Derby City Ring Game Players Announced

By InsidePOOL Staff

The Derby City Classic, which starts January 14, has announced the players participating in the Diamond Billiard Products 10-Ball and Bank Pool Ring Games.  Both lineups include some of pocket billiards' best all-around players.

The 10-Ball Ring Game gets underway o­n Friday night, as Shannon "The Cannon" Daulton looks to add to his Gulf Coast Classic and Music City Classic Ring Game victories with a win over Efren Reyes, Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer, UPA Pro Tour Championship winner Corey Deuel, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, and John Schmidt. 

Daulton will also compete in Saturday's Bank Pool Ring Game against Truman Hogue, Brian Gregg, Ike Runnels, Tony Coleman, and Grady Mathews.  Daulton could be considered the favorite in both events, especially after he won Sunday night's Music City Classic Ring Game.  It will undoubtedly be tough for him to sweep both events, but he says skill is o­nly part of the equation when you're playing in a ring game.  "You gotta have a lot of luck," said Daulton.  "It's all about the right shots at the right time.  It really don't mean a thing who you're up against.  You're all looking for the right shot at the right time."

Daulton added that luck played a part in his ring game win over the weekend in Tennessee.  "I was down to my last game against [David] Matlock.  I shot a long two ball off the rail and missed it, but I lucked in the ten ball."

Deuel, who took home $30,000 with a victory in last year's Ultimate Ring Game, is coming off a superb performance at the Bicycle Club Casino in the UPA Pro Tour Championship.  Schmidt, who excels in the 10-ball format, and Archer, who won the 2004 Ultimate Ring Game II, will also bring the heat. 

In the Bank Pool Ring Game, Daulton's biggest competition will likely come from Hogue, although Grady "The Professor" Mathews will also be trying his hand against the field. 

For more information o­n the ring games or other 2005 Derby City Classis events, go to www.derbycityclassic.com. 

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