Reno Open Underway

Reno Open Underway
Reno Open / Reno, NV

by Rick Davis
The Reno Open at the Sands Regency got underway December 4 and will run through December 9, offering some of the best action of the year in its double-elimination 9-ball format.
Through a day and a half of play none of the 167 players has been eliminated because of the numerous bye rounds on the 256-player chart. Some players, like Tony Chohan, are just playing their first match this evening while other favorites like Johnny Archer, Shane Van Boening, Gabe Owen, and Louis Ulrich have won their first matches but will not play again until Thursday evening. While none of the top players have yet to face off, some are already starting to filter toward each other, like Ronnie Wiseman and Stan Tourango, who will face off tonight in the 10 p.m. round. Meanwhile, a few, like Jose Parica, have already taken two wins.
The event is being played on new Diamond 9-foot tables with green Simonis cloth, not the usual tournament blue. The total prize fund is just shy of $50,000 with over $26,000 added by the Sands. The event will pay the top 48 players, about 40% of the field, with a top prize of $15,000. The rounds are strictly run to schedule with morning rounds of 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., followed by a dinner break before the 6 p.m., 8 p.m., and 10 p.m. evening rounds, all Pacific time. This format will run through Saturday night, when the final four will be brought back Sunday.
The first four rounds Thursday will begin to eliminate players on the one-loss side, while the later evening rounds will start to see some great match-ups on the winners’ side. Stay tuned to InsidePOOL Magazine for all the latest news and happenings.