The Texas Open Nine Ball Championships will be concluded today, Monday September 6th. G-Cue Billiards in Round Rock, Texas is hosting this event for the 4th time, again with feature tables and bleacher seating. Want to see some great pool? Out of 72 players, only 4 remain and the first round is at 11am today, with the finals around 3pm Central Time.
Jeremy Jones, Texas Open title holder of 1994, 2002 and 2003, will be playing Jui Lung Chen (also called Chin Lee) of the Dallas area. Chen has been placing well in several Texas tournaments this year and his first time at the Texas Open he is holding true of his play. A fast player who keeps control of the table, Chen made his way to the finals defeating local favorite, James "Bastrop" Davis, Sr, 9-6. Jeremy Jones, current U.S. Open Champion, defeated Billy Dyke from Norman, Ok 9-1 to make it to the finals. Jeremy had a close call the match before, having to play his travel mate and good friend, Gabe Owen (who won this title himself back in 1999 - the youngest player to ever win the Texas Open). With Gabe reaching the hill first, Jeremy won the next game to tie and then win the final game to move on in the winner's side. Gabe was eventually eliminated by Paul Guernsey, 9-6, giving him a 7th/8th finish. Guernsey is from the Dallas area and plays exceptional pool like Gabe - great runouts, strong safety game and an excellent shotmaker. Guernsey then eliminated Davis 9-7 to keep playing today. Guernsey will face the tough opponent of David Gutierrez from the Houston area. "David G" defeated Joe MacNamara 9-1 giving him a 7th/8th finish before also eliminating Billy Dyke 9-7. Dyke and Davis placed 5th/6th. David G won this tournament in 2000, defeating Paul Guernsey twice in the finals 9-1, 9-2. Can he win this tournament again with his smart play and strong stroke? Or will Chen or Guernsey be a new title holder? Or, will Jeremy "Double J" Jones win again, right before he heads to the U.S. Open?
Out of 14 ladies, only 2 remain on this Labor Day Holiday for the final match - a true double elimination - where Belinda Campos Calhoun, the WPBA pro nicknamed "The Texas Belle", will have to defeat Orietta Strickland of Dallas two races to nine to win the title. Earlier this weekend, Deanna Henson of the Austin area sent Calhoun to the one-loss side with a score of 9-6. They met again on the one-loss side where Calhoun prevailed 9-8, giving Henson her 4th place finish. Rachel Hurst of Austin was sent to the one-loss side, after reaching the winner's bracket final, against Orietta Strickland of Dallas. Hurst placed 3rd after a great match with Calhoun, losing only 9-7. The finals will also be held this afternoon. Calhoun has won this title several times, it would be Orietta's first time.
