9 Ball Video: How to win a game of 9 Ball
Great video showing kick shots, bank shots and wonderful position play.
Beijing Open Has New Champions
Yu Ram Cha and Jun Lin Chang are the new 2011 Champions of the Beijing Open. Former winner of the Guiness Tour, Chang has proved himself by finishing a series of tough opponents and defeating them all. He defeated Carlo Dalmatin of Croatia who had bested Thomas Enger (nine to six) and Charlie Williams (nine to two) just to place in the draw sheet.
Chang’s next opponent was promising of tough competition. Feng Ban Zhao had just finished a great 11 to 4 match against Thorsten Hohmann, however Chang simple crushed Zhao 11 to 5, earning the privilege to do battle with Nick Van Den Berg.
Chang would have to pass Superman to get into the brass ring. Roberto Gomez had finished second four years ago at the World 9 Ball Championship and was determined not to be defeated again. Gomez’s first challenge Jian Bo Fu, winner of the 2008 Challenge of Champions and the 2010 World Cup of Pool. Gomez bested Fu 11-7 to advance against Antonio Lining. Lining coming off a win against World 9 Ball and Hall of Fame inductee Francisco Bustamante 11-7 but even he could not hold up under the fire of Gomez. Gomez then defeated Chia Ching Wu 11-9 and Che Wei Fu 11-9.
The Championship was a great battle. They didn’t get closer than the double hill and both men showed their best promise as they kept the crowd excited throughout the match. It was a last rack decider with Chang winning the championship 11-10 over Gomez.
9 Ball Player Spotlight: Earl Strickland
9 Ball Player: Earl Strickland
Earl Strickland’s 9 Ball Biography
Nickname: “The Pearl”
Earl Strickland was born June 8th 1961 in Roseboro, North Carolina. Earl Strickland is an American professional pool player and in 2006 was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America’s Hall of Fame. Widely considered one of the best 9 ball players of all time.
He has ammased numerous championship titles within a 25 year time span. Early is also considered to be a very controversial person, usually for his often outspoken views and volatile behavior at billiard tournaments. Strickland began playing pool at the early age of 9, and after extensive practice he entered his first professional tournament at the age of fifteen.
Earl Strickland’s Career
Earl rose to national recognition in 1983, with a victory in Lake Tahoe. This win was followed in 1984 at Ceasars Palace Pro Billiard Classic (Las Vegas).Strickland is recognized for his “Skill, Endurance, Patience, Temperament and Tenacity”. His dominance in the billiard world earned him “The National Billiard News Player of the Year in 1984″. Strickland won the 1988 World Open Championship, a momentous final match between Mike ‘Captain Hook’ Sigel and Strickland took place.
During this event a 45 second shot clock was used to monitor each play as the event was being recorded for broadcasts over several weeks. At the end, Sigel said “I could feel the pressure of being clocked.”. Early, on the other hand, had said “They could have made the shot clock only 30 seconds between shots, and it wouldn’t have mattered.”
In 2004, at the Derby City Classic, a week long multi tournament event held in Louisville, Kentucky, Earl was one of six professional competitors in a 9 ball ring game. Grady Mathews, when introducing Earl Strickland, says when Strickland is in the house, “A hush ensues, and there is an expectation.” because of his exceptional shot making abilities and the volatile behavior.
Earl is a multiple time winner of the acclaimed Player of the Year Awardy. His career accomplishments include five wins at the US Open 9 Ball Championships (The most wins by any 9 ball professional in the world). He also holds a title championship for the WPA World 9 Ball Championships. Earl is the only professional to win consecutive WPA World 9 Ball Champion titles. Strickland is also a regular American team member for the annual Mosconi Cup tournament.
In 1996, Earl Strickland ran eleven consecutive racks against Nick Mannino during the first PCA tournament. There was a challenge for anyone that could break and run 10 racks consecutivly would be awarded $1,000,000 USD. Jimmy Mataya, who was at the event, witnessed Earl’s last play, a considerbly tough 9 ball combination in which Strickland “fired the shot in with authority” to claim the challenge prize.
Earl Strickland’s Notable Achievements
2007 Pool & Billiard Magazine Fans’ Top 20 Favorite Players, #6
2006 induction into the Billiard Congress of America’s Hall of Fame
2003 Viking National Nine-ball Championship
2002 WPA World Nine-ball Championship (men’s division)
2000 US Open Nine-ball Championship
1999 Camel Shooters Nine-ball Open
1999 Camel Riviera Hotel Pro 8-Ball Open
1997 US Open Nine-ball Championship
1995 PBT Eastern States Memorial 9-Ball Championship
1994 PBT Glass City Open Nine-ball
1994 PBT World Nine-ball Championship
1993 US Open Nine-ball Championship
1993 PBT Florida Flare Up
1993 PBT Western Open
1992 MPBA Los Angeles Open
1992 MPBA Sands Regency XVI Nine-ball
1991 WPA World Nine-ball Championship (men’s)
1991 MPBA McDermott Masters Nine-ball
1990 WPA World Nine-ball Championship (men’s)
1990 MPBA Lexington All-Star Nine-ball
1990 MPBA Sands Regent XI Nine-ball
1990 WPA World Pool Champion
1988 PBA Tara Open
1988 PBA Brunswick World Open
1988 PBA Shoals Classic
1988 PBA Lexington All-Star Nine-ball
1988 PBA Augusta Classic
1988 PBA Greater Greenville Open
1987 US Open Nine-ball Championship
1987 PBA Bowling Green Open
1987 PBA Tara Open
1987 PBA Sands Regency Nine-ball
1987 PBA Charlotte Open
1987 PBA Fall Classic
1986 Bowling Green Open
1986 Citrus Open
1985 Ohio State Open
1985 Clyde Childress Open
1985 Charlotte Open
1985 Akron Open
1985 West Virginia Open
1984 US Open Nine-ball Championship
1984 Red’s Nine-ball Open
1984 McDermott Masters
1984 Caesar’s Palace Classic
1983 Caesar’s Tahoe Nine-ball
9 Ball Spotlight: Alex Pagulayan
9 Ball Player: Alex Pagulayan
Alex Pagulayan’s 9 Ball Biography
Nicknames: “The Lion” & “The Killer Pixie”
Alex Pagulayan (Alejandro Salvador Pagulayan) was born June 25th, 1978 in Cabagan, Isabela, Philippines. He was raised in Toronto, Canada. Pagulayan’s parents emigrated to Canada in 1991. His father managed a pool hall, allowing Pagulayan early exposure to the game of pool. Although he was attracted to other types of sports, he felt his stature may have not been right for them. In 2004, Pagulayan returned to his native Philippines, and is considered a dual citizen of Canada and the Philippines.
Alex Pagulayan’s Career
Pagulayan has expertise in the English billiards game know as snooker, his capabilities in snooker enabled his Philippines team to win the Snooker Gold Medal at the 2005 SEA Games(in Manila, Philippines) along side teammates Joven Alba and Leonardo Andam. After the team won 3-2 against Thailand at the Makati Coliseum, Pagulayan came out as a triple Gold Medalist.Professional 9 ball players have the tendency to pocket four or even five balls on the opening break. Pagulayan during the first rack of the 2004 BCA Open semi-finals, sank six balls on the break (Two-Thirds of the entire rack. Unfortunately Pagulayan’s break didn’t include the 9 ball, and despite the six ball advantage, he lost the game (to fellow Philippine Santos Sambajon).
During 2002, Pagulayan made it all the way to the finals of the US Open 9 Ball Championship, but was unfortunately defeated by professional 9 Ball player Ralf Souquet (11-3). In 2005, he got another shot for the US Open 9 Ball Championship title and won, eliminating Jose Parica in the finals (11-6).
In 2003, Pagulayan travelled though the United States with Canadian 9 ball players Ronnie Wiseman to compete in local pocket billiard tournaments. Together they scored a double victory at the Carolinas Open at Fast Eddie’s in Goldsboro, North Carolina, with Wiseman winning the one-pocket tournament and Pagulayan winning the 9 ball event. Later that year, Pagulayan reached the finals of the World 9 Ball Championship. He was defeated 10-17 by Thorsten Hohmann.
During 2004 in Taipei, Taiwan, Pagulayan bested Pei-wei Chang during the prestigious World Pool Championship, while representing Canada. Pagulayan won with a 17-13 victory over Pei-wei Chang in the finals. Pagulayan is currently Canada’s only world champion in billiards.
In 2006, Pagulayan finished first in the national championship of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of Philippines (BSCP), beating Gandy Valle during the finals and earning $20,639 USD.Not many players in the Philippines are successful or even play straight pool (14.1 Billiards). For many years, Efren Reyes had been the only Filipino player known to have made runs of 100 or more. However in 2006, at an
demonstration match in the Derby City Classic in Kentucky, Pagulayan was recorded making a high run of 130, the 2nd highest during the event. He is now the second Filipino player to have achieved over 100 ball run in straight pool competition.
Pagulayan won the World Summit of Pool 9 ball championship held at the Riviera Casino (Las Vegas, Navada) in 2007. American 9 ball professional Shane Van Boening eliminated Pagulayan early in the event (11-4), however Pagulayan returned from the losing bracket of the double elimination tournament chart, eliminating Fancisco Bustamanate and Warren Kiamco, leading to a Boeing v Pagulayan finale. The final match was a race to seven. Pagulayan started out with a very strong lead (4-1), but Van Boening managed to tie up the game (5-5). After forcing Van Boening into a three foul loss, Pagulayan advanced and captured the title ending the match seven to five (7-5).
During 2008, Pagulayan eliminated Mika Immonen during the World Pool Masters at the Rivera Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, Nevada). During the race to eight, Immonen maintained a commanding lead against Pagulayan with a score 6-3. However, due to an illegal break when he failed to send the required number of balls past the head string, Pagulayan seized the opportunity by winning the next three games in a row. Eventually beating Immonen and taking the title.
Alex Pagulayan at the age of 30, won $15,000 defeating Dennis Orcollo (11-6). After winning the fourth leg of the Guinness 9 Ball Tour at Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore. Pagulayan defeated 2005 world champion Wu Chia Ching (9-6).
Alex Pagulayan’s Notable Achievements
(2008) World Pool Masters Winner
(2007) World Summit of Pool Winner
(2006) Philippine National Champion
(2005) Philippines Snooker Team Gold Medal
(2005) US Open Nine-ball Championship Winner
(2005) Derby City Classic Ten-ball Ring Game Champion
(2005) SML Entertainment Nine-ball Champion
(2004) WPA World Nine-ball Champion
(2003) Joss Tour Grand Final Winner
(2003) Carolinas Open 9 Ball Division Winner
(2003) IBC Western Canadian Open Winner
(2002) World Pool Trickshot Champion
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The 2011 GB9 Midlands Classic
Phil Burford, Jayson Shaw and Damian Massey were the title winners at the first GB9 event of 2011 at the Barceló Hotel in Daventry.
Most players will agree that the 93 days since Chris Melling sank the final 9-ball in Blackpool back in November 2010 have flown by, and it was plain to see that the off-season brought with it a certain anticipation for the best American pool players in Great Britain to hit the ground running on the tour’s return to Northamptonshire. Countless new faces entered the cauldron of pool knowing they were taking their place in what many people, players and spectators alike, are quoting as the best national pool tour on the planet.
WIZARD PULLS TRIGGER ON SHOTGUN
Drama was to be expected from the word ‘go’ and early results certainly didn’t disappoint. Paul Williams and Jonathan Mathers both came through 9-8 against Adam Shaw and Paul Stoves respectively, with Craig Osborne scraping past newly promoted Ben Finch 9-7. Certainly the upset of the competition, perhaps indeed the weekend, was Shane Appleton; in his first match since winning last season’s Challenge division, he eliminated British number 1 Mark Gray 9-5. The hunter at that point became the hunted with David Nelson then blitzing Appleton 9-1. He too was then defeated by Phil Burford, with Burford joined in the quarter-finals by Daryl Peach, Craig Osborne and Jayson Shaw. The Shotgun from Ipswich appeared more comfortable and took a methodical approach in dispatching the 2007 World Champion from the tournament, with both only managing 3 break-and-runs between them in the match. ‘The Wizard’ was much more ruthless in his semi-final, hardly giving Burford a chance to breathe in taking a 6-0 lead, including 2 break and dishes of his own. Burford could only split the next six racks with Shaw, rallying with a dish of his own in rack 11 before Shaw saw out the match in the 12th rack to complete a resounding 9-3 victory in less than 42 minutes.
Both Osborne and Shaw appeared to bring the same attitudes with them to the final table; Osborne was calm, prepared and literally dancing his way to the table, whereas Shaw was somewhat more focused and primed for battle. It was the latter, and ruthless, attitude which prevailed, with the Glaswegian storming to a 9-2 victory to give him his first GB9 title since August 2008. “It feels great to win the first event of the season”, said Shaw. “I have been practicing every day for a month now as I have a new club with my own table in it. I want to thank the Q Club (in Glasgow) and all the GB9 staff for a great tour”.