Carom Cafe in conjunction with Dragon Promotions is proud to present "Billiards Heaven in New York": Sure to be a transcendental experience; imagine, for the very first time, simultaneous Championships in the two finest billiard disciplines, performed at the ultimate levels: Predator World 14.1 Tournament and the Verhoeven Open 3-cushion Tournament - together, in one amazing venue.
Do not miss this weeklong extravaganza July 29 - Aug 5 which combines the splendor and brilliance of BOTH pool and billiards, played by the greatest billiard virtuosos, from all over the globe, as they compete for coveted titles in the highest forms of the billiard games. No serious fan of billiards wants to miss "Billiards Heaven in New York" - come witness the absolute pinnacle of billiards achievement at Carom Cafe this summer. If you cannot come, catch the LIVE STREAM!
For the seventh consecutive year, Dragon Promotions will produce the biggest international 14.1 event in the world, The 72nd World Tournament of Straight Pool . Once again in partnership with the support of Dr.Michael Fedak, this year's event will for the first in decades move to New York to Carom Cafe in Queens. The well renown billiard room will host this year's event starting July 29 through August 3, 2012. Once again the greatest straight pool players from around the world will arrive on USA soil and attend this prestigious event to play for the coveted title of greatest straight pool player in the world.
Finally we are in New York City! Ever since the first year we resurrected the World Tournament, New Yorkers have been literally begging us to move it there. They promised big crowds, so here we are seven years later. This is the closest we have also ever been to Manhattan, so we are only a few stops on the subway to Queens and Carom Cafe", said Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions.
The World Tournament is the oldest tournament in history that still exists today. Invented by Jerome Keough and shortly after recognized as the official game of billiards. The first World 14.1 Tournament was held in 1911 and won by Alfredo DeOro. In its history due to war and economics, theWorld Championships had 29 tournaments that did not take place including a 15 year gap between 1990-2005 until Dragon Promotions revived the game and the World Tournament in 2006.
"This is my absolute favorite game, and this is my favorite event in the world. The World Tournament is the ultimate straight pool event, and the oldest testament of skill there is in pool. Dragon Promotions have been terrific caretakers of this prestigious championship, and I am pleased to help them continue the longest running tournament in history", said Dr.Michael Fedak, one of the event's main sponsors.
This year's event will feature players such as Johnny Archer, Thorsten Hohmann, Darren Appleton, Mika Immonen, John Schmidt, Efren Reyes, Allen Hopkins, Stephan Cohen, Charlie Williams and many, many more.
Part II: Verhoeven Open 3-Cushion Tournament
The Verhoeven Open 3-Cushion Tournament will be held between August 1 through August 5, 2012: featuring two living legends in the game, Raymond Ceulemans and Torbjorn Blomdahl. Sir Raymond Ceulemans is a living carom billiard legend. He holds 35 World Championship titles in every carom discipline and has won over 140 titles in his long and illustrious career. Blomdahl is also a living legend in 3-cushion billiards - many times World Champion and the top-ranked player on the Worldcup ranking list in 2011. The strong field includes World Junior Champion, Glenn Hofman, World Artistic World Champion Roberto Rojas, 5x US National Champion Pedro Piedrabuena, 2x US National Champion Hugo Patino, past US Champions Jae Hyung Cho, Sonny Cho, Mazin Shooni, and Miguel Torres, Mexican Champion Luis Avila, and many others.
Don't miss this chance to see the greatest 3-cushion players from all over the world compete for the title at Carom Cafe.
This event is sponsored by Verhoeven billiard tables, Iwan Simonis, Tiger Cues, USBA, Sang Lee Chalk
Finale: Billiard Sages Exhibitions
Over the final weekend, Efren Reyes and Torbjorn Blomdahl will "lock horns" in a dual-discipline 9-ball/3-cushion challenge (Aug 4-5). Each player will attempt to secure an expected win in their respective specialty while upsetting the other in their own game. Years ago, Reyes and Blomdahl played a similar interdisciplinary exhibition (in Japan on YouTube) and Blomdahl won both the 3-cushion and the 9-ball portions of the contest. Efren Reyes seeks his revenge in front his NY pool fans.
The grand finale to conclude the week will be a rare balkline exhibition match between the two great pillars of the pool and carom worlds: Efren Reyes and Raymond Ceulemans. Sir Raymond Ceulemans is the greatest carom billiard player of all time. Numerous fellow professional players have credited Reyes with being the greatest living pool player in the world. Many pool players will be surprised to learn that one of the finest pool player's (Efren Reyes), favorite game is not 9-ball, 8-ball or even 1-pocket; but balkline*.
"The theme of the weeklong extravaganza of world-class pool and carom is the convergence of billiard disciplines. For whatever reason, the two billiard worlds have diverged over the years - and I think that a great way to bring the two spheres back together is to showcase the best players of both games simultaneously. Efren Reyes is known for his uncanny cue ball control, but few pool players trace this to his deep training in carom. Meanwhile, most carom players are totally unaware about Torbjorn Blomdahl's abilities in the pocket games. In actuality, there is a significant overlap between the disciplines, as evidenced by the skill sets at the very top. The complete player brings all billiard skills together whenever they step to the table. I hope that this summer's event at Carom Cafe will be a catalyst for cross-pollinating interest across all cue games.", says Ira Lee of HighRock Productions, who is producing the video stream.
*In this IPT interview, Efren Reyes, attributes his skills at the table to his favorite game of balkline.
http://youtu.be/BYSVYvUVi_U?t=2m08s
Special thanks to Noel Mendoza, Michael Shamos, Michael Bray, Bob Jewett, Robert Byrne for bringing us this exhibition.
At the 2007 Sang Lee International Open - Hall of Fame Edition...
Don't miss this RARE chance to witness Torbjorn Blomdahl (2005 SLIO Champion), Frederic Caudron (2006 Defending Champion), Semih Sayginer (3-cushion Grandmaster), Raymond Ceulemans (Mr. 100), Daniel Sanchez, and many more stars right HERE in NYC.
Everyone is invited to come to Carom Cafe in Flushing, NY to watch the greatest 3-cushion players on the planet as they battle it out for the coveted Sang Lee title! Matches start every day at 10am and continue for the entire day from Monday Aug 13 through Sunday Aug 19th. Please note the addition of televised evening matches scheduled starting from Aug 15th.
Aug 13-15: Preliminary Round Robin includes notable participants Jeanette Lee and Mike Massey with play starting at 10am and continuing all day and evening long.
Wed Aug 15 Evening Sessions: 10:00 Morning matches (not televised) 5:00 Televised match (semi-final round robin) 7:00 Televised match (semi-final round robin) 9:00 Televised match (semi-final round robin)
Thu Aug 16th Afternoon/Evening Sessions: 10:00 Morning matches (not televised) 3:00 Televised match (semi-final round robin) 5:30 Televised match (semi-final round robin) 7:00 Televised match (semi-final round robin) 9:00 Televised match (semi-final round robin)
Fri Aug 17th Afternoon/Evening Sessions: 10:00 Morning matches (not televised) 2:30 Televised match (semi-final round robin) 4:00 Opening Ceremony Final Round Robin 5:00 Televised match (final round robin) 7:00 Televised match (final round robin) 9:00 Televised match (final round robin)
Sat Aug 18th All Day Matches 11:00a Televised match (final round robin) 1:00 Televised match (final round robin) 4:00 Televised match (final round robin) 6:00 Televised match (final round robin)
Sun Aug 19th All Day Matches 11:00a Televised match (final round robin) 1:00 Televised match (final round robin) 4:00 Televised match FINAL TITLE MATCH 6:00 Televised exhibition (Semih Saygier Artistic Exhibition)
The fans at the BCA-pool event in Las Vegas were treated to two action packed and extremely exciting artistic 3-cushion billiard contests as Eric Yow and Mike Massey challenged the great Turk, Semih Sayginer, to a judged contest of 3-cushion stroke shots during the ESPN filming of "3-Cushion Grandmaster" - scheduled to air on ESPN2 on August 7, 2007 at 7pm EST. A celebrity panel of judges consisted of Jeanette Lee, Bob Jewett (President, USBA), and Ivan Lee (President, Iwan Simonis). Jeanette Lee, an avid and knowledgeable 3-cushion player herself, recently won her first 3-cushion women's title "Queen of Carom", held in Korea just one month prior.
The format of the show was a judged contest where the panel rated the player's performances of originally designed program of shots - according to difficulty level, technique (20 pts max), imagination (5 pts max) and style (10 pts max). After showing off their unique programs, the players were each given a "Finale" shot (15 pts max), a last chance to impress the judges before final scoring; thus making the maximum number of points each judge could award each player a total of 50 points. No gimmicks or props were allowed. Every shot scored was required to be a legitimate 3-cushion point according to the general rules of the game.
Eric Yow was the first up to challenge the Grandmaster, Semih Sayginer. During his match up, both he and Semih were required to shoot shots that adhered to five pre-mandated shot themes while simultaneously executing valid 3-cushion points. The themes for the Yow vs. Sayginer match up where:
Circle - cue ball required to "encircle" a ball Airborne - cue ball must jump and score a 3-cushion billiard Dance - cue ball action must be seen to dance on the cushions Superdraw - the player must unleash a maximum draw stroke Repeated - a 3-cushion billiard must be scored with repeated hits on one cushion
Yow, the 2006 WPA World Masse Champion of pool, disguised the fact that this was his first televised match and first time competing on the carom table, as he boldly easily executed four of the five of the stroke shots in his program. He experienced a little bit of trouble with his Airborne shot as he adjusted to the larger and heavier billiard balls. The personable Yow earned high points for style and technique.
Sayginer, stepped up to the table with tremendous authority on all of his shot themes against Yow. In a show of confidence, Sayginer selected utterly difficult shots to perform and surprise the judges seemingly handling them with ease. He then proceeded to back it up by successfully nailing every shot on either the first or second attempt - and each time with great power. Most of the audience, many of them seasoned 3-cushion billiard players, could not believe their eyes.
Yow was clearly behind at this point but stepped up to the plate. For his Finale shot, he selected a shot that two of the three judges rated with the maximum difficulty factor of 10 out of 10. The shot was a four cushion masse shot with a huge bend between the first and second cushions which Yow termed "The Grand Masse". Yow hit it perfectly on the first attempt as the crowd burst into cheers.
Without hesitation, Semih responded with a jaw-dropping Finale shot of his own - a shot that he called "The Thinking Cueball Shot" where the the cue ball traveled three times straight across the width of the table before suddenly "changing its mind" and curving into the short cushion and another rail to score on the opposite side of the table.
The judges' decision for Semih Sayginer was unanimous. Final score: Sayginer 144 - Yow 128
Jeanette Lee
Bob Jewett
Ivan Lee
Total
Yow
43.2
42.3
42.0
127.6
Sayginer
47.6
47.5
48.5
143.6
Next, the long anticipated matchup between Mike Massey and Semih Sayginer took place. Two stroke shot titans from the completely separate spheres of pool and billiards finally now meeting on the table together. Mike Massey, spent many weeks in preparation on the billiard table with some of the best players in the US, for his much anticipated match up with Semih - including a week-long session in NY with the great artistic carom champion, Miguel Torres. In the weeks leading up to the event, some of those practice sessions (captured on amateur video) were circulating around on YouTube.com.
The themes for the Massey vs. Sayginer match up were:
Perfect Timing - a 3-cushion time-shot to score on a moving target Force Stroke - a display of either a maximum force follow or force draw Many on One - a 3-cushion billiard scored using many cushions but only using one cushion U-Turn - a shot that makes a u-turn in midstream Alphabet - use the cue ball to trace a letter from the English alphabet onto the table
Seeming to catch some of Semih Sayginer's momentum, Mike Massey burst out of the gate with style and grace hitting his first two theme shots on the first try. With his confidence running high, he choose to shoot an extremely difficult jump-masse for his "Many on One" theme. He intended to jump over both balls, repeatedly striking cushion while traveling seven diamonds up the long rail before returning back to score with extreme masse action. He technically ended up scoring a valid 3-cushion billiard, but he lost points with the judges for inadvertently hitting one-too many cushions based on the theme's restriction of only utilizing one rail. After loosing a little bit of momentum, he visibly was struggling with his shaft during his "U-Turn" stroke - a force-follow shot with only millimeters between his cue ball and the first object ball. For Mike Massey's "Alphabet" shot, he practically got a perfect score from all of the judges across the board. To setup the shot, Mike announced that not only would he write a letter from the alphabet on the table, he would spell out his entire name - with a claim that he is confident that the judges should be able to pick out the letters "M", "I", "K", and "E" individually from the 10-cushion pattern he was about to execute. At this time, Mike unleashed his maximum power on a 10-cushion billiard which scored with "just make" speed as the audience went absolutely berserk.
Sayginer, running on adrenaline, started up again with his array of impossible looking shots. His "Perfect Timing" shot especially challenging given the distance he set up in between all three balls. He appeared to have slowed down and although he made the extra difficult shot, he did so with noticeably less flare than the shots he made against Yow. But, then the Grandmaster went into high gear as he seemed to follow each shot with one even more difficult - and making all of them. His "Force Stroke" shot was an intense close-draw around the table shot - a stroke unimaginable by most players alive today. Sayginer's "Many on One" was a staggering power masse stroke that he put down with absolute ease. This all appeared to be a warm up for his "U-Turn" shot - a double-draw stroke with a dramatic u-turn that occurred a the very last moment after already striking one cushion. For his "Alphabet" theme, Semih Sayginer decided to "sign-off" his themed program in style as he used his monstrous draw stroke to trace a clear "S" on the table for everyone to see - complete with smooth, sweeping curves.
After both performances and before their "Finale" shots, the score was down to the wire: Massey 93 to Sayginer's 99. The crowd knew it was going to be close.
For his final "Finale", Massey stepped up his power another notch - directing it vertically straight into the slate. His shot was a gargantuan five-cushion masse shot that seemed to trace two large, curving X's on the table. Besides bringing down the house, his success earned him a near-perfect score with the judges and put all the pressure on Semih Sayginer.
Everyone wondered how Semih would respond. With every last ounce of power he could muster, Semih stunned the audience one final time as he made his cue ball trace a line that resembled a giant ten-foot typewriter symbol on the table - a masse shot he called "The Ampersand". As the point scored, the entire audience leapt to their feet and delivered to him a roaring standing ovation. That last shot just brought him over the edge with the judges who unanimously, however closely, awarded him with the final victory: Semih Sayginer 142 - Mike Massey 137.
Jeanette Lee
Bob Jewett
Ivan Lee
Total
Massey
45.5
46.1
44.9
136.5
Sayginer
47.7
47.7
47.0
142.4
Everyone in the crowd showed their appreciation for all of the dazzling stroke shots by challengers, Massey and Yow - and obviously the 3-Cushion Grandmaster himself, Semih Sayginer with extended applause and cheers throughout the event.
As ESPN's Mitch Laurence interviewed the judges afterwards, the crowds were impressed to discover that even the panel, as knowledgeable as they were about carom billiards, were at numerous times surprised by shots they had never seen before - especially referring to the difficult selection of shots made by Sayginer.
This exciting "3-cushion Grandmaster" event was brought to ESPN by Dragon Promotions and HighRock Productions. The event will provide millions of television viewers the opportunity to witness 3-cushion billiards played for the first time. 3-Cushion carom is a highly visual and action packed form of billiards that emphasizes cue ball mastery; the extreme spins and multi-cushion bank shots are sure to keep the spectators entertained. For final air times expected this July, check: http://highrockproductions.com. Buy Semih Sayginer's latest DVD "One Man Show" - filmed for broadcast TV during the 2006 Sang Lee International Open.
ESPN is the recognized worldwide leader in sports programming. ESPN billiards programming. ESPN billiards programming yields hundreds of hours of broadcast time and is aired in the USA, Asia, Australia, and Latin American countries.
In front of hundreds of enthusiastic fans and to be aired on national and international television, 10-time World Champion Torbjorn Blomdahl defeated Semih Sayginer 40-19 in the final match to win the first $100,000 Sang Lee International Open 3-cushion tournament. The best players from all over the world came to NYC to pay homage to Sang Chun Lee, the 12-time American champion who passed away last October due to stomach cancer. They played in the beautiful tournament arena that Sang designed inside Carom Cafe's 25,000 sq ft facilities in Flushing, NY. The tournament featured 76 of the strongest 3-cushion billiard players of the world playing in round-robin format for the richest purse ever offered on American soil. After a grueling week of competition, Blomdahl bested all of them and is shown here holding up the coveted Carom Cup presented by Jana Water.
After the event, ABC sports personality Charlie Ursitti presented the Champion with an exquisite custom designed cue case made from python leather.
Tournament Champion Torbjorn Blomdahl with his new designer cue case.
World-renowned Artistic Billiard superstars Semih Sayginer (Turkey), Roberto Rojas (Mexico) and Miguel Torres (Colombia) put on a spectacular display of seemingly impossible fancy shots that astounded and amazed the 3-cushion fans after the $100,000 Sang Lee International Open event. Many of the shots stretched the limits of possibility as they were newly developed creations by the super-talented cuemen and seen by many for the first time.
World Champion Roberto Rojas displayed awesome stroke and masse shots never before seen by the crowd.
World Champion Semih Sayginer shows off his awesome power and finesse.
5-time Colombian Champion Miguel Torres presents his amazing stroke shots.
This spectacular show, presented by Jana Water, was captured on film and will be shown on national and international television.
The official cloth sponsor of the Artistic Exhibition was Simonis.
The official table sponsor of the tournament, Elitte Professional made its United States debut with their "Spider" design at this prestigious event.
A member of the audience at the Sang Lee International Open stepped up and took a shot at the Million Dollar Billiard, the 3-cushion opening break-shot for $1,000,000, presented by Jana Water. The landmark shot was taken on the stunning Elitte Professional "Spider" table - the official table sponsor of the tournament - presented by Billiard Project, Mexico.
Above pic: The winning ticket is drawn in front of an anticipating audience.
There was a lot of suspense and pressure for the contestant, Paul Rubino, as he tried to remain calm amidst the spotlights, cameras and numerous excited spectators focused on him. His objective was to duplicate for $1,000,000 the resting positions of the 3 carom balls of the breakshot that had just been scored by champion player Torbjorn Blomdahl and then carefully marked. Competition Sports presented an exact replica of Willie Hoppe's billiard cue for the contestant to use and the crowd held their breath as he attempted the shot of his life.
Tournament winner, Torbjorn Blomdahl , takes the set up breakshot.
Paul Frankel (Professor Q-ball) and his assitant Hector Ruiz uses special laser-equipment to mark the exact final resting position of the 3 balls with Jana targets once Mr. Blomdahl completes the shot.
Television's ABC sports personality, Charlie Ursitti prepares contestant, Paul Rubino, for his $1,000,000 attempt in front of the cameras.
In the beautiful arena that he designed, in front of his dear friends and his adoring fans, a long-awaited traditional memorial ceremony took place for Sang Chun Lee, the 12-time American 3-cushion champion. After undergoing months of medical treatment overseas in his hometown of Seoul, Korea, Sang Lee passed away last October, 2004 and was buried there.
A moment of silence for the American champion.
World Champions from Holland, Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Sweden and Spain gather around to pay homage at the memorial of Sang Chun Lee.
The honorable Mrs. Verbeek from the Belgium Consulate presented the great Raymond Ceulemans, who was recently knighted by King Albert of Belgium, with a lifetime achievement award for his accomplishments in 3-cushion billiards.
Count Raymond Ceulemans is a 35-time 3-cushion champion of the world and arguably the greatest billiard player ever to walk the earth.
Tournament Champion Torbjorn Blomdahl with his new designer cue case.
