Sayginer and Cha Shoot Down Massey and Sakai

Sayginer and Cha Shoot Down Massey and Sakai

The KIA Motors Showdown, presented by Dragon Promotions, took place in Seoul, Korea to once and for all settle who ruled trickshots and all around play. Undisputed artistic carom champion Semih Sayginer would take on the winningest pool trickshot champion in history, Mike Massey. Korea’s #1 Woman’s Player Yu Ram Cha would take on Japanese starlet and Women’s Pro Tour #19 Miyuki Sakai.
First Cha would take on Sakai in a race to 10 points in three cushion billiards. Sakai at one point made a 4 point run and lead 6-2. Later she got to the hill 9-5 but Yu Ram made a great comeback to tie at 9-9. Both players got 2 chances each and Sakai missed the winning point by a couple millimeters. Cha made the final point on her third attempt. This win avenged Cha from her 7-6 loss in April to Sakai at the Queen of Carom event.

Mike Massey challenged Semih Sayginer to a game of 9-Ball. Massey was in complete control and clearly on his game running out time and again to lead 4-1. Then a 9-Ball skidded in his match winning shot. Sayginer won the game, and then broke the 9-Ball next. Then broke and a missed shot by Massey gave Semih a run out to make it 4-4. Massey broke the last game in the alternate format and missed a combination on the 9-Ball. Semih then seemingly missed the 2-Ball badly, but the audience was fooled as he was really playing a 3 rail bank shot and made the 9-Ball for the win!

Cha then defeated Sakai in the 8-Ball and defeated her again in the 9-Ball allowing Sakai only 1 game won in the two matches while Sayginer crushed Massey 20-9 in the 3Cushion match. In a superb show of sportsmanship, Massey asked a few times for Semih to coach him on the shots. And Sayginer obliged! Massey then proceeded to run 5 points in a row with Semih’s help, to the laughter of the audience and of course Massey and Semih.
The final of the event had Sayginer and Massey perform for a panel of judges in a 15 minute each performance. Semih performed on the carom table while Massey performed on the pool table. Both players pulled out all the stops and received perfect scores each. Sayginer and Massey gave encouraging support to each other during the other’s performance.

Semih is all class. Charismatic, hilarious, understanding, and super talented. Mike, well…he’s world class on and off the table. The billiard world is really lucky to have these two giants in our sport. said Charlie Williams, architect of the event.

Rocket Rodney Morris Named UPA Representative

Rocket Rodney Morris Named UPA Representative

Phoenix, Arizona
The United States Professional Poolplayers Association (UPA) recently made some administrative transitions to, in effect, renew the association and its presence in the pool community. One of those positive changes was to name Rocket Rodney Morris (arguably one of the most recognized male pool players internationally) as the individual to take over the role of UPA’s Lead Player Representative.
Mr. Morris replaces former representative Frank Alvarez, who is now president of the association. Rodney is quoted as saying, I believe in the UPA; I believe in its leadership and goals. At this stage in my career I want to do my part in giving back to the industry by representing player interests.
The UPA player representative serves as not only a representative to the association’s touring professionals but also for the organization on behalf of the players. Representatives also include world-class players Tony Robles and Tony Crosby.
If you would like to learn more about the association, their website is located at www.upatour.com (http://www.upatour.com/). To contact us directly with questions, please call 480-353-6747, or e-mail info@upatour.com (mailto:info@upatour.com).

Kressel Crowned King in Virginia

Kressel Crowned King in Virginia

2007 Virginia State 9-Ball Championships / Richmond, VA
Rarely do four-year-old tournaments have much tradition, but the Virginia State 9-Ball Championships, presented by 5 Hour Energy Drink, already has more than its share. From the handmade trophies of local walnut off the family property of tournament director Joshua Dickerson to the list of prior champions, including legend Keith McCready, traditions abound.
Held July 28-29 at The Playing Field in Richmond, VA, this year’s tilt began with 64 players from across the state, all fighting for the chance to get a paid spot in this year’s U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships. Last year’s champion Chris Loar and runner-up Eric Moore were prepared to defend their spots against a field that included regulars from the Planet Pool 9-Ball Tour, Larry Kressel, Brandon Shuff, Chris Bruner, Cary Dunn, Alan Duty, and Joe Russo.
The hot seat match between Kressel and Shuff was a seesaw affair. Kressel drew first blood and Shuff tied it up. A seesaw battle, filled with superb defensive play, saw the score reach double-hill. Shuff broke and made two balls but missed a tough shot on the 2 ball, and Kressel ran out for the hot seat.
Meanwhile, Moore and Newton battled to get to the final match of the one-loss bracket. This was another back-and-forth match that was neck and neck until Newton broke dry at 5-all. Moore took advantage of Newton’s miscues in the next two racks, and then he broke and ran the next two racks to win the match.
In the semifinal match between Moore and Shuff, a smooth run-out won Shuff the first rack. Yet another close match was enjoyed by the spectators, and though the players uncharacteristically missed a few shots, pretty soon the score reached 7-all. Shuff broke and ran out to reach the hill, and though Moore kicked and hit the 1 ball in the following rack, he left Shuff an out, which he took.
The final was a rematch of the hot seat match. The first rack was a long chess match as the players, both appearing nervous and tentative, had trouble getting started. But once they did, it was Kressel who held the 5-1 lead. However, Shuff didn’t get to be one of the top players in the mid-Atlantic area by lying down. He converted a table-length jump shot on the 8 ball to win the next rack and kick off a four-rack run. With the score knotted at 7, Kressel took the next two racks, and Shuff only collected one more rack before Kressel crossed the finish line with a break and run.
Kressel was thrilled to have gone through the field undefeated, and in a field as deep as this tournament has, he has a right to be proud of the accomplishment. With his first big regional event victory, he is poised to take the next step and represent Virginia at the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships in October.
Visit the VA State 9-Ball image gallery (/gallery2/v/Pool+Tournaments/va_state_9-ball/)

Results:

1st
Larry Kressel

2nd
Brandon Shuff

3rd
Eric Moore

4th
John Newton

5-6th
Alan Duty

Chris Loar

7-8th
Cary Dunn

John Dagenhardt

9-12th
Joe Russo

Bob Tubbs

Curtis Coleman

Larry Averman

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