There’s nothing that’ll let the air out of a competitive pool balloon faster than an early loss in a tournament with a lot of entrants. In a 128-entrant bracket, for example, a loss in the second round will almost double the number of matches you have to play to claim the event’s title. The winner and runner-up in such an event will have been there the same amount of time, but one of them will have played a lot more pool.
At the $4,000-added, Open 9-Ball Division of the 46th Annual Texas Open, held over Labor Day weekend (Aug. 28-Sept 2) that drew 128 entrants to Skinny Bob’s Billiards in Round Rock, TX, Josh Roberts played seven matches to claim the hot seat. He did not win the eighth match he needed to claim the title. Sky Woodward, though, patched up the ‘balloon’ that had burst in the second round, and ended up playing 15 matches; two on the winners’ side, 11 on the loss side and two in the true double elimination final that earned him the event title.
It was a very busy weekend in Round Rock. In addition to the Open 9-Ball Tournament, there was a 9-ball mini tournament (Wednesday night), a Jack ‘N Jill Scotch Doubles tournament that drew 16 teams (Thursday night), a Banks Ring Game (Friday night, in conjunction with the start of the Open 9-Ball), and a Women’s Open event (started Saturday night; separate story) that drew 32. It should be noted that the Jack N’ Jill Scotch Doubles title was shared by two teams; Co-tournament director James Davis, Sr. and long-time doubles partner Jennifer Kraber and a team made up of the Open winner (Woodward) and the Women’s event winner (Ming Ng).
Woodward’s winning campaign in the Open event opened on a promising note with a shutout over Donald Rock, but ran right into a double hill match against Alex Calderon, which shifted Woodward’s work to the loss side of the bracket. Roberts, in the meantime, worked his way through his first four opponents (Steven Butler, Jeremy Diggs, Tommy Vega and Ryan Hsu) by an aggregate score of 36-6. And then, like Woodward, Roberts ran into Alex Calderon, who battled Roberts to a deciding 17th game. Roberts dropped the final ball and advanced to a winners’ side semifinal against Justin Espinosa.
Roberts got into the hot seat match with a 9-3 win over Espinosa. Gabriel joined him after sending Guimond to the loss side 9-6. Roberts chalked up what proved to be his last match win with a 9-3 victory over Gabriel and waited in the hot seat for Woodward to finish his 11-match, loss-side winning streak.
It was Justin Espinosa who drew Woodward on the loss side. At that point, Woodward had already won eight of his 11 loss-side matches, including, most recently, victories over Bayaua and Hsu, both 9-3. Kevin Guimond drew Sean Black, who was on a loss-side run comparable to Woodward’s. Black had lost his opening round match and embarked on a nine-match winning streak that eventually earned him the second-most wins in the event. He’d most recently eliminated Steve Sheppard 9-5 and spoiled any hopes Woodward was entertaining about a rematch against Calderon, by defeating Calderon, double hill.
Black’s loss-side streak came to an end when Guimond eliminated him 9-6. Woodward’s continued with his third straight 9-3 win, this one over Espinosa to advance to the quarterfinals.
Woodward chalked up two more 9-3 wins to earn a shot at Roberts in the hot seat. He downed Guimond in the quarterfinals and Gabriel in the semifinals. He chalked up his 6th 9-3 win in the opening set of the true double elimination final. He broke the pattern and won the second set 9=7 to claim the event title.
Co-tour directors James Davis, Sr. and John Palmore thanked Sue and John Cielo and their Skinny Bob’s Billiards staff, as well as Sleep Inn, Mints Amusement, and James Hanshew. They also acknowledged Ray Hansen and his PoolActionTV crew for the live stream of the event throughout the long weekend.
Marc Garza blazed through 42 open 8-ball players this past Saturday, November 1st, 2015, at the PxP Tour Finale held at Bogies Billiards & Sports Bar in Houston, Texas. Seasoned player and tour newcomer Garza took no prisoners as he forged ahead to victory and a piece of the almost $3,000 purse. The PxP Tour is title sponsored by Poison by Predator cues, www.poisonbilliards.com, along with other sponsors Delta-13, www.delta-13.com, as the official rack, and the APA of North Harris County, www.facebook.com/apanorthharriscounty.
Action commenced around 2pm with top notch players battling their way towards the finish line. Winding down on the winners’ side, “The Machine” Eugene Browning bested Chase Rudder 4-0, and newcomer Steven Wyatt fell to Darryl Amos, 4-0. Dallas’ “Little Al” Al Mason lost to Garza, 4-1, while Ken Laney sent T.J Ortiz to the loser’s side, 4-3. Browning bested Amos, 4-0, while Garza sent Laney west, 4-1. After losing to Amos in the third round on the winners’ side, 4-1, Danny Lee won an impressive 6 consecutive matches, reigning over John Winter, 4-0, Jose Irizarry, 4-2, Al Mason, 4-1, Amos and Ortiz, by the same score of 4-0. A similar upset in the same round included T.J. Ortiz over John Newsome, 4-1, with Newsome returning to claim 5 consecutive match wins over Will Felder and Ryan Holley, 4-0 each set, Chase Rudder, 4-3, Brian Rosenbaum, 4-1, and Laney, 4-0. Browning and Garza teed off for the hot seat while Lee and Newsome faced off on the one loss side Garza defeated Browning, 4-2, and Lee eliminated Newsome, 4-1. In the finals, Garza squeezed by Lee in the first set, 4-3.
Once again, the PxP Tour would like to recognize the best in the business: Poison by Predator Cues, Delta-13 Rack, and the APA of North Harris County. The tour would like to acknowledge all of its Press Partners who strive to bring billiard news to the world. A big, Texas “thank you” to Rack Em Magazine’s Don and Mary Akerlow for printing the stories that players love to read, collect, and cherish. Press Partners, event details, and information on the upcoming 2015 season can all be found at www.PxPTour.com. “Like” us at Facebook/pxptour.
On the hill at 8-7 in the opening set of a true double elimination final at the 41st Annual Texas Open over Labor day weekend, Robb Saez took aim at a 9-ball that was to have forced a second set against hot seat occupant, Charlie Bryant. The 9-ball dropped and the second set was . . . wait a minute . . . the cue ball is still traveling, and it drops, too, producing an audible gasp from a roomful of spectators, stunned commentary from the PoolActionTV commentators and a flurry of comments from the on-line chat room, watching the live stream. Bryant followed this most dramatic moment with a less dramatic, though decisive break-and-run rack, which earned him his second Texas Open title, and denied Saez his second. Bryant had won in 2010, Saez in 2011. Chip Compton took the title in 2012 and last year's champion (defeating Bryant in the finals) was Warren Kiamco.
One of the oldest, if not the oldest, pool tournaments in the country, the annual Texas Open has had its share of top name winners, including Shane Van Boening (2008), Buddy Hall (1998), Gabe Owen ('99), three-time winners Gilbert Martinez, Jr. ('90, '92 and '93) and Jeremy Jones ('94, '02, '03), and two-time champions CJ Wiley ('96, '97), and now, Bryant, of course. The Texas Open Trophy was named after Bob Vanover, who won the event a total of eight times, including six straight from 1981 to 1986.
The $3,000-added Open event drew the full field of 128 entrants to Skinny Bob's Billiards in Round Rock, TX. The $1,000-added Ladies event, in which Vivian Villareal successfully defended the title she'd won last year, drew 32 entrants.
In the Open event, the Hillbilly and Robb Saez met first in the hot seat match. Bryant had worked his way through five opponents to meet and defeat James Davis, Jr. 9-5 in a winners' side semifinal. Saez, whose five-match march to the winners' side semifinals had included wins over two former Texas Open champions (Jeremy Jones and David Henson), met and defeated Sean King 9-7. In their first of two, Bryant took the hot seat match 9-6.
The loss side still had some lurking former champions (Al Mason, Chip Compton, Henson and Jones, for example), but by the time James Davis, Jr. arrived from the winners' side final four, there was only the one – Jones – left. Davis drew Manny Chau, who'd defeated Barry Emerson and Junior Jueco to reach him. King drew Jones, who'd gotten by Tuan Tran and survived an epic, double hill battle against Shane Manaole.
Davis eliminated Chau 9-5 and in the quarterfinals, faced King who'd finished Jones' bid 9-3. King defeated Davis 9-7 and got a second chance against Saez in the semifinals. In another epic, live-streamed, double hill battle, Saez took down King a second time, and got his second chance at Bryant.
Neither player in what proved to be the only set of the finals ever had more than a two-game lead, and just when observers were beginning to feel a shift in momentum, the player down by two (Bryant or Saez, at different times) took command to tie things up. Saez took the lead at 8-7, and was hoping that the next game would not only re-establish a two-game lead, but win the opening set. The stunning drop of the cue ball as he shot at the 9-ball effectively ended the match, as Bryant followed up with a flawless rack to claim his second Texas Open title.
Texas Tornado repeats as Texas Open Ladies Champion
The ladies' event almost came to a Vivian Villareal versus Belinda Calhoun final. The Texas Tornado worked her way through five opponents to be in the hot seat for those finals. Belinda Calhoun dropped her opening match and won seven on the loss side before being eliminated in the semifinals by Julie Comitini.
Villareal had sent Nicole McDaniel to the losers' bracket 7-2 in a winners' side semifinal and in the hot seat match, faced Comitini, who'd defeated Emma Stewart-Davis 7-5 (No confirmation of this, but Stewart-Davis and James Davis, Jr. may have been the Texas Open's premier newlyweds). Villareal took the first of two against Comitini 7-2, and was a single match away from reclaiming the Texas Open Ladies title.
The newlywed bride was the one who ran into Calhoun, who'd just eliminated loss-side opponents # 3 (Cindy Cole) and #4 (Kim Pierce). McDaniel picked up Michelle Cortez, who'd defeated Kim Sanders and Ricki Casper. Calhoun and McDaniel advanced to the quarterfinals, where Calhoun chalked up her final loss-side win 7-3.
Calhoun's run came to an end against Comitini in the semifinals, but not without a double hill fight. The Texas Tornado descended on the finals table, and swept Comitini out of contention, giving up only a single rack to defend her title.
Al Mason sent Shawn Putnam to the loss side from among the winners' side final four, during the September 21-22 stop on the Fast Eddie's 9-Ball Tour. Putnam would come back from a three-match visit west to double dip Mason in the finals, capturing the $500-added event title that had drawn 17 entrants to Fast Eddie's Round Rock (Austin), TX location.
Mason took his first of three against Putnam 9-7, which set him up to face Chelo Velazquez in the hot seat match. Velazquez had sent Alex Cardenas over 9-6. Mason got into the hot seat with a 9-5 win over Velazquez, which would prove to be his final win of the night.
Putnam's three-match, loss-side march to the finals began with Tito Fernandez, who'd gotten by Alex Cardenas' twin brother, Mark Cardenas 7-5 and T.J. Klein 7-4. Alex Cardenas, likely thinking of a match against his brother, instead drew Kevin Guimond, who'd defeated Kim Bierce 7-4, and survived a double hill match against James Davis, Sr.
Putnam advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-5 win over Fernandez, and was met by Guimond, who'd ended the second Cardenas' brother's day 7-4. Putnam took both the quarterfinal match against Guimond, and the semifinal against Velasquez 7-5.
Though Mason would force a deciding game in both matches of the true double elimination final, Putnam would win them both; taking the first 9-8, and the second 7-6, to capture the event title.
Skinny Bobs in Round Rock Texas, hosting the longest running tournament, is on its last day with Daniel Coffman vs Leroy Mathis, Warren Kiamco vs David Henson (who is on a serious hot streak ), Charlie Bryant (playing great and more relaxed than usual) vs Sylver Ochoa, and Al Mason vs Shawn Putnam all on the winner’s side. Shawn Putnam is playing so well people are gathering just to watch him practice.
On the ladies winner’s side, Gail Eaton vs Texas Tornado Vivian Villarreal & Kim Newsome vs Melissa Little. Both matches loaded with talent and could very easily be a repeat in the finals. Kim Newsome playing very strong, some opponents not even winning a single game during the matches. However, Melissa Little is very focused and playing strong as well so this should be an interesting matchup. We’ll keep you posted as the claws come out.
On the one loss side, Kim Sanders Sanders who is playing more confident than previous years, will face Nicole McDaniel. Both young ladies are from the Austin area and call Skinny Bobs Billiards home. Kimmy Nguyen who has been working hard on her game for the past few years, will place her highest in this event win or lose as she moves on to face Kim Margenau. Nice work Kim! Kim Pierce vs Belinda Calhoun will be entertaining. Having Belinda back in town each year is a special treat as she now resides in South Carolina. Michelle Cortez is currently waiting on the winner of Natalie Mans vs Sheri Palma. All this talent wrapped up in a well maintained pool hall as Skinny Bobs take pride in the up keep of the equipment. The atmosphere is more like a family reunion with action on the side. If you’re in the area, swing on by, we’d love to see you.
On June 16th-17th, Houston’s Sports Bar held its first $1,000 added Lone Star event of 2012, drawing 57 entries over Open and Amateur divisions. Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant, Manny Chau, David Gutierrez, Al Mason, and Sylver Ochoa helped make up the 25 player, star-studded Open division. New faces in the 32 player Amateur division included Bobby Pacheco, Ray Porter, Derrick Ray, Henry Rocha, Robert Garcia, Isai Rodriguez, and David Rodriguez.
Saturday’s Open play narrowed the field to 12 finalists for Sunday. Grady Cooper and Henry Rocha were two unusual suspects who played their way into the final four winners’ side for Sunday. Cooper defeated Al Mason 9-5 and Henry Rocha bested Sonny Bosshamer 9-6 to get there, but were both defeated in their hot seat bids by Sylver Ochoa and Charlie Bryant respectively. Cooper and Rocha secured 7th-8th place finishes. David Gutierrez suffered a first round loss to Mason and won 5 consecutive matches until he was upset by Bosshamer, 7-2. It seemed like old times as Ochoa and Bryant hammered it out for the cat bird’s seat. They traded racks, executing dead-lock safes and kicking in balls, until Ochoa pulled ahead and closed it out, 9-7. The “Hillbilly” made quick work of Bosshamer then exacted dual-set revenge on Ochoa to win his first Lone Star Open division title in 2 years!
There were several big stories on the “B” side. Pasadena, Texas newcomer, Ray Porter, stormed the Amateur division escaping 3 hill-hill matches to reach the hot seat. Surprise player Bill Fain reached his bid for the final four winners’ side with wins over Steve Williams, Carlos Martinez, and Henry Rocha. Fain lost to Bosshamer, 7-4, and was then eliminated by Brent Thomas, 5-3. Demetro depleted Thomas in the first round, but after 6 rounds of wins, Thomas exacted revenge on Demetro in the quarter finals. After a 7-4 loss to Porter for the hot seat, Bosshamer faced off with Thomas’, ending his 7 match winning streak. Victory was short-lived for Bosshamer as the indomitable Porter swiftly secured the final set to win his first Lone Star Amateur division event.
Congratulations to Tiffany Boysen who finished “top lady” in the Amateur division. There were 2 juniors who participated in the Amateurs, Mike Calderaro and Michael Fain. Junior Nick Calderaro competed in the Open, drawing Sylver Ochoa his first round and losing by a score of only 9-6. Many Lone Star tour players continue to reach for, and accomplish their goals, with each and every event in which they compete. Keep your momentum going!
The Lone Star Billiards Tour would like to thank its exclusive cue sponsor, Poison by Predator cues, www.poisonbilliards.com, its exclusive rack Delta-13, www.delta-13rack.com, www.PoolWebsites.com, APA of North Harris County, and Gulf Coast Billiards. The tour would also like to acknowledge and give special thanks to Carlos Ledson Miller, who generates the tour standings. Many thanks to BCA referee, Derrell Montgomery, and Jerald “Topwater” Jackson for their tournament assistance.
Paul Holleman from Baytown, Texas won a Poison VX Jump Cue and Cleveland, Texas’ Mike Terry won a VX2.9 Break/Jump in the Poison by Predator cue raffles. Enjoy your new cues gentlemen!
The Tour would like to thank Houston’s owner Eric Hill and his wonderful staff for making this a first rate event. The Olhausen tournament tables were recovered in brand new 860 Simonis cloth for the players to enjoy. Tour Director Kim White says, “Houston’s was so accommodating to the Tour and its players. We look forward to coming back.”
The next event is July 7th-8th at Bogies Billiards and Sports Bar. We hope you’ll join us.
