USA and Canada Share Honors at the 2011 Lucasi Hybrid Cues ACS Nationals in Las Vegas

Moving the 2011 ACS National Championships to the newly-renovated Tropicana Las Vegas, May 7-14 - at the urging of the ACS board of directors – proved a shrewd move, as the service-oriented property bent over backwards with its friendliness and attention to detail to host the American CueSports Alliance most major Championships! When the heat of competition in twenty-four divisions of play in 8-ball and 9-ball had cooled off, players and teams from both USA and Canada merited similar overall successes.

In the Men's 9-Ball Singles Houston's undefeated Nick Hood took advantage of his handicap rating to dispatch Bill Mason (Virginia Beach, VA) in the one-set finals, 7-5. The Women's 9-Ball Singles crown was hoisted by Jessica Frideres (Ft. Dodge, IA), who spotted opponent Leslee Davis (Lutz, FL) one game and fell behind 0-3 before recovering to take the division by a 7-4 margin! In 8-ball singles, Ike Runnels (Kankakee, IL) comfortably dispatched the always dangerous Glenn Atwell (Gig Harbor, WA) in the first set of the finals, 7-3, to claim the Men's Advanced 8-Ball Singles top spot; while Canadian Sherry Warren (St. John's, NL) and Kit Dennis (Ridgefield, WA) – more than 3,000 miles apart in residences – dueled to a final's 7-6 climax in favor of Warren for the Women's Advanced 8-Ball Singles laurels.

Other 8-ball singles results included Nick Hood (Houston, TX) claiming a second title – Men's Open 8-Ball Singles – by a 5-1 margin over Derrick Cantu (Alexandria, LA); Rhonda Wright (Westlake, LA) claiming a title for cajun country via a 4-1 finals victory over Linda Asleson (Billings, MT) in Women's Open 8-Ball Singles; Hector Morgan (St. John's NL) clipping Robert Wright (Surrey, BC) 5-4 for the lower-skill leveled Men's Standard 8-Ball Singles division; and Eve Sisneros (La Junta, CO) recovering from a first-set final's loss to Kirsten Liane (Tacoma, WA) 3-4 to claim the trophy for the Rocky Mountain state by a decisive 4-0 score in the playoff set!

The veterans gained the spotlight as well, with Mike Rohner (Sherrill, IA) taking advantage of a free entry via a previous win in the Lucasi-Hybrid Cues All American Tour to dominate the Men's Senior 8-Ball Singles – topping his play off with a 5-1 finals dispatch of Victor Tyynismaa (Lake Havasu, AZ) who was relegated to the runner-up position for the second straight year. On the distaff side (Women's Senior 8-Ball Singles), Shawn Modelo (Antioch, CA) emphatically defended her title by eliminating Loreen Toutant (Barrie, ON) in the first set of the finals, 4-0. And in the Super Senior 8-Ball Singles, a former runner-up, Roy Skenandore (Green Bay, WI), escaped a two set finals over Jerry Watts (Shelbyville, KY) – after being down 2-4 and 0-4 respectively – to grasp the title on the hill, 5-4, for his first national title win!

Scotch Doubles 8-ball divisions (man/woman) featured the team of Jessica Frideres/ Dustin Gunia (IA/NE) defending their title in Advanced 8-Ball Scotch Doubles over Gina Knight/Kenneth Brisbon (IL/MI) in one set, 5-1; while Labernalene Store/Steven Stowers (AZ) blanked Mandy Schneider-Hood/Nick Hood (TX) in the finals 4-0 for the Open 8-Ball Scotch Doubles crown.

Team play highlighted the chemistry of league play with local hot shots, "Dick's Pick" (NV), decisively outpointing Team Canada Eh! (AB) 13-7 for the Men's Advanced 8-Ball Team championship; and "Dakota Dragon Ladies" (ON) breaking a 12-12 tie in the finals of Women's Advanced 8-Ball Teams division to click off a 19-12 win over "Ol Tima" (WA) for the title. "Brass Bell I" (VA) took down the finals of the Men's Open 8-Ball Teams via a one-set 13-10 decision over "4 Shooters & A Blind Preacher" (UT), while "Rat Pack Gals" (UT) kept their undefeated march intact via a 10-6 finals margin over "This Bud's For You" (OK). In the standard divisions, Men's Standard 8-Ball Team "Cubetas Leo's Place" (CO) lost in the hot seat match 8-13, only to regain their momentum and gain revenge in the finals the hard way: a two set 13-12, 13-8 thriller over "O'Leary's" (AZ); while "Kross Roads Wild Cards" (VA) captured the Women's Standard 8-Ball Team division at the expense of Ontario's "Felt on the Table", 10-8.

The three 9-ball team divisions were highlighted respectively by: Men's Advanced 9-Ball Team champions "Ball Busters" (BC) outdistancing "Las Vegas Cue Club – Kuhl" (NV) 19-14 for the title; Men's Open 9-Ball Team victors "Rounders" (BC) winning a marathon 19-17, 19-15 clash over "Wrecking Crew I" (LA); and winning Women's Open 9-Ball Team "Rickochet Ladies" (LA) routing "Deli NineAlators" (AZ) 10-4 for its division conquest.

The ACS was also pleased to host some very extra special events at this year's Nationals, which included Pedro Piedrabuena (CA) claiming his fourth national title at the USBA National 3-Cushion Championship; Jason Kane (NY) outpointing 100 competitors for the ACS National Artistic Pool Championship – conducted by former world artistic pool champion, Tom "Dr. Cue" Rossman; and Jason Kane (NY) and Jessica Frideres (IA) sharing respective men's and women's Speed Pool Challenge titles.

The ACS Nationals has found a new home in the southern, more entertaining portion of the Las Vegas strip and will return in 2012 to the Tropicana Las Vegas, May 5-11. The ACS expresses special notes of appreciation to title sponsor Lucasi Hybrid Cues, tournament direction and equipment supplier High Country Promotions, the professional staff of the Tropicana Las Vegas and the ACS tournament and referee staff, players and fans who continue to support the ACS – going into its eighth year of promoting the sport in North America. The ACS looks forward to continuing to build its ranks in 2011/2012 through its eleven state associations and championships and its independent leagues, its Lucasi Hybrid All American Tour, its certified referees and instructors, and to welcoming players to its $10,000 added 2012 Midwest 8-Ball Championships, January 19-22 at the Riverside Casino in central Iowa!! Complete results and winners photos of the 2011 Lucasi Hybrid Cues ACS National Championships may be viewed online at www.americancuesports.org.