Eight Deuce · Tournament #20

Juan Lopez Wins the Finale, and Mike Conner Stops Going Out First

Lee Ugarte had the title in his pocket a month ago. The last night belonged to two men who had not had one all year.

Fifteen players came back for the last tournament of the season and put $1,020 up, half as much again as either of the last two. Juan Lopez won it with four knockouts in four hours and thirty-seven minutes and took $405 — his first Eight Deuce win, at his eleventh attempt, and the second of his career.

The man he beat, in under eight minutes heads-up, was Mike Conner. Conner had been the first player out of five of the nine Eight Deuce tournaments he had played, including the last two before this one. On Friday he rebought, made three knockouts and finished second for $285, comfortably his best night since the league started.

Rick Mazza made five knockouts, more than anyone, and was third for $190. Warren Mervin was fourth for $140, cashing for the third tournament in a row after fifteen straight without one.

Where the money went

The title

Lee Ugarte finished fourteenth on the night and won the season by a hundred and twelve points. He is the Player of the Year on 417.67 with four wins, two second places and a total that no one got within reach of after August.

Jeff Holderman, who held the title, ends the year on the other side of the ledger: seven starts, no cash in any of them, and a fifteenth-place finish to close it. He cashed six times in nine tournaments in 2021.

The undercard

David Doole bubbled in fifth. Rick Mickaliger made three knockouts and came seventh, and Angela Cain ninth.

The bigger picture

Ten tournaments, seven different winners, and one man with four of them — the first season in which anybody has won more than twice. Paul Coffman takes second in the standings on 305.63 without winning after May.

The Annual follows on November 12 and the Tournament of Champions eight days after it.

Eight Deuce #20 — Friday, October 14, 2022. 15 entrants, 3 rebuys, four paid from a $1,020 prize pool. Final tournament of the 2022 season; Player of the Year counts each player’s best eight scores.