We concluded a great weekend of pool with our Jack & Jill Scotch Doubles tournament at Fast Eddies Billiards-Culebra. Thanks to title sponsor, Predator, this $1000-added 2-day 9-ball event was held on September 16th – 17th weekend and produced 25 formidable teams ready to battle it out on 8-foot Olhausen tables using high quality Predator Arcos II ball sets and the superb Predator Aerorack. The first day would conclude with the final 6 teams and continue into the next day for a guaranteed payout where one team would ultimately be crowned champion.
DAY 1: 25 POWERHOUSE TEAMS FACE-OFF
Several heavyweight teams were matched against each other in the early morning rounds on Saturday: Yvette Villarreal and Albert Luna faced-off against Mille Almaraz and Eric Aicinena on the streaming table and were promptly sent to the 1-loss side after a 1-7 defeat. Mille and Eric went on to send two more teams to the 1-loss bracket, including Carmel Luttrell and Juan Acuna, and Stephanie Reyes and her partner, Jonathan Puentes.
Summer Bowen and Candy Ramos barely escaped an almost hill-hill situation against Naomi Garcia and Jared Grywalski in the first round with a 7-5 win and shortly found themselves in the 1-loss side after a hill-hill loss to Sophie Lopez and Matthew Shoemaker.
Similarly, Sandra Gonzalez and Jaden Acuna also escaped an almost hill-hill situation against Lisa Bailey and Mitch Ports, squeaked by a hill-hill win against the commanding team, Stacey Linerode and Roger Senn, then proceeded in the 3rd round with another victory by sending Sophie & Matthew to the 1-loss side.
Barbara Wisdom and Mike Rodriguez battled Kawania Watson and Frank Ferrer Jr in the second round with Kawania’s team rising to the challenge with a 7-5 win. Kawania and Frank again emerged victorious against Angela Garza and her partner, Joe Cannata 7-2, to remain in the winners’ side.
In the other half of the bracket, Marilina Nieves and Roy Medina scored an upset in the 3rd winners’ round against Maxine Flores and her long-time scotch doubles partner, Felix Longoria, with a 7-2 victory to secure a spot in the second day. Saturday matches concluded by 7:30pm with Sophie & Matthew and Stephanie & Jonathan, finishing their 7th & 8th place matches victorious against Maxine & Felix and Angela & Joe respectively.
DAY 2: SIX TEAMS REMAIN
Six teams returned to the second day starting with two battles for the hotseat match among the four remaining teams in the winner’s side: Sandra and Jaden vs. Marilinia and Roy and Mille and Eric vs. Kawania and Frank Jr. Sandra & Jaden and Mille & Eric earned their chance for the hotseat match by furnishing their opponents, Marilina & Roy and Kawania & Frank Jr, their first losses in the tournament whereafter Stephanie & Jonathan and Sophie & Matthew were waiting in the 5th-6th place matches to deliver the final nail to their run.
In the next rounds, Sandra and Jaden fell short against Mille and Eric in the hotseat match 2-7 while Sophie and Matthew conquered Stephanie and Jonathan 5-3, earning Stephanie and Jonathan their 4th place finish. Sophie and Matthew continued their climb to the top by finding retribution against Sandra and Jaden 5-3 in the 3rd place match to earn their seat in the finale.
In a race to 7 of the first set in the finals match between Sophie and Matthew and the undefeated Mille and Eric, each player rose to the occasion to deliver an impressive display of strategy, tactics and shot execution that opened their partner’s opportunity to capitalize for a run-out and/or forced the opposing team into a difficult situation that prevented theirs. In the end, Mille and Eric maintained control of the 2-hour set and remained undefeated 7-4 to earn the Jack & Jill Scotch Doubles champion for 2023 season.
OVERVIEW
Many thanks to the venue, Fast Eddies Billiards-Culebra, for hosting this event and providing top-notch service, the players showcasing their talent, sportsmanship and integrity, Backwards Billiards for streaming the events worldwide, spectators for supporting the community and tour and, finally, to the sponsors, Predator, Kamui, and Digital Pool Tournaments, where collectively can make the magic of this weekend’s event happen.
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