And Then There was Four …

And Then There was Four …By Bill RosenbergerThe North American Open Tour is down to its last four players, all competing for the $6,000 first-place prize. But the final four might not be the ones most expected.Wednesday’s early action saw Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer get the best of Danny “Kid Delicious” Basavich 11-9, while Tony Robles sent Niels Feijen to the left side 11-7. The two veterans then faced off in the winners’ bracket semifinals, with Robles scoring the victory. Updated Pittsburgh Image Gallery
He’ll face Shawn Putnam on Thursday, after Putnam advanced with an exciting win over Santos Sambajon Jr. 11-9. After he sunk the final 9 ball, he gave an enthusiastic fist pump, as the small crowd in the Hilton Hotel ballroom gave their applause. The action on the one-loss side heated up late Wednesday night with Archer matching up against Mike Davis and Charlie Williams facing Sambajon. Williams, who advanced with a decisive win over Corey Deuel and a comeback victory over Basavich, gave it his all against Sambajon. The two traded the first few games until Sambajon jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but Williams put three wins on the board to get within one. However, in Game 12, it looked like the momentum was on Sambajon’s side. He eyed up a long shot on the 1 ball but was also paying attention to the 2, which sat right behind the 9 on the near rail. The wily veteran sank the 1 and drew the cue back in position for the 2-9 combo, and he nailed it for a 7-5 lead. In the following three games, though, Sambajon made crucial mistakes that allowed Williams to get back in the match. Before anyone knew it, Williams had taken over the lead at 8-7. But it wasn’t over just yet. The match went to hill-hill, with Williams breaking in the decisive game, and he took full advantage, breaking and running out the rack for an exhausting 11-10 win. In the other match with Davis and Archer, things were heating up. Archer played from behind the entire time, getting to within one game at 8-7 and 9-8. But Davis was played almost perfect, offensive and defensively. Up 10-8, he ran out to the 9 ball, at which time Archer conceded and shook his opponent’s hand. Archer and Sambajon settled for fifth/sixth, while Davis and Williams will do battle Thursday at 2 p.m. right alongside the hot seat match between Robles and Putnam. The semifinal match will take place at 4 p.m. and the final match of the North American Open will commence at 8 p.m. Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news from the North American Open Tour at Pittsburgh's Hilton Hotel.

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