Belatedly, I'd like to share my impressions of the 2013 DCC.
Arrived at the Horseshoe on Friday, and nothing of any particular consequence happened until the banks ring game a night later. Found it curious that defending champion of the ring game, Scott Frost, was not in the field. This year's ring game was a two horse race between John Morra and Justin Hall, with Hall prevailing.
The Bank Pool Event
Justin Hall showed his banks ring game win was no fluke, getting all the way to the final before losing to Bustamante. Wonder whether anyone will have a chance to win both the banks ring game and the bank pool tourney in the same year anytime soon. Notably, Van Boening failed to win any master of the table points in the bank pool event.
The One Pocket Event
When Van Boening took an early loss at the hands of Shannon Murphy in the one-pocket event, I was tempted to write him off in the Master of the Table race, but Shane won his next nine, which still wasn't enough to gain on Bustamante, who finished a solid second to Corey Deuel. Master of the table was all but won with the nine ball yet to come.
The Ten Ball Event
The Big Foot 10-ball event was going on at the same time as the one pocket and delivered some thrilling drama. Orcullo and Archer were both on fire, and it was no surprise that both reached the semifinal, but they had to face each other, with Dennis prevailing. Niels Feijen made a nice run of his own all the way to the final, but Orcullo jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the race to eleven final, and managing my time with great care, I opted for bed. The next morning, I saw Orcullo on the elevator and, dangerously presuming he'd won, I congratulated him, and he commented that it had gotten a little scary down the stretch, and that he'd only won 11-9. Think I'll be a bit more careful in the future when it comes to congratulating.
The Straight Pool Event
The 14.1 challenge was also full steam ahead, and the tight 5 x 10 Diamond table was getting the best of the entrants. After a couple of days, nobody had run 100. Then again, past generation pros had never played on equipment like this before, as the likes of Greenleaf, Mosconi and Crane played on 10 footers with five inch pockets, slow cloth and clay balls. I was fairly shocked when the guy who ran the first 100 was somebody I'd never heard of, a snooker pro named Stuart Pettman. He accomplished the feat twice before qualifying was over, but none of the usual suspects managed it, and straight pool superstar John Schmidt was absent from this year's Derby. In the end, it would be fan favorite Max Eberle capturing the first prize by besting Orcullo in the final.
The Nine Ball Event
On to the nine ball. The Master of the Table was wrapped up early by Bustamante and many of the usual suspects were playing well, including Van Boening, Pagulayan, Dechaine, Feijen and Hohmann, but when the smoke settled, the last four were Van Boening, Putnam, Dechaine and Pagulayan. Dechaine played a hell of a match to eliminate Van Boening, and with three remaining each with a loss, Putnam drew the bye into the final. Dechaine and Pagulayan played a classic with the other finals spot up for grabs. At 8-8, Dechaine seemed headed for victory, leaving Alex a length of the table kick at the one ball, but Alex kicked it in and followed it up by making a tough two ball and running out. Tough luck for Dechaine, who, perhaps, deserved a better fate but had to settle for third in the nine ball event for the second consecutive year.
Socially
Caught up with many AZB regulars, with Williebetmore, Mark Griffin, Sunny Day, DMG Walsh, Marop, Elvicash, Jay Helfert, Lou Figueroa, Cornerman and Jerry Forsyth among them. Last but not least, I met Big Truck for the first time, a very nice guy who does a lot for pool!
Caught up with other male friends including Jerry Briesath, Jeff Beckley, Sean Morgan, Mike Dechaine, Thorsten Hohmann, Ralf Souquet, Ralph Eckert, John Morra, Mark Wilson, Mark Haddad, Max Eberle and many others. Caught up with WPBA friends Jeanette Lee, Brittany Bryant, Nicole Keeney, and Melissa Little, too.
Sweated matches with many of the fans I count as friends, far too many of them to mention. Most notably, though, I enjoyed having close friend Todd Nevins sweating the matches with me during the last few days.
Side Betting
I am historically inept when it comes to side-betting matches at te Derby, and my futility continued, though I made just one bet. With Bustamante trailing Shannon Murphy 2-1 in the race to three bank pool semifinal, John Morra offered me even money if I'd bet on Murphy to win the match. Seemed worth a bet, but when Bustamante completd the comeback, I cheerfully handed John a fifty dollar bill.
The Action Matches
Really didn't sweat the action matches. With five major events to follow (inclusive of ten ball and straight pool), my schedule was very busy for nine days.
Thanks to Greg Sullivan and all who helped make the 2013 Derby City Classic happen. It was a grand old time and the 32-player ten ball event added a new and exciting dimension to the Derby.
Arrived at the Horseshoe on Friday, and nothing of any particular consequence happened until the banks ring game a night later. Found it curious that defending champion of the ring game, Scott Frost, was not in the field. This year's ring game was a two horse race between John Morra and Justin Hall, with Hall prevailing.
The Bank Pool Event
Justin Hall showed his banks ring game win was no fluke, getting all the way to the final before losing to Bustamante. Wonder whether anyone will have a chance to win both the banks ring game and the bank pool tourney in the same year anytime soon. Notably, Van Boening failed to win any master of the table points in the bank pool event.
The One Pocket Event
When Van Boening took an early loss at the hands of Shannon Murphy in the one-pocket event, I was tempted to write him off in the Master of the Table race, but Shane won his next nine, which still wasn't enough to gain on Bustamante, who finished a solid second to Corey Deuel. Master of the table was all but won with the nine ball yet to come.
The Ten Ball Event
The Big Foot 10-ball event was going on at the same time as the one pocket and delivered some thrilling drama. Orcullo and Archer were both on fire, and it was no surprise that both reached the semifinal, but they had to face each other, with Dennis prevailing. Niels Feijen made a nice run of his own all the way to the final, but Orcullo jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the race to eleven final, and managing my time with great care, I opted for bed. The next morning, I saw Orcullo on the elevator and, dangerously presuming he'd won, I congratulated him, and he commented that it had gotten a little scary down the stretch, and that he'd only won 11-9. Think I'll be a bit more careful in the future when it comes to congratulating.
The Straight Pool Event
The 14.1 challenge was also full steam ahead, and the tight 5 x 10 Diamond table was getting the best of the entrants. After a couple of days, nobody had run 100. Then again, past generation pros had never played on equipment like this before, as the likes of Greenleaf, Mosconi and Crane played on 10 footers with five inch pockets, slow cloth and clay balls. I was fairly shocked when the guy who ran the first 100 was somebody I'd never heard of, a snooker pro named Stuart Pettman. He accomplished the feat twice before qualifying was over, but none of the usual suspects managed it, and straight pool superstar John Schmidt was absent from this year's Derby. In the end, it would be fan favorite Max Eberle capturing the first prize by besting Orcullo in the final.
The Nine Ball Event
On to the nine ball. The Master of the Table was wrapped up early by Bustamante and many of the usual suspects were playing well, including Van Boening, Pagulayan, Dechaine, Feijen and Hohmann, but when the smoke settled, the last four were Van Boening, Putnam, Dechaine and Pagulayan. Dechaine played a hell of a match to eliminate Van Boening, and with three remaining each with a loss, Putnam drew the bye into the final. Dechaine and Pagulayan played a classic with the other finals spot up for grabs. At 8-8, Dechaine seemed headed for victory, leaving Alex a length of the table kick at the one ball, but Alex kicked it in and followed it up by making a tough two ball and running out. Tough luck for Dechaine, who, perhaps, deserved a better fate but had to settle for third in the nine ball event for the second consecutive year.
Socially
Caught up with many AZB regulars, with Williebetmore, Mark Griffin, Sunny Day, DMG Walsh, Marop, Elvicash, Jay Helfert, Lou Figueroa, Cornerman and Jerry Forsyth among them. Last but not least, I met Big Truck for the first time, a very nice guy who does a lot for pool!
Caught up with other male friends including Jerry Briesath, Jeff Beckley, Sean Morgan, Mike Dechaine, Thorsten Hohmann, Ralf Souquet, Ralph Eckert, John Morra, Mark Wilson, Mark Haddad, Max Eberle and many others. Caught up with WPBA friends Jeanette Lee, Brittany Bryant, Nicole Keeney, and Melissa Little, too.
Sweated matches with many of the fans I count as friends, far too many of them to mention. Most notably, though, I enjoyed having close friend Todd Nevins sweating the matches with me during the last few days.
Side Betting
I am historically inept when it comes to side-betting matches at te Derby, and my futility continued, though I made just one bet. With Bustamante trailing Shannon Murphy 2-1 in the race to three bank pool semifinal, John Morra offered me even money if I'd bet on Murphy to win the match. Seemed worth a bet, but when Bustamante completd the comeback, I cheerfully handed John a fifty dollar bill.
The Action Matches
Really didn't sweat the action matches. With five major events to follow (inclusive of ten ball and straight pool), my schedule was very busy for nine days.
Thanks to Greg Sullivan and all who helped make the 2013 Derby City Classic happen. It was a grand old time and the 32-player ten ball event added a new and exciting dimension to the Derby.
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i just went home early.
