2006 Challenge the Stars Play the Pros scheduled for May 16 in Las Vegas Colorado Springs, Colorado: The Billiard Congress of America [BCA] and the Billiard Education Foundation [BEF] will host the annual Challenge the Stars Benefit in conjunction with the BCA National 8-ball Championships and the EnjoyPool.com 9-ball Championships, in Las Vegas, on Tuesday, May 16, 2006. The special benefit offers players a chance to rub shoulders with the top pros and challenge one of their favorites to a game of 9-ball and will take place in the Grande Ballroom of the Riviera, at 8:00 pm.With 128 of the world’s top pros on hand, enthusiastic players and fans will have plenty of opportunities to get up close and personal with their favorite billiard stars. This entertaining fundraiser offers players the option of selecting the $10 BCA Challenge (BEF picks the pro for one game of 9-ball), the $40 Pro Challenge (one game of 9-ball with one of three top choices, based on availability) or the $100 Ultimate Challenge (three games of 9-ball with one of three top choices).

Sunday, Bloody Sunday at the Stan James Canadian Nine ball final in ValleyfieldSunday at the Stan James Canadian Nine ball final in Valleyfield, Qubec began with twelve men still in the hunt. This stop, sponsored by Stan James Bookmakers, Simonis Billiard Cloth, Aramith Billiard Balls and Canada billiards, held the toughest field of the tour to date. The day began with an unusual father-son match-up. Mario Morra found himself opposite his son, John. As seems to so often be the case in this game, youth had its day and the son bested the father. At the same time Alex Pagulayan was ending the quest for Jason Holdaway, Alain Martel put the parking brake on Al Logan and Nicholas Guimond sent Marco Rodier home.The next round held out a bit of a surprise when young Morra beat former World Champion Alex Pagulayan, forcing Pagulayan to settle for a disappointing 7-8th finish. Nicholas Guimond joined Pagulayan in that tie after Alain Martel blasted through him with his uncanny speed and devastating break shot.On the winner’s side Erik Hjorliefson came back to win his match against Danny Hewitt and Tyler Edey also came from behind to defeat Brady Gollan. Hewitt would only last one more round as Alain Martel again showed his best. Gollan would continue on as he defeated John Morra and sent Morra into a tie for 5th with Hewitt.

Gabriels Open Goes to HatchCheck out the Super billiards Expo Image Gallery (http://insidepoolmag.bizatomic.net/gallery.php?category=Super+billiards+Expo+2006)

Gabriels Open at the Super billiards Expo Begins!Check out the Super billiards Expo Image Gallery (http://insidepoolmag.bizatomic.net/gallery.php?category=Super+billiards+Expo+2006)

Seyberts.com Splashes into UPA Mens pool Scene Seyberts .com, one of the most famous internet billiard supply stores existing, will be entering the world of mens pro pool and television via ESPN. Seyberts.com is one of the main sponsors of the US Pro Tour Championships and also the title sponsor of the Seyberts.com UPA Amateur Open. The events will take place simulataneously in Las Vegas at Binions Casino March 21-26,2006. We are very excited about being official sponsors of our first internationally televised event. This is a great opportunity for Seyberts.com to make a splash into the UPA and men’s professional pool. Predator is the Official Cue of the UPA, and we’re the #1 dealer of their cues so being part of the UPA US Pro Tour Championships is a perfect match for us. says Seyberts.com co-owner Sid Kreis.

Peach Rounds out the IPTDaryl Peach became the 150th member of the International pool Tour in Weert, The Netherlands, on Sunday, March 12. He had a long, uphill battle throughout the day, but in the end, he was one of the happiest men in the country.After losing a hill-hill nailbiter to David Alcaide of Spain, who was the winners’-side final winner, on Saturday night, Peach was faced with trudging through the one-loss side on Sunday. His first match was against Michael Schmidt, hailing from Germany. A long, laborious match ensued, with both players running multiple racks, but Peach triumphed 10-7.In the final match against Japan’s Goh Takami, Peach was faced with a 3-1 deficit but took advantage when Takami came up dry on his next break. Peach dished up and then ran five racks in a row, making the score 7-3. He was going for his sixth run-out, which would have been the first time for that to happen in the finals of an IPT qualifier, but he tried to play a tough shot on an early solid and rattled it. Takami couldn’t capitalize, and Peach made it 8-3 after a failed safety by his opponent. He missed his first shot of the next rack, though, and Takami cleared. When he missed a sharp cut down the rail in the following rack, Peach dished up to reach the hill. In the last rack, Peach missed his penultimate solid, but Takami only ran out to his last two before missing. Peach sank his final three balls, winning the match 10-4.

Alcaide Joins the IPTThe newest member on the International pool Tour just became David Alcaide of Spain. The 27-year-old defeated Japan’s Goh Takami 10-5 in the winners’-side final match, being held at House of billiards in Weert, The Netherlands.After squeaking by in a late-night hill-hill battle with Brit Daryl Peach, Alcaide arrived this morning looking fresh and relaxed. After his match, he said through an interpreter that he was exhausted last night, but his match started off well and as it was going on, he felt more and more confident.When the score seesawed to 3 apiece, Alcaide broke and ran out the next two for a two-game lead. They split the next two racks after both came up empty on their breaks, but then a mistake by Takami put Alcaide up 7-4. The Spanish champ then broke and ran two in a row for the hill but hooked himself on the 8 ball in the next game. He kicked at and hit the 8, but that rack went to Takami, making it 9-5. Takami came up empty on his following break, and Alcaide cleared the table for his 10-5 victory. He thanked his sponsor, Gorina Cloth, effusively and also his friends for their support.

Winners’-Bracket Final Set Between Takami and AlcaideDavid Alcaide was the first player to make it through the second winners’ bracket’s round of matches on Saturday at the IPT’s fifth and final qualification event. Held at House of billiards in Weert, The Netherlands, the event will wrap up Sunday and round out the final 150 tour players.Alcaide, who hails from Spain, broke and ran the first two racks, won the next, and then broke and ran out the next for a daunting 5-0 lead. Cohen was only able to put four games under his belt before Alcaide, a BCA and VNEA Masters champion, won the match 10-4.The UK’s Daryl Peach sent Hiroshi Takenaka to the one-loss side—after overcoming a 3-0 deficit, he won the match 10-6. Peach went on to face Alcaide in a match that saw the lead swing from 2-0 Peach to 6-3 Alcaide. At that point, Peach mounted a comeback, running out five racks in a row to reach the hill 9-6. He came up dry on his last break, and Alcaide cleared that rack and broke and ran out the next three to win the match 10-9.

Action Continues at House of BilliardsThe second round of the winners’-side matches is underway, with four players to return on Sunday undefeated. In the first round of the day, Stefan Cohen bested Marco Vogel in a lopsided match 10-3. Spain’s David Alcaide continues unscathed, bested Marcel Martens 10-6. Japan’s Hiroshi Takenaka and Goh Takami also remain unbeaten, winning over Gijs van Helmond 10-2 and Vilmos Foldes 10-6. An all-UK match-up occurred between Richard Broumpton and Daryl Peach, with Peach advancing after his 10-6 victory. America’s Steve Moore is also undefeated, winning over Imran Majid 10-6. Roman Hybler of Germany sent Santos Sambajon Jr. to the one-loss side 10-8, and Thomas Seiffert triumphed over Japan’s Tomoki Mekari 10-7.Since then, several world-class players have been sent home early, such as Majid, Broumpton, Thomas Engert, and Kevin Becker. Both brackets are currently playing, and the one-loss side will endure two more before being narrowed to only two players returning from the west side.

Sixteen Undefeated Returning Saturday MorningThe fifth and final IPT qualification event is well into its elimination rounds, with 16 unscathed players set to return on Saturday morning as well. House of billiards in Weert, The Netherlands, is the host location. Vilmos Foldes, a two-time runner-up at the IPT qualification events, is still undefeated, having bested Ralf Mund 10-4. Foldes will face Goh Takami, who sent Gary Abood to the one-loss side 10-4. Imran Majid came out the winner of a hill-hill match against Robb Saez and will meet Steve Moore, who dealt Andy Barnett a 10-5 loss. England’s Richard Broumpton dealt a stunning 10-3 loss to Christian Kolles, and fellow countryman Daryl Peach bested Gareth Esprit 10-8. Broumpton and Peach play each other Saturday morning. David Alcaide won his second match, defeating Christian Reimering 10-4 to play Marcel Martens on Saturday. Roman Hybler of Germany sent former World Masters champion Tony Drago of Malta 10-8, going on to meet Skins billiards champ Santos Sambajon Jr., who won his match against England’s Chris Melling 10-6. Thomas Seiffert sent Thomas Engert to the one-loss side 10-3.

Fifth and Last IPT Qualification Event BeginsThe last International pool Tour qualification tournament kicked off this morning at House of billiards in Weert, The Netherlands. Room owner Maurice Houben reported being pleased to host the IPT’s event, having had many large European events here in the past.There are only four players from the U.S.: Louis Ulrich, Frankie Hernandez, Steve Moore, Gary Abood, and Robb Saez. The largest player factions come from Germany and England. It is rumored that the Filipino players had difficulties receiving visas, so Santos Sambajon Jr. is the only representative.Like at the previous qualifiers, the IPT is again offering $500 to players who sink the 8 ball on the break, and $5,000 for players who run six racks consecutively in competition. Mike “The Mouth” Sigel is not present in Holland for challenge matches, but there are whispers of some tour members coming in Saturday instead.

Ga-Young Kim Snags WPA Women’s World ChampionshipNine ball crowned a new heroine tonight in Taipei, Taiwan. Ga-Young Kim finished a tough day and even tougher week with three consecutive victories, finally besting another former champion, Shin-Mei Liu, to take the highest honor in the game.She had to get past Jeannie Seaver in the quarter-finals, then Akimi Kajitani before stepping up for the final time against Liu. It was a long day of battle and it began with the quarter-finals rounds.Ga-Young Kim of Korea came into her match against Jeannie Seaver of the USA as the favorite. She had already won the event in 2004 and that experience, along with her skills, should have carried the day. But early in the match the mistakes came to her rapidly. In the very first rack she missed an eight ball she was expectd to make and Seaver finished the rack to take game one. Now owning the break, Seaver broke and ran the next rack to go ahead by two. In rack three Kim came to the table only to foul a ball while removing the rest and again Seaver cleaned up behind her to go up 3-0. Finally, in rack four, Seaver made an error of her own and scratched on the break. Kim returned to form and ran the rack to take her first point.The next rack was the first to give Kim a good roll. She made a ball on the break, sank the one ball and then played a three-nine combination to draw within one. But the errors returned in the next rack when Kim just flat missed a half-table shot on the one with an easy layout behind it that Seaver went through with a good pace. The score was 4-2.

Viking Cues Photo Caption Contest Winner for FebruaryViking Cues Photo Caption Contest (/content/view/41) for the month of December. The winning caption was, Earl Strickland, forever the innovator, takes Artistic pool to a new level in this Dancing with the Stars episode. James has won a Viking pool Cue (http://www.vikingcue.com/) that has a retail value of $300-400 and a one year subscription to InsidePOOL Magazine. InsidePOOL Magazine and InsidePOOLMAG.com host the Viking Cues Photo Caption Contest (/content/view/41) every month. The winners are announced on InsidePOOLMAG.com and in InsidePOOL Magazine. The photo for this month features Vincent Facquet having a little fun with a rack. Visitors can submit entries via email by going to the Photo Caption contest page. You can enter every day, one time per day.Submit your entry to the Viking Photo Caption Contest. (/content/view/41)Visit InsidePOOL Magazine for the Viking pool Cues Photo Caption Contest. (/content/view/41)

Hopes Rise and Fall After First Day in Women’s World Championship-Staff, Mr. Tu SportsThe first day of play is now complete at the WPA Women’s World Nine ball Championships in Taipei, Taiwan. Representatives from the events main sponsor, Amway, watched on as some players had days of great promise while others will come into play tomorrow bearing a sense of desperation. We are in the round-robin stages and only three out of the six players in each group will survive the stage. By Friday morning twenty-four of the forty-eight players from throughout the world will have had their tournament hopes quashed while an equal number will continue on to fight through the championship rounds.Highlights of the day included the opportunity to watch two former World Junior Champions in action. Meng Meng Zhou of China is making her presence known here, first with an impressive win over American powerhouse Monica Webb 5-4 followed by a double-hill loss to Charlotte Sorenson from Denmark, the number three ranked player in the EPBF.