Here is my trip report.
Groce was not there.
Top players in attendance were - James Baraks, Chad Vilmont, Jon Pinegar Hennessey, Ryan Dunn, Andy Quinn, Gary Lutman, Bobby Hunter, Mike Banks Jr, Tony Fargo Ferguson, Jason Klatt, Sarah Rousey, Chuck Ralston, Jeff Beckley, David Matlock and a few regional good players that I won't mention so I can continue to buy them in a calcutta sometime. :grin:
Finishes with approx payouts
1st Jason Klatt $1500 + $1250 1st calcutta + $500 2nd calcutta
2nd Tony Fargo Ferguson $1000 + $850 1st calcutta + $330 2nd calcutta
3rd Mike Banks Jr $700 + $525 1st calcutta + $160 second calcutta
4th James Baraks $400 + calcutta
64 players - full field. $3,000 added. Great tourney run by Evelyn and Danny. Jim Lee is great for pool. The full $3,000 was added and nothing was taken from the player entry fees to help pay for any tournament costs. If Jim Lee can do this in Cape Giradeau Missouri - can the rest of the country please listen?
Jim has done a nice job remodeling the Billiard Center. Nice room, over 20 bar tables, 2 gold crowns and snooker table. Full bar and grill. (See if I go somewhere and have a good time, it is easy to talk good about the place). Decent food. Decent priced drinks. Nice looking, attentive waitress staff too. Real nice.
Jim did tell me he was a little disappointed with the turnout as none of the Memphis players made the trip. A local league finals tournament in St Louis also hurt his attendance along with another tournament scheduled the same weekend in Quincy Il. Jim was leaning towards doing another big tournament soon but handicapped. I BEG HIM not to do so and I am a weak player. I cannot stand handicaps but guess that is what draws more people in for some reason.
Action wise - on Day 1, I was in the heaviest action in the buidling. Got the bet up to $40 a game one pocket and I won $140 off of a player named 'suitcase'. Suitcase attempted to try to get me off my game by jabbering at me. Problem is that when you play as low of a speed as I do, there is not much lower it can go. On Day 2, Bigg got the max bet up in the house to $50 a game with some other fellow. Day 3 saw two top players matched up for $50 a game 9 ball in a 3-4 hour session on a big table. That was good, clean action to watch. (No I wont name the players, let's keep it a secret the speed of some of the players in this world).
Had a good time hanging out with some friends that I haven't seen in awhile. Sarah needs to learn how to sweat the action harder. :grin: Met a few other AZers (mr bumps, stakehorse, 1on1pooltourneys).
David Matlock sat and chatted with me and Stakehorse for awhile on Friday night. Stakehorse has an old playing cue of his. David told of some of his gambling wins and not only tells who he beat but how many games it took to complete the ahead set and how many games his opponent won. I wont start that argument but believe me, when I and others say that David is the best there ever was - you can believe it with proof. Matlock doesn't exaggerate either. I asked how much was the most he ever played for. His answer - $4800 a game on the bar table. Imagine what answer others would have said. This, to me, gave everything he said have full confirmation in my mind. David is a big baseball fan so it also wasn't all pool. One of the great ambassadors for our game, hopefully he gets into the Hall of Fame soon.
Cuemakers on hand - Mike Durbin and Chris' cues. Had a nice chat with Mike and Chris on Saturday night about the internet, cues, pool tables and farming. I put an application in with Mike Durbin and his farm. The man only has to work 3 months a year, sits in an air conditioned tractor that is GPS controled to drive back and forth across the field. Sign me up!!! Both guys had some nice cues on hand. Chris makes some fancy butterflies and enjoyed seeing my Fanelli.
Next area big tournament is the Brickyard Classic on Halloween weekend. Personally I think that this date is a terrible choice and it should be rescheduled.
