By David Thomson
Source: AZBilliards.com
LIVE from the Horseshoe Southern Indiana Resort and Casino, Elizabeth, IN
Diamond Derby City Classic XVII: 9-Ball Division: FINALS
Alex Pagulayan will go down in the annals of history as the first player to have won all 3 DCC disciplines and Master of the Table honors. A true career DCC Grand Slam.
Alex had won the One Pocket Championship, got close in Banks and even closer-to the finals no less-in 9-Ball. For his efforts he was awarded pool's biggest payday, $44,650, courtesy of Diamond Billiards Products, the promotor of this, the 17th annual Derby City Classic.
"If I won, I promised my kids I'd go see them in Hawaii." His eyes were off in the distance. You could see he was imagining being with them.
Then he switched gears; he was back in the moment. "Gad, I got so close." he sighed. The 120 pound, little ball of firepower had wanted it all.
After losing to Mika Immonen in the first round, Alex had battled back, with only one life-no more buy-back-to arrive at the Finals with the unbeaten Warren Kiamco, The way Alex performed, under pressure, he looked like he could have had it all. Warren felt it too.
When Alex was at the table, you could see the intensity in his eyes as, after every break, he searched the table for the one-ball.
Alex handily won the first set with Warren, 9-4, closing it out with a 3-pack.
Warren went buy-back. The mid 40's Filipino hadn't gotten to the finals since Galveston in 2009. He wanted this one badly. The crowd knew he was capable. He had just gone 13 rounds, unbeaten, with wins that included Efren and Carlo Biado...both champions.
Re-entering the Arena, Warren, usually stoic, had a fierce look of determination. He won the lag and reciprocated by opening the second set with a 3-pack of his own.
Alex got 2 more-it should have been 3 but he miscued. Warren punished him with another 2.
Soon, Warren was on the hill and, with only 4 games, it looked like Alex, the little engine that could, finally, couldn't.
After 9-days of the most gruelling competition in cuesports, Alex, it seemed, had run out of steam. We could feel his dismay when he missed even a difficult shot that he felt he should have made. Despondent, he would walk wearily to his seat.
Running out the case game, and the title so close, Kiamco succumbed to an obvious scratch.
Alex was out of his seat. The fire was back in his eyes. He ran the remainder of the rack: 8-5. Snap! 8-6. He ran another one: 8-7. Darn it! Dry break.
Warren, with even more pressure on him now, got out of line and left a ball hanging in the hole: Alex couldn't believe it, another chance. Surprisingly, he hooked himself.
Back and forth, they countered, until Kiamco, unwittingly, had left himself a 7-9 combo, The balls weren't so far apart but, he had to use the Filipino least favorite weapon of choice, the bridge. They'd rather stretch the length of the table than use it.
Warily, Warren took to the table. Cautiously, stroking back and forth, he let the arrow loose. Slowly, the 9 rolled into the pocket.
Kiamco collapsed on the table. It was over. Warren was sprawled there for what seemed an eternity. Alex ran over to genuinely congratulate his fellow Filipino friend, "Just checking that he hadn't fainted," he joked later.
Warren was ecstatic, even uncharacteristically effusive. "Have you any idea how difficult Derby City is to win? Over 300 players, and never knowing exactly when, or who, you are going to play until you see the draw," he related, his voice full of excitement. "I'm so happy to have survived."
After 9 days of brutal combat, there are others who deserve mention here, too.
Jeremy Sossei, a very capable Connecticut 9-Ball player, had sneaked quietly through the ranks all the way to meet Alex Lely in a bout to see would face Kiamco, Both Sossei and the World Pool Master and EuroTour 8 & 9-Ball Champion had only one life. One of them had to go.
Alex, these days, is more of a coach than a competitor. As the current instructor to the Nederlands' team, some of whom were in attendance, he outlasted all of them. And, to his credit, "walked the talk" as he dismissed Van Boening allowing him only to 5.
Jeremy wasn't intimidated at all. Still pumped up from his recent runner-up finish at Turning Stone and, incidentally, he also had had a 4th in DCC 2010, he attacked the table allowing Lely little opportunity. "After the break, everything just went my way," he reported, humbly."
Alex was happy with his fourth place finish. "When Jeremy had me in the seat for so long, that's when I realized how exhausted I really was." Welcome to Derby City.
Jeremy had earned that berth in the formidable Accu-Stats Arena. The bright lights posed additional intimidation for his encounter with the unbeaten legend, Kiamco.
Sossei got to 5. "My safety play let me down but, you can be assured that I'll be back next year. I really think I can pull a win out of here. Besides, I want my picture on the winner's wall along with my buddy Ginky," he laughed. The late George "Ginky" SanSouci won the DCC 9-Ball in the its second outing in 1999.
By mid-afternoon, Efren, thanks to Kiamco, was done and Brumback was gone, too.
It was then apparent that Alex's lead in All Around Champion points was insurmountable.
You might think that Alex would relax, feeling secure with his additional $20,000 in cash. It was then that he drew Dennis: Onward to the Accu-Stats Arena.
As this was not a full TV production match. It was available only to the arena and Internet Pay-per-View audience. Jim Fredricks, owner Pat Fleming's right-hand man, would handle the camera switching, remotely, back at Accu-Stats' world headquarters.
The reason being, how many hours do you think the Accu-crew can log? Or, should that be slog?
Down to three players; Alex, Jeremy, and Warren Kiamco-still with a buy-back, means that there are, potentially, four more matches. The crew had to conserve energy in case they had to pull an all-nighter.
'Tis a pity that there won't DVD on this one. Alex and Dennis really had the room on a hook. Back and forth the score mounted until Alex, again, coming from behind, clawed to hill-hill: Another dry break.
Dennis faced an awkward one-ball and, compounded by difficult position for the 2, it jawed. Alex, never a doubt running out, had escaped another one. With his hill-hill loss, Dennis exited the building.
Pagulayan drew a bye and awaited the previously reported winner from the Sossei/Kimaco encounter.
What an event. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world. History was made, money was made, and it's memories are forever.
Founder Greg Sullivan's dream, of pool evolving from a game to a sport, has truly become a reality: The DCC is a staple embedded in Pro Pool consciousness, forever. He candidly deserves his coveted, Pool In Action Award, received earlier in the week from One-Pocket Hall of Fame.
Diamond VP, Chad Scharlow, is also worthy of honorable mention; In their busiest weeks of the year, Chad still has to handle the day-to-day running of Diamond compounded with the logistics of coordinating 9 days of Murphy's Law. And, you can bet your bottom dollar that, on Sunday, he'll be out their with a drill, dismantling tables along with the crew.
The Master of the Table awarded 2nd highest point winner Efren Reyes, $3,000, and John Brumback, $2,000 for 3rd.
Shannon Daulton: Banks winner, $10,000.
Warren Kiamco, $16,000, 9-Ball.
Shane Van Boening: $16,000, Diamond BIG Foot Challenge.
The Derby City Classic continues to gain prestigious, worldwide respect as pool's most arduous and punishing competitive arena. Where else can you guarantee an encounter with BIG Foot and Cyclop?
Kudo's to the Russian Pool Federation for creating a DCC qualifier event. The winner is awarded a free trip plus, entry into the Bank, 1-Pocket, and 9-ball divisions. Diamond congratulates this year's entrant, 16 year old, Maxim Dudanets. What an education he got!
But wait, there's more: The Dutch have a copy-cat, tribute event in Deurne City, Nederlands; The DC Classic. It doesn't quite last 9-days, only a long weekend. It will.
AZ would, sincerely, like to extend it's thanks to those you don't see: BADBOYS (and girl) Bonnie and Ric, Tourney officials Bret Baker and Bill Stock, and last but not least, Diamond Mike Smith. Without y'alls help, this editorial series would be severely lacking "Juice."
The George Fels Memorial Straight Pool Challenge: Semi Finals
1st: Ruslan Chinakhov - 125, $4000,
2nd: Jayson Shaw - 50, $2,500 (plus $1000 for his 227 high run bonus.
Diamond Billiards Products thanks Dennis Walsh, Bill Maropulis, and the scorekeepers that contributed to the success of the event. (The entrants doubled this year!)
Greg Sullivan acknowledged, "These guys worked as hard as anyone this week, and without them, there would be no 14.1 event."
They're will be a more complete report by AZ's own Jerry Forsyth in the days to come.
Diamond thanks its sponsors: The Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Cyclop Balls, Simonis Cloth, BCA Pool League, and BadBoys Billiard Productions.
Accu-Stats thanks its Arena Sponsors: Simonis Cloth, Cyclop Balls, OB Cues, Cue and Case, MEZZ Cues, Samsara Cues, and National Billiard Academy.