Players competing in the 8-ball match at CantaMia on Aug. 15. Winner Johnny Henson is second from the left. (Photo by Dan Harris)
Dan Harris, travel team coordinator
A fresh tournament format brought the same fierce yet friendly competition, culminating in an exciting victory. On Aug. 15, Johnny Henson of the PebbleCreek Billiards Club (PCBC) showcased his skill, leading the team to a first-place finish in a contest at CantaMia’s (CM) billiards room.
CM introduced a new 8-player bracketed elimination format for this tournament. PCBC faced off against CM in all four first-round bouts. From there, winners advanced in the winner’s bracket, while those defeated dropped to lower brackets. Each head-to-head bout was a fast-paced race-to-two. Players with zero or one loss stayed in contention for first or second place, while those with two losses battled for third or fourth. Players with three losses fought for fifth through eighth, and four losses meant elimination.
Johnny Henson dominated the winner’s bracket, powering through his first three bouts without a single defeat. Meanwhile, teammates Lynn Warren, Rene Lefebvre, and Dan Harris faced tougher paths, dropping one, two, or all of their initial bouts to compete in the lower brackets.
In the championship showdown, Henson outplayed CM’s James Fogerty, clinching a decisive 2-0 victory to seal his flawless performance and claim the tournament title. And, as an indicator of the close competition, CM edged out PCBC in head-to-head bouts by a razor-thin margin of 21-20. Both teams are already gearing up for another rematch next month.