To attend the February 11-12 stop on the Action Pool Tour, Mike Fuller had to miss his son Christian's birthday, so when he came back from the loss-side to challenge and defeat hot seat occupant, R.J. Carmona, to take the event title, he wanted it known that this one was for Christian - Happy Birthday!! Odds-on favorites to win this event might have included Mike Davis and Brian Deska, but both were eliminated in the opening day of the event, which drew 60 entrants to QMaster Billiards in Virginia Beach, VA.
Fuller was among the winners' side final four, but Eric Moore sent him west 8-5, as Carmona was sending Nil Lim over 8-3. Carmona and Moore then battled to double hill, before Carmona prevailed to sit in the hot seat, awaiting the return of the in absentia birthday boy.
First up for Fuller on the loss side was Chris Futrell, who'd defeated Jimmy Bird double hill and Larry Kressell 6-3 to reach him. Lim drew Paul Helms, who'd shut out Jerry Fitchett and Junior Conway 6-4 (earlier, Conway had eliminated Mike Davis). Fuller then dominated in a 6-1 victory over Futrell, as Lim was busy surviving a double hill battle versus Helms.
Fuller ended Lim's day with a 6-2 victory in the quarterfinals and then downed Moore 6-3 in the semifinals. He took the opening set of the true double elimination finals 8-6, and to complete his birthday gift to his son won the second set 6-3. In addition to his $900, first place prize, some of which, presumably, would go towards cake and candles, the victory earned Fuller a $500, free entry to the US Open.
In a second chance tournament on Sunday that drew 21 entrants, Jerry Fitchett survived a double hill opening round battle against Cheryl Sporleder (who earned $75 as the top female finisher in the main event). Fitchett then went on to give up only seven racks the rest of the way (five matches) to finish undefeated. He gained the hot seat with a 5-3 victory over Sean Sporleder, who moved west to face Bill Duggan in the semifinals. Sporleder had sent Duggan to the loss side in a double hill match among the winners' side final four. Duggan, after victories over Mel Peck and Chad Pike on the loss side, shut Sporleder out in the semifinals. Fitchett, though, turned the tables on Duggan, shutting him out in the finals to capture the Second Chance title.
Next stop on the Action Pool Tour is scheduled for March 17-18 at the First Break Cafe, in Sterling, VA.
