Anyway, here are a few highlights from this year’s BCA Expo…

First, I don’t even need to mention how HOT it was in Vegas during that time.

only 100 degrees (AT NIGHT)

So, here were a few unique things that caught my eye:

The New Aramith Single Ball Cleaner

What the??? I’ll be ready in a few hours. I need to clean the balls. What?!??

Aramith new cue ball cleaner

Delta-13 Case

Our friends at Delta-13 just launched their new stackable case! It holds your balls, Delta-13 rack, and two cubes of chalk. Just grab your cues and you’re ready to go!

New Delta-13 tray & cover

Cue-Tools.com Bat Shaper

I love this thing! The original prototype from Valley Forge was a bit heavy but they have since made some revisions and I think it’s a pretty clever idea.

New Bat Shaper

New Bat Shaper

The Perfect Shot Training Aid

I will be introducing mine to my free pool clinic tonight. I really like how simple the concept is. It’s an inexpensive training aid for beginner players.

Perfect Shot, new training aid

Happy Birthday, SVB!

The show ended with a strong finish. We all went to the Rio buffet for the SVB’s b-day. YAY!

Photo courtesy of Justin Collett, TheActionReport.com

I leave you with a few fun videos and more pics. Enjoy!

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Gabe Owen (2nd), Ruben Silva (3rd), Tommy Tokoph (4th), & Tony Piazza (1st)

On August 21-22, Table Steaks South (soon to be known as Billiards Ink) in Englewood, Colorado hosted a $1,000 added bar table 8-ball tournament, the second in a series of big money added events this summer. The tournament was held in conjunction with a Team CSI exhibition featuring Earl Strickland and John Schmidt, led by team manager Mark Cantrill.

This weekend’s festivities drew a field of 57 top players from across the state, including cameo appearances from 2004 U.S. Open Champion, Gabe Owen and Albuquerque’s favorite, Tommy Tokoph. Owen went undefeated in the finals to await his opponent, while Tokoph worked his way through the left side of the field after his third round loss to Colorado Springs’ Ruben Silva. Tokoph eliminated a handful of tough players before meeting up with 8-ball expert, Tony Piazza. Tokoph would have to settle for fourth while Piazza went on to face Silva, who was just sent West by Owen.

It was an ACUI face off. Silva, 2004 ACUI champ, and Piazza, two-time ACUI champ, put on an 8-ball clinic for the room full of spectators. The gentlemen exchanged racks until the score was tied 3-3. In the final game, piazza broke the balls wide open and weaved through a sophisticated run out to face Owen in the finals. “I got fourth last time and third this time so I should get at least second next time,” jokingly said Silva.

Tournament Champion - Tony Piazza

With two savvy bar table 8-ball players in the finals, the crowd knew they were in for a treat. Very few errors were made in the first set. It was run out after run out. When, in the final rack at 4-4, Owen made a critical error. He scratched on the break allowing Piazza to run that rack and take the first set. The theme would continue into the second set except this time, Owen seemed to lose some focus. Now, only a race to 4, every little mistake would count. While up 3-2, Piazza finally gave up on his second ball break and blasted the rack wide open to run out.

Team CSI, the Earl Strickland and John Schmidt Show

At 7 o’clock on Saturday, tournament players gladly took a break for a unique talent show. With Owen in the building, this visit meant three former U.S. Open Champions under one roof, a rare treat for Denver. The exhibition kicked off with the Strickland Comedy Hour which kept the full attention of the packed house with each trick  and stroke shot, sprinkled with classic Strickland-isms like, “I ain’t afraid to die broke,” “That’s what makes the great players great,” or “This is a players’ table,” if he would miss.

Strickland was in true form. He referenced his temper at his own expense and shared numerous crowd-pleasing road stories, including the tale of the $15,000 in fines he accrued one season when he refused to stop telling his opponent, “You’re cheating me!” when they pulled out their jump cue. Strickland closed the show with a full cue table-length jump-draw shot, six consecutive high speed wing shots and some classic trick shots.

Fans were then treated to a race-to-seven match between Schmidt and “ATM” Andy Pettinger. Pettinger got two games on the wire but it wasn’t nearly enough to hang with Schmidt, who wowed fans with his impressive jump skills, smooth stroke, and cue ball control. In the end, a couple lucky winners received an opportunity to play scotch doubles with Strickland and Schmidt before they left.

“It was a real pleasure having John, Earl, and Mark come out for us. They did a great job and everybody had a good time. We were really pleased with the turn out in spectators and tournament players. The tournament went smoothly and we look forward to having them return when they can,” said Billiards Ink co-owner, Antoinette Wharton.

Earl Strickland, Bobby Brown, Antoinette Wharton, Gabe Owen, & John Schmidt

Upcoming Events

Midwest 9-Ball Tour
$3,000 added
September 25-26
$50 entry
Open Division & Ladies Division
For more info, call 303.789.0651 or visit www.mw9balltour.com

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Game 1 – He missed the 8 ball and left me the 8 and 9.

Game 2 – He missed the 7 ball (I think) and left me an easy out.

Game 3 – He broke and scratched and I ran out (pretty textbook, which I was so happy about) to go up 3-0.

Unfortunately, that would be the last game I would win. In Game 4, I made a really bad, aggressive decide to play a two-way bank on the 6 in the side that totally sold out that rack. I was not committed at all. Safety? Bank. Safety? Bank. And of course, got neither.

In Game 5, I blasted them wide open, made three balls and had a text book runout. While going two rails on the 1 ball to get on the 2, I caught a slow rail which left me a bank. I made the bank but then I was forced to play a safety. I ended up leaving Gabe a bank and he of course he ran out from there.

The rest was pretty much history but I felt proud to have played so well in front of my fans and supporters. Gabe is a sweetheart and I’m glad he’s gonna be in town for a while. I hope he finds a reason to move here. That would be cool.

Anyway, John Schmidt and Earl Strickland will also be in town this weekend for some exhibitions so that means we’ll have THREE U.S. Open Champs under one roof! Woohoo!!!

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Well, I can’t believe the domain was available but it was.

I created this site as an online supplement to the Cue Times Tournament Trail.

It’s one, central place where Colorado pool players can go to at-a-glance see where all the tournaments and events are for the entire month (and more).

CHECK IT OUT & help spread the word!

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Pictured here is my new (since May) Jim Murnak Quality Custom Cue Case.

Jim Murnak Custom Cue Case

Since the first time I ever laid eyes on one of his soft cases, I have wanted one! And now, I’m lucky enough to own a custom one of my very own. I LOVE this thing!!!

As a special treat for my readers, Jim is offering 5% off the purchase of any new case with the discount code “S135“

Check out his cases and order yours today! They are truly quality cue cases!!!

Click on the thumbnails below for more details.

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