Pro Pool in 2019: What Moments Stand Out?

spartan said:
Most Improved Promoter
A shoutout to CSI who did a lot for pro pool in 2019 putting on 3 events (9 ft) with world class fields- World 10 Ball, WPA Players, Diamond Las Vegas Open. They are back in the high life again.
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Guess I indirectly gave CSI credit in my original post, but I couldn't remember who brought us these new events. Now that I know, kudos to CSI.

On a related note, I recall thinking during Greg Sullivan's HOF induction that CSI founder Mark Griffin was also deserving of the same honor. Mark has done great things for pool over many years.
 
sjm said:
Guess I indirectly gave CSI credit in my original post, but I couldn't remember who brought us these new events. Now that I know, kudos to CSI.

On a related note, I recall thinking during Greg Sullivan's HOF induction that CSI founder Mark Griffin was also deserving of the same honor. Mark has done great things for pool over many years.
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As does a Gary Benson nomination.
 
sjm said:
I know I'm showing my ignorance here, but could you summarize Gary's accomplishments that make him worthy of HOF consideration?
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Gary Benson, 72, of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed away peacefully with his sons by his side, on December 6, 2019 in Windsor, Colorado.

Gary Benson was born in Rochester. MN on September 13, 1947 to Clifford & Lenora (Jensen) Benson. After graduating from high school Gary enlisted and proudly became a United States Marine. He spent 4 years in the corps, serving in Vietnam. Upon his return to the US, he started a family and had two sons, Shannon (born 1971) and Corey (born 1973).

While living in MN Gary worked for D&R Star Vending, which eventually led him into the world of billiards. He was one of the first league coordinators for D&R Star, and helped in the creation of the VNEA Pool leagues with Dick Hawkins. While working in Rochester, Gary also owned and operated Gary n Jo’s Place, a small tavern in Pine Island, MN.



In the early 80's Gary moved to Fort Collins, Co and started his own vending route and trucking business, High Country Promotions. In addition to operating local vending routes, his promotions company traveled throughout the United States with semi-trailers of coin operated pool tables. High Country Promotions would set-up these tables and run tournaments for various clients and organizations including Las Vegas, NV which was one of the largest tournament venues during the calendar year. Today the company continues to promote and run billiard tournaments all over the world, and is now owned and operated by his son Shannon Benson.



Gary continued to be bar and tavern owner in Colorado, owning and operating a local pool hall next to the college called Match -Ups (previously J. Watson’s). This pool hall helped to establish a well- founded billiard scene in and around Northern Colorado that continues to thrive today. After the sale of Match-Ups, Gary split his time between Las Vegas and Colorado. In Las Vegas he purchased and ran Bugsy’s, a local tavern off the beaten path. He continued to operate and grow the promotions business.
SUPPLIED TABLES TO THE BCA NATIONALS AND OTHERS AT THE RIVERA FOR DECADES.

GARY ALSO SUPPLIED POOL TABLES TO THE MISSILE SILOS IN WY AND SURROUNDING AREA.
In the remaining years of his life, Gary enjoyed visiting Thailand with friends and family. It was here he retired to early in 2019. Gary was a true icon and champion in the amateur pool and billiard world. He helped build the foundations for many of the leagues and tournaments that still are going strong today.

He will be missed by many people; from all walks of life. Gary was a kind, warm-hearted gentleman who was always there to help in anyway he could. May he rest in peace
 
Island Drive said:
Gary Benson, 72, of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed away peacefully with his sons by his side, on December 6, 2019 in Windsor, Colorado.

Gary Benson was born in Rochester. MN on September 13, 1947 to Clifford & Lenora (Jensen) Benson. After graduating from high school Gary enlisted and proudly became a United States Marine. He spent 4 years in the corps, serving in Vietnam. Upon his return to the US, he started a family and had two sons, Shannon (born 1971) and Corey (born 1973).

While living in MN Gary worked for D&R Star Vending, which eventually led him into the world of billiards. He was one of the first league coordinators for D&R Star, and helped in the creation of the VNEA Pool leagues with Dick Hawkins. While working in Rochester, Gary also owned and operated Gary n Jo’s Place, a small tavern in Pine Island, MN.



In the early 80's Gary moved to Fort Collins, Co and started his own vending route and trucking business, High Country Promotions. In addition to operating local vending routes, his promotions company traveled throughout the United States with semi-trailers of coin operated pool tables. High Country Promotions would set-up these tables and run tournaments for various clients and organizations including Las Vegas, NV which was one of the largest tournament venues during the calendar year. Today the company continues to promote and run billiard tournaments all over the world, and is now owned and operated by his son Shannon Benson.



Gary continued to be bar and tavern owner in Colorado, owning and operating a local pool hall next to the college called Match -Ups (previously J. Watson’s). This pool hall helped to establish a well- founded billiard scene in and around Northern Colorado that continues to thrive today. After the sale of Match-Ups, Gary split his time between Las Vegas and Colorado. In Las Vegas he purchased and ran Bugsy’s, a local tavern off the beaten path. He continued to operate and grow the promotions business.
SUPPLIED TABLES TO THE BCA NATIONALS AND OTHERS AT THE RIVERA FOR DECADES.

GARY ALSO SUPPLIED POOL TABLES TO THE MISSILE SILOS IN WY AND SURROUNDING AREA.
In the remaining years of his life, Gary enjoyed visiting Thailand with friends and family. It was here he retired to early in 2019. Gary was a true icon and champion in the amateur pool and billiard world. He helped build the foundations for many of the leagues and tournaments that still are going strong today.

He will be missed by many people; from all walks of life. Gary was a kind, warm-hearted gentleman who was always there to help in anyway he could. May he rest in peace
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Thanks for that. Gary was clearly a guy who made a difference in the world of pool.
 
MitchDAZB said:
Hey sjm, while not a moment, 2019 was a good year for Chen Siming, would you not agree?
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Yes, Siming Chen and Han Yu have raised the bar very high in women's pro pool. In particular, Siming's win against Donny Mills in consecutive race to 25 sets showed just how tough she is to beat.

Nice call.
 
MitchDAZB said:
Hey sjm, while not a moment, 2019 was a good year for Chen Siming, would you not agree?
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Siming is # one on the WPA women’s....
...and she will be the first woman to crack 800 FargoRate...I’m guessing this year.
 
I’m thinking about Zheng and Raga...I like Zheng to go farther.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3REDQev5VQ

This match in the All Japan 10-ball was a bit rough for both of them...
...mistakes were made....but the teenager showed a better choice of shots...
...and that’s more important in the long run.
 
pt109 said:
Siming is at 795....one good result in an open tournament could do it.
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Siming didn't have a good year in 2019 by her standards winning only 1 major.
I think (I may be wrong) that she took the foot off the pedal after winning that elusive World 9 ball in 2017, the only trophy missing from her trophy cabinet then and which she had failed to win in final stages number of times.
The internet time machine has her Fargo at 782 around 1 year ago
https://web.archive.org/web/20181111073405/https://fargorate.com/top-ten-lists
So that is 13 points jump in about 1 year.
So yes, I am with you that magic 800 is very achievable.
She just pipped Han Yu to be WPA#1 ranking which means she will play in World Pool Masters this March

wpa19.JPG


wpm20.JPG
 
pt109 said:
I’m thinking about Zheng and Raga...I like Zheng to go farther.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3REDQev5VQ

This match in the All Japan 10-ball was a bit rough for both of them...
...mistakes were made....but the teenager showed a better choice of shots...
...and that’s more important in the long run.
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Agreed. Good conceptualization skills take you a long way in pool, and if Zheng is superior to Raga in this part of the game, his ceiling may be higher than that of Raga, It will be fun to watch.
 
sjm said:
Agreed. Good conceptualization skills take you a long way in pool, and if Zheng is superior to Raga in this part of the game, his ceiling may be higher than that of Raga, It will be fun to watch.
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More than once, Raga needed to be aware of Buddy Hall’s advice....
“Don’t play position when you already have it.”
 
one small point to add to 2019 is I like the new commentery from JJ for many videos in 2019

Makes watching pool matchesso much more pleasant instead of listening to the usual banter.
 
Blue said:
one small point to add to 2019 is I like the new commentery from JJ for many videos in 2019

Makes watching pool matchesso much more pleasant instead of listening to the usual banter.
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Yes, that's a good point. Jeremy analyzes the positions well while keeping things fairly light. He has a flair for commentary.
 
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