NEWS  January 16, 2007  Derby City Classic – A mediocre start into the year


 

For the first event in the new year, I travelled as the defending 9-Ball champion to the Derby City Classic to Louisville, Kentucky. This multi-event set once more a participants record, with 470 competitors in 9-Ball Banks.

My first match against Dave Miller (USA) was exactly what I like - 3-0 sets (5-0, 5-0, 5-0) was the undisputed score. But in my second match, my opponent Shannon Murphy (USA) brought my feet back on the ground. The Bankpool specialist was a real challenge and I he finally won 3-2 with a bit of luck, but not undeserved. I made use of my buy-back option and entered the tournament fort he second time. In round three, I played US player Les Howard, and won 3-1 after having trailed 0-1.

In round 4, my opponent was Marshall Carpenter Sr., a layer who must be well in his 60s, if not in his 70s. He played a wonderful Bankpool, but missed the decisive balls in the most important situations and certainly did not deserve the severe score of 0-3.

But my next match against Tony Fergerson (USA) was my terminus. After my 1-3 defeat, I finished on rank 81 in the discipline 9-Ball Banks.

In a high level final, US player Stevie Moore upset „Magician“ Efren Reyes.

In the second discipline, the One Pocket, 416 competotrs had enrolled. In round one, I played Frenchman Yannick Beaufils, whom I could defeat after a good match 3-1. In my second match against Robert Madenjian (USA), I started well and was already leading 1-0 and 2-1. At 2-2, I was already leading 7 balls to 1 and everything seemed to be OK for me. But somehow the US player managed to do the unthinkable - he turned the match around and played great. I finally lost 2-3. I used my buy-in option and played John Ricciardelli (USA) in round three. I won 3-1 and faced US player Silvano Tanganelli in round 4 and won again 3-1.

In round 5, my opponent was John Brumback (USA), one of the top players. I was already trailing 0-2 and twice the match seemed to be finished form e, but somehow Brumback could not terminate the match. With high energy, I fought myself back into the match and finally deserved to win 3-2. In round 6, I played Marty Ciccia (USA), and won with a good performance 3-0. My next match was against US player Sammy Jones, a pure One Pocket expert. Again, I played very well and could defeat this strong player 3-1. In round 8, I had to face Francisco Bustamante from the Philippines who taught me a real lesson when defeating me in no time 0-3. So, I finished this discipline on rank 18.

To no surprise, the winner of the discipline was the favourite Efren Reyes (PHI), finishing in front of Cliff Joyner (USA) and Francisco Bustamante (PHI).

In the third, the 9-Ball, only 398 players were competing and my first opponent was Doug Young. After a weak start, I was trailing 1-4, I came back into the match and finally managed to win 7-5. My next opponent was Dexter Gondo (USA), and I won on the same score. In round 3, I played Robert Newkirk (USA) and once more, the final score was 7-5. In round 4, I rushed through my match against Don Steele, who did not stand much of a chance when losing 0-7. The next match finished again on my standard score of 7-5, this time against Bobby McGrath (USA). In round 6, I played US player Barry Boney, and scored an undisputed 7-1.

Now, I swapped tables and from the refrigerator (it was that cold almost all over the hall), I went to the sauna of the TV table. At least, this is how I felt, since the previous days, it was so cold that I had to play wearing a sweater. My opponent was Rafael Martinez Chavez from Mexico, whom I had only known as Rafael Martinez. I still don’t know where he found the last part of his name. The match suffered from a high number of mistakes on both sides, since the table reacted in quite different ways from the other 35 tables. Normally, this should be an advantage, but this time, it turned out to be a handicap. At 1-0, I could have scored the 2-0, but missed my shot. At 3-1, I missed the 4-1, however, I was leading 6-4. At 6-5, only three balls were left on the table, but I missed an easy 5 ball, since my queue stuck at my wet hands. I got another opportunity, but could not make use of it. At 6-6, only the 8 ball and the 9 ball were left on the table, but I had to let the cue ball travel twice via the two short rails. But the cue ball shot out of the second rail and travelled into the opposite pocket and I had given away this match 6-7. This was an unnecessary and bitter defeat and I was really punished right after this. My next opponent was once more Francisco Bustamante (PHI) and once more, he taught me a lesson. The player from the Philippines played almost perfect and won 7-2. With rank 17, my plans to defend my title were gone.

In a suspense final, marked by a high number of mistakes, Dutchman Niels Feijen defeated last year’s runner-up Rodolfo Luat from the Philippines 7-6. Third place went again to Francisco Bustamante.

The overall ranking of the Master of the Table was a pure Philippine affair. For the fourth time, “Magician” Efren „Bata“ Reyes won the title in front of his fellow countrymen Rodolfo Luat and Francisco Bustamante.

In the meantime, a tournament fort he highest 14.1 series was played. One could enrol or for trying once 4 times or, by doubling the entry fee, for 4 attempts on 4 consecutive days. On day one, I played the highest series so far with 137 balls, but the following days, my results were far from this score. However, with this score, I was ranked in the top 8 and had entered the final. The leader of the scoreboard of the qualifying round was US player Mike Davis, who was leading with 151 balls in front of me. On the final day, each of the 8 finalists had another 5 attempts which would be decisive. I had bad luck and could not exceed 15 balls, finishing on a disappointing 8th rank. The highest series in the final and overall was performed by the Finnish player Mika Immonen with 160 balls. Second place went to US player John Schmidt, followed by Johnny Archer (USA). Mike Davis could not play any further high series and finished on an unsatisfying 6th rank.

At the beginning of the event, 2 Bankpool Ring Games were organized and the winners were:

Jason Miller, followed by Truman Hogue and Shannon Daulton followed by Danny Harriman (all USA).

I was elected by the American billiards magazine “Billiards Digest” Player of the Year 2006.