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Author & Tournament Director: Steve Sherman
Dozer's Grill in Mesa hosted the 2026 Billiard Education Foundation Arizona Junior State Championships — the final stop of the 2026 BEF Southwest Junior Tour, which traveled through New Mexico, California, Nevada, Texas, and Arizona.
Our Arizona finale was our biggest field yet, with 24 players from Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada competing in front of a packed house that sweat every match. These kids played their hearts out, displayed outstanding sportsmanship, and it was a real treat to watch friendships and good-natured rivalries rekindle from earlier tour stops — along with brand new friendships forming throughout the day.
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18 & UNDER BOYS 10-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Noah McGovern — Prescott, AZ
Austin Dubs — Surprise, AZ
Ryan Warren — Globe, AZ
Noah McGovern of Prescott, AZ is your 2026 Arizona Junior Boys 10-Ball State Champion, taking first place in a hard-fought final against Austin Dubs of Surprise. Ryan Warren of Globe put up a strong showing to finish third in a very tough field.
18 & UNDER GIRLS 10-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Jordyn Randell — Surprise, AZ
Bridget Walsh — Mesa, AZ
MJ Zuber — Albuquerque, NM
Jordyn Randell of Surprise, AZ is your 2026 Arizona Junior Girls 10-Ball State Champion, taking first place in a thrilling final against Bridget Walsh of Mesa, who fought hard all day long in an extremely tough field to ultimately meet Jordyn in the finals. MJ Zuber of Albuquerque, NM finished third and capped off a tremendous Southwest tour — MJ played 3 of the 5 tour stops and placed in all 3, with 1st place finishes in both 9-ball and girls 10-ball in New Mexico and a 2nd place finish in girls 10-ball in Nevada.
12 & UNDER MIXED 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
River Gutierrez — Chandler, AZ
Brysenia Buelna — Oracle, AZ
Austin Dubs of Surprise, AZ is your 2026 Arizona Mixed 9-Ball State Champion, taking first place in a thrilling final against a tough opponent in River Gutierrez of Chandler. Austin had a standout tour overall, placing in an amazing four events across Nevada and Arizona with two 1st place finishes in 9-ball and two 2nd place finishes in 10-ball. Brysenia Buelna of Oracle took third place and placed in more events than any other player on the entire tour, with five finishes across California, Nevada, and Arizona. In addition to this 3rd place finish, Brysenia earned a 1st place finish in girls 10-ball, a 2nd in girls 10-ball, a 2nd in mixed 9-ball, and another 3rd in 9-ball — an outstanding performance.
BEF SOUTHWEST TOUR BALABUSHKA PRIZE GIVEAWAY WINNER
Congratulations to Noah McGovern of Prescott, Arizona!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
We could not host these events without our sponsors' generosity and support.
Dozer's Grill provided a top-notch venue worthy of a championship event. Their staff was accommodating, friendly, and attentive, the food was great, and the overall atmosphere made the event truly special.
Misty Anderson and Casey Anderson — our professional certified referees who generously donated their time to preside over the event. Their professionalism and expertise kept every match running smoothly.
Peggy Mallen and the Balabushka Cue Company once again stepped up in a big way. To celebrate effort, improvement, and sportsmanship across the tour, Balabushka awarded a special prize at the conclusion — a gorgeous GB-23 cue (MSRP $1,750). On top of that, Balabushka covered the entry fee for every player at the Arizona tour stop.
Gloria Jean and Cue Sports Media personally fundraised on behalf of the tour and donated product that allowed us to raise additional funds. Gloria Jean and Cue Sports Media remain strong supporters of junior pool.
Additional thanks to our generous Arizona tour stop sponsors: Erin Erin Warner (Glass Mania Studios), Rob Kestler (Delex Realty), Sean Witkin (Witkin Insurance), Scott Huss, and Fran Martin.
TOUR SHIRT DESIGN
We purchased our tour shirts from We Play Billiards (WPB), and Cilla Hernandez, as always, did a fantastic job designing the shirts for all the stops.
Thank you to all our incredible players who competed across the 2026 Southwest Junior Tour. Hope to see you all at Nationals!
https://billiardeducationfoundation.wildapricot.org/Junio...
Author & Tournament Director: Roy Pastor
We had a blast at the 4th stop of the New England Junior American Championship Series (JACS) and the Connecticut State junior Championships yesterday. A big shout out to Tim Morris and the Slovak Catholic Club, in Torrington Ct., for hosting the event.
In the 18u division, 13-year-old Stephen Bao, from Harvard Ma. took home first place and the title. Stephen won an exciting hill/hill final match against 16-year-old Logan Tedford of Westbrook Connecticut. Congratulations to Sebastian Chumpitaz for his strong 3rd place finish.
Congratulations to Miles Riordan for winning another 10u championship. At 9 years old, Miles is showing quite a bit of promise. Coming in a strong second was Carter Jackson-St.Jean. Carter is 7 years old with a happy excitement and love for pool, as well as a natural and awesome bank shot. Rutva Malhar took home honors for Girls 18u.
All winners are awarded free entry into the 2026 Junior National Championships taking place in Dubuque Iowa in July.
Stephen, Miles, and Rutva are all students at the Red Dragon Billiards Club and Training Center in Harvard Ma.
Author & Tournament Director: Phil Trieu
The 2026 BEF State Championships in Houston, Texas delivered an action-packed Saturday, showcasing some of the region’s most talented junior players. Both seasoned competitors and rising newcomers gathered at Big Tyme Billiards in Spring, Texas to battle for two coveted entry spots to the BEF National Championships.
Despite a smaller turnout, the 7/5 double-elimination format proved to be both demanding and exciting, giving every player the opportunity to display their growth, determination, and skill. The field was highly competitive, and it was captivating to watch many of these young athletes continue to improve since their previous BEF matchups.
In the end, only one player could claim the top spot. After an impressive run to the hot seat, Lee Arroyo demonstrated incredible resilience in the finals, surviving a dramatic double-dip set that went hill-hill to secure the championship. Shane Petrick also put together an outstanding performance after losing in the opening round, battling his way through the one-loss side and earning himself a hard-fought spot at the national tournament.
Other standout players, including Brandon Garcia, Branden Cole, and Lee LaCook, played exceptionally well and competed with heart from start to finish, never showing signs of backing down. Every player in the field displayed sportsmanship, determination, and passion for the game, proving that the future of junior billiards is in great hands.
These young competitors will soon have another opportunity to punch their ticket to the BEF National Championships, and based on this event, the future looks incredibly bright.
We had an awesome time Saturday at Capital City Billiards for the New Hampshire State Junior Championships. This was the third stop on the New England Junior American Championship Series (JACS), the only junior tour in New England.
The juniors are getting ready for the American Junior National Championships this July in Dubuque Iowa.
We had players from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire competing for state titles, free entry into nationals, and bragging rights.
In the Boys 18u division Steven Chen took home the State Champion title. Jack Muse finished second and Reynash Malhar, from Connecticut came in a strong third. All three boys are students at our Red Dragon Billiards Club and Training Center.
In the girls 18u Kennedy Dunn, from Newport Vermont, took first place. 12 year olds Mika Drane, from Connecticut, and Mia Mui, from Harvard Ma. came in second and third respectively. Mika and Mia are students in the Red Dragon Billiards Club and Training .
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In the 10u mixed division (boys and girls) Miles Riorden, from Malden Ma. took home first place. Aiden Chung, Harvard Ma. won second place honors. Gavin Guenette, from Southwick Ma. finished 3rd. Miles and Aiden are also students in our Red Dragon Billiards Club and Training Center
Author: Sean Michael Ryan
We had an awesome turnout with players from Nevada, Florida, California, New Mexico and Arizona!
This tournament was about competition, growth, and giving these young players a stage to perform.
Results:
18 & Under Boys 10-Ball
Mateo Baca Austin Dubs Isaiah Johnson
18 & Under Girls 10-Ball
Brysenia Buelna Maryjane Zuber Lillian Zuber
12 & Under Mixed 9-Ball
Austin Dubs Enzo Pellegrini Brysenia Buelna
Special thank you to Walters Billiards, Steve and Kelly Sherman for supporting junior pool and helping make this event possible.
Appreciate all the players and families who showed up and competed the right way.
This is just the beginning.
BEF Southwest Junior Tour — Stop #2 Recap
Corner Pocket | Bakersfield, California
What an incredible day of billiards! Our players brought skill, heart, and outstanding sportsmanship from start to finish. A huge thank you to Corner Pocket for being such a welcoming, family-friendly venue — you made this event special! And to all the friends and family who came out to cheer — your energy was felt all day!
Boys 18 & Under — 10-Ball Junior State Championship
1st: Kaito Okumura — San Diego
2nd: Andrew Wu — Irvine
3rd: Ezra Seymour — Raymond, CA
Kaito successfully defended his 2025 title with a remarkable run back from the one-loss side. Andrew had earlier sent Kaito to the loss side, making their final showdown an exciting rematch — and this time Kaito came out on top!
Kaito is recognized as the 2026 California State Junior Champion and earns entry to the 2026 BEF National Championships in Iowa!
Girls 18 & Under — 10-Ball Junior State Championship
1st: Faith Overturf — Modesto
2nd: Brysenia Buelna — Oracle, AZ
3rd: Allison Ramirez — Fresno
Faith put forth a dominant, undefeated performance all day. Brysenia pushed her hard in a thrilling finals match — great billiards all around!
Faith is recognized as the 2026 California State Junior Champion and earns entry to the 2026 BEF National Championships in Iowa!
Mixed 12 & Under — 9-Ball (Non-Qualifying Event)
1st: Donovan Seymour — Raymond, CA
BALABUSHKA CUE PRIZE GIVEAWAY — MSRP $1,750!
Congratulations to all of today's top finishers — each of them has now qualified for this incredible prize giveaway! To celebrate effort, improvement, and sportsmanship, the Balabushka Cue Company will award a gorgeous Balabushka Cue (MSRP $1,750) at the conclusion of the tour. Players will be evaluated based on established tour performance criteria, and the top-performing eligible participants will qualify for a random prize giveaway from which one (1) participant will be selected. This giveaway is intended as recognition of achievement and participation. No purchase or payment is required to be eligible. The drawing takes place at our final stop in Mesa, AZ on May 23rd — winner need not be present. All tour rules, eligibility requirements, and performance determinations are final.
Coming Up on the Southwest Junior Tour:
Stop #3 — Walter's Billiards | Nevada | April 25th
Stop #4 (Final) — Dozer's Grill | Mesa, AZ | May 23rd
Don't miss the action — we'll see you at the tables!
2026 JCAS Massachusetts State Junior Championships
Red Dragon Billiards Club | Massachusetts
What a terrific weekend of junior billiards! We had players travel from Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont for an outstanding day of competition. The talent and sportsmanship on display made this a truly memorable event!
★ Boys 18 & Under — Massachusetts State Championship ★
1st: Siyu Chen
2nd: Sebastian Chumpitaz — Connecticut
Siyu Chen claimed the Boys 18 & Under Massachusetts State Championship title with a strong performance throughout the day. Sebastian Chumpitaz made the trip from Connecticut and put on a very strong showing to take second place.
★ Siyu is recognized as the 2026 Massachusetts State Junior Champion and earns entry to the 2026 BEF American Junior National Championships in Dubuque, Iowa!
★ Girls 18 & Under — Massachusetts State Championship ★
1st: Kimberly Chen
2nd: Mia Mui
Kimberly Chen captured the Girls 18 & Under Massachusetts State Championship in a nail-biting hill/hill finals match against Mia Mui — an exciting finish that had everyone on the edge of their seats!
★ Kimberly is recognized as the 2026 Massachusetts State Junior Champion and earns entry to the 2026 BEF American Junior National Championships in Dubuque, Iowa!
★ 10 & Under Division ★
1st: Hugo Drane
2nd: Miles Riordon
The 10 & Under division was a blast to watch! Hugo Drane took first place honors and Miles Riordon finished a strong second. Great things ahead for these young players!
What's at Stake
State Champions earn entry into the BEF American Junior National Championships to be held in Dubuque, Iowa in July. Winners from the National Championships will be chosen to represent the United States at the WPA Junior World Championships — where the best junior players from more than 30 countries compete for World titles!
Coming Up on the JCAS Junior Tour:
► Stop #2 — Rhode Island State Junior Championships | March 21st
New Mexico Open Junior State Championships & Stop #1 of the BEF Southwest Billiard Tour
By Tom Riccobene, Tournament Director
Slate Street Billiards welcomed junior players from New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas for a day of spirited competition and sportsmanship. A strong turnout of parents and supporters filled the room, creating an atmosphere that was competitive, relaxed, and encouraging — hallmarks of junior cue sports.
18 & Under Boys National Qualifier
Robert Orta of Odessa, Texas delivered a dominant, undefeated performance to win the championship. Noah McGovern of Prescott, Arizona finished second, followed by Brendan Cole of Odessa, Texas in third.
Orta is crowned the 2026 New Mexico State 18 & Under Boys Junior 10-Ball Champion and earns free entry into the 2026 BEF National Championships in Iowa.
18 & Under Girls National Qualifier
MaryJane Zuber of Albuquerque captured the title with a strong final match over her older sister, Lillian Zuber — the 2025 New Mexico Champion and BEF National finalist — who finished second. Layla Tafoya of Albuquerque earned third place.
MaryJane Zuber is crowned the 2026 New Mexico State 18 & Under Girls Junior 10-Ball Champion and also earns entry into the 2026 BEF National Championships.
12 & Under Mixed Division
In the 12 & Under Mixed division, MaryJane Zuber secured her second title of the day, defeating Brendan Cole for first place. Layla Tafoya finished third. Zuber showed remarkable composure, winning two consecutive matches with Cole on the hill to claim the title.
A Promising Future
The youngest competitors — led by Zuber (two titles), Cole (second and third), and Tafoya (two third-place finishes) — displayed impressive focus, sportsmanship, and love for the game. Their dedication and camaraderie reflect the bright future of cue sports in the Southwest.
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