Darren Appleton’s World Pool Series was worth the wait.
Not sure if I can call this a trip report as Darren Appleton’s World Pool Series 8-ball event was here in my home town of New York City but I went to all four days of the competition and will share my thoughts.
The Format
The field had 128 players and the format was single elimination eight ball with very long races. Take what you make (for example, make a stripe on the break and you've got stripes). All double hill matches were decided by a shootout in which each player would attempt to make spot shots with five different cue ball positions.
Knowing that the loser would be eliminated in every match added some excitement for this fan. The winner of the event would cash for $20,000, a substantial payday in our sport. Those eliminated before the round of 16 were eligible to play in the Cheqio Open, a second chance tournament of sorts with a “nothing to sniff at” $4,000 first prize. Great stuff for sure.
The Field
The event delivered a strong, internationally diverse field with America, Europe and Asia all well represented.
The European contingent included some eight ball specialists, including Jayson Shaw, Mick Hill, Karl Boyes, and Darren Appleton, all of whom grew up in Great Britain focusing on 8-ball. Other stars of European pool were also present, including David Alcaide, Nick Ekonomopoulos, Ralf Souquet, Alex Kazakis, Mika Immonen and Ruslan Chinakhov. Finally, Chris Melling came out of a two year retirement to play the event.
As for Asia, Alex Pagulayan, Dennis Orcullo, Francisco Bustamante, Carlo Biado, Ramil Gallego and Lee Van Cortezza led the Filipino contingent and Japan’s Lo Li Wen also present.
Americans in the field include Billy Thorpe, Mike Dechaine, Brandon Shuff, Johnny Archer, Shaun Wilkie and Hunter Lombardo.
The Arena and Emcee
The setup of the tournament arena was superb, and there were many good seats to be had for the spectators. Matches opened with flashing lights, smoke, and interviews conducted by emcee extraordinaire Ted Lerner.
8-ball the Game
As I’ve learned at the Accu-stats Make it Happen 8-ball event, the game of eight ball is fascinating. At the highest level, once you commit to a run-out there is no turning back, so some racks come down to unusually difficult patterns and shots. Watching routine run-outs is enjoyable enough, but watching the world’s best try to overcome near impossible layouts and positions is very intriguing, and it is electrifying when a really difficult rack is completed successfully.
The Matches
Many of the matches were exciting. Perhaps the most memorable match of the event was Johann Chua vs. Jayson Shaw in the Round of 16. Many, myself included, felt Shaw was the favorite to win the event. Form seemed to be holding as Shaw quickly gained an 11-6 lead, but Chua ran six consecutive racks (the first off Shaw’s break) to gain the lead. Chua managed to score the victory 15-11, winning the final nine racks of the match.
John Leyman did his usual superb job as head referee.
The Double Hill Shootout
More than a few matches were decided by a shootout, most notably the semifinal between Darren Appleton and Lee Van Cortezza, won by Van Cortezza. Another key shootout was Chris Melling vs. Johann Chua, with a spot in the semis riding on the outcome, with Chua prevailing. Mika Immonen eliminated Ramil Gallego in a shootout, and even eventual champion Chinakhov had to survive a shootout with Brandon Shuff on the road to victory.
Only Billy Thorpe managed to make all five shots in a playoff shootout, and in doing so, he denied Alex Pagulayan a spot in the Round of 16.
The fans really took to the shootouts, for anytime there was one, fans crowded around the table on which it occurred and were electrified by the tensions of the moment.
Finally
Congratulations and thanks to Darren Appleton for producing the World Pool Series, an innovative new tour that has and will continue to capture my imagination. Thanks to title sponsor Molinari and to all who helped make the World Pool Series a reality. This is a moment in the history of American pool in which few are daring enough to create new events in our sport, but thankfully for all of us, Darren, a positive force in our sport, is rolling the dice on a new eight ball tour.
If I caught up with you at the event, it was great seeing you. If I met you for the first time, I enjoyed meeting you.
If you didn’t attend, I hope and recommend that you find a way to make it to the next event in the series in April, also at Steinway Billiards in New York City.
The buzz is real. There’s a new exciting pool tour in America and it’s called the World Pool Series 8-ball tour. Don’t miss it!
Not sure if I can call this a trip report as Darren Appleton’s World Pool Series 8-ball event was here in my home town of New York City but I went to all four days of the competition and will share my thoughts.
The Format
The field had 128 players and the format was single elimination eight ball with very long races. Take what you make (for example, make a stripe on the break and you've got stripes). All double hill matches were decided by a shootout in which each player would attempt to make spot shots with five different cue ball positions.
Knowing that the loser would be eliminated in every match added some excitement for this fan. The winner of the event would cash for $20,000, a substantial payday in our sport. Those eliminated before the round of 16 were eligible to play in the Cheqio Open, a second chance tournament of sorts with a “nothing to sniff at” $4,000 first prize. Great stuff for sure.
The Field
The event delivered a strong, internationally diverse field with America, Europe and Asia all well represented.
The European contingent included some eight ball specialists, including Jayson Shaw, Mick Hill, Karl Boyes, and Darren Appleton, all of whom grew up in Great Britain focusing on 8-ball. Other stars of European pool were also present, including David Alcaide, Nick Ekonomopoulos, Ralf Souquet, Alex Kazakis, Mika Immonen and Ruslan Chinakhov. Finally, Chris Melling came out of a two year retirement to play the event.
As for Asia, Alex Pagulayan, Dennis Orcullo, Francisco Bustamante, Carlo Biado, Ramil Gallego and Lee Van Cortezza led the Filipino contingent and Japan’s Lo Li Wen also present.
Americans in the field include Billy Thorpe, Mike Dechaine, Brandon Shuff, Johnny Archer, Shaun Wilkie and Hunter Lombardo.
The Arena and Emcee
The setup of the tournament arena was superb, and there were many good seats to be had for the spectators. Matches opened with flashing lights, smoke, and interviews conducted by emcee extraordinaire Ted Lerner.
8-ball the Game
As I’ve learned at the Accu-stats Make it Happen 8-ball event, the game of eight ball is fascinating. At the highest level, once you commit to a run-out there is no turning back, so some racks come down to unusually difficult patterns and shots. Watching routine run-outs is enjoyable enough, but watching the world’s best try to overcome near impossible layouts and positions is very intriguing, and it is electrifying when a really difficult rack is completed successfully.
The Matches
Many of the matches were exciting. Perhaps the most memorable match of the event was Johann Chua vs. Jayson Shaw in the Round of 16. Many, myself included, felt Shaw was the favorite to win the event. Form seemed to be holding as Shaw quickly gained an 11-6 lead, but Chua ran six consecutive racks (the first off Shaw’s break) to gain the lead. Chua managed to score the victory 15-11, winning the final nine racks of the match.
John Leyman did his usual superb job as head referee.
The Double Hill Shootout
More than a few matches were decided by a shootout, most notably the semifinal between Darren Appleton and Lee Van Cortezza, won by Van Cortezza. Another key shootout was Chris Melling vs. Johann Chua, with a spot in the semis riding on the outcome, with Chua prevailing. Mika Immonen eliminated Ramil Gallego in a shootout, and even eventual champion Chinakhov had to survive a shootout with Brandon Shuff on the road to victory.
Only Billy Thorpe managed to make all five shots in a playoff shootout, and in doing so, he denied Alex Pagulayan a spot in the Round of 16.
The fans really took to the shootouts, for anytime there was one, fans crowded around the table on which it occurred and were electrified by the tensions of the moment.
Finally
Congratulations and thanks to Darren Appleton for producing the World Pool Series, an innovative new tour that has and will continue to capture my imagination. Thanks to title sponsor Molinari and to all who helped make the World Pool Series a reality. This is a moment in the history of American pool in which few are daring enough to create new events in our sport, but thankfully for all of us, Darren, a positive force in our sport, is rolling the dice on a new eight ball tour.
If I caught up with you at the event, it was great seeing you. If I met you for the first time, I enjoyed meeting you.
If you didn’t attend, I hope and recommend that you find a way to make it to the next event in the series in April, also at Steinway Billiards in New York City.
The buzz is real. There’s a new exciting pool tour in America and it’s called the World Pool Series 8-ball tour. Don’t miss it!
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