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Stroke of Genius

May 2009: Archer’s Cut




Player: Johnny Archer
Event: Sands Regency XII 9-Ball Open
Date: June 9, 1991


LISTEN TO any pool player and you’ll hear how the best player doesn’t always necessarily win. Sometimes people get lucky, sometimes the balls roll funny, sometimes it’s just not meant to happen.

But often, it is more about capitalizing when given an opportunity.

At the 1991 Sands Regency Open, Johnny Archer certainly caught a break when Jim Rempe overshot shape on the 6 ball. On the hill, 8-7, and apparently on his way out, Rempe was forced to play safe. He put the cue ball on the short rail and sent the 6 ball to the other side of the table.

At the very least, Archer had another turn at the table, but the lanky 22-year-old didn’t have much of an opportunity. He was facing a table-length thin cut on the 6 ball. Make that, and Archer still had to deal with the 7 ball, which was tied up near the foot spot.

Finding the exact contact point on the 6 ball, Archer sent the cue ball uptable, knocking the 6 in the corner. It then hit both short rails before breaking up the 7-9 cluster. The cue ball pushed the 9 out to the center of the table and moved the 7 just a few inches toward the side pocket.

After sneaking in a double fist pump as the crowd erupted in applause, Archer settled himself down to clean up the final three balls, forcing a case game for the title.

After the two exchanged safeties early in the rack, Archer found an opening and ran out for his first major title, with many more to follow.

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


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