First off – Congrats to my buddy Brandon for snappin’ off the NCS 8-ball tourney in Vegas this weekend! You totally deserve it! It’s very unfortunate that the World 8-ball Championship is now postponed, but let’s keep my fingers crossed.
[NCS Photo Gallery is here but not yet captioned]
Now, FINALLY! After months of traveling and working and traveling for work, I’m FINALLY here this weekend with no other priority aside from competing and playing my heart out this weekend. I even left poor Frank at home. 
(sorry, Frank)
I returned from Vegas late Monday night, taught a couple lessons on Tuesday, barely unpacked, did some laundry, repacked again and left for the airport 29 hours later. UGH…
I’m currently in Bellevue, Washington for the Regional Tour Championships held at the Parlor Billiards & Spirits this weekend. I LOVE The Parlor!!! It’s quite a swanky little joint with great equipment, AMAZING food, prepared by executive chef Alfredo Ganacias (How many pool halls do you know that have an executive chef?!??? He’s quite the pool player too!), clean restrooms, great music, and a super friendly staff. [More photos and info on the room after this weekend]
This is the biggest tournament of the year for me and I’m sort of a wild card here. Only the top six players from each of the regional semi-pro tours qualify to play and it’s only because many of the players declined traveling to Seattle did they start going down the list. I missed a couple stops last year, so I think I finished the tour around 20-something but I was more than happy to oblige when I got the call.
I would like to thank all my supporters for helping me get out here this weekend, particularly Rack ‘Em Billiards and InsidePool magazine.
I can NOT even begin to tell you how much I’m looking forward to just PLAYING this weekend. No interviews, no notes, no heavy writing, I’m here as a player, first and foremost. Ahhhh… The good ol’ days.
In fact, the main reason I came in a couple days early was to work out with the one and only Dan Louie and prepare for the event. Dan is also the house pro at the Parlor so it’s been great getting used to the tables here.
Seattle has really welcomed me with open arms. My hostess with the mostest, Suwanna, has been gracious enough to pick me up from the airport and shack me up for a couple days until Carter and Cristina get here. Dan has trained with me for past two days. I hung out in the VIP room with the Vixens and Parlor-owner Steve. Toshi gave us the tour of his AMAZING super store. Jeff came out to meet us for dinner last night and the weather has been amazingly sunny and surprisingly even nicer than the Colorado weather I left.
Players’ meeting tonight and the tourney starts in the morning.
Oh! There will also be matches streamed all weekend courtesy of AZBilliards.com.
Watch live video from azbtv on Justin.tv
I CAN’T WAIT TO PLAY TOMORROW!!!
Good luck Samm! I’m rooting for you even though you left me behind. I’ll try to figure out how to do this streaming thing at some point, so make sure they put you in one of the featured matches.
I just arrived at my hotel… I’m heading over the pool room to hit some balls and eat… I”m starving! Maybe I’ll see you there.