We had a great turnout for the 2025 Arizona junior State Championships held at Dozer's Grill in Mesa Arizona.

Congratulations to all the players! These kids had us all on the edge of our seats the entire day. A wonderfully talented group of kids with some of the best sportsmanship I have ever seen!

I was proud of each and every player that competed & it was a joy to be the tournament director of this event.

We had a few special guest appearances from Peggy Mallen, owner of Balabushka Cue Company and Mike Howerton, CEO of AZBilliards!

The following were the results:

• 10 Ball 18 & Under Boys
• 1st place: Kaito Okumura
• 2nd Place: Ezra Seymour
• 3rd Place: Donovan Seymour

9 Ball Mixed 12 and under

• 1st Place: Donovan Seymour
• 2nd Place: Jordyn Randell
• 3rd Place: Josue Carrizosa

The winner of the free cue raffle, due to the generous donation of the Balabushka Cue Company, was Noah McGovern. Noah walked away with a new $1,000 cue!

Kaito Okumura will be recognized the BEF Arizona State Junior 10 Ball Champion and has received free entry into the BEF American Junior National Championships in July in Quincy Illinois.

This is the first stop of the Southwest Youth Championship Tour. Next stops April 26th at Corner Pocket in Bakersfield, CA. as well as May 10th at Slate Street Billiards in Rio Rancho New Mexico!

Please support our sponsors who support junior pool!

• - Lucasi Cues
• - Balabushka Cue Company
• - Dozers Grill
• - United Escapes of America
• - Glass Mania Studios
• - Delex Realty
• - Witkin Insurance
• - We Play Billiards Custom Apparel

Here are some pictures from the event!

We had about 20 juniors competing for the 2025 Rhode Island Junior State Championships. This was tour stop #2 on the New England Junior American Championship Series (JACS). Juniors came from Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

All winners took home WPA recognized championship titles, trophies, and free entries into the BEF American Junior National Championships to be held this July in Quincy Illinois. It is from that tournament that the players will be chosen to represent the United States on the American team at this year’s world junior championship.

Everyone who competes in any of our New England Tour stops will also be invited to play in the New England Regional championships scheduled for June 21. The Regional championship will award cash prizes to help defray the cost of travel to junior nationals in Quincy.

Congratulations to everyone who competed. Especially to the following winners of our event: Rhode Island native Brady Deverna took home the championship title, for the second consecutive year, in the Boys 18u division. 12-year-old Jacob Guevera made the trip from New York to take home 2nd place in the 18 u and the championship title in the mixed 14 u divisions. Eric Lavallee was very excited (almost as excited as his dad) to take second place in the 14 u mixed division. Congratulations also to Darragh O’Connor for taking the championship title in the girls 18u division and newcomer Madilynne Danzot for her second place win.

Thank you also to room owner Chris Jackson of Run Em Racks in Johnston Rhode Island. Run Em Racks is a beautiful room with diamond tables and a fabulous kitchen. Chris is dedicated to the sport and the development of billiard youth programs. We will be working to bringing the finest junior instruction and opportunities for young players in Rhode Island.

The Massachusetts State Junior Championship was a success despite severe storm warnings and unstable weather. Juniors from Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut gathered at the Red Dragon Billiards Club and Training Center for state titles and entries into the BEF American Junior National Championships in July.

Congratulations to Siyu Chen for winning the title of Boys 18u Massachusetts State Champion and to Jack Muse for a strong second place showing. Kennedy Dunn of Vermont won the State title for the Girls 18 under division. Darragh O’Connor placed second. Jan Santana took home honors for the 14 u mixed division with Stephen Chen coming in second place in a nail biting finish.

Siyu Chen, Jack Muse, Darragh O’Connor, Jan Santana, and Stephen Chen are students at the Red Dragon Billiards Club and Training Center.

The Massachusetts State Junior Championship is one of Six (6) stops on the New England Junior American Championship Series (JACS).