Robinson Sweeps Finals for McDermott Win

By Bill Rosenberger

Johnny Robinson came back from a quarterfinal setback to win both sets in the finals for the comeback victory o­n the McDermott Midwest 9-Ball Tour.  The event, held November 20 at Side Pockets/Englewood in Kansas City, MO, not o­nly saw Robinson's comeback but also saw some other notable play as well.

Tournament director Harvey Hibner played well enough to earn a spot in the money, while Becky Smith, who plays in many of the ladies' events, earned a fourth-place finish.  Hibner, though, had the best chance for victory.

Robinson fell to Hibner late in the winners' bracket 9-6, sending him to do some work o­n the o­ne-loss side.  Hibner then faced Gary Serville, o­ne of the top players in the Midwest, in the hot seat.  Serville's day was highlighted by a first-round win over 20-year-old Chuck Raulston, the 2004 Missouri State 8-Ball Championship.  After Hibner built an 8-1 lead, Serville strung together five straight wins to get to 8-6, but Hibner sensed the urgency to get the match done, and he took the final game for a 9-6 win.

Robinson and Serville then met in the semifinals, where both were hoping for a rematch with Hibner in the finals.  Robinson jumped out early and rolled to a 9-4 win in a match that lasted an hour and a half.

The long semifinal match seemed to take its toll o­n Hibner, who had traveled during the wee morning hours to get to Side Pockets, but Robinson still had to take two straight sets to complete the sweep.  In the first set, Robinson went up to a quick 5-0 lead, but Hibner pulled himself together and came back to tie it up at 5 apiece.  From then o­n, the entire match belonged to Robinson, who took four straight for a 9-5 first-set victory. 

The second set was more of the same for Hibner, who was quickly down 8-3.  He managed three straight racks to get within two, but Robinson finished him off in the next game for a 9-6 win.  Hibner, though, took the loss graciously, giving all the credit to Robinson.  "He just ate me up," he said.

Results:

1st Johnny Robinson $630

2nd Harvey Hibner $470

3rd Gary Serville $260

4th Becky Smith $135