The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada was the site of this year’s 2009 King of Cornhole Event. The King of Corrnhole Tournament is the featured event held during the ACO US Nationals Festival. This year’s ACO Nationals took place on January 28th, 29th, and 30th with the featured event of the festival held on Saturday.
The three day Festival is all about cornhole and lots of cornhole. Social players mix with competitive players. It is a great opportunity for the less experienced cornhole players to hang out and compete with the ACO Pros – the best of the best - in cornhole.
The featured event, King of Cornhole, is a 64 bracket tournament filled with pro cornhole players, male and female, from 20 different states. There was no shortage of talent or excitement as www.KingofCornhole.com website will verify.
The Battle for King was intense. The final round saw Matt Guy ranked number 1 in the world against Steve Vanderver ranked number 2. These men battled to the final game in a best of 3 finals match. Both men were physically tired and emotionally exhausted as they threw their final bags.
Matt Guy won game one, but Steve Vanderver took game two and evened the match. Guy knew the King of Cornhole Title was on the line. He had won it for the last three years and was not about to give it up without a fight. Vanderver on the other hand knew the Crown was within his grasp.
In game three, Guy jumped out to an 8-0 lead. Vanderver cut the deficit to 5 points trailing 10-5. Guy was up 11-5 when Vanderver made a comeback to trail 14-12. Vanderver pressed on and he passed Guy 15-14. Vanderver stretched his lead with 2 more points in the next frame and led 17-14. Guy was on the ropes. What could he do. His reign of King of Cornhole was about to end. And then, his mastery of the sport took over.
Vanderver threw a blocker to force Guy to airmail his first bag. Guy followed with the expected airmail. The crowd moaned after Vanderver’s second bag overshot the hole. Guy’s next bag hit the hole but did not go in. Vanderver’s third bag hit the top of his blocker. Had the bag hit the front side of the blocker, both bags probably would have gone into the hole. Steve would have been up 2 points with one bag left and Guy with 2 bags yet to throw. Instead the Vanderver bag hit the blocker and bounced off the board.
Guy took advantage and nailed another airmail over Vanderver’s blocker. Vanderver answered with an airmail. The crowd erupted with applause when Guy nailed his third airmail to claim the lead 20-17.
To start the final frame Guy threw a blocker to the left side of the hole. Vanderver was wide left with his airmail. Guy followed with another blocker. This time in front of the hole. Vanderver’s airmail took Guy’s blocker with it. Guy countered with another blocker in front of the hole again.
Vanderver promptly followed with another airmail. Guy was up 20-17. He was down 1 point in the frame with 2 bags on the board. He and Vanderver each had 1 bag left to pitch. If he pushes 1 bag in, he forces Vanderver to do an airmail to stay alive. Hit a 2 bagger and the Crown would be his.
Guy flipped the bag over to the slick side. His arms swung in rhythm. One…two…bag released on three. “Take two” Guy yelled. His bag took the blocker with it into the hole to seal the victory and his fourth King of Cornhole title.
