CueSports International, Henderson, NV (Aug. 26, 2016) — With cool determination, Justin Bergman iced his opponents to win the 9-Ball Division of the US Bar Table Championship (USBTC) Friday at the Westgate Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, beating Shane McMinn in the finals by a score of 9-7.
It was a perfect follow up to his victory Wednesday when he won the 10-Ball. Bergman, aka, “Iceberg” pocketed $4,100 for the win and locked up the $1,500 All-Around Bonus, making it a $9,400 week for the 29-year-old from Fairview Heights, Ill.
Bergman faced a touch field in the 9-Ball Division, posting wins over Billy Thorpe, 9-6; Donny Branson, 9-6; Chris Stanfield, 9-8; Max Eberle 9-3; Ryan DeBerg, 9-2; and Edwin Garcia, 9-1, before sending Shane McMinn to the loser’s bracket after a 9-7 win to take the hot seat.
McMinn, a former Oklahoma State champion, beat Roberto Gomez Jr., 9-6; Josh Roberts, 9-5; Julio Burgos Torres, 9-5; and Mike DeWitt, 9-6, before losing to Bergman, 7-9. Then McMinn beat Jason Klatt to meet Bergman in the finals.
The finals of the 9-Ball Division, which had an alternating break format, started with each of the players breaking and running a rack. In the third rack, McMinn, who had won the lag, jawed the seven ball, giving Bergman the rack and an advantage that McMinn was unable to overcome.
Bergman is also still undefeated in the 8-Ball Division, which began Friday, so he has the opportunity to win the USBTC’s Triple Crown, a feat that has never been accomplished by any player.
In addition, he’ll receive Mosconi Cup points for his wins — a fact that is very important to him. Before the start of the USBTC, Bergman was 14th on the Mosconi Cup rankings.
“I want to make the Mosconi Cup (team) so bad,” said Bergman, who represented the USA as part of the Mosconi Cup team in 2015 and 2014. “So that’s my main goal this year.”
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Rebecca Wagner of Las Vegas (photo at right), who placed second in the Women’s 10-Ball Division, found her way to another finals and was able to capture the 2016 USBTC Women’s 9-Ball Champion title early Friday, beating Susan Williams of Chandler, Ariz. in the finals posted wins against Mary Coffman, 7-4; Debra Aarens, 7-1; and Tina Larsen, 7-1. She beat Williams in the hot seat match, 7-4 on Thursday and repeated that feat in the finals.
Williams tournament included wins over Sierra Reams, 7-5; Grace Nakamura, 7-6; Anne Carmona, 7-5; and 10-Ball Champion Jessica Frideres, 7-5, before being sent to the B side of the bracket by Wagner. Then Williams beat Frideres again, 7-3, to secure her spot in the finals.
The US Bar Table Championships continues through Sunday with the 8-Ball divisions in full swing. The Open 8-Ball Division has 101 players and there are 26 players in the Women’s Division.
Players who place in the top 32 of each open division receive Mosconi Cup USA Team points on a sliding scale. The top three American players with the most points at the end of the year will be selected for the USA Mosconi Cup Team.
Sponsors of the $20,000-added tournament include: OB Cues, the Official Cue; Kamui, the Official Tip; Diamond Billiard Products, Cyclop Balls, Simonis Cloth, BadBoys Billiard Productions, FargoRate, Magic Ball Rack and Matchroom Sport.
The 2016 US Bar Table Championships are produced by CueSports International, the parent company of the BCAPL and USAPL. CSI also produces independent events, such as the US Open 10-Ball Championship, the US Open 8-Ball Championship and much more. For more information, visit www.playcsipool.com or call 702-719-POOL.
CueSports International, Henderson, NV (Aug. 25, 2016) — The 93-player field in the Open 9-Ball division at the 23rd Annual US Bar Table Championships was trimmed to just six players Thursday at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. On the winner’s side of the bracket, Shane McMinn of Ponca, Okla. faces Justin “Iceberg” Bergman of Fairview, Ill. in the hot seat match at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
On the B-Side of the bracket, Billy “Thorpedo” Thorpe will play Jason Klatt at 4 p.m.The winner of that match will play the loser of the hot seat match in the semi-finals. The finals are scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be live-streamed. For live-streaming information, go to http://www.playcsipool.com/live-streaming.html.
To get to the hot seat match, McMinn (photo below right), a former Oklahoma State champion, beat Roberto Gomez Jr., 9-6; Josh Roberts, 9-5; Julio Burgos Torres, 9-5; and Mike DeWitt, 9-6.
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Bergman, who won the 10-Ball division on Wednesday, posted wins over Billy Thorpe, 9-6; Donny Branson, 9-6; Chris Stanfield, 9-8; Max Eberly, 9-3; Ryan DeBerg, 9-2; and Edwin Garcia, 9-1.
In the Women’s Division, Rebecca Wagner of Las Vegas, who placed second in the Women’s 10-Ball Division will play Susan Williams of Chandler, Az. in the finals match at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Wagner posted wins against Mary Coffman, 7-4; Debra Aarens, 7-1; and Tina Larsen, 7-1. She beat Williams in the hot seat match, 7-4 on Thursday.
Williams (photo below right) tournament included wins over Sierra Reams, 7-5; Grace Nakamura, 7-6; Anne Carmona, 7-5; and 10-Ball Champion Jessica Frideres, 7-5, before being sent to the B side of the bracket by Wagner. Then Williams beat Frideres again, 7-3, to secure her spot in the finals.
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The US Bar Table Championships continue through Aug. 28, with the 9-Ball Division concluding Friday, as the 8-Ball Division begins. The 8-Ball Open Division has 100 players and 20 players in the Women’s Division.
Players who place in the top 32 of each open division receive Mosconi Cup USA Team points on a sliding scale. The top three American players with the most points at the end of the year will be selected for the USA Mosconi Cup Team.
Sponsors of the $20,000-added tournament include: OB Cues, the Official Cue; Kamui, the Official Tip; Diamond Billiard Products, Cyclop Balls, Simonis Cloth, BadBoys Billiard Productions, FargoRate, Magic Ball Rack and Matchroom Sport.
The 2016 US Bar Table Championships are produced by CueSports International, the parent company of the BCAPL and USAPL. CSI also produces independent events, such as the US Open 10-Ball Championship, the US Open 8-Ball Championship and much more. For more information, visit www.playcsipool.com or call 702-719-POOL.
The opening day of the 23rd Annual US Bar Table Championships began with a field of 74 players at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. And by the time the first day’s matches concluded, just three remained on the winner’s side of the bracket: Sky Woodward, Justin Bergman and Billy Thorpe — all among a growing group of strong, young players.
Woodward and Bergman will face off at Noon Tuesday and the winner of the match will play Thorpe for the hot seat.
Bergman also play strong all day, with sound wins over Miguel Batista, 7-6; Jason Klatt, 7-1; Jesse Piercey, 7-4; Dale Stanley, 7-2; and Vilmos Foldes.
But there are plenty of solid players on the B-side of the bracket hoping to take home the $3,800 first prize, including Manny Perez, who plays Rodrigo Geronimo at 9 a.m. and Mike Massey, who plays Dale Stanley. Others still on the one-loss side include Van Boening, Sal Butera, Bret Huth, James Adams, Jamie Bruce, Salim, Shane McMinn, Foldes, Piercey, Hattan, McDaniel, Belobradie, Nevel and Josh Roberts.
On the one-loss side, Nakamura takes on Whitney at 9 a.m. and Kimberly Kirk plays Deb Aarens, also at 9 a.m. The winners of those matches play Pelletier and Coffman.
The US Bar Table Championships take play through Aug. 28 and offer 8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball divisions, as well as a Master of the Table bonus for both the open and women’s divisions.
In addition, players who place in the top 32 of each open division receive Mosconi Cup USA Team points on a sliding scale. The top three American players with the most points at the end of the year will be selected for the USA Mosconi Cup Team.
Sponsors include: OB Cues, the Official Cue; Kamui, the Official Tip; Diamond Billiard Products, Cyclop Balls, Simonis Cloth, BadBoys Billiard Productions, FargoRate, Magic Ball Rack and Matchroom Sport.
10-Ball Divisions Aug. 22-24
Open 10-Ball: Race to 7/$5,000 added
Women’s 10-Ball; Race to 5/ $1,000 added
9-Ball Divisions: Aug. 24-26
Open 9-Ball: Race to 9/$5,000 added
Women’s 9-Ball; Race to 7/ $1,000 added
8-ball Divisions: Aug. 26-28
Open 10-Ball: Race to 5/$5,000 added
Women’s 10-Ball; Race to 4/ $1,000 added
Master of the Table Bonuses*
Open Divisions: $1,500/Women’s Divisions: $500
*Players must compete in all three divisions to be eligible for the bonus.
Steve Goulding, Jorge Rodriguez, Mike Dechaine and Mike Zuglan
Corr is among inductees to Hall of Fame
It was almost a storybook ending. The Joss Northeast 9-Ball's 6th Annual New England Pool & Billiards Hall of Fame/Ray Desell Memorial 9-Ball Open, held on the weekend of February 27-March 1, included, on Friday, the induction of nine candidates into the New England Hall of Fame. Among them were Karen Corr, who made it to the semifinals of the $2,500-added 9-ball event that drew 88 entrants to Snookers in Providence, RI. She was defeated in those semifinals by Mike Dechaine, who won five on the loss side to meet and twice defeat hot seat occupant, Jorge Rodriguez, and reclaim the title he'd last won in 2013. It was Dechaine's third win on the tour, dating back to October.
Dechaine's victory carried echoes of the 5th annual event, in which Joey Dupuis came from the loss side and defeated Dechaine in the finals. This time, it was Dechaine on the loss side, after a 9-6 loss to Nelson Oliveira in a winners' side quarterfinal. Oliveira advanced to meet Corr, while Rodriguez and Jeremy Sossei, looking for his third Joss win of the 2014-2015 season, met in the other winners' side semifinal.
Rodriguez and Sossei battled to double hill before Rodriguez prevailed for a spot in the hot seat match. He was joined by Corr, who'd dispatched Oliveira 9-6. Rodriguez sent Corr to the semifinals 9-3 and waited in the hot seat for Dechaine.
Over on the loss side, Dechaine was at work. He defeated Pete Bowman and Cleiton Rocha 9-6 to draw Sossei; they'd met last in the finals of the Ocean State 9-Ball Championship in November. Oliveira picked up Ryan Lineham, who'd gotten by Mark Creamer 9-5 and Paul Dryden 9-7.
Lineham brought Oliveira within a game of double hill, but it was Oliveira advancing to the quarterfinals. Dechaine had somewhat of an easier time against Sossei, defeating him 9-2 for a shot against the man who'd sent him to the loss side. Dechaine chalked up another 9-2 win, dropping Oliveira into fourth place, and turned to face Corr in the semifinals.
Having given up three or less racks during his four loss-side matches, Corr proved to be a little more resilient. She battled Dechaine and chalked up seven, before Dechaine pulled ahead to win it.
It was clear from the outset in the double elimination finals that Dechaine was on a mission. While both players exhibited signs of fatigue as Sunday, March 1, turned into Monday, March 2, Dechaine jumped out of the gate and claimed the opening set 9-5. Rodriguez came out just as determined in the second set, taking an early 4-0 lead. Rodriguez would continue to creep forward, but by rack #12, Dechaine had tied things up. He would go on to win the next two and stood on the brink of claiming the title. Rodriguez, though, battled back to tie things, double hill, and then, just as he stood on the brink of claiming the title, he scratched on the final break. Dechaine closed it out around 2 a.m. to claim the 6th Annual New England Pool & Billiard Hall of Fame/Ray Desell Memorial title.
A $500-added Second Chance tournament, saw Justin Muller go undefeated, downing Bob Madenjian in the finals. Ed Loring finished in third place, after defeating Phil Davis, who finished fourth. Tim Perry and Clyde Matta tied for fifth place.
In addition to Karen Corr, the New England Pool & Billiard Hall of Fame inducted Grace Nakamura, “Upstate Al” Leon, Shayne Cote, Philip Capelle, Steve and Tammy Reynolds, Bart Rivezzi, and Nick Scofield at the ceremonies on Friday evening, February 27. The next stop on the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for March 28-29, will be the Northeast 9-Ball Open XXVIII, and will be hosted by Golden Cue Billiards in Albany.
Teruko Cucculelli went undefeated through a field of 43 to claim the 2015 Music City Open 9-Ball Ladies title on the weekend of January 16-18. In so doing, she spoiled a loss-side bid by Canada's Brittany Bryant to claim the title for the second year in a row. The $1,000-added event was hosted by JOB Billiards in Madison, TN.
Last year, Bryant won eight on the loss side and double dipped Dana Aft to claim the 2014 title. This year, she won five on the loss side, only to be defeated in the finals by Cucculelli.
Bryant was moved to the loss side in this one by Ashley Nandrasy, who'd move on to a winners' side semifinal versus Jessica Human. Cucculelli and Amanda Wilder squared off in the other. Cucculelli got into the hot seat match with a 7-4 victory over Wilder, and faced Human, who sent Nandrasy after Bryant, double hill. Cucculelli claimed the hot seat in a double hill win over Human and waited on Bryant's return.
Bryant opened up her loss-side campaign with a 7-3 win over Becca Sullins, and then, defeated 2013's runner-up, Liz Lovely, double hill, to draw Wilder. Nandrasy picked up Grace Nakamura (third place, 2014), who'd defeated Donna Favors 7-4, and April Dobbins 7-5. Nandrasy shut Nakamura out, earning a quarterfinal re-match against Bryant, who'd eliminated Wilder 7-2.
Bryant won the re-match 7-2, and with a double hill win over Human in the semifinals, was into the Music City finals for the second year in a row. Cucculelli, though, spoiled Bryant's bid for a second straight title with a single set 7-3 win.
Brittany Bryant lost an early round, double hill match to Liz Lovely, during the Music City Open Ladies event on the weekend of January 17-19. Bryant battled back through eight opponents on the loss side to eventually meet and double dip hot seat occupant and 2013 Amateur Women's Champion, Dana Aft, in the finals. It was Bryant's second Music City Open victory, having defeated Nicole Keeney in 2011. The $1,000-added Ladies event drew 48 entrants to JOB Billiards in Madison, TN.
Once she had sent Bryant to the loss side, Liz Lovely, looking for her second straight appearance in the Music City Ladies final, moved on, advancing to the winners' side final four and a match versus Aft. Grace Nakamura, in the meantime, met up with Samantha Patton in the other winners' side semifinal. Aft survived a double hill match versus Lovely, while Nakumura downed Patton 7-3. Aft got into the hot seat 7-4 over Nakamura.
It was Patton who drew Bryant on the loss side, already five victories into her eight-match winning streak, including elimination of Alison Hardwick 7-3 and Janeen Lee 7-4. Lovely drew Nicole Keeney, last year's Ladies winner, who'd shut out Amy Jones and eliminated Tracie Majors 7-5. Bryant defeated Patton 7-5, while a Bryant/Lovely re-match was avoided when Keeney won, double hill, over Lovely.
Bryant then gave up only a single rack in her quarterfinal win over Keeney, and dropped Nakamura into third place 7-5. Displaying evidence of a 'woman on a mission,' Bryant gave up only two racks over 16 games; one each in a two-set final, to claim the event title.
The opening draw for the upcoming Amway Cup has been posted online, which leaves no time like the present to examine the various groups and pick some early favorites.
Before we get into each group, let's review the format. This event sees 48 players divided into eight groups of six players. Each group will play round robin and the top three players from each group will move into the single elimination stages. Matches are race to seven until the semi-finals and finals. Semi-finals will be race to 9 and the finals will be a race to 11.
Lin shocked the world and won this event last year with back to back wins over Allison Fisher and Ga Young Kim. Prior to that win, Lin was relatively unknown. She is the #1 seed in this event and she should have no problem advancing into the single elim stages.
Former World Champion Julie Kelly has struggled the past couple of years, with a 5th place at the 2007 WPBA Nationals as her best finish in the last two years. She could struggle in this group, but should make it into the single elim stages.
Canadian Joanne Ashton had a nice finish at the WPBA San Diego Classic, and a good performance in Taipei would do big things for her confidence.
The Amway Cup press is referring to this group as the "Group of Death". While it is a tough group, it would best be called the "Group of Doom" as The Duchess of Doom, Allison Fisher, should have no problems here.
Schwan just turned in a runner up finish to Jasmin Ouschan at the European Chamionships, and her #5 seeding is not really fair. She should advance into the single elim stages.
Amit was thought of as the top female in the Philippines before Iris Ranola burst on the scene. Amit could make it out of this group, but Chang is probably a bigger favorite to advance.
Tan is the reigning Japan Open Champion and should have no problems here.
Thornfeldt would be a safe bet to also advance here.
Group F:
Yum-Mi Lem Karen Corr
Pei-Chen Tsai Sarah Rousey
Johanna Espinoza Fajardo
Qualifier 3
Lim finished 5th here last year and has won this event in the past, but seeding her above Corr seems to be a mistake.
If the injury that hampered Corr in San Diego is healed, she should be a lock to advance from this group.
Tsai was a third place finisher here last year and should advance.
Sarah Rousey is the wild card here. Her #4 seeding would indicate that she is not a favorite to advance, but she should outplay that ranking and join Corr and Tsai as players advancing from this group.
Now this is a tough group. The top three seeds are certainly the favorites to advance.
With Ouschan just winning the 8-ball and 9-ball divisions at the European Championship, she would be a favorite to advance from any group; this one included.
Rademakers is rightfully the #4 seed, but she could surprise some people and advance past Liu or Ranola.
Lee has taken her game back to the level it was at 10 years ago, Pan should play even stronger with the home field advantage and Hofstatter just finished 3rd in San Diego.
The bottom three players are going to have to work hard to edge out any of the top three.
