Rack 'em up and Shoot 'em Hard!

The clacking of billiard balls against each other filled the Platte Valley Community Center over the weekend as the 16th Annual Wyoming Open played out from April 4 to April 7.

The competitors who played in this year’s tournament are were either a mix of locals or out-of-state spread out across three divisions: Sportsman, Classic and Masters.

On Thursday, players competed in a single elimination call pocket 10-ball tournament. According to UPA (United Poolplayers Association) Rules, the object of 10-ball is to win by legally pocketing the 10-ball into the “Called Pocket.” Each competitor must strike the cue ball into the lowest-numbered ball first for a legal hit to occur.

After the lowest ball is struck first, either the cue ball or any numbered ball may hit the 10-ball into any pocket for the win. If the shooting player pockets the lowest-numbered ball after a legal hit, the shooting player continues. If no ball is pocketed, either the cue ball or any numbered ball must touch a rail after the cue ball contacts the lowest numbered ball for the shot to be legal. (US 10-Ball Rules - US Professional Poolplayers Association)

Friday and Saturday, pool players competed in a double-elimination Saratoga tournament, a hybrid of a solid/stripe 8-ball game. The object of the game is for each competitor to play with six stripes (1-6) and six solid (1-6), and the winning black ball without the 7 and 15 balls in play. Each player must shoot each ball in order from the lowest to the highest number. There is no early pocketing of the black ball to win, as in 8-Ball, as that would be a loss.

Sunday was a single-elimination Saratoga where the last competitor was declared the division’s winner. Ed Glode, founding member of the Wyoming Open, said Saturday was a perfect day to play in the tournament because it is where the big-money winners show who is the best in their respective divisions.

“The weather has been fantastic outside so it’s good to sit inside and play some pool,” Glode said, jokingly. “In the main event, the majority of the money that is given away happens on Saturday so it’s a big day for the pool. There will be a lot of great championship matches in all three divisions.”

Glode also gave a brief history of the game Saratoga.

“Since about 2009 we have been working on this game called Saratoga,” Glode said. “If you are playing 8 ball, it is a solid-stripe game where you make the 8 ball to win. If you play 9 ball, you have nine balls. You run them in rotation and make the 9 balls to win and must make each ball in order from low to high. Saratoga is a solid/stripe game to make the back ball to win the game but you must make your balls in order so it’s a combination of 8 ball and 9 ball.”

Rodney “The Rocket” Morris, 2016 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame Inductee, has been competing in the Wyoming Open since its inaugural year in 2008. Morris and Glode are the two originals from the inaugural years. He said he and Glode became brothers and close friends.

“Me and Eddie became brothers real quick when we first met,” Morris said. “I just love being here and to compete. I always mark my calendar every year for this event. I get a lot of support from one of my best friends and it is a great event.”

Morris and Glode worked together to invent the game Saratoga. Morris said it was one of the best ideas he and Glode had. He said it became a popular challenge in past tournaments.

“I started playing pool in 1986 or 1987,” Morris said. “I walked into a pool hall and played with some friends. They said ‘Hey do you want to play a game of pool?’ I played and I never left the game. In 2010 I did an instructional DVD that gives the viewer three hours of content that goes over a lot. It’s a great DVD to watch.”

Corey Deuel and Jackie Yang both played incredibly in the Masters Division on Saturday. Yang, who lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was one of the toughest competitors Deuel has faced. In the end, Deuel got past him. He said it was challenging to beat Yang, especially with the great pool skills Yang has.

“Yang is such a great player with a lot of experience,” Deuel said. “He has played a lot of Chinese pool, he is skilled in the 8-ball procession play and knows all the nuances of the game. That is why he is a tough opponent.”

Deuel started playing pool in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when he was 14 years old and has competed around the world for a little over 30 years. He said he loves coming to Saratoga to compete in the Wyoming Open. This is his favorite tournament and he loves playing Saratoga each time he competes.

Yang said Deuel is a strong player who is skilled and tough to play.

“I feel that I played well today,” Yang said. “Corey is a strong player and is the best player that I have played with in the U.S. This is my first time playing Saratoga and my first time playing against a pro. So far I am enjoying playing here.”

Yang first started playing pool in his native country of China. He said he fell in love with playing pool for the first time and has never stopped playing since.

Kat Plavnick won it all in the Sportsman Division Championship in Sunday’s single elimination. Plavnick played in her second Wyoming Open and this time she advanced to a higher spot.

Plavnick has been competing for the last seven years and in a short time she has become a champion.

“When I was a kid I saw the Black Widow (Jeanette Lee) shooting pool on ESPN,” Plavnick said. “I said to myself ‘I wanted to do that.’”

Plavnick said this tournament was no cake walk for her. She said her goal was to plan ahead of time on how she wanted to make her shots and to avoid any mistakes. Her key to victory was simply to play smart at all times in the Championship round.

“I played a lot of safes and defending,” Plavnick said. “You can’t always make the ball so you have to play smart and play two turns ahead. I was trying hard to do that and it paid off. ”

For the last three weeks, Plavnick has been practicing playing Saratoga and the time she put in has appeared to have paid off. Plavnick competed with her friend Amanda McKay. Planvnick and McKay competed in Puerto Rico in the BCA Championship last November and most recently the Cheyenne Open. McKay said this tournament was quite a treat for her, especially vacationing in Saratoga to experience what the Platte Valley offers to tourists who visit.

“We love this tournament and coming to the hot springs,” McKay said. “It is like a friend’s vacation. We all get together and we love this town. Saratoga has done a great job running this tournament,”

She said she loves to stay competitive and playing pool allows her to meet new friends.

“I have played pool for 10 years and I got started because I always played sports growing up,” McKey said. “This is a good way for me to be competitive as an adult and it’s a lifetime sport that allows me to make new friends, like my friend Kat.”

Ty Blowers pulled an upset over Morris in the Masters Division Championship on Sunday. Blowers played with a lot of skill and made important shots which helped him win the championship. Blowers said it was not an easy climb to the mountain, especially playing against competitors like Deuel and Yang.

“It feels great to win this title,” Blowers said. “I played well in single-elimination and I got the toughest draw in the tournament. I played Corey Deuel in the first round then I went on to face Marc Vidal in the second round. I went on to face Jackie Yang which got me to face Rodney in the Championship Game.”

Blowers has been playing pool since he was about 10 or 11 years old. He has won over 40 tournaments in the 10 years he has competed in billiard competition. Blowers said his Dad and his friend had mentored him into being a skilled player.

“My Dad first got me started and a friend Bill Mayo helped me out a lot when I was young,” Blowers said. “ I also watched a lot of great pool players on YouTube that helped me build my skills.”

In a come from behind victory, Ivan Mendoza of Colorado captured the Classic Division Championship on Sunday. At one point in the match, his opponent Robert Northam of Kansas, had a strong two game lead. In a dual battle, Mendoza was able to tie the championship match and forced Northam into a winner take all.

Mendoza made his final shot into the pocket to win the single-elimination tournament. Mendoza and Northam shook hands in good sportsmanship after the match. Mendoza said this tournament was different from other tournaments he has played in. He said that he loved the challenge and is looking forward to coming back next year to Saratoga.

“It was a great tournament and it’s different from 8 Ball for sure,” Mendoza said. “It’s just a completely different experience with a lot of great players and a lot of battles.”

Mendoza said he has competed in many pool tournaments in his lifetime. He said it all started when he was 19 years old and was under age playing pool at a local bar with no experience.

“I was about 19 years old at the time and I actually got thrown out of a bar,” Mendoza said. “I went into the bar and I never knew how to play pool. I beat this best guy in the tournament and the guy was so pissed off he asked the bartender to ask for my drivers license. When they found out I was under age, I got thrown out and the guy ended up staying in the tournament.”

Mendoza gave a lot of credit to Northam for playing such a great match. He said he knew before playing Northam it was not going to be easy after watching his previous matches.

“Sometimes you just gotta close your eyes and shoot.” Mendoza said. “You just hope for the best and do the best that you possibly can.”

Northam said Mendoza simply played an excellent game. He said that he had every chance to win the match but he could not make the shots when he needed to.

“We just played it out really well,” Northem said. “Mendoza played good leads in the last game and ran out and he did a great job.”

Northam said he first started playing pool as a kid growing up in Texas. He said his parents owned a couple of pool tables at their restaurant.

“I was out of competition for a while then I started to come back and play again. This is my first time playing here in Saratoga and I love it here,” said Northam

Northam said that he has been competing in pool tournaments since he was 40 years old. He also said that it’s the start of a new friendship between him and Mendza. Both are looking forward to next year’s Wyoming Open and hope they will face each other again.