Fedor Gorst and Billy Thorpe
Emerald Billiards in New Iberia, LA was the site of the Second Annual Bayou State Classic. Hosted by new owner, Zack Louviere, this year’s event boasted an added $20,000 spread throughout three divisions – One Ball One Pocket, One Pocket and Open Nine Ball.
In addition to Emerald Billiards and PoolActionTV.com, local sponsors included attorney Joseph P. Long, L&K Demolition, L&K Metals, JB Cases, Savage Billiards, Aramith, Simonis, Diamond Billiard Products and the Fort Worth Billiards Superstore of Fort Worth, TX.
Adding an international flair to this year’s event were USA’s Shane Van Boening, Billy Thorpe, Tony Chohan and Johnathan Pinegar (“Hennessee”), John Gabriel and Derek Fontenet, Filipinos Roberto Gomez, Roland Garcia and Alex Pagulayan, Russian transplant Fedor Gorst, Ukraine’s Vitaliy Patsura and Denmark’s Mickey Krause.
The pre-tournament festivities began on Monday night with a one pocket challenge match and Roberto (“Superman”) Gomez taking on all comers in Challenge The Pro games.
Alex Pagulayan gave Tony Chohan 9/8 in this race to seven one pocket match with $9,000 in the middle. It went down to the wire – Tony took the cheese.
The tournament kicked off the following evening with the $2,000 added One Ball One Pocket division. This single elimination race to four competition had twelve players who paid a $200 entry fee.
First round action saw Tony Chohan, Mark Estiola, Billy Thorpe and Wayne Berry draw the coveted byes. Defending champ Fedor Gorst defeated Jacob Pennison 4-2, Mickey Krause smoked Gomez 4-0, Shane Van Boening blitzed Zach Marquardt – also 4-0 and Roland Garcia – hot off his win at the Music City Split Bracket Championship – defeated John Gabriel 4-1.
Second round saw Gorst edge out Chohan 4-3, Krause beat Estiola 4-2, Billy Thorpe knocked out Garcia 4-2 and in his second shutout of the day, Van Boening eliminated Berry.
However, it was Van Boening’s turn to be shut out as Thorpe advanced to the finals. Gorst did the same – shutting out Krause.
The finals was a battle but when the smoke cleared, it was Gorst defended his title against Thorpe 4-2.
Shane Van Boening and Billy Thorpe
Wednesday evening saw the start of the main event – the $13,000 added One Pocket tournament. This double elimination race to three event drew 26 players. This tournament had a different twist to it with the entry fees based on Fargo rates. Players with a Fargo rate of 740 and over paid $600, 620-739 paid $400 while 619 and below paid $200.
First round byes went to Zachri Dupre, Tommy Terrebonne, Cody Reaux, Gorst, Gabriel and Pennison. Defending champ Roberto Gomez left Mike Black scoreless as did Wayne Berry over Chuck Bryan while Keith Singleton beat Ray Hansen and Van Boening defeated Ryan Darby – both matches 3-1. Garcia beat Marquadt, Chohan defeated Kiel Rubio, Thorpe edged out Estiola and in the most watched match of the round, Vitaliy Patsura sent Pagulayan west – all by scores 3-2.
Second round action saw Chohan over Garcia, Singleton beat Dupre, Dubois defeated Terrebonne, Van Boening edged out Krause – all with scores of 3-2. Thorpe got past Gabriel 3-1 while Vitaliy Patsura beat Reaux, Gorst defeated Berry and Gomez sent Pennison to the one loss side – all scores 3-0.
Third round matches were all shutouts – Chohan beat Singleton, Van Boening over Patsura and Gorst over Gomez except for the Thorpe-Dubois match. Billy took that one 3-1.
Now down to four players on the winners side, Van Boening spanked Gorst 3-0 and Thorpe edged out Chohan 3-2. Both Shane and Billy advanced to the hot seat match and wow – it was a battle as both scratched and clawed their way to a berth in the finals. At two apiece, Thorpe won the final game and Van Boening headed west to see who emerged from the one loss side of the chart.
On the elimination side, Gomez advanced after wins over Pagulayan 3-0, Garcia 3-1 and Chohan 3-2 only to see his path to victory cut short by Gorst – he won their match 3-0. Although Gorst had beaten both Krause (3-1) and Gomez handily, Van Boening pasted him again 3-0 and headed back to face Thorpe in the finals.
An extended race to four in the finals, Shane shot out to a 2-0 lead and stretched it out to 3-1. On the cusp of adding another badge to his long list of accomplishments, Billy ground out the next three games to steal the title undefeated! Wow! What a match!
Shane Van Boening and Mickey Krause
Friday evening saw the start of the final event of this year’s Bayou State Classic – the $5,000 added Open Nine Ball division. Played on seven foot Diamonds, this double elimination, alternate break with races to 9/7 drew 122 players paying a $100 entry fee.
Butting heads in the second round were Shane Van Boening and defending champ Roland Garcia – fresh off his win at JOB’s Music City Split Bracket event. The match was predictably tight with Shane taking the win 9-7.
A third round nailbiter pitted Mickey Krause against Vitaliy Patsura with the match going down to the wire – Krause prevailed 9-8. Alex Pagulayan was sent west by Billy Thorpe 9-6.
Fourth round action saw Van Boening trim Derek Fontenot’s sails 9-5 as did Krause to Thorpe 9-3. Next round Roberto Gomez was thumped by Hennessee 9-3 and Krause downed Chohan 9-7.
The Cinderella story of this event was 68 year old Carlton Broussard. After going deep into the field, he was finally sent west by Van Boening 9-4. He then squeaked out a 7-6 win over Pagulayan until he was finally eliminated by Chohan – he joined Derek Fontenet with a solid 7th-8th place finish!
Meanwhile, after his second round loss, Garcia won eight matches in a row culminating in two 7-5 wins over Thorpe and Gomez and then Fontenet 7-3. He was finally eliminated by Krause 7-4 and finished in a fifth place tie with Chohan. What a run!
By round six, four players remained on the winners side – Van Boening toasted Krause 9-3 and Fedor Gorst beat Hennessee 9-6.
Shane and Fedor advanced to the hot seat match and that match was over in a flash as Van Boening spanked Gorst 9-2! Undefeated, Shane locked up his seat in the finals.
And, finally narrowed down to Hennessee and Krause on the one loss side, Mickey shot out to an early lead and never looked back – final score 7-2. The Music City Open champ finished in fourth place.
Waiting for Mickey was Fedor and the ensuing match a breeze for the young Dane as he blistered the young Russian 7-0 and advanced to the finals. Gorst finished in third place.
Since this was a true double elimination event, Mickey would have to win two sets.
And, what a match it was! Featuring two players in dead punch, Krause took a 2-0 lead but then Van Boening won six in a row! From 6-2, Mickey fought back to 7-4, 7-5 and then tied it up at seven each. Shane won the next game and reached the hill first. He then broke the balls and faced a straight back bank into the corner – and over cut it. Mickey began running out to tie it up but missed position on the five. He’d ended up with a thin slice to the corner but hit it poorly and the cue ball rifled into the side. Taking ball in hand, Shane ran off the remaining balls and closed out the match 9-7!
What a week!
PoolActionTV.com would like to thank Zack, his General Manager Tommy Terrebonne and staff for going the extra mile this past week.
We’d also like to thank Tournament Director Jason Hill and his able assistant, Jimmy Rogers, for doing a great job.
Topnotch commentary was provided by Larry Schwartz, John Gabriel, Tony Chohan, Ray Hansen and Mary Kenniston.
And, last but not least, we’d like to thank our sponsors and fans. Our sponsors included JB Cases, Hanshew Jump Cues, Savage Billiards, Lomax Custom Cues, attorney Joseph P. Long, Durbin Custom Cues, Aramith, Simonis, Diamond Billiard Products, Inc., the Fort Worth Billiards Superstore of Fort Worth, TX and the Action Palace of Dayton, OH.
Our next stop is the 2nd Annual Skinny Bob’s Nine Ball Classic in Round Rock, TX. Featuring $10,000 added to a nine ball mini and three divisions – one pocket, nine ball and ladies nine ball – the dates are February 13th-19th. Hope to see you there!
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