Seminole Pro Tour in Florida: 10-Ball Launch!

[JAM]

So many great tournaments going on this weekend: Alex winning BIG in Canada, Smokey Mountain Shootout in North Carolina, Hampton Ridge in Maryland, and the Seminole Pro Tour launching the new 10-ball format in Florida!

No wonder Virginia Young Gun Pookie is MIA in my neck of the woods. The kid is down there in Florida battling it out in the winners' brackets!

Good luck to all the players! 10-ball is the game, and this is a new chapter in the life of American pool as we know it. I am looking forward to the coverage of this one.

Go, Pookie! May the pool gods smile on you this weekend! Picture of Pookie on the left.

JAM

 

[JAM]

Pool Sniper hanging tough!

Tony Crosby is playing in this 10-ball event and hanging tough. I am looking forward to reading about his take on the new concept of this 10-ball tour. I'm sure when time allows, he will post right here on AzBilliards Discussion Forum as well as http://www.tonycrosby.com in the near future. It's always great to hear from the players.

Tony, I hope that you remembered to wear RED!

JAM

 

[jjinfla]

What a great tournament. And what a great pool hall. Owner Rocky McElroy bends over backwards to see that everyone is happy. They now even have Chicago Style Italian beef sandwiches. We had great seats right above table 3. Got to watch two world champions, Ray Martin and Buddy Hall, play. I thought 10 ball would take quite a bit longer than 9-ball so I timed the Buddy Hall-Bill Hammock match and it took one hour and 5 minutes. Since Buddy is not exactly the fastest player in the World that seemed a reasonable time for a race to 7. Not nearly as many balls made on the break as in 9-ball. Did see a few 10 balls sunk. balls are racked with 1,2,3 on the corners and the 10 behind the 1. Josh Deggler (23) and Richie Richardson matched up the night before and the word is that they broke even. Rodney Morris's finger sure does not look good and it affects his bridge. has to use the open bridge most of the time. He missed a few easy straight in shots against Charlie Williams yet he looked like a world beater (he is) against Steve Knoll. Charlie was in top form and really playing fast and loose. Tony Crosby won his first two before losing to Troy Frank.

I would like to see them make the players call the 10 ball. Just saw too many of them slopped in.

Our local hero (Dave Ross) was two and out.

Jake

 

[AceHigh]

What a great tournament. And what a great pool hall. Owner Rocky McElroy bends over backwards to see that everyone is happy. They now even have Chicago Style Italian beef sandwiches. We had great seats right above table 3. Got to watch two world champions, Ray Martin and Buddy Hall, play. I thought 10 ball would take quite a bit longer than 9-ball so I timed the Buddy Hall-Bill Hammock match and it took one hour and 5 minutes. Since Buddy is not exactly the fastest player in the World that seemed a reasonable time for a race to 7. Not nearly as many balls made on the break as in 9-ball. Did see a few 10 balls sunk. balls are racked with 1,2,3 on the corners and the 10 behind the 1. Josh Deggler (23) and Richie Richardson matched up the night before and the word is that they broke even. Rodney Morris's finger sure does not look good and it affects his bridge. has to use the open bridge most of the time. He missed a few easy straight in shots against Charlie Williams yet he looked like a world beater (he is) against Steve Knoll. Charlie was in top form and really playing fast and loose. Tony Crosby won his first two before losing to Troy Frank.

I would like to see them make the players call the 10 ball. Just saw too many of them slopped in.

Our local hero (Dave Ross) was two and out.

Jake

What was the game, and spot (if any) for the Deagler match. Haven't seen him in awhile, but he shoots pretty good.

 

[merylane]

What a great tournament. And what a great pool hall. Owner Rocky McElroy bends over backwards to see that everyone is happy. They now even have Chicago Style Italian beef sandwiches. We had great seats right above table 3. Got to watch two world champions, Ray Martin and Buddy Hall, play. I thought 10 ball would take quite a bit longer than 9-ball so I timed the Buddy Hall-Bill Hammock match and it took one hour and 5 minutes. Since Buddy is not exactly the fastest player in the World that seemed a reasonable time for a race to 7. Not nearly as many balls made on the break as in 9-ball. Did see a few 10 balls sunk. balls are racked with 1,2,3 on the corners and the 10 behind the 1. Josh Deggler (23) and Richie Richardson matched up the night before and the word is that they broke even. Rodney Morris's finger sure does not look good and it affects his bridge. has to use the open bridge most of the time. He missed a few easy straight in shots against Charlie Williams yet he looked like a world beater (he is) against Steve Knoll. Charlie was in top form and really playing fast and loose. Tony Crosby won his first two before losing to Troy Frank.

I would like to see them make the players call the 10 ball. Just saw too many of them slopped in.

Our local hero (Dave Ross) was two and out.

Jake

gee we must of sat next to each other? that ray-hall match was great, i loved how ray looked like a gun slinger the last few games.

how bout that buddy misscue?

talked to rodney and he said the chalk was messed up, thats why he was playing different in the match against chalie, he didnt think of it being the chalk durring the match, i think tony or rob said somthing to him.

he said he misscued 5 times and couldnt draw, cost him prob. 3 games against charlie.......

rob and ray sure looked like they were playing good, i wish i could of made it back today. p

 

[tonyc]

Hey everyone,
I can tell you that pooky and Neil fujiwara are playing the finals now.
Hey jam i did buy a red shirt but didnt have time to get sponsors logo's on it so didnt wear it.
Great picture of pooky and Keith
Tony
www.tonycrosby.com
I will be posting a report.

I may be completely wrong about this, as I'm getting it third hand.... but I 'heard' that Pookie is playing Niels Fujiyami (sp) for the hot seat and Rob Saez is waiting in third...

 

[tonyc]

Pooky is leading 6-2

 

[tonyc]

Latest is 7-6 pooky Neil is realy hanging in.

 

[JAM]

Great tournament for the Pookster, and 10-ball at that!

Tony, thanks for the updates on the final match. So what do the players think about 10-ball as opposed 9-ball? It sounds like the tournament ran smoothly.

My inquiring mind is standing by to hear the final results!

Go get 'em, Pookie!

JAM

 

[tonyc]

Pooky wins 9-7

Great tournament for the Pookster, and 10-ball at that!

Tony, thanks for the updates on the final match. So what do the players think about 10-ball as opposed 9-ball? It sounds like the tournament ran smoothly.

My inquiring mind is standing by to hear the final results!

JAM

 

[JAM]

Way to go, Pookie!

This picture was taken 2 years ago at the 2003 Carolinas Open. Pookie asked Jose Parica for his autograph.

Last September at the U.S. Open, fans were asking Pookie for his autograph.

Today, Pookie scores his first major win for a nice chunk on the Florida Pro Tour. May it be the first of many more to come for Pookie!

JAM

 

[tonyc]

Hey Jam Hope you dont mind me posting the photo of Keith and pooky on my site.
10 ball.
They say that the best player all ways wins but i am not sure this is the case.
I found that when the balls tie up on the break it was kind of anybodys game, where as in 9 ball there is kind of a bit more skill now with the break rather than just a hit an hope. I think 9 ball offers a little more excitement with guys running 5 and 6 racks, 10 ball the games realy do tend to get messy with a lot more safety battles. as a player you realy get your money's worth playing 10 ball though as you know you are going to get your chance at the table, hovever if you go way behind in the match its very hard to make a comeback.
I defo prefer 9 ball but relay liked 10 ball and would loo forward to melbourne which is on 7th may.
I have posted the places on my site.

 

[JAM]

Hey Jam Hope you dont mind me posting the photo of Keith and pooky on my site.
10 ball.
They say that the best player all ways wins but i am not sure this is the case.
I found that when the balls tie up on the break it was kind of anybodys game, where as in 9 ball there is kind of a bit more skill now with the break rather than just a hit an hope. I think 9 ball offers a little more excitement with guys running 5 and 6 racks, 10 ball the games realy do tend to get messy with a lot more safety battles. as a player you realy get your money's worth playing 10 ball though as you know you are going to get your chance at the table, hovever if you go way behind in the match its very hard to make a comeback.
I defo prefer 9 ball but relay liked 10 ball and would loo forward to melbourne which is on 7th may.
I have posted the places on my site.

Tony, you're welcome to any of my pics, of course.

It will be interesting to see how the 10-ball format develops on the Seminoles Florida Pro Tour. The break is a big difference between the two games, but I kind of like the idea that each player should get a chance at the table.

You guys in Florida have a great regional tour going. I'm happy to see Pookie win this one!

JAM

 

[Joe T]

Hey Tony,

Thanks for the updates on the tournament, Wish I could have been there with ya. Got a few questions; What were all the races to, looks like I saw some to 7 or 8 and the finals to 9. What were the racking rules, like who racked and were players allowed to complain about anything in the rack, were there any racking arguements? Were there any significant time problems with any matches or the overal length of the event. And finally, what were all the players mumbling about 10 ball in between their matches.

 

[jjinfla]

In the Hall/Hammock match no balls were made in the first 5 breaks.

Then in the 6th match Hall popped in the 10 ball on the break.

But I imagine that after the players get used to the game they will figure out the break. Later on it seemed more balls were falling on the break. But it is amazing how that one extra ball does tie up balls. Now that I think about it I don't recall seeing any break and runs. Didn"t go back sunday. Didn't get a chance to watch Pooki either.

Jake

 

[Black-Balled]

Go Pookie! That is awesome and is a quality V in a starstudded field. For all you who wish you played better..I remember when Pookie first started playing pool. He would come into the PHall and we would give him hueg spots like the 6+8 but he kept at it and lokk at him now! Awesome!!!!@!!!!

 

[PrinsNick]

That's our boy, the Pookster!

 

[jjinfla]

Joe T,

Race to 7 - rack your own - 1,2,3 on the corners and now that you mentioned it I didn't even notice anyone even checking the racks.

Jake

 

[tonyc]

The only time the racks were checked was when the 10 ball went straight in, It was a breath of fresh air not to hear the usuall bull over racks. This was defo a big thumbs up from that side.