Coy Lee Nicholson laid claim to the first event title of the Omega Billiard Tour on the weekend of October 6-7. He ended an eight-match, loss-side winning streak by Jeremy Jones, defeating him in the second set of the double elimination finals. The $1,000-added inaugural event drew 64 entrants to Rusty's Billiards in Fort Worth, TX, becoming the first major tour in the Fort Worth area. The brainchild of Melinda ("The Texas Trigger") Bailey and Michael Wong of Omega Billiards Supply, the tour has two stops planned for this year, and is looking to schedule six and a season finale event in 2013.
"Michael and I had been talking about it for a couple of years," said Bailey, "and we finally got it together for this year."
With Jones already at work on the loss side, Nicholson advanced to the winners' side final four, where he met up with Crispian Ng. Daniel Herring, in the meantime, squared off against Benny Scott. Nicholson got into the hot seat match with an 8-4 victory over Ng, as Herring sent Scott west 7-5. Nicholson got into the hot seat with an 8-5 win over Herring, and waited on the return of Jones.
Jones, with two loss-side victories to his credit, got by William Howard and Joey Barnes to pick up Ng. Scott drew Erman Bullard, who'd defeated Kevin Guimond and Danny Williams to reach him. Williams had denied Jones the opportunity to face the player who'd sent him to the loss side (Doug Winnett) when he defeated him earlier.
Jones downed Ng 9-2, and was joined in the quarterfinals by Bullard, who'd dropped Scott into the tie for fifth place 8-3. Jones then took two straight by 9-4 scores; Bullard in those quarterfinals and then, Herring in the semifinals.
Jones took the opening set of the true double elimination final 9-5. Nicholson battled him to double hill in the second set and won the deciding game to secure the event title.
Tour Director Melinda Bailey thanked Tracie Voelkering, owner of Rusty's Billiards, and her staff for their hospitality, and Michael Wong of Omega Billiards Supply for their support of this new tour ("we wouldn't be here without them," she said.). The next stop on the tour is scheduled for November 24-25 at Speed's Billiards in Arlington, TX.
