Tournament winner Shannon Daulton
It might have taken a year but Shannon Daulton had not forgotten the Music City Classic from last year. He was playing last year in the finals of the winner take all, midnight madness event and had the lead 10-6 over Johnny Archer. Shannon was breaking and seemed on his way to the win. Then he scratched on the break. He never got another shot as Johnny ran out that rack and 4 more to win the $4000 prize. This year, Shannon was playing in the finals of the main event against the same player on the same table and was up by the same 10-6 score. You guessed it. Shannon scratched on the break and Johnny Archer ran out that rack and the next. Shannon thought he was alright when Johnny scratched on the break in the 19th game but a tough combination jawed the pocket, allowing Johnny to win that game and to pull within one game at 9-10. Shannon wondered if he would shoot again but his prayers were answered as Johnny broke empty in the 20th game and left an open rack for Shannon. That was all the chance Daulton needed as he ran out the rack to win the match 11-9 for his second Music City Open title.
Shannon had an outstanding run through the tournament, only allowing one opponent to get more than 6 games against him in the race to 11 format. He appeared to get stronger as the tournament went on. After identical 11-6 wins over
Jeremy Jones and then
Dallas Roach, Shannon ran into the surprise of the tournament, Swedish sensation,
Marcus Chamat. "He never had a chance." said Daulton after the 11-1 win. "I was making balls on the break and the table was laying good each time". This left Shannon playing for the hot seat against the defending Champion Johnny Archer whom Shannon defeated 11-4.
This would not be the last Shannon would see of Johnny as Archer defeated Marcus Chamat 11-8 to set up the rematch but Johnny would not be able to repeat his come-back performance from last year. Shannon commented after the tourney, "This is a tough tournament and Johnny is there every time so this was a very good win for me".
The event win gave Shannon the $2,500 first prize while Johnny settled for a fourth second place finish in this event and $1,700. Chamat won the midnight madness event this year and collected $4,000 for the win.
The Ladies Division also saw revenge of a sort as
Helena Thornfeldt avenged her loss to
Monica Webb in the winners bracket finals and defeated Monica in the finals to collect the $670 first prize. Helena also teamed up with Chamat to win the Scotch Doubles event and $1050.
Another big winner in this event was the Ashley Ellin Scholarship Foundation as a total of $4,105 was raised thanks to Brick Cues, Sturtz Cues,
Nick Varner Cues, personal donations by Jeremy Jones, Johnny Archer,
Corey Deuel,
David Matlock and Mike & Vicki Williamson, as well as Pinto Cigars, Masters Manor Inn and the participants and spectators at the Music City Open. This trust fund, created by JOB Billiards owner, Jim Blaylock, now contains over $9,000. When asked about the fund, Blaylock said "Tony usually didn't have a lot to say, he made his statements at the table. The pool world lost a brother in arms and I lost a true friend. This is the least we could do in his memory."
