RESULTS & WRITEUP
2015 CWO 10-Ball Championships
October 8-10, 2015

Rodney Morris and Rebecca Wagner Headline 3rd Annual CWO 10-Ball Championships

It was all about West Coast pool action this October in Lincoln City, Oregon.  The 3rd Annual Chinook Winds 10-Ball Open hit the top of the charts and, once again, the beach was a great backdrop for the event. Chinook Winds Casino Resort added $17,000 prize money to the 10-Ball Open events - $12,000 to Men’s division based on 96 entries with a guaranteed $10,000 for 1st; and $5,000 to the Women’s division with $4000 guaranteed for 1st place based on 32 entries.  The Men’s division raced to 7 and the Women's raced to 5.  Overall, 118 men and 30 women entered - all contending to get into the money.

Players came from all over the United States and beyond to participate and a huge gallery of spectators watched many excellent matches as the tournament unfolded. People were able to observe and learn what great pool playing is all about. The crowds were awed by the likes of top players such as Allison Fisher, Bernie Store, Joanne & Bev Ashton, Kathy MacDonald, Rebecca Wagner, Warren Kiamco, Carlo Biado, Danny Gokhul, Max Eberly, Marc Vidal Claramunt and Paul Poutier. They were equally dazzled by top regional players - Cindy Sliva, Kim Jones, Liz Cole, Dan Louie, Stan Tourangeau, Randy Baker and Eddie Carrido, to name just a few. All the players showed great class, talent and sportsmanship. 

A Calcutta was held and, although auctioning through both fields took some time, it was well worth it. There was a net of $16,890 in the men’s and $4,945 in the women's.  Paul “Kez” Marquez was calling on bidders to buy horses and his enthusiasm propelled the bids. It was a fun and exciting event. 
 
The Women’s finals featured Allison Fisher of North Carolina and Rebecca Wagner of Nevada. Wagner, 2013 US Bar Table 9-Ball Champion, fought her way out of the loser’s bracket after being defeated in her first match by Liz Cole. She faced a gauntlet of tough competitors on the B side, including Sherry Ahola, Kimberly Kirk, Bev Ashton, Cindy Silva and Susie O’Connor on her way to the finals. The finals match featured a lot of great play from both women and both played like the champions they are. Billiards Hall-of-Famer Fisher seemed to struggle a bit on the Diamond 7 footer while Wagner played steady on to capture the first set 5-0, a rare shut out for Fisher.  Wagner kept up the pace in the second set, leading 3 -0 until Fisher won a game. Wagner’s near flawless play proved to be too much for Fisher and in the end Wagner double-dipped The Duchess of Doom, winning 5-4 in the second set.

In the Men’s Finals, Rodney “The Rocket” Morris of California drove at a run-out pace and met Filipino Champion Carlo Biado in the finals. Biado had sliced his way through a star-studded loser’s bracket featuring Marc Vidal Claramunt, and his fellow Filipino, Warren Kiamco, on way to the finals match. Biado showed why he is the feared competitor he is. Morris’ performance dominance in the tournament can be described as a ‘Mack truck’. “The Rocket” matched against some considerable competitors along his way - Danny Gokhul and Stan Tourangeau to name a few, but ran over Biado 5-3 in the finals on his way to the $10,000 1st place prize.

Praise for the tournament came in from all fronts. The acclaim coming from both participants and spectators was very rewarding to hear.  Players new to the event said they had never seen such a great event and are coming back to play at next one in March, 2016. Pool Coach Paul Potier gave free stroke analysis - What fun! The event is growing in stature with professionalism and popularity. The Chinook Winds Open 8-Ball in March will be a qualifier for Mosconi Cup Points where pros can vie for a spot on Team USA.

Prior to the CWO, a $1,000 added Warm Up 10-ball tournament took place on Thursday sponsored by Bud Light. League players and those entered in main event were welcome to play.  90 men entered the $25 entry, race to 3, double- elimination event.  A short race can be an equalizer with top players and the event was a smash. There was over $3000 in prize money up for grabs. Warren Kiamco took 1st, Randy Baker-2nd, Sean McDonough-3rd, Carlos Biado-4th.  The Women’s Warm-up tournament featured 12 women.  Sherry Ahola run through field to take top spot followed by Mary Coffman-2nd, Kimberly Kirk-3rd and Natasha Hook-4th.

It took a lot of hard work producing the Chinook Winds Open event.  Co-coordinators/directors Andrew Monstis and Mike Jensen managed the event from start to finish.  Additionally, the WBCA team of Robbin Iredale - PR staff coordinator; Cathy Dunford - Financial manager; Pam Carraway - Podium supervisor; and numerous other staff worked hundreds of hours to make this event successful.  

They say it’s better at the beach and they are right!  Chinook Winds Casino Resort is a full service facility and is an exceptional venue for a world class tournament.  Having this event tucked in at the beach in Lincoln City, Oregon creates an atmosphere you can’t find everywhere else.  The CWO was sponsored by Chinook Winds Resort and Casino, a grant from the Lincoln City Visitor and Convention Bureau, and Anheuser-Busch. Bud Light was the official beer of the event and sponsor of the Warm-up Tournament.

Special thanks to Mike Howerton, AzBilliards; Lenny Marshall, On The Rail TV; Ozzie Reynolds, Cuesports International; Ric and Bonnie Jones - Bad Boys Billiards Productions; Zero-X Billiards; EYO Cues; and the NW Women’s Pool Player Association.