Eleven Becomes Seven as 9-Ball Banks Nears the End

Eleven Becomes Seven as 9-Ball Banks Nears the EndFresh off one-pocket matches, the last rail wizards aim for DCC’s first crownBy Paul Berg, Inside FOOL MagazineThe tenth round of 9-ball banks is underway at the Derby City Classic in Louisville. A small delay was forced by the monstrous one-pocket tournament, as most of the remaining banks field needed to play a match of one-hole prior to the day’s first draw. Eleven players remained at the start of the Monday, three unbeaten, all vying for the first of the three component titles in the World All-Around Championship. Leading the way at the start of the round were three unbeaten bankers, and Efren Reyes and Rafael Martinez are two of those three. Reyes overcame the Mexican champion 3-2 in the race-to-3 game format, the last game a 5-3 ball score that keeps Efren way ahead of his usual points pace to take top honors in Louisville. Their match was the last in progress, as four others have exited with a tie for eighth place.Derby City Classic image gallery
Atlanta-based killer Steve Moore continued his unbeaten run, taking out the surprising Thorsten Hohmann. The two hardest paths through the tournament belonged to John Brumback and the notorious "Red Rifle" from Louisiana, Jamie Farrell. Farrell got the worse end of their match-up, and Brumback moves on with his last barrel, a long grind facing elimination his seeming modus operandi for this event in recent years. Unheralded southern Indiana player Michael Collins knocked off Cincinnati's Shannon Murphy, while two top 9-ballers battled on a stage they have consistently sought attention on. Gabe Owen lost to Rodolfo Luat, stopping Owen’s chances of making the top five for a third straight year in banks. Chicago’s amazing senior and amateur champion Ike Runnells is no stranger to banking, and a bye propelled him to the eleventh draw While this portion of the event reaches its crescendo, the first draw of one-pocket grinds forward and nears conclusion, a juggernaut of players and time barreling down on the tireless event staff. U.S. Open three-cushion qualifiers have concluded, a 14.1 challenge is underway, and league and mini-tournament action can be found at an undercover gambler’s hideaway across the street. The Executive West Hotel’s sister establishment, the Executive Inn Hotel, hides an array of bar tables and easy action for those who’ve taken some losses and need to pump back up.

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Inside Pool Magazine publishes billiard news. Definitive Synergy creates pool and billiard management software.