Stevie Moore Repeats as the NYC 9-Ball Champion at Skyline Billiards

The Mezz Pro-Am 9-Ball Tour took the F train to Skyline Billiards, NY, which hosted the 5th Annual NYC 9-Ball Championships. The $3,000-added two-day event took place on August 28-29 at the popular Brooklyn pool room, owned by players Rob Pole & Sammy Wu.  A field of 43 players including many of the top names came out to capture the coveted NY title.  Click here to check out the photos from this event.

Top players included Tony Robles, Mike Davis, Mike Dechaine, “Ginky” George Sansouci, Eddie Abraham, Ronnie Wiseman, Brett Stottlemyer, Zion Zvi, Jeremy Sossei, Mike Fingers, Mike Miller, Manny Chau, and defending 2009 champion Stevie Moore.

Reigning champion Stevie Moore went through the field undefeated with wins over Eddie Vasquez 9-1, Michael Wong 9-6, Manny Chau 9-6, and Brett Stottlemeyer 9-1, setting up the feature match. Meeting Moore in the match for the hot seat, Tony Robles had impressive wins over Rob Merklein 9-0, Ginky Sansouci 9-3 and Mike Davis 9-4.

In the match for the hot seat, Stevie Moore played determined to repeat as champion, with an dominant 9-4 win over Tony Robles, earning an undefeated spot in the finals.

Rising star pro Mike Dechaine was also strong in the winner’s bracket, with wins over Jerry Tarantola 9-5, Marc Vidal 9-7, and Jorge Rodriguez 9-5, before losing to Stevie Moore 9-3 and Mike Davis 9-7. Although Mike wasn’t on the top of his game, he played well enough to be a contender in this event.

On the one-loss side there were several strong players still fighting to grind back to the finals including Mike Davis, Mike Dechaine, Brett Stottlemeyer, Barry Banks, and Ginky. Meanwhile, Tony was waiting in the wings for a chance for a rematch with Stevie.

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Danny Harriman Dominates Maryland 14.1 Championships With Repeat Performance

Story and Photos by NYC Grind Contributor, Charles Eames

On June 19th-20th Big Daddy’s Billiards in Glen Burnie, Maryland rolled out the red carpet and cooked up some hot roast beef sandwiches with gravy for the 35 intrepid players of the sixth annual Maryland State 14.1 Championships. An event whose history includes past winners such as Ryan McCreesh, Mika Immonen, and Bob Maidhof to name a few just to give you an idea how tough this field can be.

View the Photos from Day 1

View the Photos from Day 2

The evening before the tournament, tournament director Peter Burrows and his lovely wife hosted a cocktail party / player meeting at their beautiful home in Annapolis. The atmosphere was a relaxed and intimate one that felt more like a family reunion than a cocktail party. Food and drink and more stories than you could possibly listen to in one night, Peter’s daughter, and beautiful grandchildren were on hand as well making giving the entire event a much more personal feel than any other I have ever played in. Peter’s enthusiasm for Straight Pool is astounding and he himself is a force to be reckoned with at the table.

Tournament Day 1 – Upon entering Big Daddy’s Billiard,s you are immediately greeted by a staff that is warm and courteous. The equipment is top-notch and the conditions could not have been better for the event. Rick and company were up until the wee hours of the morning making sure every table was just so. After asking many of the players there, the reply was unanimous that Big Daddy’s was a great spot with people who truly care about our sport, and more importantly the people who play it.

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World Pool Masters Crowns Orcollo Champion

UNKNOWN KURIBAYASHI FROM JAPAN FALTERS IN TITLE ATTEMPT

After five days of grueling match play Dennis Orcollo of the Philippines finally claimed his first World Pool Masters Title, which was held at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas. His reward was $20, 000 and bragging rights for the rest of the year.

Over 750 players from every nook and cranny around the world, (including qualifier entries) made an attempt to win this event. Yet when all the dust had settled and all the predictions destroyed it was just one player who has come out on top this year. Yes Dennis Orcollo has just further cemented his reputation as one of the most fierce competitors in any discipline of pool, although diminutive in stature, has shown us once again just how tall he stands in this sport.

Dennis beat the 27 year old Japanese player Toru Kuribayashi, who before his first match was relatively unknown to fans in the States. Well it did not take long before Toru established himself as a firm fan favorite with the crowd, with his swash buckling style of attacking play, and his pleasant demeanor. For sure both the fans and his unfortunate opponents will remember this young man, and I wish him well in the future, and am sure that this win will hopefully propel him on to more international successes.

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The BCAPL 8-Ball Championships is in Full Swing in Las Vegas!

By NYC Grind Contributor, Alison M. Fischer

The 34th Annual BCAPL National 8-ball Championships is off to the running, and the Riviera Hotel & Casino is buzzing with action in virtually every corner. With the mega-amateur events going on all day long, great billiards vendors, and opportunities to watch world-class pro players from around the globe, you can see why this is one event that a pool lover would hate to miss.

The NYC Grind team is on site at the Riviera to cover all the action going on through to the final day–Saturday, May 22… and we are happy to announce that Poison Billiards is sponsoring the coverage.

Right now, the Scotch Doubles divisions are winding down, while the Singles Divisions are still in the heat of competition… and on Wednesday, the Team Divisions will get underway.  We will be keeping you up-to-date on the latest news and happenings here in Vegas.  Click here to view photos from the Scotch Doubles & Singles Events so far - Photos by John Yee.

The event that kicked off the BCAPL National Championships was the 9-ball Challenge, which was open to players of all skill levels. This field of 248 included players from the US, Canada, the Bahamas, England, Sweden, Korea, and Taiwan, but only one would walk away with the the top prize of $3,400, in a race to 7 double, double elimination format. Among them were top names like Dan Louie, Stan Tourangeau, Marc “Spain” Vidal, Dave Grau, US Bar Table Champion Glenn Atwell, and Sylver Ochoa.

But, it was Brian Gregg from Indianapolis, IN who would go through the winner’s bracket undefeated, winning eight matches to land in the finals. One of the big surprises of this event was that one of England’s crossover snooker players, Chris Melling, who has made strong statements at the 2010 US Bar Table Championships and the 2009 US Open 9-ball Championships, was dumped to the one-loss side in the third round by Gus Briseno of Tempe, AZ by a 7-3 score.

However, Melling was far from ready to throw in the towel.  After the loss to Briseno, Chris Melling won 11 straight matches to meet up with Brian Gregg in the finals.  The finals were a true double elimination format, and Melling continued through to win the first set 7-4, and the second 7-3.

Throughout the BCAPL National Championships, live brackets are available online.  View entire brackets, or search for a particular player.  Click here to check out the brackets.

Read on to read up on what’s been going on so far in the Scotch Doubles events as well as the Women’s Singles events.  More updates on the Men’s Singles will be coming soon…

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Written by Alison · Filed Under Breakthrough Favorite Posts, The Latest 

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

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Boyes Will Be Boyes: Ben Moore’s In-Depth Interview with the New World 8-ball Champion Karl Boyes

By NYC Grind Contributor, Geoff Conway

I am of course referring to Karl Boyes from Blackpool, England, who last week won the Etisalat WPA World 8 Ball Championships, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates,  (See NYCgrind.com coverage from last week)  However, we would like to digress from this win to share with you an article written by Ben Moore for the UK’s source for 9-ball, www.Pro9.co.uk. Moore wrote a most-compelling piece in January 2010 outlining Karl’s goals that he saw in his immediate future, and also how he was going about achieving those goals.  We are happy to have Ben share this piece with our readers.

The interview also drew out of Karl some very deep thoughts and his sharp insight into the psyche of both 8, 9, and 10-ball disciplines. Plus, Boyes shares his new fitness regimen that helped get him in shape. It is amazing to see how positive Karl’s perspective was in the interview, when he would make his dreams a reality a few months later, winning two world titles since the interview took place at his house in Blackpool, England.

As you may know, Karl was a member of the Great Britain team that won the World Team Championship in Hanover, Germany in February 2010, and now two months later is the Etisalat WPA World 8 Ball Champion following his win over Niels Feijen 13-12 in the Saturday final on the 10th April 2010, held in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

We at NYCgrind.com congratulate Mr. Boyes on becoming a double World Champion, I look forward to seeing if his predictions of taking no prisoners at the upcoming Matchroom Sport Grand Pool Masters and the CSI US Open 10-Ball, both to be held in Las Vegas in May, will come to fruition.

Now sit back and enjoy the interview…

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Episode #1 of “Kiss of Death”: KOD Team Dynamics

NYCgrind.com Launches the “Kiss of Death” Web Series

Press Release by Alison M. Fischer

March 25, 2010, New York, NY:

NYCgrind.com is proud to present the first episode in our new web series, “Kiss of Death“. This series, presented byPoison 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.

Each episode of the 12-week series will be five minutes or less, and will hit the web at 8:00 pm EST every Thursday on YouTube and Blip.tv, with the exception of the first episode, which will go live at 9:00 pm. In the first episode, “KOD Team Dynamics“, NYC Grind will take you inside Kiss of Death’s first team meeting of the year, and introduce each of the players: team captain Gail Glazebrook, Michele Li, Emily Duddy, Borana Andoni, Olga Gashkova, and Alison Fischer, who joined the meeting via Skype.

The big news for Kiss of Death in this episode is that teammate Emily Duddy had just qualified for a spot on the WPBA women’s pro tour after finishing in the top nine at the WPBA Regional Tour Championship, making her the first girl on the team to get a tour card for the WPBA… definitely cause for celebration. We will also get a look at KOD’s trip to Raxx Pool Room in Hempstead, NY for the Predator 9-ball Tour’s Empire State Amateur Championship, where a number of the KOD girls competed.

NYC Grind founder and “Kiss of Death” director/producer, Jerry Tarantola says, “The ‘Kiss of Death’ web series is the first of its kind, and has all of the elements to educate, inspire, and entertain. In 2009, ‘KOD’ was coined the “Hottest team in Vegas“, and the girls proved that they really have game by winning the event, undefeated. This team of girls have a really fun and interesting dynamic, and their progress as players will surely build their already-impressive buzz.”

NYC Grind would like to give special thanks to the Kiss of Death players, Poison Billiards, Tony Robles & The Predator 9-ball Tour, Amsterdam Billiard Club, Jonathan Smith, and William Fuentes for their contributions to this project.

To learn more visit www.NYCgrind.com

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

“Kiss of Death” is also brought to you by…

AmsterdamBilliards.com

Emily Duddy Makes a Statement on Her Home Court on the Big Stage!

Emily Duddy is a name that most of the sports world hasn’t heard of… but the extremely focused and impassioned emerging professional pool player is looking to quickly change that. Last May, Emily Duddy helped carry her team “Kiss of Death” (or “KOD” as the girls call themselves) to an undefeated run to claim the 2009 Open BCAPL Team 8-Ball Championships!

Some were calling “KOD” the “Sexiest Team in Vegas”… but the girls didn’t want to be pegged as just “hotties”.  That motivation inspired them to dig deep and leave 110% on the table, as they went on to claim “W” after “W”. The team shocked many as they went through a field of over 140 women’s teams undefeated… to be crowned “Women’s Open 8-Ball Team Champions”.

After finishing in the top 8 on the Northeast’s regional pro qualifier tour, the JPNEWT, Emily Duddy went on to compete at the 2010 WPBA Regional Tour Championships, at Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, CA. The RTC is designed to give aspiring women pros a chance to compete to win a spot on the WPBA women’s pro tour. Since Emily is originally from Los Angeles, she was thrilled to be competing for this title on her home turf.

Recently, in catching up with Emily, she mentioned that it was awesome to have the support of friends and family cheering her on in such a life-changing event.  She went on to grind out an impressive tournament as she made the cut by one game.  In her first pro event at the WPBA San Diego Classic, going on right now at the Viejas Casino near San Diego, Emily upset top NY player Liz Ford in the first round with a hill-hill win.

Emily continues to prove that she has heart as she continues to clutch out close matches. To read the story of some pretty impressive upsets click here to check out AZBilliards.com’s coverage.  While she may have a long way to go in terms of experience and time invested in the sport… Emily Duddy is showing that she is ready to make some noise in the pro scene.

The WPBA is the premiere women’s pro billiards tour, and features big names such as “The Duchess of Doom” Allison Fisher, Ga-Young Kim, Kelly Fisher, and “The Black Widow” Jeanette Lee.

To sweat the action from the Viejas Casino, TAR is presenting live streaming of feature matches, which can be seen through the WPBA’s website. Click Here to Check it out!

Pool Synergy Volume 4: Jerry T Remembers The Great Gene Nagy

In this edition of Pool Synergy, the monthly collaboration of writings from some of the best pool blogs on the web, the topic we’re addressing is: who is your all-time favorite and most influential player?

For his first contribution to Pool Synergy, NYC Grind founder, Jerry Tarantola has chosen to share his experiences and thoughts on one of pool’s most unique legends, Gene Nagy, who was intrinsic in shaping Jerry’s game.  To check out all the Pool Synergy stories in this edition, click here to go to host Gail Glazebrook’s blog, Confessions of G Squared.

The Great Gene Nagy (October 6, 1946 - July 13th, 2006)

Throughout history, only an extremely small percentage have been able to touch true greatness in the art, science, and power of the game of pool.  There is a certain state, or level of “flow” that every great athlete has the ability to enter, allowing their most fully-engaged game to express itself.

While most people who have never been exposed to what makes the game great may only see pool as a recreational game… the rare few who practice and study it at the highest levels, will tell you otherwise. In my opinion, the ability to play pool at it’s highest level is truly an art form and an expression of genius. And as the saying goes… there is a fine line between genius and insanity.

I think everyone who is truly great at their craft, whether it’s sport, art, business, or anything else… has the ability to touch people through their actions.  But, greatness can’t be reached through personal achievement alone, it is bestowed on someone by the community and people that that person has touched.

My life’s path changed forever due to being touched by Gene Nagy’s greatness. I was twelve years old when I met Gene at a pool room in Queens, NY called La Cue Billiards and Cafe.

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NYCgrind.com and Delta-13 Team Up with “Queen B” Borana Andoni in a “How-To” Series on How to Get a Perfect Rack

NYC Grind is pleased to announce the release of three new instructional videos on how to rack.  As pool players know, having a tight, consistent rack is a vital part of every game, so we have teamed up with with Delta-13 Racks and one of pool’s rising stars–NYC’s Borana Andoni–to create this video series to help people get the most out of every rack.

With their aerospace-engineered design with simplicity in mind, Delta-13 has quickly jumped to the forefront of high-end billiard ball racks, and in both 2008 and 2009, the Delta-13 was the Official Rack of the US Open 9-ball Championships.

Delta-13 Rack approached NYCgrind.com to produce a video series on how to get a “Perfect Rack” for the pocket billiards games of 9-ball, 8-ball, and straight pool (14.1).  This video series features one of pool’s hottest rising stars, Borana Andoni, who proved to be an impressive force in 2009.

Be sure to read the story to check out all three videos along with pics and an exclusive interview with “The Dutchess of Doom” Allison Fisher.  Scroll all the way down as there are several other relevant videos (total of 6) to get plugged into.

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