The 16th Annual U.S Bar Table Championships at the Sands Regency Hotel and Casino in Reno, Nevada was seven days of astounding display of dominance by two players.
The tournament draws an international field of players to compete in a trifecta of events: 8, 9 and 10-Ball. It is one of the most difficult and strenuous 7' table tournaments in the world. Winning one of the three events is a tremendous accomplishment. However winning two out of three and being in the finals of all three is a record and one not likely to be seen again anytime soon.
Glen Atwell from Vancouver, Washington accomplished that feat. Hot out of the gate Monday was Darren Appleton from the U.K winning the 10-Ball event. Appleton, considered the favorite as the current reigning WPA World 10-Ball Champion, did not disappoint. Atwell came from the one loss bracket to face Appleton in the finals. However Appleton was in dead stroke winning 7-1.
Day three ushered in the 9-Ball event. With 111 players in the field what would be the chances of the same two players being in the finals? Well as it turned out 100%. Atwell and Appleton made it seem like a two man show. Not negating the talents of the remainder of the field which included heavy hitters such as Mark Tadd, Mitch Ellerman, Shane Van Boening, Jose Parica and the previous year's All Around winner Johnathan Pinegar.
Would Appleton again nearly shut out Atwell and take the first two events of the week or would Atwell avenge the previous loss? Coming again from the one loss side Atwell, in the 9-Ball finals against Appleton declared by his performance a big N to the No, double dipping Appleton 9-6 / 9-6. So now going into day five a whole separate issue came into play, who would take home the All Around title, Atwell or Appleton.
The last of the three games of the week was the 8-Ball event with over 140+ players in attendance. Players who had consistently played well the other two events but always seemed to come behind Atwell and Appleton were gunning to get their place in the sun. Well again Sunday seemed to be about A & A. However, out of the fray someone who had played consistently well all week was Stevie Moore.
Moore, currently ranked 15th in the U.S, became the man to beat Sunday. He was the only person to break through the Atwell and Appleton wall. For the first time in seven days a new player was king of the hot seat. But in a case of déjà-vu, Atwell once again found himself in the finals coming from the one loss side. In the true double elimination, Atwell needed to win two sets to Moore's one. This was a close match as Atwell took set one (5-4), but Moore fought back winning the second set and the 8-Ball event (5-4).
The All Around finishers well deserved their bonuses with Atwell taking 1st ($2000 bonus), Appleton taking 2nd ($1000 bonus) and Moore taking 3rd ($500 bonus). Congratulations to all three winners for their outstanding performances.
CueSports International, CSI, is the parent company of the BCA Pool League, the National Championship Series (NCS) and produces The Jay Swanson Memorial Tournament and the U.S Bar Table Championships.
