Site News
Topic: *Industry News* 2012

Future of Seminole Pro Tour

The Seminole Pro Tour would like to thank all of the fans, players, room owners and especially sponsors who have supported the tour through the past five years that the tour has been in existence. It is with great sorrow and lament that the Seminole Tour will not have a season in 2012 and will continue to suspend operations indefinitely.

From its small beginnings as a regional tour in South Florida, to its growth as the premier national 10-ball tour in the country, the Seminole Pro Tour has always strived to put the player’s and fan’s interest first. The operations were not munsoned, but rather an executive decision to suspend operations was made. The amount of support that the Tour has had has been overwhelming. The countless correspondence that has been received expressing their support for the Tour has not gone unnoticed. The Seminole Pro Tour and the Seminole Tribe would like to say, “Sho-naa-bish (thank you).”

The Tour would especially like to thank a few people specifically. John DiToro, the creator of the original Seminole Pro Tour, is not only one of the best tour directors, but also a wonderful person. It was his vision and dedication that got the Seminole Pro Tour to the heights of the industry. John is a true professional and his work ethic is second to none. Thank you, John.

The Seminole Tribe had the pleasure to sponsor a couple of players. Corey Deuel, the Prince of Pool, was a true cornerstone to the betterment of the Tour’s operations. Corey’s professionalism and true love of the game helped the Tour grow leaps and bounds. If not for Corey, the Tour would have never been able to reach the levels that it did. Thank you, Corey.

The many sponsors and room owners that helped make the Tour possible are another group of people that were essential to the Tour’s operations. Without dedicated room owners and sponsors, the Tour would have never been able to reach the number of fans all over the country and the world. One room owner who stood by the Tour through thick and thin has been Rocky McElroy. No matter what the situation, The Tour could always count on Rocky to be there with his support and the support of his pool room, Capone’s. Thank you to all the sponsors, room owners and Rocky.

The Tour could not have grown without all of the great players that have honored the Tour by playing in the tournaments. The Seminole Pro Tour was unique in that it allowed average players to play alongside of World Champions. The Tour has seen several great matches and players in each tournament. If the great players would have never supported the Tour, there would have never been a national Tour. Thank you to all players who played in the tournaments.

The Tour would like to thank all of the staff and workers who dedicated themselves and sacrificed their time to make sure the Tour ran as smoothly as possible. Gerry Mayen, Tiffany Marquez, Kevin Pickard, Brenda Mello, Bobby Frank, OB Osceola and Elrod Bowers all had their mark on the operations of the Tour. Without their hard work in the office and on the road, the Tour would not have been so successful. Thank you, Seminole Pro Tour staff.

Lastly, the tour would like to thank all of the fans who supported the Tour. So many great fans came to see the events all over the country and thousands more watched online through our web streams. The fans are who the Tour was created for and their unconditional support is appreciated. Thank you, fans.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has decided to pursue other operations within the Tribe and therefore will not be considering any further pool-related ventures at this time. The Seminoleprotour.com website will remain running so the final inventory of merchandise can be sold with extremely reduced prices.

SBX Smartphone App now available!

Yup, now there is an App for the Expo!

Introduced just in time for our 20th anniversary, the SBX App has some great features to enhance your show experience.

You'll find all of the exhibitors and their info, details on the Amateur Events, an Inside Pool Magazine Restaurant Guide, Photo Galleries, and more.

There's even a built in QR Reader for special offers from vendors! Download the App, and when the SBX approaches, keep an eye out for special offers that you can unlock through the App when you visit select vendors.

Sign up to play in the Amateur Players Championship events.
There's only about 6 weeks left until the action starts...

This year is sure to be exciting as we move into our newer and bigger venue right down the road! This means more tables for bigger events, and more fun for all.

Whatever division you choose, be sure to sign up soon. Remember that all events require preregistration, you cannot sign up on location for the Amateur Players Championship events(except for the $300 buy-in Pro-Am Event).

We will also have some new daily mini-tournaments this year, be sure to look for them. These will be available for on-site registration.

Hope to see you all there this year, check out our website for details or give us a call at (609)652-6116 if you have any questions.

WPBSA PRESS STATEMENT

The WPBSA have been made aware, by bookmakers of unusual betting patterns on the match due to take place at the Snooker Shootout in Blackpool on Saturday 28th January 2012 between Joe Jogia and Matthew Selt. An unusually high number of bets have been placed on Selt to win the match. The matter has been referred to Nigel Mawer, Head of the WPBSA's Integrity Unit.

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said “Maintaining the integrity of snooker is essential to protect the sport. Working with our partners we will take all necessary steps to establish what has taken place and take appropriate action.

AGIPI Billard Masters, Schiltigheim, FRANCE

Suivez les meilleurs joueurs Européens à de billard 3-Bandes: tous les matches en Live et en exclusivité sur Kozoom à partir du vendredi 27 janvier. Vous n'avez pas encore de Pass Premium? Commandez-le ici. www.kozoom.com/fr/billard-carambole/premium-pass

888真人Sponsor Welsh Open

World Snooker is delighted to announce 888真人(pronounced 888 zhenren) as the new title sponsor of the Welsh Open.

The world ranking event runs from February 13 to 19 at the Newport Centre and will be known as the 888真人Welsh Open.

It will feature the world's top 16 players, including Masters champion Neil Robertson, rising star Judd Trump, World Champion John Higgins, World No 1 Mark Selby, crowd favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan and local favourite Mark Williams. They will be joined by Welsh stars Ryan Day and Dominic Dale as well as 16 others who come through the qualifying rounds, which run from February 8 to 11.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "We are thrilled to welcome 888真人, one of Asia’s leading online gaming firms, on board for this event. The fact that an Asian based company has sponsored the Welsh Open demonstrates snooker’s massive appeal across Asia and the World. Millions of viewers will tune in to live coverage on CCTV5, Shanghai TV, Now TV Hong Kong, not to mention BBC Wales and Eurosport, delivering exceptional exposure for the 888真人 brand.

"I have no doubt that the 888真人Welsh Open will produce another great show of snooker and we look forward to enjoying it along with our new colleagues at 888真人."

Tickets for the event are on sale now, for details call 01633 656757 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Partypoker.com To Sponsor Snooker Shoot-Out

World Snooker is pleased to announce PartyPoker.com as the title sponsor of the Snooker Shoot-Out, which takes place in Blackpool Tower Circus and will be televised live on Sky Sports.

The event will be known as the PartyPoker.com Snooker Shoot-Out and will run from January 27 to 29 at the iconic Circus Arena, at The Blackpool Tower, in the north-west seaside town.

The PartyPoker.com Snooker Shoot-Out is a one-frame knockout tournament with frames lasting a maximum of ten minutes and a reducing shot-clock to ensure fast moving action. The world's top 64 players, including Mark Selby, Judd Trump, Stephen Hendry, Ding Junhui and Masters Champion Neil Robertson will be battling for the £32,000 top prize.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "We are delighted that PartyPoker.com has come on board for what will be a fantastic three days of unabashed snooker fun!

"Last year’s event was a tremendous success and tickets have been flying out the door! It will be great for those watching on Sky and I can’t wait to see Blackpool Tower Circus packed to the rafters with frenzied fans!

"Let the Party begin!"

There are a few tickets still available. For details go to www.worldsnooker.com/tickets to book online or call 0871 620 7052 (calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras).

Dragon Promotions & ABS-CBN Raise $50,000 for Charities in Philippines vs Korea Football Game

Both Filipino and Korean players bond after a hard fought game that had no injuries or incidents. The real winners are going to be the recipients of the donations. $50k was raised to help families from the typhoon and landslide tragedies. (photos courtesy of Emille Biboy Soriano).
                                                                        
Manila, Philippines- In one of the most memorable nights of Filipino football, the Koreans from Icheon Citizen Football Club edged out the Azkals in a penalty shootout to win the KIA Motors Rio Cup. The exciting game was tied at 1-1 when the Azkals scored a goal in the final minute of the game. But the more experienced Koreans won the shootout in penalty overtime 4-2. It was a game everyone could be proud of, including the charities for the Sendong and Compostela Valley victims. ABS-CBN, The Philippines Football Federation, and Dragon Promotions organized the event and donated over 2 million pesos ($50,000) from the gate receipts. KIA Motors also made a sizable contribution to help all those in need.

This was the time in 50 years Philippines played a South Korean team. Both teams were charged up in a very physical match

"This was one of the most exciting games I've watched! I was so pumped that this was the first time I stayed until the very end after all the post interviews. Even my wife watched football for the first time! And we raised so much for the families in need. That money will build much needed homes for the displaced families of the floods", said Peter Musngi, ABS-CBN Sports Vice-President.

"Our game was already planned when the disaster struck. Peter Musngi and I talked on the phone and he mentioned about the idea of turning our game into a charity event as well, and donating the gate receipts. That took about a second to agree on. ABS-CBN's motto has been "in the service of the Filipino", and they live up to it. We just follow their lead", said Charlie Williams, Founder of Dragon Promotions.

Koreans came out in big numbers. Though there have been groups of Koreans seen at previous football games in Manila, none like the turnout that night. This was also due in part by the support and promotion from the Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines. The KCCP hosted a pre-game dinner the day before for the Korean football club, upon invite by the Korean Ambassador to the Philippines. The purpose of the KCCP is to educate people in the Philippines more on Korean culture and strengthen relationships between the peoples of the two nations.

Koreans came in numbers to support the event including the Korean Cultural Center Philippines

"It was a good game and we were happy to host the Koreans here. My father served in Korea during their civil war, so its good to see relationships grow from this", said Crissy Ramos, Commissioner of Philippines Football, and daughter of Fidel Ramos, former 12th President of the Philippines. Fidel Ramos went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and he graduated in 1950. Ramos, along with the Philippines' 20th Battalion Combat Team and his fellow West Point graduates of the 1950s, fought in the Korean War. Ramos was one of the celebrated Filipino heroes of the Korean War.

"All the Korean coaches wanted to meet the daughter of the former President. When I mentioned Ramos, their eyes lit up. He is a popular figure in South Korea", added Williams.

KIA Motors has been the official sponsor of the Azkals and supporter of football the past year. KIA made a 500,000 peso contribution to the charity , including a brand new car which was given away in a raffle drawing.

"We all had such a good time tonight. Congratulations to the well-matched Azkals United and the Incheon Citizens FC, who both played a very good game. It was also exciting to see our new KIA Rio paraded in front of thousands of cheering fans. KIA will continue to support football in the Philippines and we look forward to being a part of the next Dragon Promotions event", said Ginia Roxas Domingo, President of KIA Motors Philippines. KIA is one of the top 4 selling cars in the Philippines. An impressive feat considering its 100 million population, about 1/3 the size of the USA.

"Both teams played their hearts out and entertained the fans thoroughly. The Korean team and coaches were really impressed at how the event was handled from beginning to end. They had no idea how big the game really would be, but everyone was pleased. So many fans came and so much money was raised, that it surpassed everyone's hopes", said Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions.

"It was an awesome game! It seems everything Cindy and Charlie do in new ventures works out so perfectly. Well done and congratulations", commented Thorsten Hohmann on Dragon Promotions first venture into football. The 3x World Champion billiards professional Hohmann was invited as a VIP to the event, and had a nice pre-game conversation with the Head coach of the Azkals, Michael Weiss. Weiss and Hohmann apparently learned they are both from neighboring small towns in Germany.

World class football player Rob Gier & World class billiards champ Thorsten Hohmann. ABS-CBN correspondent (& former Tennis Champion) Dyan Castillejo interviews Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions

ABS-CBN has set up its Sagip Kapamilya program to accept and distribute aid to the flood victims. They are accepting only donations in form of money now as food supplies and goods are abundant , thanks to the amazing response of the Philippines community. Donations can be sent to Sagip Kapamilya ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., Mother Ignacia cor. Eugenio Lopez St., Diliman, Quezon City. More info at www.abs-cbnnews.com/image/public-service/12/18/11/sagip-kapamilya-operation-sendong .You may also call Sagip Kapamilya hotlines: +63 (2) 411-4995 ; +63 (0) 2- 394-9272 ; +63 (0) 917-887-4411

WPBSA Statement - Mark Allen

Mark Allen has been fined £250 and warned as to his future behaviour by the Disciplinary Committee of the WPBSA. This was for swearing at a live press conference during the williamhill.com UK Championship in York in December 2011.

The Winner of Polish pool billiard ranking received the main prize – a car.

Konrad Piekarski , 18 years old player of Metal Fach LP Sokółka Club, received the main prize for the winner of Polish pool billiard ranking.

Together with his father – coach Leszek Piekarski drove out with new Fiat Punto from Maredi Car Showroom. Konrad Piekarski and Radosław Babica, each of them collected 322 pts, during 12 tournaments organized in 2011. The gold medal, which Piekarski won in straight pool during the last day of Polish Championship, had decided about that he got the first place. Tomasz Kapłan with 317 pts was situated on the 3 rd position. Till the very last moment it was impossible to indicate the player who could be definitely ranked on the first position. In 2009 Mateusz Śniegocki won Opel Corsa and in 2010 Radosław Babica won Chevrolet Spark.

more info: www.ebc-billiard.com

World's First 3D Snooker Live On Sky

Sky 3D viewers will see snooker in a whole new dimension during live coverage of the Partypoker.com Snooker Shoot-Out in Blackpool, which starts today.

Sky 3D will show the final day of the event, on Sunday at the Blackpool Tower Circus. Snooker will be the 12th sport to be shown by Sky in 3D, and viewers watching in 3D will be able to watch it like never before, and see the angles the players see thanks to the heightened sense of depth and perspective.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “This is a wonderful innovation from Sky and I can’t wait to see what 3D snooker looks like. It’s going to give the viewer an enhanced understanding of how good the top players are and how easy they make the game look.

“We introduced the Shoot-Out as a new tournament last year and we were ecstatic with how well it went. There were some incredibly dramatic moments and the format worked perfectly. If fans can be there in person then the atmosphere is extraordinary, but if they can’t then watching in 3D on Sky will be a great second best."

The one-frame knockout tournament which runs from 27 – 29 January at the Blackpool Tower Circus features 64 of the world’s top players including new sensation Judd Trump, legend Steve Davis, World Champion John Higgins and crowd favourite Jimmy White. Frames last a maximum of ten minutes and there’s a shot clock to ensure thrilling, fast moving action.

There are a few tickets still available. For details go to www.worldsnooker.com/tickets to book online or call 0871 620 7052 (calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras).

Playing to Build Lives at the 3rd Western Women’s Charity 9-Ball Challenge

The Annual Western Women’s Charity 9-Ball Challenge to benefit the Shade Tree is entering its 3rd year! A celebration of pool, women players and giving back to others, the event is hosted at Rum Runner on Tropicana Avenue in Las Vegas, also the home of the famous Doc Hill and Andy Mercer Memorial events.

The tournament is sponsored by Rum Runner, Davalyn Cues, the RackStarz, Graziers Food Marketplace, Southern Nevada 9-Ball Taverns Association Pool League, CueSports International, the USA Pool League, Las Vegas APA, Las Vegas TAP, Pool Sharks, Longhorn Casino, Mueller Recreational Products, SLMndInk.com, VegasBilliardsBuzz.com, The Break Magazine and AZBilliards.com.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: March 31 – April 1, 2012
Player Meeting / Auction: Friday, March 30th at 8 pm.
Host Room: Rum Runner
1801 East Tropicana Ave
Las Vegas, Nevada
(Open 24 hours daily)
Entry: $55 ($10 to Shade Tree and $5 green fee)
First Round Start: Saturday, March 31st at 12 Noon, tables opened at 10:30 am.
Payout: With a full 32 field: 1st $720, 2nd $525, 3rd $375, 4th $260, 5th/6th $150, 7th/8th $100
Eligibility: All Women Players
Format: Handicapped 9-Ball, BCAPL Rules, Double Elimination
Race Handicaps: Pro-Level race to 8; A level player race to 6;
B level player race to 5; C level player race to 4
(Player level’s will be verified. If unable to verify, player will race to 6)
Equipment: 7’ Diamond Smart Tables, Simonis 860, Super Aramith Pro balls.
Contact / Tournament Director: Holly Ryan (holly@playcsipool.com or call 602-312-8155)

HOW TO ENTER:

The event was sold out in advanced the past two years. It is advised interested players secure their entry well prior to the event. All entries must include the player’s full name, phone number, email address and name of any player sponsors.

Entries may be submitted two ways:
    In Person at Rum Runner (Entry form provided): Complete an entry form and submit the $55 entry directly to Rum Runner (1801 East Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV). Cash or Money order (made payable to Rum Runner) accepted. Cash only after April 19th.
    By Mail: All mailed entries must be paid by Money Order and must be received no later than March 19th. Make payable to: Rum Runner and mail to: Holly Ryan at 2041 Pabco Road, Henderson, Nevada 89011. Make sure to include the player name, phone number and email to be entered into the event.

IN CASE OF FULL FIELD / WAIT LIST: Should the 32 player field fill again in advanced this year - players who stop by Rum Runner to enter in person will be offered the option of being placed on the waitlist and players who mailed in their entries will be called with the option of being placed on the wait list or have their money order mailed back to them.

HOW THE MONEY FOR SHADE TREE IS RAISED and HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED:

There are several ways we are raising funds to benefit Shade Tree.

    BUY A PLAYER: 50% of the player auction proceeds will go to Shade Tree
    PURCHASE A RAFFLE TICKET IN PERSON: 100% of all raffle ticket sales purchased in person will go to Shade Tree. Dozens of generously donated items ranging in value from $25 to $1000+ will be raffled.
    PURCHASE RAFFLE TICKETS ONLINE: Want to support the Shade Tree and have a chance to win one of the wonderful raffle prizes but don’t live in Las Vegas or cannot attend the event? Not a problem! You can now purchase raffle tickets online. Go to www.vegasbilliardsbuzz.com where you can purchase raffle tickets in blocks of 10 for $20 via Pay Pal. You can purchase as many blocks of 10 as you wish and can give. Pay Pal charges the payee a nominal processing fee per transaction, therefore $19.12 per block of 10 tickets will go towards the Shade Tree fundraising effort.

Online ticket purchasers will be issued raffle tickets for the total number of tickets purchased and emailed the assigned ticket numbers. The corresponding physical ticket stub will be included in the raffle drawing on Sunday, April 1st. A record will be kept of all raffle winning numbers and the winner’s name and contact information. Winners who are not able to attend the drawing in person will be directly notified by the tournament organizer / director and a full list of all raffle winners and prizes won will be made public after April 1st.

    BUY THE RACKSTARZ CALENDAR: Shoot to Thrill, Play to Kill is the motto of the beautiful and accomplished NYC women players who are the RackStarz! If you haven’t seen this exquisitely photographed 18 month calendar (January 2012 – June 2013) you definitely need to! They have generously offered to donate $15 per calendar sold via their web store to the Western Women’s Charity 9-Ball Challenge Shade Tree fundraising effort. To purchase the calendar visit: http://therackstarz.com/store.htm IMPORTANT: for your purchase to count toward the Shade Tree fundraiser YOU MUST type the word SHADETREE in the MEMO section just before you complete your purchase. You may pay by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Pay Pal or Bill Me Later.

ABOUT SHADE TREE:

The Shade Tree started in 1990 in the basement of a small church and is now the largest shelter of its kind in Nevada. With 364 permanent beds, The Shade Tree provides over 100,000 nights of shelter each year. On average, 33% of our clients are children under the age of 18. Senior citizens represent the fastest growing segment of our population. They provide several programs and services for both short term (up to 3 months) and long term residents (up to 2 years).

Programs and services for Shade Tree residents include: Day, Emergency and Transitional programs, a Survivor Services Center, Job Development, Life Skills, Housing Assistance, a Children’s Activity Center, a dedicated health clinic (Stallman Touro Clinic at Shade Tree) and Noah’s Animal House, which is one of only a few animal facilities for the pets of homeless residents in the US. For more information about Shade Tree, its programs please visit www.theshadetree.org.

WANT TO CONTRIBUTE A RAFFLE ITEM OR DONATE DIRECTLY?

In addition to the fundraising efforts, donated goods will gladly be accepted at Rum Runner during the tournament March 31 – April 1. Clothes, blankets, canned goods, children’s books, toys, games, diapers, new un-opened toiletries, toothbrushes, un-redeemed and still valid gift certificates or gift cards and donated pet food are always needed and appreciated.

For further information, to contribute raffle items, or to donate to the 3rd Western Women’s Charity 9-Ball Challenge Shade Tree fundraiser contact Holly Ryan at (602) 312-8155 / holly@playcsipool.com

Destination Reno: WorldPPA Joins the 19th US Bar Table Championships in 2012

February may be the shortest month of the year, but also ushers in the largest open bar table event in the United States: the 19th US Bar Table Championships. February 12-19, 2012 players will arrive to the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, Reno, Nevada with expanded opportunities for play.

In addition to the six divisions of the US Bar Table Championships on 7’ Diamond Tables, the WorldPPA Reno Shootout will take place February 17-19 on Diamond 9’ Tables. Entries are being taken online via www.ctsondemand.com for both events. You can also enter via mail or fax. To download and print the entry forms for the 19th US Bar Table Championships visit www.playbca.com/Events/2012USBarTableChampionships.aspx. To download and print the WorldPPA Reno Shootout entry form visit www.playbca.com/Events/2012WorldPPARenoShootout.aspx. Be sure to get your entry fee in early (before February 8th) to avoid late fees.

Room rates for the 4 star Grand Sierra Resort & Casino are low at $39 / $49 for up to 4 guests per room and without a resort fee. Call 800-501-2651 and use group code: POOL12 to reserve your room.

The entry fee for the WorldPPA Reno Shootout is $110 (includes $25 registration and $10 green fees); $75 per entry goes toward prize fund. As of today, we have $1,000 (very likely could be higher depending on deposits made by tournament directors) from the extra dollar Reno fund. With 128 players, the total prize fund would be $10,600; everyone will win something; there will be no losers at the Reno WorldPPA Shootout.

World PPA Reno Shootout Estimated Payouts (based on full 128 entries):
1st $1500
2nd $1000
3rd $450
4th $390
5th-6th $250
7th-8th $200
9th-12 $150
13th-16th $130
17th-24th $110
25th-40th $90
41st-64th $55
65th-128th $25
======                        
Payout Total $10,600

The group of events, the 19th US Bar Table Championships and the WorldPPA Reno Shootout are being scheduled so players interested in competing in both will be able to.

CueSports International (CSI) is dedicated to creating more choices for all players. In the past seven years CSI has directly paid out approximately seven million dollars to players. CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League and the USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events such as the US Bar Table Championships, the Jay Swanson Memorial, the US Open One Pocket Championship and the US Open 10-Ball Championship. Visit www.playcsipool.com, www.playbca.com and www.playusapool.com for more information about CSI and its divisions.

CSI leads the billiard industry in the development of technology. For more information on the state-of-the-art software systems for league and tournament management visit www.leaguesys.net and www.ctsondemand.com.

Archer and Varner - on the road again!

For the entire month of April the Legends and Champions Pool Tour featuring Hall of Famers Johnny (The Scorpion) Archer and (The Kentucky Colonel) Nick Varner will be on the road again, visiting towns and cities both large and small around the Western Region of the country. Archer and Varner will be performing fun and exciting exhibitions and holding four hour instructional clinics for the pool enthusiasts.

"This is the longest tour we have ever done" Said Mark (T-Wheels) Cantrill of the Legends and Champions Pool Tour. "We have come a long way over the past few years, adding things to the show, taking things away to make the experience as entertaining as possible, the Players have really got a system down to make sure that the people who attend the clinics get as much out of them as possible. So right now I truely believe that we have the greatest pool and billiards show on the planet. Trick shots, stories, audience participation, challenge matches, raffles, and a chance for spectators to play along side a World Champion in a rack of scotch doubles featuring two of the greatest players in history. Who could ask for more?" Continued Cantrill.

"We were around the same area last year for a Western Tour, but that was just with T-Wheels and myself." Said Varner " We had a great response and just about every pool room asked us to promise that we would come back again next year and so here we go" continued Varner.

"I am looking forward to going back to some of the areas we have been to before while touring and seeing some new ones. Since Nick and Mark got back from the last trip in that area they have talked about nothing else but getting back on that same trip and how nice the people are and how the drive in just beautiful so I am really looking forward to this." Said Archer.

The clinics allow only 12 students and the group is divided into 2 groups. Each group will spend 2 hours with each of the Hall of famers for a total of 4 hours of instruction. The fee for the clinic is $200.00 per person. Below is the schedule for the Western tour, if you have any questions or would like to reserve a spot in one of the clinics please feel free to contact Mark Cantrill at cantrillmark@yahoo.com or by phone at 480-612-7732.

Wed April 4th = Salt Lake City, Ut - Clinic = 11am to 3pm/ Exhibition 7.30pm at Batters Up
Fri April 6th = Bozeman, Mt - Exhibition = 7.30pm at The Eagles Lodge (Bozeman)
Sat April 7th = Bozeman, Mt - Clinic = 11am to 3pm at Eagles Lodge (Bozeman)
Sun April 8th = Helena, Mt - Clinic = 11am to 3pm at Eagles Lodge (Helena)
Mon April 9th = Helena, Mt - Exhibition = 7.30pm at Eagles Lodge (Helena)
Tues April 10th = Spokane, Wa - Exhibition = 7.30pm at Black Dianond
Wed April 11th = Spokane, Wa - Clinic = 11am to 3pm at Black Diamond
Thurs April 12th = Tacoma, Wa - Clinic = 6pm to 10pm at Malarkey's
Fri April 13th = Tacoma, Wa - Exhibition = 7.30pm at Malarkey's
Sun April 15th = Portland, Or - Clinic = 11am to 3pm at Classic Billiards
Mon April 16th = Medford, Or - Exhibition = 7.30pm at Rack'em Billiards
Tues April 17th = Medford, Or - Clinic = 6pm to 10pm at Racke'em Billiards
Wed April 18th = Willow Creek, Ca - Exhibition = 7.30pm at P & J's Billiards
Thurs April 19th = Willow Creek, Ca - Clinic = 6pm to 10pm at P & J's Billiards
Fri April 20th = Redding, Ca - Exhibition = 7.30pm at Hot Shots Family Billiards
Sat April 21st = Redding, Ca - Clinic = 11am to 3pm at Hot Shots Family Billiards
Sun April 22nd = San Ramon, Ca - Clinic = 11am to 3pm at Crown Billiards
Mon April 23rd = San Ramon, Ca - Exhibition = 7.30pm at Crown Billiards
Tues April 24th = Reno, Nv - Exhibition = 7.30pm at Diamond Billiards
Wed April 25th = Reno, nv - Clinic = 6pm to 10pm at Diamond Billiards
Fri April 27th = Riverside, Ca - Exhibition = 7.30 pm at Cues Billiards

Hawk Flies To Shoot-Out Crown

Barry Hawkins won the biggest title of his 16-year career by beating Graeme Dott in the final of the Partypoker.com Snooker Shoot-Out.

The one-frame knockout event in Blackpool produced a series of exciting matches, and Dartford's 32-year-old Hawkins was the last man standing. He pocketed his biggest cheque since turning pro in 1996: £32,000 for winning six ten-minute matches.

In the final against former World Champion Dott, Hawkins got the first chance and made an excellent break of 46 before missing a red with the rest. Dott knocked in a long red and had a chance to counter, but made just 8 before jawing a red to a centre pocket. As the clock ran down, Dott had one more scoring chance, but failed to double a red to a centre pocket, and Hawkins was able to close out the frame by a 61-23 scoreline.

"It's a brilliant feeling, definitely the best moment of my career so far," said Hawkins, whose only previous professional title came at the Masters qualifying tournament in 2007. "I've played in big matches at the Crucible, but to win a tournament live on television is amazing. It's a shame there were no ranking points but I'm still delighted.

"The money is amazing, especially as I'm getting married in June (to Tara) in Dartford. This will pay for the whole thing and we'll be able to have a great day."

World No 23 Hawkins, who has appeared in the semi-finals of four ranking events, added: "I've shown spells of form but always struggled with consistency. I've been working with Terry Griffiths for the last few months on mental strength because in the past I have lacked self-belief. Terry is brilliant and has helped me a lot.

"I've always scored very heavily in practice so it's a case of taking that to the match table. I made a lot of 50 and 60 breaks in this event, kept my composure under pressure and didn't miss much. Hopefully this is the start of things to come."

The innovative tournament, which features a shot-clock of 20 seconds for the first five minutes and 15 seconds for the last five, drew packed houses to the Tower Circus to see 64 of the world's best players in action.

In the semi-finals, Hawkins beat Dave Harold 56-30, while Dott scored a 56-38 win over Tom Ford, who missed the black off the last red when poised to clear up.

Martin Gould made the highest break with a brilliant 135 total clearance.

Results (last 16 onwards)

Last 16
Dave Harold bt Ryan Day
Graeme Dott bt Rob Milkins
Barry Hawkins bt Stephen Maguire
Dominic Dale bt Stephen Lee
Martin Gould bt Jamie Jones
Tom Ford bt Gerard Greene
Barry Pinches bt Liang Wenbo
Mark Davis bt Mark Allen

Quarter-finals
Graeme Dott bt Dominic Dale
Barry Hawkins bt Mark Davis
Dave Harold bt Martin Gould
Tom Ford bt Barry Pinches

Semi-finals
Barry Hawkins bt Dave Harold
Graeme Dott bt Tom Ford

Final
Barry Hawkins bt Graeme Dott

'DJANGO' BUSTAMANTE WINS 2012 DERBY CITY CLASSIC FATBOY CHALLENGE; POCKETS $12,000
by Marlon Bernardino

Philippine billiard icon Francisco "Django" Bustamante is once again at the top of the world as he emerged as the winner of the 2012 Derby City Classic Fatboy 10-Ball Challenge held at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Elizabeth, Indiana, USA late Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Bustamante, one of the top player of Puyat Sports, defeated American Steve Moore with a lopsided, 15-5, victory.

Sportsman/Businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat hailed the victory of Bustamante.

“Once again our flag has been raised in this foreign land after knowing that our Filipino kababayan (Francisco) Bustamante successfully won the 2012 Derby City Classic Fat Boy 10-Ball Challenge in Indiana, USA,” he said.

Bustamante held an early 2-0 lead and only a scratch on the 10-ball in rack three kept him from a 3-0 lead. Moore came back to tie the score at 2-2 and was close at 3-4 down before Bustamante found the zone and rolled off nine straight games for an insurmountable 13-3 lead.

Moore took a break at 13-3 down when Bustamante broke dry, which seemed to take Bustamante out of the zone more than it helped Moore get into the zone. The players swapped racks until the score was 14-5 Bustamante, and Moore threw in the towel after a scratch on the break in the 20th rack.

Bustamante bested 2012 Derby City Classic Bank Division champion John Morra of Canada, 15-5, in the semi-final round to arrange a titular showdown with Moore who brought downed Alex Pagulayan of the Philippines, 15-12.

He went home with the top prize of US$ 12,000, Moore settled for a runner-up prize of US$ 7,000 while Pagulayan and Morra made good with US$ 3,500 each for reaching the final four.

Top Snooker Cuemen Set For Galway

Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Irishman Fergal O’Brien will be among the snooker kings heading to the Players Tour Championship Grand Finals in Galway, Ireland in March, with tickets now on sale.

The tournament at the Bailey Allen Hall from March 14-18 is the climax of this season's Players Tour Championship series. There have already been 12 tournaments around the UK and Europe, with the top 24 in the Order of Merit going through to Galway.

TICKETS ARE EXPECTED TO SELL FAST, SO BOOK NOW. Republic of Ireland customers should call 0818 719 300, otherwise call 0844 847 2455. Or book online at www.ticketmaster.ie

The draw for the first round of the Grand Finals is:
Dominic Dale v Xiao Guodong (winner to face new sensation and current UK Champion Judd Trump)
Current World Champion John Higgins v Jamie Jones (winner to face Andrew Higginson)
Ben Woollaston v China's top player Ding Junhui (winner to face World No 1 Mark Selby)
Martin Gould v Stephen Lee (winner to face Michael Holt)
Shoot-Out champion Barry Hawkins v Jack Lisowski (winner to face new Masters champion Neil Robertson)
Irish favourite Fergal O'Brien v Joe Perry (winner to face former World Champion Graeme Dott)
Mark Davis v Tom Ford (winner to face former UK Champion Stephen Maguire)
Ricky Walden v Matthew Stevens (winner to face three-time World Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan)

The match schedule can be found at www.worldsnooker.com

A spokesman for World Snooker said: "It's a tremendous line up of leading players, with a great mixture of legends of the sport and rising stars.

"We know there's a great appetite for snooker in Ireland and we hope that when fans see who is in the field for this tournament they will snap up the tickets.

"There will be a top prize of £70,000 from a total prize fund of £250,000 plus a lot of ranking points at stake in the Grand Finals, so this will be an event the top players really want to win.

“The event, which is co-promoted by T.H.E Agency Ireland, will be televised by channels around the world including Eurosport, Shanghai TV, Beijing TV, Guangzhou TV and Now TV, bringing Galway into the spotlight on a global scale.”

ORCOLLO SET TO DEFEND WORLD 8-BALL TITLE
by Marlon Bernardino

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – World No. 1 player Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo will begin his bid to retain his title when the 2012 World 8-Ball Championships gets underway on February 12 to 17 at the Fujairah Exhibition Center in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

"I'm hoping to defend my title… I need to play hard. Every player has a chance to be a champion," said the former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur whose local and international campaign backed up by Malungai Life Oil, ACCEL, Hermes Sports Bar, Mandarin Sky Sea Food Restaurant,Golden Leaf Restaurant, I-Bar, BRKHRD Corp., Bugsy Promotions and Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

Last year, Orcollo, Bugsy Promotions’ top player, defeated Niels "The Terminator" Feijen of the Netherlands, 10-3, in the finals to cement his status of one of the world's best pool players and run away with the $40,000 championship purse.

Orcollo’s stirring performance duplicated the World 8-Ball title conquests made by compatriots Efren "Bata" Reyes in 2004 and Ronato "Volcano" Alcano in 2007.

The only World 8-Ball crowns that the Filipino pool champions failed to win were those in 2005 (won by Taiwanese Wu Chia-ching), 2008 (German Ralf Souquet) and 2010 (Englishman Karl Boyes). The event was not held in 2006 and 2009.

"We have a stronger lineup and I'm confident that we can win the prestigious crown," said Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) co-founder Ceferino "Perry" Mariano, top honcho of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions.

Also campaigning in the 2012 World 8-Ball are Carlo "The Black Tiger" Biado and Roberto "Pinoy Superman" Gomez also from Bugsy Promotions and Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza of the Jonathan Sy's Negros Billiards Stable.

Meanwhile, Orcollo and boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr. are co-winners of the prestigious Athlete of the Year honor to be feted by the country’s oldest media organization, composed of editors and sportswriters of the different national broadsheets and tabloids when the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Annual Awards Night gets going on March 3 at the Manila Hotel along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

HAD YOUR FILL WITH HEARTS & FLOWERS?

Money can't buy you love, but then again after 6pm on Valentine's Day you won't even need any money to play on our tables!

Whether you've got a loved one or not, we're offering some table love at Rileys because we don't do violins and candles, just straight forward club style fun and games of the cue variety, but FREE of charge*.

So if you have got someone special in your life (apart from yourself of course) make sure you get all that fluffy nonsense sorted before 6pm, then get hold of your nearest and dearest, and by that we mean your mates, and get yourself down to Rileys sharpish.

But if anyone is looking for love, we've teamed up with DatingDirect.com to give our members the chance to win a free 3 month subscription to the online dating site. Just click here to be in with a chance of winning.

All our love, Rileys.

Higgins Seeks To End Trophy Drought

John Higgins goes into the defence of his 888真人Welsh Open title next week aiming to lift his first trophy of the season.

The Scot dominated snooker for much of last season, winning the World and UK titles as well as the Welsh crown. But so far this term, Higgins has not reproduced the same form, and has not won a tournament since last May.

The 36-year-old hopes that will change at the Newport Centre as he seeks to become the first player ever to win the Welsh Open three consecutive times. And Higgins is planning a change to his practice regime to give himself fresh impetus.

"I don’t practise as hard as I used to when I was young. But that could change soon because I’m having a snooker room built at my house," said Higgins, who beat Stephen Maguire in last year's final in Newport and Ali Carter in 2010.

"Over the Christmas period I was sitting at home and it would have been a good time to have two or three hours a day of practice without having to go to the club. I ended up going into the Masters with only a few hours practice under my belt, which cost me.

"I’d always felt in the past that I wanted to go to the club to practise, as if I was going to work. But the likes of Graeme Dott, Stephen Maguire and Stephen Hendry all have tables at home so I feel now as if I should have one as well. It would be great if we had an academy in Scotland where we could all play together, but there isn’t anything like that at the moment."

Higgins has lost none of his enthusiasm for the game and is looking forward to the 888真人Welsh Open, which runs from February 13 to 19.

"Snooker’s got a bit of a buzz at the moment," he added. "The tour is growing and there are some great players coming through. It’s an exciting time to be a player and hopefully to be a fan as well. Anyone who comes to Newport is going so see brilliant matches. And it’s fast moving action as well because the matches are best of seven frames."

Alongside Higgins, the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, Stephen Maguire, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby and home favourites Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens will be battling for the world ranking title.

TICKETS ARE STILL ON SALE and day tickets start at just £12 - incredible value! BOOK NOW by calling 01633 656757 or visiting www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

In-Form Stevens Looks Ahead To Newport

Snooker star Matthew Stevens hopes to build on his recent upturn in form at the 888真人Welsh Open, which starts on Monday in Newport.

Stevens reached the quarter-finals of last week's German Masters, beating Craig Steadman and Neil Robertson in Berlin before losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan.

And the World No 14 from Carmarthen is determined to go at least as far at the Newport Centre in the world ranking event, which runs from February 13-19.

"I was really pleased with the way I played in Germany, especially to beat Neil Robertson 5-1 as he has been one of the best players in the world over the last few months," said former World and UK Champion Stevens. "I think that shows I can still beat anyone when I'm playing well.

"I was 3-1 up on Ronnie in the quarters but missed a couple of balls and he came back to win 5-3. That was disappointing but Ronnie is so good and he reels off frames in no time. I'm really looking forward to the Welsh now."

The seeding cut-off point for the World Championship falls just after the event in Newport, and Stevens hopes he has already done enough to ensure his top 16 place, which would give him an automatic spot at the Crucible in April.

"It's not guaranteed yet but it's almost certain, and if I win my first match there will be no doubt, so it's in my own hands," added the 34-year-old. "I have had to qualify for the Crucible for the last few years and it can be horrible. It's such a tough match to play. Last year I beat Fergal O'Brien 10-9 on the final black and I wouldn't want to have to go through that again.

"It will be nice to know that I am guaranteed a place in Sheffield because it means I can look forward to the big one at the end of the season."

O'Sullivan went on to win the event in Germany and now also looks likely to keep his top 16 place, which Stevens believes is good for the sport. "The World Championship wouldn't be the same if Ronnie wasn't in it," added Stevens. "He was 4-0 down to Andrew Higginson in the first round last week but came back to win and showed how good he is."

Stevens plays his opening match in the 888真人Welsh Open next Wednesday afternoon (not before 2pm). TICKETS FOR THE TOURNAMENT ARE ON SALE NOW and day tickets start at just £12 - incredible value! BOOK NOW by calling 01633 656757 or visiting www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Also competing for the title will be the likes of O'Sullivan, Robertson, Judd Trump, John Higgins, Mark Selby and home favourites Mark Williams, Ryan Day and Dominic Dale.