Tommy Gun’s in Windsor was the host venue for this year’s CSNS Amateur 8-Ball Provincials. An outstanding turnout of 47 players, plus the Women’s Championships being held at the same time, all on 8 tables, meant for a long day, and night, of pool. The Provincial Title, $400 cash, and a paid spot to the CBSA Amateur 8-Ball Nationals in Quebec, were on the line for the winner to earn.
Races on the A side were to 5, while B side races were to 4. It was early evening before the field was reduced to a manageable number of matches to tables ratio. In action among the last 4 players standing on the A-side, Jeff Saulnier squeaked by Greg Lockwood 5-4, while Chris Bright got the better of Warren Cottreau 5-2. Bright then continued on to his place in the final with a 5-4 win over Saulnier. On the B-Side, the money round matches saw Alan Perks over local player Dave Cochrane 4-1, Peter Kabatay beating Truro player Tim Saxton 4-2, Robert Williams victorious over Leo Sanchez 4-2, and Justin D’Eon defeating Hugh MacEachern 4-1. Cochrane, Saxton, Sanchez, and MacEachern finished in a tie for 9th place. The following round brought wins for Perks and Williams over Kabatay and D’Eon respectively, each by a 4-1 score. This left Kabatay and D’Eon in 7-8th place. Perks next tangled with Lockwood, coming out on top 4-3. Meanwhile Williams dropped his next decision to Cottreau 4-2. Lockwood and Williams place 5-6th. Cottreau then ended Perks day in 4th place with a 4-2 win. That set up the B-side final which Saulnier captured 4-2, landing Cottreau in 3rd.
Finalists Jeff Saulnier (l) and Chris Bright (r)
It was now the wee hours of Sunday morning. With both finalists being from Dartmouth, they mutually agreed to play the final on a weeknight nearer to home. Once play resumed, Bright jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in a race to 7. Saulnier fought back to 4-3, and looked primed to lock the match a 4’s, but was unable to seal the tying game. This put momentum back on the side of Bright, and he did not look back, taking the final 7-3.