Derby City Classic XX, January 19-27, 2018
LIVE from the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Casino, Elizabeth, IN
BANK POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
471 players vie for $10,000. Race to 3, 9-Ball–Short Rack
Today, there were 8:
Corey Deuel proved invincible! Unbeaten, he strolled thru the Banks brackets in indomitable style. As 2013 DCC Banks Champion, he desperately wanted another title. “I feel that Bank Pool has always eluded me. In the last five years, my best finish was 7th.”
He’d worked hard to improve. Humbly, he’d asked other players about their technique. He admitted, he’d learned a lot. After all, he’d just dueled 14 rounds that had included contending with past Champions John Brumback and Francisco Bustamante. His confidence continuing to grow, he had beaten them back to back. “That’s when I felt I had a chance to win it.”
Corey had begun the day by bruising Brumback by sending him to the buy-back booth.
John’s morning had been a marred by bad preparation. “I hadn’t eaten properly.” he confessed, “My hands were shakin’ so bad. Saltines just don’t cut it!”
Shaw opened his day by sending Shane to buy back but it was short-lived as Brumback, then fighting for his life, administered Van Boening’s death blow.
Justin Bergman, who was originally given his first loss by Fedor Gorst, drew him again. “That guy can really play.” Justin asserted. “I wish I shot that good when I was 17.”
Bergman had managed the first game in their match. In game 2, they both needed one ball. Bergman continued, “And I hung it. He won that one then broke and ran out and, I’m down 1-2.” In their 4th game, the consensus was that better banking skills can beat superior strategy. “I got cautious and lost my aggressive attitude. I decided to out-move him–that, I know I can do. But, he just banks so good.”
Later, interestingly, it was Troy Jones who delivered Fedor’s final loss: He was last seen stalking the one-pocket matches. That, he admitted, is where he also needs to gain some strategy.
Troy then ran afoul of Shaw, Bustey, who had ousted Woodward earlier, couldn’t catch the cagey and consistent Corey. He, too, was sent to concentrate on one pocket.
And then, there were 3. In the Accu-Stats’ TV Arena, Corey was first pitted against 2017 finalist Jayson Shaw. Brumback had drawn the bye.
Corey was not intimidated. His quiet confidence reinforced by those big, aforementioned, wins over Brumback, a 3-time DCC Bank Pool Champion and 2017 title holder Fransisco Bustamante.
He won the first game 5 balls-2. At 4-4 in the 2nd game, Shaw, shockingly, scratched. With ball in hand in the kitchen, Corey, calmly, rolled it off the short rail and into the corner. 2-0.
Game 3 opened with Corey breaking and running a couple and Jayson firing a few right back at him.
Deuel didn’t falter even when, seemingly, safely stuck up behind the 6, rolled it off the long rail to drop gently into the corner.
One ball later, he had earned the right to do battle with Brumback. Up 2-1, Corey had to fade John’s four ball onslaught which tied the match, 2-2.
Always aggressive, never denying the opportunity to bank rather than duck, they both needed a couple. Corey was on the hill first and fired cross side. It hit the knuckle. Brumback sighed in relief. With 3 balls lined up on the spot, he attempted a cross side. It landed long and left opportunity.
Corey’s nerve held steadfast as he fired in the final orb.
Interestingly, in 2013 his jubilation had him jumping thru the roof. Today his knees gave way as he sank to rest on the table,
His face filled with joy as he announced, “It feels really satisfying to win, again, today.” He’s also $10,000 richer!
ONE POCKET CHAMPIONSHIP
393 entrants have now been depleted to 68.
Some big-name upsets of note: Sky Woodward was gone by the third round. “I’ve been firing ‘em in all weekend and now I’m slow rolling balls, choking up on my stroke, switching back and forth ‘cause I’m still in the Banks.”
Interestingly enough, he was originally enrolled in the BIG Foot and withdrew to concentrate on his bank game figuring that it would also help in the One Pocket.
Immonen is now gone, eliminated by Dee Adkins and Robb Saez.
Oklahoma’s big-money, action player Chip Compton ran afoul of Daulton in the 4th round and Brumback in the 5th.
Cliff Joyner was taken to the buy-back booth by Tommy Tokoph and, later on, eliminated in the match of the day with Scott Frost.
At 2-2, Joyner was ahead 7 balls-1. Jacked up on the rail Scott, aggressive as ever, fired in a combo the length of the table…and ran out! Cliff fell off the hill!
In his match with Joshua Filler, it looked like Gorst was applying his knowledgable 14.1. pattern play. He strung multiple ball runs together, so quickly, that the match was over in 30 minutes. Now Josh had the time to hone in on some one-pocket.
The record of Gorst’s 30 minute annihilation didn’t last long. Later, John Schmidt devoured an opponent in 22!
Allan Hopkins, altho.’ having one loss, is still alive as he sent Bill Meacham home.
Tied 2-2 with young-gun Evan Lunda, Shane’s cue ball was hindered by the newly broken rack. Jacked up by using 2 bridges stacked on top of each other, he slow-rolled the finest cut into the corner. With six balls loose, he had total control of the table. He made only two of them. Lunda continued the execution. Buy back Shane.
Matches begin at noon on Accu-Stats.com
Accu-Stats thanks its Arena Sponsors: Diamond Billiards, Simonis Cloth, Cyclop Balls, Lucasi Custom, MEZZ Cues, McDermott Cues, National Billiard Academy, and Samsara Cues
The George Fels Memorial Straight Pool Challenge is streaming at billiardnet.tv, today!
The players with the 8 highest runs, tallied from the total entrants, face off in single elimination. If scheduling permits, Accu-Stats will stream, at least, the finals.
Shot of the Day:
Dennis Orcollo has tied Jayson Shaw’s still unbeaten 227, historical, tournament high run.
Little did he know, had he beaten it, he would be $1000 richer. Instead, his wealth, by capturing the high run of the day, increased by only $300.
At 225, and the balls burst wide open, there were audience asides: “He needs three more to beat it.” At 226, “He needs two more….” Dennis wasn’t quite aware of what they were talking about.
So, at 227, focused and confident as always, rather than cinch an easier ball, he unnecessarily attempted to draw a close to the rail cue ball into position. With the additional encumbrance, he jacked up, stroked back and forth a few times…and missed!
The good news? He’s definitely qualified for the final 8.
Orcollo, Dennis 227
Chinakhov, Ruslan 182
Fortunski, Miesko 125
Shaw, Jayson 110
Corteza, LeeVan 102
Poteet, Devin 94
DeLuna Jeffery 84
Melling, Chris 84
Archer, Johnny 81
