American Rotation Championship Series 5 was held at the Derby City Classic on January 22nd thru the 24th, 2015. 16 players qualified but only 15 were able to make the trip. We had 12 players representing the United States, 2 players representing Canada, and 1 player from the land of Rotation, the Philippines.

 

Once again, all qualified players were in the money even before they hit a ball. This Self Sustaining format has players earning their way to the national events rather than buying their way in. Each billiard club has 10 local players that compete over a 10 week period which ends by sending one of their players to a two day national event with free entry and an additional $800 in expense money. The American Billiard Club’s American Rotation Series seems to be picking up speed, traction and well earned attention from players, fans and club owners. It is definitely tough to ignore this format in which there are no losers, and the players are finally uniting for themselves and their sport.

 

Diamond Billiard Products not only welcomed the Championship and the additional players but they allowed us to use their tables, one day prior to the actual start date of the Derby City events. This helped to ensure that none of our players would miss out on playing in their 9 Ball Banks event, and would allow us to have minimal conflicting match schedules.

 

Our Championship event began with a 15 player draw into three separate round robin groups, 5 players in each. They would all play 4 matches racing to 120 points. Each match in this round robin would be played out in its entirety on day one. The top 2 players from each group and the two best 3rd place records would move on to the 8 player single elimination finals on day two. Group 2 attracted much of the iron with 3 of the top 4 favorites; Joe Dupuis our first ever American Rotation Champion, 2 time and defending Champion Mike Dechaine, and new comer Filipino sensation Edgie Geronimo. Below are the Groups and their results (wins, losses, ball count).

 

Group 1

 

Jody McLaughlin- Big Dog Billiards, DesMoines IA: 4-0 (+100)

Tom Zippler– Magic 8 Cue Club, Baltimore MD: 3-1 (+74)

Roger Miller– Dooley’s, Ottawa Canada: 2-2 (+41)

Randy Hatten– Press Box, Charlotte NC: 1-3 (-71)

Mike McPherson– Gate City Billiards, Greensboro NC: 0-4 (-144)

 

Group 2

 

Mike Dechaine- Snookers, Providence RI: 4-0 (+221)

Edgie Geronimo- Hard Times, Bellflower CA: 3-1 (+147)

Joe Dupuis- Stix and Stones, Abbington MA: 2-52 (-87)

Robert Hall– Bumpers Billiards, Huntsville AL: 1-3 (-112)

Ryan Lineham– Bo’s Billiards, Warwick RI: 0-4 (-173)

 

Group 3

 

Amos Bush– Billiard Den, Dallas TX: 3-1 (+72)

Brandon Shuff– First Break, Sterling VA: 3-1 (+165)

Gerry Williams– Tailgators, Ottowa Canada: 2-2 (-1)

Jay Wideman– Port City Billiard, Brunswick GA: 1-3 (-111)

Danny Petro- Lags Billiards, Columbus IN: 1-3 (-125)

 

The top 8 players were seeded based on their independent records into the single elimination bracket on day 2 of the championships.

Below was our match ups:

 

#1 Mike Dechaine vs # 8 Gerry Williams = Mike Advanced

#4 Edgie Geronimo vs #5 Tom Zippler = Edgie Advanced

#3 Brandon Shuff vs #6 Amos Bush = Brandon Advanced

#2 Jody McLaughlin vs #7 Roger Miller = Jody Advanced

 

Semi Final Matches:

 

Mike Dechaines vs Edgie Geronimo = Mike Advanced

Jody McLaughlin vs Brandon Shuff = Jody Advanced

 

This brought us one of our personal dream finals, the touring professional vs the full time working/family man. This is what the American Billiard Club is all about, helping professional players cover yearly travel expenses and keeping passionate high level players with families involved in our sport.

 

The Finals: Jody McLaughlin: 43 yrs young, married, 4 children and working 60+ hours per week VS the #2 U.S. ranked professional player, young gun and two time defending American Rotation Champion Mike Dechaine.

 

Mike wins the lag in this race to 140 points and turns up the heat right away by opening with a perfect 20 point break and run.

Rack 1 = 20-0 Mike

R2 = 24-16 Mike

R3= 40-20 Mike

R4= Mike is picking up the pace with a 24 pint lead 52-28 

R5=  60-40 Mike, but Jody is holding on 

R6=  Jody is reeling in the points 62-58 Mike

R7= 73-67 JODY, Jody takes the lead and applies unexpected heat.

R8= 80-80 baby.

R9= 91-89 Mike takes the lead but its now Jody’s break

R10= 4 innings of kick safes on the 5 ball with Jody eventually getting the first shot and clears the rack and re takes the lead 105-95 Jody

R11= Mike’s break and he shows some serious heart by coming with another perfect break and run to take the lead 115-105 Mike.

 

R12= Jody makes 2 balls on the break and starts a nice run but as he attempted to draw across a position zone, he came up short and was now hooked by the 13 ball at a score of score 115-110. Jody had a side of the 5 to hit and played a nice safety but the cue ball coming from a very steep angle off the end rail found the side pocket! Mike then clears the table right up until the 12 ball, when he shocked everyone by missing a routine shot that allowed Jody to pick up 8 huge points pulling the score to a very tight 122-118 in favor of Mike.

 

R13= Mike’s break needing 18 points to win his 3rd consecutive title. He makes 2 balls on the break, a solid and a stripe and scratches. The room of spectators believe 3 points are awarded to Jody which means Mike cannot close out the match with just 17 points remaining on the table. The stripe ball turns out to be the 9 ball, which is a one point ball, so there is still 18 points available on the table. If Jody gets at least one more point in this rack, he’ll have a chance to break and run the next rack for the title. Amazingly this was the same situation Mike was in at his last ARCS finals against Jerry Calderone in Las Vegas, with Mike needing to make a combination with 2 striped balls. In Vegas, Mike made the combo but had to play safe after it which gave Jerry one last shot. Here in this match, Mike drills the combo pocketing the 15 and the 13 ball slid right past the cue ball giving him the shot and with these 2 last balls made, Mike wins his 3rd Consecutive American Rotation Title with yet another perfect break and run,140-120 Mike Dechaine.

 

The Question now becomes, who and when will someone defeat this worthy Champion? Will it be another average Joe or our next touring pro?

 

The payouts for American Rotation Champions Series 5:

 

1st Mike Dechaine $2400 + $800 = $3200.

2nd Jody McLaughlin $1500 + $800 = $2300.

3rd/4th Brandon Shuff $750 +$800 = $1550.

3rd/4th Edgie Geronimo $750 + $800 = $1550.

5th-8th Tom Zippler $400 + $800 = $1200.

5th-8th Amos Bush $400 + $800 = $1200.

5th-8th Roger Miller $400 + $800 = $1200.

5th-8th Gerry Williams $400 + $800 = $1200.

 

9th-16th Each player received $800 for expenses.

 

Series VI begins March 9th throughout the country. If your local club is not yet on board, please take action for them and for our sport. The sooner we hit 64 clubs, the sooner we can start approaching corporate sponsors from outside the industry. It is a simple process that can be very important for our sports’ future. 

 

It takes 10 local players and at least 1 pool table, so do not hesitate to contact the American Billiard Club via their website or contact Joe Tucker directly at JTtenball@gmail.com and he will put a schedule up online for your 10 players. United, simple strong steps.

At the end of four rounds of play at the Southeast Open 9-Ball Tour stop on the weekend of February 25-26, Johnny Archer had yet to give up a single rack. He gave up 11 over the next 27 games – four in the battle for the hot seat and seven in the finals – to capture the $1,000-added event that had drawn 34 entrants to a new (and future) venue for the tour, Danny’s Billiards in Baxley, GA.

Tour director Tommy Kennedy sat this one out, which might otherwise have led to a re-match against Archer. The week prior, Archer had defeated Kennedy in the finals of the Andy Grubs Memorial Event at Starcade Billiards in Fort Walton Beach, FL. 

With 34 players filling out a 64-player bracket, most of the first round action entailed ‘byes.’ Archer opened play with shutouts over Mike Matsie, Tom Godwin and J.R. Rossman, which moved him among the winners’ side final four to face Bret Hawes. Rod Rentz, in the meantime, faced Chad Royal. Archer chalked up his fourth straight shutout, over Hawes, to move into the hot seat match versus Rentz, who’d sent Royal west 7-3. Archer gave up his first four racks in a 7-4 win over Rentz, which left him in the hot seat, awaiting John Swope, who would win seven straight on the loss side to meet him in the finals.

On the loss side, with two victories behind him, Swope defeated Gregg Sheffield and Billy Ray, both 7-3, to pick up Hawes. Royal drew Jay Wideman (singled out by Kennedy for what was described as an “outstanding performance”), who won a double hill match over Mark Taber to move into the money rounds, and then won a second double hill battle against J.R. Rossman to meet Royal.

Royal ended Wideman’s bid 7-5 and moved into the quarterfinals versus Swope, who’d downed Hawes 7-4. Swope then defeated Royal by the same 7-4 score and downed Rentz 7-5 in the semifinals.

If Hallmark hasn’t created a sympathy card for a pool player who’s won seven matches on the loss side and then has to face “The Scorpion,” Johnny Archer, in the finals of an event, they should. Swope put up a fight in the extended, race-to-9 finals, but Archer prevailed 9-7 to capture the title.

Prizes were awarded to the top junior, lady and senior player on the tour stop. Mikey Watson picked up the $25 prize for top junior, Lindsay Hunkele took home $25 as the top female, and P.C. Oliver, who finished just out of the money, won $50 as the top-finishing senior.

Tour Director Tommy Kennedy thanked Danny Stell and his staff at Danny’s Billiards for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Tiger Products, Mueller Sporting Goods, David Adams, Simonis Cloth, Cliff Manning of Manning Custom Cues, Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, and Robert Harris Custom Cues.