by InsidePOOL Staff

Some exciting matches went off at the Diamond Open 10-Ball Professional Players Championship Friday. The winners’ side was whittled down to eight players, and in a feature match-up, Corey “The Prince of Pool” Deuel went up against Charlie Williams. The match seesawed to a double-hill contest with Deuel breaking. He came up empty, but Williams played safe on the 1 ball. Deuel played a two-rail kick and contacted the 1 ball but left a combo. Williams was on his way to victory but rattled the 6 ball in the corner pocket, and Deuel was easily able to clear the table to win 9-8.

But the most talked-about match was surely the one on the one-loss side between defending champion John Schmidt and Earl Strickland. Schmidt came out of the gate like a bolt, quickly gaining a 6-1 lead. At that point, Strickland caught fire. He not only caught Schmidt at 6, he passed him to reach the hill at 8-6. Schmidt won the next rack to postpone his fate, but it was all Strickland in the next as he dished up to win 9-7.

View the Diamond Open 10-Ball Professional Players Championship FREE Live Stream

View the Artistic Pool Masters Championship FREE Live Stream

View the Diamond Open 10-Ball Professional Players Championship tournament brackets

Some exciting matches went off at the Diamond Open 10-Ball Professional Players Championship Friday.

Sixteen players remain on the west side of the chart, including Strickland, Chris Bartram, Mike Davis, Marlon Manalo, and Rodney Morris. Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.

After four days of competition at the Derby City Classic, the Bank 9-Ball division ended Monday night with John Brumback successfully defending his title as Derby City Classic Bank Champion by defeating Filipino billiards legend Efren Reyes. In addition to being the defending Banks Division champion, Brumback is also the defending Derby City Classic All-Around champion.

The event kicked off Friday, January 22 with 352 competitors. It was originally thought that the field was 353, but Roberto Gomez was not registered and his entry was withdrawn. The total prize fund for the event was $45,200 with $10,000 being added by the Derby City Classic promoters.

Efren Reyes defeated Larry Nevel in the semis to earn his chance to win the one discipline that has eluded him in the past. Though Reyes has won several titles, including the All-Around, the Banks division has remained out of his reach. His highest finish in the Banks division was runner-up against Steve Moore.

With Brumback being a Kentucky native and Reyes being a legend know around the world, the finals was a classic home crowd favorite versus the world. As Brumback won the lag, the crowd barely cheered. But as Brumback broke, made several banks, and then went on the close out game 1 without a contest, the crowd erupted with hope. Brumback continued to fire in banks and play smart safeties and won the second game. Brumback was met in the third game by a determined Reyes. The game went to a 4-4- tie in ball count before Brumback fired the last bank in for the win.

Brumback handed Reyes a 3-0 beatdown in his successful title defense in the Derby City Classic Bank Division finals.

Derby City Classic 2010 Banks Division Results
1st John Brumback $10,000
2nd Efren Reyes $5,000
3rd Larry Nevel $2500
4-5th Rafael Martinez 1,375
Alex Pagulayan
6-9th Chris Bartram $850
George Breedlove
Shannon Daulton
Truman Hogue
10-16th Bill Bailey $550
Danny Harriman
Neil Jacobs
Michael Laney
Clent McCollough
Steve Moore
Mark Slye, Jr.

[View with PicLens]

1234...789►

by Lea Andrews

It’s official: Either Donnie Mills or 2002 U.S. Open Champion Ralf Souquet—or both—will be racing to 13 in the finals of the 34th Annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships Saturday. The two men, who were part of the original field of 216 gathered at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, VA, October 18-24, will play for the hot seat tomorrow afternoon.

Mills, who had to get by England’s Karl Boyes to reach the final four, had to get by 1996 U.S. Open champion “Rocket” Rodney Morris to reach the hot seat match—no easy task, especially after being down 8-4. “In the past, I would’ve given up when I was down 8-4,” Mills later admitted, “but one thing I’ve learned about pool by playing a lot is that I knew there was a good chance the momentum would shift my way, so that’s why I just stayed confident and focused. And luckily the momentum did come my way.” Mills took six straight racks to get on the hill, though he made nothing on the break in rack 19. Morris played safe on the 1 ball and was out with ball in hand, but he broke dry in rack 20, leaving a difficult but do-able layout for Mills, who pocketed ball after ball down to the 9, where he found himself nearly frozen to the rail. “I was literally going to take my break right then,” said Mills, who feared a miscue. “But I went ahead and went with it.” His decision earned him the match 11-9.

Meanwhile, Souquet, who’d gotten by Chris Bartram 11-8, was battling it out with Filipino Lee Van Corteza, whom he’s played several times but has never, to the best of his recollection, defeated. Throughout the match, though, during which he stayed ahead 6-1, 7-3, 9-4, and 10-6, and which he won 11-7, that fact wasn’t on his mind. “Obviously you don’t want to think about it, but here and there, you have people reminding you,” he said pointedly, though good-naturedly. Souquet explained that against Corteza in the past, he hadn’t played very well, but today, “Finally, I played a bit better. I still made a few mistakes here and there, but so did he, and I think it was a deserved win.”

View the U.S. Open 9-Ball Final 8 Players Tournament Brackets

View the U.S. Open 9-Ball Double Elimination Tournament Brackets 1 (updated continuously)

View the U.S. Open 9-Ball Double Elimination Tournament Brackets 2 (updated continuously)

View the 2009 U.S. Open image gallery

View the LIVE STREAM from ACCU-STATS

Either Mills or 2002 U.S. Open Champion Souquet—or both—will be racing to 13 in the finals of the 34th Annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships Saturday.

Corteza moved on to “California Kim” Davenport, who’d earlier edged out his own friend and business partner, recent Hall of Famer Johnny Archer, by snapping the 9 ball in off the break at hill-hill. Backing it up with a hill-hill victory over Karl Boyes, Davenport seemed more than ready for another win. But Corteza was ready himself, and though Davenport won the lag and the first rack with a break and run, it was his only lead. Corteza got ahead 6-1, 9-3, and 10-5, and though Davenport made a fantastic jump on the 2 ball with a full cue in rack 16 and finished off the table to make it 10-6, his break in rack 17 was his last chance at the table. Nothing fell, and Corteza was out. “I feel very happy,” said Corteza about his win. “I played well.”

Also returning tomorrow is returning champion Mika Immonen, who took care of Morris 11-9 immediately following Morris’ loss to Mills. Immonen, who played seven matches between midnight last night and tonight, had been feeling the fatigue in the early evening and opted for a professional massage in the vendor area outside the arena. “It helped a little. I had to do something to get my legs loose,” said Immonen, who noted that the most important thing was that his arm was loose. And it was. And how does it feel to reach the final day, to defend the crown? “Unbelievable,” he said.

Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.

by Lea Andrews

Day three of the 34th Annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships was the final day for some of the field of 216, while others, some of whom are responsible for the heavy hitters on the west side of the bracket, continue their quest for the title on the east. The event, which features a grand prize of $40,000, runs October 18-24 at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, VA.

One such giant slayer is British player Scott Higgins, who sent fellow Brit Raj Hundal to the left side 11-7 in the second round and followed it up with a hill-hill win over Filipino Warren Kiamco in the third. Higgins, who played in the Open last year but didn’t fare very well, has since improved and is currently ranked 16th on the Euro Tour. In a seesaw match against Kiamco, he found himself down 3-1, then up 6-3 and down 9-6, 9-8, and 10-8. Kiamco’s dry break in rack 19 left Higgins out, and Higgins’ break and run in rack 20 put the score at hill-hill. He played safe on the 2 ball, and Kiamco’s masse missed its mark, giving Higgins ball in hand. “He left me a 2-9 combo but I didn’t even see the shot,” said Higgins. “I just got focused on trying to clear the table.” When he did finally see the shot, “I started laughing,” he said.

Bennett is also moving quickly along, having notched matching 11-9 wins over Ortmann and Williams to go up against Majid in upcoming round four.

View the U.S. Open 9-Ball Double Elimination Tournament Brackets 1 (updated continuously)

View the U.S. Open 9-Ball Double Elimination Tournament Brackets 2 (updated continuously)

View the 2009 U.S. Open image gallery

View the LIVE STREAM from ACCU-STATS

Keith Bennett is also moving quickly along, having notched matching 11-9 wins over Oliver Ortmann and Charlie Williams to go up against Imran Majid in upcoming round four. Chris Bartram, who was responsible for sending defending champion Mika Immonen west 11-9 and David Alcaide west 11-6, will face Jason Klatt, who put Thorsten Hohmann on the left side 11-9.

Out of the running are CJ Wiley, who fell 11-8 to Tom D’Alfonso, and Bob Jewett, who fell 11-9 to Chris Futrell.

Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.

by Lea Andrews

With the action still going strong on day two of the 34th Annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, which is being held October 18-24 at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, VA, many big names remain undefeated after two rounds of play, while others have become early victims. All 216 players remain in the field, though elimination rounds begin Tuesday morning.

Still on the winners’ side is past champion Ralf Souquet, who notched up an 11-1 win over EJ Glode and an 11-4 win over Thomas Giddens. After shutting out Pat DiBuono, Steve Moore rolled over Stefano Ariavakis 11-1. Spain’s David Alcaide was almost as stingy with the 9 balls in his first two matches—he rode an 11-1 win over Scott Hershman to an 11-3 victory over Kaloyan Rusanov.

Bartram handed Immonen his first loss in his title defense.

View the U.S. Open 9-Ball Double Elimination Tournament Brackets 2 (updated continuously)

View the 2009 U.S. Open image gallery

View the LIVE STREAM from ACCU-STATS

Defending champion Mika Immonen, who held Jerry Fitchett to six games in round one, will have to defend his crown from the left side of the bracket after running into a determined Chris Bartram in round two. Bartram got out ahead 2-0, 3-1, and 7-3, but Immonen managed to tie it up at eight games apiece. Talent and luck were both on Bartram’s side in the final racks, and he took racks seventeen and eighteen with a 2-9 combination and a 1-9 combination, respectively, and though Immonen claimed rack nineteen after Bartram left a safety on the 2 ball open, he couldn’t close rack twenty, which turned into a safety battle after Immonen missed position on the 6 ball. It was Bartram who came out on top, making a difficult shot on the 6 to earn the right to face Alcaide 11-9. Another fallen hero is 2004 U.S. Open champion Gabe Owen, who fell 11-9 to Abdullah Alyousef after being up 4-1. Runner-up that year, Thorsten “The Hitman” Hohmann also suffered a second-round loss to Jason Klatt 11-9. After falling 11-6 to Robb Saez, 2006 U.S. Open champion John Schmidt will face Don Steele on Wednesday, while Oliver Ortman , who fell 11-9 to Keith Bennett, will face Thorsten Hohmann, who managed just nine games himself against Jason Klatt.

Second round winners’ matches still to come are Jonathan “Hennessee” Pinegar versus Charlie Bryant, Tony Chohan versus Jose Parica, Darren Appleton versus Zaid Thweib, and Shane Van Boening versus Marvin Davis.

Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.

by Lea Andrews

The action has begun in Chesapeake, VA, where 216 men have gathered for the 34th annual US Open 9-Ball Championships, which is being held October 18-24 at the Chesapeake Conference Center and features winner breaks races to eleven on both sides of the bracket. While many of the nation’s usual suspects are present for the competition, the rest of the world’s players have helped fill up the bracket. Filipinos Efren Reyes and Alex Pagulayan are conspicuously absent, but Warren Kiamco, Roberto Gomez, Jose Parica, Al Lapena, and Ramil Gallego are all vying for the win. The British contingent is also well-represented with Chris Melling, Imran Majid, Raj Hundal, and Karl Boyes, as is the European contingent: Ralf Souquet, Niels Feijen, Thorsten Hohmann, and Vincent Facquet.

After a major victory at the Galveston World Classic 10-Ball, Immonen will be looking to keep his winning streak going by defending his U.S. Open title this year.

View the U.S. Open 9-Ball Double Elimination Tournament Brackets 1 (updated continuously)

View the U.S. Open 9-Ball Double Elimination Tournament Brackets 2 (updated continuously)

Some of the field’s biggest names, such as Parica, Johnny Archer, Nick Varner, Gabe Owen, and Shawn Putnam, remain in the winner’s bracket after receiving byes in the first round, while defending champion Mika Immonen made it to round two on the winner’s side the old-fashioned way with an 11-6 win over Jerry Fitchett. Next up for Immonen is a Monday match versus Chris Bartram, who sent Sho Tsuken west 11-8. Other early victories include Tony Crosby over Matt Rutter 11-5, Rodney Morris 11-5 over Nick Brucato, and Jeremy Jones 11-3 over Bill Dunsmore. First round matches still to come are Cary Dunn versus Cliff Joyner, Mike Davis versus Brent Hensley, Souquet versus EJ Glode, Earl Strickland versus Michael Yedrak, John Schmidt versus Rob Saez, and Feijen versus Ramil Gallego.

by Lea Andrews

If you were looking for some of the biggest names in pool the weekend of July 10-12, you needn’t have looked any further than The Marietta Billiard Club in Marietta, GA, site of the much-anticipated Gem City 10-Ball Classic. Out of the full field of 64 players, Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer, who shared the home-court advantage along with room co-owner Kim Davenport, emerged undefeated and victorious to claim his share of the $15,000-guaranteed prize fund.

Archer didn’t have an easy path to the finals, bumping into along the way Nick Varner, Rodney Morris, and Ronnie Wiseman before coming upon Shawn “Big Bubba” Putnam in the quarterfinals. Putnam, who himself had knocked aside Tony Crosby, Chris Bartram, and Keith Bennett, couldn’t do the same to Archer, and he joined the star-studded left side of the bracket. Moving on to the hot seat match, Archer greeted John “Mr. 403” Schmidt, who had warmed up for the match with wins over Mike Fuller, Arlo Walsman, and Larry Nevel, but it wasn’t enough to get past the man of the hour, who was on fire long before taking the hot seat.

On the one-loss side, the big names were dropping off the bracket as they encountered other big names. Mitch Ellerman took down Crosby before getting taken out by Jason Richko, who was himself taken out in the next round by Davenport. Davenport then put out Ronnie Wiseman and Clint McCollough before meeting the obstacle he couldn’t get past: “The Truth.” Nevel’s victory put him in the one-loss quarterfinals, where he encountered Steve Moore, at whose hands many had already met their demise, including Morris, Scotty Townsend, Walsman, Davis—who’d had his own share of one-loss side wins, most notably over Fuller, Bartram, and Fujiwara—and Putnam. Moore continued the trend of taking out the best in the bunch by putting Nevel in fourth 9-7 and backing it up with a 9-6 semifinal win over Schmidt to earn the right to challenge Archer.

The challenge match was a single race to 11, so the fact that Moore had come through the one-loss side after falling to Nevel in the second round had no bearing. But Archer, who hadn’t lost a set all weekend, wasn’t going to let the home team down in the final hour. “The Scorpion” found his mark, taking first-place with a very strong 11-7 win.

If you were looking for some of the biggest names in pool the weekend of July 10-12, you needn’t have looked any further than The Marietta Billiard Club in Marietta, GA, site of the much-anticipated Gem City 10-Ball Classic.

Results:
1st Johnny Archer $3,500
2nd Steve Moore $2,200
3rd John Schmidt $1,500
4th Larry Nevel $1,000
5th Kim Davenport $800
Shawn Putnam
7th Clint McCollough $600
Mike Davis
9th Arlo Walsman $400
Keith Bennett
Ronnie Wiseman
Neil Fujiwara
13th Jason Richko $300
Chris Bartrum
Scotty Townsend
Mitch Yarborough

by Raymond Linares

The “Prince of Pool” finally regained his place as tournament champion on the Seminole Pro Tour after this victorious showing at their June 19-21 event. Not since the 2008 season has Deuel seen the winners’ circle. But Bankshot Billiards has proven to be a hospitable location for the former U.S. Open champion, as he’s played at the level that has won him so many tournaments in the past.

Coming out of a heavy top half of the bracket, Deuel survived several champions including Mike Davis, Thorsten Hohmann, and Johnny Archer just to have a chance to face Tony Crosby first thing Sunday. Crosby started out the match very roughly and found himself facing a three-game deficit. He made a charge by running a solid three pack to tie the match at 4-4. However, Deuel proved to be too much, as his experience and skill was enough to take down “The Sniper” and move one step closer to the title.

The second winners’ side match-up saw Charlie Williams battle against road player Chris Bartram. Bartram really put the pressure on Williams throughout the whole match, combining a strong break with great cue ball control. The two components were enough to outlast Williams 8-6 and move on to the hot seat match against Deuel.

This match was the match of the tournament. Bartram and Deuel exchanged body blows back and forth, pushing each other to the limit. The war between the two would see its ultimate limit as one game would decide who would move on to the finals. Bartram seemed to have everything under control as he bested Deuel to the first shot. However, after running the balls down to the 8, Bartram found himself dead frozen on the rail. Without the ability to draw the cue ball down for position, Bartram was forced to lay up and take an awkward angle cut on the 9 ball. Unfortunately for Bartram, he over-cut the 9 and set the stage for an amazing end to this match. Deuel, with nothing to do but come with a nine-foot table-length bank, did just that and split the pocket, caroming the 10 to hold for position and capturing the match hill-hill.

Deuel finally regained his place as tournament champion on the Seminole Pro Tour after this victorious showing at their June 19-21 event. Not since the 2008 season has Deuel seen the winners’ circle.

The B-side of the bracket was equally as intense. Williams, who was defeated earlier in the tournament by Bartram, had a chance at revenge. First he had to conquer last month’s champion, Crosby. This was a true grinder of a match ended with Williams sending “The Sniper” home with his second top four-finish in as many months.

View the Seminole Pro Tour Brackets at Bankshot Billiards

Williams claimed one more victim as he exacted his revenge on Bartram and eliminated him 8-6. Bartram, who hasn’t visited the Seminole Tour very often, claimed his first top three-finish as well as $1,500 for his efforts.

The finals saw two former Mosconi Cup team members, Williams and Deuel, play one race to 9 for the title of champion. Deuel used his smooth and consistent stroke to take control of the match. His powerful shot-making was more than enough to take down Williams as Deuel came with two impressive run-outs to close it out 9-6.

by Raymond Linares

Johnny Archer, Mike Davis, Thorsten Hohmann, Steve Moore, Stoney Stone, and Tommy Kennedy have all been eliminated from competition at the Seminole Pro Tour’s event this weekend. Each one of these players can be considered a threat to win the tournament, and each one is booking their trip back home after day two action here in Jacksonville. The level of competition on the Seminole Pro Tour is something serious as short-stops and World champions alike are beginning to feel the wear of the treacherous hike to the finals.

Archer began his day with a strong 7-3 win over Randy Epperson. That earned him the unenviable task of matching up with fellow former world 9-ball champion Hohmann. Archer would drop that set in a hill-hill battle. His tournament would be ended later in the evening by top Florida player Richard Broumpton 7-6.

Moore, currently ranked second on the Seminole Pro Tour, lost two matches back to back; first against Stone 7-4 and then to former U.S. Open champion Kennedy 7-5. The day proved unfavorable for Davis as well, who, after eliminating Stone, suffered a 7-4 loss at the hands of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s, John Gabriel.

Keith Bennett has continued to show the form that has garnered him so much notoriety on the Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour. After losing his first match of the day 7-6 against James Roberts, Bennett marched right through the west side of the bracket with wins over George Mclanahan, Butch Croft, Fred Stoll, Ardo Walsman, and Hohmann 8-5. Bennett has positioned himself securely in the top 8 for the final day of play, where he will play John Gabriel.

The winners’ side final four is up for grabs with each of the competitors playing some class pool. Last month’s champion, Tony Crosby, will face Corey Deuel at noon Sunday. Deuel, who knocked Hohmann to the one-loss side by the score of 8-6, seems to be playing very well. In his match against Hohmann, Deuel was down 6-4. From there Deuel won four consecutive games to take the match and claim his spot in the winners’ side final four.

View the Seminole Pro Tour Brackets at Bankshot Billiards

The second pairing on the winners’ side pits Charlie Williams against top money player Chris Bartram. Williams, who escaped an epic hill-hill safety battle with Stone, will be poised for an opportunity to play for the hot seat. Bartram has been the beneficiary of a good draw with no real difficult tests until he faced Landon Shuffett, whom he defeated by a score line of 8-4. Bartram with his consistent and methodical approach will be a tough test for Williams come noon Sunday.

The pressure has begun to mount here, as all the players fight for their tournament lives. With every match carrying such importance, there’s no telling who will come out on top. Stay tuned as the final destination of this journey is reached Sunday evening.

With a list of "A list" players eliminated, Deuel is looking hard at the title at the Seminole Pro Tour event this weekend.

Tournament Payouts:
1st 3000
2nd 2000
3rd 1500
4th 1100
5th/6th 800
7th/8th 550
9-12th: 350
Thorsten Hohmann
James Roberts
Neil Fujiwara
Landon Shuffett

by Raymond Linares

Johnny Archer, Mike Davis, Thorsten Hohmann, Steve Moore, Stoney Stone, and Tommy Kennedy have all been eliminated from competition at the Seminole Pro Tour’s event this weekend. Each one of these players can be considered a threat to win the tournament, and each one is booking their trip back home after day two action here in Jacksonville. The level of competition on the Seminole Pro Tour is something serious as short-stops and World champions alike are beginning to feel the wear of the treacherous hike to the finals.

Archer began his day with a strong 7-3 win over Randy Epperson. That earned him the unenviable task of matching up with fellow former world 9-ball champion Hohmann. Archer would drop that set in a hill-hill battle. His tournament would be ended later in the evening by top Florida player Richard Broumpton 7-6.

Moore, currently ranked second on the Seminole Pro Tour, lost two matches back to back; first against Stone 7-4 and then to former U.S. Open champion Kennedy 7-5. The day proved unfavorable for Davis as well, who, after eliminating Stone, suffered a 7-4 loss at the hands of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s, John Gabriel.

Keith Bennett has continued to show the form that has garnered him so much notoriety on the Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour. After losing his first match of the day 7-6 against James Roberts, Bennett marched right through the west side of the bracket with wins over George Mclanahan, Butch Croft, Fred Stoll, Ardo Walsman, and Hohmann 8-5. Bennett has positioned himself securely in the top 8 for the final day of play, where he will play John Gabriel.

The winners’ side final four is up for grabs with each of the competitors playing some class pool. Last month’s champion, Tony Crosby, will face Corey Deuel at noon Sunday. Deuel, who knocked Hohmann to the one-loss side by the score of 8-6, seems to be playing very well. In his match against Hohmann, Deuel was down 6-4. From there Deuel won four consecutive games to take the match and claim his spot in the winners’ side final four.

View the Seminole Pro Tour Brackets at Bankshot Billiards

The second pairing on the winners’ side pits Charlie Williams against top money player Chris Bartram. Williams, who escaped an epic hill-hill safety battle with Stone, will be poised for an opportunity to play for the hot seat. Bartram has been the beneficiary of a good draw with no real difficult tests until he faced Landon Shuffett, whom he defeated by a score line of 8-4. Bartram with his consistent and methodical approach will be a tough test for Williams come noon Sunday.

The pressure has begun to mount here, as all the players fight for their tournament lives. With every match carrying such importance, there’s no telling who will come out on top. Stay tuned as the final destination of this journey is reached Sunday evening.

With a list of "A list" players eliminated, Deuel is looking hard at the title at the Seminole Pro Tour event this weekend.

Tournament Payouts:
1st 3000
2nd 2000
3rd 1500
4th 1100
5th/6th 800
7th/8th 550
9-12th: 350
Thorsten Hohmann
James Roberts
Neil Fujiwara
Landon Shuffett