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Player: Buddy Hall
Event: U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships
Date: Sept. 8, 1991

Buddy Hall wasn’t interested in moral victories when he matched up with Dennis Hatch in the final of the 1991 U.S. Open. Up to this point in his career, the 43-year-old had collected plenty of accolades, including countless pro titles and Player of the Year honors. But Hall had yet to conquer the Chesapeake Bay’s yearly major.

In the third rack of the race-to-8 final against the 20-year-old young gun from Buffalo, Hall didn’t take much solace in escaping this tricky safety from Hatch. As you can see in the diagram, the cue ball was nearly frozen to the inside of the corner pocket. Though the 9 ball was just a diamond away on the short rail, it wasn’t actually preventing Hall from taking a direct route to the 9. Instead, he was corner hooked, leaving two options: get really creative or give Hatch ball in hand.

With a slightly elevated cue, Hall sent the cue ball to the middle diamond on the far half of the long rail, missing the 3 ball a hair. It ricocheted around the table, again missing the 7 by sheer millimeters. Four rails later, the cue ball grazed the 1 ball, sending the object ball just past the foot spot, before it came to rest just past the side pocket.

The four-rail kick was enough to get a stirring round of applause from the crowd, though Hall could only offer an “oh well” wave to his supporters. Hatch had a line to the 1 ball, just barely avoiding the 3.

While the hit didn’t win the game, Hall caught his break later in the match. At hill-hill, Hatch broke dry in the case game, leaving the balls lined up in a perfect route for Hall to clear the table for the first of two U.S. Open titles.

(Video clip provided by Accu-Stats Video Productions.)

See January's shot: Reyes' "Greatest Shot Ever"
See February's shot: Varner's "Astonishing" five-rail draw
See March's shot: Strickland’s two-rail kick-combo on the 9
See April's shot: Van Boening’s jump-kick safety at the U.S. Open
See May's shot: Souquet’s force-follow in Derby title match
See June's shot: Davenport Doubles the Points
See July's shot: Reyes’ Cross-Side Bank Break
See August's shot: Deuel’s Electric Draw at U.S. Open
See September's shot: Frank’s Killer Kick at Derby City
See October's shot: Reyes Thinks Thin, Kills Shot
See November's shot: Ulrich Says, “Might as Well Jump”
See December's shot: Parica’s Crazy Combo
See January's shot: Mika’s Mighty Combo
See February's shot: The Rocket’s Aerial Carom
See March's shot: One-Pocket Wonder
See April's shot: Three-Cushion’s First
See May's shot: Archer’s Cut
See June's shot: For the Match...
See July's shot: Earl’s Pearl...
See August's shot: Buddy’s Escape...
See September's shot: Miz Goes Four Rails...

(Check out Accu-Stats’ full library of great shots and amazing matches at www.accu-stats.com)