“The Hatchetman” Dennis Hatch Chops Down Darren Appleton in the Historic $40,000 Action Report Match

In an epic race to 100 set over 3 days at Pool Shark’s pool room in Las Vegas, two of the strongest pool players in the world, Dennis Hatch and Darren Appleton, went head-to-head in an Action Report Challenge Match, which streamed live on the web.  While previous Action Challenge matches have been a winner-take-all set for $20,000–the prize was now doubled to $40,000.

This duo was an interesting match, as Appleton is an internationally-known champion, recently claiming the 2008 WPA World 10-Ball Championship in Manila, and while Hatch (known as “The Hatchetman,” for chopping down his opponents) may not have as much clout, he has been one of the most-feared players in America for over a decade and recently has an unmatched winning record on the 2009 Joss Tour.  

Both of these players have previous experience as boxers, and in this battle of nerves, they would need to evoke the spirit of a prize fighter.  And just like in a boxing ring, both players had their fans supporting them.  Dennis had the “home field advantage” in this area, but Darren had a contingent of English supporters as well, who made their best attempts to rattle the Hatchetman.

However, Dennis was the player who truly showed the colors of a champion over this 3-day marathon.  While the two players stayed toe-to-toe on the first two days, Dennis pulled away on Day 3 and exhibited some incredible play and tremendous heart, winning by a score of 100-83.

What is really interesting to me about a 3-day marathon challenge is that each opponent has to manage his energy and his game appropriately.  Dennis led the way throughout the set, showing his capability to achieve this–leaving a big impression on pool fans both at in Las Vegas and watching live on web.   

I had a friend that had an American muscle car who showed me that it was possible to shift gears without using a clutch.  He would have to time the RPM’s just right and have just the right touch, but he could in fact do it.  In that same way, while it may be difficult at times to catch the right gear at the table, Dennis persevered, and came with the heart and the stroke to achieve amazing feats on the table on the 3rd day.

While speaking with The Action Report’s Chad “Big Nasty” Pollman at the Allen Hopkins Million-Dollar 9-ball Challenge, he said, “If Dennis catches a high gear, nobody wants to play him,” and toward the end of the 100-game race, it appeared that Darren Appleton didn’t, either.

Check out the video below which includes my interview with Chad…

However, a rematch between is already in the works, and Darren will want to avenge his loss and prove to the world he has the resilience to bounce back–with the prize fund doubled.

NYC Grind’s Geoff Conway was on the scene as this historical match went down, so read on for his breakdown of how the 3-day marathon played out… 

- Jerry T

…

 

DAY ONE

At 5:00 pm on Monday evening the 4th of May 2009, Dennis Hatch and Darren Appleton were interviewed in the pit at Pool Sharks Pool Room in Las Vegas just before the start of this much-publicized event. Dennis, who is flying high on the Joss Northeast 9 Ball Tour and has numerous titles to his name, was matched up against Darren Appleton of England, to play a Ten Ball format game with a race  to 100 games.

Monday evening would play out until 35 games had been reached. Tuesday night the race would go to 70 games, and Wednesday night the race would climax with the winner reaching 100 games.

Darren is the present WPA World 10-Ball Champion, and was pitting himself against “The Hatchetman” Dennis Hatch in a winner-take-all match worth $40,000 to the winner. 

 

Dennis said that he felt 16 years old again, stating that it’s been a long time since he has played for such a large amount of money, and said that he was nervous and excited at the same time.

Darren said that he was playing well and was looking forward to the match and pointed out that this was not a Joss event. Meaning, I guess, that he was a different calibre of player than those that play on the Joss Tour, and that Dennis’s wins did not necessarily mean that he was such a great player. These words would come back to haunt him in the ensuing three days play.

After the usual handshakes, they lagged for the break which Dennis won. Dennis broke and the cameras started rolling and The Action Report show got on the road.

Dennis won the first game, but let Darren win the next four games to put the score at 4-1 to Darren. Darren stretched it out to 7-3, before Dennis gradually wound him in to tie the score at 8-8.

Darren just kept his nose in front over the next 7 games before Dennis once again leveled the match at 12-12.Dennis just kept his nose in front until Darren levelled it again at 19-19.

Dennis won the next game to get it to 20-19 but got stuck on 20 letting Darren pull ahead to 23-20. Unfortunately for Darren, this is where Dennis put his game into another gear and forged ahead, never letting Darren win another game for 10 games, putting the score at 30-23 in his favor.

Dennis was by then playing like the Dennis that we know, and soon finished the first session with a score line of 35-26. This session took 5 hrs and 20 mins, finishing at 11:30 pm.

To summarize the play of the first session, one would have to say that neither player showed their “A” game, and both were clearly nervous and playing defensive pool. There were also numerous bad shots by both players, and the viewers were definitely not seeing world-class pool at this juncture.

So after the first part of this trilogy, we had Dennis Hatch out in front by 9 games in what was a bit of a let down in performance by both players. I think that everybody who witnessed that evening’s play were always thinking that one or the other of the players was going to capitalize on the other’s mistakes. But, it never happened because just as you thought someone would gain ground they would also make an uncharacteristic mistake, and let the other player back in the game.

 

DAY TWO

Well, day two of this match would be much of the same, with neither player once again showing any of the great shot making we know they can both come up with. Dennis had the score at 38-28 after five games, giving him a 10-game lead in the session.

Darren however, had other ideas on the matter, and got the score back to its closest  over the whole three days 40-36. But after another 17 games Dennis was ahead by 9 games.

Darren managed to get it back to within 5 games on three occasions before Dennis put on another spurt at the end to finish the session at 70-63 in his favor.

To summarize this session, it was clear that even with Dennis not playing his “A” game he was easilly keeping his nose in front . He was playing the better safety game, which was key in his staying ahead in the game. This was clearly another lack-lustre session, which everyone wondering if we would ever see world class play from either player.

This session, mainly due to the lack of run outs and safety play, went into the early hours of the next morning, and took 7 hours and 15 minutes, finishing at 1:15 am.

Both players admitted to be still suffering from nerves, and Dennis said that his hands were shaking when he was taking his shots.

 

DAY THREE

Day three saw a completely refreshed and invigorated Dennis, who clearly looked sharp, right from the get go. This was the shotmaking Hatch that we know, and he soon crept ahead after the next 29 games to be ahead by 10 games.

Then at 90-78, with a 12-game lead, Mr. Hatch moved into another gear, and you could clearly tell that he could see the winning post in sight.  Over the next ten games, Dennis forged ahead to finish the match out at 100-83. He came with some stunning play, which clearly had the appreciation of this knowledgable crowd. This session took 4 hrs 40 minutes, and finished at 9:40 pm.

Darren’s body language halfway through the last session clearly told the tale, and you could see that he just wanted the torture to end.

Darren was clearly upset by his performance in this much-hyped event, and just made too many mistakes over this long-haul event, and just could not make any gain on the lead that Dennis had at the end of the first session.

Plans are already afoot for a re-match at $40,000 per man, to be held at another venue in the States.

I feel that we are going to see many more of this type of Challenge Match, and suggest that you all keep your eye on TheActionReport.com for future details.

It was clear from the numbers of online viewers that the public really appreciate these matches. Well done Justin, Chad, and the crew at TAR!

 

My congratulations go out to Dennis for winning this great Challenge Match, which clearly captured the sort of interest that is usually only associated with a big fight at the Garden.

These events can only be good for the game of pool, and clearly show that heart and character are by far the most important attributes that make a winner.

It was really exciting to be right there watching the action live, and I trust that those that watched it online enjoyed the coverage of the event as well.

 

Geoff Conway  “Pool Junkie”