In a demonstration of why pool-playing 'Goliaths' should never underestimate 'Davids' with a pool cue in their hands, Mark Small returned from a defeat in the hot seat in which he managed to win only a single rack, to double dip Ivo Petrov in the finals of the Lucas Hybrid New England 9-Ball Series season opener. The event drew 17 entrants to Buster's Billiards in Somersworth, NH.
Small and Petrov faced Jason Conner and Gareth Steele, respectively, among the winners' side final four. Small sent Conner west 5-3, as Petrov was busy sending Steele over 9-4. Petrov chalked up his final victory of the event with a 9-1 win over Small that left him in the hot seat, awaiting Small's return.
Steele and Conner, in the meantime, moved to the one-loss side, where they faced Mike Campoine and Josh Rupard. Campoine had defeated Greg Libby 4-1 and Ryan Hodson 5-2 to pick up Steele. Rupard got by Nick Conner 5-3 and Don Clemont 6-2 for the right to face Conner.
Steele downed Campoine 7-3, as Conner was busy ending Rupard's day 4-1. In the quarterfinals that followed, Steele allowed Conner only a single rack, but couldn't then get by Small, who needed to win only four games to Steele's nine, and did so in a 4-4 match that sent him back for a re-match versus Petrov.
Petrov managed to win 13 racks among the 21 played in the true double elimination finals. But with the need to reach only four in each of the two sets, David (Small) secured the event title with back-to-back 4-6 and 4-7 victories over Goliath (Petrov).
Stop Two on the Lucasi Hybrid New England 9-Ball Series will be held on Sunday, September 25. The $500-added event will be hosted by Stix in Abington, MA.
