While the top point leaders in the Predator DFW 9-Ball Tour’s standings list (#1 through #5) were languishing on the loss side of the Oct. 19-20 bracket of the tour’s 10th stop – only two of them finished in the money (#1 Tim Larson, tied for 7th and #5 Jay Ryda, tied for 17th) – #42 (Gerardo Perez) and #63 (Daniel Herring) advanced through the 88-entrant field and battled twice to claim the event title. Perez was the undefeated winner of the $1,500-added event, hosted by the Billiard Den in Richardson, TX.

 

All but one of the top five on the standings list – #4 Amos Bush – had competed in all nine of the tour’s events, and Bush had only missed one. It was Gerardo Perez’ sixth appearance on the 2019 tour and his best finish had been in a tie for 9th place last month. Herring had competed in only three of the tour’s stops, with a best finish of a tie for 13th place in August (He’d won a stop on the tour just over a year ago). They both battled players higher in the points list during their trek to the finals, but neither of them faced any one of the top five, though as it turned out, it was not for lack of trying. Greg Sandifer (#2) was on the loss side at the end of the opening round. Larson, Davis, Bush and Ryda all moved over after the third round.

 

Just goes to show that on any given Sunday. . . .

 

After an opening round bye, Perez advanced through Chase LaFerney, Jesus Sorto, Noel Villalobos and Crispian Ng (#10, highest he faced) to arrive at a winners’ side semifinal against Barry Emerson. Herring, also with an opening round bye, sent Corey Flud, Walt Anderson, Kenny Rowell and Chris Rickman to the loss side and squared off against Donny Gregory (#12, Herring’s ‘highest on the list’ opponent) in the other winners’ side semifinal.

 

Herring and Gregory battled to double hill before Herring prevailed and advanced to the hot seat match. He was joined by Perez, who’d defeated Emerson 7-4 (Emerson racing to 8). With Herring racing to 8, as well, Perez claimed the hot seat 7-5 and waited on Herring’s return.

 

Over on the loss side, Sandifer and Bush had been knocked out before the first money round (33rd-48th). TJ Davis made it to that first money round (17th-24th), but went home with just the $160. Tim Larson, who’d been sent to the loss side by Emerson, was in the midst of a very brief winning streak that had started in the first money round and after three wins, including a 9-1 victory over Chris Rickman, had ended with a defeat at the hands of Jersey Jack Lynch, who advanced to pick up Emerson. Gregory drew Kevin Guimond, who, after losing to Larson in the third round, was in the midst of an eight-match, loss-side winning streak that would take him as far as the semifinals. He’d recently eliminated Crispian Ng 9-6 and Walter Heunerfuerst 9-5 to draw Gregory.

 

Emerson downed Lynch 8-1. Guimond joined him in the quarterfinals after a 9-3 win over Gregory. In the semifinals, with Guimond racing to 9, he and Herring battled to a double hill standstill before Herring ended it for a second shot against Perez in the hot seat.

 

With Herring racing to 8, he and Perez fought to 6-7, double hill, before Perez ended it to claim his first event title.

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at the Billiard Den, as well as title sponsor Predator Cues and main event sponsors Ft. Worth Billiards Superstore, JB Cases, Accu-Rack, CSI, Granite Guyz, Dallas 8-Ball League, BCAPL, RackEm TV (streaming sponsor), FargoRate, and IMS (Internet Marketing Solutions). The next stop on the DFW 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for the weekend of November 16-17, will be the tour’s Season Finale at Rusty’s in Arlington, TX.

Juan Parra took two out of three over Alberto Nieto, double dipping him in the finals, to win the season opening event of the Omega Billiards 9-Ball Tour, held on the weekend of January 14-15. The $1,700-added event drew 90 entrants to Rusty's Billiards in Arlington, TX,

 

Parra was more or less breezing along on the winners' side of the double elimination bracket, advancing to one of the winners' side semifinals, having given up, through five matches (48 games), only 14 racks.  Then, Parra had his first match against Nieto, who'd arrived on the scene having given up 18 racks through four matches (he'd been awarded an opening round bye). They battled to double hill, before Nieto advanced to the hot seat match. Kenny Rowell, in the meantime, downed Phillip Palmer 6-3 in the other winners' side semifinal to join Nieto in the battle for the hot seat. Nieto chalked up a second double hill win to claim the hot seat over Rowell. 

 

On the loss side, Parra picked up Mike Voelkering, who'd defeated Hector Guerrero 7-5 and Jeff Georges 7-4 to reach him. Palmer drew Corey Anderson, who'd eliminated George Merchan 8-4 and Steve Raynes 8-2. Anderson defeated Palmer 8-6, and in the quarterfinals, faced Parra, who'd squeaked by Voelkering, double hill.

 

Parra chalked up a second, double hill win, defeating Anderson in the quarterfinals, and then sent Kenny Rowell home 7-4 in the semifinals. The true double elimination finals saw Parra chalk up two 7-5 wins to claim the event title. 

 

Tournament director Melinda Bailey thanked the ownership and staff at Rusty's Billiards for their hospitality, as well as sponsors OB Cues, Michael Hoang of Omega Billiards Supply and FargoRate.com. The next stop on the Omega Billiards 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for February 11-12, will be hosted by The Billiard Den in Richardson, TX.

On the weekend of February 22-23, Jersey Jack Lynch claimed the top prize at the second stop of the 2014 Omega Billiards Tour at the Billiard Den in Richardson, TX.  Jersey captured that first place spot by winning through a tough field of 80 players!     

 

Over $9,500 was given out in monies and prizes that weekend! (Tourney payouts + prizes + player’s auction.)  

 

After a bye, Jersey defeated David Josephson 7-5, then end-of-season-champ, Anthony Shea 7-4, then Steve Raynes and Kenny Rowell 7-5 each to meet newcomer Frankie Juarbe.  Jersey would defeat Frankie hill-hill – another close match – to meet up with another newcomer to the tour, Steve Collins, in the hotseat 

 

Steve Collins made his way to the hotseat with a first round bye, then wins over Jeff Georges 6-3, Linh Nguyen 6-2, Willie Speed 6-2 and then a nail biter 6-7 over David Gutierrez to meet Jersey in the hotseat match.  

 

David G would go on the one-loss side and defeat birthday boy Steve Raynes 9-5, Frankie Juarbe 9-2 then Nick Conner 9-6.  

 

Jersey was doing damage in the hotseat match and won over Steve Collins 7-2 which pitted Steve Collins and David against each other on the one-loss side for the semi-finals.  Steve Collins would win hill-hill (6-8) over David, which sealed Steve to play a re-match with Jersey Jack in the finals.

 

It was late in the night when the finals started and the first match would go hill-hill!  Steve would prevail over Jersey Jack in the first set hill-hill to force a second match in this true double elimination tournament.

 

Jersey wasn’t done though and made a comeback and prevailed with great play and a score of 7-3 to win his first Omega Tour stop!!  

 

Jersey earned $925 for First Place and Steve Collins earned $530 for Second Place.  David had another great tourney placing 3rd and earned $400 and Nick Conner rounded out the top 4 with $340 for his fine play (payouts do not reflect the Player Auction).  Special mention to David “Doc” Reyes and Frankie Juarbe for placing their highest finish yet on the tour:  5th/6th!

 

Congratulations to ALL of the players for their fine play and great finishes!

 

This event was the Omega Billiards Tour’s second stop with $1,500 added with 80 players!!  The Predator Player Tracker is back on and the top three players at the end of the year will win a plethora of Predator Prizes!  Five more stops to see who gets all the Predator products!  Further, fourth through eighth places at the end of the year rankings will each receive a free entry into the 2015 BCAPL Nationals!  

A HUGE thank you goes out to Predator Cues, Poison Break Cues, BCAPL/CSI, and Lucasi and Players Cues.  We would also like to give a big thanks to our additional sponsors, OB Cues, Irving Ink and Thread, Pro Billiard Service, Wallace Custom Cues, AZBilliards.com, and BilliardsPress.com.

 

Tour Director Melinda Bailey would like to thank the Billiard Den and their awesome staff for their great hospitality all weekend!  A big thank you also goes out to Michael Hoang, main sponsor of the Tour and owner of Omega Billiards Supply in Hurst, TX.  Michael and Omega Billiards Supply are well known for the huge booths at many of the large tournaments across the country. 

 

The 2014 Omega Billiards Tour calendar is already set with 5 more stops and a Season Finale.  The third stop will be held at JR Pockets in Denton, Texas April 26-27, 2014!  Each stop is limited to 80 players (an increase from 64) and the monies guaranteed added has increased to $1,500 for each stop!!  Pool is alive and thriving in Texas!! 

 

The 2014 Schedule is online and payments can be received via the Omega Tour website. 

http://www.omegabilliardstour.com/

 

Thank you to all the players, fans, sponsors and pool rooms!!!