SPACE CITY OPEN XI HIGHLIGHTS

– Written by Mary Kenniston

HENNESSEE, LARSON, CALDERON, GOMEZ & PETRICK CHAMPS AT SPACE CITY OPEN XI!!!

Last week, players made their way to the $8,000 added Space City Open X. Held at Big Tyme Billiards in Spring, TX. The Big Tyme Group and their staff laid out the red carpet for both players and fans.

In addition to the Big Tyme Group and PoolActionTV.com, sponsors included the Outsville Accu-Rack, Poison by Predator, Brutal Game Gear, Jerry Olivier Custom Cues, Savage Billiards, Simonis, Aramith, Diamond Bar Boxes, Alamo Billiards and the Fort Worth Billiards Superstore.

The tournament kicked off on Wednesday evening with the $1,000 added 9 Ball Banks event. This single elimination race to four event saw twenty six players post their $100 entry fees. After the players auction, meeting & draw, the action began.

The last two men standing were Alex Calderon and Eric Aicinena. Alex first posted victories over John Braud 4-1 and Ernesto Bayaya 4-2 before going down to the wire with Roberto Gomez. Next was Johnathan Hennessee who was defeated 4-1 and he arrived at the finals. Eric’s path included Michael Alonzo 4-1 and then edged out Raed Shabib 4-3. His next opponents were Joey Torres and Blaine Barcus – they both lost 4-1.

The final match was all Alex as he cruised to victory with a 4-1 score over Eric!

Thursday evening saw the start of the $1,000 added One Pocket Championship. Thirty one players posted their $100 entry fees – the format was also single elimination and races to four. After the players auction, meeting & draw, play began.

Red-hot Alex Calderon sliced through the field on his way to the finals. After claiming a forfeit over Calvin Chappell, down went Eric Aicinena 4-1, Bernard Walker 4-0 and Tommy Tokoph 4-2.

But talk about red-hot! Bogie’s house pro, Roberto Gomez, also tore through the field eliminating Keith Harris, a forfeit over Jesus Atencio, defending champ John Gabriel and Ryan Robinson – skunking them all 4-0!

The finals started out tight with the score tied at two apiece until Roberto won the last two games to claim the title!

It was now Friday night and time for the main event! The $3,500 double elimination tournament drew 125 players paying a $75 entry fee. Played on seven foot Diamonds with races to 9/7, the tournament began after the players auction, meeting & draw.

In dead punch, Alex Calderon, once again, raced through the upper portion of the bracket. Getting his revenge against Roberto Gomez, he blasted him 9-1. After sending Roberto west, no one posed a serious threat. Down they went – Jaden Dupree 9-2, Tom Davis 9-1, John Gabriel 9-5 and Michael Alonzo 9-1 until he reached the final four on the winners side.

Meanwhile, after drawing one of the coveted byes, Ernesto Bayaua also made the final four after defeating Manny Lopez 9-6, Ryan Robinson 9-5, Eric Aicinena 9-1 and Kenneth Price 9-3.

In the lower portion of the chart, Donivan Pedroncelli moved through the field to make the winners side final four after scoring wins over Greg Everett 9-6, Raed Shabib 9-5, Kell Perry also 9-5, Ken Nguyen 9-7 and Darryl Amos 9-7.

Johnathan Hennessee did the same after beating Beau Courts 9-2, Joey Bourgeois 9-7. James Bulice 9-0, Justin Espinosa 9-6 and Joey Torres 9-7.

Hennessee then sent Pedroncelli to the one loss side with a score of 9-2 and Calderon sent Bayaua west with a score of 9-4.

The hot seat match was close but Calderon locked up his seat in the finals after closing out Hennessee 9-7.

Over on the west side, John Gabriel and Jesus Atencio met after they had clawed their way through the bracket. Finally meeting, Gabriel eliminated Atencio 7-4 leaving him in fourth place. Waiting for Gabriel was Hennessee – it was close but Hennessee pulled away with a 7-5 score leaving John with a third place finish.

Since this was true double elimination, Hennessee would have to defeat Calderon twice to hoist the trophy.

Hennessee won the first set 9-6 forcing a deciding race to seven for the title. The second set was all Hennessee as he won the second set 7-0 and the title.

Sunday also saw the $500 added Ladies 9 Ball and the $500 added Junior 9 Ball Divisions.

The Juniors had twelve players who paid $35 to play in the double elimination race to 7/5 event.

On the way to the hot seat match, Avah Weems notched wins over Bruer Roberts 7-3, Elijah Brooks 7-1 and Jayce Pena 7-3 before facing Shane Petrick.

Petrick arrived at the hot seat match after drawing a first round bye and then had wins over Luis Moreno and Kailye Stevens – both with 7-4 scores.

Petrick then defeated Weems 7-4 in the hot seat match and secured his spot in the finals. Weems headed to the one loss side to face Stevens. Weems won that match 5-3 for another shot at Petrick.

Again, as this was true double elimination, Weems had to defeat Petrick twice to win the tournament but it was not to be. Petrick won the final match 7-1 and claimed the title.

The Ladies 9 Ball event had 37 players posting their $45 entries to play in the double elimination event with races to 7/5.

April Larson shot out of the gate with victories over Larissa Almendarez 7-3, Amanda Jensen 7-0, Natalie Rocha 7-5, Ming Ng 7-5, Eylul Kibaroglu to arrive at the hot seat match.

After drawing a first round bye, Robyn Petrosino recorded wins over Alex Chavez 7-2, Dee Leassear 7-4, Avah Weems 7-6 and Nicole Keeney 7-5 before facing Larson in the hot seat match.

It was no contest as Larson smoked Petrosino 7-0 and claimed her seat in the finals. Petrosino headed to the one loss side to play Keeney for a second shot at Larson. However, it was Keeney’s turn for revenge as she defeated Petrosino 5-3 – she finished in third place.

Again, Keeney would have to defeat Larson two sets to claim the title. The match was close until Larson pulled away to win the match 7-5 and win the event.

Congratulations to this year’s Space City Open XI champions – Hennessee, Calderon, Larson and Petrick!!!

And, congratulations to Alex Calderon for taking down the All Around Award!!!