Milwaukee Amateur Pool Players Win $520,000 at the Canadian Club Showdown Finals

Milwaukee Amateur Pool Players Win $520,000 at the Canadian Club Showdown Finals Mark Berry & John Zager Win Tourney & Defeat The Black WidowLAS VEGAS, NV, APR. 13, 2002 - one dozen of the country's top amateur pool players went to the Canadian Club Showdown Finals in Las Vegas with their sites set on a $1+ million prize. By the end of the night, two Milwaukee players wowed the crowd by winning $520,000 and then nearly winning an additional half-million dollars.Mark Berry (age 39, Milwaukee, WI) and his teammate John Zager (age 49, Muskego, WI) won several levels of the national amateur 8-ball tournaments in the winter to earn their spot in the Canadian Club Showdown Finals on April 12, at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas..
There were three obstacles standing between the players and $1,020,000. First they had to defeat five other teams in the single-elimination tournament played in a race to three (best 3 of 5 games). The Milwaukee tandem, trailed the Chicago's Andres Uribe (age 34, Chicago, IL) and Jim Engels (age 33, Chicago, IL) 2-0 before winning three straight games to win the first round. After a second round bye in the six team field, they upended the Detroit tandem of Bobby Rezin (age 47, Westland, MI) and Patrick White (age 52, Garden City, MI) 3-1. Zager sank the winning 8-ball to earn the $20,000 first prize.The next challenge was to defeat the world's most famous pool player Jeanette Lee "The Black Widow" in a race to two (best 2 of 3 games). The Milwaukee duo was confident since they had previously beaten Lee in a $1000 challenge match at the Canadian Club Showdown event in Milwaukee. Berry & Zager ran the rack in the first game to lead 1-0. In a grueling second game with both teams playing defensively, Lee left the door open for the amateurs when she missed the 8-Ball. Berry & Zager, playing the Scotch-Doubles format (alternate shot) took advantage by running in their three remaining balls before Berry stepped up to make the 8-Ball for the $500,000 prize (payable as a 20-year annuity)."My partner set me up for an easy shot. I've made that shot so many times I was not even nervous," said Berry. "This is going to make our lives so much easier. We're so thankful to Canadian Club for providing this opportunity for us and to Jeanette Lee for taking on our challenge."The final big money shot of the night offered the teammates the chance to win an additional $500,000 if, on one attempt, one of the players could sink the 8-Ball on the break. Berry stepped up to the table in front of a boisterous crowd and nearly made the shot, leaving the ball one-inch short of the right side pocket."Mark and I agreed one day that we would hold a shootout to see who would take the shot if we were to make it to the finals," said Zager. "On his fourth attempt, Mark made the 8-Ball and we agreed, it would be his shot in Vegas. He gave it quite a run."The 12 competitors advanced to the finals by winning a preliminary event at their local pool hall and then defeating the best local teams at a Canadian Club Vegas Challenge regional tournament in February/March. Both players also won the three-day trip to Las Vegas. The Finals competitors include: Boston -- Richie Minichello (age 23, Everett, MA) and Chester Laskowski (age 74, Medford, MA): Pittsburgh -- Don Svidron (age 58, Latrobe, PA) and John Clopp (age 40, Derry, PA); Detroit -- Bobby Rezin (age 47, Westland, MI) and Patrick White (age 52, Garden City, MI); Indianapolis -- Gregory Jason Bauer (age 28, Indianapolis, IN) and Danny Burton (age 28, Indianapolis, IN); Chicago -- Andres Uribe (age 34, Chicago, IL) and Jim Engels (age 33, Chicago, IL) and Milwaukee -- Mark Berry (age 39, Milwaukee, WI) and John Zager (age 49, Muskego, WI)

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