Archer was completely unstoppable in his match and was at 5-0 in no time.  He allowed Deuel two games at that point and then returned to beating Deuel soundly, reaching the hill before Deuel got another game.  A rare miss for Archer led to Deuel winning that rack and breaking and running the following two games, making it 9-5, but Deuel finally relinquished the table, and Archer won the match 10-5.

“Kid Delicious” and “The Love Sponge” had a monumental battle.  Basavich slowly gained a 7-2 lead o­n the Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour’s Player of the Year, Putnam.  It looked as if Putnam was having a difficult time of things, but he began to stage a comeback at that point, bringing it to 7-6 before Basavich ultimately won 10-7.

Harriman and McAninch, two competitors familiar with each other from the Derby City Classic’s 9-Ball Banks event, traded racks back and forth, while the crowd rooted o­n hometown hero McAninch.  Both players seemed to be enjoying themselves, and Harriman ended up the 10-8 winner.

Ashcraft, who took fourth place at last year’s event and who recently took first out of 256 players at the Midwest Open 9-Ball event, paid Strickland no mind as he moved to a 9-4 lead o­n the six-time World Champion.  o­n the hill, Ashcraft missed the 5 ball in the corner, and it looked for a while that Strickland might make a comeback; however, he fell short of his goal, and Ashcraft took the match 10-8.  Strickland tied with McAninch for seventh place.

Deuel and Harriman faced off next, with both players trading games until Deuel scratched o­n the break.  Harriman ran out that rack and then sank the 9 o­n his next break to win the match 10-8.  Ashcraft and Putnam matched up, again with both players trading racks until it reached 6 apiece.  At that point, Putnam pulled ahead and never gave Ashcraft another game, winning the set 10-6.  Ashcraft tied with Deuel for fifth place.

And in the match for the hot seat, Johnny Archer won ten games in a row to defeat Danny Basavich 10-0.  Basavich never got the chance to make o­ne ball in the entire match.

In the match for fourth place, Putnam and Harriman met, and both had played better pool in their lives.  With errors o­n both players’ behalves, they muddled through until the score reached 9-7 Harriman.  Putnam came up dry o­n the break, and Harriman ran out the balls, drawing the cue back dramatically for the 9.  He made it and watched the cue ball slide over to the far corner pocket and hang there as he fell to o­ne knee.  Putnam was relegated to fourth place, and Harriman went o­n to play Basavich.

The kinks from the previous game seemed to be worked out, for Harriman dominated the match between the two Dannys.  Basavich, who o­nly wanted to make o­ne ball, got his wish, but Harriman made a lot more and pretty soon was up 8-2.  “Kid Delicious” won the next two, but a miss o­n the 3 ball let Harriman reach the hill.  Another couple of sporty plays got Basavich within striking distance at 9-6, but a nicely played bank shot gave Harriman the last game to win the match 10-6, sending Basavich home with third place.

Archer was off to a flying start in the finals and was soon up 3-0.  For a time it seemed as though Harriman would catch up, for he pulled to 4-3.  However, Archer’s break was awesome, and he consistently made a ball o­n the break and had position, which turned out to be deadly to Harriman.  Pretty soon, Archer was up 10-3 in the extended race to 13.  Harriman rallied and won two more games, but a couple more run-outs and then dropping the 9 o­n the final break put Archer in the winners’ circle with the final score at 13-5.

Visit InsidePOOL for the latest in the sport of billiards and pool.

Results:

1st Johnny Archer $8,000

2nd Danny Harriman $5,000

3rd Danny Basavich $3,500

4th Shawn Putnam $2,500

5th Brandon Ashcraft, Corey Deuel $1,750

7th Steve McAninch, Earl Strickland $1,500

9th Gabe Owen, Jeremy Seaman, Eric Durbin, Santos Sambajon $1,000

13th Nick Varner, Jimmy Wetch, John Binion, Allen Hopkins $750