IPT Qualifiers Around the World in FULL SWING!

[JAM]

I just reviewed the IPT website and was taken aback at how the fields, ESPECIALLY in the United States, have grown in number, serious pool players trying their best to win, as the opportunities to compete in Vegas next month are dwindling away. Next weekend is the LAST chance to qualify on the IPT tournament trail.

Check out the fields in Corpus Christi, TX and Cleveland, OH which are in progress at the time of this writing. It's good to see Scott Frost's name on the player roster at HardTimes in Belflower, CA. I love the pictures from Colin's Shanghai IPT qualifier at the press conference. [Colin, I hope you win all of your challenge table matches.]

Pool enthusiasts, players, industry members, media, railbird sweaters, owners of pool rooms, prospective sponsors and agents (LOL) do not want to miss witnessing the biggest purse in the history of the sport. BTW, the mega-million World Poker tournament will begin on July 28th in Vegas as the IPT N.A. 8-Ball Championship is in progress.

I never thought, in my lifetime at least, I'd ever see a pool event with a $2-million purse. AND I think it is incredible that 25 qualifiers were scheduled and went full speed ahead, without a hitch. The real-time coverage of the qualifiers on the IPT website is very cool!

I would really like to see Ronnie Wiseman win this weekend. I truly can't think of many other players I know who are more deserving to be in Vegas next month. He's a mainstay on the American tournament trail, and he's supposed to be there, IMHO.

Picture below taken at the players' meeting at the IPT King of the Hill in Orlando, FL this past December: Ronnie "Everything's Funny When You're Winning Big Money" Wiseman from Detroit by way of Canada, Tony "T-Rex" Chohan from California, Keith McCready, and the pride of New York City George "Ginky" Sansouci, with the head of Shawn "Bubba" Putnam in the background.

Though Ronnie Wiseman was not selected to be one of the original 150 IPT members for first year, he still made the trek to Orlando, wanting to be a part of the IPT experience. I haven't met a pool player yet, other than the posts I have read on this forum, who isn't interested in hopping aboard the IPT train. Pool's toughest critics come from within its own culture, but there are no critics from the minority in this culture, the serious-minded players who want to compete professionally.

Here's hoping to see Ronnie Wiseman in Vegas next month!

NOTA BENE: For the IPT dissenters and those posters who are anti-IPT and/or want to post a strong opinion about the topic of this thread, please allow this one and only thread to remain unblemished for the pro-IPT readers. There are many other anti-IPT threads on this forum to express yourself articulately. I respectfully request to please allow this thread to remain positive for the minority or majority of readers who may be pro-IPT.

JAM

 

[TannerPruess]

In two matches Corey Harper has only let his opponents get one game off of him. He won his first match 10-1 and then the second round he won 10-0. Keep up the great work.

 

[JAM]

In two matches Corey Harper has only let his opponents get one game off of him. He won his first match 10-1 and then the second round he won 10-0. Keep up the great work.

Very impressive, indeed! Those are both strong wins.

JAM

 

[JAM]

...Here's hoping to see Ronnie Wiseman in Vegas next month!....

The qualifier in Cleveland, OH has had some upsets, though Gary Abood who's competed in several IPT qualifiers is still on the A side of the charts.
Ronnie Wiseman is now in the losers' bracket and is competing against a player from Japan, T. Kenji. Go Ronnie, go!

Jimmy Mataya, also on the B side of the charts in Ohio, defeated Frankie Hernandez from NYC, 10 to 6. Jimmy Mataya is another legenday player who has recently surfaced, following the IPT tournament trail.

Paradise Billiards in Corpus Christi, TX has a very strong field, probably the toughest in this weekend's qualifiers, with players like Justin Bergman, David Guiterrez who just won Bushwhacker's Pennsylvania State 9-Ball Championship last weekend, action player John Hager, Rafael Martinez making an appearance after a hiatus from the tournament trail, Charles Mora, Young Gun Sylver Ochoa better known for his one-pocket skills, Richie Richeson, and UPA Touring Pro Robb Saez.

At Hard Times in Bellflower, CA, I'd love to see Oscar Dominguez advance, so that he may accompany his legendary father Ernesto in Vegas. Oscar had a good showing at last year's U.S. Open, and he's definitely got a great mentor by his side. IPT Member Ernesto Dominguez on the left and Oscar on the right, taken at last year's U.S. Open!

JAM

 

[ironman]

The qualifier in Cleveland, OH has had some upsets, though Gary Abood who's competed in several IPT qualifiers is still on the A side of the charts.
Ronnie Wiseman is now in the losers' bracket and is competing against a player from Japan, T. Kenji. Go Ronnie, go!

Jimmy Mataya, also on the B side of the charts in Ohio, defeated Frankie Hernandez from NYC, 10 to 6. Jimmy Mataya is another legenday player who has recently surfaced, following the IPT tournament trail.

Paradise Billiards in Corpus Christi, TX has a very strong field, probably the toughest in this weekend's qualifiers, with players like Justin Bergman, David Guiterrez who just won Bushwhacker's Pennsylvania State 9-Ball Championship last weekend, action player John Hager, Rafael Martinez making an appearance after a hiatus from the tournament trail, Charles Mora, Young Gun Sylver Ochoa better known for his one-pocket skills, Richie Richeson, and UPA Touring Pro Robb Saez.

At Hard Times in Bellflower, CA, I'd love to see Oscar Dominguez advance, so that he may accompany his legendary father Ernesto in Vegas. Oscar had a good showing at last year's U.S. Open, and he's definitely got a great mentor by his side. IPT Member Ernesto Dominguez on the left and Oscar on the right, taken at last year's U.S. Open!

JAM

I was in Corpus yesterday and it is a very tough field. David G is plalying very smoothly and young Justin toook in right to Rapheal.
I too, wish Ronnie Wiseman all the best.

 

[JAM]

I was in Corpus yesterday and it is a very tough field. David G is plalying very smoothly and young Justin toook in right to Rapheal.
I too, wish Ronnie Wiseman all the best.

I agree. That field in Texas is STRONG!

Ronnie Wiseman and Jimmy Mataya, both on the B side of the charts in Cleveland, OH are playing at the time of this writing. I would love to see them both advance.

I was sorry to read that Oscar Dominguez got knocked out of the qualifier at Hard Times in Bellflower, CA.

What's going on with the Shanghai qualifier? The charts haven't been updated.

The players are coming out of the woodwork to compete in the IPT qualifiers, to include Rafael Martinez. Here's wishing David G. a great tournament in Corpus Christi, TX, posing in this snapshot on the left with my horse!

JAM

 

[JAM]

Does anybody know if "Jonathan Penegar," a player who is currently battling it out on the winners' side at the IPT qualifier in Cleveland, is the "Hennessee from Tennessee," shown in this picture on the left?

JAM

 

[Timberly]

In two matches Corey Harper has only let his opponents get one game off of him. He won his first match 10-1 and then the second round he won 10-0. Keep up the great work.

I haven't been on here in awhile so I'm kind of behind everyone else... I didn't know about these qualifiers but I did notice that Corey hadn't been on here since I started coming back...this would explain it.

Thanks for the update Tanner! I don't know if you've had the pleasure of meeting Corey yet but hopefully one day you will. He is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet both in and out of the pool world and I wish him all the best, esp in these IPT endeavors!

Go Corey!!!!

 

[TannerPruess]

Does anybody know if "Jonathan Penegar," a player who is currently battling it out on the winners' side at the IPT qualifier in Cleveland, is the "Hennessee from Tennessee," shown in this picture on the left?

JAM

I think it is "Hennessee from Tennessee" that is playing the qualifier.


I haven't met Corey yet, but maybe sometime when I get out to watch a major tournament.

 

[JAM]

I also would like to see Scott Frost advance, though he's currently in the losers' bracket at Hard Times in Bellflower, CA. He will face a strong competitor by the name of David Hemmah, another player I'd like to see win the qualifier. It's so hard to root for anyone. May the best man win!

Scott Frost shown here wearing his DCC attire!

JAM

 

[TannerPruess]

I never looked last night, but Corey beat Hemmah 10-5.

 

[JAM]

I am saddened to report that Ronnie Wiseman was forfeited today. He went to bed early, hoping to get rest for the next day ahead.

En route to the pool room in plenty of time, Ronnie got lost in Cleveland Flats. He had gotten lost the day before and had difficulty finding the pool room. Even the Mapquest directions that he originally went by were WRONG.

So he ventured out today for the pool room, again, with plenty of time to spare. He made one wrong turn and got lost. He called the pool room, as it was still before his scheduled match time, to let them know he was lost. The neighborhood surrounding the pool room wasn't a friendly and comfortable environment, and getting directions from the local inhabitants was difficult. He abandoned his automobile and jumped in a cab, and to add insult to injury, the cab driver got lost as well. Even though Ronnie is a veteran road man, he experienced an extreme hardshop in getting himself to the venue site. I'm sorry to hear he had to lose in this manner, but knowing Ronnie, he'll be back and give it another shot next weekend.

Jimmy Mataya wins his match and advances.

JAM

 

[jjinfla]

You shouldn't be surprised at the size of the fields Jam. The players know a good thing and a lot of them have won entries to the remaining qualifiers.

I expect a pretty big turnout for the last qualifier at Capones on the 23rd. Plus a lot of spectators too. Rocky has good food there.

Richeson is still on the winners side but Saez lost his second match so he is on the losers side. I would like to see both of them win a spot.

I am surprised that Saez is having so much trouble qualifing.

Jake

 

[TannerPruess]

"Hennessee from Tennessee" won the winner's bracket at the Cleveland qualifier.

 

[JAM]

"Hennessee from Tennessee" won the winner's bracket at the Cleveland qualifier.

I'll bet he's one very happy camper right about now! I'm glad to see him get to go to Vegas. He's a frequent traveler on the American tournament trail and had to play well to get this win. One thing about Hennessee, the kid's got plenty of endurance, due to many all-night-long action battles, and he'll be able to adapt well to the 10-hour-long daily sessions at N.A. 9-Ball Championship at the Venetian, a 9-day event!

Mataya got knocked out. It's down to five players in Cleveland.

JAM

 

[JAM]

You shouldn't be surprised at the size of the fields Jam. The players know a good thing and a lot of them have won entries to the remaining qualifiers.

At a thousand a pop, that's a mighty good thing! The fields are growing in size as the tournament date draws near.

I expect a pretty big turnout for the last qualifier at Capones on the 23rd. Plus a lot of spectators too. Rocky has good food there.

I've recently heard from a few players mentioning Capone's next weekend. They were debating on which qualifier would have the strongest field and mentioned Capone's as being one of the STRONGEST in the group of next weekend's 5 qualifiers.

Richeson is still on the winners side but Saez lost his second match so he is on the losers side. I would like to see both of them win a spot.

I am surprised that Saez is having so much trouble qualifing.

I know. Cliff Joyner played in several of the qualifiers, but he did get his win last weekend in Atlanta. Robb will get his too.

JAM

 

[sniper]

It's great to see the numbers going upwards in the qualifiers, I would expect the hightest numbers to be next weekend with it being the last chance to qualify. It's really unfortunate what happened to Ronnie Wiseman, he's a great player and has certainly dedicated himself towards qualifying, I would love to see him come through next weekend at one of the qualifiers.

Also, good luck to Corey at Hardtimes, it would be great to see another AZ'er compete in Vegas next month.

 

[JAM]

What a telling weekend! So far, Crown City Corey, Scott "The Freezer" Frost, Gary Abood the Chameleon, Hennessee from Tennessee, and Karl Boyle.

I am not familiar with Karl and would be interested to hear from others about this player from England. Out of all the fields this weekend, he played in the toughest one, IMHO, at Paradise Billiards in Corpus Christi, TX, which is still in progress at the time of this writing. Karl stayed in the winners' bracket and snatched one of the two qualifiers. Now there's five players left in the tournament, and whoever comes out on top gets the second qualifier.

Would also be interested in hearing the news from Australia and Shanghai. Calling all Colins....

JAM

 

[jjinfla]

Bummer - Richie and Robb have to play each other in the loss side.

Hard to pick a winner here. Normally I would say Robb but for some reason he seems to be struggling lately. I really expected him to go through any qualifying field easily but that hasn't been the case.

Maybe, 8-ball is not his game. Much more thinking involved.

Jake

 

[JAM]

Bummer - Richie and Robb have to play each other in the loss side.

Hard to pick a winner here. Normally I would say Robb but for some reason he seems to be struggling lately. I really expected him to go through any qualifying field easily but that hasn't been the case.

Maybe, 8-ball is not his game. Much more thinking involved.

Funny things can happen in the tournament setting, as we all know, but I think Robb will get there. That's a tough match: Richie vs. Robb. The field in Texas was not only strong, but it was one of the largest ones this weekend. Either one of these players is certainly very deserving to get this qualifier. May the best man win!

Picture of a cool and suave Robb Saez taken at sunset at the U.S. Open last year.

JAM