Archives Billiards Digest.com Online Pool Magazine

DAILY WRITE-UPs

Rocket Shot Down in Semi-Final, Fri, September 1, 4:01p PST

Final 4 Set to Square-Off, Fri, September 1, 1:22p PST

Lee Set Free, Thur, August 31, 8:38p PST

All Eyes on 8-Ball, Thur, August 31, 1:30p PST

Heavy Hitters Hit the Mat , Wed, August 30, 9:45p PST

Troy Tangles the Black Widow, Wed, August 30, 8:54p PST

The Black Widow Takes a Bite, Wed, August 30, 1:13p PST

Reyes Finishes on Top !
by Kirstin Pires

A grinning Efren Reyes accepted a $30,000 check for his afternoon's work after taking advantage of lucky wide-open breaks, and a few misses by second place finisher Mika Immonen. "He played good, but he's got bad luck," said the Filipino superstar. "Everytime he breaks, nothing."

Immonen, riding the momentum of a recent win at the $30,000 Turning Stone/Joss Northeast invitational, kept the match close and in question, much to the delight of the intent fans who crowded the arena and filled the stands. Immonen had tied the match at 4-4 after first going ahead 2-1, but The Magician got to 5-4 and then 6-4 before Immonen ran out a set to make it 5-6. On his next break, the balls spread conveniently, but none dropped, giving Reyes an opening. "He made me play good, then," said a still-grinning Reyes.

"I really felt like I deserved to win this one," said Immonen. "I played really solid at Turning Stone, and I played on the same equipment." Immonen collects $15,000 for his efforts.

About the Camel 2000 8-Ball Open
The lone remaining pro tournament sponsored by Camel - until last year the sponsor and producer of the multi-tournament Camel Pro Billiards Series - has drawn the usual top players including 1999 Series champion and defending tournament champion, Earl Strickland; 1998 Series champion Francisco Bustamante as well as Johnny Archer, Ralf Souquet (hot off his win at the World Pool Masters in Essex, England,) and young hot shots Corey Deuel and Alex Pagulayan.

A surprise entrant, Women's Professional Billiard Association star Jeanette Lee, is the lone woman in the field of 96 pros who will play 8 ball for a cut of the Camel cash: $150,000 put up by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.'s Camel brand. With $30,000 for the top finisher, the Camel tournament is one of the highest paydays in pro pool.

The final leg of the 2000 Las Vegas pool-a-thon gets underway as thousands of American Pool players Association shooters make their annual pilgrimage to what has become the center of the pool universe: the Riviera Hotel and Casino. The Riviera is also host to the Billiard Congress of America's North American Championships and the BCA Pro Open; followed by the Valley National Eight Ball league's national competition.

Be sure to check back here often for the latest news and pictures from Las Vegas.

In 1999, Earl Strickland (left) was all smiles as he accepted the trophy and $15,000 winner's check. This year, 95 players, including '98 winner Francisco Bustamante and WPBA star Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee hope to wipe the smile off Earl's face.

Updated 1:45 pm, 9/1

Standings as of Friday
September 1, 7:30 PM (PST)

1st ( $30,000)
Efren Reyes

2nd ($15,000)
Mika Immonen

3rd ($10,000)
Roger Griffis

4th ($7,000)
Troy Frank

5th/6th ($5,000)
David Matlock
George SanSouci

7th/8th ($4,000)
Takeshi Okumura
Kunihiko Takahashi

9-12 ($3,000)
Satoshi Kawabata
Ray Shultz
Jose Parica
Francisco Bustamante

13-16 ($2,500)
Jayme Goodwin
Kim Davenport
Charlie Williams
Vincent Facquet

17-24 ($2,000)
Jeanette Lee
Teddy Garrahan
Allen Hopkins
Tony RObles
Nick Varner
Warren Kiamco
Santos Sambajon
Greg Fix

25-32 ($1,100%)
Victor Ignacio
Bob Herchik
Jose Garcia
Johnny Archer
Ernesto Dominguez
Tang Hoa
Corey Deuel
Gerry Watson

33-48 ($1,200)
Henry Brodt
Walter Glass
Alain Martel
David Hemmah
Howard Vickery
Jeff Beckley
Robert Madenjian
Alex Pagulayan
Mike Lebron
Frank Tullos
Satoshi Toshikawa
Luc Salvas
Danny Meina
Billy Aguero
Max Eberle

49-64
Mike Arden
Jeremy Jones
Ralf Souquet
Jim Ehrbar
George Michaels
Jon Kucharo
Bob Henning
Randy Stuart
Steve Eakins
Tommy Karabatsos
Aaron Aragon
Ralph Carnes
John Horsfall
Ismael Paez
Ronnie Wiseman
Andy Segal

65-96
Denny Coulter
Bob Vanover
Nat Green
Rocky McElroy
Chris MacDonald
Art Wiggins
Rodolfo Luat
Tom Rossman
Tommy Kennedy
Tommy Kay
Jimmy Reid
Frankie Hernandez
John Colak
John Binion
Mike Coltrain
JR Calvert
Lou Butera
Harry Plattis
Steve Mizerak
Bill Stephen
Bob Weimar
Ed Ernst
Steve McAninch
Randy Whitehead
Bill Anderson
Jacques Fletcher
Earl Strickland