The tournament began on Friday Night with the Opening Round. Seven of the eight seeded players arrived to give a crack at the big money championship to go along with 33 other players. Tony Confalone was the only seeded player not to attend the tournament. Jude Espinoza benefitted from the forfeit of the number 3 seeded player. All the seeded players advances through the first wrong without a blemish on their record.
Players returned at Noon on Saturday to battle to get into the money. Nick De Leon got past Sara Miller and Paul Grande and then awaited a match between Mitch Ellerman and Gus Briseno. Mitch was the only A+ Rated player in the tournament and many would have guessed he would have been in the top 8 points standings. But Mitch ended up missing many tour stops this season and thus fell short of the Points List. Mitch beat Gus which setup a very exciting match between two very close friends. The match went back and forth with Nick being able to pull ahead at the right time and won 8 – 7.
Three other players were having their way with Opponent after Opponent on the Winner’s Side of the board. Pete Lhotka played several tough matches including a dominating victory over Tres Kane. Dennis Orender and Bobby Emmons were on a collision course on the bottom half of the bracket. And At the end of Day 2, we were down to 12 players. On the Winners Side we had 4 players Nick De Leon vs Pete Lhotka and Dennis vs Bobby. Over on the ‘Professional’ Side of the board we had Paul Grande, Tres Kane, Mike Kennedy, Mitch Ellerman, Jude Espinoza, Chris Paradowski, Ronn Rutan, LV Abernathy.
On the Live Stream table on Sunday Dennis and Bobby battled to get to the hot seat match and what a great match it was. Neither player was able to shake the other and get a good lead until they were sitting at hill-hill. Dennis was able to take control of the table and send Bobby to the other side of the board to reach the Hot Seat Match on Sunday. On the next table over Pete continued his strong play and took advantage of some unusual mistakes by the Points Leader Nick.
Chris, LV, Jude and Ronn all suffered defeat in their first matches of the day on Sunday, which would allow them to still get into the $200 added 2nd Chance Tournament provided by the DCT. This tournament was Free for all Finale Tournament Players and $15 entry for anyone else that wanted to play. In addition to the $50 payout from the Main Tournament these four players also received their 2011 DCT Tour Cards for Free as part of taking 9th-12th place.
In the next round Tres Kane was able to knock out Mitch and Paul Grande did the same to Mike Kennedy. Mike was the last B rated player standing in the tournament and took home $200 for his effort.
Pete Lhotka from Yuma, AZ, squared off against the Tour Director, Dennis Orender to remain the last man standing on the Winners Side of the board and a guaranteed $1000 payday. Pete really showed that he wanted it bad as he controlled the match right out of the gates. Dennis fought back, but appeared that he was going to lose the set as Pete got to the hill first at 7 – 6 and was running out for the victory when Pete missed the money ball. In the next Rack Dennis nearly made a hit and got a nice roll to hide Pete. From there Dennis was able to finish off the rack.
Bobby and Nick both won their first one-loss side match but then Bobby shifted into his highest gear and went on an absolute terror. Nick De Leon was sent home in 4th place and then Pete was run over by an 8 – 1 score in setting up a rematch with Dennis.
The two wasted no time and started the finals right away. Bobby was extremely fast and loose and ran through rack after rack. Dennis was able to fight back and get 4 games, but that was about it. Being a handicapped event, this stop was set to be a true double elimination. The two flipped the coin and started it out again. Bobby won the first game, Dennis tied it up. Bobby scratched in the side pocket, twice, and Dennis was able to take advantage and pushed ahead at 6 – 3 in the race to 8 games, but then lady luck switched back over to Bobby’s side and he won out the remaining games to take the 2010 DCT Championship by the score of 8 – 6.
New to this Finale was the addition of the 2nd Chance Tournament. They decided to play bar box 10-ball on the Valley Tables. 14 players gave a shot at it and Mike Williams and George Teyechea ended up splitting 1st place. The DCT also raffled off a Brand New $900 Pechauer Cue and lady luck herself ended up getting her name pulled, congrat’s to Susan Williams.
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1st
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$1,570.00
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2nd
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$1,000.00
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3rd
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$700.00
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4th
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$450.00
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5th
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$300.00
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5th
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$300.00
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7th
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$200.00
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7th
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$200.00
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9th
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$50.00
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9th
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$50.00
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9th
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$50.00
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9th
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$50.00
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