Canadians Klatt & Morra Impressive at Derby City Classic.

Throughout this past week in southern Indiana the Horseshoe Casino played host to one of the biggest events of the year, the Derby City Classic. Pool Legends, Hustlers and up and comers  alike flock to this eight day event each year. There truly is something for everyone at Derby City as events include 9 Ball, Banks, One Pocket, 14.1 Straight Pool and of course lots of gambling action.

Dennis Orcollo won the 14.1 and with impressive finishes in the other events was awarded the coveted Master of the Table award which added 20,000 to Orcollo's pocket.  Canadians were well represented as Jason (Klatticus) Klatt finished third in the 9 ball event only to lose to friend and fellow Canadian John Morra.

Klatticus who became known a few years ago with his 5th place finish at the U.S Open lost a close match 9-8 to Morra who ended up playing none other than top American, Shane Van Boening, in the final. Morra who's coming out party happened last year when he won the Derby City 9 Ball Banks Tournament was looking to finish a successful week by adding another Derby City title to his resume.

Morra, who lost 11-10 to SVB in the 10 ball Big Foot challenge, was looking for a little revenge as he was on the hill first in that match before SVB won. He then went on to win the tournament. Morra got off to an early 4-1 lead as he came with a good break to start the match and was running racks. Eventually SVB went on to tie it at 5-5 then broke in a 9 to take a 6-5 lead. To Morra's credit he did not let his misfortune bother him and tied the match up at 7-7 then went to the hill first at 8-7. Unfortunately Morra came up with what I believed to be his only dry break of the match and SVB ran out that rack. Morra had another chance in the final rack; he played a beautiful safety but got a bad roll and fluked a ball while leaving himself hooked which cost him the match. However as quoted in an AZbilliard article by David Thompsom from Medium Pool "There was no player, this week, who compared with John's ability to spear in balls, the length of the table, under pressure." 

Morra, who is only 24, is really starting to show his potential. With him and Klatticus playing at such a high level it leaves us Canadians hopeful for another World or U.S open Champ in the near Future.