Joey Barnes and Devin Poteet
He's played in all of them, since 2008. He won the first Side Pocket Open 9-Ball Championship that year, and again, in 2010. On the weekend of March 6-8, Joey Barnes laid claim to his third championship title at the 8th Annual Side Pocket Open 9-Ball Championship, going undefeated to do it. Last year's winner, Johnny Archer, didn't compete, nor did two-time winner, Jeremy Jones. The $2,000-added event drew 102 entrants to Side Pockets Billiards in Shreveport, LA.
Barnes advanced to a winners' side semifinal against Manny Chau, who'd won the inaugural Texas Open 10-Ball Championship the week before. Devin Poteet, in the meantime, squared off against Joey Gray. Identical 7-4 scores put Barnes and Poteet into the hot seat match, where Barnes prevailed 7-3.
On the loss side, Chau picked up Cliff Joyner, who'd defeated Shahn Hunter 7-5 and C.J. Wiley 7-3 to reach him. Gray drew Skyler Woodward, who'd eliminated tour director Jeff "Sully" Sullivan 7-3 and Gary Abood 7-1. Chau shut Joyner out, and in the quarterfinals, faced Gray, who'd knocked Woodward out of contention 7-4.
Chau defeated Gray 7-4, and was a single step away from his second finals in a week. That step, though, involved Devin Poteet, who got his second crack at Barnes with a 7-2 victory over Chau in the semifinals. Barnes completed his undefeated run with an opening set 7-3 win over Poteet to claim the event title.
A Ring Game on Friday saw Manny Chau claim the first place prize of $1,400. Glenn Huff took the $700 second-place prize, while Skyler Woodward pocketed $200 for his third-place finish.
