Orcollo's Last 9-ball Run Out at Derby City

Dennis Orcollo, left, and Lee Van Corteza

Dennis Orcollo was nearly unstoppable in nine-ball at Derby City this year. His only defeat during the entire event was to fellow Filipino Warren Kiamco -- and even then Orcollo shined. Kiamco had Orcollo way down and Kiamco was on the hill when Orcollo came roaring back to within one game of victory. Orcollo also ran over Mika Immonen and, as you can see in the video above, the great Shane Van Boening. Orcollo beat SVB in the nine-ball final 7-1. The video above shows Orcollo's last run-out. Fantastically, Orcollo jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the match after Shane left a shot in the first game. Orcollo finished that rack and then broke and ran four more.  I also saw Orcollo in action at Derby City giving Chris Bartram the 8 and the 10, playing 10-ball in a race to 30. I think they were wagering $3,000. Bartram, one of the nation's great road players, got the worst of it. The exchange made a believer out of me about Dennis Orcollo.

-- R.A. Dyer

U.S. Open 9 Ball and the Hall of Fame Banquet

I'm heading out to the U.S. Open this week, both for the nation's most prestigious nine-ball event but also for Johnny Archer's and Allison Fisher's Hall of Fame induction banquet. Seats are still available for the Oct. 22 ceremony and dinner, and I encourage anyone who's going to Virginia for the tournament to join us in this fete for these two great players. Tickets are $60 each, or $500 per table. All proceeds go to the cost of hosting the banquet, which is being sponsored jointly by U.S. Open promoter and founder Barry Behrman and the United States Billiards Media Association. Because the BCA is providing more limited support this year, it's up to us to honor our greats. Fisher and Archer have devoted their lives to the sport. This is our opportunity to show our appreciation.

And now, with that PSA aside, here's a bit of U.S. Open news. I see from AZ Billiards that Mika Immonen was bounced to the one-loss side in his second round match against veteran road player Chris Bartram. Immonen won the event last year, but with a loss so early he must now be considered a long shot to repeat in 2009.