Jay Hlavachek crowned Denver 10-Ball Open Champion
On July 24 & 25, Tables Steaks South (soon to be known as Billiards Ink) in Englewood, Colorado hosted the Denver 10-Ball Open and Cue Show. This inaugural $1,500 added event boasted 47 of the best players from across the state, including a couple from New Mexico and Ontario, Canada. Chris Byrne Custom Cues and many other local cue makers and vendors also took the opportunity to display their handcrafted work.
Of the elite, Boulder resident Jay Hlavachek was crowned the Denver 10-Ball Open Champion. He has competed in several professional events in the past but this hometown victory was so sweet for many reasons. When Hlavachek arrived Saturday morning he was less than impressed with his warm up performance. The full-time real estate agent has been focusing more on his career than his pool game.
But once the tournament kicked off, the slimmer new healthier Hlavachek came alive and tore through the field to go undefeated into the finals. In the first match on Sunday, Hlavachek would send Bill Skinner to the B-side with a 7-4 victory. While there, the senior player eliminated Tony Piazza, Ruben Silva, and Kiko Ibarra for a chance at a rematch with Hlavachek.
Skinner came on strong claiming the first set 7-2. Now, in a shorter race to 5, it seemed he still had the momentum, taking the first game. The two kept it close, exchanging racks until 3-3 when Hlavachek pulled away to close out the set 5-3. “I’m excited. It feels good to win. This is something to improve on,” said the modest Hlavachek.
Online brackets can be found at AzBilliards.com. Live streaming was provided by The BigTruck Show at PoolActionTV.com.
| 1st | Jay Hlavachek | $1,330 |
| 2nd | Bill Skinner | $640 |
| 3rd | Kiko Ibarra | $330 |
| 4th | Ruben Silva | $240 |
| 5/6th | Rick Field
Tony Piazza |
$150 |
| 7/8th | Nelson M
Chuey Rivera |
$110 |
| 9-12th | Mike D
Bill Meacham Sam Cordova ATM Andy |
$70 |
I had the honor of speaking with the owners about their new venture.
About Billiards Ink
Table Steaks South will soon be known as Billiards Ink. Bobby Brown, Jr., along with his girlfriend and business partner Antoinette Wharton, are the proud new owners and believe in creating a service-oriented atmosphere for all customers. The ten 9-footers and nine 7-footers have all been newly recovered. There are also a snooker table and a billiard table. Other improvements include a larger menu selection, lower food and prices, a cheerful, friendly staff, daily fresh baked cookies and brownies, and a future tattoo parlor (hence, Billiards “Ink”).
Some may think it’s crazy to invest in a pool hall during the off season and in these tough economic times, but Brown and Wharton are both optimistic about the upcoming challenges. They’re here for the long haul and plan to continue promoting pool by hosting more high profile money-added events, pool clinics, and a variety of leagues. “When you bite off more than you can chew, you just keep chewing,” said Brown.
Upcoming Event
Billiard Ink Bar Table 8-Ball Championship
$1,000 added
August 21-22
Race to 5/4
$30 entry + $5 gf
Call 303.789.0651 for more info
