Francisco Bustamante
The owner of Emerald Billiards, Zack Louviere, and his General Manager, Tommy Terrebonne, welcomed everyone back for their Third Annual Bayou State Classic. Held in New Iberia, LA, this year’s event featured an added $20,000 to three divisions – One Ball One Pocket, One Pocket and Open Nine Ball.
BCA and One Pocket Hall of Famer Francisco Bustamante, Buffalo’s House pros Sergio Rivas and the 2024 Big Tyme Classic One Pocket champ Tony Chohan, 2024 Buffalo’s Pro Classic One Pocket champ Roberto Gomez and this year’s Music City Classic runner-up Mark Estiola were there. Current Canadian Nine & Ten Ball champ John Morra, last year’s Space City Open XII One Pocket champ Mickey Krause and Albanian Kledio Kaci were also spotted. Reigning Bayou State Classic One Pocket champ Billy Thorpe, current Mini Derb Open One Pocket champ Sky Woodward, Josh Roberts, Chip Compton, Jamie Baraks, Red Door Den’s Greg Hogue, Derek Fontenot, Dallas Broussard and Carl Honey were also seen roaming the room.
Joining Emerald Billiards and PoolActionTV.com, local sponsors included attorney Joseph J. Long, Hanshew Jump Cues, Simonis, JB Cases, Diamond Billiard Products, Aramith, Steve Lomax Custom Cues, Bull Durham, Durbin Custom Cues, Savage Billiards, Meucci and the Action Palace of Dayton, OH.
The event kicked off on Tuesday night with the $2,000 added One Ball One Pocket division. This single elimination tilt had a $200 entry with players racing to four games.
Francisco Bustamante has been absent the last several years due to visa issues – it’s great to have him back in the US. Showing he hasn’t lost a step, he defeated Billy Thorpe in the finals with Tony Chohan finishing in third place.
Tony Chohan
Wednesday evening saw the start of the main event – the $13,000 added One Pocket tournament. This double elimination race to three event drew twenty 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.
With most players receiving a bye, several players weren’t so fortunate. Billy Thorpe drew Greg Hogue and notched a 3-1 win. In what could have been a final match at any event, one pocket specialists Josh Roberts and Francisco Bustamante battled to the case game with Bustamante taking the match 3-2.
Second round saw Sky Woodward duke it out with Mark Estiola. Final score 3-2 with Estiola taking the win. Billy Thorpe was no match for Tony Chohan this time – he got thumped 3-0.
In the third round, Bustamante eked out a 3-2 win over Estiola. Chohan also won the final game to take the match from Roberto Gomez 3-2. Mickey Krause defeated John Morra 3-1.
Down to four on the winners side side, Chohan was catching a gear. He rode into the hot seat match after a 3-0 toasting of Bustamante. Krause was on fire as he beat Chip Compton 3-1 to grab the other spot in the hot seat match.
The hot seat match was close and the young Dane closed it out 3-2 & claimed his berth in the finals. Chohan headed to the one loss side to await an opponent.
After losing his first match, Woodward went on a tear. Down went Ryan Darby 3-1, Chance Conn, Ken Nguyen and Thorpe – all 3-0. Facing Bustamante saw a dogfight but Woodward survived 3-2. Next was Estiola – he won that one 3-1 but waiting for him was the always tough T-Rex. Chohan took that match 3-0 and headed back into the finals. Sky finished in third place.
Despite having had a great year on the World Nineball Tour, Krause was outplayed by the more experienced Chohan as Tony swept the title 4-0.
Billy Thorpe
While the One Pocket was wrapping up, the $5,000 added Open 9 Ball division was just getting underway. Played on seven foot Valleys, the double elimination event drew 135 players. Entry fees were $100 with races to 9/7 with alternate breaks.
Slicing through the field to arrive at the final four on the winners side and squaring off were Mickey Krause and Billy Thorpe and Josh Roberts vs Francisco Bustamante. Roberts moved on to the hot seat match (9-4) as well as Thorpe (9-6).
Krause and Bustamante headed west to join Mark Estiola and Sky Woodward. Bustamante eliminated Woodward and Krause went down to Estiola – both matches 7-5.
Now down to four, on the one loss side it pitted the veteran Filipino, Bustamante, against young gun Estiola. Hot seat action was Thorpe and Roberts.
The hot seated match saw both players run out on their breaks – score 2-2. A scratch by Roberts gave Thorpe the opening he needed to take the lead and run out the next rack to make it 4-2. Another opening saw Thorpe regain control of the table to pull away and open it up to reach the hill first at 8-3. Roberts managed to win two more games but Thorpe closed out the match 9-5.
Roberts headed west to play Bustamante for the other spot in the finals. He defeated Estiola 7-4 leaving Mark in fourth place.
Roberts then eliminated Bustamante 7-4 and moved into the finals. Francisco finished in third place.
Since this was true double elimination, Roberts would have to defeat Thorpe twice to take the title.
Last year’s runner-up, Thorpe was looking to claim the title this year. He shot out to a 4-1 lead and maintained his lead 70 7-5. Roberts won the next game to make it 7-6 and then won another to tie it at seven apiece!
Although it was Billy’s break, all the pressure was on him now. Whoever won this game would reach the hill first!
And run out he did! Now the pressure was on Josh to tie it up! And he did! 8-8!
Again, it was Thorpe’s break and he pocketed a ball leaving him an almost straight-in shot on the one. However, the two wouldn’t pass the obstructing ball, so Billy The Banker played position on the two for a bank. He rifled it in and it was a road map from there to the title!
What a match! What a comeback by Josh!
Congratulations to Tony Chohan, Billy Thorpe and Francisco Bustamante for becoming this year’s Bayou State Classic champions!
We’re looking forward to next year!
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