Patsura, Van Boening, Kibaroglu & Wolford Take Texas Open

As the end of summer approaches and Labor Day weekend is on the horizon, pool players from all over know it means just one thing – the Texas Open!

The 51^st Annual Texas Open Nine Ball Championship had $30,000 in added money and featured four divisions. They included the main event – Open 9 Ball – plus Ladies 9 Ball, a 9 Ball Mini and One Pocket.

Local sponsors joining Skinny Bob’s owners Kim and Tracy Sanders and PoolActionTV.com included Hanshew Jump Cues, Austin Pro, Green Ape Coffee Roasters, Capitol Bearing & Hydraulics, JCS Heating & Cooling, LLC, attorney Joseph J. Long, Sanders Roofing & Exteriors LLC, GAF,

Simonis, Aramith, Mints Amusements, Savage Billiards, ABC Supply Co., Inc., JB Cases, Savage Billiards, Diamond Billiard Products, Inc. and the Fort Worth Billiards Superstore of Fort Worth, TX.

Spotted at this year’s event was America’s premier player, Shane Van Boening. Considered to be one of the best players of all time, Shane has captured over a hundred professional titles including the WPA World Nine Ball Championship and five US Open Nine Ball titles. Just returning from a runner-up finish in the US Open Pool Championship in Atlantic City, NJ, he will be inducted into the BCA Hall of Famer later this year. Another former US Open 9 Ball champion, Gabe Owen, was also there along with defending champ Tyler Styer.

Also seen was this year’s Skinny Bob’s Nine Ball Classic victor, Vitaliy Patsura, and 2024 Big Tyme Classic 9 Ball champ, 2023’s Cajun Coast Classic 9-Ball and Banks champ, Sky Woodward, as well as Jonathan Pinegar (“Hennessee”) – last year’s Scotty Townsend Memorial Pro Players champion. Newly minted Buffalo’s House Pro Sergio Rivas, Danny Smith and looking to make a comeback, four-time Mosconi Cup player Mike Dechaine, were there as well.

Multiple time European ladies champion, Turkey’s Eylul Kibaroglu – 2024 Big Tyme Classic and Scotty Townsend Memorial winner – was also there. Other top ladies included Jennifer Kraber, Chris Fields, Ashley Rice and Kim Pierce.

This year’s extravaganza kicked off on Tuesday evening with the $11,000 added One Pocket Championship. Twenty one players paid their $1,000 entry fees to compete in this double elimination event – races were 5/4. Following the players auction, meeting and draw, play began.

First round action saw last year’s winner of both the Midwest Open 9 Ball and the Chuck Markulis Memorial 9 Ball events, Shane Wolford, edge out Rick Moreno 5-4 and 2023 Buffalo Pro Classic’s 9 Ball champ Alex Calderon defeated Eric Alcinena 5-2. Danny Smith eked out a win over current Big Easy Classic Barbox 9-Ball champ, Josh Roberts, 5-4 and Billy Thorpe, reigning Bayou State One Pocket winner, smoked Joseph Herron 5-0. All the other players caught those coveted first round byes.

2024’s Buffalo’s Pro Classic One Pocket champion Roberto Gomez blitzed Justin Stewart as did reigning Alfa Las Vegas Open champ Lee Vann Corteza over James Davis Jr – both 5-0. Current Big Tyme Classic One Pocket champ Tony Chohan had a harder time with the always tough Danny Smith but squeaked out a 5-4 win. Van Boening tore through Calderon, as did Wolford over Charlie Mora – both matches 5-1. Defending Texas Open Banks champ, John Morra, defeated Owen 5-3 and Thorpe beat 2023 Battle of the Bull winner, Roland Garcia, 5-2.

Things tightened up in the next round as Gomez managed a 5-4 win over Corteza and Thorpe defeated Rivas 5-3. Morra took down Chohan 5-3 and Van Boening sent Wolford west 5-2.

Now down to four undefeated players, Van Boening plowed through Morra 5-1 and Gomez notched a win over Rivas 5-3. Shane and Roberto advanced to the hot seat match where it was all Shane as he held Roberto scoreless and secured his spot in the finals.

Over on the one loss side, it was one great match after another, however once the dust settled, the last two standing were Chohan and Morra. Battling it out to see who’d face Gomez, John took the match 4-1. Tony finished in fourth place.

And what a match it was! Playing down to the case game, Gomez took the win 4-3 leaving Morra in third place.

As this was true double elimination, Roberto would have to defeat Shane two sets to claim the title. The match was closer than the hot seat match but it was Van Boening who took the title 5-3. What a great match between two great players!

On Thursday evening, there was a warm-up for the main event. The $500 added single elimination 9 Ball Mini featured a $25 entry fee with a full field of 64 players playing races to three.

Playing down to the final four were Shane Wolford and Eric Alcinena in the upper portion of the bracket and Joven Bustamante and Justin Stewart in the lower. Shane won his match 3-1 and Joven won his 3-0. Moving into the finals, Wolford claimed the title 3-1.

Friday night saw the beginning of the main event – the $16,000 added 9 Ball Open. A full field of 128 players posted their $200 entry fees to compete in this double elimination event. The format was races to nine and winner breaks with the nine racked on the spot – the three point rule was in effect. After the player auction, meeting and draw, play began.

No one drew tougher than two-time Texas Open 9 Ball champ Sky Woodward. He drew Lee Vann Corteza in the first round and went down to the wire with him – finally knocking that last nine ball in the hole for the win. Waiting for him was defending champ Tyler Styer – Tyler was sent packing 9-3. It wasn’t getting any easier for Sky as his next match was with Mike Dechaine. He won this one also by the same score but then was upset in the fourth round by Daniel Schneider 9-5!

Down went Gomez, Chohan, Wolford, Calderon, Owen, Van Boening, Thorpe, Roberts, Smith, Hennessee, Rivas and so many others as Roland Garcia, John Morra, Vitaliy Patsura and the relatively unknown Billy Dyke sliced their way through the field.

Vying for the hot seat match were Garcia and Morra. Roland took his match with John 9 -6 and Vitaliy won his with Billy 9-3. Morra and Dyke headed to the one loss side to await their opponents.

After losing in the third round, Styer tore through John Becker, Justice Eagan and Bernard Walker – all 9-1. Next was Ernesto Bayaua (9-2), Billy Thorpe (9-7), Tony Chohan (9-3), Eric Alcinena (9-6) and Roberto Gomez (9-5). Waiting for him was Dyke – Tyler defeated him also (9-7).

After losing his opening round match, Lee Vann Corteza also had his work cut out for him. He eliminated Marc Oler and Boog Long – both 9-2. Next were Sky Massingill and Alex Calderon – Lee beat them 9-3. Steve Sheppard (9-2), Callum O’Donnell (9-1), Hennessee (9-3) and Daniel Schneider (9-4) all went down until he ran into Van Boening. Shane knocked him out of the tournament 9-5 but then next match, Morra took dead aim and that was all for Shane. He went down 9-1.

And then, that was it for Morra as Styer eliminated him as well. It was a battle but Tyler closed it out at 9-7. John finished in fourth place.

Playing to get into the finals against Patsura, Styer and Garcia went neck and neck. Tied at five apiece, Tyler won the next game but Roland won the next three to get to the hll first! Now, 8-6, Styer won the next two games to tie it up! Breaking, Tyler made two balls on the break but was hooked on the one. Playing the ball rail first, he pocketed the ball and broke up two that were tied up. The balls were now laying nicely for him and Styer took the match! Garcia finished in third place.

The finals would be a rematch from last year! In 2023, Styer went undefeated & Patsura came from the one loss side but was unable to defeat Tyler twice for the title. This year, it was reversed! Tyler would have to win two sets to defend his title.

The match began and those looking for a battle were disappointed. The 2022 Texas Open 9 Ball champ, Patsura Vitaliy, came out of the gate hot and went straight to the hill having won the first eight games. In Tyler’s defense, he didn’t get to the table very often and when he did, he didn’t have much to work with. Mercifully for Styer, Patsura won the last game to take the title 9-0.

While the main event was in progress, the $2,500 added Ladies 9 Ball began on Saturday night. A full field of 32 players paid an entry fee of $125. The format was double elimination, race to seven and winner breaks – the one was racked on the spot. As always, after the auction, meeting and draw, play began.

As expected, Kibaroglu was never threatened as she defeated Kim Sanders 7-2, Ricki Casoer 7-1, Tam Trinh 7-1 and Jenna Bishoff 7-3 to reach the hot seat match.

In the upper portion of the bracket, Sue Orr also made her presence known. Teresa Garland went down 7-4 as did Molly McWhorter 7-1, Makenna Sanders 7-5 and Camille Campbell 7-2.

Playing in the hot seat match, Eylul and Sue battled it out with Kibaroglu claiming the win 7-5. She locked up her berth in the finals and Orr headed west to await an opponent where Rice and Kraber were battling to stay alive. Down to the wire, it was Rice who eked out a 7-6 win – Kraber finished in fourth place.

Playing for the other spot in the finals, it was again Rice who won the match 7-4. Orr finished in third place.

As this was also true double elimination, Ashley would have to win two sets to claim the title. However, it was not to be. Although close, it was Eylul who won her third title of the year 7-5.

PoolActionTV.com would like to thank Kim and Tracy Sanders and their excellent staff for rolling out the red carpet for all the players and fans.

We’d also like to thank Tournament Director Ian Jones for doing a great job running the various events.

Thanks also go out to Larry Schwartz, Scott Rabon, Josh Roberts and Ray Hansen for their topnotch commentary.

Congratulations to Shane Van Boening, Vitaliy Patsura, Eylul Kibaroglu and Shane Wolford for becoming this year’s Texas Open champions!

We can’t wait until next year!

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