Billiards tourney at T.A. Brady's offers friendly competition

Weekly billiards tournament provides students an opportunity to show their passion for the game.

By Jake Gonzales

Published Sept. 18, 2008

The weekly billiards tournament championship would normally be full of drama and tension, but this week was more casual.

Instead of strangers playing for the championship, allies faced off in friendly matches. Sophomore Mike Baker participated in his first billiards tournament of the year, looking for redemption from his defeat last semester.

"I scratched on the 9 ball all three games, basically giving her a straight shot to win each game," Baker said of his opponent.

On the other side of the spectrum was junior Joe Boyer, who entered this week's tournament as the returning champion. He said he didn't feel he had the upper hand before the tournament began.

"The competition here it pretty tough," Boyer said. "Its hard to get too big of a head because if you come back thinking you're the best, you're going to get beat by somebody."

The weekly tournament is held every Tuesday evening in T.A. Brady's. Each match-up is decided by the first to win three games, though winning the championship requires five games. At the end of the semester, players with the most points are invited back for the semester championship.

The tournament had been discontinued in previous years, but was brought back this by senior Derek Smoot who chaperones the event every week.

"The regulars said it would be nice to have a league or a tournament, so we decided to bring it back," he said.

He said last semester's turnout was great so they decided to continue this semester.

Boyer brought Baker to Tuesday's tournament because they were high school friends.

"We grew up in the same town," Baker said. "He taught me everything I know about pool."

Before Boyer could reach the finals, he had to face back-to-back runner-up sophomore Devin Woodson.

"(Woodson's) a great player," Boyer said. "He is always at the end of each tournament."

Woodson did not reach the championship this week because Boyer defeated him 3-1 in the semifinals. Woodson said he was disappointed at his third-place finish. "No one remembers second place, let alone third place," he said.

Baker said that coming into this week's tournament he and Boyer both wanted to play each other. After going down 3-1 in the final, Baker rallied to tie, but Boyer won the following two games.

Baker said he did not have any trouble throughout Tuesday's tournament until he played Boyer.

"I was playing pretty well, but I never shoot well against him," Baker said. "I don't know if it is because I don't play well or he just plays even better. He seems to play well under pressure."

The two were cordial after the match, but Baker promised he would defeat his friend someday.

"One of these days I'll beat him, but it is not too far away because I will never stop hearing about this week," Baker said.