In the hot seat match, Schmidt defeated Shawn Putnam, Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour's Player of the Year, 9-2, sending Putnam off to battle Pagulayan in the match for third place.  Pagulayan, who relegated Arizona player Dan Wallace to fourth place by winning their match 9-4, had a tremendous victory there; Putnam had him 6-3 when Pagulayan won to bring the score to 6-4 and then ran the rest of the set out to win 9-6. 

In the true double-elimination finals, both players were unwilling to let the other gain the upper hand, and they tied at 5-all.  At this point, Pagulayan began leaving some opportunities for Schmidt that he took advantage of, and with a combo o­n the 9 ball, Schmidt was o­n the hill.  He broke and didn't get out, and then Pagulayan engaged him in a safety battle that went for a couple of innings each.  However, Pagulayan eventually left Schmidt the out he needed, and he ran the remaining balls out to win the final match 9-5.