The draw for the 43rd US Open 9-Ball Championship has been made, with Jayson Shaw to begin his defense against Marcus Weston at Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas on Sunday, April 21.
The draw was seeded with a golf-style category system adopted, which took in rankings from across the pool world including WPA World Ranking, BCA Standings and Fargo Rating. As defending champion Shaw was seeded No.1, while five-time US Open champion Shane Van Boening is seeded second as the highest ranked American player.
Broadcast details for the 2019 US Open 9-Ball Championship will be announced shortly. Live rack-by-rack scoring will be available throughout the event at www.matchroompool.com thanks to Matchroom Multi Sport’s partnership with CueScore.
Note: Should any players featured in the draw not participate in the event, they will be replaced directly by the first player on the event waiting list to accept a spot in the tournament, irrespective of where the new player would have featured in any seeding category.
All matches at the US Open 9-Ball Championship takes place April 21-26 at Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas. Matches are race to 11, winner breaks, except the final which is race to 13. The draw and match schedule for the first stage of the tournament is available now at www.matchroompool.com.
Tickets for the 43rd US Open 9-Ball Championship are still available at www.matchroompool.com from as little as $10 with VIP packages also available for the final three days of the tournament.
The tournament will be split into two stages with the full field playing double elimination down to the final 16 from Sunday April 21st until Tuesday April 23rd across multiple tables. From Wednesday April 24th until Friday April 26th the final 16 players will play straight knockout in the TV Arena in front of a global television audience.
Stan Tourangeau worked his way through a larger-than-expected field of entrants at the Memorial Weekend 9-Ball Championship and went undefeated to claim the title. The $1,640-added event, which had originally advertised a 64-player field drew twice that many to the 15th Street Grill in Auburn, WA. Held under the auspices of the not-for-profit organization of pool players in the greater Seattle area, called Players Club Limited, selected matches of the event throughout the weekend were live-streamed through the services of Rail2Rail.TV.
Tourangeau’s undefeated effort was almost derailed at the outset by Tommy Sliva who battled him to double hill before giving way and allowing him to advance. Tourangeau got by three more opponents – Tom Christine 7-4, Dave Demmit 7-5 and Clay Belvoir 7-4 – to arrive at a winners’ side semifinal match against Sean Lewis. Randy Baker, in the meantime, who would end up facing Tourangeau twice, squared off against Jeff Coates in the other winners’ side semifinal.
Lewis would end up giving Tourangeau a second, double hill run for his money, but Tourangeau advanced to the hot seat match to face Baker, who’d sent Coates to the loss side 7-5. In their first of two, Tourangeau downed Baker 7-3 to claim the hot seat.
On the loss side, Coates picked up James Davee, who’d shut out Lito Atendido and defeated Tim Tweedell double hill to reach him. Lewis drew John Doherty, who’d been sent to the loss side by Baker in a winners’ side quarterfinal and then eliminated Gerald O’Connor 6-4 and shut out Blair Wentzell.
Davee and Lewis advanced to the quarterfinals with identical 6-4 victories over Coates and Doherty. Davee then eliminated Lewis 6-2. Baker earned his right to a re-match against Tourangeau with a 6-3 victory in the semifinals.
In the race-to-9 finals that followed, Baker got a few more extra racks in than he’d been able to muster in the hot seat match, but they weren’t enough. Tourangeau took the final 9-5 and claimed the Memorial Weekend 9-Ball Championship title.
Held March 9-11, 2017 at Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City, Oregon, this installment of the Men’s Chinook Winds Open 8-Ball Championships, the 4th Annual, featured some of the biggest names in professional men’s Billiards. There were a couple of past champions — Skyler Woodward and Rodney Morris. You might also recognize some of the other contenders — Shane Van Boening, Dennis Orcollo, Billy Thorpe, Warren Kiamco, Amar Kang and Josh Roberts — to name but a few. There were also some notable newcomers — Roberto Gomez, Joey Gray, Johann Chua, Jeffrey DeLuna and Manny Perez. Some Western BCA players made their presence known as well, including — Randy Camantigue, Stan Tourangeau, Randy Baker and crowd favorite, Richie Geiler. In all, there were 108 entered in the Men’s Division and and 28 in the Women’s.
As always, the party started with a Calcutta auction on Wednesday evening (March 10). It was a spirited affair overseen by CWO TD Bill Henderson and WBCA President Darcy Williams. The Men’s Division Calcutta total was $24550 with $9600 the first place payout and the Women’s was $2010 with $820 the first place payout.
Then came the Late Night 10-Ball Invitational, a new event aimed at the professionals. The format was $1000 entry, 16 bracket limit, race to 13, single elimination, winner breaks with a first place prize of $8000. The “Late Night” referred to when the matches were played, starting Wednesday after the Calcutta, the final four playing Thursday after CWO play was finished for the day and the final on Friday night, again after CWO play was finished for the day. The bracket filled with all the upper echelon pros ponying up a grand each for the big payout at the end. By the end of play Wednesday, Jeffrey DeLuna vs Dennis Orcollo and Josh Roberts vs Shane Van Boening were all that survived. Everyone was looking forward to a Orcollo/SVB final but up jumped DeLuna who beat Dennis Orcollo to move into the final against Shane Van Boening. The final score was 13-11/SVB and was basically a clinic, with nine break and runs (including the winning rack), one 1-10 combo in game 2 and all the rest runouts following three dry breaks and the very occasional mistake on the part of one player or the other. Jeffrey collected $4000 for 2nd place and Dennis and Josh received $2000 each for getting to the semis. Fun format + great shooting + a large and appreciative crowd = a successful event. Look for it to be on the menu next time.
Thursday the main event got underway with many great match-ups for the spectators to watch. By the end of the night, many of the serious contenders were on the back side of the bracket (Roberto Gomez, SVB, Jeffrey DeLuna, Ramil Gallego, Johann Chua, Taylor Anderson, Dennis Orcollo, Warren Kiamco and Alex Olinger) and only one could fight his way to the final. Tough bracket. The marquis matches included Rodney Morris vs Dennis Orcollo (7-6 Rodney), Rich Geiler vs Jeffrey DeLuna (7-4 Rich) and SVB vs Marc Vidal (7-6 SVB just after Marc took out Johann Chua 7-4).
Friday was a new day and everyone, especially the back side dwellers, hoped it would be a good one for them but, unfortunately, many of the top guns would be up against each other before the end of the day with many eliminated. Before the end of the day, Skyler Woodward, Amar Kang, Rodney Morris and Billy Thorpe would also find themselves on the back side, nearing extinction. By the end of play, only 9 would be left in.
Saturday began with Roberto Gomez sending Amar Kang home as he began his single-minded quest for the final. He went on to eliminate Josh Roberts, Rodney Morris, and crushed Billy Thorpe’s hopes for a rematch with Joey Gray after losing the hot seat to Gray 7-6. Shane Van Boening looked to be on his way to a shot at another big pay day until he ran into Rodney Morris, who had another plan, winning 7-5. Dennis Orcollo seemed to be on a collision course for SVB but he was derailed by former Champ Skyler Woodward 7-6. As we already know, Roberto Gomez would not be stopped on his way to the final with Joey Gray, taking out his final two obstacles (Morris and Thorpe). The Gray/Gomez final was on, but before we get to that, it should be said that the hot seat match was one of the best of the event, with Joey and Billy trading break and runs and run outs all the way to the decider. Joey broke dry and Billy marched through the rack until leaving himself a delicate shot on the 4-Ball to get on the 8. He missed the 8 and walked away from an open table and gave the game and the match to Joey. So close yet so far.
In the first set of the final (yes, a possible double dip materialized), Roberto was warmed up and ready to go. Joey was a little cold and never really got into the match, winning only two games. Roberto, with four break and runs plus three runouts following a Gray dry break, a missed shot and a foul on the break took the first set 7-2. Joey doubled his win tally in the second set but there was no stopping Roberto. His near flawless play continued as he closed out the match and claimed the title with his 8th break and run of the two set match.
Roberto collected $10,000 for his performance over the three days of the CWO and Joey Gray went home with a respectable $6400 for his efforts. Complete results and payouts follow.
All the while the men were in action, there was also a small Women’s Division (28 entrants) playing for a first place prize of $4000. Former champion Nicole Keeney was on hand with a few other notable out of towners (Brittany Bryant, Emily Duddy, Kelly Isaac and Bernie Store among them) as well as some of Western BCA’s finest (Liz Cole, Kim Jones and Cindy Sliva). Brittany Bryant and Bernie Store made it through the front side undefeated to the point match, with Bernie winning 5-4 to get to the final. Cindy Sliva, after taking out both Keeney and Duddy, met up with Bryant in the back side point match. There Cindy met up with a determined Brittany and was shut out and finished in 3rd place. Brittany went on to the final and another shot at Bernie. Brittany had to beat Bernie twice and she got off to a great start, shutting Bernie out 5-0 and the double dip was on. Often the first set is just warm up for the winner of the hot seat and this proved to be the case here. Bernie played much better the 2nd time around. The ladies traded games until the got to the hill-hill decider. Bernie had won the lag, so she had the break. It was a good break until the cue ball found a pocket. The table was wide open and Brittany never looked back as she ran out to claim the title. Complete results and payouts follow.
There were 2nd chance tournaments for both the men and women, with 28 men and 6 women not ready to call it quits. Lake MacKay beat out Danny Smith for first and $1400 in the Men’s and Kathie MacDonald prevailed over Myra Cables for first and $450.
That brought the festivities to a close. None of the spectators went away in any way disappointed. The pros put on quite a display of prowess on the table and were very approachable. We cannot thank enough our great sponsors — Chinook Winds Casino Resort, Western BCA and Bud Light. The Western BCA staff — TDs Mike Jensen and Bill Henderson, Tournament Registrar Darcy Williams, Referees Darryl Farley and Dwayne Payne, Graphic Design/Advertising/Photographer Robbin Iredale, Podium Manager Pam Carraway and Payout Supervisor Cathy Dunford — all worked long hours to make these events a success. Lenny Marshall of OnTheRailTV streamed and recorded many great matches that will soon be available for viewing (a link will be provided on westernbca.org). Many thanks to Bad Boys Billiards Production who provided the 7-foot Diamond tables and bracketing. Chinook Winds again provided a great and welcoming venue for all the players and spectators. Mother Nature was the only negative, causing interruption of internet service, but that’s March on the Coast, nothing to be done about that.
If you came to play, we thank you and hope you come back next time.
If you came to watch, we’ll try to put on an even better show next time.
To the best of our knowledge here at AZ Billiards, the Inaugural Nature's Recreational Center (NRC) 9-Ball Challenge, held on the weekend of October 1-2, in Tacoma, WA, was the first pool tournament ever sponsored by a medical marijuana facility. Stephen Holem won five on the loss side to meet, challenge and eventually double dip Marc Vidal to claim the event title. The $6,500-added ($5,000 by NRC) drew 75 entrants to Malarkey's Pool and Brew in Tacoma and was live-streamed throughout the weekend by Rail2Rail Productions.
With Holem, already at work on the loss side, the man who defeated him – Alain "Frenchy" Boutin – advanced to a winners' side semifinal versus Joe Spence. Vidal, in the meantime, squared off against B.J. Copeland in the other winners' side semifinal. Vidal downed Copeland 7-2, and in the hot seat match, faced Spence, who'd sent Boutin to the loss side 7-3. Vidal claimed the hot seat, and won what proved to be his last match, 7-2.
Over on the loss side, it was Copeland who drew the eventual event winner, Stephen Holem, who'd opened his loss-side campaign with victories over Stan Tourangeau 7-5 and Paul Potier 7-3. Boutin picked up Erik Vargas, who'd survived two straight double hill matches against Dexter Ambang and Dan Louie to reach him.
Boutin and Copeland picked up their second straight loss; Boutin falling to Vargas 7-3 and Copeland giving way to Holem 7-2. Holem chalked up the quarterfinal match against Vargas 7-4 and then downed Spence in the semifinals by the same score.
Holem took both sets of the double elimination final over Vidal 7-5 to claim the Inaugural NRC 9-Ball Challenge.
Rodney "The Rocket" Morris, who's been making a lot of payout noise on the Mezz West Tour this year (three wins, and four other payout finishes) and won the 8th Annual Wyoming Open Masters 10-Ball in March, traveled to Lincoln City, Oregon for the 3rd Annual Chinook Winds Open 10-Ball Championships. He went undefeated through the field of 118, on-hand for the $12,000-added Open portion of the event, hosted by the Chinook Winds Casino and Resort, in Lincoln City (a Ladies tournament drew 30 entrants; separate story).
Morris won four matches with an aggregate score of 28-7 and along with seven others, advanced out of a preliminary A bracket. Carlo Biado, his ultimate finals opponent, came out of the winners' side of the B bracket.
Morris ran into some stiff competition in the final winners' side bracket of eight players, completing his undefeated run with an aggregate score over his last four games of 28-19. After defeating Danny Gokhul 7-5, he ran into a determined Warren Kiamco, who put up a double hill fight in one of the winners' side semifinals. Stan Tourangeau defeated Miguel Morfin 7-5 in the other one. Morris claimed the hot seat 7-5 over Tourangeau and waited on the return of Biado.
Biado, in the meantime, who'd been on the winners' side of the final bracket, had been sent to the loss side by Tournageau 7-3. He defeated Jamie Bruce 7-5 and survived a double hill battle against Marc Vidal Claramunt to draw Kiamco. Morfin picked up Gokhul, who, after his loss to Morris on the winners' side, had defeated Darrold Crain 7-4 and survived his own double hill fight against Randy Baker.
Biado downed Kiamco 7-4, as Gokhul got through his second straight double hill fight, over Morfin. Biado picked up the pace a little with a shutout over Gokhul in the quarterfinals, and gave up only a single rack to Tournageau in the semifinals. Morris completed his undefeated run with a 7-3 win over Biado in the finals.
The Open and Ladies events were streamed live throughout the weekend by On the Rail TV.
Corey Deuel drives a run-out pace and ran through the loser’s bracket, beating Canadian Champion John Morra in finals. John Morra chopped through a star studded bracket to get to the point and showed he was in total command until coming up against Corey who held John to only 6 combined in games in both the finals matches on his way to the $10,000 1st place prize.
Vivian Villarreal came out of the loser’s bracket, where she was sent packing by Cindy Sliva who waited on the point. Vivian got through tough competitor Kim Jones, to return to Cindy again. The finals match featured a lot of great play from both women. They both played like champions and Vivian had to struggle to capture the $4000 1st place check. Cindy once again showed why she is one of the Northwest's finest, keeping up with seasoned professional, Vivian Villarreal.
Chinook Winds added $21,000 to the 8-Ball Open events, $17,000 to Men’s division with guaranteed $10,000 for 1st and $5,000 to the Women’s division with $4000 guaranteed for 1st place. Western BCA added an additional $4000 to the events. The Men’s division raced to 7 and the Women's raced to 5. 128 men and 38 women entered, trying to get into the money.
A $1000 added Warm up 8-ball tournament took place Thursday before main event. League players and those entered in Main event were welcome to play. 83 men entered the $25 entry, race to 3, Double elimination event. The short race can be an equalizer with top players. It was a smash event. There was over $3000 in prize money. Rafael Martinez took 1st, Jason Shaw 2nd, Josh Roberts 3rd, Stan Tourangeau 4th, Ace Brown and Corey Deuel 5th/6th, Steve Lingelbach and Marc Vidal 7th/8th.
The Calcutta went off well. Auctioning through both fields took some time but it was well worth it. There was a net $25,280 in the men’s and $6425 in the women's. Paul “Kez Dog” Marquez and Carissa Biggs helped out calling on bidders. It was a fun and exciting event.
It took a lot of hard work producing the Chinook Winds Open event. Co-coordinators/directors Andrew Monstis and Mike Jensen worked 100’s of volunteer hours to make this event successful as it was. It was about pool. It was very rewarding to hear the praise coming from both participants and spectators. The top players all said it was the best event they have ever been too. First timers to the event said they had never seen such a great event. Others said this was the biggest event in the Northwest since “Ocean Shores” event in the early eighties.
Special thanks to Mike Howerton, “Azbilliards”, Lenny Marshall “On The Rail TV”, Ozzy Reynolds of “Cuesports International” Ric and Bonnie Jones of Bad Boys Production and Chinook Winds & WBCA staff for their considerable help.
They say it’s better at the beach and they are right! Chinook Winds Casino Resort is a full service facility and is an exceptional place for a tournament venue. Having this event tucked in at the beach in Lincoln City, Oregon creates an atmosphere you can’t find anywhere else.
The huge gallery of spectators did watch many excellent matches as the Tournament unfolded. People were able to watch and learn what great pool playing is about. The crowds were in awe of top players like Vivian Villarreal, Stacy Allsup, Rebecca Wagner, Kathy MacDonald, Shane Van Boening, Scott Frost, Rodney Morris, Joshua Roberts, Danny Olson, Ace Brown and Jayson Shaw. They were equally dazzled by top local players like Cindy Sliva, Kim Jones, Carissa Biggs, Liz Cole, Danny Louie, Rafael Martinez, Stan Tourangeau, Matt Horner and Randy Baker. These great pool players showed their talent. Mike Massey Shared with the crowd some of his patented trick shots, What fun!
There were 3 venues used for meetings, practice and matches for stage 1. The 2 hotels that all the players were staying at and a school auditorium. All stage 2 matches were played in the auditorium and Table #1 was the TV table but there were 3 tables that were being streamed. The matches played on Table #1 were filmed during all stages of the tournament. A players lounge, media room, interview room, and practice room were all provided at the auditorium for the entire tournament. The player’s lounge was spacious with comfortable seating and provided a large screen tv to watch the live matches on table #1. It was also constantly stocked with drinks, sandwiches, and snacks for the players. The International players stayed at The Yutai International Hotel and the Chinese players stayed at the other hotel. The Hotels provided 3 complimentary meals/day in a banquet style and at least 2 1/2hours was offered for each meal time.
Staff
There were dozens of volunteers working to assist the players with anything they needed at all of the venues at any time of day. Most of these volunteers spoke English and Chinese and did a good job as translators. They were all very friendly and helpful. The service from the actual employees was also wonderful and quick.
Travel
Once we arrived at our airport we were met by volunteers to help us get to our hotel. However many of us arrived too late to take the last bullet train to Yushan City so they bused us to the train station and put us up at the hotel there. In the morning the tournament organizer and the volunteers met with us and helped us get on the bullet train. It was a 2 ½ hour ride at approx. 300 km/hr. When we arrived at the train station in Yushan we were met by many volunteers who organized us into 2 chartered buses. There were many Billiard fans at the station to welcome us and witness our arrival. It seemed that the whole city, no the whole country, knew that we were coming.
Equipment
Star Billiard Company was a major sponsor and provided all of the Billiard equipment for the event. The tables were 4 ½’ x 9’ Chinese 8 Ball tables. They were designed to be a very good test of excellent play. The pockets were rounded similar to Snooker tables but made large enough to accept a 2 ¼” pool ball from any angle. However, if the object ball touched the rail even slightly before the pocket it would not go in. The rails were also Snooker rails but designed to sit high enough to allow a 2 ¼” pool ball to rebound correctly. They covered these tables with #10, double shaved, one directional nap, Snooker cloth. I have never played on better cloth in my life. You could literally soft roll a ball the length of the table and trust that it would go straight. All the players I spoke with seemed equally impressed. To add to the quality of these tables the slate beds were constantly heated with an electric heater. The tables were cleaned and ironed after each session. The balls were the Cyclop balls. They played fine but the colors were different than some of us were used to.
Tournament Format
The tournament was played in 2 stages, Stage 1 was the qualifying stage, and Stage 2 was the championship Stage where everyone was already in the money. Stage 1 was divided by approx. 120 Chinese men players competing for 16 spots and approx. 80 International men players competing for 16 spots. The women had fewer players in Stage 1 but the format was the same. However the Chinese women competed for 8 spots and the International women players competed for 8 spots. There were 3 days of qualifiers in Stage 1 and every player who didn’t qualify on day 1 got a chance to try again on Day 2 and Day 3. Stage 2 for men consisted of 64 players; 16 Chinese players who were invited straight into Stage 2, 16 Chinese men who qualified from Stage 1. Also 16 International men who were invited and 16 International men who qualified from Stage 1. The women only had 32 players in Stage 2 but the player breakdown was the same as the men.
Rules
In stage 1 we played winner break and no call shot except on the 8 Ball. We could break from anywhere behind the baulk line but 4 balls needed to hit the rail in order for it to be a legal break. A scratch on the break gave the incoming player ball in hand from behind the baulk line. Other than that it was basically the same rules as BCA. In Stage 2 they played call shot for every shot and alternate break.
Expenses
All players competing in Stage 1 received approx. $500 towards their flight to China. There was a $100 entry fee charged at the time of check in to the host hotel. If you made it to Stage 2 you had to pay an additional $300 entry fee but you were then guaranteed $800 for making it to the last 64. Once you arrived in China they covered your food, hotel, and travel. They even paid for the day hiking excursion. We were told that the area in and around where we were hiking was where the movie Avatar was filmed. However I am not sure how to substantiate that claim.
Prize Fund
The Men’s event had a total prize fund of approx. $500,000 with the Champion getting a whopping $100,000US. The Women’s event had a total prize fund of approx. $300,000 with the Champion getting approx. $60,000. The Men’s event paid out 64 spots while the women’s event paid out 32 spots. Over and above the prize fund it appears that the total cost of this event was in the millions.
Champions
The Men’s event saw Darren Appleton and Mark Selby, both from England, compete in the finals, with Darren winning by a score of 21-19 to claim the title of 2015 Chinese 8 Ball World Champion. The women’s event Champion was Bai Ge from China. Other noteable finishes were Neil Robertson from England finishing in 3rd place and Allison Fisher finishing in 4th place. Stan Tourangeau from Canada was the only player from our little group that made it to Stage 2.
Future plans
I was told that the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) and Star Billiard Tables have committed to a minimum 5 year plan to promote this game in China and Internationally.
Traffic in China
From a foreigners perspective it appears that there are no rules or very few rules to driving in China. Every day and all day long we witnessed cars, buses, taxis, rickshaws, mini trucks, mopeds, etc. moving in all directions on the roads and streets. They were also almost constantly on their horns, warning others of their approach. I never saw an accident but I did notice that the vehicles never moved at a very fast pace. They got where they were going slow but sure. Good peripheral vision is a must there.
Elevators
The elevators were much the same as in North America. However every time I reached the floor I wanted to get out on I had a difficult time getting out of the elevator because the people waiting to get on the elevator quickly entered it without letting passenger get off first. It was quite frustrating as this happened every time.
Food
The food at the hotel was always buffet style and was ok but unfortunately it was pretty much the same food every day. Breakfast was exactly the same every day. Lunch was the same with an occasional change and dinner was also the same with an occasional change. However the special dinners, like on opening day, were always fabulous. They never seemed to stop bringing more dishes and many choices as well. A feast in every sense of the word. I never saw so many bottles of water in my life. They were always supplying us with bottles water, at the venue, in the practice room, by our match table, in the players room, in the hotel room, everywhere. Cases and cases of water every day. It seemed that there were volunteers that were there just to supply us with bottled water.
The 2014 Malarkey’s Thanksgiving 9-Ball Classic Tournament attracted 77 pool players from Washington, Oregon, California and Canada. The weather wasn’t cooperating on Nov. 29-30, dumping 4-6 inches of snow that Saturday morning, but none of the pool players let that stop them from getting to Tacoma to for some of the best competition in the Pacific Northwest. Entry fee was $75 and the field filled up fast. Malarkey’s added $1,500, to make the total prize money $5,350. With 77 players, the race was to 7 on the A side and was shortened 6 on the B side. Once we got to the money rounds, the B side race went to back up to 7. Played on nine 9 ft Gold Crown tables, it took 16 hours on day 1 to get down to the final 16 players for day 2. Rail2Rail Productions furnished the live stream coverage and a new company from Canada, ScoreSaloon provided live match scoring on their website.
The competition was intense and two players, one from WA and one from Canada, immediately stood out from the crowd, demolishing their opponents as they charged through the brackets: Dan Louie and Simon Pickering. Dan Louie won the point against Leroy Dorsey and waited for the rest of the B side battle it out. On Day 2, Simon was sent to the B side by Rafael Martinez, but that didn’t stop Simon’s charge to the finals. He defeated some really top notch players, including Bob Zack, Stan Tourangeau and LeRoy Dorsey for a shot at Dan Louie in the Final Match. Simon won the first set against Dan Louie 7-3, but Dan was not going to be doubled dipped. Dan came back for the second set, stronger than ever and beat Simon 7-5 in that last set, winning the $1,400 first prize money! Simon took home $800 for his efforts. LeRoy Dorsey finished 3rd place. 1st High Woman was Jenny Lewis and 2nd was Joyce Robinson. Congratulations to the players finishing in the money.
Thanks to all the players that participated, Clark Smith, owner of Malarkey’s for sponsoring this event and adding $1,500 to the prize money, Rebecca Easley, the tournament director, for managing 77 players in one weekend, ScoreSaloon for introducing live match scoring and Rail2Rail for their complete live stream coverage so no one had to miss any of the Malarkey’s Annual Thanksgiving 9-Ball Classic.
Rafael Martinez, a wily veteran pool player if ever there was one, was coasting along pretty smoothly in the early going of the $10,000-added Chinook Winds 10-Ball Open, held on the weekend of October 11-12 in Lincoln City, Oregon. Through 25 games in the opening three rounds, he'd given up only five racks. Then he ran into Damian Pongpanik, who not only sent him to the loss side, but did so by shutting him out. Martinez moved to the loss side, won five and then beat Danny Gokhul twice in a true double elimination final to claim the title.
With Martinez at work on the loss side, Pongpanik moved into a winners' side semifinal against Pete Gates, as Gokhul squared off against Todd Marsh. Identical 7-4 wins by Gohkul and Gates put the two of them into the hot seat match, won by Gokhul, 7-2.
Martinez did not get the opportunity he no doubt fervently desired for a re-match against Pongpanik. After defeating Nick Kruger 7-5 and Darin Walding 7-2, Martinez drew Marsh, while Pongpanik squared off against Stan Tourangeau (another wily veteran), who'd defeated Michael F. Jensen 7-1 and shut out Bob Zack.
The two veterans chalked up identical 7-2 scores over Pongpanik and Marsh and met each other in the quarterfinals. Martinez gave up only a single rack in those quarterfinals, and then downed Gates 7-2 in the semifinals.
Martinez was challenged in the true double elimination finals, but prevailed in both sets. He took the opener 7-5, and improved on that in the second set, winning it 7-3 to snatch the event title from Gokhul.
