Qualifiers
Eric Hincks took first place. In his first match he was playing Bob Treff, a gentleman who played in The World’s last year, and who has been taught by World 14.1 Hall of fame nominee, Frank “Sailor” Stellman. The game was nip and tuck and when Bob got back to the table leading 95-93, it looked like it might be over. Only four balls were out in the open however and when Bob was unable to break up the rack he had to play safe leading 99-93. Eric looked at the layout for awhile and when it became clear what he was going to play, pool hall owner John Lavin was called over to watch the hit. Eric jacked up and shot a power masse shot, making his object ball and opening the rest of the rack. It was clear sailing for the other 6 balls and a 100-99 win. He got something of a breather in his next match against Dennis Walsh and was able to win 100-70, but waiting for him was Tom Karabatsos, a protégé of another hall of fame nominee this year, Dallas West. Tom had laid to waste the rest of the field, as he seems to do most years, but young Eric was able to weather the storm and come out 100-94 winner. Eric is a native of Midlothian, Illinois and just turned 20 a few weeks ago. He was the 2011 ACS Illinois Junior State Champion and is the 2013 ACS Illinois Men’s Open 9 Ball Champion. His hobbies include pool, fishing, and music and his favorite game is One Pocket. He does not play straight pool very often, but when he does, he seldom misses. Good Luck to Eric with the big boys in New York.
Bob Cozzolino took second place in Red Shoes Billiards Straight Pool Qualifier in Alsip, Illinois on July 6, 2013. This is the third time he has qualified. Last year he came in Second to Tom Karabatsos and a few years before that, he won the Drexeline Qualifier in Philadelphia against a field that included Ed Deska and Bobby Chamberlain. Bob Cozzolino has played straight pool against Irving Crane, Danny Diliberto and Steve Mizerak, to name a few. He is now trying to pass on his old style love of the game to many of the younger players at Red Shoes and in the Chicago area. His motto is "Perfection is not an accident" and you can see him most nights at Red Shoes alone at the table concentrating on his patterns. Good luck to Bob in New York and thanks for carrying on the straight pool tradition.
