Shane Van Boening Dominates and Wagner Tames Tornado in US Bar Table 9-Ball Divisions

With the 10-ball competition completed, 144 men and 35 women switched gears Wednesday, February 27th to start play in the 9-ball divisions at the 20th US Bar Table Championships (USBTC) in Reno, Nevada at the luxurious Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. 

With a literal who’s who of players participating in the event, this year’s competition has been stiffer than ever before. In addition to the prize funds for each division, men and women who enter all three disciplines in their respective divisions; 10-ball, 9-ball and 8-ball, receive points based on how they finish. The top three men and top two women point leaders receive a bonus at the end of the seven day Reno event.

In the Men’s 9-Ball division, it was all about Shane Van Boening (SVB). Van Boening, who has dominated US men’s professional pool for half a decade, is accustomed to being in the top three in most, if not all, events he enters. However he started the week a little slow, but still respectively, with a 5-6th place finish in the 10-ball. 

However, it was evident in the Men’s 9-ball that SVB had his primo groove back sailing through the pack like a hot knife through butter. In the race to 9, double elimination alternate break format, SVB only lost 30 total games in 8 matches including a 9-7 win against Dennis Orcollo sending the recent 10-ball division winner to the one loss side. In the finals Orcollo met back up with SVB looking to win two divisions in a row. This was not to be as SVB continued his domination winning the finals 9-7.

In the Women’s 9-Ball division, although surrounded by several WPBA touring professionals, Rebecca Wagner showed her 9-ball prowess once again for a second year in a row. While not a full time professional player, Wagner has an impressive pool resume over the past several years including winning the 2012 USBTC Women’s 9-Ball and 10-Ball divisions, the 2010 WPBA Amateur Nationals, and the 2006 BCAPL National Championships - Women’s Master Singles 8-Ball.

Wagner made short order of her opponents throughout the race to 7 double elimination division. In six matches she only lost 13 total games and in the finals tamed a tornado named Vivian Villarreal 7-4. 

The USBTC wraps up with the 8-ball divisions March 1-3.  The Action Report (TAR) is steaming the entire seven days live. You can catch all the action at www.theactionreport.com.