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All Eyes on 8-Ball
by Kirstin Pires

The field continues to narrow at the Camel Pro 8-Ball Open as the final 24 players jockey for the big cash. With half of the money-winners -- this year he Camel 8-Ball pays down to 48th place -- have taken their checks, 23 men and one woman are looking for the $30,000 top prize.

Last night's surprises included a 7-2 thrashing of Kim Davenport by Ray Shultz. Shultz, who recently bought Nick Varner's Owensboro, Ky., poolroom, was a little bemused by the win. "I've only played 20 hours in the last four months," he said. "I'm just trying to pocket balls."

Eight ball, an unusual game for pro tournaments, is one of Shultz's favorites. "I enjoy the mental part of it," he said. "I think that's why a a lot of the other guys don't do as well, they don't enjoy the game."

The bleachers ringing the eight Diamond tournament tables in a sectioned-off ballroom at the Riviera were full of appreciative American Poolplayers Association players, also in Las Vegas for their national team competition.

"I feed off the crowd, I love to get them riled up," said Shultz. "And they know what's happening, here. In 9-ball, they don't know what's going on."

Shultz, still undefeated, next meets Dave Matlock, legendary bar box player who last year made a statement on the big tables at the Camel Denver stop, taking second to Allen Hopkins.

Wed. 8 p.m. Results (one loss)
Griffis d. Fix 7-2
Reyes d. Facquet 7-3
Okumura d. Kiamco 7-1
Goodwin d. Dominguez 7-6
Robles d. Hoa 7-2
Hopkins d. Deuel 7-4
Bustamante d. Watson 7-3

Wed. 10 p.m. Results
undefeated side:
Immonen d. Varner 7-0
Kawabata d. Parica 7-5
Shultz d. Davenport 7-2
Matlock d. Garrahan 7-6
Sambajon d. Garcia 7-6
one-loss side:
Williams d. Ignacio 7-6
Takahashi d. Herchik 7-3
SanSouci d. Archer 7-6

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Since 1978, Billiards Digest magazine has been the pool world’s best source for news, tournament coverage, player profiles, bold editorials, and advice on how to play pool. Our instructors include superstars Nick Varner and Jeanette Lee. Every issue features the pool accessories and equipment you love — pool cues, pool tables, instruction aids and more. Columnists Mike Shamos and R.A. Dyer examine legends like Willie Mosconi and Minnesota Fats, and dig deep into the histories of pool games like 8-ball, 9-ball and straight pool.