2006 Challenge the Stars

2006 Challenge the Stars Play the Pros scheduled for May 16 in Las Vegas Colorado Springs, Colorado: The Billiard Congress of America [BCA] and the Billiard Education Foundation [BEF] will host the annual Challenge the Stars Benefit in conjunction with the BCA National 8-Ball Championships and the EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships, in Las Vegas, on Tuesday, May 16, 2006. The special benefit offers players a chance to rub shoulders with the top pros and challenge one of their favorites to a game of 9-ball and will take place in the Grande Ballroom of the Riviera, at 8:00 pm.With 128 of the world’s top pros on hand, enthusiastic players and fans will have plenty of opportunities to get up close and personal with their favorite billiard stars. This entertaining fundraiser offers players the option of selecting the $10 BCA Challenge (BEF picks the pro for one game of 9-ball), the $40 Pro Challenge (one game of 9-ball with one of three top choices, based on availability) or the $100 Ultimate Challenge (three games of 9-ball with one of three top choices).

Sunday, Bloody Sunday at the Stan James Canadian Nine Ball final in Valleyfield

Sunday, Bloody Sunday at the Stan James Canadian Nine Ball final in ValleyfieldSunday at the Stan James Canadian Nine Ball final in Valleyfield, Qubec began with twelve men still in the hunt. This stop, sponsored by Stan James Bookmakers, Simonis Billiard Cloth, Aramith Billiard Balls and Canada Billiards, held the toughest field of the tour to date. The day began with an unusual father-son match-up. Mario Morra found himself opposite his son, John. As seems to so often be the case in this game, youth had its day and the son bested the father. At the same time Alex Pagulayan was ending the quest for Jason Holdaway, Alain Martel put the parking brake on Al Logan and Nicholas Guimond sent Marco Rodier home.The next round held out a bit of a surprise when young Morra beat former World Champion Alex Pagulayan, forcing Pagulayan to settle for a disappointing 7-8th finish. Nicholas Guimond joined Pagulayan in that tie after Alain Martel blasted through him with his uncanny speed and devastating break shot.On the winner’s side Erik Hjorliefson came back to win his match against Danny Hewitt and Tyler Edey also came from behind to defeat Brady Gollan. Hewitt would only last one more round as Alain Martel again showed his best. Gollan would continue on as he defeated John Morra and sent Morra into a tie for 5th with Hewitt.

Gabriels Open Goes to Hatch

Gabriels Open Goes to HatchCheck out the Super Billiards Expo Image Gallery (http://insidepoolmag.bizatomic.net/gallery.php?category=Super+Billiards+Expo+2006)

Gabriels Open at the Super Billiards Expo Begins!

Gabriels Open at the Super Billiards Expo Begins!Check out the Super Billiards Expo Image Gallery (http://insidepoolmag.bizatomic.net/gallery.php?category=Super+Billiards+Expo+2006)

Seyberts.com Splashes into UPA Mens Pool Scene

Seyberts.com Splashes into UPA Mens Pool Scene Seyberts .com, one of the most famous internet billiard supply stores existing, will be entering the world of mens pro pool and television via ESPN. Seyberts.com is one of the main sponsors of the US Pro Tour Championships and also the title sponsor of the Seyberts.com UPA Amateur Open. The events will take place simulataneously in Las Vegas at Binions Casino March 21-26,2006. We are very excited about being official sponsors of our first internationally televised event. This is a great opportunity for Seyberts.com to make a splash into the UPA and men’s professional pool. Predator is the Official Cue of the UPA, and we’re the #1 dealer of their cues so being part of the UPA US Pro Tour Championships is a perfect match for us. says Seyberts.com co-owner Sid Kreis.

Peach Rounds out the IPT

Peach Rounds out the IPTDaryl Peach became the 150th member of the International Pool Tour in Weert, The Netherlands, on Sunday, March 12. He had a long, uphill battle throughout the day, but in the end, he was one of the happiest men in the country.After losing a hill-hill nailbiter to David Alcaide of Spain, who was the winners’-side final winner, on Saturday night, Peach was faced with trudging through the one-loss side on Sunday. His first match was against Michael Schmidt, hailing from Germany. A long, laborious match ensued, with both players running multiple racks, but Peach triumphed 10-7.In the final match against Japan’s Goh Takami, Peach was faced with a 3-1 deficit but took advantage when Takami came up dry on his next break. Peach dished up and then ran five racks in a row, making the score 7-3. He was going for his sixth run-out, which would have been the first time for that to happen in the finals of an IPT qualifier, but he tried to play a tough shot on an early solid and rattled it. Takami couldn’t capitalize, and Peach made it 8-3 after a failed safety by his opponent. He missed his first shot of the next rack, though, and Takami cleared. When he missed a sharp cut down the rail in the following rack, Peach dished up to reach the hill. In the last rack, Peach missed his penultimate solid, but Takami only ran out to his last two before missing. Peach sank his final three balls, winning the match 10-4.

Alcaide Joins the IPT

Alcaide Joins the IPTThe newest member on the International Pool Tour just became David Alcaide of Spain. The 27-year-old defeated Japan’s Goh Takami 10-5 in the winners’-side final match, being held at House of Billiards in Weert, The Netherlands.After squeaking by in a late-night hill-hill battle with Brit Daryl Peach, Alcaide arrived this morning looking fresh and relaxed. After his match, he said through an interpreter that he was exhausted last night, but his match started off well and as it was going on, he felt more and more confident.When the score seesawed to 3 apiece, Alcaide broke and ran out the next two for a two-game lead. They split the next two racks after both came up empty on their breaks, but then a mistake by Takami put Alcaide up 7-4. The Spanish champ then broke and ran two in a row for the hill but hooked himself on the 8 ball in the next game. He kicked at and hit the 8, but that rack went to Takami, making it 9-5. Takami came up empty on his following break, and Alcaide cleared the table for his 10-5 victory. He thanked his sponsor, Gorina Cloth, effusively and also his friends for their support.

Winners’-Bracket Final Set Between Takami and AlcaideDavid Alcaide was the first player to make it through the second winners’ bracket’s round of matches on Saturday at the IPT’s fifth and final qualification event. Held at House of Billiards in Weert, The Netherlands, the event will wrap up Sunday and round out the final 150 tour players.Alcaide, who hails from Spain, broke and ran the first two racks, won the next, and then broke and ran out the next for a daunting 5-0 lead. Cohen was only able to put four games under his belt before Alcaide, a BCA and VNEA Masters champion, won the match 10-4.The UK’s Daryl Peach sent Hiroshi Takenaka to the one-loss side—after overcoming a 3-0 deficit, he won the match 10-6. Peach went on to face Alcaide in a match that saw the lead swing from 2-0 Peach to 6-3 Alcaide. At that point, Peach mounted a comeback, running out five racks in a row to reach the hill 9-6. He came up dry on his last break, and Alcaide cleared that rack and broke and ran out the next three to win the match 10-9.

Action Continues at House of Billiards

Action Continues at House of BilliardsThe second round of the winners’-side matches is underway, with four players to return on Sunday undefeated. In the first round of the day, Stefan Cohen bested Marco Vogel in a lopsided match 10-3. Spain’s David Alcaide continues unscathed, bested Marcel Martens 10-6. Japan’s Hiroshi Takenaka and Goh Takami also remain unbeaten, winning over Gijs van Helmond 10-2 and Vilmos Foldes 10-6. An all-UK match-up occurred between Richard Broumpton and Daryl Peach, with Peach advancing after his 10-6 victory. America’s Steve Moore is also undefeated, winning over Imran Majid 10-6. Roman Hybler of Germany sent Santos Sambajon Jr. to the one-loss side 10-8, and Thomas Seiffert triumphed over Japan’s Tomoki Mekari 10-7.Since then, several world-class players have been sent home early, such as Majid, Broumpton, Thomas Engert, and Kevin Becker. Both brackets are currently playing, and the one-loss side will endure two more before being narrowed to only two players returning from the west side.

Sixteen Undefeated Returning Saturday Morning

Sixteen Undefeated Returning Saturday MorningThe fifth and final IPT qualification event is well into its elimination rounds, with 16 unscathed players set to return on Saturday morning as well. House of Billiards in Weert, The Netherlands, is the host location. Vilmos Foldes, a two-time runner-up at the IPT qualification events, is still undefeated, having bested Ralf Mund 10-4. Foldes will face Goh Takami, who sent Gary Abood to the one-loss side 10-4. Imran Majid came out the winner of a hill-hill match against Robb Saez and will meet Steve Moore, who dealt Andy Barnett a 10-5 loss. England’s Richard Broumpton dealt a stunning 10-3 loss to Christian Kolles, and fellow countryman Daryl Peach bested Gareth Esprit 10-8. Broumpton and Peach play each other Saturday morning. David Alcaide won his second match, defeating Christian Reimering 10-4 to play Marcel Martens on Saturday. Roman Hybler of Germany sent former World Masters champion Tony Drago of Malta 10-8, going on to meet Skins Billiards champ Santos Sambajon Jr., who won his match against England’s Chris Melling 10-6. Thomas Seiffert sent Thomas Engert to the one-loss side 10-3.