True Tales from the Derby City Classic

Cardiac kid: Heart-attack survivor Price reclaimed his banks crown. (Photo by Dennis Myron Cox)

On the Rebound

Not many have won an event at Derby more than once. Those who have, like three-time 9-ball champ Ralf Souquet and five-time one-pocket titlist Efren Reyes, walk around the halls of the Executive West while the shortstops and sweators jab elbows into each other to take notice.

Larry Price joined that elite cadre by winning this year's DCC 9-Ball Banks division. His first win was in 2002, but that seems like more than just six years ago for a man who has faced bigger obstacles than an opponent on the hill.

Price, 56, missed every Derby City Classic between 2003-2006 with major cardiac problems that kept him from road-tripping to Louisville from his hometown of Morehead, Ky.

"I hadn't been playing a whole lot of pool, really," he said. "I've been sick. I had three heart attacks. They put some stents in my heart. But other than that, my heart is getting better."

Finally back in pool-playing shape in 2007, Price returned to Derby and finished 12th in the banks division. In a 416-player field. With virtually no practice.

"I told my sponsor, 'Before I go down there this year, I'm gonna play about a week. I feel like I can win it.'" He said. "So I played four or five days in a row coming down here."

Price rolled in his first few matches, but stumbled in the eighth round against Mark Tadd. Tied at 2-2 with one ball left on the table, Tadd nailed a two-rail bank to hand Price his first loss.

In the tenth round, Price faced an undefeated Sylver Ochoa. The 22-year-old Texan lost the match, but won his next to join Price and Shawn Putnam in the final three. Price drew the bye and awaited the winner of the semifinal.

Ochoa and Putnam waged a defensive battle, with both players unwilling to unglue the cue ball from the short rails. Ochoa cleaned up two balls in the case game to move into the final.

"I felt comfortable about playing him because I've seen his style of play," Price said of Ochoa. "It seemed to me he had a problem with his long rails. And naturally, that's what I tried to leave him."

The strategy worked. On the hill at 2-1, Price saw an opening with three balls floating around the foot spot. He went cross-corner, cross-side then cross-corner to take his second Derby City Banks title.

"When I get home I'll be so sore and stiff I won't be able to get out of the house for a week," the champion said. "But like I said, I'm just fortunate to be here."

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