The Team CSI American Grand Masters Go on the Road… Midwest Bound
December 30, 2009
Team CSI - American Grand Masters
Team CSI – American Grand Masters Heads to the Heartland
CueSports International (CSI), in partnership with promoter Mark Cantrill, would like to announce that Team CSI – American Grand Masters is heading to the U.S. Midwest for the first leg of the Team CSI Tour.
Most people aren’t used to hearing about pool players in terms of a team. Cue Sports International (CSI), has brought together heavy hitters to entertain and inspire pool fans across the USA and beyond.
The team is comprised of: BCA Hall of Fame inductee and 5 time U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion Earl “The Pearl” Strickland, 2009 Texas Open winner Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant, 2006 U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion and 2009 Derby City Classic One Pocket winner John “Mr. 400” Schmidt, and 2001 U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion Corey Deuel who has also served on the U.S. Mosconi Cup Team 6 times.
Each of the four members of Team CSI still actively compete in both U.S. and international events, thus two members of the team travel together for each leg of the tour. The Midwest Tour, which is scheduled January 8-17, will feature Earl Strickland and John Schmidt.
“I have always enjoyed teaching and passing on knowledge in person. I also enjoy meeting new people and so this is going to be a great experience and can’t wait.” said John Schmidt.
Read the Story for all the detail for the CSI American Grand Masters Pool School, Exhibitions and all the info to stay plugged in.
Mosconi Cup Fever - Remembering Billiards Legend Willie Mosconi
December 18, 2009
Willie Mosconi - Pocket Billiards Legend
With all the Buzz with surrounding the Mosconi Cup, which just wrapped in Vegas… NYCgrind.com decided to spotlight the man that inspired the name.
Also read the story to check out a rare Trick Shot exhibition performed by Willie Mosconi in 1987
WILLIAM JOSEPH MOSCONI: JUNE 27, 1913 - SEPTEMBER 12, 1993
As you may or not know, Willie Mosconi, who is known as probably the greatest billiards player of all time, will also be remembered through The Mosconi Cup, which was been named in his honor. As the greatest players in U.S. and Europe converge annually, they remind the sports world of the legacy of an unparalleled competitor.
In 1918 at the age of five, young Willie, whose father did not want his son to have anything to do with billiards, used to sneak into his father’s billiard parlor at night, and practice with a broom stick and potatoes. Well, I guess the rest is history.
Willie entered his first major pool tournament in 1937, at the age of 24, and won his first World Championships in 1941 and 1942. Losing to Andrew Ponzi in 1943, he regained the title in 1944, and held it until 1946 when Irving Crane won the title. Mosconi retained the title again by beating Crane again in 1947.
In 1954, Willie Mosconi ran 526 balls in Springfield, Ohio, a feat that has never been beaten, and probaly never will.
Pool Synergy Volume 2: Losing the Nerves and Finding the Zone
December 17, 2009
Pool Synergy Vol. 2
By NYC Grind Contributor, Alison M. Fischer
Welcome to the second edition of Pool Synergy… a collaboration of pool bloggers who come together every month to write on a common theme. December’s topic was created by this month’s host, Samm Diep of PoolTipJar.com which addresses an important story in each writer’s pool career that taught them to be a better player. Click Here to see all of the bloggers who contributed to this topic.
There are many hurdles and stepping stones that players encounter in their early years of competition, and one of mine came at the 2008 Wisconsin State BCA Championships.
As a fledgling pool player, the the fundamental mechanics of the game came relatively easy to me. My shotmaking sharpened, and then position play fell into place after I put in a lot of hours on the tables in my college rec room.
My first taste of serious pool competition began in 2004, in the chilly north woods of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Up until this point, my competitive experience consisted of leagues and local weekly tournaments, but in September 2004, I traveled to my first “real” tournament at the Northern Lights Casino in Walker, Minnesota to play 8-ball against other women from around the region.
In retrospect, my first tournament was relatively successful. I won my first two matches, and then fell to a closely-matched opponent in my third match. However, I did not have such warm and fuzzy feelings after my fourth match of that event.
Shaun Wilkie Grinds Back to Win the Predator 9-ball Tour’s Finale
December 16, 2009
2nd Place Finisher Frankie Hernandez with Room Owner Holden Chin and Winner Shaun Wilke
The Predator 9-Ball Tour’s 2009 season has come to a close. The Pro/Am Tour’s finale event drew a total of 92 of the Northeast’s strongest players along with World Class Professional Jose Parica, legendary hustler Danny Basavich, and Trick Shot World Champion Andy “Magic Man” Segal.
Pool player and room owner Holden Chin rolled out the red carpet for the players, and mentioned that he was impressed by the turnout.
Other big names such as Mark Vidal, Jose Parica, Mike Fingers, Frankie Hernandez, Al Lapena, Many Chau, Zion Zvi, Shaun Wilkie, Danny Basavich, Eddie Abraham, Scott Tollefson, “Ginky” George SanSouci, and Long Island’s Joey Korsiak all came out for the Predator Tour Finale.
Before the event began, tour founder Tony Robles held a Player of the Year award ceremony, and gave out awards to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers of each respective division.
Trophies and Plaques
Player of the Year Awards went to…
Tony Robles - Pro Division
Oscar Bonilla - Open Division
Lionel Rivera - A Division
William Finnegan - B Division
Rene Villalobos - C Division
Gail Glazebrook - Ladies Division
Players would also be treated to a surprise trick shot exhibition performed by World Trick Shot Champion, NY based professional pool player Andy Segal. “The Magic Man” as he is known in the Trick Shot world.
Andy put on an amazing show to the delight of the knowledgeable NY area crowd who gave love for his exceptional performance.
Be sure to read the story for the breakdown and event’s final results… Click Here to view the photo gallery from the event.
Team USA Players Reflect on the 2009 Mosconi Cup
December 16, 2009
Nick Varner answers questions from the press alongside Corey Deuel (Photo by Rick Bryant, Inside English Magazine)
By NYC Grind Contributor, Geoff Conway
At the Mosconi Cup press conference after the event had finished, one of the main things that USA team captain Nick Varner emphasized was that he felt that they had established a true team in every sense of the word. They met for breakfast every morning at 8:30 am to eat together and to discuss team strategy, weaknesses, and simply to create a tightly-knit family of players that were pulling for each other and encouraging one another, etc.
Team USA also met for a number of practice sessions, and both Nick and Johnny paid tribute to pro pool player and table mechanic Ernesto Dominguez, father of Mosconi Cup rookie Oscar Dominguez, who spent hours with several of the players to work on their breaks. He would watch each of them break during the tournament, tell them what he thought they should change, then take them to the practice table as soon as possible to correct the problem.
Team USA Delivers a Stunning Performance to Reclaim the Mosconi Cup
December 14, 2009
Team USA Mosconi Cup Champions: Archer, Deuel, Varner, Van Boening, Hatch, & Dominguez (Photo by Ricky Bryant)
MOSCONI CUP FINAL DAY OF PLAY - SUNDAY DECEMBER 13, 2009
Story By NYC Grind Contributor, Geoff Conway - Photos by Ricky Bryant, Inside English Magazine
At the beginning of the final day of the Mosconi Cup, the situation in the arena at the MGM Grand was this: Team Europe was fighting for their lives to stay in this tournament, while Team USA only needing two more match wins to reclaim the prestigious Mosconi Cup.
The first match up of the day was between 2007 US Open Champion Shane Van Boening and 2002 US Open Champion, Ralf Souquet. Shane, who has twice played on losing Mosconi Cup Teams, told me that there was no way that he was not going to be on the winning team this year. His opponent was World Champion Ralf Souquet (GER) who is always a hard competitor, and we knew that this would be a tight match.
Well, this match did not turn out the way I thought it would, and Ralf soon stamped his authority on the match by jumping out to a 3-1 lead. Ralf missed the four ball in the first rack, but ended up leaving Shane safe. Shane jumps and leaves Ralf a shot, and Ralf runs out. In the second game, Shane scratches on the break, and Ralf runs out. In the third game, Ralf breaks and leaves a road map, and easily runs out.
Click Here to view the photo gallery from the final day, photos by Ricky Bryant of Inside English.
Team Europe Regroups to Stay Alive at the Mosconi Cup on Day 3
December 13, 2009
Immonen led the charge for Team Europe as the team regrouped to get back in the Cup. (Photo By Ricky Bryant, Inside English Magazine)
MOSCONI CUP SATURDAY MATCH BREAKDOWN
By NYC Grind Contributor, Geoff Conway
First macth up on Saturday was between Shane Van Boening and Oscar Dominguez vs. Ralf Souquet (GER) and Mika Immonen (FIN), this match was very important for the Euro side, as they needed every match that they could muster, as they trailed the USA Team 7 matches to 2.
The atmosphere was so intense in the arena that you cou;ld cut it with a knife. The USA crowd were wondering if the USA Team could keep their impressive lead of five matches, with the old catch phrase of “It ain’t over till its over” ringing in their ears. In contrast, the European fans, although not great in number, were certainly making themselves heard.
Mosconi Cup Highlights from Day 2: Team USA Doesn’t Back Down
December 12, 2009
USA's Shane Van Boening is proving to the world that he is still one of pool's toughest competitors.
Story By NYC Grind Contributor, Geoff Conway, all photos by Ricky Bryant, Inside English Magazine.
The first match up in Friday’s Mosconi Cup play was a Scotch doubles match between Ralf Souquet (GER) & Niels Feijen (NED) and USA’s Johnny Archer & Shane Van Boening. Johnny wins the lag from Ralf, and it is soon clear that the 3 and the 9 ball are almost touching by the bottom corner pocket, and that at some point they are going to have to be moved.
After a few safety play shots on the two ball finally Team Euro get to break them up while playing the two ball. Europe immediately runs out the rack for the important first game. Score 0-1 to Team Europe.
Team USA Dominating the European Team at the Mosconi Cup
December 11, 2009
The team of Dennis Hatch & Johnny Archer lead Team USA through Day 1
The 2009 Mosconi Cup showdown between Team USA and Team Europe is now through Day 2, and NYC Grind is receiving full reports on the action from reporter Geoff Conway.
Although Team Europe was anticipated to be the strong favorite, the USA has shown that they are not to be underestimated, finishing Day 1 with a 4-1 lead, and also dominating through Day 2, by a 7-2 score.
Along with daily, in-depth coverage, NYC Grind is proud to bring you photos from the Mosconi Cup courtesy of Ricky Bryant of Inside English magazine.
Read on for the details on Thursday’s Day 1 matches, and stay on the NYC Grind for more reports on the 2009 Mosconi Cup…
Predator 9-ball Tour Season Finale This Weekend at Raxx Along with Player of the Year Awards
December 11, 2009
Predator 9-ball Tour
The Predator 9-ball Tour’s 11-month 2008-2009 season is coming to a close, but going out with a bang… this weekend, December 12-13, the Predator Tour’s $3,000-added Finale event will be held at Raxx Pool Room in West Hempstead, NY, where the players will be coming out to give it their all at this year-end event.
In addition, there will be an award ceremony for the players of the year in each class: Ladies, Pro, Open, A, B, C/D, and Juniors. The top three finishing players in each division will be awarded.
Top NY area players like Tony Robles, George SanSouci, Jeremy Sossei, Shaun Wilkie, Marc Vidal, and many others will be attending, making it a tremendous event! Read on for more details from Tour Owner, Tony Robles…
