Derby City Classic 2025 January 17-26, 2025

ALT_ESV

ALT_ESV

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Tickets/entries go on sale in about a month. Make sure you get your hotel reserved NOW if you are going to go. No one likes that long drive to Lousiville every night at 2 am.

Looks like they have added an extra day to learn from the past, however, the “Event Info” page still has 2024 schedule posted.

See the link for all the details https://derbycityclassic.com/
 
Thanks for the gentle nudge. I booked my room today for all 10 days.

To others who book, use the caesars.com website, indicate Caesar's Indiana Horseshoe, and make sure to enter the group code indicated on the derbycityclassic.com website. For a 9-day reservation or more, the discounted rate is a very reasonable $128 per night.

If you call the hotel reservation desk instead, you won't get the discounted group rate, so don't waste your time trying.
 
For those of you with a car (or willing to try Uber/Lyft in a semi-rural area), I found the following rates at the two nearest hotels in New Albany. Prices include all taxes and fees for 10 nights.

$95/night -- Holiday Inn Express -- non-refundable, breakfast included

$110/night -- Hampton Inn -- non-refundable, breakfast included

I also checked the Horseshoe online. Through booking.com as above, they wanted $4000 total or $400/night. But online with the code, as sjm suggests above:

$160/night -- includes all taxes and resort fee, refundable, no breakfast, but the room does have a refrigerator and coffee machine unlike most casino hotels. This requires at least a 9-night stay. 9-NIGHT MINIMUM FULL EVENT STAY CODE: S01DIA9

Note that I checked using the 9-night stay code. If you use the single night code, only some of the nights are available at the discounted rate, and the other nights are at the full rate of $400 plus fees. SINGLE NIGHT RESERVATION CODE: S01DIAP

For those who enjoy fine dining, there is a Waffle House AND a White Castle in New Albany! But seriously, there are several nice restaurants in New Albany, including the Exchange Pub & Kitchen very near the hotels, along with all the usual chains.

The difference between the Horseshoe and the HI Express totals is $650 which might pay for your car rental (if you're flying), and then you have more flexibility.
 
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If you are flying, earlier reservations are usually cheaper. I just checked Southwest from California and round trip is as low as $320. (Southwest has no cancel, change or baggage fees.)
 
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Bob Jewett said:
For those of you with a car (or willing to try Uber/Lyft in a semi-rural area), I found the following rates at the two nearest hotels in New Albany. Prices include all taxes and fees for 10 nights.

$95/night -- Holiday Inn Express -- non-refundable, breakfast included

$110/night -- Hampton Inn -- non-refundable, breakfast included

I also checked the Horseshoe online. Through booking.com as above, they wanted $4000 total or $400/night. But online with the code, as sjm suggests above:

$160/night -- includes all taxes and resort fee, refundable, no breakfast, but the room does have a refrigerator and coffee machine unlike most casino hotels. This requires at least a 9-night stay. 9-NIGHT MINIMUM FULL EVENT STAY CODE: S01DIA9

Note that I checked using the 9-night stay code. If you use the single night code, only some of the nights are available at the discounted rate, and the other nights are at the full rate of $400 plus fees. SINGLE NIGHT RESERVATION CODE: S01DIAP

For those who enjoy fine dining, there is a Waffle House AND a White Castle in New Albany! But seriously, there are several nice restaurants in New Albany, including the Exchange Pub & Kitchen very near the hotels, along with all the usual chains.

The difference between the Horseshoe and the HI Express totals is $650 which might pay for your car rental (if you're flying), and then you have more flexibility.
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La Catrina and The Dragon King's Daughter are both great spots as well.

We usually have the dogs with us so staying at Caesars isn't really an option. New Albany isn't that far away, not bad at all.
 
Here are the special speed-up rules for one pocket. Also, it seems they have a hard limit of 400 players per event with players on a waiting list.
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The regular Derby City One Pocket rules apply for the first 2 hours of match play. At the match duration limits, a Referee will come to the table and implement phased Express Rules.

2 Hour Express Rule
  • Each player will get one more turn at the table, and then any more than 4 object balls above the head-string will spot at the end of each player’s inning.
  • Spotted balls will be the object balls closest to the head-rail. A ball is considered above the head-string if any part of the ball is touching the head-string. (Edge of ball determines)
  • If 2 or more object balls are the same distance from the head-rail, the incoming shooter will designate which ball to spot.
3 Hour Express Rule
  • Each player will get one more turn at the table, and then any more than 2 object balls above the head-string will spot at the end of each player’s inning.
  • Spotted balls will be the object balls closest to the head-rail. A ball is considered above the head-string if any part of the ball is touching the head-string. (Edge of ball determines)
  • If 2 or more object balls are the same distance from the head-rail, the incoming shooter will designate which ball to spot.
4 Hour Express Rule
  • The player that is leading in the game and ball count wins the match.
  • If both players are tied in the game and ball count, the next player to take the score lead (games plus ball count) wins the match. (This score lead can be determined by pocketing a ball or a foul shot)
 
Bob Jewett said:
Here are the special speed-up rules for one pocket. Also, it seems they have a hard limit of 400 players per event with players on a waiting list.
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The hard limit, if observed, in the 9ball will make much more of a difference than all the one pocket changes combined. I might just count the 9ball event entries myself to know if I'm in for another nightmare.
 
sjm said:
The hard limit, if observed, in the 9ball will make much more of a difference than all the one pocket changes combined. I might just count the 9ball event entries myself to know if I'm in for another nightmare.
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I think that's mostly true, but if the one pocket is very slow, matches can run a day over and take up tables that should be used for nine ball. I'm optimistic and figure that the 400 limit will be enough.
 
sjm said:
The hard limit, if observed, in the 9ball will make much more of a difference than all the one pocket changes combined. I might just count the 9ball event entries myself to know if I'm in for another nightmare.
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9 ball has always been the issue. Controversial take I know but it's true. Go back to races to 7! I know it'll never happen because of Matchroom but yeah I wish it would.
 
InsertCleverNameHere said:
9 ball has always been the issue. Controversial take I know but it's true. Go back to races to 7! I know it'll never happen because of Matchroom but yeah I wish it would.
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Agreed that 9ball has always been the issue. One pocket has been the undeserving whipping boy for years now.

Even if they played race to seven in Rounds 1 through 8 of the 9ball event, it would make a gigantic difference in the scheduling. I believe the switch to race to 9 (circa 2014) was to comply with WPA, not Matchroom.
 
sjm said:
Agreed that 9ball has always been the issue. One pocket has been the undeserving whipping boy for years now.

Even if they played race to seven in Rounds 1 through 8 of the 9ball event, it would make a gigantic difference in the scheduling. I believe the switch to race to 9 (circa 2014) was to comply with WPA, not Matchroom.
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Yeah I’m sure you’re right about the original reason for the switch but I think the main reason today is due to compliance with matchroom for their points. Could be completely wrong but that’s what I was told.

Regardless of the why though, that’s the issue. And going back to races to 7 would plug a lot of holes.
 
InsertCleverNameHere said:
Yeah I’m sure you’re right about the original reason for the switch but I think the main reason today is due to compliance with matchroom for their points. Could be completely wrong but that’s what I was told. ....
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Both Turning Stone and Derby City do not use the break rules and some other rules that Matchroom specifies. It will be interesting to see if those tournaments are included in the 2025 ranking events. They are both in the 2024 ranking events.
 
Looks like another great Bigfoot, with the only unexpected omission being several time champion Jayson Shaw.

Seeing Ruslan in the field is heartwarming for sure and it should be a good test for emerging star Neuhausen. Labutis, Krause and Patsura were, in my estimation, three of the most improved European players of 2024, so the field offers a nice blend of veteran, established and upcoming talent.

Let the games begin.
 
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