Archive for 9-ball Pool

When Will You See Your Videos?

I get asked quite often via Facebook and Twitter when certain videos or even whole series of videos are going to be available for viewing.

So I thought I would post some sort of guide in the blog to give you a rough idea of when you can start to see things coming through, plus I thought I would also describe the process here at Cuesport TV.

‘The Process’

Pretty much everything that is shown on the TV table at a given live event will also be recorded ‘as live’ directly to our system’s hard drive. I say ‘pretty much’ simply because on occasions matches do not get recorded.

After this recording the video files are then imported into our editing suite and most of the time shortened to cut out all the re-racking and boring bits! This in itself can take a fair amount of time for each match, sometimes up to 2 hours.

From here the video file is then exported into a suitable digital format to give us a decent quality file for use on the web. It is this file that is then used to create other multiple file formats. The export process takes between 20 and 60 minutes dependent on the file size.

The files are then ready for upload to our system, this is the bit that takes a lot of time, a 1GB video file takes around 4 hours to upload as we are constrained by the connection speed we have here.

The records are then created on the website that the video’s slot into (or nothing would play) and the files are transcoded, this makes them available in a variety of formats for when we create an app or change video player.

That’s pretty much the whole process and you can see that one video file takes around 10 hours to complete (most of that done by a computer in fairness).

Release Dates

UPC-BUCS 8-Ball Championships 2012 -10 videos from this event have already been released in the 8-Ball Pool Video category. You will need to go to around page 16 to find the videos until the search feature is enabled.

The rest of the UPC content will be available by: Wednesday May 2nd

EBPF County Finals 2012 – I have brought in an extra editor to complete this series of matches to try and speed up the process a little bit and to clear a bit of the backlog.

Available by: Monday May 14th

European Blackball Championships 2012 - This is a popular series of videos as so many players got to play in front of the Cuesport TV camera’s, this series will be edited straight after the completion of the UPC-BUCS videos and will start to come through the system by mid-May.

Available by: Thursday May 31st

GB9 Paul Medati Trophy – Two matches have already been made available from this tournament but in un-edited form, these are the final and semi-final of the Pro Cup event. The rest of the matches from the Pro Cup and the main event will be edited and made available by mid-June.

Available by: Friday June 15th

Any other videos from other events will be after this date. I know we are still due to complete some GB9 content from last year plus we have another live event set for 20th May as well so please bear with us.

I hope this post gives you an indication of what and when you can expect certain things from Cuesport TV, and please do hold me accountable for the dates!

9-Ball Pool on Live Stream

It has been a good 6 months since we showed any live 9-ball on Cuesport TV. The last few months have been heavily weighted towards the UK 8-ball disciplines of Blackball and World Rules.

It will be a welcome change for us providing some live 9-ball and I am sure for some of our regular viewers it will also be something different to get your teeth into.

In probably the most poignant event in the GB 9 Ball Tour’s history players will compete in the Paul Medati Trophy, Pro Cup II and the newly named Mark Lovell Challenge Cup.

Sadly Mark, who many on the tour will of course know, lost his battle with cancer in December 2011 at the age of just 54. The tour opted to rename this Challenge Cup event in his honour and it will become a yearly fixture on the GB9 calendar.

Not only is there some fantastic pool on offer but the tour will be doing it’s yearly fund-raising activity for Macmillan Cancer Support.

It is World Number 3, Chris Melling, that will be the man everyone wants to beat as he looks to defend the main event title he won last year. Battling with Melling will be other top names including Daryl Peach, Karl Boyes, Craig Osborne and Imran Majid.

You can watch all of the action live on Cuesport TV from 10:15am on Saturday morning (14th April) and through to around 11pm on Sunday evening (15th April).

The event is PPV and if you buy in advance it will cost just £2.95 for the whole event, the full price is £3.95.

You can buy it from the following link now: GB9 Paul Medati Trophy 2012

Back When DVD’s Were Relevant

We have recently come across a batch of DVD’s that we created at Cuesport TV Towers, these are matches back in 2008 mainly, back when DVD’s were relevant!

Looking to clear them out for a small fee including postage to anyone that might like a copy. The list is below and each copy will cost £4.00 including UK P&P.

  • SPA Super 15′s Blackball Final 2007 – Monkland’s B v Clackmannanshire (Yes we still have 2 copies!!!)
  • Lynette Horsburgh v Bradley Parker – GB9 Challenge Last 32 (3 copies available)
  • Thomas Ainsworth-Smith v Craig Dixon – GB9 Challenge Semi Final (1 copy available)
  • GB9 Southern Masters Round 4 – Daryl Peach v Karl Boyes (3 copies available)
  • GB9 Southern Masters Semi Final – Imran Majid v Darren Appleton (5 copies available)

If you would like to purchase any of these DVD’s then drop us an email on enquiries@cuesport.tv – we will not be making anymore so it is first-come first-serve, payment will have to be made via PayPal.

If we come across anymore I will make sure they get listed as well!

Some New Video Releases – MMTV 15

Last week we released all 23 videos from the Money Match TV 15 event in Wakefield. This featured players such as Craig Dixon, Mike Gibney and Mark Lunn all playing in head-to-head matches in a race-to-rack winner breaks format.

The direct video links are listed below:

Elliott Sanderson v Alex McElhatton
Sanderson v McElhatton – Part 1 of 8
Sanderson v McElhatton – Part 2 of 8
Sanderson v McElhatton – Part 3 of 8
Sanderson v McElhatton – Part 4 of 8
Sanderson v McElhatton – Part 5 of 8
Sanderson v McElhatton – Part 6 of 8
Sanderson v McElhatton – Part 7 of 8
Sanderson v McElhatton – Part 8 of 8

Mark Lunn v Daz Cooper
Lunn v Cooper – Part 1 of 8
Lunn v Cooper – Part 2 of 8
Lunn v Cooper – Part 3 of 8
Lunn v Cooper – Part 4 of 8
Lunn v Cooper – Part 5 of 8
Lunn v Cooper – Part 6 of 8
Lunn v Cooper – Part 7 of 8
Lunn v Cooper – Part 8 of 8

Mike Gibney v Craig Dixon
Gibney v Dixon – Part 1 of 7
Gibney v Dixon – Part 2 of 7
Gibney v Dixon – Part 3 of 7
Gibney v Dixon – Part 4 of 7
Gibney v Dixon – Part 5 of 7
Gibney v Dixon – Part 6 of 7
Gibney v Dixon – Part 7 of 7

The edit from MMTV 16 will be started this week so expect content from this event by the weekend.

6 Great Places to Watch Live Pool (When we’re not streaming)

There are a number of great people out on the web providing some really good quality live streaming, you may have seen some of them but I hope that some are new to you. However, you are only allowed to watch them when Cuesport TV are not live streaming!

I have not ranked them in order of preference, the list is simply there to make it easier to read:

  1. InsidePool.TV – probably the best pool/billiards magazine on the market, they have been involved with live streaming for a number of years now, they make use of both the Youtube and UStream platforms which makes access very easy.
  2. TheActionReport – They have been doing this since 2007 (about the same amount of time as us!) and the quality has just got better and better over the years, expect multiple camera angles, live commentary, interviews and also a live podcast now as well. Probably the one website that most ‘streamers’ aspire to.
  3. Pool Action TV – Operated by Ray ‘BigTruck’ Hansen PoolActionTV have done a number of differing productions over the last 2 years. Along with regular coverage of Pro/Am events they have also covered the Ultimate 10-Ball Championships and a number of money matches.
  4. OTBNTV -On The Break News operate a number of smaller pool magazines and also got invloved with the live streaming of tournaments from their area a while back. Again utilising the Ustream platform to provide live and VOD coverage.
  5. MaxLeePool – It is great to see someone else trying to push the UK game forward and this site provides live streaming as well as a tour that they operate up in Scotland, great if you are a fan of Blackball or the UK 8-Ball game.
  6. OnTheRail TV – Established in 2008 (07/08 almost seems to be the birth of live streamed pool!) they create high quality match-ups and stream pro-am tournaments from the Arizona region of the US. Many top names have featured including Efren Reyes, Earl Strickland and Darren Appleton with One Pocket seeming to be a speciality.

This is just a small list of live streaming resources, please send me links to other live streaming websites/companies/profiles on the web and I will try and update this list over time. If I have made any glaring errors then please let me know.

Top 5 Matches of 2011

Thought I would have a go at compiling a ‘Top 5 of 2011′ in terms of the matches that we have covered, you can find details of them below and where we have it a link to the video on Cuesport TV.

It has been a difficult task to compile this list due to the sheer amount of pool that I have been involved with covering in 2011 so they are in no particular order of preference!

1. Welsh Open Blackball Final – This has been our most watched video of the second half year even though it was only released at the end of November. In my eyes one of the most perfect games of pool ever played in front of our cameras as Simon Ward won his second consecutive Welsh Open title by demolishing Richie Oliver 6-0.

2. GB9 British Grand Prix Final – Jayson Shaw once again proved what a very classy and entertaining player he can be by lifting the GB9 British Grand Prix in November. Up against the best GB9 player of all time (Imran Majid) many felt that Imran’s more deliberate style would have slowed Jayson down but not on this occasion, the Scotsman showed pure class as he lifted the title 11-4 with 4 break and runs in the process. The win also meant that he finished 2nd in the end of year rankings. (Video available soon)

3. Oly Bale v Ronan McCarthy – This was a well talked about, high profile, big-money 8 Ball match that in terms of the pre-match hype didn’t meet expectations from the home player. What it did do though was prove what a class act Ronan McCarthy is! (Link is to the first part of the match.)

4. Money Match TV 14: Matt Lawrenson v Craig Osborne – There have been many great MMTV matches over the last 12 months but this one sticks in my mind due to the final part of the match alone, both players were tied early on with Matt the taking a lead. It looked pretty much over when Matt went 18-14 in front only to see one of the greatest comebacks in MMTV history by Craig Osborne. (Video is a link to this exciting final part)

5. European Blackball Championship Semi Final – ‘The Battle of Ireland’ as Gavin Cleary of the host nation took on Darren Sterrett of Northern Ireland for a place in the final. A very good advert for the game of Blackball with two very contrasting styles of play. Video link is part 1 of 2.

If you would like to submit your ‘Top 5′ or ‘Best of 2011′ then please drop us an email to enquiries@cuesport.tv

Europe to win in Las Vegas Showdown?

Yes folks it is the return of the Mosconi Cup again this weekend and Team Europe fly out to the USA to try and defend the trophy they won on home soil last year.

Again the European team consists of two British players in Darren Appleton and Mosconi rookie Chris Melling. Appleton has once again had a stellar year culminating with his defence of the US Open title.

Melling has also produced some superb pool this season and won his first major when lifting the China Open title. Melling, for those that have not seen him before, has the most amazing cue action ever! He is a twice WEPF World 8-ball Champion and has also competed on snooker’s main professional tour. He certainly has the pedigree to compete on this level.

Incidentally both of the Brits are from that ‘Cuesporting Mecca’ called Yorkshire and have been friends off the table for some years.

These two ‘heavyweights’ of the pool shooting world are joined by the unbreakable Ralf Souquet of Germany, a member of last years victorious European team, Nick van den Berg of Holland, also part of that winning team in 2010 on his return to the Mosconi Cup and finally Niels Fiejen, also of Holland, making a Mosconi Cup return after missing out in 2010.

The team is also captained by Dutchman Johan Ruijsink for the second time in succession thus giving, in my opinion, the European Team the upper hand and some invaluable continuity.

Team USA will be skippered for the first time by Mosconi Cup veteran Charlie Williams, his team is made up of the ever-impressive Johnny Archer, the very exciting Rodney Morris, probably the best money player in the world, Shane van Boening, Shawn Putnam and debutant Mike Dechaine.

With the number of high level titles won this season the European Team looks much more likely to lift the trophy for the second time in succession, however, the last time the event was held on US soil it was the Americans that did the business with that man Shane van Boening potting the winning 9-ball.

My opinion (and that of Mosconi Cup player Karl Boyes) is Europe to win!

Set & Ready

Well GB9′s last event of 2011 started nearly 2 hours ago with the preliminary rounds in the Challenge Cup.

This will be joined by the first round of the Pro event later.

The tour continues to innovate and this time every one of the 16 tables have a laptop to input pigeons results that then pushes data straight put onto the web. There are also auto functions like calling the next matches automatically and ref’s being called to a table at the touch of a button.

It will be interesting to see how it goes down with the playing contingent and if there are any teething problems.

The live coverage from us starts tomorrow at 10.15am after we completed mortal of the setup this afternoon.

Please join us if you can at http://www.Cuesport.tv

What is it with Darren Appleton?

The title of this post is questioning on purpose. Darren Appleton has propelled himself to the pinnacle of a sport he wasn’t even playing properly back in 2007 and continues to win huge events.

So my question to you guys is What is it with Darren Appleton? (You can answer with your ideas in the comments below).

The man is a nice bloke that has proved that focus and determination coupled with a will to learn are the tools required to become a champion. Since 2008 when he won the World 10-Ball Title he has now bagged a World Masters title, 2 US Open 9-ball titles, A Challenge of Champions title, A World Team Championship title and numerous Eurotour event wins plus a performance in a winning Mosconi Cup team for Europe.

It almost seems pre-written now that Darren Appleton will lift a major title each year and this is starting to drive the UK forward as a whole. The Yorkshireman who was also regarded as probably one of the best UK 8-ball players ever never managed to win the world title in his original sport. But he could see that at the time the US disciplines of pool were the route to go and he has never looked back.

So, please comment below and give your thoughts into what has made Darren Appleton a continual champion for the past 4 years.

Matches Confirmed for MMTV 16 on 29th October

The players, match times and TV table matches have all now been confirmed for Money Match TV 16 on October 29th.

Starting the day off will be the match between MMTV newcomer Phil Morgan against Kev Simpson, should be a reasonably evenly matched affair that one. Wrapping up the day will be Craig Dixon against Shaun Storry, Shaun will also be an MMTV debutant but has done some amazing work on the GB9 Challenge tour this season in lifting an event title so will be a tough opponent for our champion Craig Dixon.

Full Schedule

11:00am

Kev Simpson v Phil Morgan (TV Table)

Mark Lunn v Phil Newman (+4 start)

2:30pm

Chris Hall v Adam Shaw (TV Table)

Anthony Banham v Lee Speight

6:00pm

Craig Dixon v Shaun Storry (TV Table)

Nicky Hayes v Dylan Thomas

Pay-per-view tickets are now on sale here priced at only £3.99 for around 9 hours of live 9-ball pool, so please join us for the days action which will no doubt be close and well fought.