Harrah's Tunica
13615 Old Highway 61 North
Robinsonville
Mississippi
USA
www.accu-stats.com - LIVE PPV streaming video
www.southernclassictournament.com
www.harrahstunica.com
www.mediumpool.com
20-28 July 2012
Photography ©David Thomson mediumpool.com
9-Ball Pool Division: The tale of Alex and Johnny!
150 plus, 9-Ball players attended the inaugural Diamond Southern Classic at Harrah's Hotel and Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.
And, then there were six.
Shane Van Boening had just lost to Filipino Dennis Orcollo only to buy back and, with the luck of the re-draw, faced him again. This time, Shane won.
Johnny Archer, at 7-4, eliminated Canadian John Morra, Shane Van Boening sent Warren Kiamco to the re-buy booth, then Archer sent Kiamco back to the Philliipines.
Then there were three. Shane in a great come-from-behind performance, got 5-6 and left Alex safe. Alex jumped the ball, ran out, and Shane was on his way back to South Dakota. That left 10-Ball finalists, Alex and Johnny.
Simultaneously, during the Southern Classic event, the Diamond 10-Ball Championship was in progress. The competition, held on the new Diamond, one piece slate, 10 foot table is a monster. And, as creator Greg Sullivan says. "10-Ball on a ten foot, is the true test to determine who is the champion."
Previously, last night, at 14-14 in the race to 15 finals, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan faced Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer who had just fouled. Alex now had ball in hand. He had been ahead 14-12 and had sweated that elusive, last game.
"I'm so nervous," he announced, "I have to go go to the bathroom." Not only that, he and Johnny had been at the table for over 3 hours without a break.
Alex returned to the Accu-Stats Arena, took a leisurely stroll around the 50 square foot table, steadied his stroke and, with the true heart of a LION, ran the rack to pocket $12,000. Johnny got 7 for second.
Now, in the 9-Ball finals he had a 6-1 lead. Johnny, never a quitter, nipped and ducked and, at 3-6, broke and ran the next three racks.... cont.
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Now, it was hill hill; a replay of the 10-Ball finals. Johnny broke, made a ball and, with no shot on the one, had to push out. Alex made him play it. Johnny, with calculated risk, kicked at it but left it straight in.
Alex did what he always does when a player has clawed his way hill hill: He went to the bathroom! All he had to do now was maintain the same composure that had won him 10-Ball event.
8 balls later, it was over and Alex was $11,800 richer and the Diamond Southern Classic 9-Ball Champion.
This tournament proved that, this week, the two best rotation game players were, unquestionably, Alex and Johnny.
The best Bank and One Pocket player was Justin Hall who pocketed $12,600 for his two titles plus, actually more than was previously estimated, $20,000 for Master of the Table title.
That's a tasty $32,600. Not bad for a week's work. And, as Justin graciously stated when collecting the cash, "If I can win it, anyone can."
See you here next year?
If you missed any of this jaw dropping, ball busting event, you can get all the instant replays you want when the Accu-Stats' DVD Series comes available, that is, after the upcoming Accu-Stats 8-Ball Invitational.
Held Aug, 9-12, in the Simonis Arena at Sandcastle Billiards in Edison NJ, the 6 man, round-robin 8-Ball event has Efren Reyes, Shane van Boening, Darren Appleton, Corey Deuel and, you guessed it, Alex and Johnny!
And, this just in! It's also on the 10 foot Diamond.
Visit accu-stats.com for more.
ONE-POCKET DIVISION
Photography ©David Thomson mediumpool.com
1-P Pool Division: The further adventures of Justin!
It's a fact; young Justin Hall has no fear. Nor has Ryan Stone, his opponent in the finals of the Diamond Southern Classic One Pocket finals.
Young punk one pocket, that's what it is -- of course that is meant in the most complimentary of ways. These kids have no fear for the difficulty of the discipline or, for their elders, like Scott Frost or Shannon Daulton who had weaned them on the moves and strategies of power one pocket.
In the semi's #1, at 2 games to zero and 7 balls to 3 against Dayton, Ohio's Ryan Stone, Shannon Daulton's ball skidded and slid past the hole as he was about to be guaranteed his spot in the Finals.
Ryan ran the rest of that rack and, with newfound confidence, and amazing "moving" and shotmaking, literally turned the tables on Shannon to overthrow the king at 3-2.
Fortunately Shannon, who was undefeated until then, got to buy back into the tournament and now faced Justin Hall in the Semi's #2.
Justin, playing out of Tampa, Florida, was on a roll. He was shooting better than he ever had. After losing to Alex Pagulayan the last 5 times they had competed, he had finally beaten him to take the Banks division title.
If Justin now won the One Pocket, he was guaranteed the Master of the Table, i.e., all around champion, additional cash bonus - probably, around $8-10,000. He imagined the emotional state that Shannon must be in after losing a match that was supposed to be his. Hall figured all he had to do was fire at him with the same irrepressible power that had gotten him to the semi's in the first place.
And, that he did. Now there were two, relatively unknown finalists being broadcast all over the world via the Accu-Stats pay-per-view. They're not unknown any more. The downside? Now, they need to give more weight!
And, it was incredible to watch. Justin and Ryan, both mid 20's playing the best "one hole" in there lives. At 3-1, and 2 first place titles, Justin secured that coveted Master of the Table title. and he hasn't even played a match in his best game, the 9-Ball division.
Fortunately, if you missed the Pay-per-View, you see for yourself when the Accu-Stats delivers the Southern Classic DVD series.
Or, soon the ESPN Star Sports audience of 26 countries in Asia will get to see it on their HD TV sets.
On Friday, the 27th, it's 10 Ball on the new Diamond ten foot table -- all day. Strickland, Pagulayan, and Archer are battling at press time for the opportunity to strut their stuff in the Accu-Stats Arena.
On Saturday, it's all about 9-Ball and, and just maybe, young Justin will make it there, too.
Don't miss it: accu-stats.com
9 BALL BANKS DIVISION
Photography ©David Thomson mediumpool.com
9-Ball Bank Pool Division: Justin Hall keeps Alex in his seat.
In the race-to-3 Banks Division finals, American underdog Justin Hall was down 2 games to zero against odds-on-favorite, Filipino Alex Pagulayan.
At 4-4 in the 3rd game each player needed one ball--Alex for the title: For Justin, it was either do or die.
He did! Still down 1-2, Justin then broke and ran the 4th rack to tie it 2-2. He then cracked the rack that would decide the Title and ran 3 more; That's potting 9 balls in a row... In Bank Pool! Try that at home folks!
After back and forth safety play in the 5th, Alex had mustered 2 when he rattled a short rail double. "Well, I went for it," he muttered. Justin went for it, too. Staying totally composed, he nailed the last 2 and the title!
Congrats to Justin Hall for his win in the first exciting Southern Classic Banks Finals.
Accu-Stats "LIVE" Pay-per-View of the Diamond Southern Classic
by David Thomson, Medium Pool
The Accu-Stats' production suite is in full focus as its hi-def cameras begin the "LIVE" Internet broadcast of the 9 day, Diamond Southern Classic, Friday, July 20.
It's the same format as the Diamond Derby City Classic featuring 9-Ball, Banks, 1-Pocket and, 10-Ball only this time with a twist - it's on the new 10 foot Diamond table!
Sponsored by Simonis Cloth, Aramith Balls, Mezz Cues, OB Cues, Kamui Tips, and CSI, the multi-discipline action continues thru Saturday, the 28th with all day Friday, the 27th, being dedicated to the ten foot 10-Ball.
Can't be there to see the world's greatest vie for the highly valued prize of Master of the Table? Don't miss a stroke as Accu-Stats' 4 camera edit delivers every deadly blow, with graphic instant replays, to the comfort of your laptop.
Shane Van Boening was observed practicing in full mettle combat. Can he perform as he has in the last two Diamond Derby City Classics? And, if he does capture the Master of the Table title, again, could that be considered a 3-peat?
Strickland, Pagulayan, Orcollo, Deuel, etc., are all in attendance. Looks like it's gonna be a bloodbath.
The LIVE, Pay-Per-View, Early Bird passes are now available for the remaining eight days of action. Regular Price is $79.60 - Early Bird Price is $67.95. Smaller packages will become available as the event progresses.
Or, you can view as you please for $9.95 per day.
Accu-Stats Media Productions will produce the event for broadcast by ESPN Star Sports to it's footprint of 26 countries in Asia. And, as always, an Accu-Stats Tournament Match DVD series will be forthcoming.
Thursday, July 19th
Late sign-ups (if fields are not full) 4 pm-10 pm
Practice time for 9-Ball Bank players 5 pm-12 am
Tables available for rental 12 am-7 am
Friday, July 20th
Tournament Room clean-up (no admittance) 7 am-9 am
Practice time for 9-Ball Bank players 9 am-10 am
Players meeting 12 pm
9-BALL BANK DRAW Immediately Following Players Meeting
Play begins (9-Ball Bank) 1 pm
9-Ball Bank match play continues 5 pm-12 am
Tables available for rental 12 am-7 am
Saturday, July 21st
Tournament Room clean-up (no admittance) 7 am-9 am
Practice time for 9-Ball Bank players 9 am-10 am
9-Ball Bank match play resumes 10 am-5 pm
9-Ball Bank match play continues 5 pm-12 am
Tables available for rental 12 am-7 am
Sunday, July 22nd
Tournament Room clean-up (no admittance) 7 am-9 am
Practice time for 9-Ball Bank & One Pocket players 9 am-10 am
Players Meeting (One Pocket) 12 pm
ONE-POCKET DRAW Immediately Following Players Meeting
9-Ball Bank match play resumes 10 am-5 pm
Play begins (One Pocket) 1 pm
One-Pocket match play continues 5 pm-12 am
Tables available for rental 12 am-7 am
Monday, July 23rd
Tournament Room clean-up (no admittance) 7 am-9 am
Practice time for One Pocket players 9 am-10 am
One-Pocket match play resumes 10 am-5 pm
Semi-Finals (9-Ball Bank) 7 pm
One-Pocket match play continues 5 pm-12 am
Finals (9-Ball Bank) 9 pm
Tables available for rental 12 am-7 am
Tuesday, July 24th
Tournament Room clean-up (no admittance) 7 am-9 am
Practice time for One Pocket players 9 am-10 am
One-Pocket match play resumes 11 am-5 pm
One-Pocket match play continues 7 pm-12 am
Tables available for rental 12 am-7 am
Wednesday, July 25th
Tournament Room clean-up (no admittance) 7 am-9 am
Practice time for One Pocket & 9-Ball players 9 am-10 am
Players meeting 12 pm
9-BALL DRAW Immediately Following Players Meeting
One-Pocket match play resumes 11 am-5 pm
Play begins (9-Ball) 1 pm
9-Ball match play continues 7 pm-12 am
Tables available for rental 12 am-7 am
Thursday, July 26th
Tournament Room clean-up (no admittance) 7 am-9 am
Practice time for 9-Ball players 9 am-10 am
9-Ball match play resumes 10 am-5 pm
Semi-Finals (One-Pocket) 7:00 pm
9-Ball match play continues 5 pm-12 am
Finals (One-Pocket) 9 pm
Tables available for rental 12 am-7 am
Friday, July 27th
Tournament Room clean-up (no admittance) 7 am-9 am
Practice time for 9-Ball players 9 am-10 am
9-Ball match play resumes 10 am-5 pm
9-Ball match play continues 5 pm-12 am
Tables available for rental 12 am-7 am
Saturday, July 28th
Tournament Room clean-up (no admittance) 7 am-9 am
Practice time for 9-Ball players 9 am-10 am
9-Ball match play resumes 10 am-3 pm
Semi-Finals (9-Ball) 7 pm
Finals (9-Ball) 9 pm
Thank Yous 10 pm
Awards Ceremony
(9-Ball Bank, One-Pocket, 9-Ball
& All Around Champions) 10:30 pm
Tables available for rental 12 am-7 am
2012 CSI Tunica Open
8-Ball
Friday Sunday
July 20-22
Start Times: 3 pm Friday
Entry: $50
Registration Fee: $15
Late Fee: $10
Late onsite registration after 12 noon first day of event
9-Ball
Monday Wednesday
July 23-25
Start Time: 3 pm Monday
Entry: $50
Registration Fee: $15
Late Fee: $10
Late onsite registration after 12 noon first day of event
Divisions both in 8-Ball and 9-Ball
Mens Open: $3000 Guaranteed 1st Place in each game with 64 players
Mens Senior (age 55+): $1,000 Guaranteed 1st Place in each game with 32 players
Womens Open: $500 Guaranteed 1st Place in each game with 16 players
Both 8 and 9-Ball Junior Divisions with 8 players (FREE ENTRY)
Juniors to win prizes from CSI and entry to BEF Jr. National Championships
Entry Discount with CSI Player Membership or BCAPL or USAPL Current League Membership
Register Online for the above CSI events at www.ctsondemand.com