Strong Fields No Match for Davis, Shea

By Bill Rosenberger

An 85-player field competed in the Planet Pool 9-Ball tournament o­n October 23-24 at Bill & Billie's Cuesport in Arnold, MD.  Maryland resident Mike Davis, who was coming off his ninth-place finish in the Atlanta Open, outlasted everyone to earn an undefeated weekend victory.

Davis, though, wasn't the o­nly Planet Pool player coming off a successful event.  Pooky Rasmeloungon had won the Children's Hospital charity event o­n October 10 in Rockville, MD, and was ready to add another tally to his win column.

As fate would have it, two of Planet Pool's hottest players went undefeated heading into the hot seat.  Davis and Rasmeloungon were both having successful weekends, and their match would prove how good they both are.  

Both players wanted to get off to a fast start, and neither could gain much of a lead.  Eventually, Davis pulled ahead by three to 7-4, but Rasmeloungon came storming back to tie it at 7-all.  The two traded games to put it o­n the hill, but Davis worked the table in the decisive match to take the victory 9-8. 

Pennsylvania player Jerry Slivka, who turned in an impressive weekend, battled through the left side to reach the semifinals.  Rasmeloungon and Slivka kept the match close early, but Slivka edged out to a 4-3 lead and never looked back, winning 7-3.

In the double-elimination finals, Slivka would have to win two sets against Davis to take the tournament.  After the first set, it looked like Slivka was going to do just that.  He won the first set easily 9-2.  Davis, though, wasn't going to give in, and he jumped out to a quick 6-3 lead in the second set.  Slivka took the next two games to get within o­ne at 6-5, but Davis barely let his opponent touch the table in the last three games.  In the decisive game, Davis had a tough shot o­n the 8, which was partially blocked by the 9.  Instead of playing a safe, he buried the 8, leaving himself the easy 9 ball and a first-place finish.

Planet Pool's ladies division also competed o­n Sunday, October 24, at Bill & Billie's Cuesport.  The 27-player field included former Maryland state champion Linda Shea, who dominated the tables. 

Shea, who is also a former pro, took the hot seat match 7-3 over Amanda Pasko.  Pasko then went to the o­ne-loss side to face Gwen Dickert in the semifinals.  In her bid for a finals rematch, Pasko won easily 5-1, leaving Dickert with the third-place finish and $180. 

Shea then continued her dominating day by running the table most of the final match, prevailing 7-1 over Pasko, who earned $250 for second place.  Shea's victory was more than just the $400 payout-her 7-5 first-round win against Nicole Sullivan was the most games any opponent would post against her in the tournament.

Men's Results:
1st Mike Davis $1,350
2nd Jerry Slivka $900
3rd Pooky Rasmeloung0n $600
4th Bill Steven $400
5th Keith McCready, Rick Moliniero $260
7th Jim Henson, Ryan McCreesh $175