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Catch Me If You Can!

Catch Me If You Can! – Klenti Kaci wins the Predator Grand Finale at the World Pool Series 18 year-old Klenti Kaci does it again, winning the Predator Grand Finale at the World Pool Series, with a 13-11 win over Petri Makkonen. By Ted Lerner – WPS Media Officer Photos By JP Parmentier (New York City)– Playing with an almost surreal poise and ability well beyond his years, 18 year old Klenti Kaci captured the Predador Grand Finale at the World Pool Series on Friday in New York, with a hard fought 13-11 victory over a very game Petri Makkonen. The win by the Albanian teenager cemented his status as not only the poster boy for the future of professional pool, but as a current bona fide superstar among the elite of the sport. This was Kaci’s second win in the four event World Pool Series this year, an incredibly remarkable feat considering the sheer strength of the 69 player field that had started play on Tuesday at Steinway Billiards in Queens. One only has […]

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Predators Galore In Final Four

Predators Galore In Final Four – Day 3 Report from the Predator Grand Finale Kaci, Wu, Makkonen and Orcollo make up stellar semi-final at the Predator Grand Finale of the World Pool Series in New York. By Ted Lerner – WPS Media Officer Photos By JP Parmentier (New York City)– The fourth leg of the World Pool Series, the Predator Grand Finale, has come down to the final four, and it’ll be two Europeans and two Asians contesting what has quickly become one of professional pool’s sternest tests. In the first semi-final, which will break off at 12noon EST(-4 GMT), 18year old Albanian sensation Klenti Kaci will lock horns with Taiwanese sharp shooter Wu Ku Lin. In the second semi-final which begins at 3pm, Finland’s Petri Makkonen will do battle with Filipino veteran and former World 8-ball champion, Dennis Orcollo. All eyes seem to be squarely upon the talk and good looking Kaci, as his game and temperament seem impervious to any outside pressure and distractions. Since he shocked the pool world by winning the […]

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Only The Strong Will Survive

Only The Strong Will Survive – Day 1 Report from the World Pool Series Predator Grand Finale By Ted Lerner – WPS Media Officer Photos by JP Parmentier (New York City)–As Jayson Shaw has spent the last 18 months rocketing to the top of the pool world, one opponent has consistently provided fodder for some of his most memorable comebacks in the sport’s biggest events. In the semi-finals at the US Open in 2016, Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi looked set to send Shaw packing, only to see the Scotsman roar back at crunch time and win at the wire. A few weeks later in the semis at the Kuwait Open, Shaw did it again, storming back from a 10-6 deficit to oust the Taiwanese great, 11-10, on his way to the winner’s circle. And just last week in Virginia at the 2017 US Open, Shaw stormed back from another 4 rack deficit to clip Ko yet again. So before Tuesday’s first round matchup between Shaw and Ko at the World Pool Series’ Predator Grand Finale […]

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Sky’s The Limit! – Finals Report From the RYO Rack Classic World Pool Series

Finals Report From the RYO Rack Classic World Pool Series American Skyler Woodward steps onto the big stage with the biggest win of his career, beating Darren Appleton to win the RYO Rack Classic at the World Pool Series. By Ted Lerner – WPS Media Officer Photos By JP Parmentier (New York City)–When pool fans look back years from now at the career of Skyler Woodward, it will surely be noted that it was precisely in mid-July, 2017 in New York City that the friendly and talented Kentucky native finally stepped onto the big stage in the professional ranks. Playing a beautiful game of fast and care free pool, Woodward,24, captured the biggest title of his young career on Saturday night at Steinway Billiards in Queens, winning the third leg of the World Pool Series, the RYO Rack Classic, with a relatively easy two sets to nil finals win over English great Darren Appleton. It was a dizzying finish to an amazing four days of brutally tough 8-ball for the soft spoken Woodward. He never […]

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Klenti Eyes A Repeat

Day 3 Report from the RYO Rack Classic in New York 18 year old Albanian rides a wave of confidence into the semi-finals of the RYO Rack Classic in New York. By Ted Lerner – WPS Media Officer Photos By JP Parmentier (New York City)–Generational battles will be on full display on Saturday in New York City as the RYO Rack Classic Championship, the third leg of the World Pool Series, comes down to its final day. One semi-final, which has been slated for the Unilad TV table, will feature 18 year old Albania phenom Klenti Kaci squaring off against 24 year old American, Skyler Woodward. In the other semi-final, 37 year old veteran Polish campaigner Radislaw Babica will match wits against multi-world champion and soon to be Hall of Famer, 40 year old Darren Appleton. Both semi-finals will be played concurrently at 1pm EST(GMT -4). Nothing came easy for anyone on Friday at Steinway Billiards in Queens as the single elimination matches became pure tests of will and stamina. Each match consisted of best […]

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The Greatest Clearance Of My Career

Day 2 Report From RYO Rack Classic in NYC England’s Chris Melling breaks the internet as he advances to the Final 16 at the RYO Rack Classic in New York. By Ted Lerner – WPS Media Officer Photos By JP Parmentier (New York City)–Long time fans of pool already know that England’s Chris Melling is one of the more talented and entertaining players on the pro circuit. Daring, fast, creative and downright clever, when the Englishman is on his game, there is simply no one in pool who is more fun to watch. It’s one reason why he’s been labeled “The Magician.” And on Thursday night on day 2 of the third leg of the World Pool Series at Steinway Billiards in Queens, New York City, Melling took his on-table tricks to new and rarefied heights that has sent the pool world, especially online, into a tizzy. Words may fail to aptly describe the stunt that Melling pulled off in front of an audience of over 50,000 viewing on social media giant Unilad, but we’ll […]

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Low Expectation Brits Shine Bright On Day 1

Admittedly low on confidence, Karl Boyes and Mark Gray burst out of the gates of the World Pool Series’ RYO Rack Classic in New York. By Ted Lerner – WPS Media Officer (New York City) – Can a player win a tournament even if they are not playing their best pool? Generally when you have the best pool talent in the world under one roof for four days, the answer is usually a resounding no. But sometimes in pool, those that have the least expectations can do the most damage, especially players that have entered the winner’s circle more than a few times in their career. Take Englishmen Mark Gray and Karl Boyes. The two Brits arrived in New York City for the third leg of the World Pool Series, The Ryo Rack Classic Championship, admittedly in the dumps. Gray just came off a miserable performance at the scotch doubles World Cup of Pool in London, and hasn’t had a solid finish in all of 2017. Boyes, a former World 8-ball Champion, has barely touched […]

International

2017 World Pool Series: 3rd Series

RYO Rack Classic Championship Skyler Woodward (USA) gewinnt RYO Rack Classic World Pool Series im Finale gegen Darren Appleton (GBR) mit 6-3 und 6-3. Den 3. Platz belegen Eklent Kaci (ALB) und Radoslaw Babica (POL). Wann: 12. – 15. Juli 2017 Spielort: Steinway Cafe & Billiards, 3525 Steinway St, Astoria, NY 11101, USA Disziplin: 8 Ball Teilnehmer: 96 Preisgeld: ca. 60.000$ Besonderheiten: Mosconi Cup Team USA Ranking Event, WPA Ranking Event Favoriten: u.a.: Darren Appleton (GBR), David Alcaide (SPA), Ralf Souquet (GER), Johnny Archer (USA), Ruslan Chinakhov (RUS), Carlo Biado (PHI), Mika Immonen (FIN), Jayson Shaw (SCO), Klenti Kaci (ALB), Francisco Sanchez-Ruiz (SPA), Alex Pagulayan (CAN), Dennis Orcollo (PHI), Chris Melling (GBR) Links: World Pool Series (Offizielle Website), Auslosung & Ergebnisse

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Klenti Has Plenty To Celebrate – Finals Report from the Aramith Masters

18 year old High School Student Klenti Kaci Shocks The Pool World By Winning The Aramith Masters At The World Pool Series In New York City. By Ted Lerner – WPS Media Officer Photos By JP Parmentier/WPS (New York City)–Playing with an almost surreal poise and skill that belies his obvious youth, 18 year old Albanian Klenti Kaci captured the Aramith Masters Championship on Saturday in New York City with a two sets to nil win over the Philippines Carlo Biado, and at the same time laid claim to being the most promising young rising star in pool’s professional ranks. The tall and good looking Albanian, who this week was on his third pool playing trip to the United States in the last 8 months, and who regularly plays on the Euro Tour, captured the $12,000 first prize in this the second event of Darren Appleton’s new 8-ball tour, the World Pool Series. But much more than the money and even the title, Kaci showcased the kind of uncanny skill and psychological maturity reserved for […]

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Cliffhangers Galore – Day 2 Report from the World Pool Series

Ralf Souquet Advances Via One of 12 Match-Deciding Shootouts As The Aramith Masters Goes Down To The Final 16 By Ted Lerner – WPS Media Officer Photos By JP Parmentier/WPS (New York City)–One of the unique new features of the World Pool Series is the implementation of the shootout to decide matches that end up tied with one rack left. The idea is to create excitement for fans, as each player is left with just one type of shot to make; 5 tries at a difficult full table cut on the 8-ball. It’s the ultimate pressure shot as players are forced to show full bottle and guts to try and advance. If day 2 of the Aramith Masters was any indication, fans can expect plenty of full throttle drama to decide matches going forward as we enter the business end of this, the second leg of pool’s newest tour. 72 matches were played today, and a whopping 12 of them were decided by shootouts. Three of those nerve rattling shootouts featured England’s Chris Melling, who […]