Concluding in Scottsdale, August 20 ... The debut annual Poker Pool Tournament at the Raddisson Ft. McDowell Resort & Casino listed these winners: 1. Ike Van Atta $5,000, 2. Mitch Ellerman $2,500, 3. Jim Rabatin $1,250, 4. Keith Heinzeroth $625, 5. Gordon Makeham $300, 6. Johnny Naegel $300, 7. Mark Osugi $150, 8. Bob Samuelson $150, 9. Bernie Pettipiece $75, 10. Rich Daniels $75, 11. Bobby Emmons $75, 12. Randy Boring $75.

Concluding in Saint Louis, August 26 ... The American Poolplayers Association’s (APA) 26th Annual National Team Championships saw a record number of teams compete in this year’s 9-day extravaganza. More than 1,500 8-Ball, 9-Ball, Doubles and Masters teams made the trek to Sin City to compete, Aug. 18 – 26, for more than $1 Million in prize money. In addition, the APA conducted nearly 600 MiniMania tournaments, which offered multiple formats with 100% prize money payback that awarded more than $200,000. [ coverage & photos ]

Concluding in Louisville, September 4 ... The BCA Pool League 9-Ball National Championships wrapped up a weeks-worth of play by posting full results and promising more coverage online next week. Look for more to come, at www.PlayBCA.com.

The International Pool Tour ... As reported in the closing paragraphs of the World Open 8-Ball Championship Update 1, IPT founder Kevin Trudeau recently announced that the IPT has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Ho Interactive, a new company started by billionnaire casino owner Stanley Ho. [ Forbes profile ]

The tour was reportedly sold for approximately $150M, with Trudeau signing on to continue as Commissioner for five more years.

Tour Director Deno Andrews also stated that the IPT Players 8-Ball Championship scheduled for Oct. 22 29 in London, England, has been cancelled due to problems in negotiations with the facility. At the same time, the IPT guaranteed a minimum of $13,000 for the year for every player who plays in all the 2006 stops. [ more ]

Mark Finkelstein ... took the morning train from Penn Station to Baltimore on August 12, then a quick taxi ride to the Baltimore convention center. It was a three hour trip each way, but he gave up his Saturday (and then some) to add his own brand of expertise to the volunteer instructor lineup at the BCA Ballbusters event.

Earlier in the year, Mark had attained "Advanced Instructor" status from the BCA, becoming one of only eleven certified clinicians to successfully complete the rigorous requirements of professionalism, coursework and a minimum of four years of field testing. In Baltimore, he became a valuable and welcome addition to the public promotional fair.

A relatively unknown player/instructor in the pool world, Mark has been playing pool for over fifty years. He played all through high school and college, then joined the Navy and played up and down the west coast. In San Francisco he studied with Bud Harris, National 3C Billiard Champion. In San Diego he competed weekly at College Billiards, along with Jay Swanson, Morro Paez and Keith McCready.

After retiring from the Navy and moving to New York City, he began teaching at Slate Plus's Pool School (formerly Chelsea Billiards) in 1992. He continued to study with the likes of Abe Rosen, George Mikula, Bert Kinister, and Randy Goettlicher, and served as the technical advisor on the movie "The Thing about my Folk's" with Peter Falk and Paul Reiser.

With a high run of 276 in straight pool, Finkelstein finished 32-48 in his most recent professional appearance, at the UPA World Summit of Pool. He still practices 2-3 hours every day, and teaches private students nearly seven days a week. You'll find him promoting pool in the NYC area - from corporate parties to bar mitzvahs - as well as anywhere that he might be able to support the BCA. Thanks! [ email ]