Player, Publisher, Promoter, Prestidigitator
The efforts of USBA member Paul Frankel (aka Professor-Q-Ball) in promoting three-cushion billiards in the United States have gained the attention of popular cue sports web site AZBilliards. A wonderful article about Paul's love affair with carom billiards was recently featured on their main page. (See it here www.azbilliards.com/news/stories/10008-paul-frankel-americas-provocateur-of-3-cushion-billiards.)
In addition to publishing the bi-monthly magazine "Professor-Q-Ball's National Pool & 3-Cushion News", and running the magazine's web site (www.professorqball.com), Paul acts as the United States representative for Gabriels, the Belgian manufacturer of 3-cushion billiard tables.
And with all those responsibilities Paul is still a tireless promoter of the sport, having organized numerous carom tournaments and exhibitions for many years. He created the exciting Champion-of-Champions tournament series (2011 and 2012) and has run the popular USBA national championship qualifier event at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the last four years. Paul also has served as a member of the USBA Three-Cushion national tournament committee for the last three years.
When he has time, Paul plays in USBA tournaments. He had a 2-1 record at this year's national championship event before he had to withdraw because of injury.
Paul now lives in Germantown, Tennessee, just outside of Memphis where he keeps up on his own game with the Gabriels Kronos table he has at home. If you ever meet him, ask him to show you a few card tricks -- he's quite the accomplished prestidigitator. Where he has the time to practice magic is in fact a great mystery, since he seems to spend 25 hours-a-day on carom billiards. But all the members of the USBA are grateful that he continues to work his magic on the great sport of 3-cushion.