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Path to pool stardom

Once the little kid in the hall, a Spring Hill player shoots for the moon.

By KELLIE DIXON, Times Staff Writer
Published September 25, 2007

Corey Deuel, ranked second in the nation, will be playing today in the 2007 World Cup of Pool in Holland. Times staff writer Kellie Dixon caught up with Deuel for a few moments before his trip.

How did you get started playing pool?

I guess I got started playing with a friend in an arcade. Then we went to a pool room. I got lucky because the first pool room I went in there were a lot of really good players. I got some lessons from them. Everybody showed me a little something. I didn't really pay for lessons or anything like that. I was the little kid in the pool room. It was kind of a senior room. That was neat for me because a couple of the older guys were helping me out.

What did they call you?

Nothing really. One guy behind the counter called me "Smooth Stroker." That was a good confidence builder, I guess.

Where did you go from there?

After I finished high school, I traveled around the country playing pool, gambling and doing all that.

Gambling as in hustling?

Yeah, hustling. That's pretty much the road to being a better pool player.

What was that road like?

I took off on my own and me and other players (Dee Adkins and Troy Frank) traveled around the country, mostly playing eight ball. Everybody was real nice. There's this stigma in pool that if you go in and hustle somebody, you're going to get beat up. That's what everybody thinks. But it's the total opposite. I didn't go in and lie to them. I would go in and I would tell them, "I'm the best player in here. I'm going to take your money." They wouldn't believe it.

What would happen?

They'd lose every penny to me, and then they'd tell me "Oh, you need to go to this town and play this guy."

Nice way to build a living. When did you stop doing that?

I quit doing that when I was 21. I would have went on the pro tour when I was 18 but at that time it was sponsored by Camel cigarettes, and for some reason you could be 18 to smoke but they wouldn't let you play in pool tournaments. That got me a little mad for a while.

I turned pro when I was 21. I was Rookie of the Year. Then I was Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002.

Why were you able to win all those honors so quickly?

Well I was good enough to play on the tour when I was 18 but I wasn't allowed to play for three years. I was playing all those guys that were on the tour for money. That was the only way I could make a living. I just played amateur events and played all those guys for money. By the time I finally got on the tour, I had beaten half of them.

You and Rodney Morris are partners for the upcoming World Cup of Pool in Holland. What's it like playing with him?

It's going to be a little tricky because he's left handed, and I'm right handed. There are certain shots that he can reach and I can't reach and vice versa. He's going to have to tell me exactly where he needs to be. We're going to have to talk it over and stuff like that. We get along real good. We play golf, hang out if we're in a tournament together.

Where have you made the most gains since turning pro?

My nine ball break has gotten a lot better. My safety game has gotten a lot better.

Funny you mention your break. On a forum folks were commenting on it, asking for someone to shed light on it. Can you break it down for us?

(Laughing) Trade secret.

Too bad. Answer this, then. What are your future goals?

I would like to win the World Cup, win the U.S. Open and win the World Championship. Those goals aren't too high, are they? If I don't win, I will be completely unhappy.

Completely?

Well, if I get second or third I won't be that unhappy. But I'll still be unhappy.

Fast facts

Corey Deuel

Age: 29

Hails from: Philadelphia, but grew up in Ohio and has lived in Spring Hill for roughly two months. He moved to Spring Hill to be closer to his sponsor, the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Accolades: So far this year, Deuel has earned $36,050 in winnings and four first-place finishes. A former Rookie of the Year and two-time Player of the Year, he claimed $101,250 in 2006. He played with Rodney Morris on Team USA for the Mosconi Cup in 2006.

Favorite movie: Kingpin

Favorite saying: "Sorry boutchaz," a saying coined in the pool halls and borrowed by Deuel to say "Sorry about your luck."

Superstition: Deuel never wishes away his good luck. He'll say nice match and congratulate his opponent afterward. But he'll simply say, "Thank you" if someone tells him good luck.

Player he admires: Shane Van Boening, who is ranked No. 1 in the nation. "The way he's playing right now is really good; breaks good and pockets the balls great. Those two things times 10 pretty much."

His partner: Rodney Morris. Morris, who shares Capone's Billiards as his pool hall home, is ranked fifth in the nation. Morris is called "The Rocket" because of how quickly he can finish a game. In 2006, Morris raked in $214,950 in winnings, including two first place finishes. He finished second in the 2006 World Cup of Pool.

Visit: www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk for tournament information.

[Last modified September 24, 2007, 19:47:55]