The Tornado Open has concluded at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The event had several different classifications and it isn't difficult to recognize the names of our winners.
Shane Van Boening claimed the top spot in the Men's Open 10-Ball by double-dipping Josh Roberts in the true double-elimination final with a combined score in the two sets of 16-2. This was rather a surprise as Roberts had been shooting lights out prior to the finals as he had defeated Shane, Dennis Orcullo and Shaun Wilkie in his three previous trips to the table. But in the finals Shane was unstoppable and Roberts only rarely had a look at a makeable shot.
Van Boening's was not the only double-dip of the final evening. Kelly Fisher did the same with Ga Young Kim after Ga Young had earned the hot seat by defeating Allison Fisher 7-3 in the Women's Pro 10-Ball. Kelly Fisher survived her trip to the loser's side by defeating Monica Webb (7-5) and Chezka Centeno (7-6). She then returned to win the title by besting Ga Young Kim 7-5 and then 7-4.
There was also Jack and Jill Scotch Doubles action! Vivian Villareal and Dennis Orcullo took home top honors here by defeating John Morra and Allison Fisher. Karen Corr and Corey Deuel finsihed in third.
The Women's Amateur event was captured by Christy Norris. Bonnie Coats grabbed second while Bev Ashton took the final podium spot in third. In the Men's Amateur division Jimmy Gestwicki took the Gold, Louis Altes the Silver and Kyle Bova took the Bronze.
Look for expanded coverage, results and payouts in the upcoming issue of the Billiards Buzz.
Shannon Daulton, Alex Olinger, Kenny Tran and room owner Mike Medley
The biggest story of the Great Southern Billiard Tour's 7th Annual Tour Championship weekend, December 13-15, was Alex Olinger, who won 12 straight matches – 10 on the loss side and two in the finals – to claim the 9-Ball title. In the 8-ball tournament, Mike Brown went undefeated to claim that title; his first on the GSBT. The $5,000-guaranteed purse events ($2,500 each) drew 90 entrants – 44 in 8-ball and 46 in 9-ball, with some duplication – to Michael's Billiards in Fairfield, OH, which was hosting the event for the second year in a row.
Olinger began his loss-side march when Louis Altes took him down 7-7 in the second round; Olinger was racing to 10. Altes would move on and advance to a winners' side semifinal against Danny Smith, who was looking to end 2012 the way he had started it, with a win (He took first place in last January's Music City Classic). In the other winners' side semifinal, Kenny Tran faced Brandon Thomas (the son in a father/son pair that competed; against each other in 8-ball).
Tran won 7-5, and Smith sent Altes over 11-5. With Smith racing to 11, Tran won his final match, moving into the hot seat 7-7. Olinger was on his way.
By the time the loss side got into its money rounds, Olinger was just over halfway home; six down, four to go for a shot at Tran in the hot seat. He took down Bill Tremble 10-3 and Bruce Luttrell 10-5, which set him up to face Brandon Thomas. Altes picked up Timmy Heath, who'd defeated Corey Morphew 7-5, and Jeremy Seaman 7-7. Olinger got his re-match versus Altes, but only just, as Thomas battled him to double hill. Altes, in the meantime, eliminated Heath 7-5.
Olinger sent Altes home 10-4 in the quarterfinals that followed, and then, locked up in a double hill semifinal battle with Danny Smith. With Smith racing to 11, Olinger prevailed 10-10 and moved on to face Tran.
With Tran, in the hot seat, racing to seven, Olinger took the opening set of the finals double hill (10-6). He took the second set 10-5 to claim the GSBT 9-Ball Championship title.
In the 8-ball tournament, Ohio's Mike Brown was the main story, as he went undefeated to claim his first-ever win on the Great Southern Billiard Tour. Brown's trip to the hot seat dodged a bit of a bullet, as Danny Smith, who finished third in the 9-ball event, advanced to the winners' side final four, and eventually finished fourth in the 8-ball event. Brown faced Jeremy Seaman among the winners' side final four, and looking for a second hot seat match, Smith faced Chris Bosse.
With Seaman racing to 8, Brown got into the hot seat match 6-6, as Bosse was busy sending Smith to the loss side 5-3. Brown defeated Bosse 6-3 to claim the hot seat and waited on what turned out to be the return of Seaman.
Smith moved to the loss side and ran into Russell Thomas, who'd shut out Samantha Patton, and then defeated his own son, Brandon 5-4 (Brandon racing to 6). Seaman picked up Jason Thomas (no relation), who'd survived a double hill match versus Shannon Murphey, and eliminated Timmy Heath 6-3. Smith made short work of the elder Thomas 8-2, and in the quarterfinals, faced Seaman, who'd ended Jason Thomas' run, double hill.
In a straight-up race to 8, Seaman dropped Smith into fourth place, and then survived a double hill matchup against Bosse (8-4) in the semifinals. The Brown/Seaman re-match was a replay of their first meeting among the winners' side final four. With Seaman racing to 8, Brown prevailed 6-6 to claim the 8-ball title.
Shannon Daulton and Marge Cooper thanked Mike Medley and his staff at Michael's Billiards and Games, as well as sponsors Nick Varner Cues & Cases, Delta 13 Racks, Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Tiger Products, Ozone Billiards and Lomax Custom Cues.
The first WorldPPA’s Reno Shootout event was a huge success! Well known SF Bay Area Tournament Director/Commentator, Gene Miller, says: ” WOW! LET’S DO THIS EVERY YEAR! That’s the concensus of Bob Beaulieu and virutally everybody else who was at the 19th US BAR TABLE CHAMPIONSHIPS at Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort February 13-19. Nothing against the Sands-Regency intended (we went there 46 times), but there’s a world of difference between the two locations. While the Sands was nice, the Grand Sierra is magnificent. Spacious, luxurious, numerous restaurants, entertainment, and gambling. The $25,250-added open events, 8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball, attracted a huge crowd and should bring many more next year. Check out the “Tournaments” forum at www.azbilliards.com for the latest facts and interesting gossip. All events were double elimination played on forty Diamond bar boxes. Ten additional Diamond 9-footers were brought in to accommodate 80 WorldPPA players in their first big 9-ball handicap championship. Imagine the coordination this event demanded — many of these players were enrolled in three tournaments simultaneously! The crew at Cue Sports International really knows how to handle a crowd. It was Mark Griffin (CSI) and Bob Beaulieu (WorldPPA) who got together and made this event such a success, even though Bob prefers to put himself way in the background, insisting that “It was the players who really made this event happen.” Bill Stock and his BCA crew contributed tremendously to the success of the event, and all fifty Diamond tables were set up by Bad Boys. It was also a coming-out party for Frank Nordmann Jr‘s new line of pool garb, “Play The Game.” (I have my event T-shirt and my hoodie is on order.) There were numerous vendors of pool clothing, cuemakers and everything else related to our game. As with so many recent events, a MAGIC RACK was at every table.”
Congratulations to Hunter Roberts (A+), a long time California Billiard Club player for taking 1st Place and winning $1,000.00 cash. Hunter’s list of opponents include races to 8 matches played with Linda Miyoshi (C+) 8/7; Carolyn Koo (C) 8/7; Louis Altes (A+) 8/6; Scott Mattingly (A-) 8/4; Chris McCreary (A) 8/4; then a Loss to Mike Kushlan (A) 4/8; and a win against George Pagulayan (A) 8/7 bringing him back to the Final table where he needed to beat Mike Kushlan twice – which he did; first 8/5 to put Mike Kushlan on the one-loss side then again 8/6 for the championship and 1st Place. Congratulations to Mike Kushlan Jr. for 2nd Place and winning $760.00.
Below is a list of the Top 24 winners with payouts:
Stroker’s Billiards Palm Harbor Fl, was the host location for the Poison Tour Season Opener 1-28-2012.
The $1000 Added Amateur event would kick off Saturday with 56 players showing up which included 7 ladies taking advantage of the $20 entry. The Tampa Bay area is known for being a very strong pool playing community and this one would prove it to be correct as 5 players in the last 6 all play regularly at Stroker’s pool room.
Room owner Jose Del Rio was looking strong in the event making his way to the hoseat match with some strong wins over Master table mechanic Wes Burden 7-4, Jeanie Seaver 7-5, Sascha Kauper 7-4 and then Jason Bowen 7-5. Mike Monosky would be his opponent as he made his way there with strong wins over John Donnelly 7-5, Sherry Sandaler 7-5, Julio Del Pozo 7-4, Dan Whitten 7-2 and then Art Seaman 7-5. The hotseat match would go in favor of Mike Monosky as he grinded out a strong 7-5 win. While all this was going on big money Jason Richko who had taken a 7-6 loss to journey man Art Seaman would go on to win 6 straight wins to before losing a hard fought match to Jason Bowne 5-4 to end up in 4th place. Bowen would then take down room owner Jose Del Rio leaving him in 3rd place and put himself in the final to play Monsosky.
The Final was all Bowen as he cruised through the set with a 7-2 win to set up a 1 rack sudden death Shoot out. The one rack shoot out is always a nervy affair and this one would be no different Monosky would run the balls to the 6 only to miss, Bowen would hold his nerve and run the last 4 to take his first Poison Tour Title. Congrats to Kira Brown who mad top lady player and received $50
Corey Deuel would be the man to beat as he made his way to the hotseat with wins over Carrie Moxley 7-3, Richard Knight 7-5, Tim Parisian 7-4, Tony Crosby 7-1 and then a hotseat win over Mike Davis 7-5. On the one loss side Jason Richko would go down to Trevor Braymore 5-2 and Jose Del Rio would go down to James Roberts 5-0 to leave them in 7th-8th place. Louis Altes would then beat Braymore and Tony Crosby would take Down Roberts to leave them in 5th-6th place. Crosby would then go onto beat Louis Altes 6-1 leaving him in 4th, Mike Davis would end the run for Crosby with a 6-3 win to give him a revenge final match with Deuel.
The Final would be a tight affair with both Players trading racks but Deuel would come out on top with a strong 7-5 win and the first 10-Ball title on the Poison Tour.
The Tour would like to thank Stroker’s Pool room and its staff for hosting another great event. We would also like to thank Poison Cues our title sponsor for supplying the best cues on the market.
The next event will be at Cuephoria Billiards Café, Winter Park (Orlando) Fl, February 18th-19th 2012 this should be a great event in a brand new room. We look forward to seeing you there.
Last weekend (January 8), Mike Davis got into the hot seat on the Tiger Southeast Open 9-Ball Tour and was defeated in the finals by Tommy Kennedy. This week, on January 14, Davis took a different route, to a different, preferable outcome. It was Davis this time who was sent to the semifinals, from whence he returned to defeat hot seat occupant, Justin Hall, in the finals. The $1,000-added event drew 22 entrants to Hammerheads in Holiday, FL.
Davis and Kennedy met in this one, as well; among the winners’ side final four. Davis sent Kennedy west 9-6 and advanced to the hot seat match against Hall, who’d defeated James Roberts 9-3. Hall got into the hot seat on the heels of a decisive 9-2 victory over Davis in their first of two.
Kennedy moved over to face Jason Richko, who’d gotten by Mark Walthen 7-3 and shut out Bill Delisle to reach him. Roberts picked up Louis Altes, who’d defeated Jose Del Rio 7-4 and Art Seamen 7-3. Kennedy and Altes moved into the quarterfinals with identical 7-3 victories over Richko and Roberts. Altes then prevented a Kennedy/Davis rematch with a 7-3 defeat of Kennedy in those quarterfinals.
Davis allowed Altes only a single rack in a semifinal victory that gave him a second shot at Hall. Hall took an early, three-game lead, 5-2, before Davis settled in to win eight in a row to reach the hill first in the extended, race-to-11 finals. Davis scratched on the subsequent break, opening the door to a three-game run by Hall. An unforced error by Hall in the 19th rack, though, gave Davis the chance he needed. He finished the rack to capture the event title.
One man looking very strong on the winners side would be Rick Schau after a tough 9-8 win over Louis Altese in the 2nd round he would go onto beat Jim Dolan 9-2, James Roberts 9-2 and then another strong win over Jason Richko 9-5 to put himself in the winners side final. In the winner side final he would face Tony Crosby who had made his way there with wins over Ke Wu 9-5, Betina Chase 9-1, Prescott Buckwold 9-4 and then a strong win over Richard Broumpton 9-1 to book his winner side final with Schau.
The winners side final would kick off with Crosby coming out strong and taking a commanding 6-2 lead, Schau would win the next two racks to pull the deficit to 6-4, Crosby would then have his chance only to miscue on the 1 balls and this would be his last shot of the match, Schau would run this rack out and leave Crosby sat in his seat as he broke and ran the last 4 racks to take the match 9-6 with a superb performance.
Mike Davis would then navigate his way back through the one loss side with wins over Ke Wu 7-4, Mike Delawder 7-0, ( where he broke and ran the last 5 racks) Jason Richko 9-6 and finally Richard Broumpton 9-5 to meet Tony Crosby in a semi finals match up. The semi final was looking like one way traffic as Crosby would take advantage of some unforced errors to take a 6-0 lead, a bathroom break from Davis turned the match and would claw his way back from 6-0 to 7-3 and then from 8-5 down would find himself tied at 8-8 breaking for the match. The last rack would see him make a ball on the break to leave a very tough 1 ball; he decided to play safe and leave Crosby hooked on the one, Crosby would kick at the 1 ball with speed making contact and fluking a ball in at the same time which would be enough to see him run the balls out and escape into the final.
The final would be a race to 10 with a possible one rack sudden death shootout if Crosby were to win the first set. The first rack would prove critical in this match as Crosby would break and run to the 8 ball, miss and give Schau the opportunity to take the first rack, but he would also miss the 8 which would prove very costly, as Crosby would win this rack and then go onto win the next 9 racks in a row playing strong pool. This would force the one rack sudden death shoot out. Crosby would win the lag and then go onto break and run the last and final rack to be crowned Florida State Champion.
The Poison tour would like to thank Pete Shabo, Hammerheads room owner and his staff for hosting another great event. The tours title Sponsor Poison by Predator cues, Billiardscoop, Delta 13 racks and also all the media Azbilliards, Insidepool, MxmBilliards, StrokeMagazine, Pool and Billiards, Billiards Digest for their great tour coverage.
The Poison Tour will kick off the new season January 28th, 29th, 2012 at Strokers Billiards in Palm Harbor Florida, dates in February and March will also be posted. We would also like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
Hammerheads Billiards Lounge, Holiday Florida hosted the Fl State Amateur championships weekend of 11,19,2011 57 players showed up for $2000 Added main event and 29 players for the 2nd chance $500 added. The $2500 Added FL State Open Championships will be held December 10th-11th at the same venue.
Florida’s Chris Gentile would prove to be the man to beat as he went about his business on winner’s side with strong wins over Jason Sheerman 7-6, Poison Amateur tour player of the year Jim Sandaler 7-3, Walter Blacker 7-3, Bryan Davalos 7-5 and then Mark Wathen 7-2 to find himself in the hotseat match where he would meet 2009 Fl Amateur state champion David Uwate. Uwate made his way to the hotseat match with wins over Valerie Dukic 7-0, Louis Altese 7-3, Julio Del Pozo 7-2, Jarred Schlauch 7-4 and then Paul Mullins 7-4 to set up the hotseat match with Gentile. The hotseat match would not disappoint with both players keep the pressure on bye trading racks all the way to 6-6, at this point Uwate was looking in control until a position error from 7 to 8 would leave him too tough on the 8 with a miss leaving Gentile with a tap in 8 and 9 to take the Hoteseat.
While all this was going on 2010 US Amateur Champion Raymond Linares was wreaking havoc on the one loss side after a 1st round loss to Jarred Schlauch 7-6, Linares would go onto defeat Wesley white, Bill Delisle, Dan Whitten, Prescott Buckwold, Bryan Davalos, then very strong wins over Paul Mullins 7-0, Jeff Mabry 7-6, David Uwate 7-0 would see him make it to the final.
Linares run of 9 matches on the one loss side would come to an end with Gentile looking fresh and strong to take his 1st and biggest title on the Poison Amateur tour and be crowned 2011 Fl Amateur State Champion and take the $1000 first place prize money. Please note that this is not the Chris Gentile that finished 2nd in the US open one pocket.
Brett Lykins would go onto win the 2nd chance event which came down to a 1 rack shootout with Jason Sheerman.
The Poison Tour would like to thanks Hammerheads room owner Peter Shabo and his staff for hosting these great events. If you are interested in playing the Fl State Open Championships contact Tony Crosby @ tonyc9ball@yahoo.com for more info. Also a big thank you to Poison bye Predator cues out title Sponsors.
