Treat your organization to an early holiday gift this year ... by renewing your BCA membership today! As a quick reminder, ALL BCA memberships expire on December 31, 2008.

Your renewal will guarantee that your company will be listed in the “Who’s Who” of the billiard industry — the BCA Membership Directory. This comprehensive reference book will be published early next year, so your renewal must be received and processed no later than January 30, 2009.

You simply won’t want to miss out in 2009. Together, we are stronger than we are apart! The BCA is your exclusive link to:

• NEW FOR 2009 — Online Forums for Retailers and Room Operators

• NEW FOR 2009 — Marketing 101: How to Write a Marketing Plan and More Than 100 Marketing Tips

• FREE Admission to the 2009 BCA Expo in Las Vegas — a $100 Value

• EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES at the 2009 BCA Expo in Las Vegas — Where Else?

• INDUSTRY EDUCATION via Consumer and Industry Research and Expo Seminars

• PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES via GenerationPool.com

• FREE BCA Merchandise, Industry News, Updates and Business Tips

• EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS on Products and Services

If you have any questions regarding your current membership or your renewal, please contact Kari Freeland, BCA membership coordinator, at 866.852.0999 or you can visit bca-pool.com and easily renew online.

The 2008 World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World Junior 9-Ball Championships ... was held in Reno, Nevada, December 1-3. Young billiard athletes from 22 countries traveled to the United States to participate in the 33 player boys’ division and 18 player girls’ division. Among the 17 participants representing North America were: Austin Murphy of Folsom, California; Landon Shuffett of Greensburg, Kentucky; Nick Tafoya of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Billy Thorpe of Dayton, Ohio; Adam Davis of Raleigh, North Carolina; Joshua Newman of Bessemer City, North Carolina; Brendan Crockett of Bell Canyon, California; Allison Hardwick and Chelsea Hardwick of Evansville, Indiana; Briana Miller of Allentown, Pennsylvania; Nicole Hernandez of Des Plaines, Illinois; Heather Torpin of Mesa, Arizona; Jauslinn Arnold of Bakersfield, California; and from Canada, Greg Quinn, McEarl Bucais, Marc Bucais and Brittany Bryant.

Brittany Bryant won the gold and was crowned the 2008 WPA World Junior 9-Ball Champion, Girls’ Division. Bryant went undefeated throughout the tournament, beginning with a close match over Karen Garcia of Nicaragua, 7-6. She continued her winning streak defeating Chelsea Hardwick, 7-3, Kim Witzel of Germany, 7-5, and Sabrina Naverschnig of Austria, 7-3, before winning a thrilling finals match against Konischi Samia of Japan, 9-8.

Representing the United States in the girls’ division, 13-year-old Briana Miller became the U.S. high finisher. Miller won her first three matches before moving to the one loss side and was eliminated in a close 6-7 match, finishing tied for 5th place. Also representing the United States were sisters Allison and Chelsea Hardwick. An unfortunate draw paired the two sisters in their first round with Chelsea taking the match, 7-5. Chelsea continued to charge ahead, finishing tied for 7th place. Sharing the 7th place finish, Heather Torpin displayed much perseverance and remained poised in spite of her two heartbreaking 6-7 losses. Making her debut, Jauslinn Arnold finished tied for 9th, while Allison Hardwick and Nicole Hernandez both tied for 13th place.

Leading the North American contingent in the boys’ division was Nick Tafoya. Tafoya was temporarily slowed down in his second match by World Champion Pin-Yi Ko of Taiwan, losing 4-9. The determined Tafoya regained momentum with wins against USA Junior National Champions Austin Murphy, 9-6, and Landon Shuffett, 9-5, before falling short in an exciting 7-9 match, finishing tied for 9th place. Other top North American finishes include a tie for 13th place by Shuffett and McEarl Bucais. Although Shuffett lost a thrilling 7-9 match to Bucais, he continued his flawless play before getting ousted by Tafoya. Austin Murphy, Joshua Newman and 12-year-old Billy Thorpe finished tied for 17th place, while Adam Davis, Brendan Crockett, Marc Bucais and Greg Quinn finished tied for 25th place.

The 2008 World 9-Ball Championship for Wheelchair Players ... was held December 3-5, 2008, at the Sands Regency Casino Hotel in Reno, Nevada. The invitation-only event consisted of a 28-player field full of the best wheelchair pool players in the world. Players traveled to Reno from Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Scotland, Slovenia, Sweden and Wales, as well as across the United States to participate.

Due to the strength of the field, the outcome of the tournament was always in doubt and many of the preliminary matches were very close battles. National Wheelchair Poolplayers Association (NWPA) President Jeff Dolezal lost a tight match against Japan’s No. 1 player, Takahiro Terada, 9-7. NWPA Secretary Ken Force and Bill Frisby went head-to-head, with Frisby winning, 9-5. Frisby’s hopes for gold were lost when he lost in the third round to Karl Read of England, 9-6.

Despite these losses, the American team remained strong. In the quarter-finals, Charlie Hans of Cincinnati, Ohio, defeated Brad Rautio of Canada, 11-10. Hans moved on to meet Finland’s Jouni Tahti. Hans defeated the former world champion 11-7. On the other side of the tournament bracket, Aaron Aragon defeated Matej Brajkovic of Slovenia in the quarters, 11-4, to set up a semi-final match against Fred Dinsmore of Ireland. Their match was determined in the final game, with Aragon coming from behind to win 11-10.

This victory set up an all-American championship match for the first time since 1999. The final match was a single race to 13, with Aragon reaching the hill first (12 games won). Hans won two games to bring the match within one game, 11-12. Hans proceeded to run the rack down to the 9-ball, only to miss a tough, but makeable, cut shot along the rail. The 9-ball ended up in front of the corner pocket for an easy shot for Aragon.

Aragon sunk the 9-ball to win the match, 13-11, and captured his first World Wheelchair 9-Ball Championship title. Hans took home the silver medal, and Dinsmore and Tahti each received a bronze medal for their third-place finishes (tie). Each of the medalists also received a custom engraved cue, color coordinated to the medal they received, as a memento for their accomplishment. The cues were donated courtesy of Viking Cue Manufacturing, Inc.

Special thanks to all of the organizations, sponsors and individuals who helped develop and support these events: World Pool-Billiard Association; Billiard Congress of America; United States Pool Players Association; Viking Cue Manufacturing; Simonis Cloth; Paralyzed Veterans of America; American Poolplayers Association; Mueller Recreational Products; Predator Cues; Poison Cues; Seybert Billiard Supply; Tonkin Custom Cues; Hustlin USA Clothing; Delasco; Tony Annigoni; Fran Crimi; Ivan Lee; Rob Johnson; Jerry Forsyth; and Ken Force.

The 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship, ... produced and conducted by the American Poolplayers Association (APA), was held at Mr. Cues II in Atlanta, Georgia, November 7-9, 2008. Preliminary qualifying rounds were held throughout the country in mid-September, with more than 1,500 players attempting to qualify.

Amy Chen of Norcross, Georgia, is the 2008 U.S. Amateur Women’s Champion after defeating Rhio Anne Flores of Jersey City, New Jersey. Chen went undefeated in her first U.S. Amateur Championship appearance, defeating Flores in the finals, 9-5. The finals featured a see-saw battle at the outset in the 8-Ball set. Flores got on the board first, with Chen taking the next two games. Flores followed by winning consecutive games herself. Chen closed out the 8-Ball set with a win and the score tied at three games apiece.  In the 9-Ball set, the two players again traded wins before Chen went on a run that saw her win three consecutive games. Now trailing by three games, Flores won the sixth game, but it was all Chen from there. She took the next two games for a 9-5 win. Chen wins an all expenses paid trip and a spot in the 2008 WPBA Classic Tour event.

Travis Gunn of Hewitt, Texas, is the 2008 U.S. Amateur Champion in the Men’s Division after going undefeated throughout the three-day tournament. Gunn capped off his outstanding performance with an 11-7 victory over Chris Walls of High Springs, Florida. In the finals, Gunn jumped out to an impressive 7-0 lead in the 9-Ball set before Walls mounted a nearly monumental comeback. Walls took the next six games of 9-Ball and trailed by only two games as the players switched to 8-Ball. In the 8-Ball set, Walls took the first game to pull within one. Gunn, however, finally regained the momentum and took the next four games to secure an 11-7 win and the title. Gunn wins an all expenses paid trip and a spot in the 2009 U.S. Open Men’s pro tournament.

Chen and Gunn competed with the nation’s most highly skilled amateur players who were all vying for the U.S. Amateur title. The Men’s Division consisted of 128 players, while the Women’s Division featured 25 players. As champions, Chen and Gunn will return next year to defend their coveted titles.

Complete coverage of the U.S. Amateur Championship can be found online.

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) ... announces that they are accepting applications for the 2009 scholarship awards. The BEF Academic Scholarship Program is administered annually under the direction and guidance of the BEF Board of Trustees. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 16, 2009, and can be downloaded by going to the BEF Web site at billiardeducation.org.

The BEF Academic Scholarship Program is divided into two categories: Excellence in Education scholarship (one $5,000 scholarship awarded over a two-year term) and Aiming for Higher Education scholarships (seven individual scholarships at $1,000 each). The objective of the BEF Academic Scholarship Program is to grant scholarships to high school seniors who have benefited from the sport of billiards and are pursuing a college education.

Prospects must adhere to the following scholarship criteria: 1) hold a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale); 2) must have an ACT score of at least 23 or combined SAT score of at least 1400; 3) submit a 500-1000 word essay on how billiards has been an integral part of their life; 4) must be accepted to an accredited undergraduate academic program by June 1, 2009; and 5) must attend an accredited undergraduate institution and carry at least 12 hours per semester.

The final application must also include a letter from the applicant outlining academic achievements, leadership and/or community service work, a description of the applicant's background and career objectives, personal and professional (academic) goals and chosen discipline of study. Applicants must also submit an official high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores.

The BEF would like to thank all the contributors that make this scholarship and other BEF programs possible. If you would like to become a donor and make a difference in the growth of billiard programs for our youth, please contact the BEF office at 303.926.1039.