The Games
9-Ball Bank – January 17th, 2025
- Players Meeting, 10 am; Draw immediately following
- Match Play begins at 11:00 am
- Total Purse: $96,250* approximate
- Guaranteed Added $25,000
- Entry Fee $160**
- Buy-In Option $100
- Single Elimination w/ 1 Buyback Option
- Race to 3
- Foul results in loss of ball
- Spouse wristband $50
*Total Purse based on the field of 475 players (max 475)
** Entry fee includes a $10 registration fee
9-Ball Bank Rules
Winner of the lag decides who breaks first. Coin toss is acceptable if both players agree.
Nine balls are racked in a diamond pattern with the head ball on the spot. Use the triangle rack. When racking, do not touch the front balls, only push from the back balls.
Winner of previous game decides who breaks the next game.
A legal break requires the player to strike the head ball first and drive at least one object ball past the side pockets. If your break is illegal, the opponent may either accept the table in position or require you to break again.
The shooter must call the intended pocket and exact number of cushions before shooting. Short rails do not count.
A ball is illegally pocketed if it: goes into other than the called pocket; contacts other than the exact number of cushions called; caroms off any other object ball before being pocketed; is pocketed by a combination; contacts the cue ball more than once on the same shot. All illegally pocketed object balls and object balls knocked off the table are spotted.
Kick shots are not allowed to count as a banked ball.
Any scratch or foul results in loss of a ball. If you have no balls to spot, you “owe” a ball. You must spot what you owe at the end of your inning in which you have balls available to spot.
The incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string after a scratch or cue ball off the table foul. The cue ball stays in position for other fouls, not specifically addressed in the rules. If a scratch or foul is “slept” and subsequently remembered, the ball is spotted after each player has shot once.
If the ball count scores of both players reach a negative count, the negatives will cancel each other out, until at least one player gets back to a ball count of zero.
Any ball count score that reaches negative five (-5) is loss of game.
It is a foul if a player deliberately traps or wedges the cue ball in the jaw of a pocket. In addition to the foul penalty, the opponent receives cue ball in hand behind the head string.
If a player wishes to take a deliberate cue ball foul, they must use their cue tip to strike the cue ball with a forward stroke. If they strike the cue ball with anything other than the cue tip, in addition to the foul penalty, the opponent receives cue ball in hand behind the head string and it is considered unsportsmanlike conduct.
The object ball closest to the head string is spotted if this occurs. If 2 or more object balls are the same distance from the head string, the incoming shooter will designate which ball to spot.
The first player who legally pockets five (5) banked balls wins the game.
One-Pocket – January 19TH, 2025
- Players Meeting, 10 am; Draw immediately following
- Match Play begins at 11:00 am
- Total Purse, $85,000* approximate
- Guaranteed Added $25,000
- Entry Fee $160**
- Buy-In Option - $100
- Single Elimination w/ 1 Buyback Option
- Race to 3
- Alternate Breaks
- Spouse wristband $50
*Total Purse based on a field of 400 players (max 400)
** Entry fee includes a $10 registration fee
One Pocket Rules
Winner of the lag decides who breaks first. Coin toss is acceptable if both players agree.
Fifteen balls are racked in a triangle pattern with the head ball on the spot. Use the triangle rack. When racking, do not touch the front balls, only push from the back balls.
Players will alternate the break.
A legal break requires the player to pocket an object ball in other than the breakers pocket, or drive at least one object ball or the cue ball to a cushion after contact. Failure to do so is a foul. An object ball legally pocketed in the breakers pocket is a re-rack and re-break.
Any scratch or foul results in loss of a ball. If you have no balls to spot, you “owe” a ball. You must spot what you owe at the end of your inning in which you have balls available to spot.
The incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string after a scratch or cue ball off the table foul. The cue ball stays in position for other fouls, not specifically addressed in the rules. If a scratch or foul is “slept” and subsequently remembered, the ball is spotted after each player has shot once.
If the cue ball or an object ball is jumped off the table to prevent an object ball from counting toward the opponent's ball count, the object ball will go in the opponent's pocket and count toward their ball count and it is a foul and cue ball in hand behind the head string for the opponent.
If the ball count scores of both players reach a negative count, the negatives will cancel each other out, until at least one player gets back to a ball count of zero.
Any ball count score that reaches negative five (-5) is loss of game.
It is a foul if a player deliberately traps or wedges the cue ball in the jaw of a pocket. In addition to the foul penalty, the opponent receives cue ball in hand behind the head string.
If a player wishes to take a deliberate cue ball foul, they must use their cue tip to strike the cue ball with a forward stroke. If they strike the cue ball with anything other than the cue tip, in addition to the foul penalty, the opponent receives cue ball in hand behind the head string and it is considered unsportsmanlike conduct.
If a player shoots into the wrong pocket and continues to shoot because their opponent failed to notify them of the error, any additional balls pocketed in that inning do not count, whether pocketed for the shooter or the opponent. The first shot to the wrong pocket in a given inning is the shooter’s responsibility, and the opponent is entitled to any balls pocketed on that first shot. However, any other pocketed balls in the wrong pocket in the same inning are to be spotted as illegally pocketed balls.
If a player commits 3 successive fouls in one game, it is loss of game. The opponent must notify the shooter that they are “on 2” fouls, immediately before the shooter’s next inning.
Slow play will not be tolerated. Tournament officials will issue a warning if they feel a player is delaying the progress of the match. A second warning will result in ball in hand anywhere on the table. A third warning is loss of game. A fourth occurrence is loss of match.
The object ball closest to the head string is spotted if this occurs. If 2 or more object balls are the same distance from the head string, the incoming shooter will designate which ball to spot.
The first player to legally pocket eight (8) object balls in their pocket wins the game.
The regular Derby City One Pocket rules apply for the first 2 hours of match play. At the match duration limits, a Referee will come to the table and implement phased Express Rules.
2 Hour Express Rule
- Each player will get one more turn at the table, and then any more than 4 object balls above the head-string will spot at the end of each player’s inning.
- Spotted balls will be the object balls closest to the head-rail. A ball is considered above the head-string if any part of the ball is touching the head-string. (Edge of ball determines)
- If 2 or more object balls are the same distance from the head-rail, the incoming shooter will designate which ball to spot.
3 Hour Express Rule
- Each player will get one more turn at the table, and then any more than 2 object balls above the head-string will spot at the end of each player’s inning.
- Spotted balls will be the object balls closest to the head-rail. A ball is considered above the head-string if any part of the ball is touching the head-string. (Edge of ball determines)
- If 2 or more object balls are the same distance from the head-rail, the incoming shooter will designate which ball to spot.
4 Hour Express Rule
- The player that is leading in the game and ball count wins the match.
- If both players are tied in the game and ball count, the next player to take the score lead (games plus ball count) wins the match. (This score lead can be determined by pocketing a ball or a foul shot)
9-Ball – January 22nd, 2025
- Players Meeting, 10 am; Draw immediately following
- Match Play begins at 11:00 am
- Total Purse, $100,000* approximate
- Guaranteed Added $25,000
- Entry Fee $160** • Buy-In Option - $100
- Single Elimination w/ 1 Buyback Option
- Race to 9
- Express Rules, Matchroom Points Event
- Spouse wristband $50
*Total Purse based on the field of 500 players (max 500)
** Entry fee includes a $10 registration fee
Matchroom Pool and Diamond Billiard Products are pleased to announce the Derby City Classic 9-Ball Tournament will be Matchroom points ranking event.
9-Ball Rules
Winner of the lag decides who breaks first. Coin toss is acceptable if both players agree.
Nine balls are racked in a diamond pattern with the 1-ball in front and the 9-ball in the middle. The remaining balls are random, except the 2-ball cannot be on the back of the stack. Pattern racking is not allowed. The 9-ball is racked on the spot. Must use the Outsville Accu-Rack template rack. Once the balls are placed inside the template, do not touch the front balls, only push from the back balls. If the template is not straight, call for a re-rack.
Winner of previous game decides who breaks the next game.
The cue ball begins in hand completely behind the head string and completely inside the Break Box. The Break Box is one diamond each side of the head spot. The EDGE of the cue ball must be fully behind the head string and fully inside the Break Box. An Open Break is required. A legal open break requires you to contact the 1-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least 4 object balls to the cushions. Failure to do so is a foul, and counts as the first foul of the 3-foul rule. No push out option is allowed on an illegal break. The 9-ball made on an illegal break, spots up immediately.
Push out is allowed on the shot immediately after the break, except on an illegal break.
Any scratch or foul results in cue ball in hand.
If a player commits 3 successive fouls in one game, it is loss of game. The opponent must notify the shooter that they are “on 2” fouls, immediately before the shooter’s next inning.
Object balls must be shot in rotation. The first player who legally pockets the 9-ball, including 9 on the break or combination shot on the 9, wins the game.