Undefeated Weekend for Baraks

By Bill Rosenberger

For the second time in his many weeks, James Baraks took home the top spot in a 9-ball event.  This time he did it at Cue N You Billiards in Grayslake, IL, o­n December 11-12, 2004, o­n the Viking Cue Open 9-Ball Tour.

Although Baraks took the win, the 44-player field enjoyed their weekend playing o­n 16 Canadian Billiard Black Crown tables.  Baraks joined Manuel Chow, Gil Hernandez, and Tom McCluskey as some of the top players to return o­n Sunday.

While Baraks was breezing through the winners' bracket, Chow was earning his keep o­n the o­ne-loss side thanks to Baraks' first-round win against him.  Will Freeman was also playing well, advancing to the hot seat against Baraks.  But just like the matches before him, Freeman watched as Baraks took the easy 7-2 win. 

Freeman headed to the semifinals to face Chow, who had just ousted Danny Gohkul.  In o­ne of the best matches of the day, Chow and Freeman reached hill-hill.  In the decisive game, Freeman broke and had an opportunity to nail down two combos for the win, but he missed the first combo.  Chow didn't miss, and he followed up the combination with a 3-9 combo for the win. 

Chow got his chance to avenge his opening-round loss against Baraks in the finals, and he did better than anyone else had.  Down 6-2, Chow won two in a row to get to 6-4, but Baraks sealed the deal with a 7-4 win.  The four games Chow did win were the most anyone got against Baraks all weekend long.

Results:

1st James Baraks $600

2nd Manuel Chow $400

3rd Will Freeman $300

4th Danny Gohkul $200

5th Gil Hernandez, Dave Ciancanelli $100

7th Tom McCluskey, Mike Moran $70

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