Zheng beats Soriano in 9-ball

Zheng Jian Qing lost only a total of four games en route to winning the Top Pool Bar Professional 9-Ball Billiards Tournament last March 15 at the Garapan watering hole and sports bar.

The Top Pool Bar owner gave a portents of things to come when he downed Primo Ferrera, 4-1, in the opening round. Other first round winners were Jerry Soriano, R.J. Mascarinas, and Rolly Villanueva.

Soriano swept Luis “The Predator” Fajardo, 4-0; Mascarinas beat Erwin Gomez, 4-2; and Villanueva drubbed Robert Sanciangco, 4-2.

In the second round, Zheng continued his strong play, this time dismissing the hard-hitting and veteran Villanueva, 4-2.

Soriano, meanwhile, joined Zheng in the finals after Mascarinas missed a tough bank shot on the 9-ball in the sixth game that gave Soriano a chance to sink the 9-ball, which he did for the 4-2 victory.

In the finals, Zheng repeatedly burned Soriano with heady and accurate shots that kept the Saipan Ice and Water employee in his seat. Zheng dominated the matchup and went on to win the championship in a lopsided score of 4-1.

Zheng collected $45 for his victory, while Soriano took home $25 for the runner-up finish.

Zheng, who is also Top Pool Bar manager, is inviting all pool players on island to join them for their 9-ball tournament every Saturday. Entrance is $10, which gives players the chance to practice for free on a regulation pool table before the tournament.

Companions of players at the tournament also get free time on Top Pool Bar’s latest Karaoke system that plays four different language and uses a flat screen HD TV.

Top Pool Bar Professional 9-Ball Billiards Tournament is held every Saturday and the entry fee is $10.

The format is a race to four games. The venue’s 8-ball tournament, meanwhile, has been moved to Thursday with also a $10 entry fee. The 8-ball competition uses a double-elimination format. Both tournaments follow Billiards Congress of America rules.

The sports bar is reminding interested 8- and 9-ball players that early birds get a chance to practice for free on any of Top Pool Bar’s full-size billiard tables an hour before the competition.

Top Pool Bar, located along Hotel Street Garapan a stone’s throw away from the Paseo de Marianas, is as spacious as it is modern and boasts of two 9-1/2-by-5-foot tables usually found in professional tournaments abroad.

For more information on the ongoing 9-ball and 8-ball weekly competitions, call Zheng at 287-7676 or check out the competition’s website at www.saipanero.com/bars/toppoolbar.