Last Call for 8-Ball...

[JAM]

...for the North American 8-Ball Championship, that is!

This coming weekend will be the last round of qualifiers for the upcoming IPT first official tournament, July 22-30, 2006, to be held at The Venetian in Las Vegas.

NA-21: Lou Butera’s Pool Sharks in Las Vegas, NV
[UPA Touring Pro/Representative Frankie Alvarez is the challenge table player]

NA-22: Magoo's in Tulsa, OK
[2004 U.S. Open Champion Gabe Owen is the challenge table player]

NA-23: Jillian's in Akron, OH
[AzBilliards Member Aaron Czetli, a strong supporter of pool players and the sport, as well as a gentleman player himself, is the challenge table player]

NA-24: Riley's on Greater London, UK
[2005 World Master's Champion Raj Hundal is the challenge table player]

NA-25: Capone's Billiard Lounge in Spring Hill, FL
[Hall of Famer Mike Sigel is the challenge table player]

There are several players who I would like to see win one of these qualifiers, and I can't wait to see the player roster on the IPT website this coming Friday for each qualifier.

I'm pulling for Ronnie Wiseman to dig in his heels and WIN this weekend, dag nab it. There are several others I'd like to see win this qualifier as well.

If I had to pick and choose, I'd be hard-pressed to figure out which qualifier would be the softest field. As the main event draws near, the fields are getting larger and the serious players are hoping to get their chance to compete in a record-breaking $2-million-purse pool tournament. I heard it through the grapevine that several legendary players will be making the trek to Capones in Spring Hill, FL, which will be quite exciting.

After this weekend, the next stop on the IPT tournament trail will be the Venetian in Vegas. May the best player win, and good luck to all.

JAM

 

[Eieio59]

JAM,

I'm getting more and more excited every day! My only wish is that these qualifiers were being televised!!! The talent at these events are pretty deep and the pressure to get qualified is mounting!
I'm pulling for Jeff Beckley and Ronnie Wiseman.......

Tammie Jones

 

[sniper]

I would expect some fairly large fields this weekend with it being the last chance to qualify. I will also be hoping Ronnie can earn his spot, along with Imran Majid for the UK qualifier.

 

[JAM]

JAM,

I'm getting more and more excited every day! My only wish is that these qualifiers were being televised!!! The talent at these events are pretty deep and the pressure to get qualified is mounting!
I'm pulling for Jeff Beckley and Ronnie Wiseman.......

Tammie Jones

Hi, Tammie! I was pleased to see the players who did win the qualifier in Cleveland last week, Gary Abood and Hennessee from Tennessee. Gary and Hennessee have both competed in several qualifiers, trying to get to Vegas next month, and they're certainly very deserving and excellent competitors. Also, it was very nice to see that you pocketed a little jingle on the challenge table.

Ronnie Wiseman is one player that we are really pulling for. Not only has he competed in several qualifiers, but he's a mainstay on the American tournament trail. I can't imagine going to a tournament and not seeing Ronnie there. He's always been one of the good guys in my book, and I love his sense of enthusiasm.

I will never forget the time that Keith tried to hustle Ronnie and Alex Pagulayan at the Carolinas Open. Keith had himself a designated breaker who busted the balls like a cannon, a big guy about 6'10" and 300-plus pounds, all muscle.

Keith and Big Jerry, the breaker guy, had just defeated a Carolinian young gun for a nickel, and they were both full of confidence. One night, after the tournament, everybody had themselves a little action going, except Keith and Ronnie. They began to bark at each other, and it was inevitable that they were going to engage in a game of stakes, the only stipulation being that Keith got to have his designated breaker. Keith thought he had a lock for the almighty win.

Ronnie agreed to Keith's terms, except Ronnie said he'd get to pick a designated breaker for himself too. When they got to the table, Ronnie had chosen little Alex the Lion. Keith's only mistake was letting Ronnie win the flip because Keith's designated breaker never got off his stool, watching the Ronnie and Alex Show in a race to 10.

I'll never forget the look on Keith's face when he tried to settle out of court on sixth street. Ronnie and Alex were laughing so hard, they could barely contain themselves. Even though Keith lost, it was one of the funniest match-ups I'd ever seen, seeing Keith set himself up in a trap. Alex was cracking up, saying, "Hey, Keith, maybe next time you need to get yourself another breaker," knowing Keith's breaker never got off the stool, the score 10-zip. That year, Ronnie won the one-pocket event, and Alex won the 9-ball event. They were on Cloud Nine!

My favorite picture of Ronnie, Keith, and Alex taken at that Carolinas Open. It's kind of funny how players go into combat against each other on some occasions, and then other occasions they play on the same team. Ronnie and Keith have battled it out against each other, but they're also played together in partner games, hoping to be a dynamic duo like Ronnie and Alex were that year at the Carolinas Open. All's fair in love and pool, I guess!

See you in Vegas, Tammie!

JAM

 

[JAM]

...I will never forget the time that Keith tried to hustle Ronnie and Alex Pagulayan at the Carolinas Open. Keith had himself a designated breaker who busted the balls like a cannon, a big guy about 6'10" and 300-plus pounds, all muscle.

Keith and Big Jerry, the breaker guy, had just defeated a Carolinian young gun for a nickel, and they were both full of confidence....

Picture of Keith and his designated breaker, Big Jerry, taken BEFORE their match-up with Ronnie and Alex!

We saw Big Jerry last week, and he is going to be in Vegas in July during the same time as the N.A. 8-Ball Championship, competing in a huge poker tournament which begins July 28th, I think.

JAM

 

[JAM]

I would expect some fairly large fields this weekend with it being the last chance to qualify. I will also be hoping Ronnie can earn his spot, along with Imran Majid for the UK qualifier.

The first time I ever saw Imran Majid and Raj Hundal in the flesh was at last year's U.S. Open. I think after Raj won the World Master's event last year, he took off for what seemed like greener pastures here in the States, becoming an international globe-trotter on the tournament trail.

When I watched the IPT KOTH series on OLN, out of all the players' video clips before their matches, I liked Raj Hundal's the best. I don't know if it's his proper blue-blood English accent that got me, but I actually liked what he had to say. He's got a nice personality on the tube, IMHO.

Imran on the left and Hundal on the right, looking very much like tourists in this snapshot, taken at the 2005 U.S.Open on the offs when they weren't competing.

JAM

 

[JAM]

The players' names are posted on the IPT website!

Vegas had the LARGEST field, with 27 players.

Magoos in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has 15 players, to include renown Action Player James Waldon and Mexican Champion Rafael Martinez.

Jillians in Akron, Ohio, has 14 players, to include RONNIE "Everything's Funny When You're Winning Big Money" WISEMAN and Japanese Champion Takenaka Hiroshi.

England has 19 players, to include Imran Majid and Tony Drago.

Capones in Spring Hill, Florida, has 18 American flags with no players' names at the time of this writing, but this is going to be one tough field, no doubt about it.

LET'S GET READY TO RACK'EM!

JAM

 

[JAM]

The Sunshine State's player roster is now posted, and it is the TOUGHEST field, just as I thought!

Bennett, Keith Hope this is the one for the Carolinian Young Gun
Bilbrey, William
Braymore, Trevor
Broumpton, Richard
Brown, Paul
Conway Jr., Benny The Little Goose
Esprit, Gareth
Fujiwara, Neil Very nice gentleman player, hope he gets it
Grossman, David He submitted his application to the IPT at last year's U.S. Open and really wanted to be a part of this tour. I'd love to see him win it, a dream come true!
Hall, Justin
Hernandez, Frankie Go get 'em, Frankie!
Hoover, Mark
Howey, Pat
Orem, Richey
Richeson, Richie "Richie Rich" has a nice ring to it in the winner's circle in Vegas!
Ridenour, Greg
Rogers, John
Roberto, Anthony
Saez, Robb Robb's back home in Florida and may get this one
Trelevas, John

JAM

 

[EasyMoney]

Is that tater in the background of your raj picture JAM?

 

[shanesinnott]

The Sunshine State's player roster is now posted, and it is the TOUGHEST field, just as I thought!

Bennett, Keith Hope this is the one for the Carolinian Young Gun
Bilbrey, William
Braymore, Trevor
Broumpton, Richard
Brown, Paul
Conway Jr., Benny The Little Goose
Esprit, Gareth
Fujiwara, Neil Very nice gentleman player, hope he gets it
Grossman, David He submitted his application to the IPT at last year's U.S. Open and really wanted to be a part of this tour. I'd love to see him win it, a dream come true!
Hall, Justin
Hernandez, Frankie Go get 'em, Frankie!
Hoover, Mark
Howey, Pat
Orem, Richey
Richeson, Richie "Richie Rich" has a nice ring to it in the winner's circle in Vegas!
Ridenour, Greg
Rogers, John
Roberto, Anthony
Saez, Robb Robb's back home in Florida and may get this one
Trelevas, John

JAM

Bilbrey, William....Great Player, been playing cards lately...could upset some players

Braymore, Trevor....Great young up and comer and Florida Tour Regular, starting to get seasoned (beat Saez in his last Fl tour event)

Broumpton, Richard....Has tried very hard to qualify for this IPT, may deserve a spot more than most (despite being English )

Fujiwara, Neil....Good friend of mine (Predator Sales Supervisor and awesome player)..funny that they list him as the only international flag...Japan...don't think he has ever been to Japan

Grossman, David..Always Dangerous

Richeson, Richie...also tried very hard for a Vegas spot as has Robb Saez...man, now I dont know who I want to win!

 

[Ktown D]

Is that tater in the background of your raj picture JAM?

Looks like him.

 

[justharv]

Anyone know what time the matches start at Capone's on Saturday?

Thanks

 

[shanesinnott]

Anyone know what time the matches start at Capone's on Saturday?

Thanks

1PM on Saturday:

http://www.internationalpooltour.co...s/NA_open_06/Online_coverage/NA25/default.asp

 

[sixpack]

...for the North American 8-Ball Championship, that is!

This coming weekend will be the last round of qualifiers for the upcoming IPT first official tournament, July 22-30, 2006, to be held at The Venetian in Las Vegas.

NA-21: Lou Butera’s Pool Sharks in Las Vegas, NV
[UPA Touring Pro/Representative Frankie Alvarez is the challenge table player]

NA-22: Magoo's in Tulsa, OK
[2004 U.S. Open Champion Gabe Owen is the challenge table player]

NA-23: Jillian's in Akron, OH
[AzBilliards Member Aaron Czetli, a strong supporter of pool players and the sport, as well as a gentleman player himself, is the challenge table player]

NA-24: Riley's on Greater London, UK
[2005 World Master's Champion Raj Hundal is the challenge table player]

NA-25: Capone's Billiard Lounge in Spring Hill, FL
[Hall of Famer Mike Sigel is the challenge table player]

There are several players who I would like to see win one of these qualifiers, and I can't wait to see the player roster on the IPT website this coming Friday for each qualifier.

I'm pulling for Ronnie Wiseman to dig in his heels and WIN this weekend, dag nab it. There are several others I'd like to see win this qualifier as well.

If I had to pick and choose, I'd be hard-pressed to figure out which qualifier would be the softest field. As the main event draws near, the fields are getting larger and the serious players are hoping to get their chance to compete in a record-breaking $2-million-purse pool tournament. I heard it through the grapevine that several legendary players will be making the trek to Capones in Spring Hill, FL, which will be quite exciting.

After this weekend, the next stop on the IPT tournament trail will be the Venetian in Vegas. May the best player win, and good luck to all.

JAM

Good to see Tony Piazza trying again at Lou Butera's.

Those of you that don't know, Tony is a great player from Denver, but spends more time playing cards now than pool.

One time I was in California on a business trip and stopped in at the California Billiard Club. I played some cheap sets with a regular there and when he found out I was from Denver told me they had a couple of roadies from Denver through there the week before. From the description I knew it was Dave Hughes and Tony Piazza. Dave is a good friend of mine and a great player in his own right, but Tony is definitely the heavy in that duo.

The guy tells me that everyone there went off trying to beat Dave and Dave busted 'em. Then he says "I wish I could have played the guy he was with, Tony or something, I know I could have beaten him, but I lost too much money to the other guy." I couldn't help but laugh. But I didn't wise him up thinking that Dave and Tony might be back through before they went home and I didn't want to spoil it for them.

Cheers,
RC

 

[JAM]

Is that tater in the background of your raj picture JAM?

He was there at the U.S. Open. It was the first time I had ever met him. Liljon introduced Tater to Keith and me. He was cute, pleasant personality, nice Southern drawl, but the distinctive thing I remember most about him was his perfectly shaped eyebrows.

I'm not sure if this is him or not, but it sure looks like him.

JAM

 

[JAM]

...Grossman, David..Always Dangerous....

I've met Dave Grossman a few times on the tournament trail, and he seems like such a nice guy. At the Open last year, he was sitting in the lobby of the Holiday Inn with a friend of his, and they spent a hour or more sending in his application to the IPT. He truly wants to be a part of this tour, and he took is time and detailed everything he could think of to put in his application, hoping to get picked. I admired his enthusiasm and follow-through. It would make me very happy to see him win, knowing how much he believes in the IPT vision. Good luck to David Grossman!

Here's a picture I took with David in the lobby that day, as he's holding a copy of InsidePOOL magazine with Mike Sigel on the cover. Every single player at the Open last year was excitedly finding out as much as they could about the IPT. It was definitely the talk of the Chesapeake Beach last September. Spanish Mike Lebron and I were waiting for David to finish sending in his IPT application, so I could help Mike send his in too!

JAM

 

[watchez]

The Sunshine State's player roster is now posted, and it is the TOUGHEST field, just as I thought!

Bennett, Keith Hope this is the one for the Carolinian Young Gun
Bilbrey, William
Braymore, Trevor
Broumpton, Richard
Brown, Paul
Conway Jr., Benny The Little Goose
Esprit, Gareth
Fujiwara, Neil Very nice gentleman player, hope he gets it
Grossman, David He submitted his application to the IPT at last year's U.S. Open and really wanted to be a part of this tour. I'd love to see him win it, a dream come true!
Hall, Justin
Hernandez, Frankie Go get 'em, Frankie!
Hoover, Mark
Howey, Pat
Orem, Richey
Richeson, Richie "Richie Rich" has a nice ring to it in the winner's circle in Vegas!
Ridenour, Greg
Rogers, John
Roberto, Anthony
Saez, Robb Robb's back home in Florida and may get this one
Trelevas, John

JAM

Justin Hall is a young gun out of the St Louis area that resides much of the time with his father in Florida. He is a shade under the other 'famous' Justin Bergmann & has made a killing winning Florida events in their tour (I cant think of the name of the tour right now) of non AA players.

Greg Ridenour is from Springfield MO (and a good friend of Darren Everett's) and a former Missouri State 8 Ball champion. The year he won the MO State Championship was some of the finest 8 ball I have ever seen. He seemed to roll with his confidence & I remember as he won the final game to win the match 5-0, he had the 8 ball blocked down in the corner & also cross corner, so he quickly set up & fired it 3 rails like it was straight in. He has also won regional 9 ball tour events. I'll be pulling for the home state boys (man
) to pull an upset.

 

[JAM]

I was checking out the IPT website, live coverage of the qualifiers, and the Akron, OH and Spring Hill, FL events have already stopped playing for the day.

At Capones in Spring Hill, FL, the charts are up, and it doesn't look like one match was played. I'm not sure why.

In Akron, OH at Jillians, it looks as if they only played one match and then called it a day. Ronnie Wiseman advanced!

The qualifier in England, however, is moving full speed ahead. The charts are moving rapidly.

In Las Vegas, the Filipinos are out in front. David Hemmah from California got a bye! Oscar Dominguez pulled Jesse Bowman for his first match.

It's noteworthy to see that C.J. Wiley is competing in Tulsa, OK. The charts haven't moved one iota as of the time of this writing!

JAM