Shane wins big at Diamond
Shane Van Boening former World Ten Ball Champion once again shows his total dominance over his peers. Amongst world champions in multiple disciplines, the so called “ South Dakota Kid” once again shows that his skill ultimate in ten ball. The crowd never ceased to be amazed at the tremendous power from his break. Combine that with an incredibly stroke, and you could well argue that this tournament was his to throw away.
Undefeated in the preliminarys, Shane beat Louie Smith 7-2, James Roberts 7-1, Neil Fujiwara 8-2, Larry Nevel 8-2 and Mika Immonen 8-5. Giving himself a shot at his first Seminole Pro Tour championship, Van Boening would await the victor of a powerful loser’s side division.
On the Loser’s side Larry Nevel was clearing a path straight for the title. He eliminated Johnny Archer 8-3, and Stevie Moore 8-2. Unfortunately Nevel would fall one game short of a shot at the title, as he would succumb to “The Iceman” in an epic hill-hill battle.
The finals were set, pitting the same finalists from last weeks Mezz classic Shane Van Boening and Mika Immonen. The two exchanged heavy body blows early on. But it would be Shane who started pulling away. Leading 6-4 and looking like he was going to cruise to victory, Shane missed a very makeable 6 ball. This would allow Mika to close the gap to 6-5. This would prove to be a very key game indeed.
In the twelfth game, both players hacked back and forth for control. With a difficult rack the two players exchanged safeties. It looked like Shane would be the one to blink first after he attempted a kick safety. However the four ball that hung in the jaws of the hungry pocket was unkind to “The Iceman”. After pocketing the long-distance four, Mika would scratch in the opposite corner pocket.
Leading 7-5, it would seem that frustration would begin to take its icy grip over Immonen. An errant push at the conception of the 13th game would leave him in a deep disadvantage. After contemplating for several minutes, Mika failed at an off angle two-rail kick to make contact on the one ball. Visibly shaken at the direction the match was taking, Mika was forced to sit and watch as Shane would take control of this game as well as the match. Exercising his precision cue ball control and beautiful shot making, Shane would run out the rack and lay claim to the hill at 8 games to 5.
However Immonen championship skill would not allow him to go down easily. Mika would make a great run-out in the next rack after a botched safety by Van Boening. Immediately after that, Mika came with a crusher of a break. He was unable to come up with a clean shot on the one and was forced to play safe. Both former US Open champions would engage in a safety battle. Van Boening would secure the first opportunity acquiring ball in hand after a missed kick on the 1 ball by Immonen. Unfortunately for Shane however it would not be the last opportunity in the rack. Tricky position below the 8 ball forced a miss from the young champion.