Hotshot Amateur Earns Legendary Status With $8K Break and Run

Jeremy Isard photo courtesy  of the  The Pool Scene

By: Erik Hjorleifson

Last week at Formac Billiards in Burlington Ontario, local  shooter Jeremy Isard to my knowledge won the biggest break and run pot in Canadian history and one of the largest ones in the history of similar competitions in North America. I can remember Jason Klatt informing me of a monster break and run pot in Wisconsin a few years back that was up to about $40,000. I never did hear who the eventual winner was. Personally I have won a few in my life, the biggest one being for about $700 but this definitely pales in comparison to the feat Jeremy accomplished last week running out a rack for $8000!!

I spoke to Isard and he gave some of the details and he informed me that this 9 ball break and run challenge had been running for over 3 years. One player is drawn per week and money is awarded on a per ball basis, if a player scratches then all his balls are void. Unfortunately this did happen to a player a few weeks back scratching on the 6 ball, a very expensive scratch to say the least. In this format the breaker does not have to make a ball on the break.

This was the key for Isard who is a highly competitive amateur player. He plays mostly in Ontario and has won numerous high level events on  404 K tour. Jeremy informed me that before the draw that night he was practicing a break where he was not concerned with making a ball, he focused more with the position he would get on the 1 ball. He noticed that although he usually breaks from the side rail he was able to control the 1 ball better by breaking from closer to the center of the table. After an hour of practicing just his break, he waited and hoped to be drawn for the chance at a huge payday.

He had never been drawn in the past but this day ended up being his lucky day. He stepped up to break and executed exactly what he has was practicing skillfully bringing the 1 ball back over the top corner just as he planned. He was off to the races and ended up being a little out of line on the 4 but made a beautiful carom off the 4 ball and got a shot on the 4. To finish the rack he moved the cue ball table length from the 8 and landed perfect on the 9 to take home the full $8000 prize.

Post by Jeremy Isard.

There is a certain kind of pressure that comes with these break and run challenges particularly when it is not per ball, there is only one option and that is to run out, there is no playing safe. Also there are no second chances its all or nothing. Jeremy would like to thank the directors of the C,P.A (Canadian Poolplayers Association) Mike Cumberland and Dennis MacDonald and we would like to extend a big congratulations to Isard on a job well done.