Jesse Hernandez and Crispian Ng
Given the percentage of times that a hot seat occupant ends up facing his (or her) hot seat challenger in the finals of an event, Jesse Hernandez probably thought he'd seen the last of Crispian Ng on the weekend of January 19-20, when he sent him west during the Omega Billiard Tour's 2013 season opener. Ng, though, came back from the loss side to challenge Hernandez in the finals, pushing him to double hill before Hernandez prevailed to claim the season-opening event title. The $1,000-added, handicapped event drew 64 entrants to Rusty's Billiards in Arlington, TX.
From among the winners' side final four, Hernandez, having just survived his first match against Ng, faced Steve Raynes. Coy Lee Nicholson, who'd won the tour's debut, short-season stop back in October, squared off against Greg Sandifer. Hernandez downed Raynes 6-4, and in the hot seat match, battled Sandifer, who'd sent Nicholson west 7-4. Hernandez then defeated Sandifer 6-4, and sat in the hot seat, waiting for Ng.
Ng moved west defeating Mike Voelkering 7-4 and Benny Scott 7-5, to draw Nicholson. Raynes faced Joseph Olivarez, who'd gotten by David Reyes 7-1 and David Josephson 7-3. Ng battled to double hill against Nicholson before prevailing and moving on to the quarterfinals against Raynes, who'd eliminated Olivarez 6-4.
Ng chalked up his fourth straight win defeating Raynes in those quarterfinals 7-4, completed his loss-side run with a 7-5 victory over Sandifer in the semifinals, and turned for a second shot against Hernandez. Hernandez had a game on the wire at the start. Ng fought to double hill, but Hernandez prevailed to capture the $450 top prize, as well as a Lucasi Hybrid Cue (valued at $380).
Tour director Melinda Bailey thanked the ownership and staff of Rusty's Billiards, as well as Michael Hoang of Omega Billiards and Lucasi Hybrid Cues for sponsorship of the event. The next stop on the Omega Billiard Tour is a $1,000-added event, scheduled for February 23 at The Billiard Den in Richardson, TX.
