Southpaw Matlock completed a five points to two victory in the first game with a simple bank o­n the 9, but Brumback came back strong to take the second 5-3. A scratch by Brumback put him o­n –1 early in the third rack, and he could never recover as Matlock closed out the game 5-0 with a neat two-rail reverse bank to the corner.  Matlock looked in good shape to complete victory in the next game, when he swished in a cross-bank to the side pocket but faltered with the finishing line in sight. Both players squandered chances, but ultimately the balls fell kindly for Brumback who was left with a routine 4-ball cross bank to the corner to take the game 5-3.

Brumback came up dry o­n the break in the decider, and Matlock stepped in to make three in a row. Unexpectedly, he failed to make a relatively simple 7 crossed to the corner. o­n his next inning, he made the 8 to stand o­n the brink of victory. Incredibly, though, attempting a straight-back 7 ball to the corner, he failed to get his cue stick out of the way, costing him a ball. Clearly nervous, Matlock continued to make unforced errors, but Brumback couldn’t regain his stroke. With the score at 4-1, Brumback made his last mistake, and Matlock rolled in a cross bank to the corner to take the championship .

A memorable day for Matlock was completed when he received his prize by legendary Chicago banker Bugs Rucker.  Third-round matches in the o­ne-pocket competition are underway and the 9-ball event begins o­n Wednesday.  Johnny Archer, Mika Immonen, Ralf Souquet, Thorsten Hohmann, and Marcus Chamat are all poised to make their marks in this division.

Visit InsidePOOL for the latest o­n the Derby City Classic.

2005 Derby City Classic Image Gallery

Photo by JR Calvert InsidePOOL, courtesy BCn