The 2012-2013 Pure X Cues All American Tour – presented by the American CueSports Alliance (ACS) – brought its 24th stop of the Tour year to Legend’s Sports Bar in Clinton, IA, Saturday, March 9. The $500-added 8-ball handicapped tourney on 7-foot Valley bar boxes drew 12 players.
On the A-side, Midwest powerhouse Chad Vilmont (Clinton, IA), despite having to race to “8” on the regional handicap system used, whitewashed Jim Baker [5] (Clinton, IA) 8-0 in the semifinals, just as Al Birkett [6] (Clinton, IA) was putting away Ray Fredericksen [4] (Clinton, IA) 6-1 in the same round. The A-side finals went Vilmont’s way, as he outpointed Birkett 8-4 to gain the hot seat.
On the B-side, once-defeated Keith Helfrich [6] (Sterling, IL) eliminated Steve Parlow [6] (Davenport, IA) at 4th place by a 6-1 margin. But in the B-side finals, Helfrich fell to 3rd place on the hill to Al Birkett [6] 5-6. The tourney finals proved exciting, as Al Birkett handed Chad Vilmont [8] his first loss in the first set – 6-6. But Vilmont gathered his momentum in the deciding set and clipped Birkett by another 8-4 margin for the title!
By virtue of Keith Helfrich also being the highest-finishing ACS member in the event, he qualified for a free 9-Ball singles entry into the 2013 Pure X ACS Nationals at the Tropicana Las Vegas – courtesy of the ACS. The ACS wishes to thank sponsors Pure X Cues, Championship Billiard Fabric and Nick Varner Signature Cases for their support in donating “Value-In-Kind” product for this and all stops on the Pure X All American Tour. Sponsorship opportunities and tour stop openings are still available for the 2012/2013 All American Tour by contacting the ACS.
The Tour remains in the Midwest, heading to Davenport IA, on Saturday, March 23, with a $500 added 8-Ball Tourney at Sharky’s Billiards (contact Terry Stevens at 563-359-7225). Further information, entry details and schedules for the 2012/2013 Pure X Cues All American Tour are available at www.americancuesports.org.
