Interactive Billiards on the Fast Track ... According to the Nintendo Wii (pronounced 'we') website, billiards is bundled under the Wii Play heading, along with eight other games for 1-2 players, like table tennis, laser hockey and shooting range. The new home video game console and motion-sensitive controller, the Wii Remote, are designed so that anyone can enjoy games, whatever their ability or experience.

With built-in Wii Channels users can also surf the internet, edit photos, check news and weather, and much more. [ view billiards clip | read review ]

According to Gaming Target, the next issue of Nintendo Power has revealed that Wii Play will be released in the US in January 2007. In Europe and Japan, the game is being bundled with the Wii Remote, but it is unknown if Nintendo of America plans to sell it the same way. Considering how rare the remotes currently are, this website advises that it might not be a bad idea to wait until January to see if Nintendo does the same with the US release. [ more ]

The American CueSports Alliance [ACS] released that ... Richfield Chalet in Hubertus proved to be an ideal site for hosting some hot pool on cold Wisconsin winter nights for the inaugural ACS Midwest 8-Ball Championships. Singles and 3-person team play brought ACS league members from Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, for a great time at the $5,000 added event.

In an exciting final, the Men’s Open Singles could have gone either way, but once-defeated Tim Sena (West Bend, WI) saw his title hopes dashed against Tom Cox (Sun Prairie, WI) when his brilliant 8-ball shot to tie the score 4-4 resulted in a cue ball scratch to earn Cox the crown, 5-3. Illinois dominated the Women’s Open Singles competition, with undefeated Kelly Lee (Montgomery, IL) out pointing her teammate, Cherie Teason (Somonauk, IL), for first place, 4-2.

In the Men’s Master Singles, undefeated Scott Herbeck of Sauk City, WI held off a determined Dennis Babcock (Dousman, WI) in the deciding game of their second set after being down 5-6, to claim the title in two sets 3-7 and 7-6. In the Women’s Master Singles, Beth Fondell (Owatonna, MN) had undefeated Pam Patton (Milwaukee, WI) on the ropes 3-0 in their finals, only to have Pam take advantage of a couple missed 8-balls to reel off 5 straight games to claim the title 5-3! [ photos ]

Linda Chen ... was recently named as the first elected non-playing President of the WPBA. “I earned my education through a golf scholarship at the University of Texas in Austin,” said Chen. “As a former female athlete and now a business woman in the sports and entertainment industry, I believe that this is a part of my responsibility to give back.”

“Women's sports need advocates and the WPBA has the potential to capture significantly more share of mind and I am pleased to be leading this charge.” Chen continued, “I receive great satisfaction in creating and implementing change that leads to sustainable growth."

"The role as president is a figure head position and I appreciate the acknowledgment from my peer board members that nominated me,” said Chen. “The real work, however, will be done by the entire Board, our contract management and the playing members.”

In addition to Chen, the WPBA elected business representatives, Robert Machado, Alliance Development Director for the Walt Disney Company and Charles Jaynes, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Safety and Management. Player representatives elected were Kim White, Melissa Herndon, Hall of Fame member Belinda Campos - Calhoun and Dawn Hopkins.

The Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) held its officer election of officers for the coming season at their 2006 Annual Banquet in Lincoln City, Oregon in conjunction with the Cuetec Cues National Championship. [ more ]