“Spain” Marc Vidal Runs 93 Balls in the Finals to Win the North Jersey 14.1 Straight Pool Pro/Am Quarterly
September 29, 2009
Bill Horne, Joey Kong - 2nd, Scott Abramowitz - 3rd, Marc Vidal - 1st, Pat Fleming - 4th
Last weekend, September 26-27th, Comet Billiards, located in Parsipanny NJ hosted the North Jersey 14.1 Straight Pool Pro/Am Quarterly. In late August the pool player friendly room hosted the Straight Pool World Championships, which delighted the NY/NJ area with World Class Straight Pool. In that event, Stephan Cohen from France defeated Finland’s World Champion Mika Immonen in the finals.
The game of straight pool has rich roots in the NY/NJ area with big names gracing the game such as Willie Mosconi, Gene Nagy, Ralph Greenleaf, Allen Hopkins, Jose Garcia, Pat Fleming, Jack Colavita, Pete Margo, Johnny Ervolino, Dennis Hatch, Mike Sigel, Tony Robles, George Sansouci, and Danny Barouty.
Over that weekend, several strong emerging players gathered to show the knowledgeable Comet crowd what they can do around the beautiful game of Straight Pool (14.1).
While the event had several stand out performances, it was 2008 Empire State Champion Marc Vidal who emerged victorious out of the contestants in this event. “Spain” Marc Vidal has been gradually improving his level of play of late, as he prepares for the 34th annual US Open 9-Ball Championship which will be held in Chesapeake VA from October 18th-24th.
Be sure to read the story by tournament director Scott Abramowitz for all the details from the 3rd North Jersey 14.1 Straight Pool Pro/Am Quarterly of the year. (Photos Courtesy of Scott Abramowitz).
Shaun Wilkie Takes his Second Team DMIRO Stop at Guys and Dolls
September 29, 2009
DMIRO Stop #4 Winners
Story and Photos by Mike Andrews, Team DMIRO Tour
Team DMIRO was at Guys and Dolls in Roanoke, Va, this past weekend for a two day event. Guys and Dolls doors quickly filled with over 50 spectators and players alike; when the Team DMIRO Nationwide 10 ball tour rolled in the town. Local favorite like Larry Price, who was the winner of the amateur 9 ball event at The 2009 Allen Hopkins’ Super Billiards Expo. Larry played as an open player along side with the Team DMIRO Pros. Shaun Wilkie showed up for his second event to challenge the amateurs.
Friday night there were over 22 players at Guys and Dolls to challenge Shaun Wilkie in a race to one, if the amateur wins, they would receive a free tour card from Team DMIRO. Only 1 amateur beat Shaun Wilkie, Jon Chisom. The other 21 players had to purchase their tour cards, after they were dominated by Shaun Wilkie’s impeccable play.
In a Champion’s Rumble, Marlon Manalo Double Dips Mika Immonen at the Blaze Tour at Raxx
September 28, 2009
Marlon Manalo & Mika Immonen
The Blaze 9-Ball Tour made its way to Raxx Pool Room, Bar & Grill in West Hempstead NY, Sunday September 27, 2009. A strong field of 29 players came out to play, including Mika Immonen, Marlon Manalo, Oscar Bonilla, Joey Korsiak, Pete Tascarella Sr, and ladies points leader Erin McManus, to name a few. This was a $600-added event, and each set was a race to seven. Click Here to view the photo gallery from this event.
Marlon Manalo, who was visiting New York in preparation for the US Open, led the top half of the bracket with wins over Pat Byrne 7-2, Ariel Rivera 7-2, Oscar Bonilla 7-4, and Pete Tascarella Sr, 7-3. Leading the bottom half of the bracket was World Champion Mika Immonen with wins over Joey Korsiak 7-6, Antonio Guerrero 7-1, Rob Pole 7-3, and Mike Fingers, 7-0.
Filipino Pool Superstar Marlon Manalo Snaps off the Open Tri State Event at Master Billiards
September 27, 2009
Marlon Manalo
The Tri-State Tour stopped by Master Billiards in Queens, NY yesterday September 26, holding their first one-day Open event.
A surprisingly small field of 17 players came out to play on the beautiful fall day in New York. Even though it was a small field, there was no shortage of heavy hitters in attendance. “Ginky” George Sansouci, Frankie Hernandez, Jorge Rodriguez, Mhet Vergara, ‘08 Tri-State Tour “A” Class Player of the Year Dan Cintron, John Alicea, and special appearance by World-Class Filipino champion Marlon Manalo.
While the majority of Tri-State Tour events are amateur-only events (A-D), some of the area’s Open and Pro-level players were looking to snap off the first of their three Open events of the year, along with a beautiful trophy.
Click Here to view the photo gallery from this event.
Pool Instruction: CueTips #12 Simple Things That Can Make a Big Difference
September 25, 2009
Consistent elevation is an aspect of the game that can be taken for granted.
By NYC Grind Contributor, Mark Finkelstein
I want to talk about a few things that you may not even think of, small rather simple things that you “already know,” but make a big difference in the quality of your play.
The first is probably the most important in your pocketing success and that is are you careful about where you are contacting the cue ball. Now I’m not going to talk to where to hit the cue ball, but rather, once you decide on your contact point on the cue ball, do you stop your stroke long enough to make sure you are exactly on that spot? A lot of players I see just keep the stick moving and are not careful in hitting this exact spot. Not doing this little thing adds errors to your game.
Another place that errors creep in is on the come back. Do you rush your come back? If you pull the stick back quickly, you need to exert some tension to stop the stick and turn the motion around. This added tension in your stroking arm causes jerkiness and misses to occur.
Columbia Center for Jazz Studies & The Columbia/Harlem Jazz Project Present Uptown Nights, 2012: The Hip-Hop Experiment
September 25, 2009
Uptown Nights: 2012 Experiement
This weekend, a very unique event will be taking place in Harlem. If you’re looking to expand your sights on music and art, Uptown Nights at Harlem Stage, 2012: The Hip-Hop Experience would be a great place to start.
Starting tomorrow, September 26 at 7:30 pm, a whole range of performers, including jazz musicians, DJ’s, singers, dancers, and poets, will be taking to the stage.
This show, presented by groundbreaking independent music promoter, along with The Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University and the Columbia/Harlem Jazz Project, will combine numerous forms of art and performance in a multi-sensory experience for those attending.
Read on to see the schedule for this event, and learn more about the performers set to take the stage.
Looking For Some Action This Weekend?
September 25, 2009
Morra vs Dominguez TAR Challenge
For the weekend pool warriors, this weekend September 26-27, is jam-packed with more great action. So, if you’ve got the bug, there are plenty of opportunities to get your pool fix, no matter what you’re in the mood for.
To start, the Tri-State Tour is holding their first Open event of the season at Master Billiards in Sunnyside, Queens. While the majority of their events are limited to amateurs, the Tri-State is letting the pros get in the action this weekend. This is a $1,000-added 9-ball event, and players must arrive prior to 12 noon. Visit www.thetristatetour.com for more info.
Want to spend a lazy weekend on the couch, but not miss the pool action? The Action Report has your solution. This weekend, TAR’s “Young Guns Challenge,” featuring Turning Stone Champion Oscar Dominguez and 20-year-old Canadian phenom, John Morra will stream live on the web, kicking off this evening at 8pm EST, 5pm PST. The match will be winner-take-all for $20,000, in race to 100 games in 10-ball, spanning three days. Sound epic? It will be. For more info, visit www.theactionreport.com
If straight pool is your game, this weekend you won’t want to miss the 3rd Quarter North Jersey Straight Pool Pro/Am, to be held at Comet Billiards. Matches will begin at 11:30 am, and the players meeting will be held at 11:00. If you have any questions, contact Scott Abramowitz at 973-736-3435 and visit www.northjerseystraightpoolproam.com
On to Sunday… The Blaze Tour, which features the toughest one-day tournaments in the area, is heading to Raxx Pool Room in West Hempstead, NY. It’s a $1,000-added 9-ball event which is sure to draw some of the toughest players in the tri-state area. For more info, visit www.blazetour.com
If you have an event you would like announced on NYCgrind.com, send an email to jerry@nycgrind.com
“Get Some” Shaun Wilkie Joins Forces with Lucasi Hybrid
September 24, 2009
Shaun "Get Some" Wilkie
Press Release by Sherry Pouncey, courtesy of AZbilliards.com
Shaun “Get Some” Wilkie of Havre de Grace, Maryland, recently picked up a sponsor that looks to be nothing less than the start of a great relationship - custom cuemakers Lucasi Hybrid. Wilkie, known by many in the mid-Atlantic region as one of the hottest up-and-coming players on the east coast, met up with his new sponsor at the Super Billiards Expo in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, this past March and shortly thereafter (April 2009) struck a deal for Wilkie to become a Player Representative for the company.
Lucasi Hybrid saw nothing but potential in their latest player representative acquisition as Wilkie has recently been spotted playing at a number of the east coast events, making a name for himself. Starting in 2006 as the Carolina Open Champion, the past couple of years he has found himself in the role of 2007 Tiger Tour Player of the Year, runner-up at the 2008 UPA Pro Players Championship in Valley Forge, with multiple wins on both the Tiger Tour and Blaze Tours. On an international scale, Wilkie posted a 17th place finish at the 2008 World Ten Ball Championships in Manila, Philippines (his only trip out of the country).
Shaun Wilkie Snaps off the 3rd Team DMIRO Tour Stop at Diamond Billiards
September 24, 2009
Shaun Wilkie (Photos Courtesy of Team DMIRO)
Press Release by NYC Grind Contributor, Alison M. Fischer
The Team DMIRO Nationwide 10-ball Tour is on the road, and their 3rd event of their inaugural season took place at Diamond Billiards in Midlothian, Virginia on September 19.
Although this event featured a field of only 17 players, many were Tiger Tour players, such as pros Shaun Wilkie and Manny Chau, as well as Sean Sporleder, Chip Klein, David Hunt, and 17-year-old Chris Bruner. Added to the lineup was also Diamond Billiards owner, Thomas Dorsey.
With the format for the DMIRO Tour events splitting pros to a separate bracket, the amateur players battled it out in a preliminary double-elimination bracket, race to nine, before the pros were added to the mix.
Feature Video from the Predator 9-ball Tour’s 15th Stop at Comet Billiards
September 24, 2009
Predator Tour Stop #15 Video
When you’re on the grind, the billiard life can be anything but easy. Long hours, late nights, and for little or no monetary gain, at times.
Some may ask, “Why do we do it?” Most players can probably say the’ve asked themselves this question at one point or another. We may all have different answers to this question, but the bottom line is yes, it’s for the love of the game.
In our newest video, featuring the 15th stop on the Predator 9-ball Tour, held at Comet Billiards, you’ll see a glimpse of the ups and downs that players experience in the game.
Read the story to watch the video, and click here to read the story and check out photos from this event.
