by InsidePOOL Staff

After a gripping two-set final match, Steve Moore triumphed over Glen Atwell to cinch the 8-ball division of the U.S. Bar Table Championships in Reno, NV. The week-long, $24,500-added event was hosted by the Sands Regency Hotel & Casino.

Moore won the hot seat Saturday night from Atwell after a hotly contested hill-hill match and waited for his final opponent. On the one-loss side Sunday, Stan Tourangeau swept through his first two matches, first besting Nick Kruger 5-1 and then Darren Appleton, who had just eliminated Tyler Edey 5-3, in a quick 5-2 match. There, though, his run ended, as Atwell was determined to make it back to Moore and the finals and won the semifinal match against Tourangeau 5-2.

Atwell won the first set of the true double-elimination finals handily 5-2 and looked to do the same in the second set, reaching a 4-2 lead. At that point, though, Moore came back with a vengeance, tying the match at 4 apiece. In the case game Atwell had the break but came up dry. Moore wisely opted to play defense, and Atwell took a flyer at a kiss-combo that didn’t go. It was a tremendous out for Moore, who made his way through the rack to a 5-4 victory.

It was a very close race for the all-around championship, but Atwell prevailed and took home a $2,000 bonus. Appleton came in second and won $1,000, while Moore earned $500 for his third-place finish. Additionally, the event gives out a “Barbecue Award” to the player who goes two and out in every division. This year Lee Silkwood won, earning a free entry into each of the divisions at next year’s event.

As well as first place in the 8-ball division and third in the all-around, Moore earned a nickname for himself at this event. While Appleton and tournament director Ken Shuman were working in the commentary booth, Appleton suggested that Moore be called “The Blade” in reference to him dressing so sharply.

After a gripping two-set final match, Steve "The Blade" Moore triumphed over Glen Atwell to cinch the 8-ball division of the U.S. Bar Table Championships in Reno, NV.

Results:

1st Steve Moore $5,400

2nd Glen Atwell $3,200

3rd Stan Tourangeau $2,200

4th Darren Appleton $1,500

5th Tyler Edey $950

Nick Kruger

7th Jerry Matchin $700

Shane Van Boening

9th Jason Kirkwood $500

Johnathan Pinegar

Arlo Walsman

Joey Gray

13th Steve Rector $275

Chip Compton

Paul Juarez

Mitch Ellerman

17th Chris MacDonald $175

Ric Jones

Jose Parica

Joseph Palley

Leonard Swisher

Jordan Rothermel

Donald Wirtaman

Justin Whitehead