Teen from Lyndonville advances to final 16 in NYC pool tournament
Provided photo: Jake “the Snake” Jackson, 17, concentrates on a shot in the World Chinese 8 Ball Stop competition in New York City, where he has advanced to 16 out of more than 130 players.
MEDINA – Seventeen-year-old Jake Jackson, a student at Lyndonville High School and an avid pool player, is in New York City, where he is competing in the World Chinese 8 Ball Stop.
At 4 p.m. on Saturday, his father Roger e-mailed to say Jake had won 9-5 to move into 32nd place out of more than 130 players.
“This puts him in the money and I’m so proud,” said his father. “We all are.”
In another e-mail at 8:35 p.m., Roger reported Jake had advanced to the final 16 out of 130 players, and has an interview scheduled with Joy Heyball who is promoter of the largest billiard tours in the world. It is played with regular 2-1/4” standard American size pool balls, but pockets that are only 3-1.2”.
“This is a very difficult game and takes lots of precision and focus,” Roger said.
Jake will have an interview with Jay before his noon match today. Jake has also been invited to participate in the opening ceremony as speaker of the Athletes’ Oath.
The family expects to return home on Wednesday.
