RENO GETS BIGGER
The Billiard Congress of America and the USPPA have finalized plans
for the USPPA to host the 2008 World Pool-Billiard Association Junior
World 9-Ball Championships and 2008 WPA World 9-Ball Championship for
Wheelchair Players in Reno, November 30 thru December 3. These events
will take place at the Sands Regency Hotel in conjunction with the USPPA
Pro Am and Reno Open, scheduled December 4-13, 2008. In addition, the
USPPA will present a qualifier for the Junior World Championships at the
California Billiard Club in Mountain View, California, on Friday,
November 28. More info:
robin@bca-pool.com
or phone 404.760.4248
BCA to hold World Ten Ball Qualifiers
July 29, 2008 – The Billiard Congress of America (BCA) today
announced two qualifier events for the inaugural World-Pool Billiard
Association (WPA) 10-Ball World Championships in Manila, Philippines,
September 29–October 5, 2008.
The first qualifier event will be held August 23-24, 2008, at Magoo’s in
Tulsa, Oklahoma. The entry fee for the event is $60. The prize fund will
include an additional $2,000 to the player qualified through this event
to be used for travel expenses to the World Championships. For more
questions about this event, contact Jim McDermott at 918.663.3364.
The second qualifier event will be held September 6-7, 2008, at the
California Billiard Club in Mountain View, California. The entry fee for
the event is $50 and the winner will receive 20 percent of cash entries.
In addition, the player qualified through this event will also receive
$2,000 to be used for travel expenses to the World Championships. For
more questions about this event, contact Tony Annigoni at 831.277.0216.
Backlog
Due to vacations and work related travel, we find ourselves with a
considerable backlog.
We expect to be caught up by the end of the coming weekend, and
apologize for the delays.
Reno Events 2008!
Click here for information on the ProAm, the Open, and more!
California Billiard Club’s
Summer Shootout
By Gene Miller77 players @ $60 = $4,620
$1,000 added by California Billiard Club
Total prize fund: $5,620
All matches, race to eight, double
elimination, USPPA handicap with 5-game maximum spot.
This was my first experience as
tournament director in
Mountain View,
and it was a lot of fun. These events are actually pool player reunions, and it
was indeed that for me. I saw many old friends and handed prize money to some of
them. It was a 77-player field, a two-day event that brought back the final 32
on Sunday for the money matches. My only disappointment were the two forfeits. I
never like to forfeit a player, but it’s a rule that you simply must have in any
tournament, and it’s almost always a friend of mine who gets the big zero. Other
than that, we had a mellow tournament on one of the warmest weekend’s in the
year. You can expect the same format for California Billiard Club’s big Reno
Warm-Up in the Fall, which Tony Annigoni promises will get more publicity.
Congratulations to Deo, a player any tournament director would love to hand a
stack of cash to. Always a good sport and a great player. Undefeated, he was
rarely challenged in any match and won eight straight games more than once on
his way to the hot seat.
Bill Ganne Passes
Bill passed away after a courageous fight with
lung disease at the age of 66.
Read the
obituary here.
NEW USPPA TOURNAMENT IN VACAVILLE
Spread the word - there's a new USPPA tournament in the Vacaville area.
Billy Teeter has opened Str8 Shooters Sports Bar - on E. Monte Vista Ave. in
Vacaville. It's right off the I80 freeway.
He's going to have two weekly USPPA tournaments:
Monday nights - 7:30 p.m. - $12.00 entry fee
Thursday nights - 7:30 p.m. - $12.00 entry fee
The first tournament starts on this coming Monday, March 3rd.
Hope to see you all there.
Mick McMillin Passes
The USPPA regrets to inform our members of the passing of Mick McMillin,
Casino Marketing Liaison for the Sands Regency. After a tough battle Mick
has succumbed to lung cancer. Over the last several years Mick had worked
tirelessly on behalf of the USPPA and its members to ensure that all the
players who came to the Sands for the Reno Open as well as the Pro Am had a
fair shake and a good time.A memorial service will be held for Mick at the Sands on Sunday, March 2nd
at 1:00 pm. Tony Annigoni will be present to represent the USPPA and its
members. All interested members as well as players who knew Mick are welcome
to attend.
Please keep Mick as well as her family in your thoughts and prayers at
this time of their loss. Our condolences go out to them as well as the
Casino Staff who knew, loved and worked with Mick. She will be sorely missed.
Regards,
Tony Annigoni
Managing Partner
United States Pool Players Association
Gene Stary Passes
It is with great regret that we inform the billiard community that
Gene Stary, founder of the United States Pool Players Association,
passed away in his sleep on Friday, January 4th.
Kenneth Eugene Stary, known by his friends as Gene, was born on April
17th, 1932, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He was the only child of Mr. Kenneth E.J. Stary and Mrs. Dorothy
Hammerel. He lived with his mother until she passed away when he was 12
years old. He then moved to California to stay with his Aunt Florence.
He joined the Army in 1948 as part of the 82nd Airborne Division in
Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He then served in Korea in 1953 as part of
the 6th Infantry Division, where he received the Korean Service Medal
with the Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal and National
Defense Service Medal.
After his distinguished career in the military, Gene focused his
considerable talent in sales and marketing in the auto industry,
specifically as an outside sales representative for several wholesale
auto parts distributors.
After a brief stint as the manager of the restaurant at the historic
Mapes Hotel in Reno Nevada, Gene returned to the auto industry.
In 1968 he founded the United States Pool Players Association and
turned his business pursuits to the design and development of California
Billiards in San Jose in the early 1970s. Later in the early ‘80s Gene
designed and built the Great American Billiards in Sacramento. These
rooms were two of the most prosperous ever developed in California.
Great American Billiards continues on today as Hard Times Billiards in
the same location.
Significantly, the focus of his business was billiards and the
promotion of the game as a sport. He took this to the next level with
the inaugural Reno Open & Pro Am Tournament in 1984, which continues
annually to this day.
He is survived by his wife, Ambar Stary and two daughters, Sharin and
Stacy, and one stepson, Jimmy.
Gene was particularly cautious about the sustainability of the United
States Pool Player’s Association and wisely structured the business
accordingly. As a result, Gene’s passing will in no way effect the
operation of the association and the many new developments soon to be
announced.
Sincerely,
The United States Pool Players Association Management
We are sad to report the loss of Dave Piona
It is with the deepest regret that we take this time to
inform all our members, as well as all pool enthusiasts, of the recent and
untimely passing of Dave Piona.
As one of the most loyal members of the USPPA, Dave was
well known by all our members. Virtually everyone involved in any aspect of the
billiard industry - locally as well as throughout the country - knew and loved
Dave.
The USPPA will permanently retire Dave’s ID, # 43.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Dave’s wife, Chris,
his daughter Star, and the whole Piona family.
Friends and fans alike are invited to celebrate Dave’s
Life at services on Thursday at 2pm. The location is The Church of the Covenant,
4000 Redwood Rd., Oakland, California.
Dave,
we will sorely miss you…
Read azBilliards.com's obituary here
3 Foul Rule Eliminated
Effective immediately, the 3 foul rule is officially suspended. It will no
longer result in loss of game. In those cases where both players are on 2
fouls, after the 3rd foul a new game is started and
the incoming player will have the break. An X will be marked for the breaking
player.
Promotion:
The USPPA would like to congratulate Linda Silva on her promotion to
Executive Administrator of the USPPA.
We regret that Linda's new duties will prevent her from directing the Reno
tournament in June. Linda's new duties will be assisting Tony Annigoni in the
development of additional USPPA programs that will be announced globally in
June.
Thank you, Linda.
USPPA Advisory Board named:
The USPPA would like to thank the following tournament directors for their
agreement to participate on the newly created USPPA Advisory Board:
Gene Miller
Chet Itow
Linda Silva
Ron Wishnack
Dennis Fischer
The USPPA Advisory Board is planning to meet quarterly in person at
California Billiards in Mountain View. Tony Annigoni will be representing USPPA
management, and Mick McMillin will be representing the Sands Regency Hotel and
Casino.
Campbell Billiards
USPPA Tournaments at Campbell Billiards have been suspended until a suitable tournament director is located.
Any USPPA member interested in directing tournaments in the Campbell area should contact Steve Hahn at Campbell Billiards
408-397-9886 or Tony Annigoni at 831-277-0216.
Reno Qualifications
House of Billiards Weekly 65 & Under
Jump Cue Position Paper by Tony Annigoni
Press Releases
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