Ron Casanzio with room owner Andrea Duvall and Alex Bausch
The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour is on a roll with a new winner each week. Different than previous seasons where one or two players dominated the season with multiple title wins, the 2022 / 2023 Joss NE 9-Ball Tour has seen a different winner at each stop. That record continued through October with Alex Bausch winning his first career tour stop at Utica Billiards on the Boulevard on October 15th – 16th, Kyle Akaloo earning his first career tour stop win at Brickhouse Billiards in N. Syracuse on October 22nd – 23rd, and then Ray McNamara winning his first title of the year at American Pool & Billiards on October 29th – 30.
Alex Bausch’s win on October 15th – 16th kicked off with an undefeated run to the hot-seat match, where he beat Dan Sharlow 9-5. Sharlow would not make it back to face Bausch in the finals, as Ron Casanzio was tearing through the one loss side and defeated Sharlow 7-5 in the semi-final match.
Casanzio had lost to Bausch early in the day on Saturday, but won seven straight matches to get to the double elimination finals. Casanzio quickly extended that run of wins to eight, with a 9-2 win over Bausch in the first set of the finals, but Bausch took control in the second set and scored a 7-2 win for his first career Joss Tour Stop.
Ron Casanzio, Brickhouse Billiards Manager Chloe Romanyk and Kyle Akaloo
The October 22nd – 23rd tour stop at Brickhouse Billiards looked a lot like the event a week before. This time, it was South Africa’s Kyle Akaloo who defeated Casanzio on Saturday as part of his run to the hot-seat match. Akaloo defeated Qays Kolee for the hot-seat 9-6, and Kolee found Casanzio on another winning streak on the left side of the board. This time, Casanzio’s run was only five consecutive wins, including a 7-2 win over Kolee, to put Casanzio in his second final match in as many weeks.
Casanzio won the first set of the finals 9-7, but faltered again in the second set, dropping that match 7-3 for Akaloo’s first career Joss Tour win.
Dave Hall, American Pool & Billiards Owner Jerry Giutard and Ray McNamara
The October 29th – 30th tour stop at American Pool & Billiards in Portland Maine saw Dave Hall run through the right side of the brackets and score a 9-3 win over Shane Cote to take the hot-seat.
Cote, then dropped a heart-breaking 7-6 match against tour regular Ray McNamara, who had lost his Saturday match against Hall 9-8. McNamara strung together five straight wins on the left side of the board and got the finals underway with a 9-4 win over hot-seat holder Hall. While two players had been unable to complete the double dip the previous two events, McNamara was successful in his attempt this time, with a 7-5 win over Hall in the second set of the finals for McNamara’s first win on the tour since June of last year.
The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour will be at Diamond Billiards in Rochester, NY this weekend for tour stop number 8, with another $1500 added main event and $500 added second chance tournament.
Congratulations to stop # 6 winners, Kyle Akaloo ($1,000 main event), Josh Welsh ($300 second chance event) & $1,900 Joss Cue raffle winner Zac Baum
Stop # 7 of my Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour’s 26th season will be at American Pool & Billiards (formerly Union Station) in Portland Maine on Oct 29 & 30. Jerry Guitard is our most generous host for what promises to be another great event and he deserves our sincere thanks for allowing us the use of his beautiful room. American Pool & Billiards Billiards boasts 18 Gold Crowns, all covered in 860 Simonis (The Cloth Of Champions) which will allow us to move swiftly throughout the weekend. They also have a pub style restaurant with great food, a full bar, a 12 foot Snooker table, ping pong and darts. So lets show the Jerry our appreciation by coming to play in or just watch what promises to be yet another great 9-ball event. You could even win a $1,900 custom engraved Joss Cue in the raffle. Anyone can participate and you do not have to be present to win. The drawing for the cue will be on Sunday just before the final match of the main event. For more information about American Pool & BilliardsBilliards, check them out at americanpoolnbilliards.com or on Facebook or call them at 207-899-3693.
For those in need of motel accommodations, please call American Pool & Billiards for more info.
This event at American Pool & Billiards will consist of a $1,500 added Saturday and Sunday Main Event (entry Fee $120 for pro level or $70 for non pro level) and a $500 added second chance event on Sunday ($20 Entry Fee) for those non pro level players eliminated from the main event on Saturday. All of our events are open to players of all skill levels. Our main event format remains true double elimination, but now with races to 9 on the winners side and races to 7 on the one loss side.
For those of you coming to play, please arrive on Saturday October 29 Before 11:00 AM, and in proper dress please. Yes, jeans and sneakers are permitted in our billiard parlor events. But please, NO T-SHIRTS, TANKS, SHORTS OR SWEATS. Complete tour info can be found on our site www.joss9balltour.com
Please note that our $25,000 Added Turning Stone Classic XXXVI 9-Ball Open on January 5-8, 2023 is Full at 128 Paid players. If you would like to be put on the waiting list, please contact Mike Zuglan at 518-356-7163. FYI, I am currently in negotiations for our $25,000 Added Turning Stone Classic XXXVII in the Summer of 2023. I will let everyone know when it is finalized and I will begin taking entries for that event at the January 2023 event and not before.
Please remember to spread the word to frequent your local billiard parlors and utilize and promote the world class products of our most generous sponsors. They are the backbone of our sport and deserve our support now more than ever!!
Thanks, and I hope to see you all at American Pool & Billiards.
Mike Zuglan
The Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour Is Proudly Sponsored By;
Carlo Biado, Shane Van Boening, and Joshua Filler were amongst the top seeds to progress through to the Last 64 of the 2022 US Open Pool Championship at Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City.
Defending champion Biado was made to go the hard way to reach the Last 64 after falling to Joven Bustamante in Winners Qualification 9-6 before overcoming Chen Chia Hua in the Losers side to reach single elimination and face Petri Makkonen next up. Albin Ouschan also had to go through the losers section to progress after losing out to Hsieh Chia Chen 9-5 in the morning before beating Kristina Tkach to keep his hunt for a maiden US Open crown alive.
There was less trouble for Van Boening who moved through the gears to beat Mosconi Cup teammate Tyler Styer 9-2 and set up a repeat of the 2021 World Pool Masters final with Alexander Kazakis next. Shane Wolford‘s hopes of reaching his first Mosconi Cup were kept alive thanks to an impressive win over Ko Ping Chung whilst Oscar Dominguez, Greg Hogue, Styer, Chris Reinhold, Bustamante, and Skyler Woodward will also be eyeing a spot on Team USA as their journeys continue. Billy Thorpe‘s hopes of an automatic spot were ended by Jani Uski in a 9-0 defeat.
Filler will have to see off Kyle Akaloo if he is to continue a search for a second US Open crown whilst on Team Europe’s side for Mosconi places there’s still plenty to play for with the likes of Mario He, Kazakis, Jayson Shaw, Ouschan, David Alcaide and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz all in the hunt going into the final three days.
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE
10 am
Table 1 – Jayson Shaw (GBR) vs Lee Vann Corteza (PHI) – Match No. 419
Table 2 – David Alcaide (ESP) vs Ko Ping Chung (TPE) – Match No. 425
NB 11:30 am
Table 1 – Fedor Gorst (ANA) vs Tyler Styer (USA) – Match No. 431
Table 1 – Shane Van Boening (USA) vs Alexander Kazakis (GRE) – Match No. 448
Table 2 – Chang Jung-Lin (TPE) vs Skyler Woodward (USA) – Match No. 444
The inaugural SVB Junior Open gets underway tomorrow inside the same Diamond Arena as the Last 64. All Junior competitors will receive an SVB Junior Open jersey free of charge from official apparel partner Onboard alongside the $10,000 prize fund. Van Boening’s official cue partner, Cuetec put up $5,000 alongside $5,000 from Matchroom to offer one of the most exciting prize pots in Junior Pool. The final is set to be streamed live on the Matchroom Pool YouTube channel to over 180,000 subscribers as the players enjoy a huge spotlight offered to them thanks to the main US Open being at the Last 16 and Quarter-Final stage during the last day of the Junior Open.
From Monday, 10 October to Thursday, 13 October fans will be able to enjoy the action globally on the Matchroom Pool Facebook and YouTube pages as well as Matchroom.Live with two tables streamed. Fans in China can enjoy all the action on our Weibo page.
Mika Immonen won an all-star Joss NE 9-Ball Tour stop over the October 1st/2nd weekend at Raxx Pool Room & Grill in West Hempstead, NY.
With the US Open and International 9-Ball events coming up later in the month, some of the best players in the world are making their way to the east coast, and this event saw it’s fair share of them. Immonen was joined by World Champion Carlo Biado, recent Michigan Open runner-up Robbie Capito and Predator Canada Open Champion Chia Hua Chen (Amber) just to name a few.
Capito won his first match, a 9-6 decision over room owner Holden Chen, but then dropped a hill-hill match against Nick Torraca. Torraca would then lose his next one to tour regular Mhet Vergara 9-2. The win over Torraca moved Vergara into Sunday’s matches undefeated, where he joined Immonen, Biado and Chen.
Immonen had scored four comfortable wins on Saturday, with the most games he allowed to any one opponent being the five racks that South Africa’s Kyle Akaloo won in the last match of the day. Sunday proved to be a bit more challenging for Immonen as Vergara took him to hill-hill on Sunday morning before Immonen could pocket the case 9-ball. In the other winner’s side match on Sunday morning, Biado scored a one-sided 9-4 win over Chen. The clash between Immonen and Biado for the hot-seat was another close one, with Immonen prevailing 9-7.
On the one loss side, Chen defeated reigning Under 23 World Champion Moritz Neuhausen from Germany, 7-3 and then defeated another tour regular, Alex Osipov, 7-5. Her next match, against Biado in the semi-final, didn’t go any better than their first meeting, with Biado winning 7-3.
Fans in attendance might have been expecting another epic battle between Immonen and Biado in the finals, but Immonen had other ideas. He took complete control of the match early and ran away to a 9-3 win in one set.
The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour will be back in action this weekend at Sharp Shooters Billiards & Sports Pub in Amsterdam, NY for another $1500/$500 added main event and second chance tournament.
Congratulations to our Turning Stone Classic XXXV 9-Ball Open Champion Jayson Shaw ($8,000), our second chance winner Kyle Akaloo ($500), and to both of our $1,900 custom engraved Joss Cue raffle winners, Tim Morris & Matt Sears!
Now it’s time for our Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour’s 26th continuous regular season of events beginning on September 17 & 18 with “The Main Event X IV” at TJ’s Classic Billiards in beautiful Waterville Maine. TJ’s owner Steve Reynolds is most deserving of our thanks for not only adding $2,000 to our event, but also allowing us the use of his beautiful room for the weekend. Why not show your thanks by coming to TJ’s to participate in or just watch this great event, and also take a chance at winning a beautiful custom, engraved, collectible Joss Cue valued at $1,900! You don’t even need to be present to win!! Also while at TJ’s you can enjoy some great home cooked specials and a beer or two if you like. For additional info about TJ’s please call them at 207-877-7665, and check out TJ’s Classic Billiards on Facebook.
Nearby motel info can be had by contacting TJ’s directly at 207-877-7665
This event at TJ’s will consist of a $1500 added Saturday and Sunday Main Event (entry fee $120 for pro level – I will decide – or $70 for non pro level) and a $500 added second chance event on Sunday ($20 entry fee) only for those non pro level players eliminated from the main event on Saturday. All of our billiard room events are double elimination, races to 9 on the winners side and races to 7 on the one loss side! All of our events are open to all players in good standing.
For those of you coming to play, please arrive on Saturday September 17, BEFORE 11:00 AM in proper dress of NO T-shirts & NO shorts or sweat clothes please. Jeans, sneakers and a shirt with a collar works just fine at all of our billiard parlor events! If coming to watch, play will begin after sign in on Saturday and promptly at 11am on Sunday.
For our complete Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour schedule, results and other pertinent tour info, please go to www.joss9balltour.com
Our $25,000 Added Turning Stone Classic XXXVI 9-Ball Open on January 5-8, 2023 is fast approaching and will be here before you know it. FYI, I just began taking entries last week and we are already FULL, pending my receipt of many “checks in the mail”. I have started a waiting list and expect there will be many who will get in off of it so call now if you want on it. 518-356-7163. I strongly urge any serious players to act now!!
Please do not use this gmail address to contact me. Use mzjosstour@aol.com or 518-356-7163 only.
Remember to spread the word to frequent your local billiard parlors and utilize the world class products of our most generous sponsors. They are the backbone of our sport and deserve our support!! Thank you & I hope to see you all at TJ’s,
Jani Uski and Mika Immonen (Taka Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport)
Finland, Switzerland, and Great Britain have completed the quarterfinal line-up at the 2022 World Cup of Pool at the Brentwood Centre, Essex live on Sky Sports Arena in the UK, DAZN in the USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Viaplay in Scandinavia, the Baltics, Netherlands, and Poland. Matchroom.Live in territories without a broadcaster.
Seeded Estonia came up against Finland with the winner set to face Singapore in the quarterfinals tomorrow morning. Estonia’s Denis Grabe and Rainer Laar struggled early on as Finland’s duo of Mika Immonen assembled a 2-0 lead that could’ve been three if it wasn’t for a poor safety from Immonen that allowed their opposition in to make it 2-1.
Estonia continued to struggle as Immonen and Uski gathered momentum to take the first rack after the break to lead 3-1 and soon 4-1. Grabe and Laar had their work cut out but came back in it sharpish no part down to an error on positioning on the nine in the sixth rack from Immonen to allow the Estonians to steal the rack and get the break in their hand.
At 4-2, Finland had their opportunity to move two away when back at the table only for Uski to miss the eight ball and leave Estonia again with a simple out to only trail by one. The key phrase of cue ball control was key in this contest, and it lacked at times from both sides. A routine break and run from Grabe and Laar levelled matters at 4-4.
Laar broke in the ninth, but he was warned for a soft break in the process, with the two hooked, Grabe called the push out and Immonen played a quality kick to leave Estonia punished for their push out call. It was Laar who was then up and he fouled to give Finland ball in hand and they made them pay to lead again at 5-4. Neither Grabe or Laar covered themselves in too much glory but the latter missed what proved to be a pivotal four in the 10th rack to allow Finland their moment to get on the hill. Uski cued with the confidence of someone who was enjoying every moment on the big stage.
It looked like Finland would close things out in the following rack, but Immonen missed the six to give Estonia a glimmer of hope, and all be it a glimmer with the six now at the opposite end of the table and cue ball in front of the seven at the opposite end. Grabe pulled off the pressure pot but left Laar with a tester on the seven which he couldn’t make only for Uski to scratch when trying to bank the seven the full length of the table. Estonia was still alive.
The last rack wasn’t without drama, a costly miss from Laar handed Finland the opportunity to complete their win and face Singapore in the quarterfinals.
Hungary were next up taking on a Switzerland side who had barely missed a ball in their win over Japan yesterday evening. Oliver Szolnoki and Vilmos Foldes were keen to reach the quarterfinals for only a second time in their nation’s World Cup history whilst Switzerland could be counted of something of a dark horse.
It was the case of two missed pots for Switzerland in the opening rack though as the costly one on the nine from Ronald Regli handed Hungary the opening advantage. A break and run completed by Foldes gave the seeded side the upper hand put them 2-0 up. Rack three was more of the same as Hungary put their stamp on proceedings.
Switzerland got their chance after the commercials after Hungary scratched on the break. From there, Dimitri Jungo went in off the nine when playing the six and it was 4-0 Hungary. Another break and run left Switzerland reeling and Hungary two away from victory and one eye on the quarterfinals.
Szolnoki broke dry in the sixth rack and it gave Jungo and Regli their moment to reduce the scoreline to 5-1, there was still plenty of work to be done if they were to have any slight chance of progressing.
The seventh rack was scrappy as the Swiss looked to build a pack, but it wasn’t going to be easy. Hungary got back to the table and Szolnoki put the eight away but left Foldes with a tricky attempt on the nine. One miss on the nine later and Jungo made it to cut their opponent’s advantage to three. Jungo and Regli pieced together a break and run in the next rack to do the damage with Regli making five balls on the break to help them along their way.
Switzerland’s idea of running a few packs came true with another break and run to make it 5-4 in the ninth. The almighty comeback gathered ahead of steam with a golden break from Regli to go level. Szolnoki had a chance to stop the drought, but he missed the three when cueing over the seven. Jungo and Regli did the rest to lead for the first time and be on the hill.
Hungary was presented a golden chance early on in what was ultimately the last rack after Jungo miscued when playing the one. Szolnonki potted the one but left Foldes short of a clear pot for the two. Foldes got fortunate and left Switzerland hooked but Regli did the exact same back to leave Szolnoki in a difficult position. One foul later and Switzerland completed a huge comeback to reach the quarterfinals.
Great Britain was imperious in knocking out their fellow countrymen in the opening round and Chris Melling with Imran Majid was looking for more of the same as they come against South Africa’s Jason Theron and Kyle Akaloo. Theron won the lag, but it was GB who took the opening two racks, a golden break from Melling in the second to take the early initiative. Theron and Akaloo stole the third rack to be trailing by one at the break and stop Great Britain from winning ten racks in a row overall in the tournament.
With Great Britain leading 4-1, South Africa needed something, they were chasing the nine combo early on but left the same chance for their opponents. Melling missed the 5-9 combo but hooked Akaloo in the process. Akaloo fouled but then Majid scratched with the ball in hand. South Africa did the rest, and it was 4-2.
At 4-2, Melling missed the bank on the six ball and South Africa was able to close GB’s lead to just one in a tricky rack for both sides.
Great Britain didn’t hang around much after South Africa’s third rack with a quick run out in the eighth before making the most of an error-prone ninth rack from their opposition. Melling missed the two and left it over the pocket for Akaloo to make it only for the debutant to leave the cue ball slap bang behind the three. Theron’s effort saw the three-land plumb over the pocket at the opposite end to Great Britain’s rejoice who profiteered to be one away.
Theron has South Africa’s last say on the match. Majid broke dry in the final rack but Theron had no shot on the one. He fouled when trying to jump and from then on, Melling and Majid did the rest to meet Spain in the quarterfinals tomorrow evening.
Jason Theron and Kyle Akaloo (Taka Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport)
South Africa, Singapore, and Kuwait have all reached the Last 16 of the 2022 World Cup of Pool at the Brentwood Centre, Essex live on Sky Sports Arena in the UK, DAZN in the USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Viaplay in Scandinavia, the Baltics, Netherlands, and Poland. Matchroom.Live in territories without a broadcaster.
Thailand’s were a late call-up for the World Cup to replace the Philippines and they met two players representing South Africa for the first time in Jason Theron and Kyle Akaloo. The South Africans got off to a better start after Un-Nooh broke dry on the break, but it wasn’t without sketchy moments for Akaloo who was also getting used to the conditions on table.
Un-Nooh and Saengkham had their chances at times, two ball-in-hand opportunities in the fourth rack could’ve given them their opening rack but they failed to make it pay and South Africa led 4-0. South African errors were due to catch up on them and they did as Thailand got two quick racks on the board. At 4-1, Akaloo tried to screw back to break the eight and nine but in the process missed the pink to allow Thailand back to the table who got their second rack to trail by two.
A dry break from South Africa this time gave Thailand the
but a foul led to a simple 1-9 combo with ball in hand for Theron to make it 5-2. Akaloo had the opportunity to play the kick on the 7-9 but he ended up blowing the table wide open to give Thailand another rack at 5-3.
The Springboks’ experience in pool did prove to be enough in the end as they wrapped up a 7-3 victory to face Great Britain tomorrow evening.
“We had to enjoy it, most are too serious here! We are passionate. We love it. It’s our debut. I feel we need to be enjoying it. They were short on breaking and jumping. Their potting was quite good. They (Thailand) struggled to adjust to the slide which isn’t on a snooker table. We will look at the positives. We got used to it out there. It’s our debut, it’s a big thing. We go forwards with a positive mindset.” – Akaloo
Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp and Toh Lian Han battled their way past a gutsy Qatar to book their spot in the Last 16 where it could’ve been so different if it wasn’t for a string of missed pots from their opponents.
Qatar took the opener but a wild effort on the five ball in the second rack from Waleed Majid K Alars put Singapore back to the table and they made them pay to level at one apiece. Singapore was grafting hard to avoid a potential upset and they soon led 4-2. A scoreline that flattered the Singaporean’s efforts. Majid and Ali Nasser Al Obaidli were up against it with US Open runner-up Yapp starting to build ahead of steam to steer his side towards victory at 5-2.
The Qataris took to the ninth rack knowing any mistakes would prove to be the end of their tournament and they lived dangerously. Ali Obaidi missed the nine to bring Singapore back to the table only for them to do the same with Han. In the end, Majid settled it to keep Qatar’s hopes alive. That hope was only brief though as Singapore reached the Last 16 in the following rack with relative ease to ensure a safe passage and face Kuwait next.
Kuwait were the last of the afternoon action as they met a resiliant-looking Vietnamese side of Dang Thanh Kien and Duong Quoc Hoang. Thanh Kien and Quoc Hoang took the opener but they came unstuck in the following rack as Bader Al Awadhi tucked the eight behind the nine and the cue ball up table. A foul put Kuwait in for an easy finish to level at 1-1.
Omar Al-Shaheen broke in the third only to scratch off the break fo allow Vietnam in who ran out to take the lead once again. It was a scrappy fourth rack that did swing in Vietnam’s favour and they led 3-1. Kuwait came into the competition looking to make an impact and Al Awadhi was cueing perfectly as they wrestled back control to turn it around to 3-3. Soon, the Kuwaitis looked to gather real momentum to make it 5-3 and 6-3 to have won five on the bounce and be on the hill.
Vietnam were not done by any means though, Al Awadhi scratched when making the two in the 10th rack and Vietnam did the rest to pull it to 6-4. An easy break and run in the next from Quoc Hoang and Thanh Kien cut the deficit to one. Kuwait at this stage would’ve been nervy of Vietnam running out the rest of the match but that wasn’t to be as they lost position on the four only to leave the four just over the pocket after jumping. Al-Shaheen and Al Awadhi thanked their lucky stars for that moment to wrap up victory from the clutches of Vietnam.
Action returns from 5pm tonight with the last Round 1 match between Japan and Switzerland before Round 2 begins live on Sky Sports Arena at 11 am as well as live on DAZN in the USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Viaplay in Scandinavia, the Baltics, Netherlands, and Poland. See the full list of broadcasters here including Matchroom.Live if no broadcaster is available.
Germany (Joshua Filler & Thorsten Hohmann) will begin the defence of their World Cup of Pool crown against New Zealand (Matt Edwards & Simon Singleton) whilst hosts Great Britain A have been drawn a huge clash against Great Britain B in their opening encounter at the Brentwood Centre, Essex from June 14-19 live on Sky Sports in the UK and networks worldwide. Tickets are still available from £10 here.
The top 16 sides were seeded based on the 2022 Nineball World Rankings with the remaining 16 teams becoming the unseeded players for the draw. Teams were picked based on the below criteria
16 x – WPA Federation Allocations
8 x – 2022 Nineball World Rankings
8 x – Matchroom Wild Cards
Format – Winner Break
Round 1 – Race to 7
Round 2 – Race to 7
Quarter/Semi Finals – Race to 9
Final – Race to 11
Session Times (UK Time)
Afternoon – 11 am – 3 pm
Evening – 5 pm – 9 pm (except for 19, June 6 pm start)
Match Schedule
Tuesday, 14 June – Afternoon
Germany (1) vs New Zealand
Chinese Taipei (9) vs Argentina
Albania (13) vs Italy
Tuesday, 14 June – Evening
USA (2) vs Canada
Hungary (10) vs Czech Republic
Spain (4) vs Australia
Wednesday, 15 June – Afternoon
Philippines (5) vs South Africa
Poland (15) vs Hong Kong, China
Greece (8) vs Cyprus
Wednesday, 15 June – Evening
Great Britain A (12) vs Great Britain B
Estonia (14) vs Serbia
Austria (3) vs Finland
Thursday, 16 June – Afternoon
Singapore (6) vs Qatar
Kuwait (11) vs Vietnam
Netherlands (16) vs Morocco
Thursday, 16 June – 1 x Round 1 match / 2 x Round 2 matches
Japan (7) vs Switzerland
TBC
TBC
Friday 17 June – Round 2 – both sessions
Saturday, 18 June – Quarter-Finals – both sessions