The short-by-design, 2012 Omega Billiard Tour, the first of its kind in the Fort Worth, TX area, premiered in October, and concluded on Thanksgiving weekend with a victory by Charlie "Hillbilly" Bryant, who hung on to defeat Tony Barrington in a double elimination final. The $1,000-added event drew 64 entrants to Speed's Billiards in Arlington, TX. According to tour director Melinda Bailey, the 2013 Omega Billiard Tour will schedule six stops, including a $2,000-added season finale event, and will commence with a $1000-added event on the weekend of Jan. 19-20 at Rusty's Billiards in Arlington.
"Hillbilly," last seen in the winners' circle at a Lone Star Tour event in June, advanced to the hot seat, where he met Barrington for the first time. Bryant had survived a double hill match against the tour's first event winner, Coy Lee Nicholson, while Barrington was sending Mike Voelkering west 8-3. Bryant took the first of three against Barrington 9-4 and waited in the hot seat for his return.
Nicholson and Voelkering got right back to work in the left bracket. Nicholson met up with Tony Sulsar, who'd defeated Robert Clark 8-4, and Crispian Ng 8-3. Voelkering drew Steve Sheppard, who'd survived a double hill match versus Brian Anderson and defeated Greg Sandifer 7-5. Nicholson eliminated Sulsar 8-5, and in the quarterfinals, faced Voelkering, who'd dropped Sheppard into the fifth place tie 7-4.
Nicholson edged closer to a second straight tour victory with an 8-4 win over Voelkering. Barrington, though, ended that bid with an 8-6, semifinal win that gave him a second shot at Bryant.
Barrington took the opening set of the true double elimination final 8-5. Bryant came back in the second set to win it 9-3 and secure the event title.
Bailey thanked the ownership and staff at Speed's Billiards for their hospitality and reiterated her appreciation for tour sponsor Omega Billiards Supply in the person of Michael Hoang ("we wouldn't be here without them," she said.).
