Jones' Buy-Back a Good Move

By Bill Rosenberger 

Each January, the National Pool League that operates in the San Francisco, CA, area, holds its Tournament of Champions, inviting over 100 of the year's different tour winners.  o­n January 8, the event drew 47 of the best players to the handicap, single-elimination 9-ball event, with 17 of the players buying their way back in after early exits.  This move proved to be a good o­ne for Allen Jones, who found defeat in his very first match.

The decision to pay another $20 to reenter the event was a no-brainer for Jones, who is o­ne of the most determined players o­n the NPL.  Owner and tournament director Gene Miller has overseen the league since 1994 and says that Jones came back after his opening-match loss and streaked through the rest of the field. 

In the final matches of the day at Family Billiards, Jones ousted Vietnamese Vy Vu to reach the final match, while Japanese player Masae Aitoku defeated Mel Simpon in the other semifinal contest.

While Aitoku was a worthy opponent in the finals, she was o­nly able to keep up with Jones for so long, as his late run earned him the 5-3 win and a $2,000 first-place prize. 

Results:

1st Allen Jones $2,000

2nd Masae Aitoku $1,200

3rd Mel Simpson, Vy Vy $650

5th Chuck Zingalie, Reid Strensrud, Ray Rodriguez, John Trujillo $300

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