Saturday U.S. Open Thread: And Then There Were Four

JAM

JAM

I am the storm
Silver Member
What an interesting mix of talent we have this year, and for first time in a very long time, we have two Americans still standing, Shane Van Boening and Mike Dechaine :grin-square:

On the winner's side, however, the match for the hotseat will occur between Shane and the newly announced member of the 2014 Team Europe for the Mosconi Cup, the very handsome player from Greece named Nick Ekonomopoulos. :smiling-heart:

Shane has been in this spot numerous times, and he's comfortable here in the Open environment. Nick, however, had to travel and is on foreign soil, accounting for jet lag and the time changes. :sorry:

This is going to be one exciting match, and if they don't get a frigging neutral racker for this match, I am going on the war pah. :angry:

Whoever wins this one, I predict it will be neck and neck. The bookmakers have it as Nick does 10, don't 9. :smile2:

Nikos, good luck to you. :)
 
Shane has already reached one-name status in the pool world. There's not much anybody can say about this kid, other than he lives clean, doesn't have a bad thing to say about anybody, and is well liked by everyone who meets him. He never disappoints, either, when he's hitting 'em.:cool:

Once again, American Shane Van Boening has made it to the last day of the finals. Bookmakers have him a slight favorite over handsome Nikos from Greece. :)

Ironically, first time I met Shane was at the 2003 U.S. Open, same place as today. It was his very first U.S. Open. He was young and full of vigor, came to the Open escorted by an older gentleman. He had just turned 20. :p

The South Dakota Kid, as he is fondly called, was put on the TV table that year against Keith. Keith plays better to a crowd, and though Shane had already begin to make a name for himself in 2003, he was a newbie to this caliber of a tournament, and then to be on the TV table with all the bright lights. Bookmakers had Keith a 2-game dog to Shane, much to our surprise. :eek:

Keith ended up winning. I think Shane was nervous, Photo below taken that year at the Open in 2003.

Well, he doesn't get nervous anymore. He's a seasoned veteran in this environment, and The Greek will have his work cut out for him. :wink:
 
Everything has been already said about Mike Dechaine in the past week on this forum. :thumbup:

The first time I ran across Mike Dechaine, he was traveling with a Russian from Canada, and they were competing in the Joss tournament. Wish I could remember the year, but I'm going to venture a guess and say 2004. His traveling companion was singing Mike's praises throughout the tournament, stating how strong this kid from Maine was. It looked as if Mike Dechaine was just beginning to come into his game at this juncture. :smile:

When I finally did have the opportunity to meet Mike, he was not very personable or talkative. It could be that he was shy by nature, as some young folk are wont to be. Maybe he just wanted to let his stick do the talking for him. :grin:

Over the years, Mike has experienced some growing pains in learning how to deal with being a pool celebrity. It ain't easy; that's for sure. The first time I was thrust into the limelight with Keith, I was getting pissed off that Keith and I could not even have a private conversation without people coming up and wanting autographs and pictures taken. Keith, of course, loved it. Me, not so much. It does take getting used to. I mean, you can't even pick your nose without someone seeing it and writing a dissertation about it on the social meddia sites. Well, it's not quite that bad. :p

Out of all the players at the Open this year, Mike has had his share of world-beaters to defeat, and he did it, sometimes quite handily and others times never giving up till the end, in which he triumphed. :yes:

I wish Mike the very best against Dennis Orcollo in the loser's braket later today. I know all four men left standing want to win this Open title, but of all of them, I kind of think Mike wants it most. And if he does snatch this title from the jaws of these world-beaters, he will have once again let his stick do the talking for him. ;)
 
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Only one Filipino left standing this year, even though Bustie, Warren, and Efren all rose to the top. Dennis Orcollo never seems to disappoint in competition or challenge matches. He's already got quite a pool résumé filled with conquests and championship titles, but he doesn't have the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship title -- yet. :smile:

The entire Republic of Philippines will be rooting for Dennis today against Mike Dechaine on the B side of the charts, and he will have his work cut out for him with Mike this year. Mike has already shut down many, many world-beaters in this tournament, so far, so he won't be intimidated with Dennis' championship status one bit. :p

The two of these players, Dennis and Mike, have already matched up on the winner's side of the charts, with Dennis coming out on top, 11 to 8. Will Mike get his revenge against Dennis later today? Time will tell. :cool:

I took this photo at the 2005 IPT North American Tournament at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Dennis was just beginning to blossom in the United States. He was already a war veteran in Philippines by this time, but Americans were just learning what this Filipino champion was all about. I adore this photo of Jose Parica and Dennis. I call it the "Old Guard and the New Guard." :cool:
 
Speaking of Jose, did anybody attend the Hall of Fame banquet last night when Jose and Mika were inducted? I would love to read some of the tidbits about the event. It is a shame that AzBilliards doesn't have a photographer or somebody on site who can write an article for the Main Page. This is pretty noteworthy. :frown:
 
USAs-Worst-President.jpg
great day final 4 US Open all 4 players have played great this event
but i got to pull for the home team guys here
 
terryhanna said:
View attachment 359880
great day final 4 US Open all 4 players have played great this event
but i got to pull for the home team guys here
Click to expand...

So which American are you pulling for? Shane or Mike? :cool:

BTW, the bookmakers have the odds on the Dennis vs. Mike match on the B side of the charts as Mike Dechaine does 10, don't 9. ;) So they have Dennis as the favorite in this one.

One thing for sure, Mike has defeated more world beaters in this tournament than any of the other players, in my opinion. It will be interesting to see how he does in this rematch with Dennis after losing to him 11 to 8 on the winner's side. Payback is a -- well, you know what they say. :thumbup:
 
JAM said:
So which American are you pulling for? Shane or Mike? :cool:

BTW, the bookmakers have the odds on the Dennis vs. Mike match on the B side of the charts as Mike Dechaine does 10, don't 9. ;) So they have Dennis as the favorite in this one.

One thing for sure, Mike has defeated more world beaters in this tournament than any of the other players, in my opinion. It will be interesting to see how he does in this rematch with Dennis after losing to him 11 to 8 on the winner's side. Payback is a -- well, you know what they say. :thumbup:
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Considering what went down in that match with Dennis fouling & not calling it on himself I hope Mike tortures him for that today.
 
4 players for the US Open suite/jacket

maybe Mike wins it:clapping: although i want Nick for 1st.........:yes:
lets see its a matter of feww hours
cant wait:happydance:
 
Hey, Max Eberle and Shane Van Boening shared a few photos on FB of the Hall of Fame banquet, showing Jose and Mika getting inducted. Here is a great group shot from Shane's page.
 
Here is one from Max's page of all the Hall of Famers on site at this year's open. From left to right beginning on top row, Pat Fleming Johnny Archer, Earl Strickland, Mike Massey, Mika Immonen. Bottom row, beginning left to right, Jose Parica, Efren Reyes, Francisco Bustamante, and Ralf Souquet.

I kind of feel they don't need to have their names provided, as we all know who they are, but I did it anyway.:cool:

Congratulations to Jose and Mika. :clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping:
 
JAM said:
Hey, Max Eberle and Shane Van Boening shared a few photos on FB of the Hall of Fame banquet, showing Jose and Mika getting inducted. Here is a great group shot from Shane's page.
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Great photo
I am still shocked that Jose sat next to Efren:thumbup:
 
Today's schedule
They will not stream Orcullo Dechaine match

All Times Are Eastern (EDT)

Saturday 10/18/2014
The Final Day

Will Be On Air - 12:45pm

The Schedule

1:00pm -Nikos Ekonomopoulos vs. Shane Van Boening

3:00pm - Loser of Ekonomopoulos/Van Boening vs.
Winner of Dechaine/Orcollo

Dinner Break


7:00pm - The Finals

 
spartan said:
Great photo
I am still shocked that Jose sat next to Efren:thumbup:
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I'm kind of surprised that Efren and Mike Massey didn't dress up for the banquet. :grin-square:

I guess when you reach Efren's status, it doesn't matter what you wear. Everybody is happey for him to just show. :)
 
JAM said:
What an interesting mix of talent we have this year, and for first time in a very long time, we have two Americans still standing, Shane Van Boening and Mike Dechaine :grin-square:

On the winner's side, however, the match for the hotseat will occur between Shane and the newly announced member of the 2014 Team Europe for the Mosconi Cup, the very handsome player from Greece named Nick Ekonomopoulos. :smiling-heart:

Shane has been in this spot numerous times, and he's comfortable here in the Open environment. Nick, however, had to travel and is on foreign soil, accounting for jet lag and the time changes. :sorry:

This is going to be one exciting match, and if they don't get a frigging neutral racker for this match, I am going on the war pah. :angry:

Whoever wins this one, I predict it will be neck and neck. The bookmakers have it as Nick does 10, don't 9. :smile2:

Nikos, good luck to you. :)
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Ok, JAM, could not resist but write back, say what ever you say about Neck, but "very handsome" player! oh man! i have issues here! :smile:
 
naji said:
Ok, JAM, could not resist but write back, say what ever you say about Neck, but "very handsome" player! oh man! i have issues here! :smile:
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He is easy on the eyes. :grin-square:

This will be a great match between Shane and Nick. I'm looking forward to it. :happydance::happydance::happydance::happydance:
 
spartan said:
Today's schedule
They will not stream Orcullo Dechaine match

All Times Are Eastern (EDT)

Saturday 10/18/2014
The Final Day

Will Be On Air - 12:45pm

The Schedule

1:00pm -Nikos Ekonomopoulos vs. Shane Van Boening

3:00pm - Loser of Ekonomopoulos/Van Boening vs.
Winner of Dechaine/Orcollo

Dinner Break


7:00pm - The Finals
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting the schedule. This helps me, so I can plan my day! :)
 
Phil Capelle, world-renown instructional pool author, shared some interesting stats on FB:

Shane Van Boening’s Road to the Winner’s Bracket Finals
Bye
Rod Saez – 11-10
Earl Strickland – 11-7
D.H. Quan – 11-10
Karl Boyes – 11-6
Dennis Orcollo – 11-5
TOTAL 55/38 59.1%

Nikos Ekonomopoulos Trip to the Hot Seat Match
Michael Ricciardella – 11-3
Dennis Grabe – 11-3
Mario He – 11-4
Corey Deuel – 11-10
Warren Kiamco – 11-10
Francisco Bustamante – 11-6
TOTAL 66/36 64.7%

Mike Dechaine’s Run to the Final 4
Tony Drago – 11-5
Justin Bergman – 11-10
Albin Ouschan – 11-9
Jason Klatt – 11-7
Dennis Orcollo – 8-11
Thorsten Hohmann – 11-8
Justin Hall – 11-9
Francisco Bustamante – 11-10
TOTAL 85/69 55.2%

Dennis Orcollo’s Journey to the Final 4
Majid Al-Zaabi – 11-3
T. Miller – 11-2
Daryl Peach – 11-7
Efren Reyes – 11-5
Mike Dechaine – 11-8
Shane Van Boening – 5-11
Warren Kiamco – 11-4
TOTAL 71/40 64.0%

5-6th
Warren Kiamco - Francisco Bustamante
7-8th
Jason Klatt - Justin Hall
9-12th
Ernesto Dominguez - Darren Appleton - Thorsten Hohmann - Karl Boyes
13-16th
Efren Reyes - D.H. Quan - Chris Futrell - Daryl Peach
17-24th
Niels Feijen - Kenichi Uchigaki - John Morra - Jason Bergman
Waleen Majid - Alex Kazakis - Corey Deuel - Nick Van Den Berg
 
And then there were four ....... at 2:30 AM Eastern time. I'm really tired.

What a night Friday was for America's players and fans! Great stories all over. Justin Hall is America's newest superstar, coming 7th in what we all reckon is the toughest US Open field ever assembled. Congrats to Justin.

Mike Dechaine proved to some who don't get to watch him play much what a fine player he truly is. Mike drew very tough in this US Open but he's still in there. Bustamante played at the very top of his game in the late stream match, but Mike was even better. Beating Hall of Famers who are in stroke is always supertough but Mike was up to it. Well played, Mike.

To be fair, though, the biggest wow of the night from me pertained to SVB. Here's what I posted moments after the end of the match:

sjm said:
Shane broke well but didn't always have a shot. Still, when he had to work to win the race to the shot, he was brilliant.

No match I've ever seen Shane play impressed me more than this one, because he had to employ his breaking skills, his pattern play skills and his moves game, and was phenomenal across the board.

Stringing racks is all well and good, but a performance like this one, for me, is more memorable because it showcased all the skills of a great champion.

This was something very special.
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So what of today?

I think Shane gets his threepeat. He is a giant of the game and he's executing at his very highest level. The other three Davids will have to do something remarkable to slay this Goliath.

At first consideration, I'm inclined to call Dechaine the biggest threat to Shane's threepeat, with the reason being that he has a good record in 2014 against Shane, beating him in the Derby City 9-ball event and again at Turning Stone a couple of weeks ago. Nonetheless, one cannot say the same about Mike when he faces off against Orcullo, the guy who put him on the B side Friday afternoon. On top of that win, Dennis crushed Mike 9-3 at the CSI 10-ball event at the Rio in Las Vegas. On paper, you have to figure Dennis will beat Mike in today's first match, and that Dennis, not Mike, is the biggest threat to SVB for the title.

Nick "the Greek" Ekonomopolus is the wildcard here. Shane demolished him in a long race earlier this year and logic says Shane wins the hot seat match, but Nick has found his highest gear this week, winning all six of his matches against very worthy opponents. My hunch here is he finishes third after losses to Shane and Orcullo, but Nick is certainly a threat to win it all.

Shane looks to be in incredible form and is coming off his very best match of the event. He'll win, and not because he understands how to rack the ball as Niels "sour grapes" Feijen has suggested but because he has every part of his game working.

Yup, I think it's Shane's day. No matter how it goes, though, America has had a rock solid US Open against the superstars of the world.
 
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