Derby City Classic Day Six

Derby City Classic XXI, January 25 - February 2nd, 2019

 

LIVE from the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Casino, Elizabeth IN.

 

DIAMOND DCC ONE POCKET CHAMPIONSHIP

 

410 entrants are now reduced to 24.

 

One Pocket; Chess with Balls.

 

Just like chess, One-Pocket is about knowing the moves. It is, also, said that the “mover” will out-play the shotmaker. As shotmakers have the need to pocket balls, One-Pocket players, “Tie ‘em up, stick ‘em in the stack, leave ‘em stuck.”

 

This strategy, knowingly, exercises patience that, eventually, frustrates the fast and loose shooters into firing at will. Actually, as the trap has been set, it really is firing unwillingly.

 

If you are looking to reinforce the maxim “revenge is sweet,” just ask Skyler Woodward. With a 3 zip result, just like had been administered to him in Banks (twice), he eliminated Billy Thorpe from the One-Pocket division.

 

The result puts Skyler in position to threaten the Master of the Table, or All-Around Champion, $20,000 bonus prize money.

 

Not to worry, Billy is still deep in it, too.

 

The player with the most points accumulated from DCC’s 3 qualifying events, Banks, 1-Pocket, and 9-Ball, will earn the honor.

 

It’s way too early to tell, but, if Skyler, with his 3rd/4th finish in Banks, climbs to there or better in One Pocket, he will challenge Billy’s current dominance with his 120 point advantage for the Bank Pool title.

 

If you thought that must be the match of the day, think again.

 

Opening the action on the Accu-Stats TV table was young Filipino gun, James Aranas in contest with veteran John “MR 400” Schmidt.

 

What unfolded was a stunning come-from-behind performance.

 

They were tied 2-2. In the decider, Aranas took an intentional foul, -1. Not to be outdone, John took 5 intentional fouls!

 

Soon, James, having nabbed a few, was in the plus side with 3. John was still at -5.

 

For those of you in-the-know, John, “Mr 400,” has been vigorously involved playing 14.1. He’s intent on beating Willie Mosconi’s 60+ year record high-run of 526 balls.

 

With the added incentive of a sweet bonus from his sponsor, Easy Street Billiards, Schmidt set up his video camera and went to work. For around 2 weeks John shot century after century and, tho,’ he didn’t out-run Mosconi, he did beat his own recorded 403 record by 31 balls. John has now the highest run on camera with 434!

 

That 14.1 skillset came into play today. At -5, he needed to pocket 13 balls in the same hole to overthrow Aranas.

 

When his onslaught commenced, in around 3 innings, John completely reversed his position and had James on the ropes. Ahead at 5-3, one more turn at the table was all it took to secure the set.

 

John’s “cueball” was exemplary, both in defense and offense. His know-how, compounded with the will to win, has set the standard of the year’s championship.

 

“James played smarter than I thought he did,” John considered after his win. ”How come these young kids know so much about One-Pocket?” 

 

By watching you John; watching you.

 

Lee Vann Corteza wasn’t so much out-moved by  Shane Van Boening as he was out-shot. Referring to the aforementioned Shooter principal, Shane has always been the exception to the rule.

 

His confidence, compounded by experience, knows no bounds. He attacks balls that old school one-holers would consider suicidal. His touch and speed allowed the tight-cut pro pockets to accept balls that, if missed, would surely leave Vann Corteza victorious.

 

Instead, at 3-1, Van Boening moved forward. Lee was delivered to the buyback booth.

 

Francisco Bustamante’s 3-1 over Joshua Filler was, somewhat, expected but Bustey shouldn’t be too confident next year. Scroll down to see Filler’s 14.1 coverage.

 

Players are running more 8 balls and out’s this year than ever. Roberto Gomez, not exactly known as a one-holer from -2, ran 10. Then, another 8, 2-0. Jeremy Jones ran 8, 2-1. Then, they grind until the cold roll stopped Double J’s ball one quarter of a revolution from dropping in the hole. Gomez stole Jeremy’s shape, back-cut it straight in his hole, and it’s 3-1.

 

13 players are still undefeated including, Omar Al Shaheen. With his 100 points as runner-up in Banks, has his eye on the All-Around prize. There’s, also, Justin Bergman, Taiwan’s Kevin Cheng, Corey Deuel, Scott Frost, Thorsten Hohmann. Evan Lunda and,  Alex Pagulayan.

 

One Pocket matches will air on accu-stats.com at NOON. EDT.

 

DIAMOND DCC 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

  

407 entrants; Another DCC attendance record broken!

 

Race to 9. 3 balls, minus those pocketed, must make the kitchen on the break.

 

Johnny Archer was in superlative form as he caught Canada’s John Morra napping. Down 6-0 is certainly a wake-up call but John was so deep in the hole that he couldn’t recover. Scrambling, he mustered a few but, the dominant Archer soon shot Morra beddy-bye. 9-3.

 

Jung-Lin Chang, still on a 10-Ball roll, thought he was on a bar-box. Alex, who’s 168 ball run just missed the 14.1 cut, was in better stroke and managed 7 games.

 

Much more to come.

 

THE DIAMOND STRAIGHT POOL CHALLENGE is streaming at billiardnet.tv!

 

The high-run contest is manned by 14.1 aficionados Dennis Walsh and Bill Maropulis. Bob Jewett, the event creator, continues to support and contribute to the event.

 

Our thanks to Rich Klein for his daily scoring updates.

 

it took only ’til the second day, for Scotsman Jayson Shaw’s 247, two year, DCC high-run reign to be overthrown by Chris Melling, an Englishman. 244 became the number to beat.

 

Fortunately, as the upset to took place on American soil, an international incident was averted.

 

As Wednesday was the closing day for the runs to be tabulated, by early afternoon Bill Maropulis considered, “Even although the standard of play has been exceptional this year. It will take something extraordinary for Chris’ run to be beaten.”

 

Along came Orcollo, a previous tournament winner. Bang, 260!

 

Meanwhile, newly crowned 2018 World 9-Ball Champion Joshua Filler entered the room. Being German, Josh is no stranger to Straight Pool. 14.1 is part of the pool education program. Bang, bang, bang, 285!

 

Now there are 5 runs over 200 in the final 8 who will been drawn for a single elimination play-off to determine the champion.

 

Here are the high-run finalists.

 

 

This Just In! Here’s a sneak peak at the draw:

 

Filler vs. Feijen

Schmidt vs. Immonen

Melling vs. Van Boening

Orcollo vs. Corteza

 

ONE POCKET HALL OF FAME DINNER

 

Wednesday, 30th, Jan. 6 pm.

 

Diamond Lounge; On the Boat at Horseshoe Southern Indiana Casino, Elizabeth IN.

 

Onepocket.org, under the auspices of Steve Booth, inducted Frost and James Walden.

 

Interestingly, the 2 players honored this year had quite a history together.

 

Road players are always on the hunt for new talent to skulk around with in search of the cash.

 

Walden had observed Frost as a talented kid and was awed by his dedication to learn and his taste for adventure.

 

Away they went. Frost’s forte (still is) was One-Pocket. James excelled in 9-Ball.

 

Exercising rule number 1 of the road, neither exposed their true expertise. Until they lost. Then one would announce, “Try him some.”

 

That’s how it’s done.

 

Scott Frost is now a jubilant member of the the One Pocket Hall of Fame!

 

James Walden has the honorable mention of “Lifetime Pool in Action!”

 

One Pocket Hall of Famer Shannon Daulton emcee’d the evening’s festivities, while fellow members Nick Varner John Brumback and Jeremy Jones entertained the one-hole fans with personal encounters with the honorees.

 

Accu-Stats thanks its Arena Sponsors: Diamond Billiards, Simonis Cloth, Cyclop Balls, Cuetec Cues, Lucasi Custom, MEZZ Cues, McDermott Cues, National Billiard Academy, and Samsara Cues.