brandon shuff double dips brian deska in midlothian, va!
Left to Right: Brandon Shuff, Ozzy Reynolds, Brian Deska
The Action Pool Tour (APT) held its 4th event of
the 2011-2012 Session at Diamond Billiards in Midlothian, VA on the weekend of
December 10-11, 2011. This open 10-ball event drew an impressive field of
56 players, including seven (7) women.
Play began at approximately 1:15pm and there were no substantial upsets until the 4th round of the winners’ bracket when Shorty Davis defeated reining 2011 APT champion, Brandon Shuff, 8-5. Shortly thereafter in the 4th round on the 1-loss side, 2011 APT runner-up, Brett Stottlemyer, was eliminated by Dan Maruschak 6-5. Play continued until approximately midnight at which time only 12 players remained: 4 on the winners’ side and 8 on the one-loss side. The winners’ side final four included Brian Deska, Shorty Davis, John Newton, and Danny Mastermaker while the one-loss side final eight included Nilbert Lim, Chris Bruner, Sean Sporleder, Dave Hunt, APT Director Ozzy Reynolds, Alan Duty, Bobby Anderson, and Brandon Shuff.
On the 2nd day, 1-loss bracket play began at 11:00am with Bruner defeating Lim 6-3, Dave Hunt squeaking by Sporleder 6-5, Reynolds outlasting Duty 6-4, and Shuff destroying Anderson 6-1. The next 1-loss side round saw Bruner down Hunt 6-2 while Shuff disposed of Reynolds 6-3. Meanwhile on the winners’ side, Deska sailed past Davis 8-4 while Mastermaker edged out Newton 8-6. This set up Deska vs. Mastermaker for the hot seat. Deska jumped out to an impressive lead but Mastermaker fought back. However, it was too little too late as Deska finished him off 8-5 to earn a trip to the finals. Back on the 1-loss side, Shuff would not be denied as he shreaded each of his opponents: Newton 6-2, Davis, 6-2, and finally Mastermaker 6-1, to earn his way to Deska in the finals.
Interestingly, this was a rematch of an earlier Action Pool Tour event held in August 2011 at Break Time Billiards in Salisbury, MD and the scenario was eerily similar. In that event, Shuff had suffered an early loss and Deska had sailed to the finals through the winners’ side. Shuff fought his way through the 1-loss side to get to the finals and won the first set convincingly. However, Deska won a hill-hill battle in the 2nd and deciding set to win the event. With déjà vu lingering in the air at Diamond Billiards, Shuff won the first set easily by a score of 8-3. However, in this true double elimination format, he would have to win a second set (race to 6) to eliminate Deska. The match remained very close the entire way. With the score tied 4-4, Deska was poised to run the remaining three balls on the table to get to the hill. However, when he pulled the trigger on a routine 7-ball shot, it rattled in the pocket and did not fall. Shuff jumped out of his chair and completed the rack to get to the hill himself and ultimately win the set 6-4 and the entire tournament. This win is another in an impressive run by Shuff. He has competed in seven (7) Action Pool Tour events; winning five (5) and finishing 2nd and 7th-8th in the others. He currently has an impressive lead in the points list and has become “the player to beat” on The Action Pool Tour.
Other notable results of the event include the top female finisher, the 2nd Chance Tournament winner, and the result of the Break & Run contest. Seven females, Daisy Blancaflor, Ann Reynolds, Cheryl Sporleder, Pauline Mattes, Anastasia Zubar, Sheri Bruner, and Nicole Vincent competed in this event and the top placing female would win a $75 cash prize. After losing her opening match, Cheryl Sporleder would come out on top by winning her next three matches to finish 17th-24th in the event and take home the top female honor.
The Break & Run contest, which had a payout of $80 per ball, was conducted on Saturday night. Jay Grandy had the winning ticket and the opportunity at the cash. He elected to have Chris Bruner, a Richmond native known for having a crushing break, shoot on his behalf. Everyone crowded the table as Bruner plowed the 10-ball rack. The balls scattered around the table in frenzy but nothing found its way to a pocket. The total purse will progressively roll into the next event with a payout of $100 per ball!
Finally, after suffering a surprise day #1 elimination, Brett Stottlemyer came back on Sunday and went undefeated through a 15-player field to win the 2nd Chance Tournament and earn $150. Coming in 2nd was Melvin Shelton who earned $100, followed by Nilbert Lim in 3rd who earned $50. The completed brackets are posted online at www.actionpooltour.com/results.
The Action Pool Tour would like to thank all of the players who came out to participate and the entire staff of Diamond Billiards for providing a fantastic venue and great equipment. We look forward to returning to this room many more times in the future for more great Action!
The next stop for The Action Pool Tour is on January 14-15, 2012 at VIP Billiards in Catonsville, MD. This is a great room and a great way to kick off 2012 so come out and play!
The Action Pool Tour is continually looking for sponsors. If anyone is interested in placing an ad during our live stream, on our website, or any other sponsorship arrangement, please contact Tour Director Ozzy Reynolds at admin@actionpooltour.com.
By Tour Staff
Payouts
1 Brandon Shuff $1,000
2 Brian Deska $500
3 Danny Mastermaker $325
4 Shorty Davis $225
5-6 – John Newton $150
5-6 – Chris Bruner $150
7-8 – Ozzy Reynolds $100
7-8 – Dave Hunt $100
9-12 – Alan Duty $60
9-12 – Nilbert Lim $60
9-12 – Sean Sporleder $60
9-12 – Bobby Anderson $60
Top Female Finisher: Cheryl Sporleder – $75
Play began at approximately 1:15pm and there were no substantial upsets until the 4th round of the winners’ bracket when Shorty Davis defeated reining 2011 APT champion, Brandon Shuff, 8-5. Shortly thereafter in the 4th round on the 1-loss side, 2011 APT runner-up, Brett Stottlemyer, was eliminated by Dan Maruschak 6-5. Play continued until approximately midnight at which time only 12 players remained: 4 on the winners’ side and 8 on the one-loss side. The winners’ side final four included Brian Deska, Shorty Davis, John Newton, and Danny Mastermaker while the one-loss side final eight included Nilbert Lim, Chris Bruner, Sean Sporleder, Dave Hunt, APT Director Ozzy Reynolds, Alan Duty, Bobby Anderson, and Brandon Shuff.
On the 2nd day, 1-loss bracket play began at 11:00am with Bruner defeating Lim 6-3, Dave Hunt squeaking by Sporleder 6-5, Reynolds outlasting Duty 6-4, and Shuff destroying Anderson 6-1. The next 1-loss side round saw Bruner down Hunt 6-2 while Shuff disposed of Reynolds 6-3. Meanwhile on the winners’ side, Deska sailed past Davis 8-4 while Mastermaker edged out Newton 8-6. This set up Deska vs. Mastermaker for the hot seat. Deska jumped out to an impressive lead but Mastermaker fought back. However, it was too little too late as Deska finished him off 8-5 to earn a trip to the finals. Back on the 1-loss side, Shuff would not be denied as he shreaded each of his opponents: Newton 6-2, Davis, 6-2, and finally Mastermaker 6-1, to earn his way to Deska in the finals.
Interestingly, this was a rematch of an earlier Action Pool Tour event held in August 2011 at Break Time Billiards in Salisbury, MD and the scenario was eerily similar. In that event, Shuff had suffered an early loss and Deska had sailed to the finals through the winners’ side. Shuff fought his way through the 1-loss side to get to the finals and won the first set convincingly. However, Deska won a hill-hill battle in the 2nd and deciding set to win the event. With déjà vu lingering in the air at Diamond Billiards, Shuff won the first set easily by a score of 8-3. However, in this true double elimination format, he would have to win a second set (race to 6) to eliminate Deska. The match remained very close the entire way. With the score tied 4-4, Deska was poised to run the remaining three balls on the table to get to the hill. However, when he pulled the trigger on a routine 7-ball shot, it rattled in the pocket and did not fall. Shuff jumped out of his chair and completed the rack to get to the hill himself and ultimately win the set 6-4 and the entire tournament. This win is another in an impressive run by Shuff. He has competed in seven (7) Action Pool Tour events; winning five (5) and finishing 2nd and 7th-8th in the others. He currently has an impressive lead in the points list and has become “the player to beat” on The Action Pool Tour.
Other notable results of the event include the top female finisher, the 2nd Chance Tournament winner, and the result of the Break & Run contest. Seven females, Daisy Blancaflor, Ann Reynolds, Cheryl Sporleder, Pauline Mattes, Anastasia Zubar, Sheri Bruner, and Nicole Vincent competed in this event and the top placing female would win a $75 cash prize. After losing her opening match, Cheryl Sporleder would come out on top by winning her next three matches to finish 17th-24th in the event and take home the top female honor.
The Break & Run contest, which had a payout of $80 per ball, was conducted on Saturday night. Jay Grandy had the winning ticket and the opportunity at the cash. He elected to have Chris Bruner, a Richmond native known for having a crushing break, shoot on his behalf. Everyone crowded the table as Bruner plowed the 10-ball rack. The balls scattered around the table in frenzy but nothing found its way to a pocket. The total purse will progressively roll into the next event with a payout of $100 per ball!
Finally, after suffering a surprise day #1 elimination, Brett Stottlemyer came back on Sunday and went undefeated through a 15-player field to win the 2nd Chance Tournament and earn $150. Coming in 2nd was Melvin Shelton who earned $100, followed by Nilbert Lim in 3rd who earned $50. The completed brackets are posted online at www.actionpooltour.com/results.
The Action Pool Tour would like to thank all of the players who came out to participate and the entire staff of Diamond Billiards for providing a fantastic venue and great equipment. We look forward to returning to this room many more times in the future for more great Action!
The next stop for The Action Pool Tour is on January 14-15, 2012 at VIP Billiards in Catonsville, MD. This is a great room and a great way to kick off 2012 so come out and play!
The Action Pool Tour is continually looking for sponsors. If anyone is interested in placing an ad during our live stream, on our website, or any other sponsorship arrangement, please contact Tour Director Ozzy Reynolds at admin@actionpooltour.com.
By Tour Staff
Payouts
1 Brandon Shuff $1,000
2 Brian Deska $500
3 Danny Mastermaker $325
4 Shorty Davis $225
5-6 – John Newton $150
5-6 – Chris Bruner $150
7-8 – Ozzy Reynolds $100
7-8 – Dave Hunt $100
9-12 – Alan Duty $60
9-12 – Nilbert Lim $60
9-12 – Sean Sporleder $60
9-12 – Bobby Anderson $60
Top Female Finisher: Cheryl Sporleder – $75
