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2013 BCAPL & USAPL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
including the US Open 1 Pocket, 8-Ball and 10-Ball Championships
and the WPA World Artistic Pool Championships
Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino
3700 W. Flamingo Road
Las Vegas
Nevada 89103
USA
www.theactionreport.com -live pay-per-view video streaming
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www.riolasvegas.com

17-27 July 2013

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CSI's US Open 8-Ball Taken by Shane Van Boening

Shane Van Boening has won the US Open 8-Ball Title by defeating Carlo Biado 13-11 in the finals at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Van Boening arrived in the finals unscathed, never having been defeated on his trip through the charts.

Carlo Biado had been on a roll of his own, defeating two-time World Champion Jia-Qing Wu 8-6. but he ran into another hot hand in the form of Jayson Shaw and very quickly found himself nearly snowballed at 8-.1. The drama for Biado had only begun to unfold. His first opponent on the one-loss side was none other than his friend and respected elder player Francisco Bustamante. The two countrymen fought it out to a squeaker with Biado sliding through 8-7.

Biado then had to get past both Sean Cheng and Warren Kiamco to progress. He dispatched them both with the identical scores of 8-6. All of that work just to have to face the man who had sent him left again as he had to take on Jayson Shaw as Shaw had lost to Walter Cheng 8-2.

Shaw, who had so dominated the first meeting of the two, never had a chance to breathe. Biado got his revenge in style with an 8-2 thrashing. He then had to face Walter Cheng to see who would get the final shot at Shane Van Boening.

Many westerners are not familiar with Cheng. He is a former Taiwanese 9-Ball and 10-Ball National Champion. All week he had been making any ball he could see. As we had seen throughout the tournament the break would play a huge role in the outcome of the match. Successful break shots lead to run outs.

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When Cheng broke dry in the fourth rack Biado turned on all the burners and soon led 3-1. Biado then broke and ran the next rack to lead by three at 4-1. Cheng scratched on the next break. Biado cashed again; 5-1.

But hope was not lost for Cheng. Biado was on his way out in rack seven when he blew his shape and gave up ball in hand to Cheng. Cheng took that rack and then broke and ran the next to bring us to 5-3 for Biado.

Biado won the next to get very close to the final at 6-3. But then momentum changed chairs. Cheng broke dry the next rack but Biado could not cash the run and Cheng got the point. After a trade of break and runouts the score stood at 7-5 for Biado.

Cheng had one last chance in rack 13. Biado broke dry. Cheng ran all the way down to the last ball before the 8 ball when he left himself hooked. He was done. When he failed in his shot attempt, Biado comfortably ran out for an 8-5 win and the right to go up against Van Boening.

The finals began as a slug-fest. Biado and Van Boening traded runouts until the score was at 2-2, but Van Boening broke Biado's serve in the next rack and then had a chance to stretch his lead as it was his break. �Even though he missed his second shot attempt, Biado failed to make him pay and played a conservative safe that failed. Van Boening ran down to the last ball before the 8 and missed. Biado got out but the out was ugly. He fought his speed control and still got out to tie the match at 3 apiece.

The match then saw the players trade break and runs an incredible 14 times in a row until the score lay at 10-10. It seemed that Biado was having an easier time at the table, but Van Boening was keeping right in step with him.

In rack 21, Biado was on a roll when he drew the cue ball into the side pocket. The scratch left Van Boening with an out and he cashed it. This left Van Boening only needing a break and run to earn his first major 8-Ball title. After making a ball on the break, Van Boening shocked the crowd by missing his first shot of the run and Biado ran out to tie things againat 11-11.
Rack 23 saw the pressure get to Biado again, as he ran to a tough shot in the side pocket, which he missed. Van Boening quickly ran out to take a 12-11 lead.
Rack 24 would be the final rack, as Van Boening crushed the rack and every ball had a pocket. He gave the crown one last bit of excitement when he overran shape on the 8-ball and was left with a shot similar to the one that Biado had missed a rack earlier. After sizing up the shot, Van Boening drained in like a hanger and Van Boening dropped to his knees with relief.
A tip of the AZB Hat to CSI for their production of the three main pro events. We will be bringing you news of all other CSI events in Las Vegas, including the BCAPL National Championships and the BEF National Championships, the WPA Artistic Pool World Championships and all other events as we receive results.

Van Boening Stays on Track at US Open 8-Ball

Shane Van Boening appears unstoppable as he continues to roll through the field at the CSI-produced US Open 8-Ball Championship at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He has calmly plowed the rest of the field under and now sits in the hot seat awaiting a final foe. Van Boening has shown (once again) that he is the master of shot-making and his cue ball control this week has left him the king of any layout he finds.

It is not like he hasn't had to face the heat. He certainly did not have an easy route to the final chair. His first victim this week was the aggressive Young Gun Jesse Engel. Engel gives no quarter to anyone and did put up a grand fight but still fell 8-5. Next was Corey Deuel. You could find folks willing to assert that Van Boening could not handle the 8-Ball game of Deuel. Deuel sees patterns as well as anyone and plays a simple and effective game that lends itself to clearing 8-Ball tables with ease. Van Boening made Deuel pay for every bad roll or impotent break and sent him packing 8-4.

Then he had to take on John Morra. Morra had just done away with two World Champions. He had dumped on both Daryl Peach (8-1) and Mika Immonen (8-4). So he had nothing to fear from Van Boening. SVB rode him down like a rented mule 8-2. Ko Pin-Yi did put up a nice fight. The multi-time World Junior Champion lasted to 8-6, better than most. Warren Kiamco would be next. Kiamco is another 'quiet' player who always seems to get himself an invite to the final days of tournaments. He seems to play just a notch or two better than his opponents and can raise his game to whatever level is required to win. Not against the SD Kid. He was crumbled 8-4. Finally, Van Boening rolled over dark horse favorite Walter Cheng 8-1 after Cheng had won his way all the way out to the hot seat match with more than impressive shot-making.

Now it all comes down to a single match between Carlo Biado and Walter Cheng to determine who has to go back into the cage with Van Boening. Both men are capable of winning on any given day, but Van Boening looks way too comfortable out there to feel threatened by whomever who comes into his yard.

Both the semi-final and final matches will be broadcast by TAR. Check out the schedule and then the action at www.theactionreport.com. AZBilliards continues with live scoring and live brackets as well.

US Open 8-Ball Winding Down

With only two days left to play at the Rio in Las Vegas, the CSI US Open 8-Ball Championship only has a few men left with the hopes of claiming the title.

The winner's bracket finds Jayson Shaw facing Walter Cheng and Warren Kiamco going up against Shane Van Boening. The winners of those two matches will contest the hot seat honors.

The one-loss side has a lot of power left as 10-Ball champ Rodney Morris will battle Oscar Dominguez, Chris Bartram will take on Ko Pin-Yi, Francison Bustamante will face Carlo Biado and Sean Cheng will find Mark Haddad at the ready.

These should all be stellar match-ups and you can watch the best at www.theactionreport.com and follow all of the live scores and brackets at www.azbilliards.com.

Pros Make 8-Ball Look Easy at CSI US Open in Vegas

The top players at the US Open 8-Ball Championship make 8-Ball look like a kids game. If they make a ball on the break they run out and if they don't they sit and watch their opponents run out. Sure, sometimes the rack comes apart ugly and there is some strategy involved, but more times than not these fellows control the table with ease. They can shoot any ball in their suit and that makes it simple for them to rearrange clusters and nudge balls into position.

Those who control the cue ball with ease are always on the right side of the object ball to get to the next shot. They take care of any trouble on the table early and from there just clear the table. Perhaps more than any other game 8-Ball shows the chasm between the pros and their amateur counterparts. While the amateurs may visit the table two or three times each game the pros are usually only there once to get the job done.

It is the pros with effective breaks and often quiet confidence who are still alive on the winner's side. Today will provide some fantastic match-ups between the strong men of 8-Ball. World Champion Karl Boyes will take on Oscar Dominguez, Warren Kiamco will face Jin-Hu Dang while Sean Cheng will shoot against three-time World Junior Champion Ko Pin-Yi.

One match that could be very interesting is the one between Shane Van Boening and John Morra. Van Boening seems to be everyones favorite no matter what or whom he plays, but Morra will be ready to test him hard. Morra has already dispatched two former World Champions with ease, disposing of Daryl Peach 8-1 and Mika Immonen 8-4. To say he is playing well is the understatement of the week.

Other winner's matches include Ernesto Dominguez versus Jayson Shaw (Shaw a multi-time English Eight Ball {now known as Blackball} champion) and another World Champion, Jia-Qing Wu will face the hot hand of Carlo Biado. Walter Cheng takes on Chris Bartram and Mark Haddad will go up against scott Frost.

There are also still 32 players alive on the one-loss side of the charts. Today will eliminate most of the field so there will be lots of drama to unfold.

Rocket Launches Late, Then Soars to Victory in US Open 10-Ball

Rodney "Rocket" Morris has won the US Open 10-Ball Championship in fine style. He came into the finals facing a dominant Dennis Orcollo who had run through the brackets undefeated to claim the hot seat.

The first half of the match was all Orcollo. He ran rack after rack while Morris cooled in his chair and soon enjoyed a 9-2 lead in the race to 13 games. But then Orcollo suffered a dry break and Morris took over. From that point on Orcollo would only claim one more point while Morris kept racking up win after win. In the end Morris got to the hill at 12-10 and looked good to win easily. Then he dogged the 10 ball and Orcollo faced a shot everyone was certain he would make. But he failed in that attempt and Morris pocketed the 10 for the win.

Now we begin the US Open 8-Ball Championship. As always, follow the action on the AZB live scoring and brackets pages and watch the best matches at www.theactionreport.com.

Rodney Morris in Command of US Open 10-Ball

You hear it over and over again this week. "I have never seen anyone shoot pool like Morris this week." And it is true. Rodney Morris is littering the floor with the bodies of champions who take him on and fail miserably. This week Morris is a machine that never falters.

The trail of crumbs he has left in his wake include Lee Van Corteza (9-2), Jia Qing Wu (9-4), Dennis Grabe (9-3), John Morra (9-3), Thorsten Hohmann (9-8 ), and Marc Vidal (9-3). He has overpowered all but Hohmann with amazing ease. No shot seems too tough for him to not only take on, but master. He is now alone in the hot seat at the end of the winner's bracket and now awaits the outcome of the match between Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza to determine his final foe.

You may watch all of the action for these great semifinal and final matches at 11 Am and 2 PM PST at www.theactionreport.com

US Open 10-Ball Continues in Vegas

The CSI US Open 10-Ball Championship has eliminated the chaff from the field and the winner's side is down to only four men left standing. Today Pin Yi Ko will take on Lee Van Corteza while Wu Jia Qing faces Rodney Morris to determine the hot-seat match.

The brackets are a bit behind in this discipline due to the necessity for Orcoolo to miss his match last night in order to compete in and win the One Pocket finals. That time will be made up this morning as he will play Kenichi Uchigaki and then will take on Shane Van Boening should he win that battle.

Others left with a single bullet are Mike Dechaine who plays John Morra, Carlo Biado who faces Jonathan Pinegar, Dennis Grabe who awaits the outcome of other matches to find his foe, and Jayson Shaw who will do battle this morning with Jin-Hu Dang.

Follow the action live with TAR live streaming and live scoring and live brackets on AZBilliards.com.

US Open Ten Ball Day One

We had only just begun the US Open 10-Ball rounds last night when the lights went out due to the storm that ravaged the city for nearly an hour. Some of the opening round matches had finished but many were left in progress and will be completed this morning.

Matches of note that were able to be completed included doughnut wins by Ralf Souquet and Karl Boyes. Shane Van Boening had time to defeat Donny Mills 9-3 and Danny Olson upset Chris Bartram 9-3. Santos Sambajon sent Mark Haddad left 9-3 and John Morra handled Chris Lawson easily at 9-2. Jayson Shaw and Charlie Williams also had time to win before the darkness fell on the room.

So the 10 Ball has just begun and the real action begins this morning. We will keep you posted as to the results.

Dennis Orcollo is US Open One Pocket Champ

Dennis Orcollo won a marathon 5-hour One Pocket final against Corey Deuel 5-3 to claim the crown. In a discipline which he is still learning, Orcollo's pure shotmaking ability prevailed and enabled him to beat the odds and the field to the top.

Orcollo is a fast learner. He picked up some of the pointers on the game from Jay Helfert before the matches began and then used his powers of observation to absorb the facets he needed to win. Along the way he had to beat Corey Deuel twice as well as other experienced one-holers like Chris Bartram and Larry Nevel. Accustomed to the much faster-paced rotation games like 9-Ball and 10-Ball, Orcollo never lost patience or composure as the One Pocket matches drug out to their conclusions. He never got hurried or resorted to overly-risky moves, though he found few situations that he could not turn to an advantage. He sank numerous two-rail off-angle banks that garnered him the respect of the experienced fans watching him work his magic.

The One Pocket sessions are now over of course, but play continues here at the Rio as we are still in the middle of the 10-Ball event and the 8-Ball has yet to begin.

US Open One Pocket Day Three

The storm that roared through Las Vegas last night had 80 mph winds that knocked down power lines and blew transformers all over the city. Streets had to be closed due to flooding and the strip went briefly dark before generators took over and brought back the neon circus of the streets.

Pool is really tough to play in the dark, so games had to be halted mid-stride and now we are seeking ways to make up time. Corey Deuel was playing Dennis Orcollo for the hot seat when the games were halted. They will continue play this morning with the score of Orcollo leading 2-0 in their race to four. The winner will await the outcome of the match between the loser and Carlo Biado. Biado has worked his way through the brackets playing a most unorthodox style. Early in the matches he fires at everything, results be damned. When it works and his object balls fall away it gives him a nice early lead and tends to shake his opponents composure. But if he falls behind he shows that he also has a very nice touch with the cue ball that generates in-jail safeties for his foes. His last opponent, Scott Frost, had seemed to be the most comfortable man in the room at this pocket apiece form but even he could not fade the shotmaking heat of the young Filipino and fell 3-2 to the young sharpshooter.

The One Pocket will finish up today but at this hour we cannot predict when as schedules will need to be adjusted due to the time we lost last evening. They were intended to be played at @ PM PST time and we may able to still accomplish that so if you wish to see the finals tune in to the TAR site at that time.

US Open One Pocket Day Two

The penultimate day of the US Open One Pocket Championships by CSI found some heavy timber crashing to the ground. John Schmidt found no grace from Jeremy Jones and was eliminated 3-0. Brandon Shuff found the same fate at the hands of Jose Parica. Charlie Williams was tossed aside 3-0 by Warren Kiamco. Jeremy Jones, after handling Schmidt so easily, was cast out 3-2 by Ike Runnels.

Darren Appleton was defeated and sent home by Shane Van Boening 3-1 and in the very next round Van Boening was eliminated 3-2 by Scott Frost. Frost, who is shooting some remarkable One Pocket, then defeated Larry Nevel 3-0 and did so in less than thirty minutes. Frost, who won this event in 2005, is the only previous winner of the event who is still in contention. Frost had been sent left by Francisco Bustamante 4-3 after Bustamante ran out the final rack in most impressive fashion. Twice in the rack Bustamante gutted it up and took very risky and courageous shots, once avoiding what would have been a game-ending collision by a hairs breadth. Frost could not complain about being beaten by that brave style.

Jose Parica was eliminated 3-2 by Justin Hall. Hall continued his winning ways against Joey Gray 3-2 and is very quietly moving to the ends of the bracket.

The early One-Loss matches today feature Carlo Biado against Justin Hall and Scott Frost versus Ike Runnels. Chris Bartram and Francisco Bustamante will take on the winners of those matches.

Over on the winner's side, where the sun is still shining brightly, there are only two smiling faces left. Corey Deuel will face Dennis Orcollo for the hot seat. Deuel and Orcollo have a common trait. Neither of them ever seems overly concerned about any of the myriad of situations that come up on a One Pocket table. Very calmly they survey the table and then, when they take action, it is always the correct one. This match is one worth watching and it will be on the TAR live stream Friday at 4 PM PST. The semi-finals and finals will also be streamed on Saturday beginning at 2 PM.

You may follow all the action at the AZB Live Scoring page as well as on the AZB brackets page.

Day One Of US Open One Pocket in the Books

Sixty-four top one-holers began their clash in Vegas on Wednesday at the CSI-produced US Open One Pocket Championship at the Rio Hotel and Casino.

The competition is a race to four games on the winner's side and a race to three for the one-loss bracket. This can be a very frustrating discipline for players unaccustomed to the deliberate pace this game incurs. When the rapid-fire Earl Strickland had to endure a match with Bernie Pettipiece that went for over three hours only to lose 4-3 he reacted and had words for slow play that were anything but praiseworthy. Strickland had been put off of his game by the pace and in the hill-hill match missed a cut that he would normally own and that missed shot cost him the match.

Strickland was not the only giant to fall in the first round. World number one Darren Appleton found himself on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline with Justin Hall and moved left early. No huge surprise there, however, as Justin Hall seems to find friendship with the rails on any table. He is a superb banker and his cue ball control is nothing short of amazing.

Jeremy Jones did not have a good day. After disagreeing with two decisions in the game by the tournament directors he unscrewed his stick and left the arena. He felt the decisions favored his opponent, Shane Van Boening, and left the arena saying that this was the "Shane Van Boening" tournament. Sometimes calls go your way, sometimes they do not.

Scott Frost is reveling in this, his favorite medium. He completely dominated Ronnie Wiseman 4-1 in the opening round, a match that should have been tough, and then wiped out Junior Tolentino 4-0. Frost must face Francisco Bustamante in the first round on Thursday. Carlo Biado, who just won the Hard Times event last week, is enjoying his week thus far. He destroyed young gun Brandon Shuff 4-1 and looks as comfortable at One Pocket as he does in the rotation games.

Mika Immonen does not offer himself up as a One Pocket champion. His specialties are the rotation games as well, but he was looking sharp as his shot-making skills can allow him to prevail over most, whether he knows the 'moves' or not. But all that changed when he faced Ike Runnels, a One Pocket veteran. Ike took him down 4-2 and today faces another toughie in the form of Corey Deuel.

Charlie Williams arrived at the Rio only moments before his first match but the rush did not seem to bother him. He calmly destroyed two opponents by the identical scores of 4-1 and never appeared uncomfortable at the tables. Thursday will find him against Bernie Pettipiece who, after his defeat of Strickland, has no fear of taking on the giants.

Play continues today and you can follow all of the action on the AZB live scoring page and you can watch all of the headline match-ups on TAR.

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