Charlie Bryant

Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant passed on a chance to repeat his victory at last year’s Carolina Open, hosted annually by Fast Eddie’s in Goldsboro, NC, to participate in Fast Eddie’s Olhausen 9-Ball Tour in Waco, TX on the weekend of October 10-11. He ended up concluding the event with a ‘technical knockout’ of Jui Lung Chen in the finals. After Hillbilly won the opening set of a true double elimination final, the two decided to flip a coin to determine the winner and split the first and second place prize money. Hillbilly won the toss, was declared the winner, and took home his half of the $1,385. The $1,000-added event drew 38 entrants to Fast Eddie’s in Waco.

They’d met first in the hot seat match, after Bryant had sent Aaron Springs west 9-8 and Chen had defeated tour regular David Guttierez 9-7. Chen gained the hot seat with a 9-5 win over Bryant and awaited his return.

On the one-loss side, Zaid Thweib and Leroy Mathis were waiting for Guttierez and Springs. Thweib had defeated James Davis, Jr. in a hill-hill match, and Robert Stewart 7-5 to pick up Guttierez. Mathis downed Robert Newkirk and David Parker, both 7-5, to face Springs. Guttierez dropped Thweib into the tie for fifth place 7-5, as Mathis did likewise to Springs 7-2. Gutierrez emerged from the quarterfinals with a 7-4 win over Mathis and turned to face Hillbilly.

Gutierrez and Hillbilly, veterans of the Fast Eddie’s tour, battled back and forth, with the ‘hill’ Billy reaching the hill first. Gutierrez fought back to tie it, but Hillbilly hung on to win it and get his second chance at Chen. Bryant won the first set of what was to have been a true double elimination final 9-5. Tour director Lewis Jones, who had made arrangements to ‘stream’ the event on the Internet, was caught somewhat off-guard by the players’ request to forego the second set in favor of a coin toss, but acquiesced.

Bryant, as noted, won the toss, the event, and $692. Bryant is expected to be on hand for the US Open in Virginia beginning on Sunday, October 18.

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