The forty-ninth stop of the 50-stop 2008/2009 Pechauer All American Tour (produced by the American CueSports Alliance – ACS) was hosted at Rockford Billiard Cafe in Rockford, IL, on Saturday, May 2. The $500 added event (based on a full field) featured thirty-one players in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes. Masters-level players gave a 1-game spot to Open-level players. Only one masters player – Ike Runnels – made it to the money rounds. In the A-bracket finals, Matt Mitchell (Rockford, IL) outpointed Joe Geiken (Machesney Park, IL) 4-3 to gain the hot seat. In the earlier A-bracket semi-finals Mitchell had overcome Rick Karsten (Machesney Park, IL) 4-2, while Geiken clipped Bob Romano (Westmont, IL) 4-3.
In the B-side bracket, Tony Loper (Poplar Grove, IL) and Ike Runnels (Hopkins Park, IL) eliminated Bob Nodine (Chicago, IL) and Shane Minihan (Rockford, IL) at 7th place by 4-3 and 4-1 scores respectively. Loper fell to 5th place at the hands of Bob Romano 3-4, and Rick Karsten tied Loper by falling to Ike Runnels 2-4. Romano stopped Runnels run at 4th place on the hill match 3-3 (Runnels gave a 1-game spot). Bob Romano then claimed a spot in the finals by dispatching Joe Geiken at 3rd place 4-2. Undefeated Matt Mitchell left no doubt whose day it was, as Matt closed out Bob Romano in the first set of the finals 4-1 for the title!
The ACS wishes to thank sponsors J. Pechauer Custom Cues, Championship Billiard Fabric, Nick Varner Signature Cases and oZone Billiards for their support in donating “Value-In-Kind” product for this and all stops on the Pechauer All American Tour. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the 2008/2009 All American Tour by contacting the ACS.
The Tour takes a month break during the various national championships in Las Vegas, including the ACS Nationals at the Riviera, before it closes out with its 50th and final stop on the 2008-2009 Tour: The Houston Billiard Open 8-Ball at Slick Willie's Family Pool Hall (1200 Westheimer) in Houston TX (contact Gilbert Vargas at 713-303-8111). Further information, entry details and schedules for the 2008/2009 Pechauer All American Tour are available at www.americancuesports.org.
Matt Mitchell wins All American Tour Stop
May 5, 2009