Eric Nickerson went at Aaron Astle twice during the sixth stop on the New England 9-Ball Series on Saturday, November 5; once in the hot seat match, and again in the finals. They fought to double hill both times, and Astle chalked up the deciding game both times to claim the event title. The $1,500-added event drew 35 entrants to Rack City in Bangor, ME.
Astle downed Ben Harvey 4-2 in one winners’ side semifinal, as Eric Nickerson sent Steve Smith to the loss side, double hill in the other. As the higher ranked player, Nickerson had to win seven games, before Astle chalked up four in their hot seat match. Astle did so and waited on Nickerson’s return from the semifinals.
On the loss side, Harvey picked up Ross Wheaton, who’d defeated Mark Pulsifer 4-2 and Jenn Brown 5-1 to reach him. Smith drew Jeff Yerxa, who’d eliminated Jordan Labbe 5-6 (Labbe racing to 8), and Chad Bazinet, double hill.
Harvey and Yerxa advanced to the quarterfinals; Harvey, 5-1 over Wheaton and Yerxa, 5-4 over Smith (racing to 6). Yerxa eliminated Harvey 6-3 in those quarterfinals, and then, in a straight-up race to 6, was himself eliminated 6-3.
Nickerson came out gunning in the finals. He reached the hill ahead by 6-1. Astle, though, responded with three straight to claim the event title.
Stop #7 on the New England 9-Ball Series, scheduled for Sunday, November 20, will be hosted by Maxamillian’s Billiards in Tyngsboro, MA.
The New England 9 -Ball Series would like to thank everyone for their support in running this event and all its sponsors: Ozone Billiards, Molinari, Bert Kinister, AzBilliards, Inside English, Professor Q-ball’s National Pool and 3 Cushion News, Delta 13 Racks, Bob Campbell, Championship Cloth, and OTLVISE Billiard Mechanics of America. Many of these events would not be possible without their help.
