By Zak Ross and Mike Dominguez

Professional Snooker player Ricky Walden paid a visit to OX this summer as a part of his journey through the United States and Canada. On his first stop in Seattle, he was staged to play Alex Newstead in snooker and nineball. Alex is an OX member and locally known for his pool and snooker ability. Then, Ricky was to head over to Top 147 Snooker club in Richmond, BC for some exhibition frames and coaching clinics. Afterward, he returned to OX to play local players in a pro-am style tournament (where he made a 146 break!) and an exhibition the next day (where he made a 136 break!). Say what you will about Ricky, but the man loves to play snooker and is a great ambassador for snooker. He is very much appreciated and loved in the pacific west of North America.

At the end of the exhibition in Seattle, Ricky agreed to an impromptu nineball match against local talent and OX sponsored player, Daniel Sardoncillo. Ricky is a very humble person that wants to learn and after the match you could see Daniel and Ricky discussing certain shots during their match. It was fairly advanced conversations and you could tell Ricky was soaking it all in. nineball is a very different game than snooker and when playing highly skilled and knowledgeable players, you need to learn as much as possible.

Wednesday June 7th, Walden and Newstead played a best of three frames in snooker. Alex had a few shots, but Ricky showed his skill and made big breaks to win the match 2-0. Alex had a smile on his face as he had the best seat in the house. Then, they faced-off in a nineball Race to 5, alternate break, match. Everyone was eager to see how well Ricky would do on a pool table he’s never played on. He tried out a few cues beforehand and settled on a Potts cue used for Chinese 8-ball. He took a few tester shots on the tables and they were ready to go. YouTube video replay: https://www.youtube.com/live/dC8Q_tAlHso?feature=share

Rack 1, Walden broke and made two on the break, but the cueball decided to hide behind the 7ball putting Walden in a push position. After the push, Newstead answered back with a solid defense on the 2ball, leaving it up table and the cueball at the opposite end behind a cluster of balls. Walden attempted a one-rail kick to make contact but scratched in the upper right corner. With ball-in-hand, Newstead ran the 2-4-5-6 but fell out of position setting-up for the 7ball which forced him to attempt a bank. Newstead missed the bank, leaving Walden to take the 7-8-9 for the first rack, 1-0.

Rack 2, Newstead made the 3ball on the break, and played a smooth touch safety to lock up the 1ball behind the 9ball and 6ball. Walden made contact with the 1ball, giving Newstead a chance for a shot in the lower right corner. However, Newstead would miscue, giving ball-in-hand to Walden. Walden would proceed to run the 4-5-6-7, playing great shape for the 7ball but leaving a thin slice on the 8ball. Walden would overcut the 8ball, leaving an opportunity for Newstead to get on the board. Newstead made the 8ball but left an awkward long shot for the 9ball. Stretched out over the table, Newstead would make the 9ball but the cueball would scratch in the opposite lower corner, putting Walden ahead 2-0.

This was unfortunate nervous energy on Alex’s part. If he was to have a chance versus Ricky, early mistakes needed to be capitalized upon. Ricky was getting more familiar with the table with each rack.

Rack 3, Walden would break dry leaving a mostly open table. Newstead chose to play safe but left the 1ball exposed for a shot in the lower left corner. Walden would proceed to run the table, executing a great draw shot from the 7ball to the 8ball. He would make short work of the remaining balls giving him a 3-0 lead.

Rack 4, Newstead broke and made two on the break, giving open position for the 1ball. Newstead would slice the 2ball by the 8ball, but leave himself a long table and only a half ball look on the 4ball. Newstead attempted the cross-bank in the lower left corner but it rattled out, leaving Walden a long up table shot. Walden would send the 4ball and 6ball into the same upper left corner, leaving himself the 7ball in the side. He would follow for position on the 8ball, sinking that and the 9ball for a 4-0 lead.

Rack 5, Walden broke dry again but this time Newstead would have to play a push out. Newstead pushed but set up Walden for a bank safety, locking up the cueball behind the 5ball. Newstead attempted a jumpshot but fouled, giving Walden ball-in-hand. Walden would run the rack out, but not without a couple tricky slice shots on the 8ball and 9ball, ultimately sealing the victory 5-0.

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On Sunday June 11, after the exhibition, Ricky Walden would have another go at nineball, this time against OX sponsored player Daniel Sardoncillo. Commentary again from Lee Gordon (Ricky Walden’s Manager) and Christian Youngers captivated this impromptu match. A quick Race to 5 once again, with an alternate break format. YouTube video replay: https://www.youtube.com/live/NAsnSUFei_E?feature=share

Walden would win the lag and break for Rack 1, making two balls on the break and setting himself up for a 2ball in the right-hand side-pocket. However, Walden would try to cheat the side-pocket and have the 2ball pass the 4ball, but the cueball followed for a scratch. Sardoncillo would take ball-in-hand and make exceptionally quick work of the remaining balls, putting him up 1-0 over Walden.

Rack 2, Sardoncillo broke, making one on the break, leaving an open table. Sardoncillo made routine work of the 1-2-3-5, but would misjudge the 6ball into the lower right pocket. Walden chose to play safe on the 6ball, but left Sardoncillo a look to safety back. Sardoncillo’s safety forced Walden to kick at the 6ball. With the open shot, Sardoncillo would run the 6-7-8-9 to go ahead 2-0.

Rack 3, Walden broke making two on the break but was forced to try and play safe behind the 8ball. Walden left the 1ball open, allowing Sardoncillo to run the table, extending his lead 3-0.

Rack 4, Sardoncillo broke, making one on the break, setting himself up for the 1ball in the upper left corner. Sardoncillo would showcase he came to play. He ran out the table but unfortunately rattled a 9ball bank shot into the right-hand side-pocket, leaving Walden a slice into the lower left corner. Sardoncillo still up 3-1.

Rack 5, Walden again made two on the break, priming himself for a break-and-run with an open table. Walden would run several balls, then send the 7ball up the left long rail, positioning himself for a thin 8ball into the upper right corner. Walden smoothly made the 8ball but the cueball bumped the 9ball on the way back down. With a very long thin slice up table, Walden secured the first break-and-run of the match! Walden closing-in at 2-3.

Rack 6, Sardoncillo broke and made the 3ball on the break. He opted for a thin reverse cut on the 1ball into the upper left corner but came up short leaving an open table for Walden. Walden would take the 1-2 but under-hit the 4ball, leaving a safe opportunity on the 5ball. Sardoncillo returned to the table and also played safe on the 5ball. Walden attempted to return the safe again but left Sardoncillo a shot into the upper left corner. Sardoncillo proceeded to run the 5-6-7-8-9 to put him on the hill, 4-2.

Rack 7, Walden broke, making the 8ball on the break and leaving a fairly open table. Walden almost snookered himself behind the 7ball for position on the 3ball, but came out well-enough, allowing him to take the 3-4. The 5ball proved tricky as Walden attempted a bank shot but the resulting rattle incidentally left a safety. Sardoncillo attempted safe on the 5ball, leaving Walden a thin cut. However, Walden proceeded to miss this cut, allowing Sardoncillo to return to the table and run out the 5-6-7-9 for the win. Sardoncillo victorious 5-2 over Walden!

After an amazing show in Seattle and Richmond, BC, Ricky took a vacation from the cue and traveled around the US then reunited with Mike in New York where he once again could not get off the snooker table. To Ricky and Lee, best of luck this upcoming season in snooker and Heyball.