2012 Texas Open

M

Mactiegre

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I watched some of the matches from the Texas Open. I have played in the previous 5 or 6.

‎2012 Texas Open gets crank’in with big come-from-behind rallys. - Men’s 1st day highlights.

By Mike “Tiger” MacTiegre

80 year old Bob Vanover (8-time winner of Texas Open) thrilled the crowd with terrific ball control to put his opponent Gerald Jimenez in the loser’s bracket. Bob played some astounding safety’s which induced about 6 Ball-in-Hand run-outs to win 9-7. Gerald won the coin toss but had to show Bob how to use the Magic Rack.

On Saturday, September 1st thru the 3rd, 128 elite players from around the US and Texas are competing for over $10,000 in Open Division prizes at the longest running 9-ball tournament in US history. Saturday night, the ladies’ 9-ball event began. Brackets are available on AZ Billiards.

Again this year they are providing players with the Magic Ball Rack which is a diamond-shaped, thin vinyl template that has holes where you place the Aramith Belgium Super Pro tournament billiard balls and get a perfect rack every time. The table has 2 dots marked on the cloth for the top and the bottom alignment holes, then just place the ball on a hole, and it self-centers itself for a perfect rack. In 2010, they used a metal triangle rack called the Delta-13. Players have always complained about the racking process – it takes too much time and players can tilt the rack for an advantage. On TV, they have a surrogate racking specialist, but here the loser racks for the winner. It is required to drive 4 balls to a rail on the break, else it is a foul. We play Texas Express Rules where the winner breaks.

Gerald won the first game when Bob missed a tough 3-ball side pocket cut shot, then ran out. In the second game, Gerald plays a soft-break and is looking at a great opportunity for a run-out, but cuts the 5-ball thick. Bob plays safe on the 6, leaving Gerald a jump over the nine. Gerald misses and gives Bob his first successful safety; Ball-in-Hand. Bob runs out, and makes nothing but noise on the hard break. Gerald misses the one, Bob plays safe on the 2, Gerald miscues on the four, and Vanover runs-out again. Bob makes at least one ball on each of his next 7 breaks and wins 9-6 playing successful safeties virtually every time, then running out.

On the table behind the Vanover match, Walt Anderson defeated William Dunsmore 9-3, Jamie Baraks wins a close one over Roger “The Rocket” Griffis 9-8. James “Junior” Davis, Jr. closes out Doctor Bill Hyde 9-5.

Later Vanover faced Junior and lost 9-6. Junior gets Jamie Baraks in his next match. Walt Anderson beat Ernesto Bayaua 9-5 and will play Mark Tofoya next.

During Sunday afternoon matches, Louis Jones announced that Mr. Vanover was not feeling well and forfeited his match. The crowd gave him a Bob a round of applause for coming back to the Open. We hope he feels better soon and comes back.

At 3:15pm, the feature table had Tony Sauls from McKinney, TX playing Gene Albrecht, formally of Eau Claire, MN. Gene struggled in the first couple games and the TV table pressure was too much for Mr. Sauls and he was unable to make a comeback. Gene broke and ran out 2 times and won 9-1.

Gene played Leroy Mathis at 1am and Leroy won 9-5 and faces Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant in the 3rd-round.

At 5pm, Corey Deuel broke and ran out 4 to win 9-0 over Lee Murphy. Lee only got to the table 2 times in the first 3 games, and 1 time in the last 3.

St. Jude Children’s Hospital Research Charity Pro-Am champion Steven Raynes lost a heart-breaker to Dennis Sneed 9-3. It seemed a lot closer than that.

But the best matches of the afternoon as far as I was concerned were seeing local players Earl Ponce (Austin, TX) and Jacob Warriner (Killeen, TX) battle their opponents Tommy Ulbik and 3-time Texas Open Champion Jeremy “JJ” Jones. That is until the 1:15am match, more on that later.

Earl came back from being down 6-1 to post 7 in a row to win 9-7 over Tommy. Earl faced Corey Deuel at 1am and lost 9-zip according to the brackets posted online, but I saw one barrel on Earl’s side when they shook hands but never remember him winning a game.

JJ was down 4-1 early on table 11. Warriner finally let JJ get on the table and he ran out from the 4 ball. Jacob kept getting amazingly good rolls including some back-to-back s***-shots and was up 7-2 when the magic left him. JJ fought back hard to 7-6, but Jacob played a nice safe which made JJ kick at the 7 ball. The match was now hill-6, and Jacob got down on a straight-in 4-ball with a tough draw to get shape on the 5 and miscues, but gets a fantastic roll with the 8-ball blocking JJ’s shot on the 4. JJ made one of many great bank combination shots I saw tonight; he banked into the 4-8 combo in the side which drew a large applause from the crowd. You could see the air in Jacob’s balloon burst when JJ ran-out from there. He knew that miscue probably cost him the match.

Hill-7: Loser racks and Jacob stacks the balls a little differently this time placing the balls in order on the Magic Rack 1, 3-6, 4-9-7, 5-8, 2-ball on the bottom. He re-stacks them because it didn’t look right to him.
JJ breaks from the right and makes the 4-ball and has a shot on the 1. Looks like an easy run-out and but his cue ball ran a little too far on the 5 and he had to make a tough fractional cut on the 5-ball to stay alive and got out.

Hill-hill. Jacob decides to rack the balls differently again; he racks them 1, 4-7, 6-9-3, 8-5, and 2 on the bottom. JJ comes up empty on the break and Jacob plays safe on the 1-ball. JJ plays safe on the 1-ball also but stops too short by about an eighth of the ball, and that was all Jacob needed, but while he had been getting great rolls all night, the 2-ball was hooked by the three and he had to kick at it and misses and JJ runs out from the 2 to stay in the winners bracket to meet Robb Saez, 2011 Texas Open Champion at 1am. JJ and Jacob exchanged long handshakes congratulating each other for the way they played.

Robb Saez had to ralley from behind to win 9-6 against Jeremy to face Corey Deuel in the 3rd round winner’s side. I stopped watching at about 2AM when Jeremy was up 6-1 after playing some amazing safeties and bank-shot combinations. I heard Sunday that Robb Saez got his six-pack without Jeremy coming to the table to win. Robb made 3 balls on the break each time and only had to run 6 6-times in a row.
Play continues thru Monday night.
 
Day 2 action - part 1

Day 2 Texas Open 2012
Part 1 – Another six-pack for Robb Saez over Corey Deuel.

By Mike “Tiger” MacTiegre

I missed some of the early matches, and I arrived in time to see some good ones. On Table 11, Gene Albrecht, inventor of the Perfect Aim system, played B. Cantu on the one-loss side. Gene breaks and makes 2 balls and scratches. Cantu runs out to the 8, and misses the 9. Game 2: Albrecht breaks and plays safe on the 1. Cantu makes a good hit. Gene plays safe again and fails, but gets out and wins 9-5. Safeties played per game: I estimate 2 with a success rate of less than 50%.

Jeremy Jones moves up the one-loss side with wins over Juan Parra 9-2, R. Fontenot 9-1 and Junior Davis 9-3. JJ plays the winner of Dennis Sneed and Walt Anderson Monday.

Sneed escape with wins over William Howard 9-5 and C. Velasquez 9-8 on the loser side.

On Table 4, the TV table, Eric Aicinena was down 1 to C. Velasquez with CV on the Hill. CV breaks, makes the 2-ball and plays safe. Aicinena makes a good hit but leaves CV with 1-9 combo to win.

At 4pm, Roger Griffis and Brian Anderson square off on table #2 next to the scorer’s table and the games goes to hill-hill and takes 2 and a half hours. Roger was down 2-1 early when Anderson gets hooked on 1 after his break. He jumps the 3 and makes a good hit, but the cue balls spins off the end rail into the corner pocket for a scratch and Roger misses a cut on the 3 which could have been intentional because the 4 was in trouble on the rail next to the 9. Roger later plays safe on the 3 but Brian moves the 9 with the 3 trying to play safe and leaves a 3-4 combo to Roger. He runs to the 7 and misses the tough cut to the corner leaving Brian an EZ out.
3-1: BA breaks and makes 3-ball. BA rattles the corner with the 4-ball and RG makes a great cut on the 5 to stay in the game and gets a concession on the 9.
3-2: BA fails to play safe and Roger gets hot on stroke for a few balls but miscues on an 8-ball cut draw leaving a tough cut on the 8 for BA. BA misses and Roger plays a very tough cut on 8 to position perfectly for 9 and another concession. Roger smiles.
3-3: RG makes 5-ball on break, plays safe on 1. BA misses but leaves no EZ shot. RG plays safe on 1 again. BA jumps over 4-ball. Good hit, good leave. Roger runs to 9 and misses.
5-3: All the balls are on or next to the rail and the 9-ball is in front of the side pocket. Roger banks the 5 cross table to kiss the 9 and makes a good shot but scratches on a evil kiss via 2-rails and almost makes the 9. This leaves Brian with an EZ 5-9 combo.
6-3: BA misses a quarter-ball cut shot on the 9-ball and leaves RG with EZ shot.
6-4: RG plays safe on 3. BA makes good hit but scratches. RG runs to 5 and misses. After several failed safeties, BA leaves RG a run-out.
6-5: RG breaks and runs-out including a great bank shot on the 3-ball to keep the run alive.
6-6: A lot of safeties and misses, and Brian Anderson finally kicks Roger out with a 9-8 win after 2.5 hours.

On Table 4, Brian Sanders played Ernesto Bayaua on the TV table. Ernesto only gets to the table 3 times in the first 3 games and only 3 times in the last 2 games.
3-1: Sanders scratches on the 8-ball and gives Bayaua ball-in-hand on the 9.
3-2: EB misses the 1-ball and Sanders runs out.
4-2: Sanders makes 2 balls on the break and lucks out with a leave. Gets a tough roll on the 5 but makes it. Break and run-out #2.
Hill-2: Sanders misses and lets EB to the table for a run-out.
Hill-5: EB got hooked and plays a great jump over a group of 5 balls to make the 1 and got perfect on the 2 after hitting two rails with a lot of spin and is starring another run-out down but misses the 8 from the rail and Sanders misses the 8.
Hill-6: Brian Sanders gets out one trip to the table and wins 9-6.
 
Texas Open 2012 Masters profile – Gene Albrecht

Texas Open Masters profile – Gene Albrecht

By Mike “Tiger” MacTiegre

Have you ever wondered why you miss some shots that you should have made? One man has the answer. And he is playing this year at the 2012 Texas Open at Skinny Bob’s in Round Rock, TX. He played at the featured table at 3:15 today, Sept 1, which was being streamed to the Web by BigTruck™ on PoolActionTV

One day, while pondering his future working for a satellite dish company, he decided to make a DVD about the aiming technique he invented. A lot of really good players do this aiming method naturally because they have been playing for a long time, but can’t explain how they do it. But Gene Albrecht, 59, can and he does a darn good job at it.

Gene started playing in 1971 when he was 18 years old. His was first influenced by a home town player by the name of George Brick and dreamed of going on the road like Paul Newman in “The Hustler” movie. On Gene’s first road trip, he got to observe one of the greatest one-pocket pool players of all time, George Pawalski who was has been known to run 300 balls without missing. Pawalski had a perfect aim if anyone ever did. Gene was impressed and started thinking about how to make that perfect aim every time. Gene claims he invented the perfect aim system, I wonder if he showed that to Pawalski and that is why he got so good. (Update - Gene nevr talked to Pawalski about Perfect Aim system).

Gene started having some health problems, and has a very difficult time playing tournaments where there is a lot of smoke. His motor home falls on him and broke some ribs among other things. But he always wanted to be like Eddie Felson (Paul Newman – “The Hustler” and “The Color of Money”).

Gene won the 17th Annual VNEA International Championship Men’s 8-ball singles (1997); and was on the winning team of the 19th Annual VNEA international championship in the Open Masters Division (1999) in Bloomington and the Scotch Doubles Masters in Minneapolis.

So Gene was working as a salesman at this satellite dish company in Eau Claire, MN and wanted to go to Las Vegas and promote his aiming invention to players. He entered the 5th annual (2009) ACS National 8-ball Masters Division at the Riviera Casino just to introduce himself to players so he could sell his DVD, and to his surprise won the tournament at age 56!
Now he travels the U.S. giving lessons and playing in tournaments.

I invited Gene over to my house to hit some balls and he showed me the Perfect Aim system and it really works. He explained how this system has been scientifically proven. It has to do with identifying how the non-dominate eye tries to take over in the shot alignment. I got this short lesson from him and my game got better immediately.

In his cue case, Gene plays with a Predator 314^2 shaft that has been conditioned with an ISOPROPYL-alcohol/silicone mix that he uses to make it smooth as glass.

Gene won his 3:15pm match against Tony Sauls 9-2 and broke and ran out 2 racks. Gene lost to Leroy Mathis 9-5 on Table 2 next to scorers table.
 
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2012 Texas Open, Day 2, part 2

2012 Texas Open Day 2 – Part 2 –

By Mike “Tiger” MacTiegre

In afternoon matches, Gene Albrecht played Chris Sharier on Table 11 right away after his win with Bobby Cantu on the one-loss side.
Chris Sharier (CS) breaks racking for each other. Makes 3-ball but fails to get safe on 1 ball. Gene Albrecht (GA) kicks at the 2-ball; good hit. CS misses 2-ball. GA plays successful safe on 2; good hit by CS. GA runs out.
1*0: CS jumps and makes a good hit on 4. GA makes a good shot to get difficult shape on 5. GA has a clear shot on 5 to side, but 6 is tied up with 8. GA plays the 5 of the 8 to kick the 6 free and makes it. GA faced with a long 6-ball quarter-ball cut on 6-ball down the side rail but leaves himself with a bank on the 7. GA misses the 7 ball bank. CS misses the 7 and leaves it hanging in the corner. GA has to make 2 thin cuts on both 8 and 9 to run out.
2*0: GA plays safe on 2-ball. CS makes a good hit. GA runs to the 8 and plays 2-rails perfectly to get shape on 9.
3*0: GA has long shot on 2-ball, over-cuts it while the party-bar maidens are screaming. People are moving around like there is no tournament going on. Long-story short, GA gets CS to 3-foul on 2-ball.
4*0: GA breaks and runs out after making 7-ball on break and has a shot on the 1-ball.
5*0: GA makes the 1, 4 and 8-ball on the break. Has a shot on the 2 but misses the 3-ball. CS gets down on the long 3-ball shot and someone walks right thru his vision behind the table but makes it anyway. CS has a 5-7 combo and makes the 7 down the rail and the 5 goes in the side of the ricochet side rail bank. CS misses the 6. GA makes a great shot on the 6 and gets shape on the 9.
6*0: GA makes 6-ball on break and has a shot on the 1. People are walking by on all sides of the table but GA keeps playing as if he has blinders on. He looks around the table and runs out with every ball going in the center of the pocket and getting perfect shape.
7*0. GA makes 6-ball on break again and has shape on 1. He runs to the 4 and scratches. CS has a look at the 5-9 combo but plays the 5 past the 9 to the corner. Runs to the 8 and has no shape and plays it to the corner but misses and it fortunately goes to rails into the side pocket.
7*1: CS comes up empty on the break. GA looks at the 1-9 combo, uses the bridge and cuts the 1 past the 9 and kisses the 2 and gets bad shape on the 2. Has a tough quarter-ball cut shot on the 2 down the rail and makes it. Uses the bridge to cut the 3 and gets good position on the 4. Runs out.
8*1: GA makes the 1 on the break and has no shot on the 2 on the other side of the table. He pushes out by kissing the 9 ball closer to the corner pocket as he is looking for the 3-9 combo later. CS makes him shoot the push-out shot and he plays a successful safety on the 2, gets ball-in-hand and makes the 3-9 combo to win and be part of the final 32 players.
I was the only one who applauded and Gene came by and looks at me and right out of the “Color of Money” movie, he says “I’m Back!” Yes, you are Gene.
 
2012 Texas Open Day 2 – Part 3 – Tracy vs. Grady; Jacob vs. Tommy.

2012 Texas Open Day 2 – Part 3 – Tracy vs. Grady; Jacob vs. Tommy.

By Mike “Tiger” MacTiegre

Tracy Sanders (TS) played Grady Cooper (GC) on the winner’s side on Table 12.
2*1: GC is up one and breaks and runs to the 8. TS fails to get safe on the 8.
3*1: GC makes 6-ball on break and can’t cut the 1. TS runs to the 8 and can’t make it. GC misses the 8. TS misses the 8 again. GC runs out.
4*1: TS gets to the table and runs to 5-ball and hooks himself. GC gets out.
6*1: GC makes 1 &6-ball on break and has poor shape on the 2, but runs out anyway.
7*1: GC breaks and his only shot is a bank on the 1-ball and he fouls. TS runs to the 6. GC misses the 8-ball, DejaVu. GC misses the 8. TS misses the 8. GC misses EZ 8.
7*2: GC runs out to the 9 and misses a quarter-ball cut-shot from the center of the table when the 9 was on the head spot. GC concedes 9-ball to TS.
Hill*3: TS gets to the table and misses the 7-ball. Grady Cooper runs out and wins 9-3.

Jacob Warriner (JW) plays Tommy Tokoph (TT) on the one-loss side on table 10.
Jacob scratches on the 2-ball in the first game. Tommy runs to the 7-ball and goes 3-rails and about 2-feet past where he needed to be for good 8-ball shape. JW gets out.
1*0: JW breaks hard and 6-ball falls. TT gets to the table and rattles the 4-ball in a corner and it hangs. JW runs out from the 4.
2*0: TT gets to the table and runs out.
2*1: TT scratches on the break. JW runs to the 4 and scratches on the 5 after a nasty little kiss. TT runs to the 8 and misses an 8-ball rail shot. Leaves it hanging in the corner! EZ out for JW.
3*1: JW plays a good safety on the 1 ball, but TT plays a great jump over the 2-ball to bank the 1-ball into the side and gets no shape on the 2-ball. WHAT A SHOT!!!! A smattering of applause. TT plays what looks like a successful safety on the 2-ball. I think JW makes the 2 on a great kick shot I missed, and runs out.
4*1: TT gets to the table and makes a jump shot to the 4; good hit but scratches. TT looks a little angry. JW runs to the 8 and misses but gets lucky and the 8 falls in the side.
5*2: TT gets to the table and misses a shot. JW runs out.
6*2: JW comes up empty on the break and TT runs out.
6*3: TT runs out again.
6*4: TT breaks and makes the 1-ball with no shape and pushes out on the 2. JW can see it but has no shot. He makes TT take the shot. TT runs to the 7 and has an 8-9 combo bank rail shot and misses and leaves the 9 hanging in the pocket and concedes the 8-9 combo to JW. TT visibly upset.
7*4: JW makes 2-ball on the break. Tries to carom in the 7-ball kissing off the 1-ball and misses. TT runs out.
7*5: TT breaks and has to bank the 1-ball and gets hooked on the 2-ball. TT kicks at the 2-ball and fails to get safe on the 3. JW banks 3-ball to the side pocket and it misses barely. TT gets out.
7*6: TT gets out, but I missed most of the shots.
7*7: TT makes a good bank shot on the 3-ball and leaves the cue on the top rail with a long 4-ball cross table and makes it. Has ton use the bridge on the 6-ball and gets out.
7*Hill: Tommy Tokoph runs out to the 9 with no drama and wins 9-7.
Afterwards, Jacob has a discussion with tournament director Louis Jones, Ray Hansen and Tommy about some confusion over the 6*4 score 8-9 combo concession, but they shake hands and he looks at me like he felt he was robbed. Jacob should feel good about his play.
 
Day 2 Texas Open 2012 - Part 4.

Day 2 Texas Open 2012 - Part 4.

By Mike “Tiger” MacTiegre

I get back to the pool hall at 10pm and it is standing room only for the 9pm winner’s side matchup of Corey Deuel vs. Robb Saez. There are about 25 people watching thru the windows outside as Robb runs out again because there was absolutely no room inside.
“Chicago” said Corey was up 7-3 and Robb ran out another six-pack to win 9-7. Inside later, I heard people taking about a controversial foul call on Corey. Many people thought Corey got a bad call which put Robb at the table and from what I could tell, Corey never got another shot.

I got to watch a little bit of the loser-side match on table 14 with Drew McCoy vs. Corey Deuel. McCoy drew Skinny Bob’s legend Bob Vanover who withdrew due to illness.
Corey got off to an early start but still looked a little shaken up over that previous match. It was being played on Table 14 so I had a hard time following the action.
1*0: Corey was up one and plays what looks like a successful safety on the 4-ball leaving McCoy a tough bank shot from corner-to-corner and he makes a beautiful bank shot and runs to the 7 and misses. CD runs out.
2*0: CD makes a ball on the break but misses the 1-ball in the side in a shot nobody though could be missed. Deuel looks visibly shaken up. McCoy runs out I think and the barrels above the table show 2-1.
Corey gets to work the way he does and wins 9-1. Deuel faces Brian Sanders next on the one-loss side.

I go over and check out the schedule and I see the one-loss side 6-6 tie match on the TV table between James “Bastrop” Davis, Sr. and Gary Abood.
I see Abood finish a run out and Strop gets to the table on the next game and sets himself up with a 2-9 combo to tie it up 7-7.
7*7: Strop makes 4-balls!!! on the break and pushes out. Abood makes him shoot it and Strop gets a nice roll and gets safe on the 2. They trade safeties failing each time and GA misses and leaves Strop a shot on the 2. Strop runs to the 7 and misses the 8-ball, but leaves Abood a tough and long quarter-ball cut on the 8 to the corner. The crowd grows around the table at 1am. Abood hits the 8 thick on purpose to leave the cue near the rail and the 8 near the opposite rail. Strop has a shot but must cut it razor thin and hits it a little too thick but leaves it on the rail with cue across in the center of the table. Abood leaves himself a rail shot on the 9 and makes it.
Hill*7: Abood makes the 6-ball on the break and leaves himself a bank shot on the 1. The 2 is blocking his obvious pocket choice. Abood has no choice but to play the 1 towards the center of the table. Strop has a shot on the 1 but looks like the 3-ball is blocking his obvious corner shot. The 1 lightly kisses the 3-ball on its way to the corner. It was so light, it didn’t move a half-inch. Strop studies the 7-8 combo on the rail, and the 8 is slightly off the rail and the 7 is touching the rail. He makes the EZ 2-ball and studies that 7-8 some more. He makes the 3 and sets up a draw on the 4 to get shape on the 5. He places the cue perfectly for the 7-8 combo with lower left english to throw the7 into the 8 down the rail and gets out.
Hill*Hill: Gary Abood racks the balls for Strop and stacks them 1, 3-5, 7-9-8, 4-2, 6. Strop breaks from the left hand side. Strop is a natural right-hander but shoots left-handed. He makes the 6 and 8 on the break and has a shot on the 1. Looks like a clean table, no balls against the rail and 2 or 3 near a pocket. Makes the one and gets shape on the 2 but almost scratches using 3 rails to get shape. Gary Abood looks tired is watching with his head on his hand with his elbow resting on the table and is slouching down in his chair. Strop comes up short on his 4-ball shape. I didn’t think he could get the cue ball past the 5 to make the 4 but he does. He gets perfect shape on the 5, 7 and leaves himself near the rail for the 9 and makes it. Wow. Another historic come-back win for Strop to stay alive in the final 32 players.
 
Day 3 - part 1

Watched Sylver Ochoa vs. Robb Saez on winners side Table 8. SO gets to the table 2 or 3 times in the last 6 racks and Robb wins 9-1.

Watched Corey Deuel vs. Brian Sanders. Corey was down 7-3 and came back to win 9-7.

On ladies Winner side, watched Belinda Calhoun vs. Nicole McDaniels. Some great shots by both but Belinda goes deep and wins 7-1.

Watched LD Henson vs. Jeremy Jones. LD scratches on the Break at Hill-hill and JJ makes 2-9 combo for the win on the losers side.

Watched John Palmore vs. Gene Albrecht on the losers side. John had the lead but played to make a 2 carom 9 ball for win to go Hill-hill but misses and losses 9-7. Gene was almost flawless and ran out several racks. Full play by play later.
 
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Day 3 - part 2.

Vivian Villarreal vs Liz Lively - Winners Side race to 7. (Corrected, did say Kim Pierce).
Liz scratches on the 3B down Hill-3 and Vivian runs out to take on Kim Pierce for the hot seat on the winners side.

Nick Tofoya vs. Junior Jueco. Junior jmps at 6b good hit, but scratches, but Nick miscues on 6 and Junior gets out, and is 1-down 7*6. In Hill*6 play, Junior fails to get safe on 1 ball, Nick runs out by making a great 7 ball bank shot to get shape on 8-ball. Wins 9*6.

Nicole MacDaniel vs, Melissa Little on Table 10. Nicole can't get away from those nasty safes and scratches. Melissa plays a great 1-9 combo on Hill-4 to win on the one-loss side.

Gene Albrecht vs. Nick Tofoya. Losers side scheduled to play on Table 11, but due to bad lighting, moves to table 14. Gene gets up on Nick early and makes some great repeat safeties on the 7 ball at Hill*6 to finally get Nick to leave him a shot and runs out for a 9*6 win.
 
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Thank you for the updates but have you watched any matches on the winners side?

Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk
 
Updates coming

Chip Compton came up the Losers side to beat his buddy from OK Joey Gray 2 times to grab title of 39th Texas Open Champion.
Vivian Villarreal has to play Melissa Little twice to win ladies title.

Michelle Abernathy posted some articles on the main page.
I will post major highlights from various matches tomorrow.
Check out Skinny Bob's facebook page for photos, too.

Gene Albrecht got 9-12 prize getting kicked out by Jamie Baraks.
3rd place went to Robb Saez, 2011 Champion.
 
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Name

You won't find the name MacTiegre on any of the Texas Open Players list. MacTiegre is my pen name. People call me Mike Tiger. My real name is Mike. :rolleyes:
 
Day 3 Texas Open 2012 - Ladies Finals - Villarreal vs. Little

Day 3 Texas Open 2012 - Who is going to Win the Texas Open Ladies side?

By Mike “Tiger” MacTiegre

I am watching Vivian Villarreal vs. Melissa Little (2011 Champion) on Table 5 – First set of the Finals. Vivian has not lost a match and Melissa beat Nicole Keeney 7-3 and Kim Pierce 7-4 to tackle Vivian. The Ladies Payout chart photo I took wasn’t very readable; I am not sure this is accurate:
1st - $900
2nd - $600
3rd- $430
4th – $300
5-6 - $225
7-8 - $130
Vivian, Melissa and Belinda Calhoun went 1,2,3 in the ladies Calcutta auction. I don’t know what the payout was in previous years, but this sounds better than I remember. Skinny Bob’s said $7000 was guaranteed added to total purse men and ladies.

I get to the pool hall after taking a 1hr nap and the match is under way. The bar is packed watching 2 men’s matches also in progress on the 9ft Gold Crown III tables with blue Simonis tournament cloth so I have to stand on the top of the 2nd set of bleachers to see. People are amazing quiet, but it is 10:30pm on Monday Labor day Sept 3, 2012.

Melissa (ML) 3, * Vivian (VV) 2. Race to 7.
ML misses the 2b I think she was hooked. VV makes 2 and has shot on 3b on top rail, tries to kick it safe but fouls. ML runs and scratches on the 7b. VV gets out.

3*3: VV makes 7b on break, has shape on 1b. No choice but to bank 2b, plays successful safety. ML barely misses a 3 rail bank shot. VV gets shape on 3b after 2b and runs to the 8, and has a tough shot to get shape on the 9b which she has cut.

3*4: VV grabs the bridge and cuts the 3b and plays 3 rails to get shape on the 6b, but misses the 6b; leaves ML a shot and way to get out. ML plays great shape to get on 8 down rail, and gets out.

4*4: ML makes 1b, 3b, 4b and 5b on the break!!!! :thumbup: Has a shot on the 2b, misses, but the 2b gets tied up with the 8b. VV tries a 2-8 combo and leaves 2b on rail. ML runs to 7b and plays perfect shape, but has to bank the 8b and cut the 9.

5*4: ML makes 1b on break and gets shape on 2b. Gets hooked on 3b and fails to get safe, VV runs out.

5*5: VV makes 2b on break. Gets hooks on 3b and fouls. ML runs to the8b and has a touch cut – Got it! Gets out.

6*5: ML makes 1b on break, looks at a 2-8 combo, grabs the bridge and makes a good hit and gets out for the win to force a second match. Vivian suffers her first loss of the tournament and as far as I can tell, shows no emotion. She looks all business and wastes no time; literally running to the table to toss the coin for the next match.

I get to sit down in the main room now; some people have left. :boring2: I guess some people have to work in the morning? I took a day of forced paid-vacation from my hi-tech job to be here. People bought tickets with good money to watch great 9-ball action and they leave before the finals are done; what’s up with that? Another factor: in Williamson County, bars must stop selling alcohol before mid-night.

Match #2.
Melissa (ML) * Vivian (VV) Race to 7 – Final match. Finally we get to it.
0*0: VV loses toss and racks for ML. ML makes the 4b on the break and runs out.

1*0: ML makes 4b on break, has shot on 1, runs out again.

2*0: ML makes 4b on break, has shot on 1, plays safety, fails to get safe. VV runs to the 8b and misses; leaves difficult cut to corner pocket. ML grabs the bridge and makes the 8b and gets out.

3*0: ML makes 1b on break, has shot on 2b. ML looks at a 2-9 combo and goes for it – missed. Leaves a shot on the 2b for VV who runs out and gets straight in on the 9b – no concession.

3*1: VV breaks and comes up empty and leaves a shot on the 1b. ML misses the 3B and leaves VV a run out.

3*2: Vivian breaks from the right-hand side. Makes 2b and has a difficult shot on the 1b and misses and leaves a shot. ML runs to the 4b and leaves it safe. VV makes a good hit, and ML runs to the 5b and leaves it safe. VV kicks at the 5b and leaves it on the rail. ML banks the 5b and runs out.

4*2: ML makes 1b/?b on break and has a shot on the 1b. Has a shot on the 2b but fails to get safe. VV runs to the 7b, has to make a tough cut on the 7b, plays 2 rails for position on the 8b, nice shot. Out.

4*3: VV breaks empty. ML misses 1b and leaves VV a shot but the 7b is in the way to the obvious corner pocket. VV plays the 1-7 combo and barely misses. ML is left with a shot on the 1b and banks it – way-off. VV has a shot on the 1b and leaves the 2B safe. ML makes a good hit on 2b. VV grabs the bridge and fails to get the 2b safe again. ML runs to 8, has to make bank shot to corner pocket. Cue ball on the rail for the 9b, tries the corner pocket and misses. VV out.

4*4: VV makes 3b on break and shoots at 1b and leaves it safe. ML makes a good hit but leaves a shot on the 1 for VV. (I missed the next few shots). ML runs to the 7b and draws cue ball back for the 8 and it kisses it on the way back and leaves no shot. 8b on rail close to the side pocket and Cue Ball (CB) is almost touching it. ML plays safety by tapping the CB to make the 8b hit the rail, but leaves virtually the same shot for VV. VV plays the CB down the rail after barely kissing the 8b to leave in next to rail, but it drifts a little too far. ML looks like she is playing the 8b down rail, but cuts it into the side and plays 2 rail position on the 9b which most of the time is always left in the racked position. 9b to CP – good shot.

5*4: ML makes 3b/5b but 1b is hooked by 4b. Pushes out to side rail. VV good hit and leaves 1b safe down rail. ML has no choice but to kick at the 1b and misses a 2 rail kick shot. VV runs out in about 45 seconds, no drama – I see where she gets the name The Texas Tornado.

5*5: VV makes 3b on break and runs to the 5b. She looks at a tough 1/8 ball cut shot and looks at a 5-9 combo. VV tries the cut and it hangs in one corner pocket (cp) and CB goes deep in the cp on opposite side and hangs. ML has a shot on the 5b but fouls. VV leaves herself bad on the 6 and misses. ML misses. VV gets 6b in cp, runs out.

5*6: VV makes 4b on break in sp; has shot on 1b. Plays safe on 1b but it kisses the 7b and sets up a possible 1-9 combo for ML. She goes for it and misses. VV makes the one and leaves tough on 2b down rail to cp and it hangs deep. ML is hooked on 2b. Grabs the jump cue and misses. VV runs to the 6b and looks at the 7b on rail cross-table next to the 9b. Gets perfect on the 7b, plays 2 rails for position on the 8b and gets out and becomes the new Texas Open 9-ball ladies champion. Technically, she wins on September 4th because it is now after midnight.

No one scored more games against Vivian than Melissa, and no one got hill-hill against her. Vivian demolished her opponents Nicole Keeney 7-5 in the 1st round; Amanda Lampert 7-1; Melinda Baily 7-1; Elizabeth Lovely 7-2 and Kim Pierce 7-1 in semi-finals.

Melissa was kicked to the losers side by lovely Elizabeth Lovely 7-6 in the second round, and showed no mercy against opponents Jennifer Kraber 7-2; Julia Rapp 7-2, Nicole MacDaniel 7-4 (watch this thread for play by play updates on this match), Kim Sanders 7-6, Got payback on Liz 7-2, Nicole Keeney 7-3 and Kim Pierce 7-4.
End of story by Mike Tiger.
 
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Ladies matches - Nicole McDaniels vs pros.

Day 3 Texas Open 2012 - Belinda Calhoun vs. Nicole McDaniel

By Mike “Tiger” MacTiegre

I watched Nicole take on 2 pros, Belinda and Melissa.

match #1 Belinda Calhoun vs. Nicole McDaniel

I arrive at the pool hall on Labor Day about noon just in time for some great 9-ball action.
On the winner side, in the ladies division, Belinda Calhoun faces Nicole McDaniel who is dressed to win with a silk blouse with ruffles on the neckline and front. It would look real good holding that trophy Nicole. ;)
Sorry, the picture I took didn't turn out well without a flash. :mad:

Nicole bought the first Pro player, Robb Saez, in the Pro-Am on Thursday night to benefit the St. Jude Children’s Hospital Research fund which raised over $7500. :D
Their team lost to Sylver Ochoa’s team and Vivian’s Team. :p

On Table 8 next to the 3-rail game table.
Belinda Calhoun (BC) vs. * Nicole McDaniel (NM).
0*0: NM misses the 2b and BC has a shot. Runs out.

1*0: BC waits while the T-shirt and raffle ticket announcement is made on the PA system.
BC break comes up empty. No shape on 1b for NM. Fails to get safe on 1b. BC runs to 3b and misses and leaves a shot. NM misses 3 and BC gets a bad roll on 5b shape; goes 2 rails, kisses 5b and scratches. NM makes 5 but drifts too far for long 6b cut, leaves it deep in the corner pocket (cp). BC gets out with a little drama on 9 ball shape which rattles the pocket but falls.

2*0: BC break comes up empty again.Leaves no shot on 1b. NM pls safe. BC makes good shot leaves a tough 1/8 ball cut shot, NM misses and leaves shot on 1b. BC runs to 3b and plays safety. NM good hit and leaves safe on BC. Good hit but leave shot on 3b. NM runs to 7b and plays safe. Good hit, long leave on rail. NM makes a great 7b bank shot but scratches on 8b.

3*0: BC makes 1b on break and has a shot on the 2b. BC runs to 8b plays safe. NM makes a good hit but leaves it hanging deep in the cp. BC has to go deep to the pocket to make the 8b and gets out.

4*0: BC breaks and makes a ball, and has shot on 1b. Misses the 2b and leaves a shot. NM runs to 5b and misses a 5b bank shot. BC miscues on 8b. NM runs out ez as pie.

4*1: NM plays safe on 3b and BC has no choice but to make a great bank shot to pocket the 9b which was deep in the cp and would make an easy combo with 3b if BC fouled. NM runs to the 6b and overruns great shape on 7b. Fails to get safe leave. BC misses and leaves shot on 7b, but NM misses. BC runs out.

5*1: BC scratches on 1b safety attempt. NM plays safety on 1b. Later, BC misses the 3b and leaves a shot. NM runs to the 6b and leaves cue jut short of good shape. Misses and BC runs out.

Hill*1: BC breaks and runs out. NM concedes the 9b shot which was straight in.

=============================

Match #2, 5th round one-loss side.

Melissa Little (ML) vs. Nicole McDaniel (NM)

Play begins on table 12.
0*0: NM breaks and scratches. ML makes a 1-2b combo and runs out.

1*0: ML makes 4b on break but looks hooked on 1b. I missed the shot but next thing I see is the 1 and 2 balls are in the pockets and ML runs out.

2*0. ML makes 2b on break. 1b is on the rail an she kicks it safe. NM has no shot, makes a good hit and fails to get safe. ML runs to 7b and has tough cut. Missed it. NM has a shot but misses and ML gets Ball in Hand? ML scratches? NM runs out.

2*1: NM makes a ball but has not shot on 1b. Plays successful safety and ML misses. NM runs to the 9b and makes it with a little bit of drama.

2*2: NM breaks from left-hand side. Makes 3 balls on break but has no EZ shot on 1b. next thing I see is NM runs out to 9b and has a difficult cut shot and rattles the pocket with it and it goes to a side rail, but ML throws it in cp.

3*2: ML plays safe but leaves a shot. NM runs to 7b and has the stretch for it and makes it. NM runs out.

3*3: NM scratches on the break. ML runs to 3b, misses but it rolls safe. NM looks at 3b on the rail and is hooked but makes a good hit and puts the 4b on rail for ML. ML pls safe on 4b, NM banks it but leaves it safe. ML plays safe again. NM banks 4 ball 3 rails and leaves a shot. ML runs out.

4*3: ML makes 4/8b on break. Has shot on 1b. Runs out.

5*3: After a few safeties on 1b, ML goes for a 1-9 combo and misses.Leaves nothing for NM who scratches. ML runs out.

Hill*3: ML has a shot on 1b after break but plays safe. NM good hit, but leaves ML a shot. ML misses and leaves 1b hanging in cp. NM runs out.

Hill*4: ML plays safe on 1b after break. NM good hit; leaves a shot on 1b. ML plays safe on 1b again. NM plays safety but leaves a shot. ML looks long and hard at all here options. Should she play safe, cut the 1b or play a carom off the 1 and kick the 9b across table to cp/ She is probably thinking about that last 1-9 combo she missed. It is a long shot to the 1 as the cue ball is near the top rail and the 1b and 9b are near the head spot rack. She goes for the 1-9 combo. Great shot. :thumbup: Players shake hands.

Nicole should be proud of how she did getting to the 5th round and beating Melody McFadden 7-3, Tracie Voelkering 7-5 and Teresa Garland 7-5. She was only beaten by professionals.
Melissa Little won the next 6 matches including one against Vivian in the finals, but Vivian beat her in the second set.
 
Well Tiger, you tore through that tournament like Isaac through Louisiana, slow, deadly and methodical.

I almost missed your thread. Thank you for allowing us to relive the event through your thread and eyes. I like the way you write and hope we will see more of your posts in the future.

Robb Saez seemed like he had some incredible packages against great players.

Gene Albrecht always gives a great effort and I can't wait to see his new video on Perfect Aim. I had the benefit of seeing him a couple of times during the last couple of weeks before Hurricane Isaac and he knows a lot more than just Perfect Aim. :cool:

Hopefully, we will see many of these players at next week's big event in New Iberia, LA starting next Thursday.

Thanks again for all of the updates.
 
More Sunday Matches: Nick Tofoya,Junior Jueco, Gene Albrecht

I watched the ending games of Nick Tofoya vs. Junior Jueco on Table 9. Race to 9. This was a loser side match.

Nick Tofoya (NT) vs. * Junior Jueco (JR)
7*5: JR jumps from mid-table and makes a good hit on 2b but scratches. NT runs to the 6b and miscues. JR gets out.
7*6: JR studies the rack a while and lines up from the LH side. Soft Break. Makes 4b. Has shot on the 1b but rattles the cp and 1b drifts about 1ft away from pocket. NT has a shot and gets shape on the 2b. Plays 2 rails for shape on 3b. Plays 2 rails shape on 5b. Gets straight in on 7b, 8b is on top rail. Draws perfect on right hand side, gets out.
Hill*6: NT makes 3b on break and rolls out and ties up the 1, 2 and 5. Jr fails to get safe on 1b. NT plays safe on 1b. JR no choice but to kick at 1b and misses. NT runs to 6b and leaves cb short of perfect shape on 7b. Looks around for best shot and banks 7b to corner. Gets out for the win to face Gene Albrecht.

Gene Albrecht vs. Nick Tofoya.

I watched Gene Albrecht vs. Nick Tofoya on Table 14.
0*0: GA makes 5b on break has shot on 1b. Runs to 6b, 7b and 8b are tied up. Gets shape and gets out.
1*0: GA scratches on break and makes 2 balls. NT runs to 6b, looks at a 6-8 combo and makes it. Goes 2 rails on 6 ball shot for shape on 7 and 9. Gets out.
1*1: NT breaks from RH side. Makes 2 balls. Plays safe. GA gets lucky and makes 2b and runs out.
2*1: GA breaks and looks at 7-9 combo and has shot on 1b. Runs to 7b and makes 7-9 combo.
3*1: GA plays safe on 5b, NT plays safe also. GA plays betters safe on 5B. NT kicks at it and leaves a shot on 5b. GA plays safe on 5b. NT good hit, leaves safe on 5b hanging in cp. GA good hit but miss. More 5b safeties by both. NT leaves a shot on 5b and GA gets out.
4*1: GA breaks has shot on 2b. Runs to 8 ball and leaves it hanging in cp. NT goes too far on 9b shape and misses cut and leaves shot.
5*1: GA breaks and has shot on 1b but misses. NT runs out.
5*2: NT scratches on the break. GA runs out.
6*2: GA breaks and almost scratches. Has shot on 1b. Runs to 8b and misses straight in shot. Leaves it in front of cp by 9b. NT gets out,
6*3: NT racks his own and makes 5b and 2b but is hooked on 1b. Kicks 2 rails and makes a good hit. GA misses 1b and leaves a shot. NT misses and leaves 1b in cp. Has shot and runs to 6b-miss. Leaves shot, NT Scratches on 6b. GA gets out.
7*3: GA scratches but makes 1b. NT runs to 3b and uses bridge. Runs to 7b and almost scratches. Gets out.
7*4: NT makes 2b on break and has shot on 1b. Gets shape on 3b and plays safe. GA jumps from side rail, good hit, leaves a shot but 3b is tied up with 7b. NT plays safe on 3b and almost scratches. GA misses 3b, leaves shape. NT plays safe on 3b. GA fouls. NT has 3b on end rail tied up with 5b. Good hit. NT plays says on 3b again. GA Good hit, leaves shot on 3b but now tied up with 6b. NT Plays safe. GA looks at full table kick shot, makes a good hit and the cb almost rolls safe on 3b. NT runs out.
7*5: NT makes 2 balls and has shape on 1b. Miss. HA has a shot and runs to 3b and misses on stretched out cut shot. NT misses 4b and leaves a shot on 5b. GA makes 6b down rail and gets shape on 7b to side. Gets perfect shape on 8b down rail and gets perfect on 9b down rail.
Hill*5: GA breaks makes a ball and has shape on 1b, plays safe. NT jumps 3 balls and makes 1b off 6b and leaves shape on 2-5 combo but misses. Leaves GA bridge shot on 2b. Please safe. NT banks 2b to cp. Has shot on 3b. NT runs to 8b and leaves cb on rail, misses 8b in side and almost scratches. GA makes 8b in sp and scratches but would have had perfect shape on 9b.
Hill*6: NT break comes up empty, Leaves shape on 1b. Clean table, no tie-ups. GA runs to 7b and plays safe on 7b. CB is on top rails, 7b on bottom rails. Good hit, but leaves shot on 7b on opposite rails. CB on rail. Very tough to get shape on 8b. GA plays cut and runs cb to deep inside cp for a safety. Good hit but keaves 7b safe. GA plays the rail and cuts the 7b down rails in the CP; Fantastic shot making by GA. Runs out and wins 9*6.
 
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Mactiegre said:
Chip Compton came up the Losers side to beat his buddy from OK Joey Gray 2 times to grab title of 39th Texas Open Champion.
Vivian Villarreal has to play Melissa Little twice to win ladies title.

Michelle Abernathy posted some articles on the main page.
I will post major highlights from various matches tomorrow.
Check out Skinny Bob's facebook page for photos, too.

Gene Albrecht got 9-12 prize getting kicked out by Jamie Baraks.
3rd place went to Robb Saez, 2011 Champion.
Click to expand...


Thanks Mike for all the updates, you really got into it!, rep to you!

I wonder what the mens payouts were?

David Harcrow
 
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