Reyes Captures Fifth Derby City Classic All Around Title
Claims 9-Ball Title For Icing
Efren Reyes has been considered the best pool players alive for the last decade or so, give or take a few. As the 12th Annual Derby City Classic kicked off, many top handicappers asked if Reyes had what it took to take down yet another All-Around title. There question was answered Saturday evening as Reyes n ot only won the 9-ball division but sealed the All-Around title several rounds before the end of the event. The All-Around
The $25,000 added 9-ball division kicked off on Wednesday, January 27 with 257 of the world’s finest professionals vying for the $16,000 first place prize.
The semifinals witnessed a great match between Shannon Murphy and Efren Reyes. At one point, Reyes was trailing in the match, 4-1. Reyes would parlay a few good rolls in to a lead and victory to earn his shot at the 9-ball title against “Rocket” Rodney Morris.
As the finals kicked off, the scuttlebutt around the arena was split between to the two players. The stands filled to see who would win the rematch of the 1996 U.S. Open finals that saw Morris emerge as the victor.
The match went back and forth for a few games until Reyes gradually eraned a lead. The turning point came when Morris won a game only to be a victim of a freakish scratch on the break. Though the b attle dragged on for a few more shots, Reyes came through in the end and sealed the victory, 7-4.
For Reyes , this is his fifth trip to the winners’ circle as the All-Around champion in twelve years. His name litters the roster of past champions in all three divisions. His sucess this year is not limited to the 9-ball and All Around though. Reyes snapped off Fatboy 20-Ball event and added $8,500 to his total winnings of $44,500 for the span of the 9 day event, excluding the proceeds picked up during his one-on-one matchups.
Reyes claimed his fifth Derby City Classic All-Around title Saturday. He also picked up titles in the 9-ball division and the Fatboy event.
Results of the 9-Ball division
1st Eferen Reyes $16,000
2nd Rodney Morris $8,000
3rd-4th Shannon Murphy, Jeremy Sossei $4,000
5-6th Bill Bailey, Justin Hall $2,250
7th-12th Mike Dechaine, Robert Frost, Rudolfo Luat, Alex Pagulayan, Jamie Baraks $1,300
