In Memory of George Middleditch
George Orin Middleditch left this earth unexpectedly on September 14, 2011. Born in Birmingham, MI. to Roy and Henrietta Middleditch on May 15, 1936, George was 75. His passion for billiards took him down a life long professional path. He traveled the country with his pool stick in hand to engage competitors and entertain with exhibitions.
The jump shot in pool has become a popular weapon among today’s top players in recent years. Opportunities for jump shots also come up in three-cushion billiards, but not nearly as often. Billiard jump shots are more often used in exhibitions than in games-still, there are a few positions where they are practical, especially for the aggressive players.
The way I understand the rules now, jump shots are legal provided no ball touches the wooden part of the rail; a ball riding along the top of the cushion before falling back onto the table is okay.
BI ZHU QING IS THE SURPRISE WINNER OF THE 2011 WOMEN’S WORLD 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A 9-7 WIN OVER CHEN SIMING.
BY TED LERNER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MY147.COM
(Shenyang, China)– Bi Zhu Qing stands no more than 4’11″. But Sunday night in Shenyang, this tiny woman became a giant of women’s pool and a sporting hero in the most populace nation on earth. This after the relatively unknown from Beijing defeated world number 2 and heavy favorite Chen Siming 9-7 to capture the 2011 Women’s World 9-ball Championship.
Bi’s title win capped an incredible day for the 23 year old. Up until Sunday, she was mostly unknown beyond her professional peers in China, where the women’s game is wildly popular and its top players are legitimate stars.  She is ranked number 7 in China and 81st worldwide and had never won any pool tournaments of note.
left Owner/Operator Kevin Buckley; 3rd place – Tony Ignomirello;  1st place – Daniel Dagotdot; right  2nd place - Alan ChanDaniel
Dagotdot wins his second victory in the 2011-2012 Tri-State season at Gotham City Billiards’ A/D 9 Ball event. Daniel remained undefeated throuhout the day, although he won a couple of cliffhangers. His tournament trail included wins over Bogie Uzdejczyk 7 – 5; Harry Lau 7 – 4, new comer Bill Suden 7 – 6; Carl Yusuf Khan 7 – 2; Gary Murgia 7 – 6; and Alan Chan 8 – 5 for the Hot Seat. Alan who after winning five tough matches before suffering a loss for the Hot Seat, sat eagerly awaiting another shot at the Finals.
BY TED LERNER
Photos by Alison Chang for the WPA
(Shenyang, China)–Monica Webb and Brittany Bryant must be wondering just what they’ve gotten themselves into.
Sure, the two talented players are incredibly delighted to still be standing in the final 16 of the 2011 Women’s World 9-Ball Championship. But what lies before them at this juncture is nothing short of a rampaging juggernaut that threatens to sweep them aside like a tsunami carries away a grass hut.
ALLISON FISHER MAKES A HASTY EXIT FROM THE WOMEN’S WORLD 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP ON DAY ONE IN SHENYANG, CHINA
BY TED LERNER IN SHENYANG, CHINA
Photos by Alison Chang for the WPA
September 22nd, 2011 will be a day Allison Fisher would love to soon forget.
Fisher, one of the greatest women players of all time and a four time World 9-ball champion, crashed out of this year’s Women’s World 9-ball Championship just barely after the event had gotten underway in the northeastern city of Shenyang, China. The “œDuchess of Doom,” who finished second last year in this event, lost twice in one day and will now have to watch the remainder of pool’s premiere women’s tournament from the stands.
Picture by Bruce Clayton
Here are the results & payouts for the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour’s “Turning Stone Classic XVII 9-Ball Open”
Francisco Bustamante, Efren Reyes, Jasmin Ouschan, Thorsten Hohmann, Ralf Souquet, Darren Appleton, & Mika Immonen during yesterday’s press conference dinner at the Crowne Plaza in Ortigas
Manila, Philippines- Asia Brewery Incorporated and Motolite are putting their popular brands behind billiards supporting this week’s 11th Annual Predator International Championship. Colt 45 Strong Beer, Summit Natural Drinking Water, and Motolite will sponsor the long running championship that will be airing on ABS-CBN’s popular networks Balls and Studio 23. Sixty-four pool masters from around the world will be vying for the $10,000 1st place prize and title of Predator Champion. The event is starring celebrity professionals such as defending champion Efren “Bata” Reyes, Mika “Iceman” Immonen of Finland, Thorsten “Hitman” Hohmann of Germany, Charlie “Dragon” Williams of the USA, and Women’s World Champion Jasmin Ouschan of Austria.
Iwan Simonis Cloth Signs on as the new Title Sponsor
of the former Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour. “œThe basic operations, format and
added monies of the tour events will remain the same for the players.
However our room owners and sponsors will see added benefits as a result of
this change”, stated Mike Janis the tours founder. Janis added “œThe change
in the title sponsorship will now allow us to give our sponsors increased
advertising and sales opportunities along with allowing us to be more
flexible in the sponsors we accept as we can now offer sponsorship to
additional products and cue brands. The room owners will see reduced rates
in tournament fees along with additional benefits related to Simonis Cloth when hosting events as a result of Iwan Simonis Cloths sponsorship.”
Super Germany are World Cup champs!
Final Result
Germany 10 ““ 4 Thailand
GERMANY became the first ever European winners of the PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool as they made light work of shock finalists Thailand to record a superb 10-4 victory and claim the gold medals, trophy, $60,000 and more importantly the title at the SM Mall North in Manila.
Thorsten Hohmann and Ralf Souquet put in an inch perfect performance to run away with the match in sharp contrast to their semi-final game earlier in the day when they laboured to a pedestrian win over Korea.
They clearly gave themselves a good talking to between matches as they returned with the type of form that has made them two of the most feared players in the world. For Souquet it was a culmination of a magnificent seven days that saw him win the PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters last Monday and his total haul for the two events has been $50,000.
“œIt’s still hard to believe and it hasn’t sunk in yet. We really worked hard for the title and held ourselves together,” said a jubilant Souquet.
Quarter Final Results
Korea 9 ““ 5 Sweden
Germany 9 ““ 1 Philippines B 9
Thailand v Poland
Philippines A v Chinese Taipei
TEAM GERMANY, made up of Thorsten Hohmann and Ralf Souquet, did a job on the Philippines side of Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante to silence the big crowd at the SM Mall North and progress to Sunday afternoon’s semi-finals at the PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool.
9-1 was the score line and the Pinoys narrowly avoided the whitewash as they won the fifth game but the match was all Germany. Reyes looked completely out of sorts, making countless errors, while Bustamante who looked the hotter of the two in the earlier stages, soon joined his team mate.
