Ronnie Boyle
N.Ireland 07776365059
Rep of Ireland 0044 7776365059
www.irelands9balltour.com
rb@irelands9balltour.com
9 September 2006
Paddy Mc Laughlin (Down) the winner of the Dublin American 8Ball Open,
pictured with Manny Byrne (Down) the runner-up.
Ireland Pool Players Involved In Feast Of American Pool Events
Last weekend saw a feast of high profile American Pool Events take place on Irish soil and on the world stage. The Irish events saw a host of top local Irish players, a good number of top Scottish players and a lot of other players representing other European Countries all making there way to TJ’s American Pool Club in Newry Co. Down for the staging of the two official ranking tournaments in American 8 and 9 ball categories on Ireland’s American 8 & 9 Ball Tour.
But it was a few days before that all Irish interest was on Paddy Mc Laughlin and Tommy Donlon when they were representing Ireland under the bright lights of the TV cameras in the 2006 World Cup of Pool which took place in Newport South Wales.
Click on "Read More..." for the details.
Paddy Mc Laughlin, Paul Bonner (Representing Etag Fixings Sponsor
and Bonner Windows) and Tommy Donlon.
Finland was Ireland’s opponents in the first round of this prestigious event which saw the brilliant pairing of the Scandinavian duo consisting of 2001 World Pool Champion Mika Immonen and former Euro Tour event winner Markus Juva.
Paddy Mc Laughlin & Tommy Donlon.
Both Paddy and Tommy did Ireland proud in their performance against these two world class players only losing out on a 9-5 score-line but will treasure these memories for a long time to come. For full reports and more photos on this and all other matches in the 2006 World Cup of Pool can be found on the events official website www.worldcupofpool.com
Some of the fans who made the trip to Newport.
Ireland’s American 8 & 9 Pool Tour would like to take this opportunity in thanking Matchroom Sport and Luke Riches for giving Ireland the chance to be represented at this wonderful event which will be shown to millions in the next few weeks. Also a special word of thanks go to our sponsors Paul Bonner from Etag Fixings and Bonner windows for being Ireland’s main sponsors at the event. Paul is a member and ranked number 1 on Ireland’s American 8 & 9 Ball Tour and its great to see and have someone like Paul who supports our tour year in and year out.
American 8-Ball Event
The first of the two official ranking tournaments which saw a new change of venues for both tournaments was the Dublin American 8-ball open take place. Yes, both these Dublin events had to be changed to a new venue circumstances beyond Ireland’s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tours control.
The new venue was TJ’s American Pool Club and like other events held there the conditions and the hospitality was second to none as like the standard of play that took place throughout the tournament by all players involved and the outright tournament winner Paddy Mc Laughlin returning from the 2006 world cup of pool the day before the event.
Yes it was Paddy who played outstanding pool all day to be crowned Dublin American open 8-ball champion recording great victories over some of the tours top ranked players on his route in doing so.
The Ginger Magician started his winning campaign in the last-32 over Mark Gargan (Dublin) and followed that up with further victories over Eoin O’ Driscoll (Dublin), Richard Berrie (Scotland), and the inform Davy “The Destroyer” Jack in the semi-finals before waiting to see who his opponent was going to be in the final.
That player was Manny Byrne one of N. Ireland top English 8-ball players who represented N. Ireland in the 2006 World pool championships in Blackpool earlier this year.
Manny recorded his victories to reach the final over Leslie Walsh (Wexford), Sean Judge (Antrim), Steve Kovacs (Hungary), and Gareth Deegan (Dublin) and in the final Manny played great pool to race into a four nil lead but it was the Ginger Magician who showed all his experience and class that has won him many a event on Ireland’s American 8 & 9 Ball Tour over the years to make a great comeback to run out a 9-7 winner to be crowned Dublin American 8-Ball Champion for 2006.
9-Ball Event
The second official ranking tournament to cue off on Saturday did so at 5-pm in the evening time which was the 2006 Dublin 9-Ball Open and it also attracted a good turn out of players including the big numbers of players who made the trip over from Scotland once again, and it was one of there top ranked players who was making the headlines throughout the day in the name of Davy “Destroyer” Jack.
Paul Tierney (Meath) beaton semi-finals in the 9ball
pictured with the outright winner Davy "Destroyer" Jack from Scotland.
Davy was in tremendous form all day defeating a host of top players throughout the day which included Paddy Mc Laughlin and the new 2006 All Ireland Champion Sam Gibson to claim another tournament victory on Ireland’s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour adding to his Ulster 9-Ball Open title win back in 2005.
It all started for the Scottish destroyer in his last-64 match coming out on top over his fellow Scott team mate Colin Brown before producing a tremendous display of form to make it into another final over some of Ireland’s top ranked players Gary Johnson (Antrim), Paddy Mc Laughlin (Down), Sam Gibson (Antrim), Paul Tierney (Meath) to set-up a match with Ireland’s current ranked number one Paul Bonner which turned out to be a classic.
Paul as usual played his steady game with some vintage displays to progress to the final over Ean Jones (Scotland), Richard Berrie (Scotland), Manny Byrne (Down), Brendan Mc Dermott (Donegal) to set-up a match with the Scottish Destroyer.
In the final both players played outstanding pool in front of the large crowd that stayed on to watch which seen rack for rack going to each player before Davy “The Destroyer” Jack held his nerve to take out a great clearance in the last rack sitting at 8 each to become the 2006 Dublin Open 9-Ball Champion.
All in all it was a fantastic weekend of pool involving the Irish players and supporters which both played in the tournaments and travelled to Wales to support the Irish team in the 2006 World Cup of Pool which sees the American cue sport game going from strength to strength in Ireland.
Next Events
The next two events to take place on Ireland’s American 8 & 9 Ball Pool Tour will be the Antrim 9-Ball Open ranking event taking place in Frames snooker & pool club in Belfast on Saturday 16th September 2006 and all players are reminded that this tournament must be pre-entered.
The second event will see the tour organising its very first event in a Hotel venue when tables are being set-up in Mahon’s Hotel Irvinestown Co. Fermanagh for three tournaments over the weekend from Friday 29th September to Sunday 1st October 2006.
Friday 29th Sep: Star of the Future Under-18 American 8-Ball Open.
Saturday 30th Sep: All Ireland Inter County 8-aside 9-Ball Team Championships.
Sunday 1st October: Fermanagh American 8-Ball Open Championships.
Note: Also taking place over the weekend in the Hotel will be a host of darts tournament and Texas Hold’em Poker Tournaments with over £10, 000 estimate prize-money on offer.
Information:
Tel: 07776365059 or from Rep of Ireland (0044) 7776365059
Email: irelandsamericancuesports@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.irelands9balltour.com