Jude Espinoza and Chuck Parrill
The Desert Classic Tour held their first "B/C only" event at Bullshooters in Phoenix, Az where 36 players competed for the $500 in added prize money.
Some of the early event favorites found themselves in unfamiliar territory early as Ken Gouso, Susan Williams and Ed Scott were all bounced to the one loss side mid day on Saturday. Gouso and Scott would right their ships and make it through to day two.
Sunday dawned with four players on each side of the board. Jude Espinoza and Chuck Parrill both won their winners side matches and would face off for the hot-seat. The match for the hot-seat went back and forth with Espinoza taking an early 3-1 lead. Parrill tied the match at 3-3, but Espinoza went back ahead 5-3. It was then Parrill's turn to get hot as he won the final four games for the 7-5 win.
On the one loss side, Ed Scott had been on a tear after his lopsided loss to Parrill on Saturday. Scott had won six matches on the left side of the board and would only have to get by Espinoza to earn another shot at Parrill in the finals. That rematch would not happen as Espinoza cruised to a 7-1 win to eliminate Scott in third place. With Parrill not entering the side pots, Espinoza was already guaranteed the most prize money even if he lost to Parrill in the finals. These players were not thinking about prize money though. This was all about pride and the tournament win.
The true double elimination finals saw both players allowing the long hours of play to get the best of them. Neither player brought their "A Games", but it was Espinoza who got to the hill first at 6-5 in the first set. Parrill joined him on the hill one rack later, where a fluke scratch on the 7-ball by Parrill gave the first set to Espinona.
Parrill started the final set on a tear, as he took a quick 2-0 and 3-1 lead. Then the wheels fell off. Espinoza started to get a couple openings from Parrill and Espinoza's confidence appeared to grow with each made ball. Four games later it was Espinoza with a 5-3 lead. Espinoza reached the hill at 6-4, but missed a 9-ball that would have won him the match. Parrill missed a long rail bank and it was all over as Espinoza took advantage of the reprieve and pocketed the troublesome ball for the 7-4 win.
