14and1.com Crowns 1st National Champ

1st Annual 14and1.com NATIONALS RESULTS!

Atlantic City, NJ May 16, 17 & 18th 2008

Hosted by:
The Atlantic City Billiard Club
6701 Black Horse Pike
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234

Thank you owner Ernie Arcaro of the AC Billiard Club! You were a superb host and we will be back next year!

Played on 9 ft. Brunswick Gold Crowns, Simonis Cloth & Aramith Pro Balls.

The 14and1.com Nationals MAIN EVENT!
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True double elimination tournament format was used for the 14and1.com Nationals Main Event. The top 2 finishers in all leagues nationwide earned an invite into the main event.

What a battle it was!! Come Friday morning all players were focused and ready! 14.1 Players from 8 states converged on Atlantic City to try and become the 1st 14and1.com National Champion through qualifying in their local sanctioned league.

John Downie showed poise and skill getting to the hill on the top side of the winners bracket by methodically controlling the table throughout his matches. On the bottom half of the winners side Tom Acciavatti was showing the same poise and skill as well, it looked like he may cruise to play for the hot seat match with John until he ran into Joe Stern III who was also playing well. Joe caught an early lead in the first few racks that was added to his 45 ball spot given by Tom. 3/4 the way through the match with Joe leading comfortably things turned as Tom was able to get John on 3 fouls and knock back that seemingly large lead, then Tom chipped away and pulled it out to get to the hot seat match with John Downie sending Joe Stern III to the 1 loss side. The hot seat match was a classic battle between 2 knowledgeable players who do not relinquish the table easily. John managed to send Tom to the 1 loss side in a well played match. Waiting there for Tom was Al Muccilli who was playing very well and just got done putting Joe Stern III out in 4th place. The match was a classic with 2 old school style players in battle! With Tom giving up 30 balls going to 140 he pulled out that victory 140-131 to make the true double elimination finals and getting another chance at John Downie. At 9:30 Saturday night we were lagging for the break in the finals of the 14and1.com Nationals between John Downie (B+ handicap) and Tom Acciavatti (A+ handicap). Tom gives John 45 balls on the wire going to 140 and we are off! Tom has to beat John twice in the true double elim format. The first match saw John get cold from sitting and never really get going as Tom cruised to win the first match 140-96. Next up is one game for the cheese! John now starts to get back in stroke a bit and manages to stay even in score with Tom throughout but is fully aware Tom has caught the spot, somewhere around 100 balls each on the score Tom makes a great long break shot while he is on a run but WAIT! The cue ball is creeping toward the corner! It drops in and Tom scratches!. John now knows full well its opportunity time as he eyes out the table, then proceeds to methodically put together a 29 ball run, from there they get into safety battle and Tom gets another opportunity after winning the safety battle. Tom is now 114 and John 129, Tom is at the table with a few balls sticking out, he gets a bit to straight on the ball he wanted to use to break open the rack and elects for a combination that will break the balls open, you could hear a needle drop in the AC Billiard Club as Tom gets down to fire at the combo, it hits the point! and the balls are now wide open, John now gets up and he had to make a couple tough shots, at 3:30am Sunday morning John Downie runs out to become the 1st 14and1.com National Champ! Congratulations to John Downie and all the players that participated and played their hearts out. See you next year!

1st Place - John Downie (B+) - Downington, PA playing out of D&D Family Billiards Thorndale, PA $2,000

2nd Place - Tom Acciavatti (A+) - Lathem, NY playing out of Family Billiards North Adams, Ma. $1,000

3rd Place - Al Muccilli (A-) - Exton, PA playing out of D&D Family Billiards Thorndale, PA $600

4th Place Joe Stern III (B+) - Coatesville, PA playing out of D&D Family Billiards Thorndale,PA $400

5th & 6th Place Tie:
Steve Hathaway (B+) - Bennington, VT playing out of Family Billiards North Adams, Ma. $250.
Cliff Hatfield (B-) - Coatesville, PA playing out of D&D Family Billiards Thorndale, PA $250.

7th & 8th Place Tie:
Angelito Carpio (A+) - Thorndale, PA playing out f D&D Family Billiards in Thorndale, PA $200.
Luke Hubbard (B-) - Downington, PA playing out of D&D Family Billiards Thorndale, PA $200.

9th through 12th Place Tie:
Jim Hastings (A+) - Dalton, MA playing out of Casey's Billiards in Pittsfield, MA $125.
Wade Hill (A-) - Pownal, VT playing out of Family Billiards North Adams, MA $125.
Rob Sumner (B) - Adams, MA playing out of Family Billiards North Adams, MA $125.
Tom Lazrovitch (A-) - Gap, PA playing out of D&D Family Billiards Thorndale, PA $125.

The Results for the 2nd chance Sat. double elim mini tournament.

1st Place to Brooks Peschke (B) -Milford, MI playing out of Fenton, MI $150.
2nd Place to Rob Sumner (B) -Adams, MA out of Family Billiards North Adams, MA $80.
3rd Place to Roger Bouchard (B) -Pownal, VT playing out of Family Billiards North Adams, Ma $42.

Thank you www.BorderBilliards.com for your sponsorship to offset our costs at the Nationals.

Any room owners or potential league operators interested in running a 14and1.com sanctioned 14.1 handicapped league in your area please visit www.14and1.com for details.