Befoe we enter another period of high activity I would like to slow thing down a little and take time to acknowledge the achievements of
DARREN APPLETON
I have known the man for almost 20 years but our paths rarely crossed. During most of that time he performed with great success as an English 8 Ball player taking almost every title of that genre had to offer. I was concentrating on 9 Ball and with a year round season of around 30 events there was no need to be a multi discipline pool player.
But a growing resentment towards the people behind the bar table events resulted in an appearance or two at my 9 Ball tournaments. Tommy Donlon and Lee Tucker were among the first to make the crossover permanently and both were soon among the 9 Ball front runners. Alan Mitchell and Andy Richardson were only marginally behind those two.
But a real shift began when we started running Qualifiers for the World 9 Ball Championship.
Darren headed a pack of 8 Ball players striving to make an impact on the big ball scene. For about the next five years the roster at the qualifiers saw Darren being joined by Phil Harrison, Mick Hill, Chris Melling, Pat Holtz, Tony Holgate and a motley band of others. For the most part they enjoyed their fair share of success at reaching stage two.
But I sensed that Darren was aiming higher and this was revealed when the World 9 Ball moved to Manila, so did Darren.
I would see him in One Side in the Wee Small Hours playing mostly cheap sets against Reyes, Alcano and Orcullo (with a couple of longer ones occasionally thrown in). But Darren didn’t mind. Because he was Learning
His capacity for hard work was incomparable to any other player. Even Shane’s practice time figures pale into insignificance.
This work ethic has brought him success with enough titles to fill a skip with the trophies from them.
World 9 Ball, World 10 Ball, US Open would leave no doubt that he is currently the best international player on the scene today.
On a personal note Darren came into my world with a lot of baggage and continued to build on it for a little longer. He was not a person whose company I would seek socially. But as he buckled down to the challenge it matured him and noticeably so. He became more ‘public friendly’ and he seemed to realise the value of good public relations. Despite having to deal with a serious speech impediment he has virtually overcome it to become a master communicator. He also had a heap of relationship problems to deal with over the years. But they all disappeared the day that Angie Tan walked into his life. Now happily wed to this oriental beauty he has set up home in the USA and now seems happy as a pig in shit. While 4000 miles away he has a supportive family headed by his biggest fan in Daddy Apps AKA Tony.
I now have total respect for what he has achieved and I have no doubt that he will continue to be a major influence on the game both on and off the table for many years ahead.
Doug Gordon
DARREN APPLETON
I have known the man for almost 20 years but our paths rarely crossed. During most of that time he performed with great success as an English 8 Ball player taking almost every title of that genre had to offer. I was concentrating on 9 Ball and with a year round season of around 30 events there was no need to be a multi discipline pool player.
But a growing resentment towards the people behind the bar table events resulted in an appearance or two at my 9 Ball tournaments. Tommy Donlon and Lee Tucker were among the first to make the crossover permanently and both were soon among the 9 Ball front runners. Alan Mitchell and Andy Richardson were only marginally behind those two.
But a real shift began when we started running Qualifiers for the World 9 Ball Championship.
Darren headed a pack of 8 Ball players striving to make an impact on the big ball scene. For about the next five years the roster at the qualifiers saw Darren being joined by Phil Harrison, Mick Hill, Chris Melling, Pat Holtz, Tony Holgate and a motley band of others. For the most part they enjoyed their fair share of success at reaching stage two.
But I sensed that Darren was aiming higher and this was revealed when the World 9 Ball moved to Manila, so did Darren.
I would see him in One Side in the Wee Small Hours playing mostly cheap sets against Reyes, Alcano and Orcullo (with a couple of longer ones occasionally thrown in). But Darren didn’t mind. Because he was Learning
His capacity for hard work was incomparable to any other player. Even Shane’s practice time figures pale into insignificance.
This work ethic has brought him success with enough titles to fill a skip with the trophies from them.
World 9 Ball, World 10 Ball, US Open would leave no doubt that he is currently the best international player on the scene today.
On a personal note Darren came into my world with a lot of baggage and continued to build on it for a little longer. He was not a person whose company I would seek socially. But as he buckled down to the challenge it matured him and noticeably so. He became more ‘public friendly’ and he seemed to realise the value of good public relations. Despite having to deal with a serious speech impediment he has virtually overcome it to become a master communicator. He also had a heap of relationship problems to deal with over the years. But they all disappeared the day that Angie Tan walked into his life. Now happily wed to this oriental beauty he has set up home in the USA and now seems happy as a pig in shit. While 4000 miles away he has a supportive family headed by his biggest fan in Daddy Apps AKA Tony.
I now have total respect for what he has achieved and I have no doubt that he will continue to be a major influence on the game both on and off the table for many years ahead.
Doug Gordon
