Just as expected, the $5,000-added Season Finale held at Orange Ball Billiards in Rockville, Maryland, commenced with a whopping 103 players in attendance, and the field has been whittled down to 24 players, each hoping to pocket the $2,500 in first-place prize monies. The Planet Pool 9-Ball Tour has a ranking system, available in full disclosure on their website, http://www.planet-pool.com. The highest-ranked players were seeded for this end-of-the-year tournament, and as is customary, it will pay out three-eighths of the field.
At the players' meeting, some of the details of the next season were greeted with enthusiasm when it was announced that the game of 8-Ball will be included on the tour in addition to the 9-ball tournaments. I'm an 8-ball lover and plan on competing next season! Phil Capelle has a new book out on 8-ball -- 'Play Your Best Eight Ball' by Phil Capelle -- and I've got a few months to study up and strengthen my skills before I make my debut!
New England was represented in the form of Young Guns Tony Ruberto and Jarrod Clowery. Jarrod has been MIA recently on the tournament trail, but he decided to make the 8-hour trek with Tony to Maryland. Both were action-ready after hours and managed to make a few scores to pay for their trip.
Ted Harris is on hand, much to the delight of the players, providing on-site cue maintenance. He donated a custom-made beautiful cue stick for a raffle, and tickets are selling like hot cakes for this purpleheart masterpiece! BTW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Teddie!
Some other familiar faces in the crowd were Richmond's Local Champion Larry Kressel, Ryan "Genie Man" McCreesh, Pookie, APA Champ Jim "Shorty" Henson, "Jimmy Mack" McAdams, Virginia Veteran Billy Stephens, Roadster Wayne Collins, Jump-Ball Mechanic Danny Green, MD's best-kept secret "Max," BCA Instructor Doug Sharp, 10-year-old Tyler, UPA Touring Pro Mike Davis, just to rattle off a few names that come to mind. Jose Parica, who told me last weekend he was coming, was a no-show.
The feature match of the day took an unusual twist when Tour Directors Nick "The Bald Guy" Prinsloo and Andy Lincoln faced off in a tension-filled showdown on the front table to a full gallery of specators. Racing to 9, Andy had Nick stuck 8 to 2, and Nick sat motionless in his chair with the look of disbelief, helpless to stop Andy's strong run. What happened next was the stuff pool dreams are made of. You could cut the air with a knife, and all eyes were on Table 3. Nick never gave up and brought the score to the infamous hill-hill. After Andy missed a 5-ball, Nick seized the moment and won the match. Both players put on an hard-fought exhibition, much to the delight of the railbirds, and when it was all said and done, Nick came out the victor.
At 12:00 noon today, Sunday, it will be Pookie vs. Keith McCready. Last evening, Pookie uncharacteristically left the pool room to go home and rest, even though he was propositioned by quite a few hoping to get into his pockets. Earthquake is hoping to send the Virginia Young Gun to the B side of the charts. I'm hoping to feel the ground shake in Rockville today, but Pookie is a tough competitor, and it is anybody's guess as to who will come out on top.
The one-day Ladies Open event, starting at 11:00 a.m., will be run simultaneously with the second day of the Open Event. Just wanted to provide a snippet of the activities! Never a dull moment at the PP 9-Ball events, and this one is no exception.
There's a showdown with two gunslingers at high noon today between a young and cocky Pookie, full of confidence, and Keith McCready who is hoping to be Pookie's worst nightmare!
JAM
At the players' meeting, some of the details of the next season were greeted with enthusiasm when it was announced that the game of 8-Ball will be included on the tour in addition to the 9-ball tournaments. I'm an 8-ball lover and plan on competing next season! Phil Capelle has a new book out on 8-ball -- 'Play Your Best Eight Ball' by Phil Capelle -- and I've got a few months to study up and strengthen my skills before I make my debut!
New England was represented in the form of Young Guns Tony Ruberto and Jarrod Clowery. Jarrod has been MIA recently on the tournament trail, but he decided to make the 8-hour trek with Tony to Maryland. Both were action-ready after hours and managed to make a few scores to pay for their trip.
Ted Harris is on hand, much to the delight of the players, providing on-site cue maintenance. He donated a custom-made beautiful cue stick for a raffle, and tickets are selling like hot cakes for this purpleheart masterpiece! BTW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Teddie!
Some other familiar faces in the crowd were Richmond's Local Champion Larry Kressel, Ryan "Genie Man" McCreesh, Pookie, APA Champ Jim "Shorty" Henson, "Jimmy Mack" McAdams, Virginia Veteran Billy Stephens, Roadster Wayne Collins, Jump-Ball Mechanic Danny Green, MD's best-kept secret "Max," BCA Instructor Doug Sharp, 10-year-old Tyler, UPA Touring Pro Mike Davis, just to rattle off a few names that come to mind. Jose Parica, who told me last weekend he was coming, was a no-show.
The feature match of the day took an unusual twist when Tour Directors Nick "The Bald Guy" Prinsloo and Andy Lincoln faced off in a tension-filled showdown on the front table to a full gallery of specators. Racing to 9, Andy had Nick stuck 8 to 2, and Nick sat motionless in his chair with the look of disbelief, helpless to stop Andy's strong run. What happened next was the stuff pool dreams are made of. You could cut the air with a knife, and all eyes were on Table 3. Nick never gave up and brought the score to the infamous hill-hill. After Andy missed a 5-ball, Nick seized the moment and won the match. Both players put on an hard-fought exhibition, much to the delight of the railbirds, and when it was all said and done, Nick came out the victor.
At 12:00 noon today, Sunday, it will be Pookie vs. Keith McCready. Last evening, Pookie uncharacteristically left the pool room to go home and rest, even though he was propositioned by quite a few hoping to get into his pockets. Earthquake is hoping to send the Virginia Young Gun to the B side of the charts. I'm hoping to feel the ground shake in Rockville today, but Pookie is a tough competitor, and it is anybody's guess as to who will come out on top.
The one-day Ladies Open event, starting at 11:00 a.m., will be run simultaneously with the second day of the Open Event. Just wanted to provide a snippet of the activities! Never a dull moment at the PP 9-Ball events, and this one is no exception.
There's a showdown with two gunslingers at high noon today between a young and cocky Pookie, full of confidence, and Keith McCready who is hoping to be Pookie's worst nightmare!
JAM
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