The 2012-2013 Pure X Cues All American Tour – presented by the American CueSports Alliance (ACS) – produced its twenty-third stop of the Tour year at Finish Line in Chenoa, IL, Saturday, March 9. The $500-added 8-ball tourney on 7-foot bar boxes drew a strong 27-players field.
The road to the finals for local player Eric Naretto (Odell, IL) was not an easy one. On his way to the hot seat he had to defeat his friend Martin Zavala Sr. (Joliet, IL). He did this by the score of 6-3. On the 1-loss side the men battled it out. Playing at the 5th/6th places were Mike Dunklin (Bloomington, IL) defeating Michael Verkruyse (Mahomet, IL) 5-1, and Dustin Wilgus (Champaign, IL) defeating Bob Nodine (Streator, IL) 5-0. This set up a match between Dunklin and Wilgus. Wilgus, getting the upper hand in the match, defeated Dunklin by a score of 5-3. This set up a run for Wilgus to defeat Zavala Sr. to get his second chance at Naretto, who had defeated Wilgus in the first round. By defeating Zavala Sr by a score of 5-4, Wilgus had his shot at the title. Naretto jumped out early, but the fight was not over. Wilgus battled from the early deficit to make the match hill to hill. Naretto was not to be denied his first ever Tour Stop win however. Eric won the deciding game in the first set, ending Wilgus’ run at the final score of 6-5 and collecting the title!
By virtue of Eric Naretto also being the highest-finishing ACS member in the event, he qualified for a free 9-Ball singles entry into the 2013 Pure X ACS Nationals at the Tropicana Las Vegas – courtesy of the ACS. The ACS wishes to thank sponsors Pure X Cues, Championship Billiard Fabric and Nick Varner Signature Cases for their support in donating “Value-In-Kind” product for this and all stops on the Pure X All American Tour. Sponsorship opportunities and tour stop openings are still available for the 2012/2013 All American Tour by contacting the ACS.
The Tour remains in the Midwest, heading to Davenport IA, on Saturday, March 23, with a $500 added 8-Ball Tourney at Sharky’s Billiards (contact Terry Stevens at 563-359-7225). Further information, entry details and schedules for the 2012/2013 Pure X Cues All American Tour are available at www.americancuesports.org.
