the Billiard Room News...match, Dhruv ran a beautiful 93 points to win the match. - Mike Russell runs 258. - Martin Goodwill defeats Mike Russell in the quarter finals with breaks

- Americas Cup English Billiards Open Special Edition -

- the Billiard Room News -

Inside this issue:

Americas Cup English Billiards 1

Visitors 1

Day 1, 2, 3 results 2

Day 4, 5, 6 results 3

Prize winners 4

Guests 4

By Mr. Greg. Harder, Manitoba Club Snooker Professional

Volume 1, Issue 1 Newsletter Date: September 2013

The Americas Cup English Billiards Open and Veterans English Billiards League (VEBL) Vimy Ridge Classic were held at the Manitoba Club from August 24th thru 29th. This was Canada's 1st English Bil-liards Pro/Am event directly sponsored by the World English Billiards Association and also sponsored by VEBL, the International Billiards Snooker Federation (IBSF) and the Canadian Billiards Snooker Asso-ciation (CBSA). The tournament carried extra weight due to the fact that the winner received an automatic berth into the 2013 World Cham-pionships, (one of 4 events this year on the pro/am tour)!! Prize money exceeded $14,000.00 Canadian! There were many visiting players from other countries in atten-dance. Mike Russell was on hand, he is considered to be the 'Gretzky' of the modern age! Mike is currently living in Qatar and is employed as their national coach. There were also a number of representatives from England: Phil Mumford, Rob Hall (#1 English amateur), Chris Taylor, Martin Goodwill (English champion) and Nalin Patel. India was also well represented with their fine players; Dhruv Sitwala, Devendra Joshi. Last but not the least are Carl W. Steiner from Austria, Dan Scullian from Calgary (professional at the Ranchman's Club) and Guy Heys from the Isle of Jersey! The home players in attendance were: Rick Kendall (current Canadian Champion), Fraser Durham (11 time Cana-dian Champion), Dave Blacklaw, Warren Dyer, Jules Mortinson, Guy Smith, Blair Lawson, Pat Werner, Grant Theissen, Alan Senkiw, Shane Bartelette, Rick Hutcheon, Steve Jones and Garry Marshall.

Four of our visitors, from left to right; Dave (the referee), Martin Goodwill (England), Guy Heys (Isle of Jersey) & Carl Walter Steiner (Austria)

Phil Mumford & Dan Scullion (Billiards pro Ranchman’s Club)

Page 2 - the Billiard Room News -

There were so many great moments during the Vimy Ridge Classic and Americas Cup English Billiards Open that I hardly know where to begin! Let us start with a simple thank-you, a broad thank-you, as there were so many volunteers, organizations and businesses behind our venture. The Vimy Ridge Classic was the opening event and was equally as exciting as the Americas Cup English Billiards Open! Here are the event day-to-day highlights: DAY 1 - highlights Vimy Ridge Classic - Mike Russell scores 1st century 108 followed by a 145 break! - Win of the day Rick Kendall (Winnipeg player and current Canadian champion) defeated Nalin Patel, who was once as high as #5 in the World rankings, close match 161-140. - Mike Russell makes an incredible 343 break against local Dave Larson! - Other 100+ breaks; Mike Russell (167, 145, 112, 108), Martin Goodwill (115), Phil Mumford (114, 110), Rob Hall (108)

DAY 2 - highlights Vimy Ridge Classic - Great match between Rick Kendall and Dhruv Sitwala, with Rick leading the entire match, Dhruv ran a beautiful 93 points to win the match. - Mike Russell runs 258. - Martin Goodwill defeats Mike Russell in the quarter finals with breaks of 103, 86 and 61. - Rob Hall defeats Phil Mumford in the Vimy Ridge Classic final 439-238. PHOTO: Rick Kendall (current Canadian English Billiards Champion)

DAY 3 - highlights Americas Cup EB Open - Americas Cup begins with a great break from Mike Russell, 384 points against Rick Kendall (2013 Canadian Champion). - Other 100+ breaks; Mike Russell (229), Martin Goodwill (162) and Phil Mumford (102). PLAYER NOTE: The maximum number of carom shots one may produce in succession is 75 or 150 points! Phil Mumford is the only player to produce 75 caroms in tournament play since 1934!

Dhruv Sitwala & Devendra Joshi

Page 3 Volume 1, Issue #1

DAY 4 - highlights Americas Cup EB Open - Martin Goodwill runs 207 followed by a 108 break! - Mike Russell runs 272, 166 and 121. - Other 100+ breaks; Dhruv Sitwala (174, 102) and Phil Mumford (166) - 7 Canadian players reached the knockout stage (top 16) DAY 5 highlights Americas Cup EB Open - Mike Russell was in fine form with breaks of 123, 106, 103 in his opening match against Winnipeg player Grant Thiessen, final score 500 - 59! - Phil Mumford recorded another century break of 118. - Dhruv Sitwala defeated Steve Jones (Winnipeg) 500-80 and had a nice break of 164 points. - Quarter finals begin, Mike Russell defeated Nalin Patel 750-143 with breaks of 280 and 198! - Down to the semi-final matches Mike Russell vs. Rob Hall and Martin Goodwill vs. Devendra Joshi DAY 6 highlights Americas Cup EB Open

- Mike Russell overpowered Rob Hall with breaks of 205, 191, 181 to win his semi-final match 1000-498. - Martin Goodwill defeated Devendra Joshi 1000-707 to set up the final match Goodwill vs. Russell. - in the Final match Mike Russell started the match with a 97 break following immediately with the tournament high run 397 points. This put a great distance between the two players and Mike never looked back!

Final score: Mike Russell 1250 - 587 Martin Goodwill Mike Russell 1st Americas Cup English Billiards Open WINNER! 1st place - $4, 250.00 Canadian Martin Goodwill received a 2nd place prize of $2,120.00

Rob Hall, England

Jon Miller (the cloud), Phil Mumford (World Billiards) and Garry Marshall

Veterans English Billiards League VIMY RIDGE CLASSIC Winner 585.00 = $955.69 Rob Hall Runner-Up 292.50 = $477.85 Phil Mumford Semi-Finalists 146.25 = $238.92 Martin Goodwill & Dhruv Sitwala Quarter-Finalists 78.00 = $127.43 Nalin Patel, Blair Lawson, Devandra Joshi and Mike Russell Last 16 39.00 = $63.71 Jon Miller, Chris Taylor, Dan Scullion, Rick Kendall, Guy Smith, Warren Dyer, Guy Heys and Garry Marshall High Break 39.00 = $63.71 Mike Russell (343) Plate Winner 78.00 = $127.43 Fraser Durham Plate Runner-Up 39.00 = $63.71 Steve Jones Plate High Break 19.50 = $31.87 n/a WPBSA levy (2.5%) 50.50 = $82.50 TOTAL 2020.00 English pounds = $3,300.00 Canadian dollars AMERICAS CUP ENGLISH BILLIARDS OPEN Winner 2,535.00 pounds = $4,141.34 Mike Russell Runner-Up 1,267.50 = $2,070.67 Martin Goodwill Semi-Finalists 633.75 = $1,035.33 Devandra Joshi & Rob Hall Quarter-Finalists 316.88 = $517.67 Dhruv Sitwala, Phil Mumford, Nalin Patel and Chris Taylor Last 16 170.63 = $278.74 Grant Thiessen, Guy Heys, Steve Jones, Fraser Durham, Dan Scullion, Warren Dyer, Rick Kendall, Garry Marshall High Break 97.50 = $159.28 Mike Russell (397) WPBSA levy (2.5%) 200.00 = $326.73 TOTAL 8,000.00 English pounds = $13,069.31 Canadian dollars OVERALL TOTAL 10,020.00 English pounds = $16,369.31 Canadian dollars

F. Peebles, F. Durham (plate winner), D. Blacklaw Shane & Wilma Bartelette, Warren Dyer