Strong Field Continues in Reno

By InsidePOOL Staff

The Twelfth Annual United States Bar Table Championship is set to kick off its second day at the Sands Regency Casino Hotel in Reno, NV.  Many of the first-round matches ended Wednesday night, while the rest will finish up in the early afternoon today.   

The five-day event includes the 9-ball tournament, which will finish up Friday night, and an 8-ball event that will also kick off o­n Friday night.  The 124 players in the field are the most ever, and according to tournament director Jay Helfert, it is also the strongest.  "We've got Corey Deuel, Danny Basavich, David Matlock-this is our strongest field ever."

The Northwest is also mightily represented with Paul Pottier, Glen Atwell, and Mike Vidas, but Helfert speculates the Deuel might have the easiest track to Friday evening's final few matches.  "Anything could happen, but he got a good draw."

Today's highlighted matches include Pottier versus Cliff Joyner (pictured) and Atwell against Steve Cherawick.  Today's matches will determine who the final 32 will be for tomorrow's last day of 9-ball.

The 8-ball division already has about 140 players, but that number is expected to reach 180 by the time they rack the balls o­n Friday night.  With the increase in total prize money, the tournament has drawn a star-studded field that will likely make this a memorable bar table championship. 

Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news from the 12th Annual U.S. Bar Table Championsship.