This year will see a new champion crowned at the 6th Annual Predator Florida Open. The events most successful champion Johnny Archer was eliminated by Jeremy Jones 9-5. Archer had won this event in 2003, 2004, 2005, and finished 2nd in 2002.
Archer wasn't the only player with hard luck today as Sat brought down the fall of multiple stars in order to make room for Sunday's Final 8 players. Morris was upset 9-8 by unknown Greek turned local FL player Andreas Koukiadakis who also finished 2nd Place during the Seyberts.com US Amateur 8 Ball Open the night before. Troy Frank came back from a 7-2 deficit to 8-8 but lost the final game to sharp shooting 17 year old Justin Hall(Former BCA Junior Champion). Fan favorite Tommy Kennedy lost 9-4 to UPA regular Tim Hall.
Today also marked the 2nd Annual Lucasi Southeast Junior Championship. The new kid on the block 15 year old Michael Mallen made some noise and defeated the favorite Shuffett 7-4. Landon bounced back through the field and got a chance to meet Mallen again in the finals which were played in the main pro arena in front of the pros and fans on the very challenging Brunswick Metro Tournament Edition Tables.
Mallen was a self taught prodigy whose father Bill Mallen had bought him a table 7 years earlier. Michael refused to take instruction from his father and trained alone for 1 year and developed his own skills. Mallen took 4th place at last years BCA Junior Nationals. On the other side of the tracks, Landon Shuffett was born and raised to become a pool champion trained and guided by his father Stan Shuffett. Showing poise and skills wee beyond his years, 11 year old Landon took complete control of the finals and ran out on the tables impressively well. Shuffett defeated Mallen 9-5 for the win.
Shuffett won a Lucasi Cue & Case and also a free trip and entry fee to the Dragon Promotions US Pro Tour Championship in Jan to be held in Las Vegas. He will also rake in more TV time with a interview on ESPN.
Pro matches continue on Sunday with the final 8 players including Mika Immonen, Shawn Putnam, and Cory Deuel.
Complete brackets and live scoring at www.seyberts.com from 11am-9pm on Sunday.
