Compton holds off challenge by Gray to take Midwest 9-Ball Tour One-Pocket event

Chip Compton and Joey Gray squared off against each other three times in the Midwest 9-Ball Tour's One-Pocket event on the weekend of February 19-20. In October of 2010, at the same location (Shooter's in Olathe, KS), Compton, on a trip back to the finals from the one-loss side, had dropped Gray into the tie for fifth place before finally giving way to Shane McMinn in those finals. This time, Compton was sitting in the hot seat, and though forced to play a second set by a double hill, opening set win by Gray, hung on to win the event. The $1,000-added One-Pocket tournament drew 30 entrants.

Two of the three matches Compton and Gray played against each other went to double hill, including their first meeting among the winners' side final four. Gray moved over for a three-match journey back, as Compton advanced to the hot seat match. He was joined Gary Lutman, who'd defeated Will Freeman 3-1. Lutman then fell to Compton by the same 3-1 score, leaving Compton in the hot seat, waiting for Gray to complete his comeback.

Gray moved over to face Gabe Owen, who'd just given up only a single rack over two games (one versus Danny Olson and none against Bill Meacham). Freeman drew John Gabriel, who'd shut out Taylor Anderson and survived a double hill contest against Mike Banks, Jr. Gabriel survived a second straight double hill battle, this time against Freeman, to advance to the quarterfinals. Gray downed Owen 3-1 to join him. Gray dropped Gabriel into fourth place and Lutman into third, both 3-1 and moved into the double elimination final against Compton.

Gray evened their three-match battle at one apiece by winning the opening set, double hill. Compton, though, took the second set 3-1, to capture the event title.