The US Open billiards Tournament Reaches the Final Dayby Rick DavisDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/)Getting to the wire, each of the three evening rounds featured elimination matches until the final four were determined. In the seven o’clock round Gabica ousted Wiley 11-6, with Schmidt doing the same to Alcano 11-8 just after 90 minutes of play. The other matches in the round saw Immonen defeat Bryant 11-7, while in the TV table Appleton coasted past Troy Frank 11-6 just past the two-hour mark.

Saturday Afternoon at the U.S. Open ChampionshipBy Rick Davis, InsidePOOL StaffDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/)

Wiley Slams Strickland at U.S. Open Billiard Championshipby Rick DavisDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/) Seven o’clock saw some grinders on each side of the chart as everyone tried to reach towards one more round. The notable match on the one-loss side was Tony Robles defeat over Mike Davis 11-7. On the winners’ side Charles Bryant sent Trevor Braymore west by a 11-8 margin while Rodolfo Luat did one rack better defeating Darren Appleton 11-7.

Marathon billiards Match Ends Day Four; 72 Players Remainby Rick DavisDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/) A new gauntlet is set as each round brings the players higher into the payout. Of course, some players just can’t stand the sunlight, as the 11 a.m. round saw Steve Moore skip ahead when his opponent, Justin Cone, failed to appear for their match. Meanwhile, Scott The Freezer Frost made his match by about 30 seconds as he was buttoning his shirt as he walked to the table and it appeared that getting in no warm-up time hurt him—he looked to be out of stroke as Brian Parks controlled the match until the 11-4 finish.

Deuel Comes From Behind to Defeat Archerby Rick DavisDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/)Deuel commented, “I started slow and wasn’t playing that well. I was up late, my wake-up call didn’t go off, so I was all stiff when I came down. I felt good … I haven’t felt that good in a while. I didn’t hit a ball since Reno, and the cloth here is quick. You gotta slow-roll your balls here, as opposed to the IPT, where you gotta hit ’em.”

Upsets and Exciting Matches End Day ThreeDay Five Becomes the Moment of Truthby Rick DavisDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/)With the afternoon round of Day 5 weeding out the one-loss side, tonight’s matches will be do or die for the seeds already on the one-loss side, while those who remain on the winners’ side will begin to face each other.

Moore Upsets Defending billiards Championby Rick DavisDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/)Moore said, “It was shady for both of us—he scratched on the break four times, and that kept me in the match, even though he had a two-game lead on me until it was eight-seven and I finally took the lead.” With Moore’s final break he snapped in the 9 ball for the win as the crowd burst into applause. Moore noted, “I knew I had a chance, and it’s sweet when it goes on the break. Whenever you get the break on the hill you have to feel like you’re gonna win the game. All you need is a ball and the shot … luckily for me it was the nine that went in.”

Wednesday’s billiards Rounds Moving Slowly Alongby Rick DavisDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/)

Seeds Begin to Wash Awayby Rick DavisDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/)

Forfeits and Long Matches Open Day 2 at the U.S. Open 9-ball Championshipby Rick DavisDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/)Again all the seeded players came through strong, even though many seemed to be adjusting to the tables. Raj Hundal defeated John Morra 11-9 and commented on his match afterwards. He said, “I played okay, the first match out of the gate is always tough. I’ve never seen that kid before, but damn, he plays good. None of us played great, I played better than him, I think I moved better, which won me the match. I beat him in the safety and kicking exchange.” Another seeded favorite was Jeremy Jones who, after defeating Antonio Gabica 11-4, simply said, “I started off real good, didn’t make any mistakes. I was up six-one then made a couple mistakes, but overall I played pretty well.”

Top billiards Seeds Move Forward as Monday’s Evening Rounds Unfoldby Rick Davis, InsidePOOL StaffDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/)

U.S. Open 9-ball Championship Kicks Offby Rick Davis, InsidePOOL StaffDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/)

31st U.S. Open Beginsby Rick Davis, InsidePOOL StaffDiscuss the U.S. Open 9-ball Championship (/forums/index.php)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships image gallery (/pool_billiard_photos/index.php?cat=17)U.S. Open 9-ball Championships Tournament Brackets (/u.s.-open-9-ball-championships-tournament-brackets/content/view/3923/106/)

Lion Mauls Bear in TorontoAlex “The Lion” Pagulayan moved undefeated through the field to claim the first stop on the Stan James Canadian Nine ball Tour. The defending US Open and former World Nine ball Champion displayed not only the skill but also the personality that has made him a worldwide fan favorite, putting on impromptu trick-shot displays between matches and clowning with the crowd.Pagulayan’s journey was not without bumps. His first opponent, Jason Klatt, took him all the way to double-hill in the race-to-nine format before Pagulayan could take the win. In fact, Pagulayan may have faced the toughest trail of any other player. After the struggle with Klatt he had to overcome the always-tough John Morra and still get by the eventual fifth and third-place winners (Jody Matheson and Felix Beardy) before being challenged by our runner-up, Alain Martel, for the championship.

Stan James Canadian Billiard TourDefending US Open Champion Alex Pagulayan survived a first-round hill-hill billiards match against Jason Klatt to remain on the winner’s side and then cruised past Ed Reyes and John Morra to remain unbeaten on day one of the Stan James Canadian Nine ball Tour at Bigwigs billiards in Newmarket, Ontario.Alex is joined by Felix Beardy, Luc Salvas, Alain Martel, Erik Hjorleifson, Peter Kippie, Raymond Cruz and Jody Matheson on the unbeaten side beginning Sunday morning. There are also eight players left with a somewhat longer road to travel on the one-loss side of the charts. These eight, all in the money now, are Ed Galati, John Morra, John Jorgenson, Bill Lockerby, George Cornelius, Lester Mianskum, Mario Morra and Jason Klatt.