Nick Varner and James Davis Sr.
Players and fans were welcomed back to Bogies Billiards & Sports Bar for the Ninth Annual Seniors One Pocket Classic. Located in Houston, TX, owner Cody Parish and his staff rolled out the red carpet and presenting sponsors Immediate Smiles, CBPrime and Chattanooga Billiard Club’s Phil Windham joined Bogies and PoolActionTV.com in adding $3,500 to this event.
To qualify for this event, players had to turn 65 before the end of this year. They came from around the country and the largest field yet – 37 players – ponied up their $200 entry fees. Races were 3/3 with the finals to be one race to four. The Grady Rule was in effect – no more than four balls up-table.
Returning players included defending champ and BCA, One Pocket and Bank Pool Hall of Famer Nick Varner, last year’s runner-up Mark Dimick, 2022 champ Ronnie Wiseman, 2018 co-champs Ike Runnels and James Davis Sr. and 2016’s runner-up Jerry Matchin.
The Florida contingent included John Di Toro, Gary Kaye, Howie Salstein and Nick Principe. They were joined by northern California’s Frank Nordmann, Al Markasky, Lee Wallick, Bob Beaulieu, Ed Neves. Other returnees included Perfect Pocketz’ Mark Gregory, Robert Newkirk, Sammy Jones, Joey Aguzin, Bill Meacham, Ronn Rutan, Tad Banas, Gary Urinoski and Jim McCary.
The event began on Wednesday evening with a players auction. To no one’s surprise, the blind bids were Nick Varner, Ike Runnels and James Davis Sr. followed by Ronnie Wiseman and Jerry Matchin.
Immediately after the auction, players meeting and draw, a $500 added Seniors One Ball One Pocket mini was held. Twenty players posted a $50 entry fee in this race to three single elimination event. Nick Varner and Ike Runnels were the last two men standing. Taking no prisoners, it was all Ike as he took the match & the title 3-0!
Now it was time for the main event! With 37 players on a 64 man board, there were plenty of byes. Racing to the final eight on the winners side were Sammy Jones and Nick Varner, Ronn Rutan and Mark Gregory, Ike Runnels and James Davis Sr. and Frank Nordman and Jerry Matchin.
Varner dispatched Jones and Rutan beat Gregory – both matches 3-1. The other two matches were closer – they went to the case game with Davis Sr. prevailing over Runnels and Nordmann over Matchin – both scores 3-2.
Vying to get into the hot seat match were Varner and Rutan as well as Davis Sr. and Nordmann. Nick smoked Ronn 3-0 while Frank had a tougher time with James. Frank eked it out 3-2 and joined Nick for the hot seat match.
The hot seat match was all Varner as he tore through Nordmann 3-0. He reminded everyone why Nick is considered to be one of the best all-around players of all time with world titles in nine ball, straight pool, one pocket and bank pool.
In his first appearance in this event, “Baby Frank” Nordmann got everyone’s attention as he locked up third place with the possibility of facing Nick again in the finals. He waited patiently for an opponent to survive the one loss side.
Again, taking no prisoners, Runnels eliminated Matchin 3-1 and then Rutan 3-0 to see who would emerge from the lower portion of the bracket. “Jumpin’ Sammy” Jones took dead aim at Robert Newkirk and won 3-0, however, he was on the other end of a 3-0 torching from Davis Sr.
It was the end of the line for Ike as Davis Sr. defeated him 3-1 to move on. Ike finished in fourth place.
Waiting for Davis Sr. was Nordmann and what a battle it was! Both men wanted a shot at Nick but it was James who finally won the match 3-2. Frank finished in a well- deserved third place.
As mentioned previously, the finals would be one extended race to four and as expected, it was a war. Tied at one apiece, then two apiece and it was James who took game five to get on the hill.
Leading 6-0 in the sixth game and looking like he was on the verge of claiming the title, Nick was having none of it. James felt the vise tightening as Nick gave him no air. Shot after shot, the balls favored Nick with James always on defense. It looked like he was in a trap when James saw an opportunity and fired into the balls around Nick’s pocket, cleared them all out and took care of whitey too! What a shot!
However, it wasn’t too long before he was back to shooting defense. Varner then attempted to shoot a ball into Davis Jr.’s pocket and follow it in and hung it up! You could feel the air go out of the room as Nick and all the Varner bettors knew it was over.
James tapped the ball into the hole and set himself up for a simple bank – simple for these guys anyway! He banked the ball, made it and took the title!
Congratulations to James for finally nailing this elusive title! Good job, Nick, for another fine event!
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