They played three times; once among the winners' side final four and twice in the finals. Brian White moved to the loss side at the end of his first match versus Ron Park, but came back to win both sets of a true double elimination final and take home top honors. The $1,500-added event drew 52 entrants to Lucky Shot Billiards in Albemarle, NC.
Both of the winners' side semifinals were double hill affairs. Park got into the hot seat match with a double hill win over White, while James Blackburn defeated Nolan Leonard. Blackburn was playing in his second straight hot seat match, having gotten into the hot seat the week before in Lynchburg, VA (Justin Hall double dipped him in the finals to win it). This week, Park sent Blackburn to the semifinals 9-4, and waited for what turned out to be the return of White.
White moved over and picked up Kevin Boggs, who'd defeated Jeff Abernathy 9-7 and Walt Newsome 9-4. Leonard drew Marvin Reed, who'd gotten by Mike McPherson 7-5 and Kris Chavez, double hill. It was White and Leonard advancing to the quarterfinals; White with a 10-4 win over Boggs, and Leonard 7-3 over Reed.
White defeated Leonard 10-4 and turned to face Blackburn, who was looking to get into his second straight GSBT final. It was not to be. White dominated the semifinal match 10-2 for a second chance versus Park.
In the first of the potential two sets, the two battled to an early 3-3 tie before White edged out in front with two in a row. They battle back and forth and White was able to extend that lead by one game and finish the opening set ahead by three at 10-7. White got out in front early in the second set, and extended his lead to four games by the 7-3 mark. They traded racks to 8-4, when White used a terrific jump shot to get out in the following rack and reach the hill first. Park came right back, using a 2-9 combo to pull back to within four again, but White closed it out, completing the double dip and securing the event title.
Tour directors Shannon and Marge Daulton thanked Lucky Shot Billiard's owner Steve Compton and his staff for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Mike Davis Exterminating, Tiger Products and Delta-13 racks.
