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Back-to-back wins for The Ghost
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Posted on May 12 2009
Roger “The Ghost” Espiritu won his second consecutive Top Pool Bar 8-Ball Billiards Tournament last Saturday after beating Chester Cuento in the finals.
Espiritu, who downed Cuento in the semifinals to gain twice-to-beat advantage in the championship round, capitalized on his opponent’s miscue on his second shot as the islands’ top cue artist proceeded to run the table to win the $60 first place purse.
Cuento, who reached the finals after outlasting Zheng Jian Qing in the loser’s bracket finals, settled for the $30 runner-up money with Zheng taking home $10.
Espiritu and Cuenco had auspicious starts to the competition with the former taking out Don Antonio and the latter beating Eric Caisip.
In the next round, Espiritu defeated Chester Hamoy and Cuento drubbed Rolly Villanueva to arrange a showdown for the first finals ticket and all-important twice-to-beat advantage in the championship.
Cuento got the break, but his cue ball flew off the table, giving Espiritu a ball-in-hand situation which he made the most of by running the table.
Cuento was relegated to the loser’s bracket finals but had to wait for his opponent, as Zheng, Antonio, Villanueva, Juancho Mendoza, Mark Butac, Luis Fajardo, and Eric Caisip fought it out in the elimination round.
In the end, Zheng beat out Caisip to arrange a loser’s bracket finale against Cuento. Zheng was in control early but missed on his attempt at the 8-ball. Cuento finished off his two remaining balls before pocketing the 8-ball to advance opposite Espiritu in the finals.
Top Pool Bar 8-Ball Billiards Tournament is held every Saturday and adopts a double-elimination format with a maximum of 16 players.
The entrance fee is $10 and the tournament uses the rules of the Billiards Congress of America. Practice is free between 7pm to 8pm on game day.
For more information on the Top Pool Bar 8-Ball Billiards Tournament, call Top Pool Bar manager Zheng Jian Qing at 287-7676 or check out the competition’s website at www.saipanero.com/bars/toppoolbar.
