Friday 22 July 2016

Hard Times: John Morra is the 7th Annual 10 Ball Champion

Winner John Morra, Photo courtesy of  Vi Quynh
          
By: Erik Hjorleifson

This past weekend at Hard Times Bellflower one of the most iconic poolrooms in North America played host to the 7th annual Hard Times 10 ball shootout. An impressive field of 41 players turned out each paying a $125 entry fee with a generous $5000 added. World standardized ten ball rules were in effect and the races were to 9 on the winners side and 8 on the losers side. Notables in the field included Alex Pagulayan, Francisco Bustamante, John Morra, Rodney Morris , Oscar Dominguez along with many other local and regional champions.

One of the interesting things about all events played at Hard Times is that the table conditions are tougher than what you would see at an average professional tournament. Normally you would see pro's play on 4 and a half inch Diamond tables, at Hard times which has locations in Sacramento and Los Angeles play is on gold crowns with 4 inch pockets. This difference in pocket size makes for a more enjoyable tournament when pro players are competing. Run outs are not automatic and some of the safety play that ensues is quite interesting. It also makes it tougher to make a ball on the break, from the matches that I was able to watch I saw both Alex Pagulayan and Francisco Bustamante breaking from the side rail because they were having a hard time making a ball with the conventional head on break.

On day one John Morra drew hard times regular Rodney Morris and John served notice that he would be a force to be reckoned with in this tournament advancing with a 9 2 win. Day one also saw Alex Pagulayan defeating Ernesto Dominguez and Franciso Bustamante defeating Oscar Dominguez, veteran champion Santos Sambajon also made his way through to the final four on the winners side.

Sunday proved to very exciting, Morra and Pagulayan both won their first matches and faced off in the winners side final. After trailing 7-5 in the race to 9 format Morra dug deep and came back to win the match 9-7, taking the hot seat. After losing to Morra in the final four on the winners side Bustamante battled back to face Pagulayan in the third place match. This would be a great match coming right down to the wire with Bustamante pulling off the thrilling hill hill win. 

The finals would not disappoint as well, after staying close the whole match Morra pulled away to make the score 10-8 in the one set extended race finals to 11. Bustamante got a couple small rolls in the next two games and leveled the score at 10 10. Believe it or not the hill game probably took about 20 minutes after Butamante got out of line after caroming the 8 ball. About a 6 exchange safety battle ensued and it is a testament to both players world class level the creativity and skill that was seen until finally Morra gained the advantage potting a tough long 5 ball and running out for the win.

Very well deserved to all of the final 3 players as you could see that on this weekend they were truly class of the field and congrats to John Morra as he has added a very tough win leading up to the world championships in Qatar.

Here is the video of the final few racks. 



1st John Morra $3000

2nd Francisco Bustamante $1500

3rd Alex Pagulayan $1100

4th Edgie Geronimo $800

5th Oscar Dominguez $600
       Santos Sambajon

Thursday 14 July 2016

RASSON Announced as new Matchroom Pool Table Supplier



Press Release: 

MATCHROOM SPORT is delighted to announce that RASSON BILLIARDS will be the Official Table Supplier at all Matchroom pool events over the next three years.

The company, based in Jiujiang City in south western China, have made large in roads into the billiard world since setting up 26 years ago. Originally, they were a slate producing country, something that they still specialize in.

Rasson will be bringing their top-of-the-range Victory table to the Mosconi Cup, World Cup of Pool and World Pool Masters.

With the Mosconi Cup set for Alexandra Palace, London this December and details of the World Cup of Pool and World Pool Masters 23rd and 11th editions to be announced in due course, Rasson’s tables will be seen on pool’s global stage over the next three years.

Rasson general manager, Junny Song said, “We’re thrilled to work with Matchroom. Matchroom Sport is a world leader in pool productions and does an excellent job on holding all three pool events.

We also feel much honored for so many great players from all over the world would play on Rasson table. All Rasson commercial tables are equipped with our own designed and patented levelling system and pockets that are the easiest to assemble in the market.

“As the biggest pool table manufacturer and exporter in the world, we believe this would be win-win cooperation for both Matchroom and Rasson. We wish every player wouldenjoy the play on our table!”

Commented Matchroom Sport Chairman, Barry Hearn, “We are delighted to have Rasson on board as our table supplier and look forward to showcasing their magnificent Victory table in the finest pool events in the world.

“The Mosconi Cup, World Pool Masters and World Cup of Pool will give Rasson unprecedented exposure to a TV audience across the world and we’re very excited to be working with them over the coming years.”


Luke Riches, Matchroom Sport: luke.riches@matchroom.com 

Notes: MATCHROOM SPORT is one of the world’s leading producers of televised sport and is responsible for over 1,000 hours of original programming across a range of sports. Based in the UK and chaired by charismatic founder Barry Hearn, they operate three pool events; the Mosconi Cup, the World Cup of Pool and the World Pool Masters. In addition, the company produce a multitude of events in darts, snooker, tenpin, golf, fishing, ping pong, poker and boxing.

NotesRASSON BILLIARDS are the first and only producer of both billiard table and slate in global.With the establishment in 1990, RASSON provided billiard slate OEM for billiard companies all over the world and now take near 60% of billiard slate market in North America. Rasson then expanded business into billiard table manufacturing and provided OEM&ODM for numerous top billiard brands in North America. Nowadays Rasson have been the biggest slate pool table manufacturer and exporter in the world.

Wednesday 6 July 2016

2016 West Coast Challenge.

2016 WCC




The BIGGEST event in CALIFORNIA!
2016 WCS
With the re-opening of California Billiards in Fremont, CA meant the return of the full WEST COAST SWING! With a successful 1st event, 4th Annual Cole Dickson Memorial Tournament, the gust of momentum took the action down to Fremont.

Not only is there a $10,000 ADDED 10-Ball Tournament (Moroni Points Awarded), but also a $5,000 ADDED 1-Pocket tournament. The 1-Pocket Tournament runs from July 6th - 8th, while the 10-Ball tournament begins the 8th and goes through the 10th.

Players expected to play in the tournament include Alex Pagulayan, Dennis Orcullo, Jason Shaw, Brandon Shuff, Edgie Geronimo, Tony Chohan and many more!

Watch as all the ACTION happens on www.POVPOOL.com or For more information go to www.povpool.com/westcoastswing/
Live Stream to begin 11:30am/pst.

And if you're around, come on down to California Billiards!!!

www.POVPOOL.com