TJ’s Classic Billiards NE 9-Ball Series Stop Captured by Bob Dennis

The New England Nine Ball Series held its twelfth stop of the season at TJ's Classic Billiards in Waterville, Maine. A total of twenty-six New England competitors made their way to the venue to play for the $1000 in cash and prizes. Some of the notables attending on January 6, 2008, included Dan Couture, Steve Reynolds, Larry McKenna, and Bob Dennis. Many of the locals threw their name in the hat, which ultimately boosted the stop with a great turnout for the first stop of the new year.

The hot seat match ended up being played between the new room owner Steve Reynolds and Bob Dennis. The set flip flopped back and forth for the first ten games before Reynolds made a critical error and provided an opportunity for Dennis to jump ahead. To win the set, Dennis broke and ran the table sending Reynolds to the one-loss side with a score of 7-5 to play against Larry McKenna, who he had beaten earlier in the day. The semis proved to be Reynolds undoing as it appeared that the prior match took the fight out of him. McKenna finished off the round 7-2 and Reynolds had to settle for third place this go-round.

In the finals, hot seat winner Bob Dennis matched up against Larry McKenna. It looked as though McKenna would force a second set to determine the event winner as he jumped out to an immediate lead in the first set 5-0. It was then that the former Maine State Straight Pool Champion Bob Dennis got a chance at the table and won the next six games, leaving McKenna sitting in the electric chair. Dennis made a mistake on a six ball in rack twelve and allowed McKenna back to the table to bring the score even at 6-6. In rack thirteen, McKenna broke dry and Dennis took full advantage by making him pay – he ran the table for the first place winnings and a $1000 McDermott Custom Cue, while McKenna settled for second place money and an entry into a future Robert Dionne Memorial 9-Ball Tournament.

The tour would like to thank the Reynolds for hosting the event and supporting the tour. The next stop will be held at Silver Cue Billiards in Woburn, Massachusetts on January 27, 2008. For additional information, contact madion9@aol.com or (978) 836-6818 (website: www.mdpromotions.com)