Littman Lights Northwest Cup 2023
By Zak Ross
The Littman Lights Northwest Cup 2023 was hosted at OX Billiards on Saturday November 18th and Sunday the 19th. This is an annual Mosconi Cup formatted event pitting team Washington vs team Oregon. This year the event was played in Washington State at OX and next year it will be staged in Oregon, most likely at Legends Pool Hall in Beaverton.
For those unfamiliar with the Mosconi format, it is a team format with a mix between singles and scotch doubles matches. Traditionally, the opening round is a Team Match where a player from each team plays one rack in a race to 5 racks. Each round is a race to 5 racks. The team that wins the round earns a team point. The overall team race is to 9 points.
Captains pick players for their teams by selection or tournaments, depending on the team. The teams are constrained by a FargoRate cap of 3,300 points. Meaning, all of the individual FargoRates for each player cannot add up to more than 3,300 points. The rosters for the 2023 teams are:
*FargoRate total established to be under/at 3300 prior to the event.
Prior to this year’s Littman Light Northwest Cup, Team Washington and Team Oregon were tied with two (2) wins each. Washington won the inaugural Northwest Cup in 2018. Oregon won back-to-back in 2019 and 2021, with a historic comeback in 2021 at OX Billiards. (2020 did not occur). Team Washington tied up the standings in 2022 with a win at Legend’s Pool Hall in Beaverton, Oregon. The 2023 edition had the tiebreaker on the line, fans knew they would be treated to fierce competition from the players, and entertaining and insightful commentary from Ra Hanna (On the Wire Creative Media) and legendary professional pool player, Allison Fisher, MBE, aka The Duchess of Doom.
Below is a round by round synopsis of how the battle for Cuppy progressed with links to highlights.
Day 1
R1: Team Format, Race to 5
WA took an early lead in the team format with Sardoncillo, Gibbons and Davee winning three-straight (defeating Marquez, Deitchman, and Holmes, respectively); Gibbons winning via a Break & Run. OR would answer back with Horner and Ortiz winning two-straight (defeating Dumo and Smith) bringing the match to 3-2 in favor of WA. However, Gibbons and Sardoncillo would execute the one-two punch winning back-to-back and clinching a first round victory for team WA (defeating Holmes and Horner).
Result - WA 1 - OR 0
R2: Daniel Sardoncillo vs Mike Deitchman
Sardoncillo got out to an early 3-0 lead but Deitchman answered back with good safety play and a lasered 3-9 combination to bring the match to 3-2. The subsequent early-9ball combination opportunities would hilariously be referred to as “cheese, cheesin’ it, or cheese hunting” from commentator Ra Hanna. Tillamook co-sponsorship for Oregon next year? Time will tell.
After the Break & Run in rack 6, Sardoncillo would go on to clinch victory in rack 7.
Sardoncillo 5 - Deitchman 2.
Highlights:
Result - WA 2 - OR 0
R3: Cole Gibbons vs Paul Marquez
Marquez broke rack 1 and was well on his way to a Break & Run but over-ran the position needed for the 9ball and scratched the cue ball into the upper left pocket. Gibbons received ball-in-hand and sank the 9ball to take rack 1. Gibbons followed-up with a Break & Run in rack 2 to go up 2-0. Gibbons would reach the hill by rack 6 but a couple errors kept Marquez in the match. Gibbons collected himself on rack 8 and sealed the deal with his second Break & Run of the match (and 3rd of the day).
Gibbons 5 - Marquez 3.
Highlights:
Result - WA 3 - OR 0
R4: James Davee & Criegh Dumo vs Brookman Holmes & Molina Ortiz
The first scotch doubles match of the event proved to be very exciting and well-matched! OR jumped out ahead winning racks 1 & 2. WA answered back winning racks 3, 4, & 5. Then each team would trade racks, with WA getting to the hill first by winning rack 7. OR then masterfully executed a Break & Run in rack 8 tying the match 4-4. In the final rack, team WA made a valiant attempt at a Break & Run of their own, but came up short and Davee opted to safety the 8ball on the other side of the 9ball. Holmes kicked at the 8ball, but inadvertently left the open shot for Dumo. Dumo sank the 8ball and Davee finished the 9ball.
The rolls went a bit in WA’s favor this match. That said, Franz Bakery may need to co-sponsor Washington next year. Everyone wins when we can feast on cheese and bread. Unless you’re lactose or gluten intolerant, in which case, my sincere condolences.
Davee & Dumo 5 - Holmes & Ortiz 4.
Highlights:
Result - WA 4 - OR 0
R5: Suzanne Smith vs Matt Horner
With OR down 0-4 and the end of the day looming if WA won, Horner (2019 NW Cup MVP) went to work quickly. Solid runs and safety play, a couple errors from Smith, and Horner was on his way to solidifying the first OR victory and shutout of the event. But Smith said wait a minute now. In rack 5, Smith played a good safety on the 3ball, which caused Horner to pocket scratch on the attempted potting of the 3ball. With ball-in-hand, Smith earned her first rack of the match. Smith 1 - Horner 4. However, the comeback was short lived as Horner would have the break and turn it into a clean runout bringing the first victory of the day for OR.
Smith 1 - Horner 5
Highlights:
Result - WA 4 - OR 1
R6: James Davee vs Molina Ortiz
Ortiz came out strong taking Rack 1 with good defensive play. Ortiz and Davee would then trade chances early on, with Davee taking advantage just a bit more to put him up 2-1. On rack 4, Ortiz scratched on the break, allowing Davee to take ball-in-hand and runout the rack. Davee would get to the hill in the next rack with an excellent positional shot to breakout the 6ball. Ortiz battled back winning 3 straight racks, including the break of the tournament in rack 8, potting a wildly impressive five balls on the break and executing the runout to make the match 4-4. The final rack proved to be a real nail-biter with both players digging deep! Davee attempted to put Ortiz in a 3-foul position but she broke free. Davee would give Ortiz an opportunity after a failed safety on the 5ball. However, Ortiz came up short on her 6ball position. Davee would take advantage and clinch the victory, concluding Day 1 of the event.
Davee 5 - Ortiz 4
Highlights
Result - WA 5 - OR 1
Day 2
R7: Daniel Sardoncillo & Suzanne Smith vs Paul Marquez & Mike Deitchman
The second scotch doubles match of the event was as exciting as the first, this time with both teams trading racks more frequently. OR took rack 1 after a brilliant Marquez safety, but WA answered back with a Break & Run in rack 2. In rack 5 OR would find a quick out with a 3-9 combination, after a successful safety from Deitchman, putting them ahead 3-2. OR would find themselves on the hill first but WA kept them in the match, eventually tying it 4-4. In the final rack, Smith rattled the 4ball leaving a chance for Marquez to sink the 4ball and setup a 6-9 combination and he executed it precisely.
Sardoncillo & Smith 4 - Marquez & Deitchman 5
Highlights:
Result - WA 5 - OR 2
R8: Criegh Dumo vs Brookman Holmes
Dumo got out to an early 2-1 lead after a rack 2 Break & Run, but Holmes would flip the momentum in his favor. After turning the match 3-2 in favor of Holmes, he would go on to leverage influence from his teammates with a 3-9 combination of his own in rack 6, putting him on the hill. On the hill in rack 7 and breaking, Holmes turned it into a clean runout and gained the second win of the day for OR.
Dumo 2 - Holmes 5
Highlights:
Result - WA 5 - OR 3
R9: Cole Gibbons vs Matt Horner
The first (and only) even FargoRated match occurred between Gibbons and Horner in round 9, both rated 690. With OR winning the first two matches of the day, the pressure was on both players to pull a win for their team. Gibbons took rack 1 after a 2ball rattle from Horner. Horner was unable to take advantage of a scratch on the break from Gibbons in rack 2, putting Gibbons up 2-0 early on. Horner played great safeties to try and keep Gibbons contained but he would find his way out while returning safeties of his own. Gibbons would go on to defeat Horner, pushing WA everso closer to victory.
Gibbons 5 - Horner 2
Highlights:
Result - WA 6 - OR 3
R10:
Daniel Sardoncillo & Cole Gibbons vs Paul Marquez & Matt Horner
Gibbons and Horner returned to the table along with teammates Sardoncillo and Marquez for yet another exciting (seriously though, these are my favorite) doubles match! Both teams were tied 1-1 in scotch matches coming into this one and both needed a win to jumpstart some momentum. In rack 2, Marquez received ball-in-hand and played a cheeky 1-9 combination to tie the match 1-1. However, Sardoncillo & Gibbons would get to work, taking advantage of small mistakes and posting a Break & Run in rack 3. With WA on the hill, OR mounted a comeback via strategic safety and positional play, as well as capitalizing on a failed Gibbons safety in rack 7. With the score 4-3 in favor of WA in rack 8, they decided they had stayed on the hill a bit too long and executed a masterful runout after a precision Gibbons’ safety.
Sardoncillo & Gibbons 5 - Marquez & Horner 3
Highlights:
Result - WA 7 - OR 3
R11:
Suzanne Smith vs Molina Ortiz
Ortiz put on a master class runout in Rack 1, showcasing why she was the 2022 NWPA Tour Champion. Smith, seemingly unphased, showed everyone the banks aren’t closed on Sundays afterall in rack 2! And then again in rack 3 with a marvelous reverse bank to put her ahead 2-1 over Ortiz. Both players would capitalize on their opponent’s small mistakes in racks 4-6, with Ortiz executing strong safety play to even it up with Smith, 3-3 going into rack 7. Smith would reach the hill first, putting the squeeze on Ortiz. Ortiz however would get a good roll from a jump shot in rack 8 and stick Smith in a foul position. Ortiz would then showcase her excellent safety play by having Smith commit 3-fouls and bringing the match hill-hill. In the final rack, Ortiz would safety after the break, causing Smith to foul in an attempted jump shot. Ortiz, with ball-in-hand, would chase the cheese and secure a much needed victory for OR.
Smith 4 - Ortiz 5
Highlights:
Result - WA 7 - OR 4
R12:
James Davee vs Mike Deitchman
Davee and Deitchman entered the match both feeling the weight of it but in different ways; Davee needing to get WA to the hill and Deitchman needing to close the gap for OR. Rack 1 had a slow momentum build, where Davee would be the first to capitalize. In rack 3, Deitchman broke well for a leave on the 1ball but it would rattle the pocket, allowing Davee to runout. Up 3-0, Davee continued to put pressure on Deitchman, resulting in Davee reaching the hill first with a shutout looming. The Pool Gods would shine down on Deitchman in rack 5 and he would continue the run for his first rack of the match. Deitchman capitalized on a Davee positional mistake in rack 6 and then runout. Deitchman would Break & Run rack 7, and execute an excellent safety in rack 8 causing Davee to scratch, bringing the match hill-hill. Deitchman broke rack 9 but unfortunately played a poor pushout and subsequent failed safety, allowing Davee to return to the table one last time and claim victory.
Davee 5 - Deitchman 4
Highlights:
Result - WA 8 - OR 4
R13:
Cole Gibbons & Criegh Dumo vs Brookman Holmes & Mike Deitchman
With the game-set-match on the line, both teams utilized their defensive prowess to navigate the first rack. WA snatched rack 2 after a jump shot rolled in Gibbons’ favor. WA would take advantage of unfortunate rolls and positional plays from OR in racks 3 & 4, putting them up 3-1 over OR. In rack 5 OR would take advantage of a Gibbons 2ball rattle to bring the match to 2-3 in favor of WA. However, a small mistake from OR in rack 6 would put WA on the hill. Gibbons broke rack 7 and scratched, giving an opportunity for OR. A rattle of the 3ball from Holmes would allow WA to capitalize and mount a runout to claim the Northwest Cup title for WA!
Gibbons & Dumo 5 - Holmes & Deitchman 2
Highlights:
Result - WA 9 - OR 4
The MVP was awarded to Cole Gibbons for winning all of the matches he was involved in. He posted an impressive 71% rack winrate in Singles and 67% rack winrate in Doubles.
Overall Player Stats
I would like to applaud and thank the sponsors of the Northwest Cup: Littman Lights for being the primary sponsor and providing the exceptional table lighting. OX Billiards for the high-quality Rasson tables, production, and space for the event. Jam Up Apparel for the two sets of team jerseys. On the Wire Creative Media, Ra Hanna, and Allison Fisher for the expert commentary. Professional pool player Chris Reinhold for the event photography. And many, many others for the coordination and success of the event.
Special shoutout to Christian Youngers on the production side: operating the cameras, creating instant replays, and ensuring the stream quality was professional tier. And thank you to Nicole Donisi for her timely, quick-thinking, and hilarious graphics throughout the weekend. All of these aforementioned elements combined to create an aesthetic, and atmosphere, akin to professional pool standards (Matchroom).
Supporting amateur events uplifts the pool community, showcases rising talents, and highlights local legends. If you ever have the opportunity to experience the Northwest Cup in person, I highly recommend you do. The level of play, competitiveness, and sportsmanship will influence your own game in positive ways.
