Martinez Continues on Winning Streak

Martinez Continues on Winning StreakRafael Martinez continues undefeated throughout the event with his second win of the day, this time over Carl Morris 8-6. Martinez has two matches left today: Darren Appleton and Steve Moore. “So far, fortunately, I’ve been winning my matches and haven’t lost,” Martinez shared. “It’s early, and there is a long way to say how it will go. I’ve been playing a little good, but not so good I think—I have been missing a little less than them.”IPT discussion forumDay 4 image galleryShannon Elizabeth image galleryMatch scheduleWhen asked how he felt about the rest of the day he added, “I don’t think like that, I think only to do my best and go one match at a time. It would be unrealistic if I said I would win it all. Nobody knows for sure … I’m just trying to play better every match. I haven’t played for a while—I took a few years off.” His hiatus from the game has not appeared to affect Martinez much as yet.Rodolfo “Boy Samson” Luat lost a hill-hill battle with former World All-Around champion Larry Nevel, but his countryman Efren Reyes bested Gary Abood 8-6 in a rather long match that had spectators cheering and applauding for “The Magician.”
There were several white-outs from the day’s third-round matches. Mika “Iceman” Immonen asserted his first win of the day with an 8-0 triumph over Jimmy Wetch, while Evgeny Stalev won 8-0 over Sam Monday. Additionally, Sarah Ellerby lost her match against Marlon Manalo—the Filipino was up 5-0 and sped across the finish line by breaking and running out the final three racks. This score could have a detrimental effect on Ellerby’s games-won percentage, which could dictate whether or not she advances.Johnny Archer won 8-3 over Jian Bo Fu, making his record 2-1 for the day so far. Though Fu had an early lead, Archer blazed past him with a total of four break and run-outs. “I had a bad day up until that match,” Archer confirmed. “In the first match I made a few mistakes, couldn’t get nothing to go on the break. Second match I got very very unlucky—hill-hill I shoot my ball and scratch before the eight … it was pretty tough to take. This last one I played well and got some good opportunities. I ran a few racks. Hopefully if I win this next one my record will be pretty good, I guess, because I got a good percentage, as long as three of them don’t win three and one. I’m gonna definitely have to win this next one. This match was a start, but I can’t do anything but try to win them both.”Dennis “The Hatchetman” Hatch won his first game of the day over Johl Younger 8-4, while Earl Strickland is undefeated for the day, notching his second win over Finland’s Marko Lohtander 8-6. Corey “The Prince of Pool” Deuel won a grueling hill-hill match over Francisco Bustamante, Jason Kirkwood won a decisive victory over Rico Diks 8-3, and Rodney Morris won his second match for the day over Bobby Hunter 8-4, making his record 2-1 so far.Round 3 Group 61Group 63Group 65Group 67R. LuatV. FoldesR. MorrisL. NevelB. HunterGroup 68R. MartinezS. MooreD. AppletonC. MorrisN. FeijenGroup 69S. SambajonA. LelyL. HeuwagenA. PagulayanJ. KucharoGroup 70C. WilliamsG. OwenM. ManaloR. AlcanoS. EllerbyGroup 71M. HillT. HohmannE. StalevP. PotierS. MondayGroup 72D. MatlockM. JuvaM. ChamatN. Van den BergJ. PinegarVisit Inside POOL Magazine for the latest pool and billiard news from the North American Open 8-Ball Championship.

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