Smith secures amateur 8-ball win

Hanson Smith won the latest installment of Top Pool Bar’s 8-Ball Amateur Tournament Friday at the Garapan sports bar.

Smith was ambushed by losers’ bracket topnotcher Jay Santos in the first game of the championship round, but came back with the vengeance in the second game to secure his first amateur pool title.

Smith and Santos both started like a house on fire. Smith won his first three matches before colliding with Santos, dismissing the likes of Norbert Camacho, Vince Cepeda, and Carter Calma to reach the finals of the winners’ bracket.

Santos, meanwhile, kicked off his campaign with a win over Fermin Dela Cruz before picking off Robert Ramirez and Jerald Repeki.

In the battle of unbeatens, Smith made quick work of Santos to gain the twice-to-beat advantage in the final round.

Santos, however, quickly rebounded from the loss to Smith by topping the losers’ bracket with his second straight victory over Calma. He then returned the favor in his second meeting with Smith and forced a winner-take-all second game.

Smith, however, made the necessary adjustments in their rubber match to go home with the $50 first-place purse. Santos and third place Calma settled for gift certificates from Top Pool Bar.

Other up-and-coming pool players that graced the tournament were Andrew Santos, Nicole Muna, Reinier Lazaro, Lina Dela Cruz, B.J. Salmon, Gentry Williams, Mark Carlos, and Justin Taitano.

Top Pool Bar manager Zheng Jian Qing congratulated Smith and company for topping the poolfest and invited anew beginners to participate in this evening’s resumption of the amateur 8-ball event.

The 8-ball pool competition is open only to players 18 years old and above and participation is free.

Aside from the amateur 8-ball tournament, Zheng is also planning to unveil an open 9-ball competition on the weekend.

The 9-ball open tournament would most probably be held every Saturdays with 8pm starts. Zheng said the maximum number of participants would be 16 and entry fee would be $15.

He said the champion of the weekly 9-ball event could possibly have a win-fall of $120 plus a trophy, while second place and third place could bring home as much as $80 and $40, respectively.

The still unnamed 9-ball billiards competition is open only to players 18 years old and above. Zheng said he would not discriminate against any player and would welcome everyone to play in the open format.

For more information on Top Pool Bar’s 8-Ball Amateur Tournament and the planned 9-ball open competition, call 233-6999 and look for Zheng. Zheng can also be reached on his mobile phone at 287-7676.

Top Pool Bar is as spacious as it is modern. It boasts of seven 9-1/2-by-5-foot tables usually found in venues for professional tournaments abroad.