No "Internation Challenge of Champions" this year

Terry Ardeno

Terry Ardeno

I still love my wife
Silver Member
It appears that the 18 year run of the Internation Challenge of Champions is over. After not seeing anything scheduled anywhere on AZB, I checked their website. Nothing. Spent 10 minutes on the phone being transfered around and nobody knows anything about it. It's not on their schedule at all for the remainder of this year.

No World 9 Ball Championship since 2007...no World 8 ball Championship this year, no World One Pocket Championship this year....The Sands-Regency has been cut back from semi-annual to annual. What a bummer year for pool! Other than the DCC and the U.S. Open, slim pickings as far as majors go. Even the San Miguel Asian 9 Ball tour that morphed into the Guiness 9 Ball Tour is out of business now. Terrible!

Anybody here remember the U.S. Open 14.1 Championship? The McDermott Master's? The Clyde Childress Open? The Akron Open? How about the Eastern States 14.1 Championships? The South-Eastern 9 Ball Open? The Glass City Open? The Rakm'Up Classic? The BC 9 Ball Open? The Peninsula 9 Ball Open? I could go on....The point being that our big tournaments are slowly becomming a thing of the past.

Let's all thank and support Barry Berhman for his continuous operation of the U.S. Open, Greg sullivan for his work on the Derby City Classic, Allen Hopkins for his Super Billiard Expo "Pro Player's Championship" and the few other big time tournaments still running here in the USA. Who knows how much longer they can keep going?
 
Terry Ardeno said:
It appears that the 18 year run of the Internation Challenge of Champions is over. After not seeing anything scheduled anywhere on AZB, I checked their website. Nothing. Spent 10 minutes on the phone being transfered around and nobody knows anything about it. It's not on their schedule at all for the remainder of this year.

No World 9 Ball Championship since 2007...no World 8 ball Championship this year, no World One Pocket Championship this year....The Sands-Regency has been cut back from semi-annual to annual. What a bummer year for pool! Other than the DCC and the U.S. Open, slim pickings as far as majors go. Even the San Miguel Asian 9 Ball tour that morphed into the Guiness 9 Ball Tour is out of business now. Terrible!

Anybody here remember the U.S. Open 14.1 Championship? The McDermott Master's? The Clyde Childress Open? The Akron Open? How about the Eastern States 14.1 Championships? The South-Eastern 9 Ball Open? The Glass City Open? The Rakm'Up Classic? The BC 9 Ball Open? The Peninsula 9 Ball Open? I could go on....The point being that our big tournaments are slowly becomming a thing of the past.

Let's all thank and support Barry Berhman for his continuous operation of the U.S. Open, Greg sullivan for his work on the Derby City Classic, Allen Hopkins for his Super Billiard Expo "Pro Player's Championship" and the few other big time tournaments still running here in the USA. Who knows how much longer they can keep going?
Click to expand...

The International Challege of Champions has a scheduled date for October 27, 2009, according to the WPA website; however, the location has not been determined yet.
This is the link: http://www.wpa-pool.com/index.asp?content=cal2005

The Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut has been the host of this event for the past 12 years. The event is produced by Matt Braun and Bettiane Braun of Billiards International, Ltd. I sure hope the event goes on for years to come.

I keep a page of the results at:

http://www.prbilliardfederation.com/COC.html
 
Terry Ardeno said:
It appears that the 18 year run of the Internation Challenge of Champions is over. After not seeing anything scheduled anywhere on AZB, I checked their website. Nothing. Spent 10 minutes on the phone being transfered around and nobody knows anything about it. It's not on their schedule at all for the remainder of this year.

No World 9 Ball Championship since 2007...no World 8 ball Championship this year, no World One Pocket Championship this year....The Sands-Regency has been cut back from semi-annual to annual. What a bummer year for pool! Other than the DCC and the U.S. Open, slim pickings as far as majors go. Even the San Miguel Asian 9 Ball tour that morphed into the Guiness 9 Ball Tour is out of business now. Terrible!

Anybody here remember the McDermott Master's? The Glass City Open? The Rakm'Up Classic? I could go on....The point being that our big tournaments are slowly becomming a thing of the past.

Let's all thank and support Barry Berhman for his continuous operation of the U.S. Open, Greg sullivan for his work on the Derby City Classic, Allen Hopkins for his Super Billiard Expo "Pro Player's Championship" and the few other big time tournaments still running here in the USA. Who knows how much longer they can keep going?
Click to expand...

You make some good points and it doesn't look good for Pro Pool in the near future. Everyone should thank Barry Berhman for the US Open 9 ball tournament which is the longest running Men's Pro Tournament in US history. Barry and his staff do a wonderful job with the US Open and I look forward to going every year. I've been going for at least 15 years and I hope I never miss it as long as my health holds out.

I miss the Rakm'Up Classic also since it was only 100 miles from my home. They had a good thing going with that tournament, but it only lasted a couple of years. I miss it......

I got to attend one McDermott Masters in Las Vegas at the Imperial Palace and it was great.

I haven't made it to the DCC yet because it's so close time wise to the US Open and I can't afford to go to both events that close together. I know i'm missing a good tournament by not going to the DCC.

Allen Hopkins does a great job with the Super Billiards Expo and that's another event i'd love to go to. Maybe I can make it next year.

Let's hope that Pool will get a boost soon and we'll have more tournaments to go to.

James
 
Terry, I do remember all those events and they were great events, especially the Eastern States, that was a brutal tourney to win.

BUT, on the flip side now you have several large tournays all over the place other than the US Open, DCC and SBE. The Turning Stone is twice a year with 25k added and a monster field that builds stronger all the time. There is the World 14.1 Championships running again since 2006. There is the major events that run in conjunction with the BCAPL and APA nationals each year. You have the Galveston event this year. The US Bartable in Reno. The Shootout At The Sands in Reno. There is the Mezz event coming up in florida soon. There are some really nice $$$ Seminole Tour stops. Plus many many more, I am just picking a few out of the air. Point being there is tons of pool everywhere compared to years ago. Not to mention all the regional tours that were not there years ago.

Kev
 
There are a couple new events coming up. The Shoot Out at the Sands event in about a month in Reno and the just announced U.S. Open 10 Ball Championships at the BCAPL Nationals are just a couple.

If Galveston succeeds the promoters have said they plan to do more events. The pro pool scene isn't great but it could be worse. At least people are still out there trying to make it happen.
 
wahcheck said:
If I'm not mistaken, the annual Sands Regency 9-ball Open is history too.
Click to expand...

You are correct... no more June or December $22,500 added Pro Am event at the Sands.

But there is the US Open Bar Box event in Feb/March and the NEW Shoot out Bar Box 8 and 10 formats this August $15,000 added. Driven by Mark Griffin and the Bad Boys productions ogrs.


Looks like the Sands has eliminated the 9 footers and made the room for Bar Box players.
 
juegabillar said:
The International Challege of Champions has a scheduled date for October 27, 2009, according to the WPA website; however, the location has not been determined yet.
This is the link: http://www.wpa-pool.com/index.asp?content=cal2005

The Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut has been the host of this event for the past 12 years. The event is produced by Matt Braun and Bettiane Braun of Billiards International, Ltd. I sure hope the event goes on for years to come.

I keep a page of the results at:

http://www.prbilliardfederation.com/COC.html
Click to expand...


Harold,
Thanks much for the info. I hope they find sponsorship & a location for the Challenge of Champions. Remember, the WPA listed a 2008 World 9 Ball Championship on their website and it never came to fruition for lack of sponsorship and locale.

Your website is very impressive! I wish I knew how to set one up and keep it going.

Please keep us posted if you hear any new info on this tournament.
 
selftaut said:
Terry, I do remember all those events and they were great events, especially the Eastern States, that was a brutal tourney to win.

BUT, on the flip side now you have several large tournays all over the place other than the US Open, DCC and SBE. The Turning Stone is twice a year with 25k added and a monster field that builds stronger all the time. There is the World 14.1 Championships running again since 2006. There is the major events that run in conjunction with the BCAPL and APA nationals each year. You have the Galveston event this year. The US Bartable in Reno. The Shootout At The Sands in Reno. There is the Mezz event coming up in florida soon. There are some really nice $$$ Seminole Tour stops. Plus many many more, I am just picking a few out of the air. Point being there is tons of pool everywhere compared to years ago. Not to mention all the regional tours that were not there years ago.

Kev
Click to expand...



Good post Kevin and you're for sure looking on the bright side.

I don't want to add a "but", but remember how many tourneys started up and looked so promising? The IPT being a good example. On a smaller scale, Buddy Hall tried to have a regular tournament & he called it the "Superman Classic" It was held in 2001 and was won by Nick. But that's it. No more repeats. Gabriels sponsored what promised to be an annual big event entitled "The Gabriel's Las Vegas 9 Ball Open." It was held in 2002. 2003 was it's final year.

Of all the big new tournaments being held, I'm most appreciative of the revival of the World 14.1 Championship. It's a shame, however, that our governing body in pool here in America (the BCA) has not held, hosted or found sponsorship for it but 6 times since 1977. Think of that....in 32 years, we've had 6 U.S. Open 14.1 Championships. And, although a "World 14.1 Championship" is great, it would be even GREATER if the likes of Mike Sigel, Jim Rempe, Grady Mathews, Nick Varner, Allen Hopkins, Dallas West, etc received special exemptions as past Champions or at least an invitation to compete based on their World and U.S. Open pedigrees and accomplishments in that discipline. The Master's does that in golf and everybody is excited and happy to roll back the clock and see the past greats compete again.

On a positive note, I'm also glad the regional tours are doing so good and appear strong, thanks to men like Shannon Daulton (GS9B) and dedicated sponsors such as the Seminole Tribe. Good luck to them and the Mike Zuglan's (Joss Tour) of pool!

But the long lasting, big time tournaments that had the luster that comes with longevity...they are dying off quickly. IF these new tournaments can last more than a couple years, then pool is still ok in America. Not in great shape, but ok. For it to be in GREAT shape, I'd like to have monthly big time tournaments, live TV coverage and great players in the field. And by "big time" I specifically mean big time purses and fields of at least 128 players.
 
Back in 96,97 and 98 All About Pool used to be the "official" publication of the Challenge of Champions and exclusively covered the tournament. I did the write up and would submit it to all the publications. I guess Matt liked what I wrote because every year since Soquet won, all the articles start off "This is the toughest tournament in the world to win.....one miss and you can lose it all." And Ralf did say that. But everyone else has been quoted as saying that same thing ever since. All the write ups on the tournament have been a variation on my original write up.
And just as an aside, Ralf was the nicest pro player I had the privilege to cover.
 
Internation Challenge of Champions - Frank Del Pizzo

Terry Ardeno said:
It appears that the 18 year run of the Internation Challenge of Champions is over. After not seeing anything scheduled anywhere on AZB, I checked their website. Nothing. Spent 10 minutes on the phone being transfered around and nobody knows anything about it. It's not on their schedule at all for the remainder of this year....
Click to expand...

Frank Del Pizzo is the Billiard Event Host at the Mohegan Sun Hotel & Casino.

Check out his website at http://www.frankdelpizzo.com/Billiard_News_and_Events.php .

International Challenge of Champions
Frank will be hosting the Men's Challenge of Champions this Oct 27th at Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino the event will be taped and shown on ESPN at a later date.

International Tournament of Champions
Frank will be hosting the Women's Tournament of Champions this Oct 28th at Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino. The Event will be taped and shown on ESPN at a later date.

World Cup Of Trick Shots
Come and watch some of the world's Greatest trick shot Artists compete for the World Cup of Trick Shots. This event is to be hosted by Frank Del Pizzo at the Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino on October 29th, taped and shown on ESPN at a later date.
 
Dana Bufalo said:
Frank Del Pizzo is the Billiard Event Host at the Mohegan Sun Hotel & Casino.

Check out his website at http://www.frankdelpizzo.com/Billiard_News_and_Events.php .

International Challenge of Champions
Frank will be hosting the Men's Challenge of Champions this Oct 27th at Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino the event will be taped and shown on ESPN at a later date.

International Tournament of Champions
Frank will be hosting the Women's Tournament of Champions this Oct 28th at Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino. The Event will be taped and shown on ESPN at a later date.

World Cup Of Trick Shots
Come and watch some of the world's Greatest trick shot Artists compete for the World Cup of Trick Shots. This event is to be hosted by Frank Del Pizzo at the Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino on October 29th, taped and shown on ESPN at a later date.
Click to expand...

Thats great thanks!
 
Dana Bufalo said:
Frank Del Pizzo is the Billiard Event Host at the Mohegan Sun Hotel & Casino.

Check out his website at http://www.frankdelpizzo.com/Billiard_News_and_Events.php .

International Challenge of Champions
Frank will be hosting the Men's Challenge of Champions this Oct 27th at Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino the event will be taped and shown on ESPN at a later date.

International Tournament of Champions
Frank will be hosting the Women's Tournament of Champions this Oct 28th at Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino. The Event will be taped and shown on ESPN at a later date.

World Cup Of Trick Shots
Come and watch some of the world's Greatest trick shot Artists compete for the World Cup of Trick Shots. This event is to be hosted by Frank Del Pizzo at the Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino on October 29th, taped and shown on ESPN at a later date.
Click to expand...

Good news for sure, Dana. Many thanks!
 
as far as the invites go, you know this how? What info do you have that no one else has?

The facts
2006 14.1 world championships
Jim rempe - invited but declined
Nick varner - invited and played
Dallas west - invited but declined
Ray Martin - invited but declined
mike sigel - invited and played
Allen Hopkins - invited but declined, accepted in 2007 and played
George Ginky sansouci - invited but declinedd
Efren - invited but declined
Marlon Manolo - invited but declined

next time you have a QUESTION, please phrase it as such, and finish with a question mark. That's how rumors start and it only serves to make the poster look foolish.

Rg

Terry Ardeno said:
Good post Kevin and you're for sure looking on the bright side.

I don't want to add a "but", but remember how many tourneys started up and looked so promising? The IPT being a good example. On a smaller scale, Buddy Hall tried to have a regular tournament & he called it the "Superman Classic" It was held in 2001 and was won by Nick. But that's it. No more repeats. Gabriels sponsored what promised to be an annual big event entitled "The Gabriel's Las Vegas 9 Ball Open." It was held in 2002. 2003 was it's final year.

Of all the big new tournaments being held, I'm most appreciative of the revival of the World 14.1 Championship. It's a shame, however, that our governing body in pool here in America (the BCA) has not held, hosted or found sponsorship for it but 6 times since 1977. Think of that....in 32 years, we've had 6 U.S. Open 14.1 Championships. And, although a "World 14.1 Championship" is great, it would be even GREATER if the likes of Mike Sigel, Jim Rempe, Grady Mathews, Nick Varner, Allen Hopkins, Dallas West, etc received special exemptions as past Champions or at least an invitation to compete based on their World and U.S. Open pedigrees and accomplishments in that discipline. The Master's does that in golf and everybody is excited and happy to roll back the clock and see the past greats compete again.

On a positive note, I'm also glad the regional tours are doing so good and appear strong, thanks to men like Shannon Daulton (GS9B) and dedicated sponsors such as the Seminole Tribe. Good luck to them and the Mike Zuglan's (Joss Tour) of pool!

But the long lasting, big time tournaments that had the luster that comes with longevity...they are dying off quickly. IF these new tournaments can last more than a couple years, then pool is still ok in America. Not in great shape, but ok. For it to be in GREAT shape, I'd like to have monthly big time tournaments, live TV coverage and great players in the field. And by "big time" I specifically mean big time purses and fields of at least 128 players.
Click to expand...
 
I am refering to the 2009 World 14.1 Championship, not past events

NYC cue dude said:
as far as the invites go, you know this how? What info do you have that no one else has?

The facts
2006 14.1 world championships
Jim rempe - invited but declined
Nick varner - invited and played
Dallas west - invited but declined
Ray Martin - invited but declined
mike sigel - invited and played
Allen Hopkins - invited but declined, accepted in 2007 and played
George Ginky sansouci - invited but declinedd
Efren - invited but declined
Marlon Manolo - invited but declined

next time you have a QUESTION, please phrase it as such, and finish with a question mark. That's how rumors start and it only serves to make the poster look foolish.

Rg
Click to expand...

Randy,
You have really, really been on your high horse lately.

I really like getting along w/ everybody here, and I try real hard to always be kind & respectful. I wish you were the same.

If you read this part again, real slow this time, you'll see that I'm talking about THIS YEAR'S event, not the ones YOU singlehandedly sponsored and made sure you boasted about at every opportunity.

Here goes...."Of all the big new tournaments being held, I'm most appreciative of the revival of the World 14.1 Championship......And, although a "World 14.1 Championship" is great, it would be even GREATER if the likes of Mike Sigel, Jim Rempe, Grady Mathews, Nick Varner, Allen Hopkins, Dallas West, etc received special exemptions as past Champions or at least an invitation to compete based on their World and U.S. Open pedigrees and accomplishments in that discipline."

Since you missed the part about it being about THIS YEAR'S tournament (see the threads where many of us were pulling for Grady Mathews to get a special invite), you jumping in with your snide remarks can be easily understood. It is your style here.

Also, remember this classic?.........
(#33)
NYC cue dude
Registered User


Status: Offline Posts: 1,168vCash: 500iTrader: 2 / 100% Join Date: Jul 2005Location: NYC
08-03-2009, 10:41 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by custmqs
I respect anyone who chooses to support the game by playing in the Qualifiers and/or participating in the Championship event. If the "chat room superstars" would have made the effort then maybe the purse would have been large enough to draw more of the top talent. IMO, if you are not willing (or able) to put yourself out there, you should not be so critical of those who do.

Congrats to Dan Louie and Steve Lipsky and props to the rest of the field from someone who appreciated the show...


Are you referring to me? Are you just ignorant, or what. "made an effort", WTF? Do you even know who you are speaking too when you let your drivel run free?

Rg
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=151351&page=3
*******************************************************

Can anyone here even imagine these type words coming out of Pat Fleming's mouth? Or Jay Helfert's? Or Mike Howerton's? Or Jerry Forsyth's? They've done far more for pool in their life than you have and they're universally loved by all. They're hard workers who are humble.

You have waaaay too high of an opinion of yourself when it comes to what you've done for pool. You DID help tremendously (and very sincere "Thanks!" for helping revive 14.1!) but we had to hear it jammed down our ears by you constantly. Sort of like someone who gives a gift but then constantly reminds you about it at every opportunity until the luster of said gift is diminsihed by the realization that what was done was done for self serving reasons.

And, you did QUIT sponsoring it, did you not?

In my post, I am refering to the 2009 World 14.1 Championships, not the past events.

:smile:
 
The old timers that were invited, declined because they felt they couldn't be competitive. They knew their best was behind them. In other words, they'd rather not compete, and be remembered as the greats they were, than go out and get embarrassed. Once an invitation is declined for that reason, why keep pursuing it?

Seems there's still one old timer out there that wants to learn the hard way, though.

Rg
oh, and it's been covered before, I quit sponsoring all players and pool events because pool, as it is today, doesn't deserve it.
 
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Can anyone confirm this? I just heard that the 14.1 World Championship is no longer a World Championship because it lost the BCA (or some set of initials) sanctioning and is now just a normal tournament.
 
NYC cue dude said:
The old timers that were invited, declined because they felt they couldn't be competitive. They knew their best was behind them. In other words, they'd rather not compete, and be remembered as the greats they were, than go out and get embarrassed. Once an invitation is declined for that reason, why keep pursuing it?

Seems there's still one old timer out there that wants to learn the hard way, though.

Rg
oh, and it's been covered before, I quit sponsoring all players and pool events because pool, as it is today, doesn't deserve it.
Click to expand...

Wow.

For shame.

Reposting the quote of mean thoughts (since clearly there is an understood concern for how one is remembered) is the closest I can come towards giving red rep.
 
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