Day 1
Missoula, MT, WPH Press, 2/3/23
The 2023 R48 Montana Red Death marked the 75th event in the history of the Race 4 Eight tour, with the tour spanning 17 states in the R48’s first ten seasons. The 2023 R48 Montana Red Death featured the top eight pros on the Race 4 Eight Men’s Pro tour, headlined by R48 #1 pro Lucho Cordova (MEX), R48 #2 pro Martin Mulkerrins (IRE), and 3-time defending Montana Red Death champion and 20-time R48 champion Killian Carroll (IRE).
The Elite 8 pros were joined by former R48 Elite 8 member Vic Perez (CA), who will be making his first R48 start in three years, and a strong group of emerging Race 4 Eight contenders from North America and Ireland, to include Ivan Burgos (CAN), Mark Doyle (IRE), John Chapman (MT), Dylan Hernandez (CA), and a number of the world’s best.
Round of 16
Lucho Cordova cruised in his match with Portland’s Kyle English, dispatching the former professional football player in two games. “I feel like I match up well with the Cordovas but I just need to get in shape,” stated a frustrated English.
Mulkerrins continued his stellar season against Southern California’s Dylan Hernandez, sweeping DHern in two.
David Fink bounced back from his first round loss in New Orleans to overcome longtime rival Stephen Cooney. “I got off to a great start but Stephen always makes a run,” stated Fink. “I missed a few with a big lead in the second and Stephen started making great shots. It was anyone’s game at 10-9.”
Southwest rivals Leo Canales and Abraham Montijo played the longest game of the season in their second game. After Canales took a close first game, the pair played deep into overtime, with Montijo saving several match points before serving for the game at 17-16. Canales earned a side out and scored three consecutive points to move into the quarterfinals. “I was happy because I was going for my shots,” stated Montijo.
Killian Carroll returned from a two-tournament R48 hiatus to defeat future R48 Elite 8 star Ivan Burgos in two games. “We had a lot of long rallies and I had some chances but I just couldn’t convert,” stated Burgos. “Killian was playing well and hitting the ball well with his right.”
Shorty Ruiz clinched a close first game against NorCal’s Loren Collado before pulling away in game two to advance. “My paddle kills were not coming off in the first,” stated Ruiz. “I was able to put more of them down in the second.”
R48 Newcomer of the Year nominee Mark Doyle was seeking his second consecutive R48 quarterfinal against Max Langmack. After trailing 1-7 in the first, Doyle scored eleven consecutive points to take a seemingly commanding 12-7 lead. Langmack surged back, scoring the final eight points of the game to take a one-game lead. Langmack stood three points from the quarterfinals at 12-12 in the second but could not cross the line, as Doyle forced a decider with several clutch paddle kills. Doyle hit three z serve aces in the first six points of the third and never allowed Langmack into the tiebreaker, dominating the third frame.
Former Elite 8 members Vic Perez and Sean Lenning were each making their first start of the season with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. Lenning was in vintage form in the first, taking a 7-0 lead in the first inning and dominating en route to a 15-4 one-game lead. Perez, seeking his third career victory against Lenning, slowed the game down in the second. Finding his patented left-side wall crack serve and right-handed kill, Perez evened the match. Lenning appeared to regain control in the tiebreaker, taking a 10-7 lead. Perez remained composed, scoring the final eight points of the match to book his spot on Super Saturday.
Round of 16
Lucho def English 15-3, 15-6
Mulkerrins def D. Hernandez 15-4, 15-4
Fink def Cooney 15-6, 15-10
Canales def Montijo 15-12, 19-17
Carroll def Burgos 15-8, 15-6
Ruiz def Collado 15-12, 15-5
Doyle def Langmack 12-15, 15-12, 15-4
Perez def Lenning 4-15, 15-9, 15-10
Round of 8 (Saturday, all times MST)
Lucho vs. Perez 10 am
Carroll vs. Canales 11 am
Mulkerrins vs. Doyle Noon
Fink vs. Ruiz 1 pm
Watch Saturday’s matches live on the ESPNAPP, starting at 10 am MST
Follow the brackets from the 2023 R48 Red Death HERE
Montana Red Death R48 Press Release HERE
2023 Montana Red Death Broadcast Schedule on ESPN+: Saturday, February 4, 10 am-6 pm MST, Sunday, February 5, 10 am-1 pm MST.
Become a WPH Patreon HERE
Race 4 Eight Fun Facts HERE
Race 4 Eight pro player bios HERE
WPH Coaching Centers HERE
WPH Workout Central HERE
2022/23 Race 4 Eight schedule HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer