Vann Corteza and Ruuger set for US Open Banks hot seat battle this afternoon
US Open One Pocket slated to get underway It may seem as though the US Open Championships at Griff’s out in Vegas have been going on since Christmas, and by the time they’re done, it may seem like it’s settled in to become like your favorite TV show, something you follow every week or so […]
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Lee Vann Corteza
US Open One Pocket slated to get underway
It may seem as though the US Open Championships at Griff’s out in Vegas have been going on since Christmas, and by the time they’re done, it may seem like it’s settled in to become like your favorite TV show, something you follow every week or so and depend on to be there when you get a chance to watch it. In a way, of course, it will; selected matches be available on GriffTV’s YouTube channel for a while. Next Christmas, perhaps?
According to its ongoing schedule, it will in fact continue to be with us as an actually happening event until late on Friday night (March 14) when the 25-entrant, $10,000-added US Open One Pocket Championship final gets underway at about 9 p.m. (EDT). The tournament is scheduled to commence this afternoon (Tuesday), with first-round matches set for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. (both EDT).
The $10,000-added US Open Banks Championship (25 entrants) is poised to begin its last five matches at 3 p.m. (EDT) today, with the two 5th/6th loss-side matches. The hot seat match is scheduled for 5 p.m., coinciding with the quarterfinals. The semifinal is expected to get underway at 7 p.m., with the finals set for 9 p.m.
Lee Vann Corteza and Oliver Ruuger will square off in the hot seat match. Corteza’s trip to get there was something of an ongoing, three-match challenge that featured two double-hill battles (versus Cody Booth and John Morra) and in the middle, an almost double-hill (5-3) match against Mike DeLawder. Ruuger’s journey wasn’t quite as hazardous, although without benefit of an opening-round bye (which Corteza had), he played four matches, the first of which (against Roberto Gomez) went double hill. None of the other three chalked up more than two racks against him; Payne McBride (2), Marc Vidal Claramunt (2) and Sergio Rivas (1).
The final push to earn the title gets underway on the battlefield’s left flank featuring races to 4. In his first loss-side match, Sergio Rivas, who was defeated 1-5 by Ruuger in one of the winners’ side semifinals, will square off against Evan Lunda. Lunda had benefited from an opening-round forfeit by Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan, only to be sent to the loss side in his first match, a double-hill loss to Claramunt. He followed with four straight wins, beginning with a strong contingent of junior or recently-junior competitors; Las Vegas’ favorite teenager, Savannah Easton (2), recent teenager Payne McBride (1), and Kashton Keeton (2). Lunda then survived a double-hill challenge by Chip Compton to draw Rivas.
Morra came over to the loss side and picked up Claramunt, who’d followed his winners’ side quarterfinal loss to Ruuger with two straight, double-hill wins over Louis Demarco and “T Rex” (Tony Chohan).
As usual, the scheduled matches will be available this evening on GriffTV’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@GriffsTV) at the times listed above. As of this report, there had been no decision as to which of the two 5th/6th matches would be featured, although it’s a fair assumption that it will be the hot seat match, not the quarterfinal, that’s front and center at 5 p.m. (EDT).
