar missed a 4-7 combination that would cost him the match.

Dechaine is Story of Day 4 at the 3rd U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship

Going into Friday morning at the 3rd Annual U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship the story on everyone’s lips was the outstanding performance by currently #1 U.S. ranked player “œFireball” Mike Dechaine. As the field gets smaller, the matches get tighter. Although moved to the one loss side earlier in the week by Kenichi Uchigaki, Dechaine has fired through the one loss side with a vengeance. After eliminating Earl Strickland during the 6 pm Thursday round, Dechaine then defeated “œThe Scorpion” Johnny Archer 8-0 in the 11 pm round, running seven consecutive racks to close out the set. Friday morning Dechaine then went on to defeat Jeremy Sossei 8-4 and Raj Hundal 8-5.

Reyes Crowned U.S. Open One Pocket Champion

“œThe Magician” Efren Reyes went undefeated through the full 64-player field to become the 2011 (12^th) U.S. Open One Pocket Champion at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Produced by CueSports International, the $10,000 added event drew the finest one pocket players from around the world as well a sophisticated room full of spectators. Reyes defeated poker star Chris Gentile in the single set finals 5-2. This was Gentile’s first U.S. Open One Pocket and his most successful finish in a major one pocket event.