Friday results
Ok, now for some scoops from Friday at the Big Apple Challenge. I saw a lot of matches today, but left immediately after the final winner’s bracket round of the day.
Here are some of the things that happened in the day session:
Eddie Vasquez vs John Schmidt
Well known local Eddie Vasquez led most of the way against John Schmidt but at 9 – 8 ahead, Eddie scratched on the three, leaving Schmidt what most would have deemed a dead out. John failed to get out, though, giving Vasquez needed breathing room, and Vasquez completed the upset, 11 – 9.
Edgar Acaba vs Luc Salvas
Acaba was ahead much of the way, but Salvas played well to tie it at 9 – 9. Seemingly about to go up 10 – 9, though, Salvas missed an easy seven ball, and Acaba took a 10 -9 lead. Acaba failed to make a ball on the break, and Salvas appeared to be running out, but scratched on the five to end his chances, with Acaba prevailing 11 – 9.
Jonathan Smith vs Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant
A tight battle up to 3 - 2 turned into a rout when Smith converted on each of his next three breaks, and Hillbilly scratched on his next three, with Smith, who played superbly, assuming an 8 – 3 lead. Hillbilly fought hard to get within 9 – 6, but Smith missed a routine five-nine combo with ball-in-hand to go up 10 – 6. Before long, it was a double hill affair, and Smith had the break, but he broke off the table, and Hillbilly ran out for the win.
Johnny Archer vs Frankie Hernandez
Frankie usually plays Johnny tough, and Friday was no exception. Riding his strong break and accurate safety play, Hernandez led 5 – 2 and then 8 – 5. The climax of the match came at 8 – 6. Archer was on two fouls and faced a very difficult kick to avoid falling behind 9 – 6. Nobody expected Johnny to make this kick but he found a way, earning thunderous applause. Hernandez play another solid safety, wound up with control of the table, and appeared to be running out when he missed shape on the seven and had to play safe. He left Archer a medium-tough cut across the table, and Johnny was up to the challenge, running out for 8 – 7, and running the next rack for 8 – 8. Johnny never looked back, and pulled it out 11 – 9. He had to dig down deep to beat Hernandez, who played a fine match, but Johnny showed the heart, not to mention skill, of a true champion.
Mika Immonen vs Joey Korsiak
Just like on Thursday, Mika limped out of the gate, and Korsiak played solid pool to assume a 6 – 4 lead. What looked like a thriller fizzled, however, when Korsiak fell apart, more or less handing the match to Immonen, who was certainly not in his top form.
In the evening session:
Rodney Morris vs Thorsten Hohmann
What figured to be the match of the day didn’t disappoint. Hohmann played beautifully and capitalized on two early scratches on the break by Morris to get ahead 5 – 3. On his next break, however, Hohmann failed to make a ball and left Morris a relatively routine carom off the one to pocket the nine. Morris followed up the carom with a break and run for 5 – 5. Hohmann, whose play had been near perfect up to that point, struggled from that point on. He made a ball on the break at 7 – 6 down, and had a runout chance, but missed a one ball in the side. In later play, a miss on an easy one-eight combo also cost Hohmann and Morris played perfect pool in the late stages of the match for the 11 – 6 win.
Danny Harriman vs Young Hwa Jeong
This figured to be a nailbiter, but Jeong jumped out impressively to a 5 – 1 lead. Harriman, showing maturity beyond his years, stayed patient and composed to win the next six racks for 7 – 5 ahead, as jeong struggled with his break. It remained a seesaw affair thereafter, but Harriman scored a solid 11 – 9 victory.
Jeremy Jones vs Tony Crosby
This was quite a good match, in part because Jones was a little off of his strong Thursday form. Crosby ran hot and cold, too, missing some chances to take control. At 7 - 6 ahead, Jones missed a three ball but fluked it in and ran out, and Crosby never recovered, with Jones prevailing.
That’s it for the matches of the day. Hope you enjoyed these recaps.
As for the bigger picture, I’d have to say that, in my opinion, Rodney Morris has played the best pool in this event so far, and might just be the one to beat. Archer continues to play well, too. The winner’s side is down to sixteen, and tomorrow’s matches on the winner’s side are:
Johnny Archer/Francisco Bustamante
Charlie Bryant/Mika Immonen
Charlie Williams/Jeremy Jones
Mike Davis/Santos Sambajon
Tony Robles/Danny Harriman
Phil Reilly/Rodney Morris
Ralf Souquet/Alan Rolon
Edgar Acaba/Jose Parica
Tomorrow looks interesting. Predictions on these eight matches, anyone?
Ok, now for some scoops from Friday at the Big Apple Challenge. I saw a lot of matches today, but left immediately after the final winner’s bracket round of the day.
Here are some of the things that happened in the day session:
Eddie Vasquez vs John Schmidt
Well known local Eddie Vasquez led most of the way against John Schmidt but at 9 – 8 ahead, Eddie scratched on the three, leaving Schmidt what most would have deemed a dead out. John failed to get out, though, giving Vasquez needed breathing room, and Vasquez completed the upset, 11 – 9.
Edgar Acaba vs Luc Salvas
Acaba was ahead much of the way, but Salvas played well to tie it at 9 – 9. Seemingly about to go up 10 – 9, though, Salvas missed an easy seven ball, and Acaba took a 10 -9 lead. Acaba failed to make a ball on the break, and Salvas appeared to be running out, but scratched on the five to end his chances, with Acaba prevailing 11 – 9.
Jonathan Smith vs Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant
A tight battle up to 3 - 2 turned into a rout when Smith converted on each of his next three breaks, and Hillbilly scratched on his next three, with Smith, who played superbly, assuming an 8 – 3 lead. Hillbilly fought hard to get within 9 – 6, but Smith missed a routine five-nine combo with ball-in-hand to go up 10 – 6. Before long, it was a double hill affair, and Smith had the break, but he broke off the table, and Hillbilly ran out for the win.
Johnny Archer vs Frankie Hernandez
Frankie usually plays Johnny tough, and Friday was no exception. Riding his strong break and accurate safety play, Hernandez led 5 – 2 and then 8 – 5. The climax of the match came at 8 – 6. Archer was on two fouls and faced a very difficult kick to avoid falling behind 9 – 6. Nobody expected Johnny to make this kick but he found a way, earning thunderous applause. Hernandez play another solid safety, wound up with control of the table, and appeared to be running out when he missed shape on the seven and had to play safe. He left Archer a medium-tough cut across the table, and Johnny was up to the challenge, running out for 8 – 7, and running the next rack for 8 – 8. Johnny never looked back, and pulled it out 11 – 9. He had to dig down deep to beat Hernandez, who played a fine match, but Johnny showed the heart, not to mention skill, of a true champion.
Mika Immonen vs Joey Korsiak
Just like on Thursday, Mika limped out of the gate, and Korsiak played solid pool to assume a 6 – 4 lead. What looked like a thriller fizzled, however, when Korsiak fell apart, more or less handing the match to Immonen, who was certainly not in his top form.
In the evening session:
Rodney Morris vs Thorsten Hohmann
What figured to be the match of the day didn’t disappoint. Hohmann played beautifully and capitalized on two early scratches on the break by Morris to get ahead 5 – 3. On his next break, however, Hohmann failed to make a ball and left Morris a relatively routine carom off the one to pocket the nine. Morris followed up the carom with a break and run for 5 – 5. Hohmann, whose play had been near perfect up to that point, struggled from that point on. He made a ball on the break at 7 – 6 down, and had a runout chance, but missed a one ball in the side. In later play, a miss on an easy one-eight combo also cost Hohmann and Morris played perfect pool in the late stages of the match for the 11 – 6 win.
Danny Harriman vs Young Hwa Jeong
This figured to be a nailbiter, but Jeong jumped out impressively to a 5 – 1 lead. Harriman, showing maturity beyond his years, stayed patient and composed to win the next six racks for 7 – 5 ahead, as jeong struggled with his break. It remained a seesaw affair thereafter, but Harriman scored a solid 11 – 9 victory.
Jeremy Jones vs Tony Crosby
This was quite a good match, in part because Jones was a little off of his strong Thursday form. Crosby ran hot and cold, too, missing some chances to take control. At 7 - 6 ahead, Jones missed a three ball but fluked it in and ran out, and Crosby never recovered, with Jones prevailing.
That’s it for the matches of the day. Hope you enjoyed these recaps.
As for the bigger picture, I’d have to say that, in my opinion, Rodney Morris has played the best pool in this event so far, and might just be the one to beat. Archer continues to play well, too. The winner’s side is down to sixteen, and tomorrow’s matches on the winner’s side are:
Johnny Archer/Francisco Bustamante
Charlie Bryant/Mika Immonen
Charlie Williams/Jeremy Jones
Mike Davis/Santos Sambajon
Tony Robles/Danny Harriman
Phil Reilly/Rodney Morris
Ralf Souquet/Alan Rolon
Edgar Acaba/Jose Parica
Tomorrow looks interesting. Predictions on these eight matches, anyone?
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