Son of a gun, they had big fun, on the bayou; Bayou Lafourche, to be precise, located in the “Queen City of Lafourche” parish – Thibodaux, Louisiana, at a venue called Cue Sports. The $1,000-added, 9-Ball event was the Louisiana Bar Table Championships, which played to packed houses all weekend, February 19-20, and drew the maximum 64 players. Broadcast all weekend through the facilities of UStream and the Big Truck Show via Pool Action TV, the assembled tucked into the bar with its six Diamond Bar Tables and watched Cliff Joyner slice through the field and take the championship title, undefeated.
Joyner got into the hot seat, following winners' side final four victories over Brandon Shuff 7-2, and New Orleans native Joey “A” (Aguzin) 7-1. Aguzin had just sent fellow New Orleans' native Keith Fremin west 7-5. As it turned out, it would be Shuff coming back from the one-loss side to face Joyner in the finals.
On the one-loss side, Shuff began his journey back with a double hill victory over Texarkana's Jerry Blackstock, who'd defeated Randall Brown 7-3, and Shreveport, LA's Donny Weathersby, double hill. Fremin drew Florida's Robb Saez, who'd gotten by New Orleans' Ricky Powers 7-3 and Bobby Johnson 7-4. Saez downed Fremin 7-3 to get into the quarterfinals versus Shuff, who'd defeated Blackstock in a double hill battle.
Shuff then ended Saez' bid in a second straight double hill victory and turned to face Joey “A.” Shuff wasted little time with Aguzin, allowing him only a single rack and squaring off for a re-match versus Joyner in the true double elimination final. Joyner made a second set unnecessary, winning the opener 7-4 to claim the Bar Table Championship.
“We want to thank Cue Sports, Nick Arcement, Jason Lafleur and the wonderful staff,” said tour director Heather Bryant. “They worked nearly around the clock all weekend to serve the packed house.”
Bryant also extended thanks to the tournament sponsors: Dreamline Promotions (Heather & Charlie Bryant), Pool Action TV (Ray Hansen), Lucasi Hybrid Cues (Raffle Cue), Keith Hulin with Emerald Billiards, Delta13, Kamui Tips & Uptown Sports.
