IT’S CHEN SIMING VS. BI ZHU-QING IN THE FINALS OF THE 2011 WOMEN’S WORLD 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Chen Siming and Bi Zhu-Qing

BY TED LERNER

Photo courtesy of MY147.com

Shenyang, China – Bi Zhu-Qing, a 23 year old relative unknown from Beijing, spoiled what was supposed to be a showdown between the two best players in the world, when she upset defending world champion and world number one Fu Xiao-fang 9-6, and moved into the finals of the 2011 Women’s World 9-ball Championship at the Liaoning Hunnan Sports Training Arena, in the northeastern city of Shenyang.

Bi’s gutsy and inspired performance in the first semi-final on Sunday means she will now face 17 year old world number two Chen Siming in the finals Sunday evening. Chen, whose prodigious talent has been turning heads since early last year, overcame some late match nerves and defeated fellow Chinese Han Yu in a test of wills in the second semi-final, 9-7.

The all-China finals will be a race to 9, alternate break, and will begin at 7:30PM local time(GMT +8). The winner will receive $30,000.

Bi came into the match against Fu a serious underdog as she was ranked 7thin China and 81st in the world. She had also never before played in a World 9-ball Championship. Bi brought with her some solid credentials, though. She’s been playing cue sports for six years, the first three of which were spent solely on the snooker table. She has playing experience too, some of it overseas as she has traveled extensively around Asia competing in snooker tournaments in India, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam.

As the defending champion and world number one, Fu certainly came in as the heavy favorite. As the match wore on, however, the storyline took a classic twist. The favorite with the high expectations and all the media surrounding her started feeling the pressure, while the upstart with nothing to lose was calm and relaxed.

The pair split the first four games as both had the measure of the table with three break and runs. Fu looked like she was about to take a firm grip on the proceedings when she made the 9-ball on the break in rack 5, then ran out from a Bi foul in the next rack to go up 4-2.

Bi Zhu-Qing, a 23 year old relative unknown from Beijing, spoiled what was supposed to be a showdown between the two best players in the world, when she upset defending world champion and world number one Fu Xiao-fang 9-6, and moved into the finals of the 2011 Women’s World 9-ball Championship at the Liaoning Hunnan Sports Training Arena, in the northeastern city of Shenyang.

Bi never flinched, though, and got one back in the next frame, then broke and ran to tie it at 4. Fu countered with another break and run in rack 9 to move up by one. Once again, though, Bi had an answer, as she forced Fu into making a poor shot on the two, then nailed a 3-9 combo to tie the match at 5-5.

The fast moving contest took a pivotal turn in rack 11. Fu was running out the table with several clutch pots when she missed a short cut shot on the 8-ball. Bi stepped up and made a difficult shot on the 8 but then had to play safe on the 9-ball. Fu’s tepid response left the 9 on, and Bi converted to take the lead for the first time in the match at 6-5.

Bi, clearly gaining confidence and riding a wave of momentum, stepped her game up another notch in rack 12 with a break-and-run to go up 7-5.

Fu fought back with a solid safety in the next rack but on the way to a clear, the normally rock solid champion committed another colossal blunder when she missed a makeable 6 ball. Bi left herself poor position on the 9-ball but never flinched as she stepped up and nailed a cross table bank on the 9 to move to the hill.

Breaking for the win, Bi played a marvelous lockdown safety on the one ball. On the verge of being on the short end of a massive upset, Fu threw a Hail Mary, potting a near impossible full table, blind shot on the 1-ball complete with position for a 2-9 combo, which she potted in the side.

Fu, however, scratched on the subsequent break. Bi took the ball in hand and with quality shot making, confidently ran the table for the biggest win of her career.

Afterwards, the 23 year old said she brought the classic underdog’s mentality into the match.

“No I didn’t think I could win this tournament,” Bi said. “Nobody thinks I can win. So I guess that’s why I’m relaxed. I’m just having fu Read more ...]]> http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/women%e2%80%99s-world-9-ball-finals-matchup-set.html/feed 0 http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/dechaine-ousts-oliviera-for-joss-billiards-title.html http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/dechaine-ousts-oliviera-for-joss-billiards-title.html#comments Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:58:37 +0000 Pool and Billiards News http://www.insidepoolmag.com/?p=15924 Dechaine Ousts Oliviera for Joss Billiards Title
Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour / Providence, RI

by InsidePOOL Staff

Mike “The Fireball” Dechaine cruised to an unchallenged victory at the June 11-12 stop on the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour, besting Nelson Oliviera in the finals to take the title. The $1,500-added main event drew a 55-player field to Snookers Billiards, Bar, and Grill in Providence, RI.

In the winners’ side final four, Dechaine matched up with Matt Tatreault and scorched him 9-1 to advance to the hot seat match. There he faced Oliviera for the first time in the event, as Oliviera had just dealt Ray McNamara a 9-5 loss. Dechaine was driven and soon claimed the hot seat 9-5, sending Oliviera to the one-loss side of the chart.

Dechaine cruised to an unchallenged victory at the June 11-12 stop on the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour, besting Nelson Oliviera in the finals to take the title.

After a narrow 9-7 victory over Pete Ziemak, Bucky Souvanthong advanced to face Joe Dupuis, who had just ousted Jarrod Clowery 9-4. Souvanthong emerged the 9-6 victor there, as Dupuis was relegated to seventh place. Tims Perry and Parisian met each other after respective wins over John Smith 9-6 and Tom D’Alfonso 9-5, and it was Perry who eked out the hill-hill triumph.

Souvanthong went on to eliminate Ray McNamara at fifth place 9-7, while Perry tied with him after a lopsided 9-2 loss to Tatreault. In the following quarterfinal match, Souvanthong and Tatreault went double-hill before Souvanthong edged past his opponent to win 9-8.

Oliviera faced down Souvanthong in the semifinal match 9-6 to earn a rematch with Dechaine in the double-elimination finals. Oliviera jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Dechaine fought his way back to knot the score at 5-all. From there it was all “Fireball,” as he won the next four games in a row to claim the title 9-5.

In the $500-added second chance event, 17 players participated. Phil Davis went undefeated through the field to best Dave Wright in the hot seat and then in the first set of the finals.

Main Event Results:
1st Mike Dechaine
2 Nelson Oliviera $900
3rd Bucky Souvanthong $650
4 Matt Tatreault $450
5th Ray McNamara $350
Tim Perry
7th Tim Parisian $200
Joe Dupuis
9th Pete Ziemak $100
Jarrod Clowery
John Smith
Tom D’Alfonso

Second Chance Results:
1st Phil Davis $320
2nd Dave Wright $220
3rd Bill Roberge $140
4th Rick Matarazzo $80
5th Paul Dryden $40
Brent Boemmels

Huidji See began our first semi-final match with a 4-2 lead over Yukio Akakariyama in the race to 9 games. A behind-the-back shot on the 9 ball left him a bit rough on the 10 in the next rack but he was able to put it away in the corner pocket to go 5-2. See missed a cut on the 1 ball in the next rack but Akakariyama could not capitalize on the opportunity as he missed the shot he had to bring See back into play. But See also missed the 1 and Akakariyama played a safe that left only a bank into the corner. See jawed it and Akakariyama had the chance he needed to get going and gain some confidence and poise. But he fell out of line on the 2 ball and again a safety was in order. He failed to snooker See but left only a bank or a safety opportunity. See chose the safety and Akakariyama missed his jump shot. See looked to clean up but scratched on the 6 ball and left Akakariyama a road map out. He would not falter from here and brought the score closer at 5-3 as the nerves began to show in the arena.

Akakariyama broke and ran the next rack and our margin was down to a single game. He played a great safe on the 1 ball in the next rack that gained him ball-in-hand and, with that, he sailed through the rack that tied us at 5 games apiece. Now it was a short race to four games to determine who would gain entry to the finals. Akakariyama made his first shot in the next rack but was snookered from the 2 ball by the 3. He made a good hit but See was able to put an in-jail safety on him. Akakariyama fouled his shot with no hit and See had the opportunity he needed. He went through the rack easily to lead 6-5. See them made three balls on the next snap and faced an open table that he managed cleanly to lead 7-5. See again made three balls on the break and things began to look impossible for Akakariyama as he was just not getting to the table at all. In moments the score was 8-5. He did get to the table n the next rack but not with any golden opportunities. He played a safe on the 2 ball trying to create one but See jumped, made the hit, and left him tough. Akakariyama made a very thin cut on the 2 ball to get going and knew that to win from here he would have to keep See in his chair. But he had no decent chance at the 3 ball and had to play safe. See returned the favor and Akakariyama pocketed the 3 in the wrong pocket to give See the option of shooting or returning him to the table. See gave the table back. A brief exchange of safeties ensued that left Akakariyama with the first opportunity to find a pocket. But the 8 ball was snuggled up next to the 9 and could not be massaged away. Akakariyama had no choice but to play safe with only three balls left on the table. See missed the shot on the 8 with which he was left but left only a bank into the side that Akakariyama could not convert. See should have been out from there but missed an elementary shot on the 10 ball for the win. Akakariyama made it and had new life at 8-6 and owning the break in the next rack.

See was distraught in his chair. He could not believe that he had blown that shot. But at this stage the pockets become thimbles. He had to recompose himself if he was to win. Things began to deteriorate even more when he missed the 8 ball. But Akakariyama, who should have been out easily, scratched on the 9 ball and conceded the victory to Huidji See.

See is the new World Ten Ball Champion.

The second semi-final match found Jianbo Fu facing Carlo Biado. Biado seemed to be off to a fine start when he ran down to the 10 ball but he hung it in the corner to gift Fu with the first bead. Fu also took the next rack but then missed a 2 ball into the side in the third rack to bring Biado up to shoot. Biado made two tough bank shots to complete the rack and get on the board at 2-1. Neither player appeared comfortable at the table. They were missing shots that earlier in the week had been automatic for them. Their arms were clumsy from the tension. Both of them knew that the first one to get in stroke would take the win and so they concentrated on not giving up opportunities instead of on destroying racks. Fu capitalized on a missed 6 ball by Biado to claim his third rack and lead 3-1. It got uglier as both players became plagued with doubt and the balls refused to fall for either of them. The next rack was a miss-fest claimed by Fu to lead 4-1. Another missed shot on the 8 ball by Biado gave the next rack to Fu as well. Neither player was actually winning racks. They were losing them to one another.

When Fu took the next rack the world became a very dark place for Carlo Biado. He needed to win eight racks while holding Fu to only two. And Fu was beginning to get comfortable at the table. The lead he enjoyed was oiling his arm. Fu took the next rack to lead 7-1 and Biado looked as if he knew his run was Read more ...]]> http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/see-the-new-world-ten-ball-champion.html/feed 0 http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/antonakos-undefeated-at-northeast-9-ball-open-xxiv.html http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/antonakos-undefeated-at-northeast-9-ball-open-xxiv.html#comments Mon, 18 Apr 2011 03:03:53 +0000 Pool and Billiards News http://www.insidepoolmag.com/?p=15631 Antonakos Undefeated at Northeast 9-Ball Open XXIV
Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour / Albany, NY

by Lea Andrews

Greg Antonakos notched his first-ever Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour win the weekend of April 16-17 at the expense of one of the tour’s most familiar faces, Dave Grau. The two were among the hefty field of 50 vying for their share of the $1,500-added purse at the Northeast 9-Ball Open XXIV, which was held at Golden Cue Billiards in Albany, NY.

In the winner’s side final four, Antonakos edged out Dave Pinkston 9-8 to reach the hot seat match against Chance Chin, who’d sent Grau on the longer route to the finals 9-7. Chin managed just four games against Antonakos, though, and moved over to the semifinals.

Greg Antonakos notched his first-ever Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour win the weekend of April 16-17 at the expense of one of the tour’s most familiar faces, Dave Grau.

On the left side of the bracket, John Rich, who’d suffered an earlier 9-4 loss to Pinkston, narrowly slipped past Dan Heidrich 9-8 to face Yesid Garibello, whom he planted in seventh 9-1. Meanwhile, Bucky Souvanthong, who’d moved west after a 9-8 loss to Chin, had his own 9-8 and 9-1 victories over Ron Casanzio and Jim Yonge, respectively. But he landed in fifth after meeting up with Pinkston, who advanced to the quarterfinals 9-5. There Pinkston squared off with Grau, who followed up his 9-2 win over Rich with another 9-2 win, earning his spot in the semifinals against Chin. A slightly less lopsided match ensued, and Chin finished in third 9-3.

It was in the true double-elimination final match that Grau’s streak came to a grinding halt—Antonakos nabbed his first tour win in a thoroughly decisive fashion, allowing Grau to hit the string just once.

In Sunday’s $500-added, second chance non-pro event, Angelo Hilton moved undefeated through the 23-player field, taking down John Kruythoss in one 3-2 set in the finals. The final winner of the weekend was Brian Sim, who went home with a Joss cue valued at $1,200 after his ticket was drawn in the raffle.

The next $1,500/$500-added event will be held June 4-5 at Bison Billiards in Buffalo, NY. Those interested in competing in the tour’s season finale, Turning Stone Classic XVIII, should contact tour director Mike Zuglan at 518-356-7163 as soon as possible. Please note that the Turning Stone date has been changed from August 11-14 to September 8-11.

Open Results:
1st Greg Antonakos $1,100
2nd Dave Grau $800
3rd Chance Chin $600
4th Dave Pinkston $450
5th John Rich $350
Bucky Souvanthong
7th Yesid Garibello $200
Jim Yonge
9th Ron Piontkowski $75
Dan Heidrich
Ron Casanzio
Mike Zuglan

Second Chance Results:
1st Angelo Hilton $350
2nd John Kruythoss $250
3rd Doug Wells $160
4th Pete Mitchell $100
5th Fred Fake $50
Mark Stewart

by InsidePOOL Staff

Leslee Davis Blaikie became the third Tiger Bay Area Amateur Tour (BAAT) champion in as many tournaments this year, winning the $300-added handicapped event March 19. The tournament drew 15 players to Capone’s Billiard Lounge in Spring Hill, FL.

Leslee Davis Blaikie became the third Tiger Bay Area Amateur Tour (BAAT) champion in as many tournaments this year, winning the $300-added handicapped event March 19.

Following first-round losses, Kelly Cavanaugh and Sabra MacArthur Beahn worked through the one-loss side until meeting up in the quarterfinals. Beahn took a 2-0 lead, but Cavanaugh came on, winning four games of 9-ball and one game of 8-ball to claim the 5-6 race with a score of 5-2.

While Cavanaugh and Beahn were working on the west side, Chris Fields and Blaikie were dominating the east side of the chart. This set up the hot seat match between Fields and Blaikie, and when yet another hill-hill battle was finished, Blaikie sat in the hot seat after having defeated Fields 6-4 in the 6-5 race.

In the first 9-ball game of the semifinals, Cavanaugh prevailed. Fields responded by winning the next three games and taking the lead. Cavanaugh was unfazed as she took the last two games of 9-ball and two games of 8-ball, winning the match 5-3 in the 5-6 race.

In the final round, Blaikie opposed Cavanaugh, with Cavanaugh needing to win two matches before Blaikie won one in the true double-elimination format. The race was 7-5 with Blaikie needing 7. Blaikie gained a narrow advantage in the 9-ball by leading 4-3. In the 8-ball, Cavanaugh reached the hill first, but Blaikie fought back to win the match in the end.

Results:
1st Leslee Davis Blaikie $275
2nd Kelly Cavanaugh $175
3rd Chris Fields $125
4th Sabra MacArthur Beahn $75

by Lea Andrews

In his first appearance at a regular Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour stop, Canadian Francis Crevier pushed aside several of the tour’s biggest names, including in the finals five-time winner Karen Corr, the tour’s only female winner to date. The $1,500-added main event drew 41 players to Trick Shot Billiards in Clifton Park, NY, the weekend of March 19-20.

In his first appearance at a regular Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour stop, Canadian Francis Crevier pushed aside several of the tour’s biggest names.

Crevier cruised past Jeff Smolen 9-3 to reach the hot seat match against the always-dangerous Bucky Souvanthong, who’d sent Corr west 9-4. But managing just four games himself against Crevier, Souvanthong soon followed her, leaving Crevier awaiting his opponent for the finals.

On the left side of the bracket, one of Crevier’s big-name victims, Dennis “The Hatchet Man” Hatch, ousted Bruce Carroll 9-3 to meet up with Tim Parisian, who’d just put Corr’s road partner, Julie Kelly, into ninth place 9-3. Parisian was only able to mark up two games against Hatch, though, landing in fifth and sending Hatch on to face Corr. Meanwhile, Ron Casanzio, who’d fallen earlier to Souvanthong 9-4, was making a run through the field, taking care of Gary Poulton 9-2 and Martin Daigle 9-6 to face Smolen. Managing to hold Smolen to seven games, Casanzio advanced to the quarterfinal match against Corr, who’d dealt Hatch a rare, lopsided 9-3 blow. Both Corr and Casanzio were looking to avenge their 9-4 losses to Souvanthong, who was waiting for one of them in the semifinals, but it was Corr who earned the chance 9-6. And in the semifinals, she avenged her loss and then some, allowing Souvanthong just three games and moving on to the final match against Crevier.

In the first set of the true double-elimination final match, Corr maintained a lead, ultimately pushing the second set 9-5. In the second set, it was Crevier who got out to a strong lead, managing to pull ahead 7-2. Not one to stop fighting, Corr marked up five games in a row to tie the score at seven games apiece, but Crevier pushed back, taking the final two racks to secure his first tour win 9-7.

In Sunday’s $500-added second chance, non-pro event, Tom Acciavatti, who lost just one game in the entire tournament, shut out Bruce Carroll 3-0 in the finals to claim first.

The next $1,500/$500-added event will be held March 26-27 at Salt City Billiards in Syracuse, NY. Those interested in competing in the tour’s season finale, Turning Stone Classic XVIII, should contact tour director Mike Zuglan at 518-356-7163 as soon as possible. Please note that the Turning Stone date has been changed from August 11-14 to September 8-11.

Main Event Results:
1st Francis Crevier $1,100
2nd Karen Corr $800
3rd Bucky Souvanthong $600
4th Ron Casanzio $450
5th Jeff Smolen $300
Dennis Hatch
7th Martin Daigle $150
Tim Parisian

Second Chance Results
1st Tom Acciavatti $340
2nd Bruce Carroll $230
3rd Julie Kelly $150
4th Pete Mitchell $80
5th Paul Picard $40
Keith Owen

by Lea Andrews

Josh O’Neal, who first won a Great Southern Billiards Tour event in June, topped a 35-player field to put the second notch in his belt at the tour’s March 5-6 stop. The $1,500-added event was held at Murfreesboro Billiard Club in Murfreesboro, TN, and was sponsored by Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Mike Davis Extermination, and Delta-13.

O’Neal, who first won a Great Southern Billiards Tour event in June, topped a 35-player field to put the second notch in his belt at the tour’s March 5-6 stop.

AA-ranked O’Neal blasted past B-ranked Steve Legacy 11-4 to reach the hot seat match against David Cross, who’d edged out fellow B player David Lawlor 7-6. Cross took the weighted match 7-7, sending O’Neal over to the semifinals to earn his way back.

On the other side of the bracket, A-ranked Mike Jones, who’d fallen in the second round to Lawlor 7-4, made his way past AA-ranked Billy Young 9-9 and B-ranked Chris Perhealth 9-4 before once again coming upon Lawlor. Meanwhile, James Eberhart, who’d moved west following his first-round loss to C-ranked Amanda Townsend, plowed his way through the left side, ultimately ousting A-ranked DJ Holloway 9-7, AA-ranked Chuck Raulston 9-4, and Legacy 9-3 to reach the quarterfinal match. There he faced Lawlor, who’d once again held Jones to four games, leaving him behind in fifth. That was the final victory for Lawlor, though—he managed just two games against Eberhart, landing in fourth while Eberhart moved on to the semifinal match aginst O’Neal. Unfortunately for Eberhart, O’Neal had his eye set on a rematch with Cross in the finals, and he earned the spot 11-5.

Undefeated Cross could win either the first or the second set to claim the victory as his own, but O’Neal had other ideas. In the first set of the true double-elimination final match, he allowed Cross to hit the string just once, and though he was slightly more generous in the second set, he still kept the ultimate prize for himself, earning his second tour win 11-3.

View the brackets here

Results:
1st Josh O’Neal $1,000
2nd David Cross $500
3rd James Eberhart $350
4th David Lawlor $205
5th Mike Jones $100
Steve Legacy

by Lea Andrews

Sam Monday suffered a late loss to fellow frequent high-finisher Josh Newman at the November 27-28 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour, but the setback was brief. Monday controlled the matches that followed to finish on top of the $1,500-added event, which drew 42 contenders to Raisin’ Cain’s in Inman, SC.

Monday suffered a late loss to fellow frequent high-finisher Josh Newman at the November 27-28 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour, but the setback was brief.

Monday’s 9-7 loss to Newman cost him a spot in the hot seat match and sent him to left side of the bracket, while Newman went on to face Scottie Ward, who’d just sent Zack Robbins west 7-4. Against Newman, Ward managed just three racks and moved over to the semifinals.

On the one-loss side, heavy hitters were trimming the field before coming upon each other. Cliff Joyner got rid of Harold Binesett 10-2 to meet up with Derek “Chewy” Leonard, who’d just taken care of John Thompson 10-5. Joyner held Leonard to four games to move onto Robbins, while Carolina Open winner Brian White took care of Mike Basha 10-7 and fellow AA player Greg Dix 10-8. Unfortunately for White, next up was Monday, who was on a mission. Monday planted White in fifth 10-6 to advance to the quarterfinals against Robbins, who’d managed to hold back Joyner 7-5. He couldn’t go any further, though, because Monday blew through their match 10-3 to move on to Ward in the semifinals. Another lopsided match ensued, and Ward finished in third 10-4, sending Monday on to a rematch with Newman in the finals.

In the first set of the true double-elimination final match, Newman, who was trying for his third win this season, notched up four games, but Monday was less generous in the second set. Reaching his goal of ten while Newman was still at two, it was Monday who clinched his third win of the season.

Results:
1st Sam Monday $800
2nd Josh Newman $550
3rd Scottie Ward $350
4th Zack Robbins $200
5th Brian White $135
Cliff Joyner
7th Greg Dix $85
Derek Leonard

Great Southern Billiard Tour / Conyers, GA

by Lea Andrews

Adam Towery’s first win on the Great Southern Billiard Tour didn’t come easy–he had to get by past winner Horace “Groundhog” Godwin twice–but he nevertheless made it through unscathed. Towery and Godwin were among the field of 30 that arrived at Classic Billiards in Conyers, GA, the weekend of October 16-17 for the $1,500-added event, which was sponsored by Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Delta-13, and Tiger Products.

Towery and Godwin were among the field of 30 that arrived at Classic Billiards in Conyers, GA, the weekend of October 16-17 for the $1,500-added event.

A-ranked Towery sent B-ranked Trent Talbert west 9-3 to reach the hot seat match, where he met Godwin for the first time. Godwin, who’d taken care of fellow A player Jason Steman 9-5, pushed the hot seat match hill-hill, but he couldn’t mark up the final game.

On the one-loss side, A-ranked Aaron Frady, one of Godwin’s earlier victims, shut out Dwayne Brown 9-0 to meet up with A-ranked John Maikke, who’d notched his own shutout win over Steve Owens. Against Frady, though, Maikke managed just three games to finish in seventh, sending Frady on to Talbert. Meanwhile, A-ranked Claude Marrier, who’d been edged out earlier by Maikke 9-8, ousted A-ranked Jeff Hooks 9-6 and B-ranked Dave Shadden 9-4 to face Steman. It was Steman who prevailed 9-7, advancing to the quarterfinals against Talbert, who’d planted Frady in fifth 7-6. Looking for another go at Godwin, Steman held Talbert to four games to earn his spot in the semifinals against Godwin. Once again, though, Steman fell short 9-5, allowing Godwin to get his own chance at revenge against Towery.

In the true double-elimination final match, both players played well, just as they had in the hot seat match, but Towery was able to take advantage of a few dry breaks by Godwin to widen the gap a bit more this time around. He earned his first Great Southern Billiard Tour victory in one set, 9-6.

Results:

1st Adam Towery $800
2nd Horace Godwin $500
3rd Jason Steman $300
4th Trent Talbert $200
5th Claude Marrier $75
Aaron Frady

by Lea Andrews

After a third-round loss to Cary Dunn, Steven Page took the long way to ultimate victory at the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s August 14-15 stop, which drew 56 players to Speakeazy Billiards in Sanford, NC. The $1,500-added event was sponsored by Nick Varner Cues and Cases, as well as Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, for which tour director Shannon “The Cannon” Daulton is now a player representative.

After a third-round loss to Cary Dunn, Steven Page took the long way to ultimate victory at the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s August 14-15 stop, which drew 56 players to Speakeazy Billiards in Sanford, NC.

On the one-loss side, A-ranked Chris Adams, who’d taken a first-round 11-1 hit from AA-ranked Jeff Abernathy, ousted B-ranked James Blackburn 9-6 and A-ranked David King 9-5 to face Hallett. Meanwhile, Page was taking down B players Asia Cycak 9-3 and Lay Thammajong 9-3 to meet back up with Dunn. He got his vengeance with his 9-7 victory, plus a spot in the quarterfinals against Adams, who’d put Hallett in fifth 9-5. It was the end of the road for Adams, though, as he finished in fourth 9-6. In the semifinals, Gladden was looking for a rematch with Russell, but Page had his eye on the finals, and he got there by keeping Gladden two racks shy of his goal—Page moved on 9-7.

In the first set of the true double-elimination final match, Page and Russell fought to hill-hill, but when Russell scratched on the 8 ball, the set went to Page. The second set was a virtual replica of the first, stretching out once again to hill-hill, when another error on the 8 ball cost Russell the game, set, match, and tournament. Victory belonged to Page 9-8, his first on the Great Southern Billiard Tour.

Results:
1st Steven Page $1,000
2nd Glenn Russell $500
3rd Hope Gladden $250
4th Chris Adams $170
5th Dana Hallett $125
Cary Dunn
7th David King $75
Lay Thammajong
9th James Blackburn $45
Chris Vollmar
Larry Faulk
Asia Cycak