David Parker went undefeated in the $2,000-added All-Star Series tournament on the weekend of August 27-28, defeating Barry Strickland in both the hot seat match and finals. In a concurrently run, $500-added Ladies tournament, Ming Ng returned from the one-loss side to double dip Yvette Reyes and capture the event title. The Open event, held under the auspices of the All-Star Tournament Series and Dreamline Promotions, drew 66 entrants to Deep Pocket Billiards in Alvin, TX, while the Ladies tournament drew 16.
From among the winners' side final four, Parker's 9-5 victory over Moises Herrera, and Strickland's 9-7 win over Charlie Bryant, set up their first of two. Parker prevailed 9-7 in the battle for the hot seat, and waited until the early hours of Monday, August 29 for Strickland to return from the semifinals.
Bryant moved over to pick up Kenny Price, who'd defeated Ricky Hughes and Benny Conway, Jr., both 7-4. Herrera drew Jeremy Jones, who'd gotten by Kevin Guimond in a double hill match, and Jason Bacon 7-3. Jones and Bryant advanced to the quarterfinals with identical 7-5 scores over Herrera and Price.
Bryant then defeated Jones 7-2 for a re-match versus Strickland in the semifinals. Strickland, in turn, ended Bryant's tournament with a 7-5 win, and turned back for an early AM rematch against Parker. The two battled to double hill before Parker prevailed to complete his undefeated run.
In the Ladies event, it was Yvette Reyes advancing to the hot seat, and then, falling to Ming Ng twice in a true double elimination final. Ng had shut out Heather Bryant from among the winners' side final four, as Reyes was sending Tosha Salandanan west 6-2. Reyes gained the hot seat with a 7-5 win over Ng.
Bryant and Salandanan eventually advanced to the quarterfinals, with Bryant prevailing 4-1, to face Ng in the semifinals. Ng defeated Bryant by the same 4-1 score to earn her re-match against Reyes.
Ng allowed Reyes only a single rack over the two sets of the double elimination final, shutting her out 6-0 in the first set. She took the second, reduced set 4-1 to capture the event title.
The All-Star Series Tournament was sponsored by Superior Banners, Mireles Cues, Gulf Coast Billiards, Billy's Hall Rental, Ace High Billiards, Whispering Pines Whitetails, Action Machine, Mobile Device Services, Bogies Billiards, Custom Cue Lathes and Ron Carter.
