Viking Cue Mfg., Inc. has added Brian Rosselli to their sales and marketing team. Mr. Roselli will be servicing Viking Cue dealers on the East Coast, Florida and Tennessee.

"Brian joins Viking Cue as a sales professional with over 15 years of experience in the Billiard Industry. He has firmly established himself as an industry specialist through his knowledge of sales, marketing, advertising, merchandising and customer service strategies for the Billiard market," Viking said in making the announcement.

"Brian is already familiar with Viking Cues and its products and will be contacting his accounts soon. We will support Brian in anyway necessary in helping him achieve mutual growth and success with Viking Cue and the Dealers that he will be servicing."

For more information on Viking Cue Mfg., Inc., visit www.vikingcue.com

Keep up on all the news in Pool Town! Visit www.poolmag.com

Leonard Bludworth will be inducted into the International Cuemakers Hall of Fame on July 10th, 2010 during the Southern Cue and Case Show in the luxurious Scorpion Room of the Marietta Billiard Club in Marietta, Georgia. Leonard, commonly referred to as "Blud," started doing cue repair in 1976. He was a master pool table mechanic and served as the equipment coordinator for both the men's pro tour and the senior tour for about 15 years. Around the same time he developed the popular Bludworth Billiard Ball Cleaner. It was also Bludworth's idea to take pool tables and travel the country setting them up for pool events...

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With the 2010 International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo (BCA Expo) rapidly approaching, the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) is pleased to report exhibit booth sales and attendee pre-registration are sharply ahead of last year's Expo.

When comparing attendee pre-registration, this year's numbers reflect an 18 percent increase from last year at this time.  Additionally, booth sales have already surpassed last year's total number of 411 booths.

In a warming economy, both manufacturers and distributors have chosen the 2010 BCA Expo as a platform to launch new products and extend support for the home recreation industry.  Currently, 113 companies have contracted to exhibit in 2010.  On average those exhibiting are also committing to larger exhibit spaces than in 2009.

Additionally, as of this announcement, 22 new companies will exhibit at the 2010 Expo.  New products include spas, saunas, tanning beds, casual furniture, cue accessories and much more. "We are encouraged to see the industry pulling together to climb out of this dismal economy," said BCA Chairman, Ivan Lee. "After months of survival strategies, retailers of all kinds are seeking new products for their stores, new ideas for profitability and new networking opportunities to create a stronger future, while manufacturers are offering new products and Expo-only special pricing."

"The BCA Expo remains the gathering place for the industry to connect face to face, and this year will be more dynamic with a great lineup of seminars, industry discussions and opportunities for folks to share ideas, progress and concerns with their peers," commented BCA CEO Rob Johnson.  "The strong pace of retail and room operator registrations, along with the increase in returning and new exhibitors, indicates a positive attitude within the entire home recreation industry."

About the International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo
Established in 1983, The International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo provides industry manufacturers, distributors, retailers, dealers and poolroom operators an annual venue for new business opportunities, including education, new products and networking.  The International Billiard & Home Entertainment Expo is sponsored exclusively by the Billiard Congress of America.

About Billiard Congress of America
Founded in 1948, the Billiard Congress of America is a non-profit trade organization dedicated to growing a united, prosperous and highly regarded billiard industry through BCA leadership.  The BCA seeks to enhance the success of its members and promote the game of billiards through education, marketing and promotional efforts, an annual industry trade show, tournaments and other programs designed to encourage billiards as a lifestyle and make pool everybody's games.  For more information, please visit bca-pool.com or call 303.243.5070.

OVER 750 players from around the world attempted to win the 2010 PartyPoker.netWorld Pool Masters but in the end after five days of play at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, it was Dennis Orcollo of the Philippines who claimed the title and with it the $20,000 first prize...

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ACTION CONTINUED at the PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas as the final two quarter-finalists were determined and Dennis Orcollo became the first player to reach the semi-finals. The standard of play was high throughout and in the opening match of the evening, Thomas Engert defeated Rodney Morris 8-5 to leave Charlie Williams the sole remaining US hope in the event. Engert, a two-time winner of this event in 2004 and 2007, clearly has the Masters mojo as he looked very comfortable throughout. "That was the first time I've played well in this tournament. I broke well and the balls were on my side," said Engert. "Sometimes it wasn't easy to run out - it's never easy to run out against Rodney - but I took my chances. It was a good match for both of us. "Every time I play I feel better at the table and felt much better than at the first match. I'm not thinking about winning it yet. Everyone wants to win and in pool you have to wait for your chances." There was another guaranteed German in the quarter-finals as former World Champions Oliver Ortmann (pictured) and Thorsten Hohmann squared off and it was 1996 WPC champ Ortmann who proved superior. It was an excellent show from Ortmann who came from 4-1 down to complete an outstanding 8-6 victory. "I didn't do anything wrong but I was down 2-1 and then 4-1, but I just tried to concentrate on my own game and I was playing ok so that was the point of the match. I took my chances and was happy to do so," said Ortmann. "At the end of the day the victory was right as I was playing good and he was a bit lucky. I'm focused and feeling pretty confident. I'm just trying to do what I can and I feel really confident at the moment. In the final match of the evening, Dennis Orcollo continued his rich vein of form as he overcame Canada's John Morra 8-3 to book his semi-final spot. Morra didn't have that many opportunities but Orcollo will be hard to stop as he chases his first Masters crown. "I played really well and I did everything. I won the first four games and I felt comfortable every time as I always had a shot. I had a lot of chances to clinch the game so I did. "It was the same type of performance as in the other matches - I didn't change my game so the momentum was always there. I was always thinking positively and my mind was focused. Play continues on Sunday afternoon.  Saturday Evening Results Round Three Rodney Morris (USA) 5 - 8 Thomas Engert (GER) Oliver Ortmann (GER) 8-6 Thorsten Hohmann (GER) Quarter-Final Dennis Orcollo (PHI) 8-3 John Morra (CAN) The 2010 World Pool Masters is sponsored by PartyPoker.net. Tables are supplied by Brunswick Billiards, cloth by Iwan Simonis, Super Aramith balls by Saluc and the Official Cue is Predator.

THERE WERE THREE further Round 3 matches at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas as the PartyPoker.netWorld Pool Masters reached its ultimate day. With play rising to a high standard, there were wins for Charlie Williams, Roberto Gomez and Toru Kuribayashi. In the opening game, Scottish qualifier Jayson Shaw made a few too many mistakes for a player of Roberto Gomez's standard and the Filipino joins compatriot Dennis Orcollo in the quarter-finals. Shaw lost the initiative in the third game as he made an elementary error going from 6 to the 8, as he left the cue ball behind the 9 ball. That handed the rack to Gomez for 2-1 and another shocker, scratching when the run out was elementary. It was a choker for the young Scot as Gomez increased his lead to 3-1.

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THE FIRST THREE TV games took place on Friday evening at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas as the round of 16 got underway in the PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters. From a starting line up of 64 players, there are just 13 left as Dennis Orcollo, John Morra and Ralf Souquet won through. In the opening match of the last 16, Filipino Dennis Orcollo made light work of Raj Hundal (India), going through to the quarter finals by an 8-1 scoreline. Hundal, who looked composed as he negotiated his way through the opening two rounds, made too many mistakes for a player of Orcollo's obvious calibre...

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The field of the 2010 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters has halved after two days of play as 32 have left the competition and the remaining 32 reconvene today as the event moves to single elimination. Described by witnesses as arguably the strongest 64 player line-up assembled in recent times, the Masters has proved a brutal school with world-class match-ups coming thick and fast. The opening round saw 64 players divided into eight groups of eight players playing in double elimination.

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After 27 years and over 45 events, The United States Pool Players Association (USPPA) announced the Reno Open will relocate to the fabulous Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nevada. The complete schedule of events will take place between November 19th and December 6th, 2010...

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Play has concluded on the first day of the 2010 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters as 16 players made their way through to Friday's round of 32 and 16 have been eliminated from the competition. Separated into eight groups of eight players competing in double elimination competition, four groups competed today and top of the seeding for the straight knock out stages of the event...

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