The Mosconi Cup

The Mosconi Cup is an annual nine-ball pool tournament contested between teams representing Europe and the USA since 1994. The trophy is named after American player Willie Mosconi. It has been referred to as the "Ryder Cup of pool".

The tournament has featured some of the most famous players in the sport including Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer, Jimmy White, Alex Higgins and Steve Davis.

The American team is usually composed of members from one of the many pool associations - the UPA. Players who belong to other groups are not considered for the team unless they win the U.S. Open or World Pool Championship.

In the first year of competition some of the WPBA's top players played alongside the men in their respective teams. These included Franziska Stark (Germany), Allison Fisher (UK), Jeanette Lee (US) and Vivian Villarreal (US).

In 2000 the result was USA 12 - 9 Europe at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London.
The players :
Europe : Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Thomas Engert (Germany), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK)
USA : Johnny Archer, Shannon Daulton, Jeremy Jones, Corey Deuel, Earl Strickland, Michael Coltrain

Here is a game between Mika Immonen and Johnny Archer :

Ladies Spirit Tour

The Ladies Spirit Tour got back in action over the September 8-9 weekend where a 34-player field fought it out at Capone’s Billiards in Spring Hill, FL. The double-elimination action brought in a tough crowd of locals, amateurs, and WPBA pros; however, they were all shut down by Monica Webb, who soared through the event to win undefeated.

Currently ranked fifth on the WPBA, Webb started in one of only two winners’-side matches not to get a first-round bye, and from there she owned the bottom half of the bracket. Four wins followed by a fifth against Helena Thornfeldt, where Webb dominated 7-3 to put her comfortably in the hot seat match. On the upper half of the chart Ellen Van Buren enjoyed a nice ride as she drilled Malea Swanson 7-0, Freida Walker 7-1, Tracie Hines 7-0, and finally Leslee Davis-Blaikie 7-5 to meet Webb in the hot seat match.
The very top of the chart seemed to totally stacked, as former tour stop winners Debbie Schjodt and Jeannie Seaver, along with other top players from regional tours, all whittled each other away as Van Buren slipped past. Capping off the winners’ side Webb took little time with Van Buren before chalking up a quick 7-2 match to whisk her into the finals.

On the one-loss side the stacked grouping produced its favorite, while the others scrambled to overcome a comeback. After falling short on her first match Tamara Redemakers blew through five matches to reach the quarterfinals, eliminating more than her share of the field. Not far behind, Seaver took seven matches to catch up with Redemakers in the quarterfinals by eliminating Schjodt 7-3 and Thornfeldt 7-6 among others.

Redemakers was in great shape as she slipped past Seaver double-hill in the quarterfinals, although Van Buren was eager for a rematch and slapped Redemakers away 7-4 to face Webb once again in the finals. The well-rested Webb once again tore through Van Buren, as her superior skills could not be stopped. In the end Webb took the match 7-1 to end the event and claim another victory for herself.

Jacksonville Open 2007

Bankshot Billiards in Jacksonville Florida played host to a $2000 added open tournament on September 1st that managed to stay low enough on the radar to draw out only 30 players for the event. Though the field may have lacked volume, the amount of talent was hardly diminutive. Heavy hitters included snooker pro turned Florida shark Tony Crosby and the Prince of Pool himself, Corey Deuel .
Stalking through the field also were the always threatening Florida talents Butch Croft, Dave Grossman and Neil Fujiwara. The race to 7 on the winners side and 5 on the losers side format gave anyone with a little bit of skill and a moment of clarity an opportunity to oust one of the top dogs and battle their way into the money, but this tournament proved the old saying true; the cream always rises to the top.

Deuel skated through the field for a chance to play for the winner’s bracket utilizing a rarely seen power break and some cagey offensive play. Deuel’s opponent on the winner’s side final proved to be none other than the Sniper Tony Crosby, who picked off opponents convincingly on his way to the top, carrying enough momentum and ammunition into his match with Deuel to gun down the Prince 7-4. Deuel rebounded after the loss and took out Neil Fujiwara, who battled through the likes of Butch Croft and Mike Staubes, to earn another shot at the Sniper in the extended race to 9 format. Though the momentum shifted back and forth between Crosby and Deuel, a couple of atypical misses by Tony Crosby and some intrepid run outs by the Prince continually allowed Deuel to strike and capitalize, eventually sealing the deal with a 9-8 victory. All the players in the tournament wish to thank room owner Jeff Scott for hosting a much appreciated event.

the UPA

Rodney "The Rocket" Morris

The United States Professional Poolplayers Association (the "UPA") recently made some administrative transitions to in-affect renew the association and its presence in the pool community. One of those positive changes was to name "The Rocket" Rodney Morris (arguably one of the most recognized male pool players internationally) as the individual to take over the role of UPA's Lead Player Representative.

Mr. Morris replaces former Representative, Frank Alvarez, who is now president of the association. Rodney elaborated by saying, "I believe in the UPA, I believe in its leadership and goals. At this stage in my career I want to do my part in giving back to the industry by representing player interests."

The UPA Player Representative serves as not only a representative to the association's Touring Professionals, but also for the organization on behalf of the players. Representatives also include World Class players Tony Robles and Tony Crosby.

If you would like to learn more about the association, our website is located at www.upatour.com

why we play billiard ?

Billiards is cool - more cool than it gets credit for. And I’m gonna tell you why you need to drop your sport, and pick up billiards.

The Social Factor
The best sports are the ones that you can enjoy with your friends - and being able to converse freely is something that most team sports can’t provide. Having a drink over a game of pool is one of the most social sport-related events that I’ve ever been exposed too. Most sports require you to go for a beer AFTER the game or match. Billiards combines the two effortlessly.

The Venue
Most players earn their chops in dark, smokey pool halls where reputation is built up amongst the common man. Billiards players generally are quite humble and down-to-earth… something about learning their craft amongst beer drinkers seems to remove the privileged perspective that comes with many other sports. Try comparing that to a golfer or a skier.

The Playing Surface
There is something inherently beautiful about sitting back and looking at an empty playing surface (soccer pitch, football gridiron, hockey rink, etc). However, I’d argue that there is very few sports that can match the simplicity and attractiveness of a clean billiards table under an overhead light. Change up the color of the felt and it doesn’t matter - billiards tables just look cool. Period.

Everyone Can Play
This is kind of an extension of the social factor, but billiards doesn’t require anyone to take steroids or train in the gym. Some of the best pool players look like they belong on a sofa eating potato chips. Additionally - both women and men can play together with little or no difference in skill. This leads to lots of interesting opportunities - many a happy couple have met over a game of stick. There are very few games that are that accessible by all types - definitely not any of the global team sports.

The Break
Everyone loves those rare moments in sport where you can impose your physical will. Making a hit in football, smacking a ball in baseball - these actions appeal to our sense of power. NOTHING is as cool as the sense of power one gets from the break. The sound is unmistakable - and watching the balls fly around is truly confidence boosting. For the weekend athlete, I can’t think of another action that is that powerful and virtually void of any injury risk.

Trick Shots
Even if you believe that billiards trick shots are more glitz than substance - you have to appreciate the fact that billiards allows players to appear as if they can perform magic. Trick shots are the common man’s way of performing the impossible. Tell me the last time you saw a tennis player hit a ball and asked “Was that magic? There must be some kind of trick…”

Tell me a reason for playing pool !

US Open 2003 Efren Reyes unforgeable game

Two former U S Open 9-Ball Champions go head to head in what turns out to be a fantastic match. Corey Deuel plays the world's most talented pocket billiard superstar, "The Magician" Efren Reyes.

This is match #5 of 13 feature matches from the 29th Annual U S Open 9-Ball Championship, the billiard world's most prestigious title. Every September pool payers from around the world converge on Chesapeake, Virginia to compete for their share of the $200,000 prize fund.



What was the turning point of the match? Post your comments..
Skip the first 2 minutes for commercials ....

Cue Maintenance Guide

What should a well maintained cue tip look like?

A cue’s leather tip should have a rough texture, not smooth. This is to allow the billiard chalk to stick to the leather. A tip should also be convex or “domed”. Pool cues should have the same curvature as a nickel, while snooker cues should be like that of a dime.There are many great products on the market that can help make maintaining your tip easy. Cue shapers such as a Williard or The Ultimate Tip Tool, shape and scuff your tip at the same time and have gauges to make sure you’ve got it right. If your tip only needs to be roughed up, and not shaped, a tapper is a great tool to use. These gadgets simply bring out the fibers of the leather without removing any material from the tip. The Tip Pik makes an excellent tapper, and there is one included on The Ultimate Tip Tool.

Cue Conditioning and Burnishing.

More than likely, your cue’s shaft is made from wood. Wood is a porous material, and all manner of dirt and oil can get trapped in these pores, which give your shaft a sticky feel. One way of fixing this is by closing the pores of the wood by burnishing. By heating up the cue with friction the pores in the wood close, preventing pesky molecules from getting lodged in them. To do this, use a smooth piece of un-dyed leather or Cue Slicker, which can be purchased at your local billiard supplier, and rub it vigorously up and down your cue’s shaft, while at the same time turning the cue.Products such as Q Slick negate the need of heat as it applies a sealant to the wood, effectively sealing the pores.



Are your cue tips “mushrooming”? Apply the same procedure to the edge of a leather cue tip. This should harden the tip’s outer edge and give it a clean glossy look. To accelerate the process a small drop of water can be used. Don’t have a small piece of leather handy? Use the green burnishing film from Q Smooth or a five dollar bill.
The Art of Chalking
Always chalk your cue by rubbing the chalk across the tip not grinding it into the centre of the chalk. This will help stop the cue ferrule from getting stained.How to keep a cue’s shaft looking and feeling like new.Burnishing your cue’s shaft helps prevent your cue from losing its slick finish, but what do you do when it stops gliding like it used to? There are several ways to help maintain your cue’s shaft. The easiest and least invasive way is by simply using a clean, non-abrasive cloth, such as a Karseal impregnated Cue Cloth. This will quickly remove most dirt and oil deposited on your cue, and should be done between games.
To remove buildup on a shaft, or to remove any small nicks or scratches, special sanding papers can prove useful. Products like Q Smooth, are micro-burnishing films that clean, smooth and burnish your shaft. For heavier dirt and chalk stained ferrules, Q Clean is the best shaft and ferrule cleaner available.
Often deeper dents in your shaft can also be repaired. By rubbing a glass or plastic rod over the dent rapidly, you can, in a sense, bring out the dent. By heating the cue with such friction, the wood expands.
Rather than taking down the rest of the shaft to match the dent, you are raising the dent above the shaft, then simply sanding down the newly formed bump to match the rest of the shaft.

How to protect your investment.

Having spent your hard earned money on a new possession, you would like to keep it safe, for the years of enjoyment ahead. Treat your new cue as you would a child. Never leave your cue in direct sunlight, extreme temperatures or humidity for extended periods of time. Your cue can be stored in your case, lying flat and level, in an upright rack, or hung straight up and down using a; cue hanger. While playing, never lean your cue against a table or wall and never use it to lean against. Products like Q Buddy or Cue Dude’s Portable Cue Stick Caddy, can be used to create a temporary rack to hold your cue in between shots.

Canadian 9-Ball Tour

Canadian 9-Ball Tour Confirms Dates

The Canadian 9-Ball Tour, sponsored by Cineplex Entertainment and Chapters-Indigo Bookstores, has now confirmed the dates and venues for each stop on the tour. The complete schedule is below and may also be seen at the official Tour website: www.Canadian9balltour.com

Something else to see
New for this year are several improvements to the tour. First, each stop now contains $10,000 in added money for a total of $80,000 added for the season. And there is now a charity tie-in as the Boys and Girls Club has been named the official Tour Charity and will share in the proceeds of each tour stop.
Also, as the tour is now open to all international players and not just Canadians, the fields are being limited to the first sixty-four entrants to pay their entry fees. First come, first served, so get your entries in early (via the tour website) in order to insure yourself a berth in the fields. No spots will be reserved until paid.

The first event will be held October 5-7 at Bigwigs Billiards in Newmarket, Ontario (just north of Toronto). All dates were chosen in order that they not conflict with other important tournaments. It is hoped that promoters of new events will maintain and encourage this mutual respect.

Tour Dates

October 5-7, 2007: Bigwigs Billiards Newmarket, ON.

October 26-28, 2007: The Q Club Edmonton, AB.

Nov. 30 – Dec. 2, 2007: Tailgators Billiards Ottawa, ON.

February 1-3, 2008: Doolys Billiards Valleyfield, PQ.

March 7-9, 2008: Breakers Billiards & Bistro Kelowna, BC.

April 4-6, 2008: LeSkratch Bar & Billiards Montreal, PQ.

April 25-27, 2008: Bourbon Street Billiards Winnipeg, MB.

May 23-25, 2008: Shooters Snooker & Sports Bar Toronto, ON.

Good luck !

Semih Sayginer - the artist

Semih Sayginer (born 12 November 1964, Adapazari, Turkey) nicknamed Mr. Magic or the Turkish Prince, is a four-time world champion Turkish professional carom billiards player.

Moving into the international arena, he won 9th place in the 1991 German Open and the 1991 Istanbul Efes Pilsen Grand Prix. Then in the 1992 Berlin World Championship, he took 8th place after beating Belgian world three-cushion billiards champion Raymond Ceulemans by 3-0.

He took 3rd place in the 1993 World Billiards Championship in Berlin, and won the 1994 World Cup (Three-cushion Division). He has played in the Holland Billiards League since 1994.

Sayginer was the winner of the 1998 World Billiards Championship (Three-cushion Division) held in Kemer, Antalya, Turkey by beating Cerwin Walentijn from Netherlands. In 2003, he won the championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, beating
European champion Dick Jaspers of the Netherlands, and regained his title. He won the 2003 World Billiards Team Championship held in Monchengladbach, Germany along with his teammate Tayfun Tasdemir defeating the Greek team in the finals.



On February 7, 2004 he was named "Best Billiard Player in the World for 2003" in Antwerp, Belgium. He is recorded in world billiards literature for his 42-shot technique. As of July 2006, he ranks 8th in the world players list of Union Mondiale
de Billiard.

Sayginer shares the world record for the highest run in three-cushion billiards of 31 with Columbian Hugo Patino who now resides in Queens in New York City.

Aramith Launches a New Dining Room Concept

When it comes to family home entertainment, the Fusion table has exactly what it needs to create those unique memorable moments to share with friends and family. By integrating a quality pool table and a game table right in a design dining table, the Fusion concept is unique in the fact that it adds multi-functionality to the dining room.

The table shifts seamlessly from a pure design object, into a roomy get2gether dining table, transformable in seconds into a quality billiard table or a game table to accompany the after dinner drinks.
As such, the Fusion table introduces a totally new product concept that addresses the current trend of people enjoying inviting and entertaining friends at home again. In this context billiards is one of the rare games that gathers young and old, male and female, friends and neighbors.

As such, Aramith’s innovative Dining Room Concept makes inviting, lounging or cocooning at home a truly entertaining experience.