Roberts holds off loss-side challenge to win GSBT stop

Josh Roberts has won two of his last four tour stops, dating back to the first weekend in April, when he chalked up a "W" on the Maxim Billiards 9-Ball Tour in Hickory, NC. Two subsequent attempts on the Great Southern Billiard Tour fell short, including a second place finish to Alex Olinger in Conyers, GA. Back at Classic Billiards in Conyers for the GSBT stop on the weekend of May 14-15, Roberts went undefeated to capture his second title in six weeks. The $1,500-added event had drawn 33 entrants to Classic Billiards.

From among the winners' side final four, Roberts met and defeated James Bryson 10-5. Bryson had just sent Roberts' eventual finals opponent, Tim Miller, to the one-loss side 7-3. Joining Roberts in the hot seat match was Josh Johnson, who had just survived a 7-8 double hill struggle versus Tim Orange. Roberts allowed Johnson only two racks in the victory that left him sitting in the hot seat.

Meanwhile, Miller moved over and began his five-match campaign back to the finals. He began with a 9-5 victory over Jeff Abernathy, and followed it with a 9-2 win over Kenny Wilson that gave him a re-match opportunity versus Bryson. Orange faced Norris Brady, who'd defeated Denny Singletary 9-2 and B.R. Tatum 9-7. Miller and Brady made Bryson and Orange's trip to the one-loss side brief; Miller exacting 9-6 vengeance over Bryson and Brady downing Orange 9-7.

Miller won the quarterfinal match against Brady 9-5, and came within a single ball of having his streak ended by Johnson in the semifinals. The two battled back and forth to double hill, and it was Johnson  standing at the table with the match's final 9-ball separating him from a re-match versus Roberts. Johnson missed the ball. Miller did not, and turned to face Roberts. Roberts then completed his undefeated weekend with a single 10-6 set that earned him his first win on the 2011 GSBT Tour.

Tour director Shannon Daulton thanked the staff and management of Classic Billiards, as well as tour sponsors Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Delta-13 racks, Tiger Products, Mike Davis Extermination, and Andy Gilbert Custom Cues.