Morris Getting Closer to the Goal in Billiards

Morris Getting Closer to the Goal in Billiards“Rocket” Rodney Morris sailed through the third round, defeating Corey Deuel 8-3. He is the only player left in Saturday’s rounds to remain undefeated. Up against Deuel, who was the only player to defeat Morris in yesterday’s rounds, Morris had five break and run-outs in his race to 8, playing fast and loose—his trademark. Though Deuel played well also, he had a couple of problems with his break, while Morris made at least one ball almost every time. Up 3-1, he pocketed four balls on the break and then asked, “Are there any left?” as he went to retrieve his playing cue.IPT World Open 8-Ball Championship ForumsVisit the IPT World Open 8-Ball Championship Image GalleryAlways playing to the crowd, Morris hooked himself for his last solid while up 4-2 and yelled, “Like Efren!” as he elevated his cue to go around the blocking ball. Deuel won that rack when Morris failed to pocket his 2 ball, but when Deuel hooked himself with only two stripes left in the following rack, Morris cleaned up and then broke and ran the last three racks to win 8-3.
Before his match began, Morris was one-stroking through some racks for practice. “Just loosening up my stroke. Just so I don’t get into a mode where I’m bunting the balls. Because when you start bunting the balls, you’re not letting your stroke out, and you start getting tentative, and that’s not a good tendency.”Regarding the metal bracelet he wears on his left wrist, he explained, “I was golfing, and I hurt my wrist, hitting the ground with the golf club,. I was having some pain in my bones. Basically it’s just to help the pain, you know, the magnet theory? It really works. I haven’t had any pain in my wrist since. It’s not immediate, but within a couple days, I didn’t have pain, and I don’t have it any more.”With three wins and no losses, does he like his chances from here? “I’m loving myself. I’m licking myself right about now.” (And no, that is not a typo.)The only other player who comes close to Morris’s impressive record for the day is Efren Reyes, with two wins and one loss. The other four players each have one win. Reyes just met Immonen in the third round and delivered an 8-3 trouncing, including four break and run-outs. Oliver Ortmann scored his first win of the day so far, defeating Dennis Orcollo 8-4 on the TV table.Ortmann summed up his day so far afterward. “I was playing Dennis Orcollo and won eight-four, so I felt quite comfortable. I was a little unlucky against Corey in the first match—six-one up, and then the table rolled off, and I lost the match eight-seven. Rodney played great against me, I couldn’t do anything, the break didn’t work out. Now I played better against Dennis, the break worked out pretty well, so that a good win. Important.“Maybe there’s still a chance to get to the finals. I mean, Rodney is almost through. If I beat Efren and Mika, it depends maybe on the percentage. I’ll just go my way and try to win and see how it works out.”Quick LinksPlayer StatsPrize Money Breakdown Round 6 GROUP 82R. MorrisM. ImmonenO. OrtmannC. DeuelD. OrcolloE. Reyes

Pool Balls and Billiard Balls at LOW PRICES!!!

About the Author:
Inside Pool Magazine publishes billiard news. Definitive Synergy creates pool and billiard management software.