Page 56 - Tavern Players - Summer Issue 2022

Pocket Billiards
Champion Albin Ouschan branded Shuff.
Albin was soon forced to buy-back by Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and then later eliminated by Polish Champion Konrad Juszczyszyn.
And lastly, an upset: Marc Vidal Claramunt sent Mosconi Cup MVP Skylar Woodward flying to the buy- back booth to be later flown home by Mieszko Fortunski.
THE DERBY SYNDROME
In our sport’s nine most grueling days – and nights – of limited sleep; catching naps while standing; snacking on nutrition-less junk, jousting non-stop from one discipline to the next, it’s a wonder some of these guys are alive.
It was around round 10 when Shane Van Boening drew the competitor who, having played more matches than anyone, showed the creeping signs of the event’s fateful fatigue. Fedor Gorst’s pinpoint position, which had held him in such good stead all week, finally failed him.
NOTE: Jayson Shaw was runner- up in Bank Pool and tied for 6th in One-Pocket. Had he won the 9-Ball, with Fedor’s stumble at 17th in the event, Jason would have stolen the All-Around title: Alas, in the following round’s reshuffle, Shaw’s drew his
current nemesis, Joshua Filler. Jayson finished a very respectable 5th. And 3rd in the All Around.
When Filler sent Mezz’s Mario He to buy-back, he drew Roland Garcia, the last player with two lives.
Mario was truly motivated, got straight into power mode, and delivered a 9-0 molestation of Garcia.
Ruiz and Garcia battled gallantly. At around 6 apiece, Ruiz held his mettle to the pedal to drive away Garcia at 9-6 with a tasty .888, TPA.
THE FINALS
It’s Spain vs. Germany as Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and Joshua Filler earned their right to fight for one of
Garcia got to buy-back, drew Mario again, who returned the compliment... well not quite, but enough to retire Mario at 4th while he slipped into the top three.
Then the re-draw put Roland opposite Ruiz while Filler got promoted to the finals, and a guaranteed 2nd.
pool’s most prestigious titles.
Ruiz was ready. When he consolidated
his lead from 4-2 to 5-2, one could sense a shift.
The transformation of Ruiz from cautious, almost timid on his opening day on BIG Foot, to speed skater on
steroids was impressive.
He sped around the Diamond to
close rack after rack. His break was working. He hadn’t missed a makable ball. He had made shots that were thought to be safe that Joshua, always a sportsman,
applauded,
Soon he was 7-3 possessing
an Accu-Stats Total Performance Average (TPA) of .953; totally world- class. He broke and comfortably
ran out; It’s 8-3.
Una mas, una mas.
He smacked the rack – Oh, oh: Non-complaint. Joshua shot from his seat. Luckily, for Francisco, there was no open shot. Joshua ducked. Safeties ensued, now
they were favoring Francisco. Joshua’s failed endeavor with the bridge left Francisco a long, straight shot on the far-away 3. With a title on the line, we all know how intimidating
that can be.
Bullseye: He was off and
running...out! And, the Derby got its
56 / SUMMER 2022
www.tavernplayersmagazine.com
• $16,000 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz
• $8,000 Joshua Filler
• $5,800 Roland Garcia
• $3,600 Mario He.