Roberto Gomez
James Leone, known as “Buffalo” or just “Buff,” and his staff welcomed players and fans to the Buffalo’s Open One Pocket Championship. Buffalo’s Billiards, attorney Joe Long, Diamond Billiard Products and PoolActionTV.com added $5,000 to the event.
This tournament saw the implementation of express one pocket rules intended to keep matches from lasting for many hours and slowing down the entire event. The express rules for this event are shown in the attached graphic.
Thirty four players paid a $200 entry fee to compete in this double elimination event – races were to three with alternate breaks with one extended race to five for the finals. Well known names like One Pocket Hall of Famer Cliff Thorburn, Danny Smith, Tony Chohan, Roberto Gomez, Alex Calderon and Sergio Rivas joined the fray.
After a players auction, meeting and draw, play began.
After many matches, Gomez, O’Neal, Smith and Jones reached the final four on the winners side.
To get there and after a first round bye, Gomez had wins over John Braud, Chohan and Rivas – all matches 3-1. Josh O’Neal also received a first round bye and then skunked John Daminato, Mike Eck and Mike Black.
In the lower portion of the bracket, local favorite Danny Smith drew a bye and then defeated Keith Singleton 3-2, Anthony Meglino 3-1 and Beaux Guidry 3-2. Robert (“AJ”) Jones also drew a bye and then downed Kid Chris 3-2 and both Calderon and Hunter White 3-1.
Playing to get into the hot seat, Gomez defeated O’Neal and Smith beat Jones – both matches 3-1.
The hot seat match was tight and tied at two apiece until Gomez sunk the winning ball and won the match – locking up his seat in the finals. Smith headed west to await an opponent.
After losing his third round match to Gomez, Rivas plowed through the field eliminating Meglino and Jones 3-1 to face O’Neal. He then edged out O’Neal 3-2 leaving Josh in fourth place. Next in Sergio’s way was Smith who also went down 3-2 – Danny finished third. On to the finals to face Roberto again!
As previously mentioned, the finals were one extended race to five and WOW! It was close! 1-1, 2-1, 2-2 until Roberto ground out the next three games and took the title! What a match!
PoolActionTV.com would like to thank Buff, GM Steve Tesvich (“Bullseye”) and their staff for, as always, taking great care of all the players and fans. We’d also like to thank Tournament Director Jason Hill as well as One Pocket Hall of Famers Jeremy Jones and Scott Frost, OnePocket.org’s Steve Booth, “Downtown Eddie” Brown, Hunter White, Joey Aguzin and Ray Hansen for their topnotch commentary.
We’d also like to thank our fans and sponsors. Our sponsors include JB Cases, Hanshew Jump Cues, Diamond Billiard Products, Lomax Custom Cues, Savage Billiards, Durbin Custom Cues, Aramith, Simonis, Bull Carbon, Attorney Joseph J. Long, the Action Palace of Dayton, OH and Fort Worth Billiards Superstore of Fort Worth, TX.
Our next stop is the $8,000 added Space City Open XI at Big Tyme Billiards in Spring, TX! Featuring five events – nine ball banks and one pocket plus open, ladies and junior nine ball! Dates are November 29th-December 3rd! Hope to see you there!
0 comments